Piping plovers are listed as a federally threatened species and are therefore protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1986. Since plovers nest on Assateauge, we are federally mandated to protect them in an effort to help the Atlantic Coast population rebound. This is a tough task, but one of the easiest ways that we can help the plovers is by protecting their eggs.
Even though plover eggs are expertly camouflaged, they are surprisingly easy for predators to find. So after years of looking at trends in nest predation and chick hatching data, we devised a rather simple way to protect the plover eggs – put up an exclosure to keep the predators out.
As you can see from the image, the wire mesh is small enough to exclude mammalian predators but still big enough to allow the plover access to the nest. The wire is buried below the surface to discourage digging under exclosure; the tined end of the wire faces upward to prevent predators from perching on or climbing into the exclosure. As a final preventative measure, a fabric mesh is stretched over the top to deter avian predators from entering the exclosure from above. Just in case you are wondering, it takes less than 12 minutes to put an exlosure up!
Assateague Island National Seashore's photo.

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Makes total sense to me. Are they just smarter in VA or do they have better leadership and resources?

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Thank you Squid PQ. Simple and effective.

Proof that the NPS's heavy handed approach is simply to deny beach access by the citizens.

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It'll never work ! It just makes way too much sense!!!

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Squiddy,

The rest of the story. The cherry you are a picking ...


"Plovers are easily disturbed by humans and will leave their nests or feeding areas if approached. To ensure their safety, the National Park Service will close portions of Assateague Island to visitor use during the breeding season. Visitors should look for the closure signs to avoid entering protected areas where fragile nests may be easily disturbed or destroyed. The closed areas will be monitored and enforced throughout the summer.

The interior portion of northern Assateague Island, including much of the island north of Assateague State Park, will be closed to public use during the entire breeding season. This year’s closure will begin around April 16 and will remain in effect until all young birds can fly. As a reminder, pets and kite flying are prohibited year-round on the north end of Assateague.

Piping Plovers are also expected to nest along sections of the Park’s OSV zone. Should this occur, the National Park Service may close or limit use in portions of the zone as necessary to protect the nests and any chicks. Staff will re-open any restricted areas for recreational use promptly following the end of the plover breeding activity. Although a shorter OSV zone is possible, a reduction in the 145 vehicle limit is not expected.
For more information on Assateague Island National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov/asis

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The way it should be done ... rite?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: May 8, 2015
Contact: Kevin Sloan, Refuge Manager Phone: 757-336-6122
Efforts to Protect the Threatened Piping Plover
Include Temporary Closure of OSV Zone at Chincoteague Refuge
Many visitors who frequent Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge this time of year will not be
surprised to hear of temporary beach closures that occur seasonally within the Over-Sand
Vehicle (OSV) zone. Quite frankly, it’s another sign that summer is fast approaching, marking
the beginning of the high tourist season and another busy nesting season for the many species of
birds found on the refuge.
The Hook and Overwash areas of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge are prime habitat for a
variety of beach-nesting birds such as piping plovers, American oystercatchers, as well as black
skimmers. Shorebirds such as red knots, ruddy turnstones, and a variety of sandpipers use this
area as a critical feeding and staging area during their long distance migrations. Other wildlife
species also need access to undisturbed shoreline in order to survive. In recent years an increase
in sea turtle nesting has also been noted in these areas. The refuge, having been designated a
Globally Important Bird Area, is a part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
and designated as one of the top ten birding hotspots by the National Audubon Society.
The Hook and Overwash are also considered prime fishing areas and are open to the public for
approximately 7 - 8 months (fall, winter, and early spring) each year to provide access for
fishing. During this time, the OSV Zone is open.
In order to protect the Atlantic Coast piping plovers, listed as a threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1986, the entire OSV Zone will be closed to all public
access, including vehicles, pedestrians, boats and horseback riding. This closure will take effect
at 10 p.m., Friday, May 15, 2015 and will encompass the entire southern end of Assateague
Island south of the beach parking area. The seasonal closure also protects the nests and young of
many other species of shorebirds during this critical time in their reproductive cycle. The OSV
zone will reopen to public access after all young birds are able to fly.
The needs of wildlife come first on all national wildlife refuges. This temporary closure is
required by the Biological Opinion completed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2008.
The document, compiled in cooperation with the Service's Virginia Ecological Field Office,

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Well then maybe the beaches of "Town beautiful" should be closed for the birds too. What says you?
I guess not. That's for others to observe, not you.

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If plovers are easily disturbed by humans and ORVs why was this vehicle in a restricted area for an hour and a half on the north end of ramp 49 on 5/13/15 in the afternoon?

