Day 297: Piping Plover

I was very happy to finally see a Piping Plover a few weeks ago! We tried to find one on Assateague Island earlier in the year during nesting season, but had no luck. These adorable little shorebirds are globally threatened and endangered, so it was exciting to see one up close.

Piping Plovers live on sandy or rocky beaches of the Atlantic Coast and on the Great Lakes shores. They are not too difficult to find on Assateague Island in Maryland, if you know where to look. We were hiking close to the beach and passed some fellow birders, who told us they had just spotted one close to the water. Luckily, it was still there when we arrived a few minutes later.