Plight of Piping Plovers in New England: 35 Years on the Road to Recovery

583 3rd Beach Road,Middletown RI 02842

16 October, 2022

Description

This month we are discussing a conservation effort that is taking place at Third Beach: Piping Plover protection. This globally-threatened and endangered little shorebird depends on our beach habitats. Join Wildlife Biologist, Maureen Durkin, as we discuss plover behavior, ecology, and the long and tireless history of conservation efforts in Rhode Island. We’ll meet at the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Coastal Education Center for a 30-minute walk and talk as we explore the unique and fragile Piping Plover ecosystem. Afterwards, we will meet at our main campus for warm drinks by the fireside and a lecture to learn more about what is being done to protect these precious creatures and how we can help. A free shuttle service is available. Agenda: 3:50 p.m. – Meet at the Coastal Education Center for an optional brief beach stroll 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Guided Walk and Talk at Third Beach 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Gather in Mabel’s Studio and enjoy refreshments by the fire 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Lecture About the speaker: Maureen Durkin is a Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and oversees the monitoring and management of piping plovers and other beach-nesting birds throughout South County and Aquidneck Island for the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Maureen has worked for USFWS in Rhode Island since 2019, and prior to that spent ten years working on various avian field research projects, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Her graduate work focused on the behavior and population biology of Gulf Coast snowy plovers in Florida.