One of the best years in recent memory for piping plover production seems to be under way at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, according to park managers.
Through mid-June, 15 plover chicks had fledged, said Resource Management Chief Thayer Broili.
"We’re having the best year we’ve ever had for fledging piper plover chicks, probably the best in 20 years since we’ve been monitoring down there," he said.
The chief attributed the relatively good success rate in large part to more monitoring and protection of plover nests, but added that a lack of storms likely helped as well.
“We’ve got more staff to do the monitoring and put in the buffers and respond to breeding situations, and then some people would possibly attribute it to the fact that we’ve been a little bit more restrictive to the areas," Chief Thayer said. "But there could be other factors involved. Weather, we haven't had any big storms. Weather plays a big factor in this.”
Some off-road-vehicle groups and surf casters have complained about the restrictions the seashore managers have taken to safeguard the plovers, a threatened species with fewer than 2,000 pairs on the Atlantic Seaboard, maintaining that the seashore overall offers poor plover habitat and that buffer zones places around nests are overly large and can prevent beach access not only to ORVs but also to pedestrians.
In their resource report on the chicks, park managers noted that a number of nests were lost to overwashes, and some chicks to predation.
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WOW - GOOD POSTS
Tell it like it is guys.
I think more people are beginning to understand and I personnally thank them for that.
I was beginning to think I was cracking up. That I was seeing things that other reasonably sensable people did't see. Thinking maybe it was just me. Thinking Audubon Had kicked our butts.
YOUR GIVING US HOPE KEEP IT UP
I think what's really sad is how many Audubon members are not told the truth. Their newsletters and articles have been full of outright lies! It is not fair to the loyal members. Audubon has made good people down right mad and lost many fans in the process. I know several friends that have quit. I hope your happy Walker.....you need to resign now!
How did they get away with selling that large area of donated land up on the northern Outer Banks? I bet they did not put that in the newsletter. Are the people across this land really that stupid? Karma is coming any day.
Kurt, you're obviously an intelligent guy. It must be difficult to be in your position and have to spread this propaganda. These posts are dead on...no pun intended. Even the NPS has documented over 1400 animal "kills" to protect what, 8 pairs of birds, who are nesting out of their range anyway. And the human cost because of it is outrageous. National media is picking this story up, Fox just did one piece and there are more coming. Balance will come eventually.
You are right about the animals, sadly it happens everyday at the Cape Hatteras National Recreational Seashore. However, within the next few months the killings will really pick. So will the non-science buffers and zero access to historic places like Cape Point. Don't ever think it's just a ORV issue....it means for CLOSED EVERYONE PERIOD! I remember driving all the way from Maryland to sit on the ''other side of the fence'' to watch the few plovers that did nest there once in a while. They were not bothered by us and the park bio-tecs agreed. Not anymore! Thanks Audubon, your once good name is going down the drain and Mr. Johnston is correct....balance will come! Don't you understand how many people you have pissed off?
Jeff, when you start citing Fox news I can only scratch my head. This issue isn't so cut-and-dried that it can be summarized entirely fairly or accurately in sound bites, and Fox doesn't exactly have a reputation for being unbiased.
Did Fox also mention the vandalism that's occurring on the seashore in connection with the closures, and the loggerhead turtle that was run over and killed on Ocracoke last June? Did it mention the abuse heaped on NPS personnel? Did it mention that visitation to Cape Hatteras National Seashore reached 2.28 million in 2009, an increase of nearly 150,000 from 2008 (2010 data has not yet been finalized)?
Let me make it clear that the Traveler has not taken an editorial position on the ORV management plan at Cape Hatteras, but has tried to cover the issue objectively. I think that is evident in the story you label "propaganda," the one that mentions plover numbers could be up for a variety of reasons, including fewer storms as well as the interim ORV plan. We said much the same in reporting last year's turtle nesting success.
We've also given voice to those highly critical of the seashore and the ORV plan.
We try to be as accurate as possible. In regard to your comment above, I assume you know that that predator control program is intended to protect not only piping plovers but also American Oystercatchers, sea turtles, and three species of colonial waterbirds.
As for the plovers' range, not only does the National Park Service recognize Cape Hatteras as piping plover range, breeding and wintering, but so does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state of North Carolina, so I'm not sure how you can say they're nesting out of their range.
Also, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state of North Carolina lists the piping plover as a threatened species.
As a federally threatened species, no matter its population number, the Park Service is obligated by a range of federal laws and regulations to take measures to protect piping plovers. They can't pick and choose which ESA species to address.
And while you mention "8 pairs" of birds, don't forget the 15 chicks that fledged last year, which would push the number over 30. Not a large population, for sure, but twice the number you indicate.
Should Fish and Wildlife set a threshold population number for listed species when it decides whether to try to protect them and bolster their numbers?
Again, this is not a simple issue that can be solved easily or without give-and-take.
As human populations grow, and the idyllic places that the Park Service strives to protect and preserve become more desirable in the eyes of an ever-growing number of user groups, I fear more and more conflicts in all sorts of colors and sizes will arise and not just paralyze the system but degrade it.
Kurt, Your numbers would have been the same if the Point was open last year. No piping plovers or chicks ever came near Cape Point according to National Park data. Again, it's the outrageous buffers that has everyone divided. Most of my birding books call Cape Hatteras the southern most nesting area for piping plovers. I serious doubt ideal conditions will prevail two years in a row. I'm sure the trapping and killing of natural predators will. America does not want their National Park run by special interest groups that do nothing but take.
Kurt I will simply add this. Yes 15 chicks fledged, but 16 were killed (none by ORV) This is less than 50% survival rate with ORV's and pedestrians subdued by draconian closure buffers.
If it were true that this venue is unbiased then please show that these closures for all species are Human closures and not just ORV or Pedestrian. If this were truly an ORV issue then why are Pedestrians being restricted as well? Please note that the 1,000 meter buffers are for Pedestrian and ORV even though all organizations I have read about only require or recommend 300 meters for pedestrians. If you set foot inside a closure you will either be warned, ticketed, fined or even jailed.
The Alternative F sets a recovery plan that lists qty's though I do not recall the exact amounts though I believe it is 15 fledged then 30 fledged sustained for 5 years each. This is a direct reversal from what scientist say the island is capable of carrying which is 15 or so. Oh and by the way 15 fledged could have happened with as few as 5 pairs as they lay eggs 4 at a time on occasions.
"Again, this is not a simple issue that can be solved easily or without give-and-take."
There is no give! The rules in place and the ones about to take place leave areas open as "Year round" but close each year in April whether a bird nest or not! It is a win win for the enviros as stating the beaches are open "year round" controls the uneducated ORV crowd until they show up and find it is closed. OOPS