The Great Lakes Piping Plover with Sarah Saunders, National Audubon Society

Name: The Great Lakes Piping Plover with Sarah Saunders, National Audubon Society
Start: 2026-03-30T19:30:00-04:00
Location: 157 Woodward Ln SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506-18ND, United States

Schedule

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026 at 07:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

157 Woodward Ln SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506-18ND, United States | Grand Rapids, MI

We continue our theme of conservation spaces and wildlife by examining another Michigan wildlife recovery success story. The Great Lakes Piping Plover, a federally endangered shorebird, has made a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction thanks to decades of dedicated conservation efforts. Join us on March 30th as Sarah Saunders tells us about the amazing comeback of this favorite Michigan species. Once reduced to just 12 breeding pairs in the 1980s, this population now exceeds 80 pairs, with record-breaking breeding seasons in recent years. This success is a testament to the power of science-driven conservation and the collaboration of researchers, land managers, and community volunteers on the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team. In this talk, Sarah will highlight the key strategies that have fueled this recovery, including nest monitoring and protection, predator management, annual banding, captive-rearing, and education and outreach. Sarah will also showcase how long-term banding data have further strengthened these strategies, contributing to population growth. Despite these gains, challenges remain, including increasing threats from climate change and human disturbance. Yet the resilience of the population and the dedication of the Conservation Team offer hope for continued success. The recovery of the Great Lakes Piping Plover serves as an inspiring example of how rigorous science, partnerships, and community engagement can drive meaningful conservation outcomes.
Since high school, Sarah Saunders knew she wanted to be a conservation biologist, and in graduate school she was especially interested in working with endangered species. After studying Great Lakes piping plovers with her PhD advisor, Francie Cuthbert, at the University of Minnesota she knew she found her scientific calling. Sarah spent six summers leading the field banding crew and fell in love with the work. Now, as a scientist at Audubon, she investigates a range of important questions to help conserve many bird species, but she'll always have a special place in her heart for Great Lakes piping plovers. Sarah resides in Michigan, so she continues to contribute to piping plover recovery efforts by helping to band and monitor as needed during the summer.
This program is open to the public, who may attend as guests of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club. Doors of the Donnelly Center open at 7:00pm; come early to meet fellow members, browse the large selection of library items, and connect with others about birding. The program begins at 7:30 pm.