Partnership with other state, federal and tribal interests on piping plover recovery continued with increased participation from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Canadian Wildlife Service and Michigan's tribal community. Members of the American Zoological Association, and in particular the Detroit Zoo, provided significant contribution to the on-going salvage captive rearing program. With their assistance, members from nine different zoos from across the country came to Michigan to assist in recovery efforts.

Staff from the University of Minnesota and Lake Superior State University provided many hours in the field to monitor and protect nesting plovers. This year required extraordinary efforts from all field crews due to the expanding range. Volunteers again turned out in good numbers to provide help in monitoring nesting piping plovers. Volunteers also helped to provide educational materials to visitors of plover nesting areas found within state and national parks. The field season ended with the annual end-of-season meeting and pot-luck picnic sponsored by the East Lansing Field Office and Michigan DNR. Plans for the 2004/2005 off-season include a Great Lakes strategic planning meeting, and participation in a winter workshop in Georgia.