The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is asking beach-goers to help protect piping plovers by staying away from their nests in southern Maine.

The endangered shorebirds are just beginning to set up nesting territories on white sand beaches after spending the winter in North Carolina, Mexico and the Caribbean, officials said.

Beach-goers are reminded to make sure their dogs do not disrupt nests, by keeping dogs on leash and avoiding nesting areas.

Currently, piping plovers have been observed at Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg and elsewhere. Nesting areas are identified with signs and twine fencing.

The birds have been federally listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1986 and were listed on the state’s Endangered Species list in 1997. For more information, visit www.mefish wildlife.com.