Wintering Piping Plovers in Florida - where are they from?
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi314c1On5rXiqJG8kYDc0_xqQjjqX4UWYSgLgpLDobOfPSZY7PPCCGEpF6nwZzttKOwu9paACux4cxIISmvP_VIBAnm888zL-OZIa_dpQcINR8avMb6GcV8u_NwDgtDYq5mz1LvH3xJrvJ/s1600/1J1A1788b.jpg)
I spent a few days visiting a good friend in North Fort Myers back in late January. While shorebirding on Bunche Beach in Lee County (Gulf Coast near Fort Myers), I noticed several flagged/banded Piping Plovers. I tried to record as many as I could, which ended up being seven birds. I was surprised to hear that all three of the breeding populations were represented in that flock. Atlantic Coast - One from North Carolina, one from coastal Quebec, one from New Brunswick, and one from Prince Edward Island. Great Lakes - One from Michigan, one from Ontario. Northern Great Plains - One from Montana. Not what I was expecting...not that I knew what to expect! Not a Piping Plover. This is a Wilson's Plover that was cooperatively feeding in the wrack line at a nearby beach. There were several Wilson's at Bunche, too...but none were obviously banded. - NB