Dear Ontbirders: The following message has been approved by the list moderator (Mark Cranford).
The Recovery Implementation Group for Piping Plovers in Ontario is asking that birders advise us of the presence of Piping Plovers they may observe anywhere in Ontario this spring. These birds are not currently known to breed in the lower Great Lakes in Ontario but sites on Lake Michigan in the US continue to produce young which should eventually find their way to beaches in Ontario. Last spring there were reports of individual birds from Pelee Island to the Ottawa River and various locations in between. Birders are also asked to look for any evidence of leg bands(silver and colour bands could be on either or both legs-almost all US-Great Lakes birds have been banded) on any Piping Plovers they might observe. Please report observations to: Jeff Robinson(Canadian Wildlife Service) at "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" and Scott Jones(Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources) at "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"; noting the date, location, observer with your contact information and any evidence of bands If you are birding in a Park or Protected Area, please also advise the staff at that location so they may take appropriate actions. Please do not post the sighting information on a list server as these birds may attempt to nest at these locations and will be extermely vulnerable to excessive human disturbance. Jeff Robinson, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region

