Told through the lens of a remarkable pair of Piping Plovers, every aspect of the bird’s life story is documented, from courtship to nesting to chick-rearing to fledgling.
Director’s Note
I began documenting the Good Harbor Beach Piping Plovers in May of 2016. What began as a quick trip to the beach to capture a few moments of footage of the recently arrived Plovers for an entirely different project about Cape Ann wildlife became, over time, the greatly expanded project that it is today. From that very first visit, it was apparent the birds were struggling under the pressures of human and dog disturbance.
Writing and photographing while filming all the while, I have published over several hundred posts, articles, and stories about the Good Harbor Beach PiPls, along with Plovers that I am documenting at several other north of Boston beaches. Typically I do not work this way and would not publish until the project were further along, but in order to help our community better understand how we can all help the Plovers, I found it necessary to publicize what was taking place at Good Harbor Beach.
The film footage, photos, and journals have provided the basis for the forthcoming film and children’s book about Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers. While the film is in production, I have created a lecture program and am offering that freely to our community. Please see below for a synopsis of the program and links to hundreds of stories about the threatened Piping Plover.
Piping Plover Short Films and ShortShorts
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Vote for Chicks on the Half Shell! Nesting shorebirds need safe habitat. Please share and vote to continue protections afforded under the Endangered Species Act.
What’s happening in the clip below? Within hours after hatching, tiny marshmallow-sized Piping Plover chicks leave the nest and begin foraging on their own. They still need Mom and Dad for thermo-snuggling and for protection. In this clip you can hear Dad Plover piping loudly, commanding the chick to take cover, and the day-old chick’s barely audible peeps in response.
Director’s Note
I began documenting the Good Harbor Beach Piping Plovers in May of 2016. What began as a quick trip to the beach to capture a few moments of footage of the recently arrived Plovers for an entirely different project about Cape Ann wildlife became, over time, the greatly expanded project that it is today. From that very first visit, it was apparent the birds were struggling under the pressures of human and dog disturbance.
Writing and photographing while filming all the while, I have published over several hundred posts, articles, and stories about the Good Harbor Beach PiPls, along with Plovers that I am documenting at several other north of Boston beaches. Typically I do not work this way and would not publish until the project were further along, but in order to help our community better understand what was happening on our most popular beach, I found it necessary to publicize what was taking place at Good Harbor Beach.
The film footage, photos, and journals have provided the basis for the forthcoming film and children’s book about Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers. While the film is in production, I have created a lecture program and am offering that freely to our community. Please see below for a synopsis of the program and a list of hundreds of stories about the threatened Piping Plover.
Lecture Program
Life Story of the Piping Plover
From courtship to nesting to fledging, every aspect of the Piping Plover’s life story is presented. We’ll also cover the current status of the bird’s population, learn about where Piping Plovers spend the winter, and how communities can work together to help Piping Plovers survive even the busiest of beaches. Through Kim Smith’s photo journal work on the threatened Piping Plover, we gain a better understanding of how best to help this tiniest, but most resilient, of shorebirds as it breeds and migrates along the Atlantic Coast.
For more information about presenting, please contact Kim Smith at kimsmithdesigns@hotmail.com
Why are there five chicks in this photo?
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Featured Story (see many more articles posted below and organized chronologically)
THE GOOD HARBOR BEACH PIPING PLOVERS – The story of a remarkably spirited pair of birds and how a community came together to help in their struggle for survival
Read more here:
Ambassador Group Works to Protect Gloucester’s Endangered Piping Plovers
UPDATE: Piping plovers are back
The Good Harbor Beach Parking Lot Plovers
In May of 2019, Kim was featured in Audubon Magazine for her work protecting and documenting Piping Plovers, “How Plover Chicks Born in a Parking Lot Spurred a City to Make Its Beach Safer.”
Piping Plover Stories and Photos 2016 –2020
If you would like to read more about Piping Plovers, the following is a (partial) list of several hundred articles and posts from April 2016 to the present. I haven’t yet organized the posts from May 2019 through February 2020 – a task in progress!
February 2020 –
WHY THE SAND IS PURPLE AND PINK ON CRANE BEACH, PLUM ISLAND, AND OTHER NORTH SHORE BEACHES
#GLOUCESTERPLOVER ! JOYFUL NEWS TO SHARE – OUR GOOD HARBOR BEACH PIPING PLOVERS HAVE RETURNED
WE HAVE A PIPING PLOVER NEST SCRAPE!
CAPE ANN EARLY SPRING WILDLIFE UPDATE
PIPING PLOVERS ARE HERE AND THEY NEED OUR HELP!
EARTH DAY 1970 – 2020: FREE DOG POOP
EARTH DAY 1970 – 2020: HOW ARE WE DOING FIFTY YEARS LATER?
