Beach-nesting birds face problems from people, nature

By TODD B. BATES
ENVIRONMENTAL WRITER, APP.com

Piping plovers and other endangered beach-nesting birds in Monmouth County and the rest of coastal New Jersey generally fared well this year, despite facing problems linked to floods, predators and people, according to observers.

While the number of piping plover pairs in New Jersey increased from 116 last year to 129 this year, plover parents did not produce many chicks and a Sea Girt beach-raking machine killed one chick — possibly two — in June.

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Here the wild things are

BY NJ DeVICO
Special to the Times

Margaret O'Gorman wants to reach the people who think wildlife is found only in exotic or faraway places like the rainforests or the Arctic. There's plenty of wildlife right here in New Jersey, points out the executive director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

For example, "people are sur prised to learn that there are bald eagles in New Jersey," she says.

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