My Experience Monitoring Piping Plovers in Maine

Every summer, Maine Audubon works with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and municipal officials to protect Piping Plovers that nest on Maine’s shoreline. Over the past three months, I have been a volunteer for Maine Audubon’s Coastal Birds Project, which is among many initiatives developed to monitor and project coastal birds all across the country. The project is a cooperative effort of Maine Audubon, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, and local municipalities. Piping Plovers are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and are also listed as endangered species in Maine.

Volunteering

During the summer of 2023, I was a fulltime employee for Mass Audubon’s Coastal Waterbird Program, which is similar to Maine Audubon’s project. Working for Mass Audubon was the catalyst for my love of birding. Volunteering for Maine Audubon has given me the opportunity to enjoy fieldwork again and to spend more time with Piping Plovers.

This summer, I monitored Western Beach in Scarborough. Volunteers look for birds, report any disruptive activity, and educate visitors. Each Sunday, from 3-5 PM, I walked the shoreline, counting the number of adult plovers and chicks on the beach. On Mondays, Jami Fitch – the Town of Scarborough’s Sustainability Manager – provided an update from Maine Audubon with the number of breeding pairs, nest attempts, chicks, and fledged chicks on each of the Scarborough beaches.

When monitoring, I generally saw adult plovers looking for food at the shore, incubating on a nest, or trying to keep track of wandering chicks. If a predator (or perceived predator, such as a harmless volunteer) comes near plover chicks or nests, adult plovers sound the alarm with a call akin to a quiet firetruck. They also pretend to have a broken wing, luring predators away from chicks or a nest. While plovers are anxious around predators, they can be territorial as well, puffing up their wings, loudly peeping, and chasing each other around the beach.

Nesting season has its highs and lows. Western Beach had nesting pairs in the double digits, and during some shifts I counted more than a dozen chicks. Other weeks, that number would dip, with the weekly update reporting predation or over wash. Unfortunately, human interference can be harmful as well. Birds frightened by activities as simple as beach games may abandon the area.

However, many visitors are excited to learn about Piping Plovers and ask for updates on the birds. I had lovely discussions with beachgoers who had never heard of Piping Plovers, as well as those very familiar with Audubon’s Coastal Bird Project. Connecting with community members who also want wildlife to thrive is both heartwarming and invigorating.

Monitoring Piping Plovers is truly a joy. They are, of course, incredibly cute birds. But beyond that, it is fulfilling to participate in a program that is so successful in increasing the population of an endangered species. From 1983, to this year’s record high, Maine has seen its nesting population increase from 6 to 174 breeding pairs. This progress displays the impact of a decades-long collaborative effort to protect Piping Plovers.

Federal Concerns

Unfortunately, plovers are facing a new, serious threat – the Trump Administration’s attack on the ESA. According to the ESA, it is unlawful to harm endangered species, including habitat destruction. The Trump Administration wants to remove this protection, which would be devastating for endangered species like Piping Plovers. While they are still protected under Maine’s ESA, de-prioritization at the federal level could result in decreased funding for conservation efforts. On a broader scale, species that are protected under the Federal ESA, but inhabit or migrate through states where they are not listed on the state-level ESA, would lose habitat protections entirely.

How to Volunteer

Volunteering for Maine Audubon’s Coastal Bird Project was one of the highlights of my summer. When I’m out on the beach, enjoying the company of my favorite birds and a nice summer breeze, I feel so lucky to live in Maine.

If you would like to learn more about Piping Plovers or volunteer next summer, you can go to Maine Audubon’s Coastal Bird Project webpage. Whether you are a volunteer or happy beachgoer, I hope you can enjoy sharing the beach with Piping Plovers as much as I do.

—Kate Phillips, NRCM Advocacy Associate