Saving the Piping Plover

I do love water birds. And I just found this story today. The season is over but I will join next season. The Plover Patrol. These little birds nest in the sand dunes. Unfortunately, their nests, and then chicks, are in sand dunes that are enjoyed by people. In particular For Rockaway beach - a New York Beach community populated in large part by NC Firemen and Police Officers. And in the Hamptons, populated by spoiled rich people. And a few other parts of New York and New Jersey beaches.

More bad news, for them, is that the chick season is May to August - prime beach season. The birds fall victim to people (who frighten them so the chicks don't eat), dogs, feral cats and raccoons. AT one point, the population was reduced to 72 breeding pairs. But 1 man has started a Plover Patrol to help keep the chick area of the beach clear of predators and people

The first time I saw Plovers closeup was at the Monterrey Bay aquarium when it first opened. The had a long "beach" exhibit where a wave machine brought small waves of differing size along the "shore" of the exhibit and these cute birds ran out after almost every wave to feast on the bugs and stuff in the sand.

They are adorable, and I am glad someone started protecting them before the went extinct. the areas are protected by the US Wildlife Parks department. The Plover Patrol works with them to call if things heat up. And theFeds give classes on how to deescalate issues. And the plover population is recovering.