Our coastal conservation staff call them the “plovers with an attitude” - even the chicks, from the full height of their 2 ½ inches, will stare down beach walkers standing in their way.

So little is known about them...researchers think that we have about 500 pairs in Florida, but it is a guestimate. Their fledging age has been reported as being three weeks but newer studies show it could be closer to 30 days! In August, the dozen or so WIPL we see at nesting sites on inlets will swell to 50 -60 birds, but where are these newcomers from?

Help Audubon Florida untangle some of the mysteries about Wilson’s Plovers, keep an eye out for banded birds as some studies are underway to improve our understanding of this beautiful species.

Also, please consider volunteering to monitor one of their nesting sites next season. It's impossible not to enjoy your face to face moment with the daring (and darling) chicks!