This activity is designed to get students actively thinking about the piping plover's needs and the things that are threatening this bird's survival. The game is placed first in the lesson plans, but can be used after the students view the slides if the teacher desires. Plovers move while feeding. People leave trash on the beach and this attracts animals that prey on the plovers, chicks and eggs.
Kites look like predators and cause plovers to move away from their feeding areas.
Off-road vehicles directly or indirectly kill chicks every year. Gulls are fast moving birds that prey on plover chicks and eggs. The presence of a predator can slow down the process of feeding. 1- Feeding Habitat and Behavior Introduction to the Piping Plover Introduce students to the concept of threatened and endangered species. Tell them that they will be studying the piping plover which is a threatened species.