April is notorious for the return of somewhat reasonable temperatures to the island, and with that the return of our feathered beach neighbors - migrating shorebirds . The Foundation has already welcomed the return of American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, and Osprey among other seasonal residents.

Foundation science staff work endlessly to monitor these migrating populations, many of which are under strict Federal protection. Our findings and those of our island conservation partner organizations are important to many larger studies, such as that by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Piping Plover populations in the Northeast. While there have been increasing efforts to monitor populations of rare shorebirds, significant concerns over the safety of our nesting beach neighbors remain.

As beach season returns for humans as well, we ask our like-minded conservation supporters to aid in our pursuit of protecting these rare species by acting as volunteer ambassadors. Please, inform a friend or neighbor on the beach of the importance of respecting fenced off areas and posted signs, and to keep pets leashed. Each individual's actions can make a difference. Share the shore this summer with these fragile creatures!