OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Three active piping plover nests have been reported on the beach.
The public works department emailed a notice late Friday that a plover nest was found by the Windsong Motel at the end of Morrison Street, in addition to active nests at the end of Dube Street and in Ocean Park at the end of Tunis.
The town has had a beach management agreement since 2010 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to protect piping plovers ”“ the small, sandy colored shorebirds that are on the Maine Endangered Species list and recognized federally as a threatened species.
The agreement sets guidelines from April 15 to Aug. 31, only when nesting activity is occurring.
During these periods, the agreement discourages recreational activities within 100 feet of fenced-off plover nesting areas. Dogs are not allowed within 100 feet of plover nesting areas.
Under town ordinance, dogs are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
According to a prepared statement from the Maine Audubon, the available shoreline habitat for nesting plovers has been reduced by 75 percent over the years due to encroaching development. Last year, there were 44 nesting pairs in the state.
Plovers nest in front of sand dunes on the upper beach and are vulnerable to natural predators, roaming pets, storms and human disturbance, according to Maine Audubon. The Maine Audubon encourages beach-goers and landowners to reduce human-caused mortality of plovers by leaving pets at home when planning a trip to the beach, staying away from roped-off plover areas and watching where walking on the beach to avoid stepping on nests.
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