Troy Lorimer, age 13, of Casper, Wyo., for his question:

DO ALL SANDPIPERS LIVE BY THE SEA?

A handsome bird called the upland plover is a North American member of the sandpiper family. It turns out to be the only member of the sandpiper group that does not live by the sea. You'll find it usually on wet prairies or meadows.

Sometimes called the Bartramian sandpiper, the upland plover is about a foot long and has an especially long tail for a sandpiper. Its color is blackish brown on the lower part of its body and buff on top with dark streaks. Its belly is white.

The upland plover breeds from Alaska to Montana and Maine during the summer. In the fall it migrates to southern Brazil and Argentina. There the bird winters on the pampas.

An upland plover will make its nest in clumps of prairie grass or dry leaves. The female lays four cream colored eggs that are speckled with brown. The babies learn to fly during the summer and in early fall they head south.

The law protects the birds from hunters. The birds destroy many harmful insects and are regarded as being among man's very good friends.