Piping plovers, one of the most endangered bird species in North America, have an unusual approach to nest-building: the male will dig a shallow bowl in the sand and if a female finds it acceptable, she’ll move in and camouflage it with shells and other beach debris. Great Lakes Untamed premieres October 12th at 8 PM. | Smithsonian Channel

Total Maine: WMTW Photojournalist Kevyn Fowler recently captured this video of newly hatching piping plover chicks. The birds, which were once endangered, are now listed as "near threatened" thanks to protective measures that have helped their population grow in recent years. | WMTW-TV