[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

Piping Plovers breed on barren outer beaches along the east coast of Canada and the US, and near water in the western Great Plains and basins of the US and Canada. Their light "sand" color helps them hide from natural predators on the dry sand of the upper beaches. This one, however, has ventured onto dark, wet sand, where its light coloration makes it stand out.

The harsh environment of the outer beaches is the least of the Piping Plover's concerns. Sharing the beach with people (and their pets and dune buggies) has caused a serious decline in these birds, and as a result they are on the Endangered Species list.

This Piping Plover was photographed on the beach near a traditional nesting site at Cape May, New Jersey. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1996)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

This lonely looking Piping Plover was photographed in the fall near a traditional nesting area at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: June 1977)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

Piping Plovers breed on outer beaches along the east coast of Canada and the US, and near water in the western Great Plains and basins of the US and Canada. They are an endangered species, whose population is declining due to habitat disturbance from ocean bathers and recreational vehicles, and nest predation, during the breeding season. This one was photographed near a traditional nesting area at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Photo taken with a 750mm f5.6 Celestron Mirror lens on Ektachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1976)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

This Piping Plover was photographed in the fall near a traditional nesting area at Cape May, New Jersey. Photo taken with a 300mm f4.5 Nikkor ED lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: March 1984)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

This Piping Plover was photographed at Bolivar Flats, Port Bolivar, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: April 30, 2008)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

This Piping Plover was photographed at the Boca Chica beach, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: May 4, 2009)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

This winter plumaged Piping Plover was photographed at Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi, Texas Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: November 1980)

[Length 7.25 in. Wingspan 19 in.]

Semipalmated Plovers breed on the Arctic tundra across Canada and Alaska. They are common spring and fall migrants throughout the US and southern Canada. This one was photographed near a nest site at Churchill, Manitoba. Photo taken with a 180 f2.8 Nikkor EDAF lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 1991)