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A Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia) stands among scattered shells in a sandy overwash at Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve in North Carolina, blending seamlessly into its fragile coastal environment. These small shorebirds rely on undisturbed beaches and tidal flats for nesting, scraping shallow depressions in the sand to lay their well-camouflaged eggs. However, habitat loss due to coastal development, human disturbance, and sea level rise threatens their breeding success. Protected areas like Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve play a critical role in providing safe nesting sites for Wilson’s Plovers and other vulnerable shorebirds, underscoring the importance of preserving these dynamic coastal ecosystems.