Wasaga Beach Piping Plover Volunteer Update and Q&A |
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Hello Colleen,
If you’re receiving this email, it’s because you have either volunteered as a Piping Plover monitor at Wasaga Beach in the past or have expressed interest in supporting the program in the future. We know there are many questions surrounding the land transfer at Wasaga Beach and what it means for Piping Plovers. We’ve done our best to address some of the frequently asked questions in our latest blog, which you can find here.
We also recognize that volunteers and supporters who are closer to Wasaga may have additional, volunteer‑specific questions. Below are answers to some of the most common ones. |
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Will there be a volunteer program this summer? |
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Absolutely! One of the stipulations of the Beach Area 1 transfer is that the beach will remain public. With that, Birds Canada remains committed to ensuring that long‑term population and nest data continue to be collected at all Piping Plover sites, including Wasaga Beach. |
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When will volunteer monitoring shifts begin? |
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Volunteer “shifts” can begin as early as mid-April, helping us survey beaches for the arrival of Piping Plovers back to Wasaga Beach. Volunteer monitoring shifts are expected to continue throughout the season until August, once all the Piping Plovers have left for their winter homes. You can sign-up for as many or as few shifts as work for your schedule - we’re grateful for all levels of commitment! We will send more information to sign-up and training resources a little later on. |
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Questions we are still working to answer. |
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There are several topics we do not yet have clarity on, including, but not limited to: Will the nests be protected with fencing, signage, and other threat mitigations? Who would install and maintain these tools? Will volunteers continue to be provided with free parking passes? Will “The Point” remain closed to the public? Will volunteers be able to access this area for monitoring? Will the “Plover Hut” continue to be available for storage, data, and outreach purposes?
We hope to address these questions, and learn more about municipal stewardship plans, through conversations with the Town of Wasaga Beach soon. |
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Do you have a question we haven’t mentioned? |
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