The little piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) nest in the sand at Fort Tilden and Breezy Point, in Jamaica Bay in Queens. In 2018, the little birds returned, and I saw my first of the year near the entrance to the beach at Fort Tilden on April 28. I have since seen the piping plovers and their chicks at Nickerson Beach on Long Island.
Piping plover chick, Nickerson Beach, June 19, 2020
Piping plover, Nickerson Beach, June 5, 2023
The piping plovers seen in this group were photographed on Nickerson Beach on Long Island in the summer of 2023. I didn’t get to see the very youngest chicks, but I was happy I got to see the piping plovers I did see!
The photos in this group were taken on Nickerson Beach in June, July and August, 2021.
Herbert! Herbert! Bert! Bert! Bert! The beach at Fort Tilden, April 28, 2018
I visited the beach near their nesting area on June 14, 2017, and watched the adults and their chicks running around the sound near the water (the nests are roped off to protect the birds).
Piping plover adult and chick, Breezy Point, Queens, June 14, 2017
The video features these fast little birds, and shows adults and chicks running around, as well as some "distraction behavior," where the adult feigns a broken wing or injury to keep a possible predator's attention on the adult and not on the chicks.
The first group of photos below were taken on Nickerson Beach in June and July 2020. The second group were taken on June 14, 2017, at Breezy Point.
Piping plover, feigning a broken wing as distraction behavior, June 14, 2017, Breezy Point
Piping plover youngster, in a brief pause between running around on the sand
