NPS Image

A piping plover sits atop its barely discernable eggs.

Cape Cod National Seashore Guidelines for Viewing Nesting Shorebirds

Perhaps no group of animals elicits curiosity and wonder the way that birds do. The fascinating diversity, behaviors, and life cycles of birds have inspired awe for generations and often put birds at the forefront of conservation efforts. 

The Cape Cod National Seashore contains prime habitat for a multitude of species including many that migrate along the Atlantic Flyway.  A species of particular management concern is the piping plover.  

The piping plover is a small, stocky, sandy-colored bird resembling a sandpiper. When still, the piping plover blends into the pale background of open, sandy habitat on outer beaches where it feeds and nests. It became a protected species under the Endangered Species Act on January 10, 1986. Along the Atlantic Coast it is designated as threatened, which means that the population would be likely to decline if not protected.

piping plover rack card

Illustrated Guide to Shorebirds of Cape Cod National Seashore