Lancaster County Bird Club

After a 60-year absence, Piping Plovers are now once again calling Gull Point at Presque Isle State Park their summer home. Nesting there since 2017, they have contributed to the endangered Great Lakes population in a meaningful way and afforded us with the opportunity to learn more about these charismatic shorebirds. They have also provided moments of deep sadness as well as sublime joy. Birdsong will provide an overview of the Great Lakes population and touch on highlights from the last seven years of monitoring.

Mary Birdsong is co-founder and Lead Shorebird Monitor for Erie Bird Observatory. She has been monitoring shorebirds, particularly Piping Plovers since 2013. She is also a freelance writer and artist. She shares her home with her husband Mike Plyler and two gray tabby cats, and is the proud Busia to three granddaughters and one grandson.