New Bedford’s East Beach Becomes Home to Endangered Bird Species

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The New Bedford Conservation Commission recently announced the arrival of two piping plover chicks that were fledged on East Beach this week.

There's no specific indication of when the birds were first spotted.

However, their recent habitat on the beach is a significant experience for the city.

According to a post released by the City of New Bedford, the newly arrived piping plovers are the only second and third chick born in the city in modern times.

Unfortunately, they are considered an endangered species in the Atlantic Coast population, right next to its populations in the Great Lakes and the Great Plains.

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What Are Piping Plovers?

Piping plovers are a dominant bird in Massachusetts.

"Massachusetts has the largest breeding population of piping plovers along the Atlantic coast, with 1,178 breeding pairs in 2023," MassWildlife spokesperson Emily Stolarski told WBSM.

A conservation habitat plan was even approved in 2016, making Massachusetts a leader in conservation of piping plovers.

If you haven't spotted one before, it is most likely due to their typical habitat closer to the water's edge and coastal beaches.

"They build nests in the narrow section of land between the high tide line and the foot of coastal dunes," Stolarski said.

During the birds' nesting on East Beach, city officials, in cooperation with beachgoers, provided the breeding pair a safe place to raise their young successfully.

After summering on our coastline, the birds will soon begin migrating back south.