Little research has been conducted on least tern and piping plover in kansas over the last few decades

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks received a formula grant award of $579,843.83 from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) effective September 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. This award funds a comprehensive research initiative to advance the understanding and management of two threatened avian species in Kansas: least tern and piping plover. The project focuses on studying breeding ecology, nest success rates, and habitat characteristics that influence nest site selection for these species, addressing a significant gap in regional research and data that has accumulated over recent decades.

The research outputs generated through this award will directly inform wildlife management decision-making for least tern and piping plover populations within Kansas while contributing to range-wide natural history knowledge. By establishing baseline data on breeding ecology and habitat preferences, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will provide state and federal resource managers with the scientific foundation necessary for developing evidence-based conservation strategies and habitat management protocols for these species across their broader geographic range.

Kdwp seeks to better inform management decisions for these species in kansas and contribute to the range wide natural history by studying their breeding ecology including nest success and habitat characteristics affecting nest site selection.