RACHEL CARSON’S “SILENT SPRING”
EARTH DAY 1970 -2020: “GOOD MORNING CHICKS!” PIPING PLOVER SHORT FILM
The Magical Month of May for Migrations in Massachusetts
GOOD NEWS CAPE ANN – THINKING ABUT CHANGING THE NAME “TO BEAUTY BY THE SEA”- EPISODE 6
CALL TO ACTION: GLOUCESTER PLOVERS NEED OUR HELP
NEW YOUTUBE SHOW – BEAUTY BY THE SEA EPISODE #7
WHY ARE THERE STILL NO ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES SIGNS AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH
WE HAVE THE ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES SIGNS FOR THE PIPLS!!!
BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL FRIDAY AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH!
AND WE HAVE TWO PIPING PLOVER EGGS
BEAUTY BY THE SEA WITH PIPING PLOVERS MATING! AND WE HAVE TWO PIPING PLOVER EGGS!!! EPISODE 8
HILARY FRYE, EXTRAORDINARY DUCKLING RESCUER!
BEAUTIFUL SILVERY VIOLET FOGGY SUNRISE AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH
UPDATE ON OUR GOOD HARBOR BEACH NESTING PAIR OF PIPING PLOVERS
SHOUT OUT TO PIPING PLOVER HELPERS DJ AND JOHN BURLINGHAM!
PIPING PLOVER CHRONICLES – WE LOST A NEST – AND SOME GOOD NEWS
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PIPING PLOVER FIRST HATCH DAY
CALL OUT FOR PIPING PLOVER VOLUNTEER AMBASSADORS
BEAUTIFUL PIPING PLOVER SECOND HATCH DAY- MORNING
BEAUTIFUL PIPING PLOVER SECOND HATCH DAY- AFTERNOON
SUPER EXCITING NEWS – THERE ARE NOW TWO PAIRS OF PIPING PLOVERS NESTING AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH!
OUR SALT ISLAND PIPING PLOVER FAM HAS A SECOND EGG IN THE NEST!
WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO HATCH DAY – PIPING PLOVER AMBASSADORS ARE NEEDED DURING THE AFTERNOONS
OUR GOOD HAROR BEACH PIPING PLOVERS ARE HATCHING!
CAN YOU FIND THREE OF THE FOUR CHICKS IN THE PHOTO TAKEN THS MORNING?
THREE COTTONBALL-SIZED PIPING PLOVER CHICKS IN BEACH CAMO
THREE CHICKS TODAY – I DON’T THINK THE LAST HATCHLING SURVIVED
MASS AUDUBON’S COASTAL WATERBIRD PROGRAM ANNOUNCES 2019 BEST RESULTS IN DECADE
PIPING PLOVER FAMILY ALL THREE PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR!
ONE WEEK MILESTONE FOR OUR LITTLE CHICK!!!
OUR LITTLE CHICK IS TEN DAYS OLD!
HAPPY FOURTH! AND OUR LITTLE CHICK AND DAD SURVIVED DYNAMITE AND FIREWORKS
MORE EXPLOSIVES AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH BUT LITTLE CHICK AND DAD COME THROUGH THE NIGHT!
STUNNING THUNDER MOON OVER GOOD HARBOR BEACH AND SHERMAN POINT
OUR PIPING PLOVER CHICK IS TWO WEEKS OLD TODAY!
A WEEK WITH THE GOOD HARBOR BEACH RED FOX FAMILY – PART ONE
A WONDERFULLY UNEVENTFUL MORNING WITH THE PIPLS!
LINK TO SUE WINSLOW’S ARTICLE FOR NORTHSHORE MAGAZINE ABOUT OUR GHB PIPING PLOVERS
PIPING PLOVER HARASSMENT BY YOUTHS, BEACH RAKING, AND BEACH PARTYGOERS
DAD AND MARSHMALLOW SURVIVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY PACKED GOOD HARBOR BEACH!
HAPPY THREE WEEKS OLD LITTLE MARSHMALLOW!
BEAUTIFUL PAINTBOX GOOD HARBOR BEACH SUNRISE THIS MORNING
PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM AT CAPE ANN BEACHES
MARSHMALLOW AND DAD THERMO-SNUGGLING
PIPING PLOVER CHONICLES CONTINUES!
PIPING PLOVER VIDEO FUNNY FLIPPY FLOPPY FLY THING
MARSHMALLOW ATE A BUTTERFLY THIS MORNING!
MAYOR SEFATIA RESTORES PEACE AND ORDER TO GLOUCESTER BEACHES!
