At least one unfledged piping plover chick has made its way onto a public parking lot at Tashmoo Beach, leading the town of Tisbury to close the lot for up to two weeks.
Lyra Brennan of Mass Audubon, who alerted the town and is monitoring the plover chick's presence, said the chunky little birds are protected by both state and federal laws.
"We need to ensure that they're not run over by vehicles," Ms. Brennan told the Gazette Friday.
Along with the chain closing the parking lot, Ms. Brennan said there is some low fencing to keep the plover from toddling into the road.
"Everything will be removed as soon as the chick is fledged," she said.
Norton Point in Edgartown and several beaches on Chappaquiddick have also been closed in recent weeks due to plover chicks.
This article appears in July 24, 2026.
What is fledged?
fledge
[flej]
verb
(of a young bird) develop wing feathers that are large enough for flight:
“the young fledge around four weeks after hatching”
bring up (a young bird) until its wing feathers are developed enough for flight:
“they fledged twenty-four chicks in fourteen months”
This is getting a little crazy… closing beaches for plovers??
This is their breach. They are the natives. The indigenous. We are not. The beach is where their food is. How would you like it if some aliens came around and blocked your way into stop and shop?
Where can you get updates on this? Does anyone know when it will reopen?