PORTLAND, Maine - Endangered piping plovers are returning to nest at beaches in southern Maine. Last year, a record number of the fragile shore birds hatched, and last week, the first egg-laden nests of the season were found.
Maine Aububon wildlife biologist Laura Minich Zitske says, so far this year, plover nests have been found in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach.
She says what's come as a surprise is how long it took the birds to nest and lay eggs. She says piping plovers started to arrive in Maine in early to mid March, a little earlier than normal. But it took them until the end of April to actually lay eggs.
Zitske says she suspects that's because of a cool down after early spring-like weather.
"We really thought we were going to get an early nest, but it has been cold and we had snow on our beaches when we were surveying last week," Zitske says. "So I think that's a big energetic demand on a bird, and so it's hard to keep warm in sub-zero temperatures and in snow storms, and also have enough energy to make eggs."
Wildlife officials are again reminding beach goers that they can help plovers by respecting all areas that are fenced or posted and by keeping their dogs on leashes - even on beaches where that's not required.
