May Meeting
Meeting: Thu May 21, 2026
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Speaker: Sidney Shepherd
Subject: Piping Plover
Meetup: Wye Marsh
Piping Plover
Piping Plovers are a rare and endangered shorebird that nests on sandy beaches across North America, with only about 200 individuals breeding in the Great Lakes. They returned to Ontario in 2007 after a 30-year absence and in 2026 we are celebrating their 20th breeding season back on our beaches. Join Sydney Shepherd of Birds Canada’s Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program to find out how you can help this charismatic shorebird and ensure we celebrate many more breeding seasons to come.
Sidney Shepherd
Sydney completed her schooling at the University of Guelph in Wildlife Biology and Conservation and at Fleming College in the Ecosystem Management Technology Program. While at Guelph, Sydney became obsessed with birds when volunteering with Wild Ontario. Following graduation, Sydney worked with Ontario Turtles at Risk and loved every second, but always knew she’d migrate back to working with birds. Sydney now coordinates the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program with Birds Canada where she works on direct protection, research, and recovery efforts for one of Ontario’s most endangered birds.
