2025 CEQ Annual Report

Wildlife

Lobster and Fishes               Raptors               Forest Birds               State-Listed Species

Piping Plovers

Piping plovers are small shorebirds that nest only on sandy beaches with sparse vegetation. In 2025, 81 nesting pairs successfully  raised 123 young piping plovers (fledglings) on Connecticut’s beaches resulting in an average of 1.52 fledglings per nest. The average fledglings per nest, or productivity, in 2025 was greater than last year (1.27), the previous ten-year average (1.4), and the goal (1.50).⁵⁷ Scientists estimate that each pair must successfully raise an average of 1.20 young per year to maintain a stable population and an average of 1.50 young per year to successfully increase the population of piping plovers to sustainable levels. Since protection and monitoring efforts began in 1984, nesting success has generally improved, resulting in more returning adults in subsequent years. 

The piping plover population is, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), "an indicator of the health of the fragile beach ecosystem." ⁵⁸ Their habitat is a narrow strip of land squeezed between the rising water of Long Island Sound and higher ground. If their habitat is able to migrate upslope and inland in response to sea level rise, breeding areas could increase; however, habitat loss is anticipated on 45 percent of sandy ocean beaches that are already developed.⁵⁹  

New England recovery unit - The largest and most sustained population increase of Atlantic Coast piping plovers has occurred in New England. The population posted seven (7) percent increases in 2019 and 2020, and another 21 percent increase in 2021 to an estimated 1,264 pairs. Productivity in six of the last eight years exceeded the estimated rate needed to maintain a stationary population in New England.⁶⁰ While piping plovers in New England are generally doing well, the coastal areas from New York south to North Carolina are not. Coastal storms and associated erosion south of New England have decreased the amount of habitat available to shorebirds to nest, which could be a reason why piping plover populations in New England have increased. In addition to coastal storms and beach erosion, significant conservation challenges continue including, but not limited to, human disturbance, dogs on the beach, and predation.⁶¹ 

Goal: The goal for piping plover was derived from the Piping Plover Atlantic Coast Population Revised Recovery Plan (1996). That Plan's goal calls for 2,000 pairs along the east coast with 625 pairs throughout New England, and a five-year average productivity of 1.5 fledged chicks per pair. 

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⁵⁷ _{DEEP, Wildlife Division, Personal communication from L. Saucier, March 26, 2026.}

⁵⁸ _{United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Atlantic Coast Population Revised Recovery Plan, May 2, 1996; omnilearn.net/esacourse/pdfs/piping_plover_recovery_plan96.pdf.}

⁵⁹ _{USFWS, “Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation”, March 2020, p. 138; ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc6378.pdf.}

⁶⁰  _{USFWS, Abundance and Productivity Estimates – 2021 Update - Atlantic Coast Piping Plover Population; www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/piping-plover-abundance-and-productivity-update-2021.pdf.}

⁶¹_{DEEP, Wildlife Division, Personal communication from L. Saucier, March 26, 2026.}