PAW PRINTS byTerriEstes SHARING THE SHORES

Let’s talk about those pesky little migrants who are taking up prime real estate on the shores of our communities and are protected by the federal government. These peeping little creatures run back and forth along the surf without a care in the world. Yes, I am talking about the piping plovers.

The piping plover is a migratory bird that breeds in the northern regions of North America, primarily the Atlantic coast. It nests on sandy beaches and dunes. As winter approaches, they migrate no further than a few blocks away from me my whole life (except for my college years in Vermont and the ones following when I lived abroad). She was like glue, bringing extended family together for every holiday, milestone, beach day, and whatever other excuse she could find. At the end of her life, starting after her house was destroyed in Sandy, Max and I were lucky enough to share a two-family home with my Gma. I knew these eight years were special as I was living them (thank you Mom and Dad for making it possible), and although life is always busy, I do feel that I made the most of our time together. Max got to really know his great grandmother in his early, formative years. We spent many afternoons sitting around her kitchen table or sprawled on her living room floor talking, laughing, sometimes crying, and always sharing. Going down there always made me feel good. My grandma was authentic, heart-centered, and an open book, and that gave others the license to be themselves, too. south to warmer coastal areas. The piping plover is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. The populations have been declining due to loss of habitat, disturbance of human activities and predation. Often, beachgoers and off-leash dogs disrupt their nesting behavior and cause them to abandon their nests.

Grandma Sally will always be a huge role model for me, and those last years together will forever live in a sacred time capsule in my heart. She was humble, and I’m not completely sure that she realized how long her loving arms reached (I think in the end, she did). Gma taught me the importance of family. I am so grateful for my immediate and extended family, along with all of the incredible people in our Rockaway community that I have come to also regard as family. I share this today from my heart, to say thank you, and to perhaps inspire you in your own life. It goes quickly, but each moment is rich, and we experience the richness when we land exactly where we are. Grandma Sally lived, and her life inspires mine each and every day.

I invite you to join me next Wednesday, June 21 for a sacred, healing, heart-centered Summer Solstice Sound Ceremony. Sign up at oceanblissyoga.net, or by texting or calling Jen (me) at 917-318-1168.

Conservation efforts to restore piping plover populations have been going on in our area since the 1980s. Yes, that’s right, parts of our beaches have been fenced off in different areas for over 40 years. The good news is that the number of nesting pairs has increased indicating successful breeding and reproduction. This is an encouraging sign of population growth.

Making our way around the nesting grounds to get to the beach is tiresome. Setting up our beach chairs outside of the hallowed nesting grounds is irritating. But these little birds play a significant role in the environment and contribute to the ecological balance of our coastal ecosystems. They feed on small invertebrates, such as marine worms and forage in the shallow water, targeting small organisms. They eat beetles, flies and mosquitos too. So, protecting these birds and their habitats has broad environmental benefits and supports the overall health and harmony of our coastal environment here in the Rockaways. So, let’s give the little birds another 40 years. I know I could use a few less mosquito bites.

Fun Animal Fact:

Opossums are marsupials (pouched mammals), not rodents. In fact, opossums are the only native marsupial in all of North America.

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