| Abstrakt: |
The Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a federally endangered shorebird threatened by habitat loss, human disturbance, and predation. Once faced with a very low population size, these birds have begun to make a remarkable comeback thanks to the efforts of the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Team of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, conservationists, and volunteers. However, engaging with the public to increase awareness, stewardship, and advocacy around Great Lakes Piping Plover conservation remains challenging. In collaboration with Audubon Great Lakes and with input from the Recovery Team, we developed an ArcGIS StoryMap to increase public engagement through storytelling via interactive maps, photos, and videos. As an educational and outreach tool, the StoryMap includes public beach nesting locations in the Great Lakes region, overwintering locations along the Atlantic and Gulf coast, plover stories, Recovery Team personnel spotlights, and recommendations for what the public can do to support plover conservation efforts. Educating the public about Great Lakes Piping Plovers is critical to fostering enthusiasm and support for recovery efforts, helping to ensure the species' long-term recovery. Combined with other engagement activities, such as outreach events, the StoryMap is another tool that can be used to inspire the public to advocate for plovers in the Great Lakes and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
