The site work began on March 2nd to prepare the site for the removal of the remaining 37 cottages on Long Beach West in Stratford.  Work will be suspended as of March 15th because of the return of Piping Plovers, a federally threatened species that nests on Long Beach and will resume in the fall after the birds have departed.  Long Beach is part of the Stratford Great Meadows/Long Beach/Pleasure Beach Important Bird Area and provides important nesting habitat for Piping Plovers, Least Terns and American Oystercatchers.  The removal of the dilapidated cottages will improve the wildlife habitat, remove a major source of debris for the Great Meadows marsh and improve public safety and access to Long Beach.  This barrier beach restoration project is the result of a strong private-public partnership that includes the support of the Town of Stratford; the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Coastal Program; the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; the Trust for Public Land; and Audubon Connecticut.  Audubon had identified this project as a priority for funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.