Birds are amazing creatures that fly through the air captivating us all. Anytime I am at the beach I am in awe of all the birds that make the beach their home, given it’s one of the most challenging environments to live in. The beach is home to a variety of birds, below I will name just a few that call Old Orchard Beach home.
One we are most familiar with are the seagulls. Pictured, is one that is iconic of beach birds. They are opportunistic in their feeding whether it be swooping in to catch fish, stealing food from people, or scavenge from other animals. They are highly adaptable and you can see them on a busy or quiet beach.
Sandpipers are small, wading birds are often seen darting along the water’s edge, their tiny legs moving rapidly as they search for food. Sandpipers primarily feed on small invertebrates like worms, mollusks, and crustaceans, probing the wet sand with their long bills. They are often found in large flocks, especially during migration.
Plovers are small shorebirds that can often be seen running along the tide line, searching for small crustaceans or insects. They are famous for their unique running style—quick bursts of speed followed by a brief pause. Plovers are often found nesting in the sand, where they create well-hidden nests to protect their eggs from predators.
Living on the beach comes with unique challenges. The environment is dynamic, constantly shifting with the tides, wind, and waves. Coastal birds have developed remarkable adaptations to not only survive but thrive in this ever-changing habitat.
Some interesting things about these birds are many beach birds, such as seagulls have specialized glands located near their eyes that help them excrete excess salt from the seawater they consume. This adaptation is essential, as they often ingest seawater while drinking or hunting in the ocean.
Beach birds face the constant threat of predators, including other birds, mammals, and humans. To protect their nests, many species build camouflaged nests right on the sand, using the natural colors and textures of the environment to blend in. For example, the plover’s nest is often little more than a shallow scrape in the sand, but its eggs are speckled to match the sand and rocks around them, making them hard to spot.
Some beach birds are migratory, traveling great distances to find food and breeding grounds. Sandpipers, for instance, often migrate from North America to South America during the winter months. They also have evolved long legs and specialized bills for probing through mud and sand in search of food. Sandpipers also have highly developed eyesight, allowing them to spot fish and other prey from great distances.
Next time you are in Old Orchard Beach be sure to look up and have real sense of appreciation and reverence of the birds that make Old Orchard Beach their home. They truly are remarkable and persevering animals. There are so many other birds not mentioned that call the beach their home and neighboring areas. To thoroughly investigate the area I would suggest visiting the Scarborough Land Trust.
We are very lucky to have over 1,600 acres in our neighboring town, Scarborough, conserved by the Scarborough Land Trust. It is a private, non-profit, community-based organization that engulfs the Scarborough Marsh, the land and viewing area of the Winslow Homer Studio on Prouts Neck and includes a 434-acre landmark farm in western Scarborough.
The upkeep of this conserved land is done by all volunteer work. They build and maintain trails, monitor lands, manage forests and wildlife habitat, and ensure these lands thrive today, and for future generations.
They do a ton of nature walks and other programs to connect people to Scarborough’s exquisite and varied landscapes, and the incredible natural world around us. One of the walks is right here on Pine Point which is home to the piping plovers. So the next time your in Old Orchard Beach staying at the Alouette Beach Resort be sure to check them out or just take a nice walk down to Pine Point and you may just see some!
