Share the Shore with Nesting Birds

Protect Shorebirds at Coastal Beaches and Wading Birds at Offshore Islands

With ever-growing public use of Connecticut's beaches, there are fewer places for shorebirds, like piping plovers (pictured), least terns, and American 0ystercatchers, to feed, rest, and raise their young. All three birds are identified by the Connecticut Endangered Species Act as threatened and needing conservation and protection. The piping plover is also listed as threatened on the Federal Endangered Species Act. More intense coastal storms and tidal flooding caused by a changing climate have added to the challenges faced by bird species that depend on the shoreline. The DEEP Wildlife Division takes measures to protect nesting shorebirds and waterbirds, and you can help these vulnerable birds by exercising caution and abiding by posted rules when visiting the shoreline.

Protecting wildlife and their habitats is one of DEEP’s most important responsibilities. The Wildlife Division coordinates closely with local conservation organizations, like Connecticut's Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, informing the public about the importance of preserving shorebird and waterbird populations in Connecticut. It is important to remember that when we visit the shoreline to recreate, we are also visiting a crucial habitat for wildlife.

Protection Measures

Every year, from the Friday before Memorial Day until September 9, the following locations are closed to public to prevent disturbances to nesting birds:

• The Dr. William A. Niering Preserve embedded within Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford
• Charles Island in Milford
• Duck Island in Westbrook

DEEP has designated all three sites as Natural Area Preserves, primarily due to their importance as nesting habitats for several state-listed birds, including piping plovers, least terns, snowy and great egrets, glossy ibis, and little blue herons. Charles and Duck Islands have also been designated as Important Bird Areas by Audubon Connecticut.

Dr. William A. Niering Natural Area Preserve: Both the piping plover, a small, sandy-colored shorebird about the size of a robin, and the small, gull-like least tern, reliably and successfully nest in the Niering Natural Area Preserve in Harkness Memorial State Park. The closure of this preserve to the public minimizes human disturbance to these birds during the sensitive nesting season. Access points to the preserve are posted with signage stating, “This area is closed to the public.”

Charles and Duck Islands: Protecting heron and egret nesting areas on these offshore islands in Long Island Sound is an important step to prevent disturbances that can result in abandonment of nests or possibly the entire nesting colony. Nest abandonment would have a tremendous negative effect on these declining bird populations.

To protect the nesting colonies, also known as “rookeries,” educational signs describing state-listed birds and the importance of not disturbing nesting sites have been erected at access points on both islands. Additionally, the sites are posted with island closure notices, the rookeries are fenced, and signs are posted that read “Do Not Enter – Bird Nesting Area.”

When young birds become agitated by disturbances, they often fall from the nest. Once grounded, the young birds die of starvation or predation. If disturbances continue, the adults may abandon the nesting area. Problematic disturbances to rookeries include unleashed dogs, boat and kayak landings, people approaching fenced nesting areas, campouts, and bonfires.

DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Officers patrol the islands and Niering Natural Area Preserve. The islands are entirely closed and landing watercraft on the shoreline is prohibited from the Friday before Memorial Day until September 9. The public can help to protect nesting birds by abiding by the closure and reporting any observed violations by calling DEEP’s 24-hour Dispatch Center at 1-800-842-4357.

Protection of Piping Plovers and Least Terns

Piping plovers and least terns need special protection throughout their nesting season from April through August and especially during the increased beach activity that occurs during holiday weekends (Memorial Day and July 4). By obeying the yellow warning signs and staying away from nesting areas that have been marked with string fencing, beach visitors can avoid disturbing the nesting birds, which could result in nest abandonment by the adult shorebirds or the loss of eggs and chicks. Some piping plover nests are also protected with wire enclosures that allow the birds to come and go as needed but keep out mammalian and aerial predators. 

Beach visitors often are unaware of the shorebirds that nest in shallow depressions in the sands near where they swim, fish, and recreate. Small, camouflaged eggs are easily confused for beach rocks, and tiny fledglings look like cotton fluff that blend into their surroundings. Eggs and fledglings can be inadvertently trampled and destroyed or killed – especially during the busy summer beach season. When perceived predators approach, young piping plovers are likely to stand motionless while the adult tries to attract attention by pretending to have a broken wing or flying around the intruder. If you witness this behavior, DEEP advises you to move away from the area and toward the water’s edge at once.

You can help save these threatened birds. Share the protection tips listed below with friends and family and help us educate other beach visitors.

• Walk close to the water on the lower portion of a beach, so birds resting and nesting on the upper portion of the beach remain undisturbed.
• Be vigilant for posted signs that will alert you to sensitive areas. Follow all guidance on signs, and respect all areas fenced or posted for protection of wildlife. State law prohibits entering state-designated seabird and shorebird protection areas and requires cyclists and vehicles to remain at least 25 feet away. DEEP has erected fencing and yellow warning signs along beaches where these birds build shallow nests in the sand and has cordoned off offshore islands where herons and egrets congregate in nesting areas.
• State law also requires pets to remain at least 25 feet away from state-designated seabird and shorebird protection areas and islands. Refrain from allowing dogs or cats to roam freely in areas where shorebirds congregate during the nesting season from April through September. Dogs are not allowed at many beach areas during the bird nesting season. These areas include, but are not limited to, Compo Beach in Westport, Long Beach and Short Beach in Stratford, Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport, Silver Sands State Park and Milford Point in Milford, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Sandy Point in West Haven, Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton, and Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.
• At areas where dogs are allowed, always keep them on a leash, but remember that even leashed dogs have the potential to step on or disturb nests and young birds. Dogs also may harass sensitive shorebirds by chasing them.
• Keep your distance while photographing or birdwatching so birds feel safe to attend to their eggs and chicks.
• Be aware that while cordoned off areas delineate critical nesting sites, plover and tern chicks are mobile and can be anywhere on the beach. These tiny chicks are no bigger than a cotton ball and are camouflaged to match beach sand. It is extremely important to be aware of your surroundings when visiting beaches and islands.
• Do not build campfires or bonfires, light off fireworks, or fly kites on nesting beaches. The noises may prompt adults to abandon nests and chicks.
• Properly dispose of trash, picnic leftovers, and fish scraps by bringing them home or placing them in covered trash containers. These items, if left on the beach, attract predators of chicks and eggs, such as skunks, raccoons, foxes, and black-backed gulls. Do not feed animals or wildlife on or near the beach.
• Do not attempt to “rescue” young birds that appear lost or too young to fly by bringing them home. It is illegal to hold wildlife for rehabilitation without state or federal permits. In most cases when immature birds are found alone, the adults, who were frightened away, are nearby and will return once the intruder leaves.
• Please report any violations affecting wildlife to DEEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hot line: 1-800-842-4357 or 860-424-3333. 

Content last updated in April 2025.