A nesting piping plover has forced the cancellation of the summer concert series at Sandy Hook in Gateway National Recreation Area/NPS file

The arrival of a tiny shorebird that has decided to nest on a beach at Sandy Hook inside Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey is great news for the species, but not-so-great news for the Sandy Hook Foundation's summer beach concert series. Because the noise from the concert would disturb the nesting piping plovers, the series has been canceled for this summer. 

The nest was spotted the week of June 3 on Sandy Hook’s Beach E. That location has traditionally been used for the Sandy Hook Foundation’s summer beach concert series. However, noise disturbs piping plovers, a federally-protected shore bird. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mandates that no activity such as concerts take place within 1100 yards of the nest. To fulfill the park’s legal obligations and give the birds the greatest chance possible at nesting success, this year’s concert series has been canceled.

“We want these special birds to thrive,” said Gateway Superintendent Jen Nersesian. “The park did try to find an alternative location, but could not identify anything that meets the Foundation’s needs or the spirit of what this program has become. We are disappointed right alongside our visitors, but appreciate everyone’s support in helping to save a species on the brink.”

All along the Atlantic coast there are fewer than 3,000 nesting pairs of plovers. This year, piping plovers have built more than 20 nests on Sandy Hook’s beaches. Over the last 10 years Sandy Hook has consistently supported 40-50 percent of the New Jersey nesting plover pairs. Of the 145 chicks that fledged in the Garden State in 2018, 59 were from Sandy Hook nests.