-
Access at seashore locations; reduction in programming
Stairs at Marconi Beach are being constructed, and the beach will remain closed until late June. Parts of the Nauset Marsh and Red Maple Swamp trails are closed. More »
Birds
A piping plover sits atop its barely discernible eggs. NPS Image 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. Illustrated Guide to Shorebirds of Cape Cod National Seashore |
Did You Know?
The original Highland Light was built in 1797, becoming the first lighthouse on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It had 24 whale oil lamps set in 2 circles, one on top of the other with the reflector behind.