Out on Deadneck/Sampson’s Island, fencing lines the majority of the center of the island for declining coastal bird species like the Piping Plovers and the Least Terns. There is one other bird species that has found the protected area a perfect place for them to lay their eggs and that would be the Willet. Today, the Willet is a bird that is thriving compared to its past. If it wasn’t for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, this long legged and beaked bird would probably be extinct due to over hunting. If you get the chance to drive through the river or walk along the shore of the island, there is a high chance that you will run into a Willet. They are fearless and have no problem deterring you from their nests by screeching their squeaky toy-like call, flying directly at you, or purposely leading you away from the nesting area. While some would call it annoying, we must give them credit for all of the hard work they put in to keep their population numbers from declining again.