Piping Plovers and politics!

There are only a few communities in Canada fortunate enough to host these wonderful birds during nesting / breeding season and we are one of them. The Piping Plover Guardians are a group of volunteers who stand vigil during the nesting season and look out for our tiny friends. I had the absolute pleasure of volunteering to help these amazing people who care so much, a few years ago.

I found the experience to be very fulfilling and educational. I started out as an amateur photographer justifying my next zoom lens purchase. I ended up being an extremely interested, “plover lover”.

As well as my personal experience, I was amazed at the high number of people who strolled the boardwalk with spotting scope in hand. Of course, I engaged as many of them as possible and the conversations were intriguing.

Sure there were a few local people, but virtually every person I met was not just from out of town, but some were from out of province. What were they here for? Piping Plovers!

Eco-Tourism isn’t just about focusing on the feature attraction. It’s about using that attraction to get your client here, then introducing them to your community and all it has to offer.

Imagine all of Wasaga Beach embracing the idea. The Piping Plover Parfait, Skydive with the plovers, Plover Nest Mini-Put, Plover Sunsets, etc… The concept is that once they are here, they spend money. Right now, these few tourists enjoy their stroll on the beach, take some photos, then head out. Wasaga Beach could easily embrace these tiny birds. Some do.

What about our Council? Have they invested a dollar or a minute thinking about this? Nope! Instead, they really think we stand a chance of being a Rock and Roll Concert venue.

Instead, build rooftop viewing platforms with appropriate telescopes and focus on our success in hosting this endangered species.

Just putting this out there… Does anyone remember what Brian Smith looked into with his first term of office? Search Social Media… it’s there. Let’s just say, they may not have been his favourite visitors.