Oystercatchers, known for sharp bills and beady eyes, are making a comeback thanks to conservation

ASSOCIATED PRESS • July 20, 2026

American oystercatcher were largely wiped out in New England by the turn of the 20th century due to hunting and egg collecting but their numbers are rising. About $10 million was raised over a decade in a nationwide effort to restore the oystercatcher’s population along the coasts of the Americas. Much of the campaign focused on educating beachgoers about the presence of the quirky birds known for their piercing calls and habit of using their razor sharp bills to crack open oysters and mussels. Measures were also implemented to protect their ground nesting sites from predators and pets on beaches, sand dunes, salt marshes or tide wrack deposits.