tfi222's Identifications

She was banded as an adult at Cape Lookout National Seashore on 6/25/2015. She was reported at Bunche Beach in the fall/winter of 2015/2016 and returned to breed at Cape Lookout during the 2016 season. She was sited again at Bunche Beach on March 10, 2017, January 4, 2018 and November 16, 2018.

PEV was banded at Trustom NWR in southern RI on 14 May 2015

also seen on
August 17, 2015 ~ Bunche Beach Preserve Fort Myers, Florida
August 27, 2015 ~ Bunche Beach Preserve Fort Myers, Florida
October 29, 2015 ~ Bunche Beach Preserve Fort Myers, Florida

PEV was banded at Trustom NWR in southern RI on 14 May 2015

also seen on
August 17, 2015 ~ Bunche Beach Preserve Fort Myers, Florida
August 27, 2015 ~ Bunche Beach Preserve Fort Myers, Florida
October 29, 2015 ~ Bunche Beach Preserve Fort Myers, Florida

Reported this tagged plover sighting and received this information from Alice Van Zoeren,
Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team :
Thanks for reporting your observation of this Piping Plover. This plover was captive-reared in 2020 after the nest on North Manitou Island, in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI, was abandoned. In 2020 we had many more adult females than males and several established nests with males that already had mates and nests that they were attending. Since the female can't incubate without a mate to trade duties with, those eggs get abandoned after a few days. We then have the ability to give them a second chance in captive-rearing. This plover was released at Whitefish Point, MI. He must have liked Whitefish Point. He returned this summer (2021) to nest there and fledged 2 chicks. Good to hear that he has returned to his wintering territory.

Storytime:
Meet Gotawsi, a male Piping Plover from the Wasaga Beach protected Plover nesting area. He was inexperienced in a Dad's role but met up with Nancy, "an older lady" who "showed him the ropes". As the story goes, the Plover pair had 4 eggs. It seems that .Gotawsi had an affair with a widow causing Nancy to abandon the nest. The eggs were rescued and nurtured by plover officials. Nancy and Gotawsi established another nest with 3 eggs. During this Observation time there was no sign of Nancy and only 2 chicks. Apparently the female will migrate sooner and leave the male to care for offspring. Gotawsi was very attentive with his 2 chicks on the the beach amongst the light pedestrian traffic along the shore and many nearby seagulls.. As the sun was setting, the chicks could be seen nudging Dad to nestle under his wings. It did take many attempts before the threesome got it right. Note that the birds are banded. There will be further postings for the chicks. This one is for Gotawsi. For those interested, there are a lot of interesting stories and facts about the Ontario Piping Plovers @ontarioplovers on Instagram

Chicks of Piping Plover family headed by male Gotawsi at the protected nesting site at Wasaga Beach. This Obs is mostly about the first of two chicks that managed to find a warm spot under Dad's wing at dusk after running around on the shoreline with its sibling.
Links to Observations of same family
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183946889
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184135034

The second chick of the Piping Plover family at Wasaga Beach headed by male Gotawsi has decided it is time to tuck in for the night under Dad's unoccupied wing. After many adjustments and readjustments (Dad kept moving), the second chick finally nestles in with the family to keep warm once the beach clears of pedestrians. Love the last photo of the visible wee beaks and closed eyes as Gotawsi remains on guard.
This is the 3rd Obs of the same family, but each Obs features one individual. Wanted to share the behaviours associated with this inspiring adventure. will post the links to the other related Obs for those interested.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184130041
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183946889