June 7, 2025

Welcome to the 2025 Piping Plover nesting season update from Parker River National Wildlife Refuge! It has been a season of high hopes, significant challenges, and incredible resilience from our favorite shorebirds. Our team has been working tirelessly to monitor and protect the plovers and their nests. Here’s a look at the season so far.

Early Arrivals and a Promising Start (Early April – Mid-May)

The first Piping Plovers were spotted on our beaches as early as April 3rd this year, a sure sign of spring’s arrival. By May 8th, our biologists were thrilled to find the first nests, and the numbers quickly grew. By mid-May, we had a bustling 23 active nests on the refuge beach. Our team began installing protective exclosures around the most vulnerable nests to shield them from predators.

At the same time, our partners at Crane Beach were also reporting a strong start, with an estimated 45 pairs and 34 nests discovered early in the season.

A Major Setback: The Late May Nor’easter

The nesting season faced a significant challenge on the evening of May 22nd. A powerful storm with strong northeasterly winds and high tides swept along the coast, causing extensive flooding and overwash on the beaches.

The impact on the plover nests was dramatic. The powerful waves washed out most of the nests on Parker River, burying them under sand and wrack. By the morning of May 23rd, we were down to just a single active nest, which miraculously survived high on a dune crest. It was a difficult blow, but our team immediately began the hard work of assessing the damage and preparing for the birds to re-nest.

A Hopeful Rebound (Late May – Early June)

Piping Plovers are resilient birds, and true to form, they began to rebound quickly. Although none of the pairs that lost their nests had started to re-nest by the end of May, we were hopeful. Our team focused on repairing washed-out fencing and searching for new nesting attempts.

That hope was rewarded in the first week of June. We are overjoyed to report that 12 of the pairs that lost their nests in the storm have successfully re-nested! We now have a total of 13 active nests on the refuge beach.

First Chicks of the Season!

Even more exciting, we have our first chicks! A brood was discovered just south of Boardwalk 5 on June 4th. The tiny, cotton-ball-like chicks were found high on the dune and, by the next morning, were already actively exploring the beach under the watchful eyes of their parents.

Looking Ahead: Least Terns and Continued Monitoring

In addition to the plovers, our team is also monitoring the Least Tern population. We are happy to report that the terns are beginning to establish their colonies, and we have started to see their eggs on the beach as of early June.

Our work continues as we monitor the new nests and the recently hatched chicks. Thank you for your continued support in helping us protect these special birds. Please remember to respect all posted signage and fencing to give these families the space they need to thrive.