Springtime at Cape May Meadows means that the beaches are cordoned off using fence and ropes to establish an area where the Piping Plover and Least Terns can nest without being disturbed by people or dogs running on the beach. Both of these species are endangered so each year the Nature Conservatory is happy to see more "couples" come to nest. There is still access to the beach for people but it is just not the whole beach. Along the beach that is closed there were 5 pairs of nesting Piping Plovers, several pairs of American Oystercatchers, many Least Terns pairs and more recently the Black Skimmers have looked like they might be nesting.
First to nest were the Piping Plovers, which are a small bird that are very vulnerable to many predators. As soon as a nesting couple is seen the workers build an enclosure around the nest to protect them with an opening that the plover can go through but not any larger bird or animal. It takes the workers about 10 minute to build the enclosures. Once the chicks are hatched they leave the enclosure which would be there safe haven at night if they just but realized it.
Piping Plover parents (top 2 pictures)chicks (bottom 3 pictures) 
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