Endangered Piping Plovers Break Record In Hampton, Seabrook

HAMPTON, NH — The piping plover bird, endangered in the state and threatened federally, has set a record for the number of new chicks in Hampton and Seabrook beaches. This summer, 11 pairs of piping plover nested on the two beaches total, resulting in 20 fledged chicks — those that have reached the age of 25 days old or more, according to N.H. Fish and Game. This sets a record among the two beaches, despite dangers presented to the small birds by beachgoers and predators.

At Hampton Beach, five pairs of piping plover nested and 10 chicks reached the age of at least 25 days old, and at Seabrook Beach, six pairs nested and 10 fledged, Fish and Game officials say. These numbers surpass last year's record of nine pairs of piping plover having nested and 17 chicks fledged.

"Despite the later hatching of some nests and busier beaches in July and August, many chicks were still successful in negotiating the human traffic to make it to fledging," said Brendan Clifford, biologist with the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program.

He said fledgling success in recent years might be contributing to the upward trend of plovers returning to New Hampshire.

"Birds that are born in New Hampshire have a good chance of returning to their natal beaches after spending the winter on the Florida coast or the Caribbean," said Clifford.

As soon as the piping plovers return to New Hampshire beaches in April, Fish and Game officials fence off the nesting areas with yellow rope and post signs alerting people to stay clear. When the chicks are 25 to 30 days old, the fence is removed, and the section of the beach is reopened for recreational use.

"Piping plover chicks are able to walk and feed on their own soon after hatching," according to Fish and Game. "The newborn chicks are very small — about the size of a cotton ball — and similar in coloration to sand, making them vulnerable to predation by gulls, crows, foxes, cats, dogs, or to being stepped on by humans. Raising awareness among beachgoers on how they can help protect the plovers is crucial to their nesting success."

This year, hatching was staggered from June through the end of July.

"Despite the later hatching of some nests and busier beaches in July and August, many chicks were still successful in negotiating the human traffic to make it to fledging,” said Clifford.

According to Fish and Game, beachgoers can protect the piping plover by keeping their dogs on a leash, filling in holes in the sand where chicks can become trapped, flying kites at least 200 feet away from the nesting areas, and respecting signs and fencing near the nesting birds.

Due to conservation efforts and cooperation of the beachgoers, the piping plover population has grown to almost 2,000 pairs along the coast from North Carolina to Canada since the bird became listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1986, Fish and Game officials say.

More information about the piping plover is available through New Hampshire's Piping Plover Project.