How important is the Caribbean to global populations of Piping Plover? You can help us find out! Listed as threatened and endangered in the United States and Canada where it breeds, the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) spends a large portion of the year on wintering areas—including many in the Caribbean—and it is critical that we identify and conserve these habitats.

Right now, the 2016 Piping Plover Census is happening and you can join in. You don’t need to be a professional to help—citizen scientists with a spotting scope or binoculars and some familiarity with shorebirds are welcome to participate. You can also conduct Piping Plover counts while you are participating in this year’s Caribbean Waterbird Census. Get all the details, instructions and census tools at eBird Caribbean.