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The man and woman got out of the vehicle and walked north toward the point and the male looked to be carrying a camera. No beach driving permit either.

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Here is the plate number of the vehicle.

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The man and woman got out of the vehicle and walked north toward the point and the male looked to be carrying a camera. No beach driving permit either.

This is obviously a NC state government operated vehicle and highly likely that the NPS allowed permission for its use at CHNS. NPS follows NC state protocols for nesting shorebirds and sea turtle's and there is mutual cooperation between federal and state resource management.

Surely if you got a ORV permit you read the FAQ sheet given to you.

"24. Why do I sometimes see ORVs in
areas closed to ORVs? In addition to
NPS vehicles being used by NPS employ-
ees to conduct approved management
activities and emergency response ve-
hicles, the NPS allows ORV use in certain
areas closed to ORVs only for very specific purposes"

You could have easily nicely questioned any NPS personnel about its use, sooooo why didn't you to satisfy your concerns?

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Well then maybe the beaches of "Town beautiful" should be closed for the birds too. What says you?
I guess not. That's for others to observe, not you.

Soooooooooo squishy,

Since you said ASIS does it "The way it should be done" and they close areas to all for nesting ppls CHNS should also?

LOL, Ya really need to focus.

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Well then maybe the beaches of "Town beautiful" should be closed for the birds too. What says you?
I guess not. That's for others to observe, not you.

Soooooooooo squishy,

Since you said ASIS does it "The way it should be done" and they close areas to all for nesting ppls CHNS should also?

LOL, Ya really need to focus.

You're up late, another heartburn flare up?
You really need to stay focused Penis, I said we should close your beach for the birds. But you always choose to avoid that point and attack on another level.

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Well then maybe the beaches of "Town beautiful" should be closed for the birds too. What says you?
I guess not. That's for others to observe, not you.

Soooooooooo squishy,

Since you said ASIS does it "The way it should be done" and they close areas to all for nesting ppls CHNS should also?

LOL, Ya really need to focus.

You're up late, another heartburn flare up?
You really need to stay focused Penis, I said we should close your beach for the birds. But you always choose to avoid that point and attack on another level.

CHNS IS my beach ... get focused!

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Dodging it again, huh Dennis?
If it's good for the birds and turtles to close beaches, why don't you advocate closing the beaches where you own property?
Yup, just like I thought....No good answer for that question.
But close the beaches where others like to recreate.
As George Thorogood said: "It don't confront you".

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Dodging it again, huh Dennis?
If it's good for the birds and turtles to close beaches, why don't you advocate closing the beaches where you own property?
Yup, just like I thought....No good answer for that question.
But close the beaches where others like to recreate.
As George Thorogood said: "It don't confront you".

As for town beautiful KDH is there ever been a reported nesting of ppl? I'll give u the answer NO. If there ever is NCWRC will take appropriate action.

I can safely say that my use of CHNS exceeds yours sooooooo it confronts me much more than you doesn't it?

For the zillionth time, NPS has seasonal closures at CHNS and they do NOT close all the beach.

Remember your words that ASIS does it like it should be done ... well take your orv up there and see if you can get on the beach.

Your vested interest such as owning property on the Outer Banks is nada, sooooooo you can sit in front of your computer screen in Maryland and attempt to throw sand at those who take a chance with property ownership on the ribbon of sand because it doesn't "confront" you. ... get focused!

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The cages may be a good idea, but they wont keep the ghost crabs out!

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I don't think anything keeps the ghost crabs out. Plus, they are considered a native species, while some others (which I do question), are not.

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The cages may be a good idea, but they wont keep the ghost crabs out!

Click to follow link...

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Dodging it again, huh Dennis?
If it's good for the birds and turtles to close beaches, why don't you advocate closing the beaches where you own property?
Yup, just like I thought....No good answer for that question.
But close the beaches where others like to recreate.
As George Thorogood said: "It don't confront you".

As for town beautiful KDH is there ever been a reported nesting of ppl? I'll give u the answer NO. If there ever is NCWRC will take appropriate action.

I can safely say that my use of CHNS exceeds yours sooooooo it confronts me much more than you doesn't it?

For the zillionth time, NPS has seasonal closures at CHNS and they do NOT close all the beach.

Remember your words that ASIS does it like it should be done ... well take your orv up there and see if you can get on the beach.

Your vested interest such as owning property on the Outer Banks is nada, sooooooo you can sit in front of your computer screen in Maryland and attempt to throw sand at those who take a chance with property ownership on the ribbon of sand because it doesn't "confront" you. ... get focused!

