A record number of piping plover eggs have hatched in Wasaga Beach.
More than a dozen plover chicks hatched on Beach Area 1 on Friday and more are on the way.
"Four out of five of our nests have hatched in the last week and a half, and we have 15 little guys already running around on the beach,” says Patricia Davidson of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. “Four more eggs to hatch on this coming weekend."
The baby chicks are about the size of two cotton balls. Their lack of size comes in handy, as they hide from predators in the grassy areas.
"One of the biggest threats we have in Wasaga Beach are gulls,” Davidson says. “They often go after your food when you're on the beach, but they also go after our chicks."
Normally the beach harbours two or three nests a year. This summer, volunteers have counted four or five. That means more effort is needed to protect these endangered birds.
“They're beautiful birds and they are endangered,” says Dina Scrimegeour of Piping Plover Guardian.
The newborn endangered birds will be able to fly in 30 days. They'll then spend about six weeks on the beach before migrating.
The next three weeks are the most critical for the chicks, because they are the most vulnerable to predators.
That’s why the parks department is reminding beach goers to not feed gulls, while at the beach.
