The Mountain Plover is a highly imperiled grassland bird closely associated with prairie dogs in their breeding range in the Great Plains. In addition, they are associated with ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, and prairie dogs in their winter range in California and Mexico. Estimated to have a population of 5,000-11,000 birds, the Plover is in rapid decline.
The plover was on track to be listed as a threatened species in 2003. Then on September 8, 2003 the Service unexpectedly announced that the bird would not receive federal protection after all. This despite a 63% population drop over the last three decades coupled with escalating threats on mountain plover habitat by the disappearance of robust prairie dog towns in the Great Plains, the conversion of winter range to crops and real estate in the California, and massive oil and gas development. The mountain plover population continues to suffer a 2.7-3.7% loss every year. The Fish and Wildlife Service’s reversal left biologists, conservationists, and even some government employees baffled.