SUNDAY MORNING PIPING PLOVER FAMILY UPDATE
A FIRST – COMMON TERN AND PIPING PLOVER FAMILIES TOGETHER AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH!
DAD AND MARSHMALLOW ARE DOING GREAT SADLY, OUR VISITING LITTLE COMMON TERN HAS PASSED
WING-POWER! PIPING PLOVER MARSHMALLOW UPDATE AND BUSY BEACH DAYS
HAPPY FIVE WEEKS OLD MARSHMALLOW!
HOW FAR CAN A PIPING PLOVER TRAVEL IN A DAY?
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS HAVE ARRIVED!
LEAST TERN BABIES AT BEAUTIFUL WINTHROP SHORE RESERVATION
THANK YOU HEATHER ATWOOD AND KORY CURCURU FOR THE FANTASTIC PIPING PLOVER 1623 STUDIOS INTERVIEW!
ALL GOOD PIPL THINGS TO SHARE!
GOOD EATING AT GOOD HARBOR! IF YOU ARE A BIRD, THAT IS 🙂
FAREWELL MARSHMALLOW, SAFE TRAVELS LITTLE CHICK!
BEAUTIFUL MORNING AT THE CREEK AND THE TREE SWALLOWS ARE MASSING! with video
Stills from 2020
May 2019 -September 2019: List coming soon
April 2018 – May 2019 Piping Plover articles by Kim Smith
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/04/08/piping-plovers-little-chick-and-friends-return/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/04/09/piping-plover-ambassadors-needed/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/04/15/piping-plovers-driven-off-the-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/04/19/spectacular-twin-lights-thacher-island-waves/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/04/21/how-you-can-help-the-piping-plovers/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/10/piping-plover-egg-3/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/11/rarest-of-rare-visit-from-wilsons-plovers/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/15/vandals-harming-the-piping-plovers/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/16/four/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/20/debunking-piping-plover-myth-1/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/22/outstandingly-clear-new-signs-posted-at-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/23/debunking-piping-plover-myths-2-and-3/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/24/more-shorebirds-nesting-at-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/26/piping-plover-memorial-day-weekend-update/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/05/29/beautiful-shorebirds-passing-through/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/05/our-good-harbor-beach-killdeer-plover-chicks/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/06/breaking-footbridge-temporary-bridge-construction-underway/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/06/shout-out-and-thank-you-to-gloucester-dpws-tommy-nolan/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/09/goodnight-sweet-parking-lot-plover-family/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/10/hooray-the-good-harbor-beach-footbridge-is-in-use/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/11/good-harbor-beach-two-day-old-piping-plover-chicks/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/13/we-lost-two-chicks-today/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/15/gloucester-dpw-getting-the-job-done-thank-you-once-again/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/17/happy-fathers-day-brought-to-you-by-papa-plover/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/19/what-do-piping-plovers-eat-2/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/25/happy-two-week-old-birthday-to-our-little-pip/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/26/little-pip-zing-zanging-around-the-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/27/our-little-pip-is-missing/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/06/29/piping-plover-update-surprising-turn-of-events/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/07/20/42-pairs-of-piping-plovers-nesting-at-cranes-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/07/27/welcome-to-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/07/27/rarest-of-rare-bird-sightings-at-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/08/01/piping-plover-symbolic-fencing-recommendations/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/08/14/gloucester-dpw-rockin-the-new-fencing-at-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2018/09/11/a-banner-year-for-maines-piping-plovers/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/01/23/advocating-for-the-piping-plovers/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/02/24/gloucesters-piping-plovers-need-your-help-tuesday-night/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/02/26/give-the-chicks-a-chance/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/03/26/our-piping-plovers-have-arrived-at-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/08/our-good-harbor-beach-piping-plovers-are-missing/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/11/even-the-the-bachelor-has-returned-to-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/11/gloucester-gets-it-right-with-the-new-dog-signs/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/11/thank-you-city-councilor-scott-memhard/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/16/where-do-piping-plovers-go-in-bad-weather/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/17/exciting-news-for-our-good-harbor-beach-plover-fans/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/18/piping-plovers-parking-lot-nest-or-beach-nest/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/22/fog-shrouded-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/22/fun-411-update-on-etm-the-cumberland-island-banded-plover/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/26/rainbow-sunrise-at-good-harbor-beach-this-morning/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/29/gloucesters-dpw-mike-tarantino-and-kevin-mazzeo-on-the-job/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/04/29/the-good-harbor-beach-piping-plovers-update/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/05/10/black-bellied-plovers-at-good-harbor-beach/
https://kimsmithdesigns.com/2019/05/11/piping-plover-mothers-day-weekend-update/
2017 Piping Plover articles by Kim Smith
Piping Plovers Have Returned to Cape Ann Beaches!
