How does 1,422 miles sound for a migration distance? Of course this assumes this specific individual bird in question flies in a straight line between Bismarck, North Dakota and Bald Point State Park on the Gulf Coast in Florida (doubtful).

Yesterday I heard from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Piping Plover I photographed two weeks ago on that Florida beach is at least eight years old! Given very few Piping Plovers survive past five years, this bird is a senior citizen just like me. Remember, the Piping Plover is a “threatened and endangered” bird species. (my original post)

Here is some text from the email sent to me by the US Fish and Wildlife Service:

“Thank you for reporting the banded piping plover! T14 was banded as an adult on the Missouri River near Bismarck, ND June 2014.  We observed it on the breeding grounds through 2018 in a similar area.  It was first observed at Bald Point State Park in Florida its first winter after banding.”

And two more photographs of this individual Piping Plover … one new, and one showing the band. Hearing from the US Fish and Wildlife Service made my day. Even Molly who is not a birder was impressed with both the age of this little guy, and the length of its trips.