plover

Piping Plover nesting season is actively underway in Clinton, CT. The threatened shorebirds are currently protecting nests and raising newly hatched chicks along the town’s sandy shorelines, particularly around Cedar Island.

Piping Plovers in Clinton, CT

Local Habitat: Cedar Island is a known key nesting area for these vulnerable shorebirds in Clinton.
Timeline: Plovers return to CT shores in March. Eggs generally hatch in late May, and newly hatched chicks can be seen running along the shoreline with their parents.
Conservation Status: Listed as threatened on both the Connecticut and Federal Endangered Species Acts, their nesting success relies heavily on fragile beach ecosystems

How You Can Help Protect Them:

To prevent disrupting the birds and their vulnerable nests (which are shallow sand depressions), the CT DEEP Wildlife Division and local conservationists ask that beachgoers follow strict guidelines:

Observe from a distance: Do not linger near nesting areas or approach the birds.
Respect the fences: Stay strictly away from roped-off or fenced-in beach zones.
Leash your dogs: Always keep pets on a leash and away from bird habitats.
Obey signage: Follow posted warnings and use designated beach walkways to avoid trampling eggs.

For more information on preserving these coastal birds and to learn about responsible beach use, visit the CT DEEP Piping Plover Fact Sheet or learn about volunteer opportunities on the Audubon Connecticut Coastal Stewardship page.

The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange-red legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black stripe running along the breast line. This chest band is usually thicker in males during the breeding season, and it is the only reliable way to tell the sexes apart. The bird is difficult to see when it is standing still, as it blends well with open, sandy beach habitats. It typically runs in short spurts and stops.

There are two subspecies of piping plovers: the eastern population is known as Charadrius melodus melodus and the mid-west population is known as C. m. circumcinctus. The bird's name is derived from its plaintive bell-like whistles which are often heard before the bird is visible.

Breeding Adult - Round and stocky little plover that frequently stand in a horizontal position. Breeding adults have a short, orange bill with a black tip, a black crown stripe and black neck band.

Juvenile - Juveniles have a plain face, a stubby black bill, and yellow legs.

More than 10 percent of Americans live within 50 miles of Long Island Sound. Audubon is leading an ambitious effort to restore the Sound’s health in a way that supports populations of priority waterbirds and shorebirds while balancing the needs of nature and people.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse