I am so very sorry to write that Little Pip and Mama went missing overnight.
When super PiPl volunteer monitor Heather Hall left last night at 9:30 the beach was quiet and peaceful. The Plover Family had a good evening, despite the fact that a Burmese Mountain dog was off leash on the beach and the owners weren’t too happy about being asked to leave.
When I arrived at 4:50am, the beach was eerily quiet. Except for the gulls and crows, there were only the singular calls from Papa Plover. Back and forth he went, from feeding in the tide pools to running into the nesting area and piping for Mama and Pip.
A most heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful PiPl monitors, who are just the kindest people you will ever want to meet. Sunburns, neglected families, missing appointments, late for work–thank you for guarding our little PiPl family from sunrise to sunset. These dedicated volunteers fully understand what it means for a species to be threatened and on the brink of extinction. We all fell in love with our PiPls, it’s hard not to. If you see a volunteer, please stop and thank them for their good work. Please know too, that without their tireless dedication, we would not have known for sure how the other three chicks perished.
By understanding that the chick’s deaths are human-caused, whether it be garbage-attracting gulls and crows or dogs on the beach, we will be much, much better equipped next year to better help nesting shorebirds. It is my understanding that there was a bonfire and party at the rock last night, which I can imagine how terrified that must have made our PiPl family. We can only learn from these past incidents and are determined to make positive steps for the future. For example, imagine if Mama and Papa had been allowed to nest when and where originally intended. The chick would have been a full week older, with just that much more critical development to better adapt to situations such as warm weather night time beach partygoers.
Thank you and a huge shout out to Joe Lucido, Phil, Mike, Tommy, Kenny, Newt, Cindy, and the entire DPW crew. We know you were rooting for the PiPl family and your kind assistance made a difference at every turn.
Thank you to Gloucester’s conservation agent Ken Whittaker and to Essex Greenbelt’s Dave Rimmer. These two have been working together and behind the scenes since the PiPl first arrived on April 3rd, consulting with wildlife agencies, installing roping, installing the wire exclosure, coordinating the crazy monitor scheduling, and much more.
Big Hug and thank you to all our PiPl monitors and friends of the Piping Plovers who I know are just heartbroken tonight.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Not even one could survive – it’s just so hard for them. Very sad. Thank you for looking out for them. They tried so very hard.
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As my mother would say, “Oooh, shit.”
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To bad for the family with thier dog who were asked to leave, seems this country America no longer can obey the rules. So.they were mad.
To the Plovers next year let’s hope they make it. As for America pray we can make it.
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Very sad news😪💔
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Very sad. I hope they weren’t frightened or suffering very long.
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So sad 😦
Poor papa
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My husband claims that he thinks he saw the Mama and Little Pip near the ramp and rocks by Cape Hedge Beach…I am the usual birdwatcher but he was on his own tonight around 7pm and it fairly confident of the sighting…..
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This is devastating and also unsurprising. Wildlife has so little chance in this world to survive, thanks to human apathy, destruction or hubris. These posts about the plovers have been absolutely heartbreaking to read (further, they are a real indictment of some dog owners). To our city leaders: please have more courage & vision and implement rigorous policies that protect nature: once it’s gone, it’s gone. And to Kim Smith and all the volunteers, thank you so very much for being chroniclers and champions of these precious little birds.
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i pray they are found surely people could of kept thier dogs at the dog park while baby was growing
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So, so sad. Poor Papa Plover. I can’t understand why people just feel that they can flaunt the rules and let their dogs run around. I had a dog that loved the beach, but we only brought her down there during the September-March off seasons when it was okay. Thank you to the volunteers and others who spent so much time watching over the little family.
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Very sad, Huge effort by good hearted volunteers. Could the Mamma & baby flown somewhere?
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Beautifully written Kim. Often I met you when I was arriving and you were just leaving at 6:45am, having been there since dawn.
You deserve thanks and praise for all your work in this effort on behalf of the beautiful Piping Plovers.
All we wanted and he needed was a little more time to grow out his wings and tail. Not asking for too much, I think. Yes, we are all very sad.
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Here’s hoping the possible sighting was the real deal!
If not, how very sad! And, how very unnecessary for this to happen.
I am in agreement with Anonymous above:
“Too bad for the family with their dog who were asked to leave. Seems this country (America) no longer can obey the rules. So.they were mad.
To the Plovers next year, let’s hope they make it. As for America, pray we can make it.”
Somewhere along the line, too much has been lost re common decency, appropriateness, and care/concern.
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Very sad news!! The words are so true Thanks Kim and those who stood in the abyss daily…Dave & Kim. A few quotes I like and try my best to live by always. “Quaere Verum (Seek the truth)
“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” – Mark Twain
“And it is about what Paulo Freire calls “praxis,” the act of reflecting, acting and reflecting again. Moral courage is not fanatical. It walks in truth. It is hopeful. It is generous. In fact, the idea of generosity may be the most important aspect of moral courage. American Indian cultures long have understood that the highest expression of courage was in the applications of true generosity.” – Four Arrows Don Trent
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