Strathmere Plover Project

06/19/2026

A new baby Piping Plover hatches in NYC!

One of the newest little New Yorkers born on a National Park Service New York City beach. With a will to survive that matches our own, and parents defending them at every turn, these young plovers inspire and drive us. Together, with a commitment by Gateway National Recreation Area & New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, we are their best hope at survival.

This tiny fighter stood up minutes after hatching, will you stand up for them?

Join us in their protection.

💙 this epic scene was beautifully photographed by Benjamin Forbes

06/14/2026

These beautiful Diamondback Terrapins are at the height of their egg-laying season. Please stop to let them pass or help these ladies safely across the street in the direction they are going. They haven't yet learned about stop signs or traffic lights, so if you can do this safely, you might need to give a lift when they've started crossing at a dangerous time. Getting one of these terrapins across the road could also save the lives of many of her babies. This is a nice piece with info on one of our favorite coastal residents.

The Diamondback Terrapin is the only turtle that is known to spend its entire life in coastal, brackish marshlands. Brackish waters are waters that have more salinity than freshwater, but less than saltwater, and typically occur where fresh and saltwater meet.

In New Jersey’s coastal areas at this time of year, female Diamondback Terrapins are searching for suitable places to lay their eggs. If you decide to help them cross the road, use these tips:
• When safe to do so, pick the turtle up by grabbing its shell with both hands between its front and hind legs.
• Place the turtle off the road into dirt or grass in the direction it was heading.
• Do not move a terrapin a long distance to “somewhere safe”. They have very small home ranges.

Use caution when entering the roadway and stay safe!

📸: Ben Wurst

06/12/2026

Attention boaters and jet skiers - Right whales in the area close to shore! Please slow down to avoid collisions. They can be very difficult to see in murky water.

Attention boaters! A Right Whale Slow Zone is now active Southeast of Atlantic City, NJ to protect a group of right whales.

Right Whale Slow Zones are areas in which right whales have been visually or acoustically detected. All mariners are requested to avoid or transit these areas at 10 knots or less. If you are in this area, please keep a look out and go slow!

🐋Stay back 500 yards: Approaching a right whale closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal and state law! This includes boats, drones, and paddleboats.

🐋Go 10 knots or less: Going slow in Right Whale Slow Zones helps boaters stay safe and prevent collisions that are lethal for right whales. Mandatory 10-knot speed restrictions for most vessels 65 feet or longer are also in effect in the Great South Channel Seasonal Management Area (SMA) from April 1 - July 31.

🐋Be extra vigilant: Moms and calves are especially vulnerable to ship strike due to spending longer times at the surface.

Details and graphics of all vessel strike management zones currently in effect: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/reducing-vessel-strikes-north-atlantic-right-whales -vessel-speed-restrictions

06/07/2026

Heads up!!! Terrapins need your help crossing roads between marshes and dunes to lay their eggs. Stop and let them finish their walk or pick them up by both sides of their shell and move them in the direction they are walking and off the street. Thanks in advance for your help with these irreplaceable denizens of our beaches.

Terrapin nesting season got off to a slower and later start this year, but this morning brought a welcome burst of activity! We observed numerous diamondback terrapin mothers making their way across the roadway from the bayside to the ocean side in search of nesting sites.
As nesting season ramps up, please use extra caution while driving. Terrapins may be crossing in both directions, so slow down, stay alert, and watch the road shoulders carefully. If it is safe to do so, you can help a turtle cross in the direction it was already traveling. Every turtle that safely reaches her destination helps support our local population.
A single female terrapin may lay dozens of eggs each year, yet only a small percentage of hatchlings survive to adulthood due to predators, flooding, vehicles, and habitat loss.
A terrapin crossing the road may appear slow and vulnerable, but she is undertaking an extraordinary journey guided by instincts that have endured for millions of years. Each nesting female that successfully reaches her nesting site—and safely returns to the marsh—helps ensure the future of the species.
Protecting just one nesting female can have an impact for generations to come.
Thank you for helping safeguard these incredible animals during this important time of year. 🐢💚

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

Great Piping Plover news from the Great Lakes!

06/05/2026

Planting native plants - which dont need pesticides - will save the lives of birds, frogs and other wildlife.

Pesticides don’t just kill the insects we target—they can also kill birds that depend on those insects for food. When we reduce insect populations, we reduce a vital food source for nestlings and adult birds alike.

A healthy yard doesn’t need to be perfect. By reducing pesticide use, we can help create a safer environment for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.

06/05/2026

Drivers needed to take injured birds to rehab.

06/03/2026

We have some very sad news from the beach. Several oystercatcher nests have been lost to fox predation this season at the Natural Area. These beautiful and iconic birds work so hard to raise their young on our shores. Please do not feed foxes — or leave food behind. Fed foxes lose their fear of humans, roam more boldly, and our nesting birds pay the price. Together we can give our oystercatchers a fighting chance.
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12/27/2025

Spotted a seal on the beach? A reminder from the seal rescue experts on what to do—and what not to do.

We've helped many of Santa's seal "helpers" from the North Pole over the past 47 years, including 556 Harp seals, 67 Hooded seals and 2 Ringed seals. Learn about these really "cool" species and more during our North Pole Patient Countdown! This adorable graphic is shared from our friends at Peppermint Narwhal Creative! 🦭