The Town of Barnstable has pushed the 4th of July fireworks display back to Labor Day weekend, saying it’s been notified by Mass-Wildlife that the barge holding the fireworks in Lewis Bay is too close to a known population of piping plovers on Smith Point.
Mass-Wildlife’s Eve Schluter says fireworks scare off the birds and it can impact the species' overall population.
Even if moved further away, the town says there is no suitable area to anchor in Lewis Bay until the plovers are gone for the season.
Photo: Getty Images