Each year, avian ecologists with the Water Security Agency are tasked with carefully moving dozens of piping plover nests to higher ground at Lake Diefenbaker.

Because these birds are endangered, mainly due to habitat loss, Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency takes great care in ensuring their safety.

Patrick Boyle is the Executive Director of the WSA’s Communications and Client Services. He says of the 1,300 piping plovers that live in Canada, about 200 of them nest on the lake’s sandy shores. Because the water levels are always changing, the team must monitor the shores of Lake Diefenbaker, conduct risk assessments, and carefully move nests that sit in the path of flooding to higher ground.

So far this year, about 55 nests have been moved, and there are another 20 or so to go. He says this is on par with the number of nests moved in other years, so the increased precipitation received this year has not put any additional birds in danger.

“It’s, effectively, getting out there, making sure they get to the right place at the right time, and handling them in the right way,” He explains.

He says the nests are very small, holding about four eggs each, and he cautions the public to watch their step when visiting the beach to ensure those eggs can hatch.

Click here to watch a video about the process from 2025.