Over the past two decades, local conservation groups and government agencies in Atlantic Canada have developed programs to protect plover nesting habitat, reduce nest predation and educate beach goers about how to avoid harming these birds. Although plover populations may be stabilizing in this region, recovery has been slow.

In the Great Lakes area, techniques have been developed to save viable abandoned plover eggs, incubate them and rear the hatchlings in special enclosures on the beach. However, because of difficulties unique to coastal beaches, these techniques had never been attempted with Atlantic coast populations.

In 2011, Wildlife Preservation Canada launched a pilot project in conjunction with Parks Canada and the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, New Brunswick, to resolve these challenges. The techniques developed took into account the different natural food sources of ocean shore plovers, the limited access to fresh water and the need for soft-release flight pens that can withstand ocean tides and storm swells. The project’s success earned the 2012 Parks Canada CEO Award of Excellence.