Click to see The State of the Birds: 2009, a comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States.  Of 173 bird species that use coastal habitats, 53 are in trouble and 14 are listed as endangered or threatened. These species include the Least Tern, Roseate Tern and Piping Plover that nest on Plymouth Beach. Fourteen of 27 shorebirds have declined, including several migratory species that use Plymouth Beach.

In 2008 the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) published Birds of Conservation Concern, identifying bird species that are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) without additional conservation actions. Several species that nest or rest on Plymouth Beach are at the highest priority level for conservation.

		CLICK TO SEE USFWS 2008 REPORT BIRDS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN

Other organizations working on conservation of coastal habitat and protection of shorebirds locally, nationally and internationally include:

Coastal Waterbird Program
www.massaudubon.org/cwp/index.php

The CWP’s primary focus is monitoring and protecting the most threatened species of nesting birds on the Massachusetts coastline. The program advocates for protecting the entire ecosystem, including coastal beaches, salt marshes, and tidelands, which serve as habitats to 49 species of breeding birds and 112 species of migratory or wintering birds.

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Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN)
www.whsrn.org/index.html

The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network ,WHSRN, was launched in 1985 to conserve shorebirds and their habitats through a network of key sites across the Americas.

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Important Bird Area (IBA)
www.massaudubon.org/Birds_&_Beyond/IBAs/index.php

The IBA identifies key sites in Massachusetts that provide essential habitat to one or more species of breeding, wintering, and/or migrating birds. Plymouth and Duxbury Bays are an Important Bird Area.

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ShoreBird World
www.shorebirdworld.org

Shorebird World promotes understanding of the natural history of shorebirds, conservation challenges they face throughout their migratory ranges, and international research and conservation efforts to help ensure their survival.

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Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
www.manomet.org

Manomet’s mission is to conserve natural resources for the benefit of wildlife and human populations. Through research and collaboration, Manomet builds science-based, cooperative solutions to environmental problems.

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Mass Wildlife: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species
http://mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/conservation/birds/coastal_waterbirds.htm

MassWildlife coordinates statewide conservation efforts and monitoring programs, compiles and disseminate census data, restores and protects important coastal nesting sites, provides technical assistance to landowners and other cooperators, and uses regulatory tools to protect breeding populations of state-protected rare species and their habitats.

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife
www.fws.gov/northeast/pipingplover/recplan/appendixg.html

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency charged with protecting and enhancing the populations and habitat of more than 800 species of birds, including the endangered piping plover.  The agency developed guidelines to prevent the mortality or harassment of piping plovers, their eggs, and chicks on recreational beaches, and beaches where vehicles are permitted.

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