Before I started learning about menhaden, I had never really thought about them. They are small, silver fish. They do not have giant teeth. They are not colorful like tropical fish. Most people probably would not stop and say, “Wow, look at that menhaden!”

Piping Plovers are tiny shorebirds with sandy-colored feathers, orange legs, and a small black band around their neck. They are only about the size of a sparrow. Their color helps them hide on the beach, which is great for staying safe—but it also makes them very hard for people to see.