Piping plover volunteers being recruited

The Island Nature Trust is looking for 40 volunteers for its piping plover monitoring program.

It has secured three-year funding from Environment Canada's Habitat Stewardship Program to help with the administration.

"It's a $132,000 over three years, so it's just terrific," said executive director Jackie Waddell.

"And it just gives us so much more capability first of all. And you know that you are secure in that for three years. It is just terrific."

Training sessions for the plover monitoring program begin on May 7.

A dozen plovers were spotted by students from Holland College who did some initial monitoring, Waddell said.

Waddell noted it's very early in the migration season, so there will be more.

Last year, about 60 plovers were recorded on Island beaches. Waddell hopes for at least that many this year.