May 4, 2026

The Changing Landscape of Endangered Species Protections

Piping plovers arrive in Connecticut each spring to nest on sandy beaches. Their options are limited here; Connecticut’s shoreline is a narrow strip, hemmed in by one of the most congested interstates in the country. And much of that narrow coastline is made up of rocky bluffs and wetlands. Piping plovers prefer the sandy strips of beach that also attract people, making it even harder for them to carve out safe spaces to lay their gray, speckled eggs. Climate change is squeezing out their options further, as sea levels rise and storms intensify.