PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status Animal Group

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

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Photo by Jack Bartholmai

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), listed as Endangered in Wisconsin, prefers large, isolated sand and cobble beaches on the shores of Lakes Michigan and Superior. The required avoidance period is May 15 - July 30.

A partnership to restore these tiny shorebirds to Wisconsin and contribute to the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover population is making steady progress. As of 2022, nest in the Apostle Islands and on lower Green Bay. Additional restoration efforts have also taken place on the St Louis River Estuary in Superior [PDF].

 
 
 

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.