P.E.I. piping plover census to get help from law enforcement, Parks Canada

The Island Nature Trust is prepping for its annual piping plover census, but this summer's efforts to protect nesting sites of the endangered shorebird will get a little help.

This year, the group says those efforts will get an extra boost from provincial law enforcement officials, Parks Canada and Environment Canada.

• Fewer piping plovers to date at P.E.I beaches

Julie-Lynn Zahavich says the group will coordinate with enforcement agencies this year to ensure laws to protect wildlife are being followed.

"Whenever we see vehicles on the beach or vehicle tracks on the beach, we notify conservation officers," she said.

"So they are doing regular checks on piping plover beaches and on beaches across P.E.I. and they sort of put more of an emphasis on those beaches that we make note of, that have these activities going on."

Ongoing population decline

Zahavich says last year's census counted only 54 individual plovers nesting on the Island — one of the lowest numbers since counting began in the mid-90s. 

In June 2014, they counted 57 plovers. Over a decade ago, in 2003, the census showed 112 piping plovers. 

This year's census begins June 4. 

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