Strathmere Plover Project

10/02/2026

This summer our Osprey population and others in the Chesapeake Bay area crashed - lack of menhaden due to overfishing was a critical cause of starvation of chicks and adults. We have until October 9 to help Ospreys. Click to read more and send this letter to the Atlantic state Marine Fishery Commission to let them know how important it is to reduce and control fishing of menhaden – A critical food source for Osprey, striped bass, and many other animals. Your help is needed to support our fish and osprey!

Act now and send messages to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in support of menhaden fishing limits so Ospreys can recover.

09/16/2026

Whoa great Royal Tern breeding colony on horseshoe Island this season!

08/27/2026

This small piping plover chick lived but a few days. We lost far too many chicks in NYC this season. We hold their little lives forever in our hearts, propelling us forward— together with our partners at Gateway National Recreation Area + New York City Department of Parks & Recreation— to do more to protect them. We must do better.

This Dolly Parton song’s lyrics reminded us of their precious fragile lives.

“Little bird, take me aboard
Your beautiful wings and let me fly
Fly me away back to yesterday
And drop me off there awhile

Let me smell the rare perfume
Of the sweet flower of beauty again
Let me run in the playful breeze
Of youth long gone with the wind

Let me sit for a while by the place
Where I found the treasure of love
Then sing me a song as you fly me along
On our long last journey above.”

Little Bird
by Dolly Parton ‧ 1969

📷: Benjamin Forbes

08/23/2026

WE'RE ONBOARD!
2026 Nightmare in Strathmere
Sun. Aug 23, 6:30P

Look for the Strathmere Plover Project in the Nightmare Parade as we focus our attention on our incredible native ospreys who have been struggling to find food for their survival. [Osprey photo credit: Tom Gimpel, Beach Path Images ]

08/11/2026

Join our friends from the SIA Native Plant Committee as they highlight the Gardens of Strathmere! On August 13, 6 pm at the Schiavo Library, the SIA Native Plant Committee invites you to an illustrated talk showcasing the green thumbs and beautiful native plant gardens in public and private spaces throughout town.
https://www.strathmereploverproject.org/event-details/native-plant-talk-sia-native-plant-committee-1

08/10/2026

3 New Plovers Released!
Does it get any better than this?
Yesterday, our Executive Director, Laura Ann Johnson, had the privilege of opening the crate to release three Piping Plovers right here at Sleeping Bear Dunes!
These birds were raised and cared for by the amazing team at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago before making their return to the Lakeshore. We are so grateful for our conservation partners and dedicated volunteers who work year-round to protect these endangered shorebirds.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JEePUrW3S/

08/09/2026

We were so happy to once again take part in the Schiavo Library’s Family Scavenger hunt Thursday night. Seven families, totaling 17 children, needed to solve clues and identify “treasures” throughout town. Stratty, our Piping Plover mascot was watching over his nest on the beach, waiting to be found. Before racing onto the beach, participants paused to examine a life-sized plover and his nestful of eggs. They agreed the bird’s camo and tiny eggs make it vulnerable to accidental breakage on the beach and then were invited onto the beach to take a selfie with our larger-than-life Piping Plover and his nest full of eggs. The excitement of the hunt plus the mascot selfie was a true Scavenger Hunt highlight!

08/08/2026

Hope these fledglings-to-be make it out of Green Bay, WI before the winter sets in.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DDt2b2Mu2/