Piping Plovers are federally threatened and endangered shorebirds that inhabit wide-open beaches, shorelines and dry lakebeds in North America.

With coloring that blends with dry sand, the Piping Plover and its nests are extremely difficult to spot on the beach. Even though plover nests are camouflaged by sandy beaches to offset predators, these birds still face survival issues because of disruptions from vehicles, beachgoers and declining habitats due to changes in landscape from severe weather and man-made developments. 

Today, the global population of Piping Plovers is made up of only 8,000 adults, but Audubon North Carolina is working to protect these tiny birds that rely on our beaches. Through conservation, education and advocacy programs, we are helping protect nesting birds to increase the overall population of this priority species.

Additionally, a home-grown hero of our coastal region, Audubon North Carolina's Deputy Director Walker Golder was featured in Audubon's "Beating the Odds" campaign for his work to protect Piping Plovers throughout their range. Read the full article here.

Through a national climate study, Audubon has identified the Piping Plover as a climate threatened bird. Learn more here.