In the Missouri river region and in contiguous parts of the interior of
the United States, the Belted Piping Plover is a common summer resident,
and is found along the shores of the great lakes, breeding on the flat,
pebbly beach between the sand dunes and shore. It is the second of the
ring-necked Plovers, and arrives in April in scattering flocks, which
separate into pairs a month later. It strays at times into the interior,
and has been known to breed on the borders of ponds many miles from the
coast. In New England, however, it seldom wanders far from the shore,
and prefers sand islands near the main land for its nesting haunts.
Nelson says, that some thirty pairs, which were breeding along the beach
at Waukegan, within a space of two miles, successfully concealed their
nests, for which he made diligent search, although the birds were
continually circling about or standing at a short distance, uttering an
occasional note of alarm.
These birds have a soft, low, piping note, which they utter not only
upon the wing, but occasionally as they run about upon the ground, and,
during the early nesting season, a peculiar, loud, prolonged, musical
call, that readily attracts attention. In other respects, their habits
are not noticeably differed from the Semi-palmated. (See July BIRDS, p.8.)
Their nests are without lining, a mere depression in the sand. The eggs
are usually four, light gray to creamy buff, finely and rather sparsely
speckled or dotted with blackish brown and purplish gray.
The female Belted Piping Plover is similar to the male, but with the
dark colors lighter and less in extent. The young have no black band in
front, while the collar around the neck is ashy brown.
These interesting and valuable game birds are found associated with
various beach birds and Sandpipers, and they become exceedingly fat
during the latter part of the summer.
All the Plovers have a singular habit when alighting on the ground in
the nesting time; they drop their wings, stand with their legs half
bent, and tremble as if unable to support their bodies. In this absurd
position they will stand, according to a well-known observer, for
several minutes, uttering a curious sound, and then seem to balance
themselves with great difficulty. This singular manoeuvre is no doubt
intended to produce a belief that they may be easily caught, and thus
turn the attention of the egg-gatherer from the pursuit of the eggs to
themselves, their eggs being recognized the world over, as a great
delicacy.
The Plover utters a piping sound
While on the wing or on the ground;
All a tremble it drops its wings,
And, with legs half bent, it sings:
"My nest is near, come take the eggs,
And take me too,--I'm off my legs."
In vain men search with eager eyes,
No nest is found, the Plover flies!
--C. C. M
[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff.
BELTED PIPING PLOVER.
Copyrighted by
Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.]