Nauset News

[SBASS1]

Lets hope Nature eats the probems quickly!

[Sweetwater]

Many good points made by people here. And some of you may already know my point of view on this from previous threads on the subject. I believe that vehicular traffic is a minor endangerment to birds compared to predation by foxes, coyotes, skunks, racoons, gulls, crows, and feral animals (cats and dogs). It is will known that many predatory animals have, over the years, learned that the exclosures (designed to protect the plover chicks) actually attract predators who have learned to associate those structures with an easy meal. However, no one wants to deal with the "real" threats (which might include population control of these predators) and it is an easy and politcally correct solution to ban human access. It is a simple and minimally effective form of "managment" (a term I use loosely here).

Regrettably, we live in a world where a certain political segment of the population want to blame humans for all the environmental challenges we face. While humans have created much of the problem, the limited breeding territory available to these birds is NOT solely due to the use of the Cape Cod National Seashore by vehicles. One must look at development and destruction of habitat from a wide range of more permanent sources.

The "Catch 22" that we'll all be facing soon is that if the Piping Plover population does recover in larger numbers, that will mean more nests, more chicks, and more beach closures. I predict that over the next few years, the success of programs designed to improve plover breeding success will highten (not lesson) restrictions.

[CAL]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

The "Catch 22" that we'll all be facing soon is that if the Piping Plover population does recover in larger numbers, that will mean more nests, more chicks, and more beach closures. I predict that over the next few years, the success of programs designed to improve plover breeding success will highten (not lesson) restrictions.

I agree with this 100%. Once the population's back up (if that happens) you can kiss access to the backside goodbye forever just to keep it up.

[CANAL RAT]

i did not see the signs at scusset for the plovers roped off area and i cut thorugh and had a f-ing bitchy autobon with bonculars lady come up to be and start bitching me out and OH that wasnt enough see had to call the park ranger and tell me that he would give me a warning( OH im real scared) if i cut though again.it wasnt like i hung around in there or was taking pot shots at plover chicks.

the plover lady must have not liked fisherman because i saw two other people cut through that same area and nothing happend and i was not rude to her at all when she spoke to me. i explaned that coyotes and foxs were mostley to blame because of the over popualtion and peta puffers of MA banning trapping for them.

people need to look at the whole picture not just the beach buggy corner that seems to get all the blame and i swear to ***** that the plovers have more rights in MA than humans do.

We try not to be very heavy-handed in moderating, but there are people here who would be offended by that.

[vineyardblues]

If they CAN'T COUNT PANDA BEARS ,gee how many plovers are really out their ????

wtf


VB


NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Giant pandas may not be in as much danger of extinction as feared with a new British-Chinese study finding there could be twice as many living in the wild as previously thought, scientists said on Monday.

[Mr. Sandman]

It is a know fact that the chicks that pick a congested spot to hatch do best! The ones that are near the public beach where cars are driving past regularly and there is a path to the beach always seem to survive better then the ones in a remote locations. IMO the vehicle and people activity tend to keep the predators away and the chicks stand a better shot.

To further prove that vehicles are not the blame in cases where the beaches are closed completely to vehicles the chicks die anyway! They didn't die from vehicles! IMO the birds would be better off with vehicle traffic out there.

I am still of the opinion that if you really care that much about the bird, move him to his own friggin island, Lord knows we have enough of them dedicated to the cause. The amount of people-energy that is expended protecting and watcing over this bird is absurd and IT STILL DOES NOT HELP. Just move them to a safe spot and let them be.

If the critters don't get them the weather does. One good Noreaster and they are toast here. All the eggs get washed away...wouldn't it have been better to move them to a safe spot on their own island? They would thank you if they could.