Piping Plover

Listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, this species migrates to the Gulf Coast during the non-breeding season, which can last from late July through April. Because they spend most of their annual cycle on the wintering grounds, human disturbance and habitat loss remain critical limitations for recovering the population, despite gains from nesting site protection on breeding grounds in the upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and northern Atlantic Coast. With only about 8,000 birds in the world, restoration projects are being examined for their piping plover benefits.