Over 2,100 acres of state parkland on Long Island's East End were designated as New York State's 50th bird conservation area on Wednesday, according to Newsday [1].

The piping plover, which inhabits the newly designated conservation area, is listed as a threatened species by the federal government.The area includes most of Napeague State Park and the western portion of Hither Hills State Park, [2] which are visited by about 550,000 people each year. Napeague is one of the largest unfragmented areas of maritime habitat on eastern Long Island, and is especially important in the winter for rare and migratory birds.

Inclusion in the program will provide for signs and kiosks to educate the public about bird life and ensure parks officials prioritize habitat preservation in future management decisions. The designation doesn't add additional regulation beyond existing state and federal laws but insures that bird conservation will be integrated into agency planning, management and research projects in those areas.