M is for May Migration Through Massachusetts
PIPING PLOVERS COURTING ON GOOD HARBOR BEACH!!
GOOD HARBOR GOOD MORNING! Featuring Twin Lights, Two Lovers, a Photographer, and Sunrise
You Didn’t Actually Think I’d Want to Live in That Dump Did You?
The Good Harbor Beach Piping Plover Pair Are Struggling and Need Our Help
HOORAY!!! The Good Harbor Beach Piping Plovers are Officially Nesting
WHAT ARE THOSE CRAZY BIRDS RUNNING AROUND GOOD HARBOR BEACH PARKING LOT?
Mom, Why are the Plovers in Jail?
AWESOME VOLUNTEERS MONITORING THE PIPING PLOVER CHICKS AT GOOD HARBOR BEACH
PIPING PLOVER UPDATE: CELEBRATING DAY TEN!
Good Harbor Beach Piping Plovers Day Twelve
GOOD HARBOR BEACH PIPING PLOVERS DAY THIRTEEN
TWO CHICKS CELEBRATING TWO WEEK MILESTONE, ONE CHICK HANGING ON BY A THREAD
INJURED PIPING PLOVER UPDATE #2
INJURED (AND NON-INJURED) PIPING PLOVER CHICKS UPDATE
OUR LITTLE PIPING PLOVER CHICK PASSED AWAY
GLORIOUS GOOD HARBOR BEACH SUNRISE
ONLY ONE CHICK SEEN THIS MORNING (*EDITED RE DOGS ON THE BEACH)
CELEBRATING DAY TWENTY WITH OUR PIPING PLOVER CHICK–ALMOST-FLEDGLING
OUTSTANDING PIPING PLOVER GROWTH CHART
PIPING PLOVER BIRD BANDING DISORDERS
OUR TWENTY-TWO-DAY-OLD PIPING PLOVER IS AS PLUMP AND PERKY AS A PICKLE
HOORAY FOR OUR TWENTY-THREE-DAY-OLD PIPING PLOVER CHICK!
DAY TWENTY FOUR WITH OUR PIPING PLOVER CHICK/ALMOST FLEDGLING AND WHY MORE DOGS???
CELEBRATING DAY TWENTY FIVE WITH OUR PIPING PLOVER CHICK, AND WHAT’S WITH THE PENCIL NECK LOOK?
PIPING PLOVER PATROL UPDATE FROM DAY TWENTY SIX!
CATS AND DOGS AND BIRDS ON THE BEACH: A DEADLY COMBINATION
SHOUT OUT TO PATTY- GOOD HARBOR BEACH #1 VOLUNTEER TRASH-PICKER-UPPER
THE GREAT AUK AT THE PAINT FACTORY! AND PIPING PLOVER DAY 28 UPDATE
LITTLE CHICK LEARNING TO FLY AND OTHER SCARY HAPPENINGS
HAPPY ONE-MONTH-OLD BIRTHDAY MILESTONE TO OUR PIPING PLOVER LITTLE CHICK!
SUPER HIGH TIDES AND LITTLE CHICK IN SLO MO
LITTLE CHICK CELEBRATING FIFTH WEEK MILESTONE! AND CURRENT STATUS UPDATE
EAT, SLEEP, STRETCH, CHECK IN WITH PA, REPEAT
PIPING PLOVER CHICK DAY THIRTY-SEVEN AND THIRTY-EIGHT AND NO PAPA PLOVER
WHERE WILL YOU GO LITTLE CHICK?
WHY IS LITTLE CHICK “MISSING” A LEG?
HAPPY SIX WEEK BIRTHDAY LITTLE CHICK!!!
POSSIBLE LITTLE CHICK SIGHTINGS!
FRIENDS OF LITTLE CHICK UPDATE
HOW DO HURRICANES AFFECT MIGRATING SHOREBIRDS LIKE LITTLE CHICK
2016 Piping Plover articles by Kim Smith
Beautiful Good Harbor Beach Piping Plovers
Good Harbor Beach Storm Sky Drama and Piping Plover Update
Good Harbor Beach Sunrise and Piping Plover Nest
Dog Owner Trouble at Good Harbor Beach and Why It is Not a Good Idea To Ignore Federal Laws
Dog Owner and Trash Trouble at Good Harbor Beach Part Two
How to Tell the Difference Between Male and Female Piping Plovers
Three Actions We All Can Take to Help the Piping Plover Chicks Survive
Meet the Good Harbor Beach Piping Plover Chicks!
Good Harbor Beach Misty Morning Sunrise
The Good Harbor Beach Piping Plovers Update With Tips on Observing the Birds
Good Morning Gloucester, Brought to You by Good Harbor Beach