The piping plover is a globally threatened and endangered shorebird. There are two subspecies in the United States — an eastern and midwestern variant. Pictured is the eastern subspecies, photographed at Cape May in New Jersey some years back. Conservation efforts have led to slow increases in numbers but it is feared that if those efforts stop, the trend will quickly reverse. That’s why you might see cordoned off areas of mid-Atlantic beaches during the breading season which starts in late April. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/6.3 at 1/1000th of a second.
Huge efforts every year on the Cape for preservation of these little guys!! Problem, the Coywolf enjoys their eggs. They have seen the numbers increase here as well🙌🏻
For the past ten years they have been nesting on our beloved Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester and we all took our responsibility to protect them quite seriously. We considered it an honor to be chosen!
They are protected in so many places, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newbury, MA and Audubon’s Milford Point, Milford CT, just to name a few]. The newly born ones are adorable. They look like cotton balls with toothpick legs. But they are so fast and very difficult to capture. And you have to have a good telephoto and you have to listen to their peepings and the calls of the parents. They will warn you if you get too close. The trick is to just stop and stand still so they will come closer to you. But you can’t move! Nice stop action shot!
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The piping plover is a globally threatened and endangered shorebird. There are two subspecies in the United States — an eastern and midwestern variant. Pictured is the eastern subspecies, photographed at Cape May in New Jersey some years back. Conservation efforts have led to slow increases in numbers but it is feared that if those efforts stop, the trend will quickly reverse. That’s why you might see cordoned off areas of mid-Atlantic beaches during the breading season which starts in late April. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/6.3 at 1/1000th of a second.
Huge efforts every year on the Cape for preservation of these little guys!! Problem, the Coywolf enjoys their eggs. They have seen the numbers increase here as well🙌🏻
Those coywolf can be crafty and elusive. We have them around these parts too.
For the past ten years they have been nesting on our beloved Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester and we all took our responsibility to protect them quite seriously. We considered it an honor to be chosen!
I remember. Not quite the menagerie you have outside your lanai these days, but lots of great wildlife at your former residence.
Bullshit. That’s not a piping plover. It couldn’t even hold a bagpipe.
What a sweet little bird. Mankind never stands taller than when it stoops to help a tiny creature. May these wee birds prevail!
Hear, hear, Sue.
They are protected in so many places, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newbury, MA and Audubon’s Milford Point, Milford CT, just to name a few]. The newly born ones are adorable. They look like cotton balls with toothpick legs. But they are so fast and very difficult to capture. And you have to have a good telephoto and you have to listen to their peepings and the calls of the parents. They will warn you if you get too close. The trick is to just stop and stand still so they will come closer to you. But you can’t move! Nice stop action shot!
No doubt Rachel. I need to get some shots of those chicks (but at a safe distance, of course).