The southern tip of Plum Island is a Massachusetts State Reservation. A large area above the high tide line is protected for nesting Least Terns and Piping Plovers. They peacefully share the beach like summer tourists enjoying vacation. It helps that the Terns are fishermen and the Plovers are beachcombers. No competition for food, only for a little nesting space.
Birds in My Viewfinder 
It is getting food out of the water vs plucking food out of the sand near the water level. I saw both of those in NJ.
LikeLiked by 1 person