Waquoit Bay Reserve, Massachusetts

Endangered Species

The reserve is home to several protected species, including the Federally Endangered Sandplain Gerardia. Other protected floral species include Bushy Rockrose, Thread-Leaved Sundew, Northern Blazing Star, Butterfly-weed, Little Ladies Tresses, Eastern Lilaeopsis, Vetchling, Narrow-Leaved Wild Rice and Knotroot Foxtail. The population of Northern Blazing Star on Washburn Island is the largest in the state of Massachusetts.

The Piping Plover is a federally threatened species that nests on South Cape Beach and Washburn Island. For many years predators and human impacts interfered with successful hatching. In 1990, the reserve started the volunteer Piping Plover Patrol. In cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Massachusetts Audubon, the reserve trains volunteers to identify signs of mating and nesting. When eggs are laid, volunteers erect predator exclusion fences according to instructions. Since the inception of the patrol, there have been several successful hatchings. Each year more birds return to nest; they have now expanded their nesting territory to Washburn Island. The Endangered Shorebird Monitor, a seasonal position hired through the Massachusetts Deptartment of Environmental Management now coordinates that program with oversight by the reserve.

Federally endangered Roseate Terns fish for sand lance on the shoals of Nantucket Sound off South Cape Beach. The barrier beach provides an important resting and staging area for their feeding activity.

The Least Tern, a state species of special concern, also nests on South Cape and is protected by the Piping Plover Patrol.

The Box Turtle is another species of state concern that is found on South Cape Beach and the reserve headquarters.

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