I photographed this likely female Piping Plover while she was feeding along the surf recently on another chilly day. The nesting season looked as if it was going to start early for us this year, but the April cold snap that followed the warmth of March has delayed everything for two or three weeks, if not more! That makes both their jobs and ours more difficult as a slower beginning means more people will be around more nests and young birds when the “beach season” starts around Memorial Day with a negative impact on their overall success. It also narrows their available nesting window and re-nesting attempts that would have more young hatching in June become more difficult, too. However, in this moment, all I saw was a cute bird feeding on a beautiful beach.
The waves, the sand and the flotsam never looked any better! There is a reason we do all that we do in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, and it is for these wonderful creatures. Now that the temperature has skyrocketed we are going to be very busy as nesting season finally commences. If you would like to help please email ctwaterbirds@gmail.com as our work is now fully in 24/7 mode through the end of August. See you on the beach…
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
