Snowy Plover nesting season begins
By Kristina Nelson, KCBY NewsNORTH SPIT, Ore. - If you head out to the North Spit in the near future, you may notice signs posted along a three mile-section of sandy beach. MultimediaThey're in place to help protect the Snowy Plover during their nesting season which began on Monday. "The plovers are sensitive to human activity out on the sand, they nest right out in the open sand. When people are out there, they can't see the eggs so it's easy for someone to step on an egg," says BLM Wildlife Biologist Kerrie Palermo. The small shorebird has been on the endangered species list since 1993, which is why the Bureau of Land Management takes extra steps, like restricting certain access to beach-goers, to help promote their nesting. "We pay for Oregon Natural Heritage program to have biologists out there every day during the nesting season. They monitor them until they hatch, then they put tags on the chicks, that way they can tell which ones survive and are able to tell if our measures such as closing these beaches, are making a difference." According Palermo, the Plovers population numbers have steadily increased since 1993 when these beach restrictions went into place, which is an encouraging sign for the bird. "For Oregon and Washington, if we reach 250 birds for a five year period, they are considered recovered. Here in we are at 200 which is pretty good." The closures affect a three-mile stretch of beach on the North Spit as well as a six-mile stretch in the New River Area near Bandon. For a complete list of beach closures or maps of the closures, call the BLM at 541-756-0100. |
Upload directly from your mobile device. Learn howYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Stay Connected |
Connect with KCBYPOLL: Extreme Katie's Next Adventure |
February 9, 2012
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
