Once the chicks are dry, they follow along behind their parents searching for food in the sand. Cold, wet weather after hatching can cause death of the young. If the nest is lost after this time, the adults often abandon the site. The chicks must grow fast since they have to increase their body weight 4-5 times during the first six weeks of life to prepare for migration which may begin in early August. When piping plovers nest near tern colonies, their survival and breeding success improves.
Terns are both territorial and bold.
They will drive away any predators close to their nests. Plovers are not as bold as the terns but they will defend a territory around their nest. The do this by attacking the intruder directly or by pretending to have a broken wing which will lure the intruder to follow them away from the nesting area. Piping plovers are in direct competition with people for open sand or pebble beaches, particularly in June and July when they are nesting and raising their young. Increased recreational activities and the development of coastal areas have greatly contributed to the loss of nesting habitat.