Piping Plover: York County, Maine, USA, June 2023 — Piping Plovers are protected in Maine, and elsewhere in the US, as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. Recent surveys put the total population in the US at about 1800 pairs, and the population in Maine is set to break the 150 pairs mark this year. Last year they raised over 250 chicks to flight stage. They are colonizing, or recolonizing, beaches beyond last year’s breeding territory. This year they moved onto one of the most popular tourist beaches in the area. Even this early in the year and mid-week, I had to negotiate beach blankets and umbrellas to get to the section where the nest protection ropes and mesh nest cage are, and where at least 3 chicks and their parents were running around on the open beach. These shots were all taken at 800mm equivalent and cropped in. I stayed at a respectful, and, I hope, safe distance. This is a story of a bug and a chick. Looking back through my photos of this chick, the bug had been on it for at least 10 minutes before the chick shook it off and picked it up. I am pretty certain the chick did not yet know what to do with it once it had it…but it will learn. Can I ask you, if you are visiting Maine this early summer, please give the Piping Plovers their space. Watch were you walk. Please do not put your beach encampment on the sections of beach where the nesting areas are marked off with ropes and signs, even if there is open beach in front of them. And please, please, do not bring your dog to the beach, even on a leash. The chicks are very vulnerable. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f8 @ 1/2000th. -.3EV