Matt Bango Photography

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small shorebird that is threatened and endangered in North America. Foraging behavior resembles that of an American Robin. It is often seen running quickly across the sand, stopping suddenly, and then pecking and catching prey. It primarily breeds along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Canada and also inland near water in the northern Great Plains. This species is considered threatened or endangered in North America primarily due to disruption and damage from dogs, vehicles, and people and also loss of habitat due to beach development. That being said, it isn’t all bad news for these little wind-up toys. There is a strong conservation effort to protect them, especially in New Jersey and New York. Designated nesting areas are roped off to deter people from disturbing the birds while they nest. This type of conservation effort is readily seen at Sandy Hook and if you do come across a roped off area – please respect the birds and effort and don’t go into the roped off areas.

I have been eager to see one of these birds for two years, ever since I moved to the New York City area. Shortly after my previous visit to Sandy Hook, I was told the beach location of where there were a few pairs nesting. A week later and first thing bright and early Saturday morning, I made my way to the beach. It was extremely windy and cold – not exactly what you would call a leisurely stroll along the beach. However a life bird was in my grasp; nothing was going to stop me (except not finding them). I walked up and down the beach for a solid 30-40 minutes exactly where I was told and saw nothing but sand whipping by my face. I decided to head back to my vehicle and try another location, but to my surprise I saw a tiny fluff ball dug into the ground as grains of sand sped by. I was finally looking at a Piping Plover and was able to add a tick to my life list. I decided to set up my camera gear and try to get some shots.

After the wind decreased to a manageable amount and I wasn’t paranoid of getting sand in my gear, I was able to get down on the ground and watch these birds in action. These birds are active and fast, so working at close range is difficult. I always prefer to be laying on the ground with shorebirds. They respond better (less nervous) and when you’re on the ground you can’t actively chase them. I prefer this method of laying and waiting rather than chasing because the birds behave more naturally and I have the peace of mind to know that I’m not disturbing them in their daily activities. If you position yourself in a good location (paying attention to lighting and foraging opportunities), you can get two completely different settings without even moving. Compare the two following images, both were shot from the exact same location, however both convey two very different images.

When you are working with threatened or endangered birds, it’s even more critical to be cautious. If you notice the bird(s) standing upright frequently and looking at you every few seconds, it’s a clear indicator that the bird is uncomfortable. As a photographer you should be able to read the bird and know when you’re too close and when the bird is going to simply fly away. Try to avoid flushing the bird at all costs, not only do you lose your photographic opportunity, but you also are potentially disturbing the bird. Patience, reading and understanding the bird will allow you to get close enough to get some beautiful shots of your subject.

In closing, I have put together a few tips for photographing Piping Plovers:

• Use extra caution – these birds are threatened and endangered. Sacrifice a shot if it means not disturbing the bird.
• They’re fast – chasing them won’t get you anywhere. This is a species where sitting and waiting for them to come to you will likely yield the best results.
• Get low – shorebirds typically photograph best when you’re near their eye level. You don’t need to lay on your stomach, but bending down rather than standing up will give better shots.

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