Piping plover
Whitefish Point, MI. August 2026.
I realized I never shared this cutie. I went to Whitefish Point just to find this bird and I was amazed I found it in five minutes. This was the only one too. They're a protected species so I kept my distance getting these. There were a ton of logs to hide behind.
5 replies
Three different rings seems a bit of overkill of whoever is monitoring these.
Very nice photos though!
This individual featured in the Wikipedia page for piping plover also seems to have 3 rings but they don't look as obtrusive as the ones in OP's post somehow. Maybe it's the size of the rings?
This individual was a juvenile. That's probably why
Right, you'd think two would be enough. A unique ID number for when they die and one colored one to track by as sight. I know they don't really affect the bird in a negative way, but three seems excessive for such a small bird.
I love these little guys. Great shots!