Wintering Piping Plovers

As I wrote previously, my 2020 AAfCW season started of my own volition in Charleston, South Carolina in February followed by a couple weeks based out of in Miami from February to early March. I wanted to spend some time with the Piping Plovers on their wintering grounds. This would allow me to see what their behavior was like in comparison to essentially a more narrow slice of life during the nesting season in Connecticut. Some of our Piping Plovers arrive in April and leave by June or July, even if they have had success in fledging young! Thus most of their lives are actually spent elsewhere to our south in tropical regions.

There is a small flock of Piping Plovers that enjoys wintering in Miami itself. Good choice, birds! They have a quiet section of beach tucked away in a gorgeous location. I took these group shots on February 29 while they were preening and resting.

You can see 10 of the 12 or 13 individuals I would typically see.

There were a good variety of looks based on age, sex and who was coming into breeding plumage. They had a lot of work to do before heading north.

Feather maintenance and preening are critical tasks for birds about to fly up the eastern seaboard.

Isn't it amazing how much they can reach apparently without getting a neck ache?

In this final shot you can see a hint of a Laughing Gull in the back on the left. There's also an imposter up front! Can you identify it? That is a Sanderling, a bird that winters in Connecticut, second from the right with those black legs and a bulkier body.

Being able to feed, rest and preen undisturbed is of vital importance for our birds traveling through Connecticut as well. Please give all the space you can to shorebird groups of all species. I could not help but to wonder where all these birds ended up this spring I was writing this entry. Are some in Connecticut? I do know where one of the group (not pictured) was headed, though, as there is a flagged Piping Plover that regularly spends her winter here with this flock. I will tell you about her in an upcoming entry.

Scott Kruitbosch

AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator

RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator