A question we have been getting a lot with the heavy storms pummeling Maine�s coastlines this winter: How will the Piping Plovers manage the upcoming nesting season with the beaches so damaged? What a great question! Finally, fellow plover biologist Laura Williams and I were able to get away from our desks March 12 and […]
Plovers & Terns
Summer Summary: Record breeding plover pairs but lower fledgling numbers
Another summer, another record-breaking year: For the sixth consecutive season, in 2023 we saw a record high number of breeding pairs of Piping Plovers on Maine beaches. Maine was home to 157 breeding pairs this nesting season, with some pairs nesting in places never before occupied or that had been vacant for many years. However, […]
From the Interns: Spending a Summer with the Piping Plovers
The Coastal Birds project hires seasonal biologists, technicians, and interns every summer to help with Piping Plover and Least Tern conservation on the beaches from York to Georgetown. Every summer, we are fortunate to have energetic students who are willing to do whatever it takes! Here, they share some thoughts about what their experiences were […]
Plover Party spreads good cheer and great care
Thanks to all the folks who joined our Coastal Birds Crew at Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth for a plover party last week, especially to special guest Beacon, the Maine Mariners mascot! Also a big shout out to the rangers and staff at the state park, and to our new group of volunteers […]
Introducing our Pets for Plovers program
We are so excited to have the Piping Plovers back on local beaches! Endangered in the state of Maine, these birds require plenty of space in order to build their nests and raise their families. Human disturbance, roaming dogs, and wandering cats are among the top threats to their survival. Fortunately, there are many ways […]
Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce Names Maine Audubon Nonprofit Organization of the Year
The work of Maine Audubon�s Coastal Birds Crew was in the spotlight last month as the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce named Maine Audubon the Nonprofit Organization of the Year at a ceremony on October 12. Coastal Birds Project Director Laura Minich Zitske and Biologist Laura Williams accepted the award on behalf of Maine […]
Four Lessons I Learned from Working with Piping Plovers this Summer
Hello! I�m Emma Sloan, a biologist with Maine Audubon�s Plover Crew. We have spent this summer protecting the endangered Piping Plover along 22 beaches in southern Maine. As a new graduate and new resident of Maine, I have learned so much through this work. So, before the season ends, I wanted to share the lessons […]
Now hiring: seasonal staff for conservation projects
The conservation team is starting to hire seasonal staff for summer projects. Two positions are now open for applications: Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Piping Plover Technician – southern Maine Maine Audubon is hiring a Piping Plover Technician. This is a seasonal position at Maine Audubon, to be stationed at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge […]
Piping Plovers: Record-breaking numbers don�t tell the whole story
One possible headline for a story about the 2021 Piping Plover season could be �Endangered Birds Break Records on Maine Beaches in 2021.� That wouldn�t be wrong, and yes, there would be much to celebrate. More Piping Plover pairs than ever before fledged chicks. In 2020, 98 plover pairs fledged 199 chicks. This year, 125 […]