Both subspecies of Piping Plover are monitored in Canada through dedicated surveys initiated in 1991. Results from these surveys suggest that the number of birds in the Prairies has varied considerably, primarily in relation to prairie flood and drought regimes. The most recent census showed the lowest count since these surveys began, but extensive flooding of breeding habitat in that year may have biased these results. The smaller Atlantic population (melodus subspecies) has also shown a decrease since 1991, although it has rebounded slightly since reaching an all-time low in 2020. 

Results from migration monitoring by the Program for Regional and International Shorebird Monitoring also show a moderate decrease in the continental population, but it is unknown how much that trend reflects the Canadian population, given that the majority of individuals breed in the United States. Considering the available data, both subspecies and the overall national population are likely to have experienced at least a moderate decrease relative to the 1970s, but confidence is only medium because of limitations to the frequency and historical extent of survey coverage. 

The national goal for Piping Plover is to maintain a population of at least 2,246 individuals. This is based on the Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy goals of 1,626 individuals for the circumcinctus subspecies (Environment Canada, 2006) and 620 individuals for the melodus subspecies (ECCC, 2022).  Available data show that all Canadian populations of Piping Plover are currently below their goals.