Protecting Plovers

Plover Chicks and Eggs

NPS Photo/JM Heuser

Hidden within the dunes of Gateway's beaches dwells one of our most treasured animals -- the piping plover. With less than 8,000 piping plovers left globally, this federally threatened shorebird is an integral part of what makes this place special.

The plover is well camouflaged, blending in with the surrounding dunes and shells. They build their nests on the open sands of the ocean beaches at Sandy Hook and Jamaica Bay. During the spring and summer, the park closes designated nesting beaches to all visitor use, including fishing, surfing, and beach bathing once nests begin to hatch and chicks are on the beach.

Piping plover chicks need to increase their weight five times within several weeks of hatching so that they’ll be able to thrive and fly. The plover chicks need access to the shoreline to feed in order to achieve this necessary weight gain. The presence of people on the beach causes chicks and their parents to expend energy running up and down the beach to avoid this perceived threat. Interruption in feeding and energy expenditures prevents chicks from thriving and leads to chick mortality.These steps help the give plovers space so they can feed. Plovers need to increase their body weight by five times within several weeks of hatching so that they will be able to thrive and fly.

 

Piping Plover Range

Despite their rarity, piping plovers have maintained a large range across the eastern and central United States. Piping plovers winter in warmer southern coasts and breed along northern beaches in the summer. Their threatened status has led to the protection of beaches and dunes along stretches of shoreline, preserving habitat for a variety of other coastal species. Development, pets, and climate change threaten this fragile environment — making the future of this critically important shorebird all the more uncertain. But the shared stewardship of our visitors has helped lead to a population increase of plovers in our area.

Summer Range Atlantic Coast, Northern Great Plains, and Great Lakes Watershed.
Winter Range - South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts

 

Protecting piping plovers

Dogs are not allowed on ocean beaches at Sandy Hook between March 15 through September 15. Dogs are not allowed on the ocean beaches at Jacob Riis Park, Fort Tilden, Breezy Point Tip and at the bayside of Breezy Point between March 15 through September 15.