OutdoorNebraska

The Human Dimensions of Threatened and Endangered Species Conservation: C onservations dollars directed toward threatened and endangered species' conservation often means habitat restoration, habitat protection, reintroducing species to habitats where they have been extirpated and learning about the factors limiting their recovery. Unfortunately, for some species, conservation actions cause conflicts between people and wildlife, because, fundamentally, the two are competing for the same things—the resources necessary to feed, protect, and raise their families. Conflicts can escalate and take on a life of their own, impeding progress toward conserving the species and leaving negative feelings toward wildlife and conservation. People and groups opposed to setting aside a resource, habitat, or landscape for species conservation may well have legitimate grievances if their lives, families, and livelihoods are impacted by state and federal wildlife protection laws. Their voices need to be heard and considered in formulating conservation and management plans. Clearly, protecting and recovering threatened and endangered species relies on investigating and understanding the human side of the issue rather than just the wildlife side to develop solutions. Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) are state and federally listed threatened migratory shorebirds. Historically, they nested on mid-stream river sandbars and other sandy shorelines. Today, in Nebraska, because of changes to our rivers and shorelines, plovers nest in habitats dominated by human activity, such as sand and gravel mines, lakeshore housing developments, and the sandy shores of Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area. At Lake McConaughy, plovers nest in close proximity to human recreation—boating, camping, fishing, swimming, and playing. In effort to protect them, their nests are surrounded and protected with fencing and "do not enter" signs installed and maintained by the lake's owner, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. However, the number of visitors to Lake McConaughy has increased recently to over a million per year, with most visiting the lake during the summer when Piping Plovers are attempting to raise their families. Thus, with more and more people trying to share the beach with nesting plovers, there are bound to be challenges in protecting the birds. Since 2013, research conducted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Nongame Bird Program and University of Nebraska (Dr. Mary Bomberger Brown) with support from the Wildlife Conservation Fund, has focused on the human dimensions aspect of plover protection and management at Lake McConaughy. The research is yielding valuable insights into visitor awareness and attitudes towards the birds, and has greatly improved our understanding about why some people do and do not leash their dogs while visiting the lake. These insights are leading to better communication and altering wildlife education programs, which are fundamental for conserving these rare shorebirds. The barriers to protecting Piping Plovers at Lake McConaughy are largely ones about people. Thus, the better we can work with people and increase their understanding and acceptance of the birds, the more successful our conservation efforts will be. If resource agencies can find innovative ways of working with the public to protect Piping Plovers and other listed species, hopefully we can improve the experiences of people who work hard and deserve some rest and relaxation on the beach. ✔ By Joel Jorgensen, Nongame Bird Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 3 A Piping Plover and its nest, protected by a small wire cage and twine fencing, occur in close proximity to campers on the beach at Lake McConaughy SRA. A Piping Plover pretends to be injured to lure a perceived predator away from its nest. PHOTOS BY JOEL JORGENSEN

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