It's my beach, remember? Get focused Dennis.
And perhaps if all of your people weren't on the beaches up there, the Plovers might try to nest. After all, isn't Hatteras the southern most extreme of the PIPL nesting range? Then they must be trying to nest north of Hatteras too. Clear out dude, and give the birds a chance.

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Dodging it again, huh Dennis?
If it's good for the birds and turtles to close beaches, why don't you advocate closing the beaches where you own property?
Yup, just like I thought....No good answer for that question.
But close the beaches where others like to recreate.
As George Thorogood said: "It don't confront you".

As for town beautiful KDH is there ever been a reported nesting of ppl? I'll give u the answer NO. If there ever is NCWRC will take appropriate action.

I can safely say that my use of CHNS exceeds yours sooooooo it confronts me much more than you doesn't it?

For the zillionth time, NPS has seasonal closures at CHNS and they do NOT close all the beach.

Remember your words that ASIS does it like it should be done ... well take your orv up there and see if you can get on the beach.

Your vested interest such as owning property on the Outer Banks is nada, sooooooo you can sit in front of your computer screen in Maryland and attempt to throw sand at those who take a chance with property ownership on the ribbon of sand because it doesn't "confront" you. ... get focused!

It's my beach, remember? Get focused Dennis.
And perhaps if all of your people weren't on the beaches up there, the Plovers might try to nest. After all, isn't Hatteras the southern most extreme of the PIPL nesting range? Then they must be trying to nest north of Hatteras too. Clear out dude, and give the birds a chance.

ohhhhhhhhhhh squishy, how you prattle on ...

ASIS is your beach also and it is much closer than CHNS and since your continually complain, whine and grouse about the management of CHNS head on over to ASIS because using your words ASIS does it "the way it should be done" ... we'll miss you ... NOT!

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Dennis, you're such a bird brain. CHNSRA is my beach, just like it's everybody's beach. You said so yourself. The state I live in matters not, I choose to recreate at CHNSRA because the fishing is vastly superior to that of Assateague. (At least it was, prior to all of the prime beaches being closed) You claim that I cherry picked the opening statement of this thread, but I didn't. I copied it directly from the Assateague Island National Seashore's facebook page. I realize that perusing facebook may be beyond your technological capabilities, but maybe when your Grand kids stop by they'll show you how to check for yourself.

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Dennis, you're such a bird brain. CHNSRA is my beach, just like it's everybody's beach. You said so yourself. The state I live in matters not, I choose to recreate at CHNSRA because the fishing is vastly superior to that of Assateague. (At least it was, prior to all of the prime beaches being closed) You claim that I cherry picked the opening statement of this thread, but I didn't. I copied it directly from the Assateague Island National Seashore's facebook page. I realize that perusing facebook may be beyond your technological capabilities, but maybe when your Grand kids stop by they'll show you how to check for yourself.

How can you possibly be soooooooooooooooo obtuse.

I made the mistake of thinking that you read more than just what you wanted to cherry pick from information about ASIS, but it is obvious that you did not. I did not need to go to Facebook for my information, I copied the information directly from www.NPS.gov/asis webpage in regards to beach closures. Suppose we tell it like it is, ya screwed up in saying that ASIS does "it the way it should be done" unless you agree that that CAHA/CHNS should be COMPLETELY closed to orv use like it is now at ASIS. I am not saying that ASIS is right or wrong in the closures; however I am saying that each NPS National Seashore manages nesting shorebirds and sea turtles somewhat differently because each area is unique and they are not one size fits all oriented.

Why sure CHNS is your National Seashore just like it belongs to everyone, sooooooooooo please let me know where I said differently. As you said, you choose CHNS because of "vastly superior" fishing and I have no problem with that for you or anyone else. What I do have a problem with is that you and others want to dictate how CHNS should be managed which only benefits your interest.

Outer Banks natives, locals and property owners want you and others to visit and enjoy all the wonders that this ribbon of sand has to offer and if fishing/orv use is your only interest so be it; however spending your time railing on others who live/own/enjoy other parts and other interests of the Outer Banks provides your lack of understanding of what the Outer Banks is all about.

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Not so Denny, I just want you to STHU about closing CHNSRA beaches until you close the beaches of Kill Devil Hills. Even an old coot like you should be able to understand that.

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Not so Denny, I just want you to STHU about closing CHNSRA beaches until you close the beaches of Kill Devil Hills. Even an old coot like you should be able to understand that.

squishy, you REALLY do prattle on don't you.

I have nothing to do with any beach closures decisions either at town beautiful KDH or CHNS, but I do have the opportunity to provide input as to the management of both. Ain't life grand?

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