Inside OP ? Piping Plovers

Ontario Parks Insider

Southern Ontario is blessed with two amazing beach destinations – Wasaga and Sauble. Flocks of people descend on these beaches for fun in the sun every summer. Volleyball nets go up, beach towels spread out and sand toys get digging. All is well with the world … that is unless you are a small, sandy-coloured bird trying to protect your eggs and young.

After a thirty-year hiatus from the Great Lakes, a pair of endangered Piping Plovers successfully nested at Sauble Beach in 2007. Since then both Sauble and Wasaga Beaches have been the summer home of nesting Piping Plovers. As soon as they arrive in May, before any beachgoers arrive, the males begin aerial and ground courting displays and the female usually lays four buff-coloured eggs. Incubation is generally 28 days and the young leave the nest within a few hours of hatching to feed on their own, but are carefully guarded by their parents. In another four weeks the young are able to fly. Soon afterwards the whole family leaves Ontario for the warmth of the Gulf Coast, that is of course if all goes well.

Unfortunately there are several threats to the survival of the Piping Plover:

  • Commercial, residential, and recreational developments have decreased the amount of shoreline habitat available for Piping Plovers to nest and feed.
  • Human disturbance often curtails breeding success. Foot and vehicular traffic may crush nests or young. Excessive disturbance may cause the parents to desert the nest, exposing eggs or chicks to the summer sun and predators. Interruption of feeding may stress juvenile birds during critical periods in their development.
  • Pets, especially dogs, may harass the birds.
  • Developments near beaches provide food that attracts increased numbers of predators such as raccoons, skunks, foxes and gulls. Domestic and feral cats are also very efficient predators of plover eggs and chicks.


And if that wasn’t enough, in 2008 a freak hailstorm killed four Piping Plovers at Wasaga Beach. Even before the hailstorm, it was clear that the little feathered friends would need some help.

They call themselves the Plover Guardians – a group of over 90 volunteers that come from the Wasaga community (and as far away as a two-hour drive) help to do what it takes to protect the plovers. Once nesting sites are established, exclosures are erected to protect the nests. An outer snow fence prevents human and dog entry while the inner wire predator exclosure area allows the birds to fly in and out of the nesting area while preventing entry of gulls and other wild predators. Volunteers then take shifts keeping an eye on the birds, collecting behavioral data and protecting the plovers from disturbances that might affect their nesting activities. They also educate the public about the Piping Plover and the need to protect their beachside nests. It involves long hours and dedication, but when the time comes the satisfaction of witnessing a plover’s first flight south just can’t compare.

Things You Can Do to Help Protect the Piping Plover
  • Respect all areas fenced or posted for protection of wildlife.
  • Do not approach or linger near Piping Plovers or their nests.
  • If pets are permitted on beaches used by plovers, keep your pets leashed.
  • Don't leave or bury trash or food scraps on beaches. Garbage attracts predators, which may prey upon Piping Plover eggs or chicks.


For the more information on the plovers at Wasaga Beach, check out the website of the Friends of Nancy Island and Wasaga Beach Park.
This very informative slide show comes from our Friends at the National Parks Service in the United States.

Featured Parks - Voyageur Tour

Ontario Parks Insider

Your RV may not look like the Voyageur’s 36-foot birchbark canot du maitre but by travelling to some of their favourite haunts this season you can share their love affair with the natural landscapes they trekked through.

Here is a string of North Western Parks you can travel to on your own voyage.

Quetico’s present-day Dawson Trail Campground witnessed the first groups of North West Company men using a more northern route – the Kaministquia River – rather than the more commonly known Grand Portage (or Boundary Waters route) to meet Native traders north to do business on Hudson Bay with the rival Hudson’s Bay Company. Quetico is best explored by parking your RV and jumping in a canoe.

Heading east from Quetico, towards Thunder Bay, you can relive more history at Kakabeka Falls. The portage trail around the falls is the same path Voyageurs used hundreds of years ago to move their cargo around the imposing falls. This included the Hudson’s Bay Company on their way to disrupt supply lines of the North West Company in 1816, with Lord Selkirk in charge of the skirmishes made up of 100 Voyageurs and 100 Swiss de Meuran mercenaries.
Kakabeka Falls is a great base camp for visiting Thunder Bay and area attractions such as Fort William Historical Park where you can learn more about the fur trade. Visit Thunder Bay

Jumping back on the Trans Canada Highway and continuing east you will pass two parks between Rossport and Marathon – Rainbow Falls and Neys. Both were stopping points for Voyageurs as they paddled at 65 strokes a minute, flashing their cedar paddles brushed with red paint along the Superior shoreline. Today these two parks offer great camping and spectacular Superior coastline landscapes.
This is just a taste of the rich fur trade history that is tied to most Ontario Parks. Be sure to grab a map and jump into your vessel of choice to create your own historic experience this fall.

New Exhibit
Take note that on September 11, 2009, the epic voyageur chapter in Canada’s history will be brought to life in a major exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization – titled Profit and Ambition. For further details check out www.civilization.ca

How to - Be Healthy by Nature

Ontario Parks Insider

Many people get confused by the glut of information on the dos and don’ts of well-being. One day the headlines say one thing, and the next week something totally different. The path to well-being seems less scientific and more like keeping up on the latest trends. That being said, when it comes to the need for moderate physical activity, there seems to be universal agreement—if you want better health, you must exercise regularly!

Vacations are supposed to be a time for rest and relaxation. But they can also be a time you break your daily routine and try new things. Why not start a new routine on your next visit to an Ontario park and hit the trails. Health practitioners recommend taking 10,000 steps each and every day for maximum health benefits. We’re challenging you to attach your pedometer and get out on the trails. Most provincial parks in Ontario have well-maintained hiking trails that will provide physical and aesthetic rewards.

Here are a few parks that offer both short hikes and more challenging distances …

Sleeping Giant - More than 80 kilometres of trails let visitors explore the historical and geological points of interest in the park. From easy 1.5 km hikes to a 40 km linear trail, Sleeping Giant has a trail for everyone.

Algonquin – Algonquin has a plethora of hiking trails. One of the best full day hikes is the Mizzy Lake Trail. This trail requires an early start and a full day to do properly. It visits nine ponds and small lakes and affords some of the best chances to see wildlife in the Parkway Corridor.

Rondeau features several short trails, with some having up to 16 km in a round trip. The Tulip Tree trail offers an audio trail guide that can be downloaded to your MP3 player.

The Abes and Essens Lake Trail at Bon Echo is great to try if you’re not sure if you’re up to a full day hike. The trail is 17 km at its full length but offers a couple of “escape” options at 4 km and 9 km.


Tips for better hikes

  • Plan ahead - Know the trail and terrain. Plan for the hike by reading about the trail. Be sure to talk to Park staff prior to the hike, and ask for information regarding safety and to make sure you are not tackling more than you can handle.
  • Food and water – Bring lots of water and snacks. Don’t plan on drinking from the lake or river. It’s a good idea to carry a water filter on longer hikes. Food should be high in protein and a few chocolate bars are good for boosting energy levels.
  • Carry a first-aid kit - The best medicine for adventurers is that of prevention. But hikers can't plan for every instance, and sometimes there are accidents.
  • Tell someone where you are going – If you are planning an all day hike, let someone know your plans and check in with them when you return.
  • Stay on the trail – it sounds obvious, but it is the easiest way to prevent you from getting lost.
  • Wildlife – Hiking can provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, just be aware of what to do if you encounter a bear – Be Bear Wise
  • Pace Yourself – take it easy and don’t push yourself past your limits – the goal is the journey!

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Ontario Parks Insider

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