Rare bird species nesting in Masonboro Inlet

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Hundreds of bird species have been spotted in North Carolina, and recently an endangered species was seen near Wrightsville Beach.

Piping Plovers are an endangered species that nest on the beaches of the Great Lakes during the summer, before making their way to the southeastern Atlantic region for winter.

Less than 10,000 individual birds are still alive in the wild, and small flocks of 20 to 30 birds have been seen at times in North Carolina.

These birds nest near inlets, including Wrightsville Beach’s Masonboro inlet.

Lindsay Addison is with the North Carolina Audubon.

She said it’s great to see piping plovers in the cape fear but people need to be mindful to not bother them.

“A lot of it just has to do with just giving them some space on the beach and making that they’re not being disturbed by our recreational activities and that way we can all enjoy these birds for years to come,” Addison said.

Addison says some common ways people can disturb the birds is by letting children and dogs near them so be sure to keep your dogs on a leash.