Today I finally got a chance to meet the elusive yet famous piping plover. Melissa Malloy was my expert today. Her many responsibilities include monitoring plover populations, documenting their activities, and protecting their nests.
Unfortunately, the NPS has a difficult time protecting the plovers. To manage the population of this endangered species, portions of the beach have to be closed. Many people hate this, because they would like to enjoy the closed section of the beach instead of the nearby sections that ARE open.
In conversation with residents of the nearby communities, we learned that most people felt that there were plenty of piping plovers, and they were therefore not endangered enough to warrant beach closures.
We discovered that the residents were very certain they knew which birds were plovers; but were in fact mistaken.
If you think you see piping plovers often, you do NOT know what piping plovers are!!
The species people most commonly assume are piping plovers are sanderlings, or terns.
Unfortunately, the NPS has a difficult time protecting the plovers. To manage the population of this endangered species, portions of the beach have to be closed. Many people hate this, because they would like to enjoy the closed section of the beach instead of the nearby sections that ARE open.
In conversation with residents of the nearby communities, we learned that most people felt that there were plenty of piping plovers, and they were therefore not endangered enough to warrant beach closures.
We discovered that the residents were very certain they knew which birds were plovers; but were in fact mistaken.
If you think you see piping plovers often, you do NOT know what piping plovers are!!
The species people most commonly assume are piping plovers are sanderlings, or terns.
This IS a piping plover!!
They are very difficult to spot because they are very tiny and blend into the sand so well!
They are very difficult to spot because they are very tiny and blend into the sand so well!
Does this give you a sense about how small they are?
They like to nest in the sand, where they scratch shallow depressions in which they lay their eggs.
The nests are not very visible, nor are the birds themselves.
This is why it is important not to allow visitors to walk, run, bike, or drive on the beach during nesting season!
They like to nest in the sand, where they scratch shallow depressions in which they lay their eggs.
The nests are not very visible, nor are the birds themselves.
This is why it is important not to allow visitors to walk, run, bike, or drive on the beach during nesting season!