Piping Plover with chick: York County, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I still have several wonders to share from my walk at Rachel Carson, but every day in June seems to bring a new wonder. I can’t keep up! I have been checking the endangered Piping Plovers on our local beach several times a week, hoping to see chicks—and yesterday was the day. There were two, probably two days old. (They were certainly not there 3 days ago when I visited last.) You can’t really miss them. The parents have a totally different sound when chicks are present—almost frantic sounding as they attempt to herd the chicks and keep them out of trouble. The chicks are full of curiosity and have no sense of danger—and they are always hungry. They will increase their body weight by a factor of 10 between hatch and fledge, generally in under 28 days. And this on a diet of insects, crustaceans, and worms mostly small enough that we can barely see them. Like their parents, if you stand still or sit down quietly they will come right up to you. I saw the adult obviously sitting over a chick—they can only take so much sun as they cannot yet regulate their own body temperature—and sat down on my stool and waited patiently to see what would happen. She was calling for the other chick, and it approached, but would not be enticed under cover. Eventually the chick under her wing got restless (or hungry again) and moved out, and I got the photo. I waited where I was on my stool until both chick and adult moved off so as not to alarm either. And though it looks like I was close, this crop is at least the equivalent of a 900mm telephoto lens—so not that close at all. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.