Sleeping Beauty

A Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) father repositions to allow another chick into his warm embrace. The shuffle allows a sleeping beauty to become visible. Why build a nest when you can be one? This patient piping plover father can offer sanctuary to all four of his chicks—part parenting, part survival, all love. On Nova Scotia’s fragile shores, moments like these are as vital as they are vanishing. Endangered but enduring, the species carries on one chick at a time. With fewer than 60 breeding pairs in Nova Scotia, they are a symbol of resilience in a race against extinction. This tiny shorebird is a rare and hopeful glimpse into a fragile future. The tag on this one means he was an Eastern Canadian adult when he got his jewelry. Thanks to all the volunteers who gather the data to help in their wellbeing.