The 2025 Coastal Birds Project season has officially reached its end. As of Friday, August 22, all of the Piping Plover chicks have fledged and many are already flying south to their wintering grounds—with some flying as far as the Caribbean! This year, Maine fledged 251 chicks, which is just one bird shy of the record set in 2022. However, we still set a record this year with 174 pairs of Piping Plovers returning to Maine beaches, which is our highest number ever!
Just as many of the Piping Plovers and Least Terns return to beaches where they fared well the previous year, we were fortunate to have three returning crew members on our Coastal Birds seasonal staff this year. Sophie Garland-Doré and Greer Lowenstein both returned as Biologists, while Christie Hull, who was our 2024 Outreach Coordinator, returned to the project in a new role as a Technician! As returning crew members, they brought an extra level of expertise and familiarity to their positions, which served as valuable assets throughout the season. Technician Kaily Rich and several amazing interns rounded out the team, which is led by Laura Williams and Laura Minich Zitske.
This year, the Coastal Birds Crew surveyed 26 beaches (including some that could only be reached by kayak!), tracked down hundreds of Piping Plover and Least Tern nests, educated thousands of people about endangered shorebirds, hauled heavy signs, stakes, and predator exclosures down miles of beach, and made countless memories. In addition to their duties as part of the Coastal Birds Project, these incredible naturalists also located American Oystercatcher and Common Tern nests, sighted Spotted Sandpiper broods, and assisted with Saltmarsh Sparrow banding during their time on the beaches. They ended the season with impressive tans, strong muscles, and a deep knowledge of Maine’s beach ecology. Now, like our shorebird fledglings, it’s time for them to take flight and pursue new adventures.
Thank you, Coastal Birds Crew, for all of your hard work this summer!
Top left to right: Natalia Jacobs (Intern), Greer Lowenstein (Seasonal Biologist), Laura Williams (Wildlife Biologist), Eric Asherman (Intern), Spence Brennick (Intern)
Bottom left to right: Laura Minich Zitske (Associate Director of Conservation), Katie Burns (Outreach Coordinator), Kaily Rich (Seasonal Technician), Christie Hull (Seasonal Technician), Sophie Garland-Doré (Seasonal Biologist)
Not pictured: Kimberly Beamer (Intern)
