Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Resource Management Field Summary for May June 3 – June 9, 2010
(Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Districts)
Piping Plover (PIPL) Observations:
|
Observations |
Thurs 6/3 |
Fri 6/4 |
Sat 6/5 |
Sun 6/6 |
Mon 6/7 |
Tues 6/8 |
Weds 6/9 |
|
Oregon Inlet |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Cape Point1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
South Beach |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Hatteras Inlet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hatteras Overwash |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
N. Ocracoke |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
S. Ocracoke |
2 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 Does not include chick totals.
Bodie District:
Bodie Island: One lone PIPL is being observed and scrapes have been found.
Hatteras District:
Cape Point: Up to three PIPLs have been observed at one time. Five broods have 15 chicks of which six have fledged. Six chicks have been lost to unknown causes.
South Beach: Two lone PIPLs and scrapes in different territories continue to be observed.
Hatteras Overwash/Hatteras Inlet: No PIPL have been observed.
Other Beaches: No PIPL have been observed.
Ocracoke District:
North Ocracoke: Up to 2 PIPLs have been observed foraging and/or roosting on the ocean and inlet shorelines. There is one active three-egg PIPL nest on North Ocracoke.
South Point: Up to 6 PIPLs have been observed along the inlet and oceanside shorelines, as well as within the mudflats. At least three pairs have had documented nests. Two pairs have 4 egg nests, one of which is a re-nest found 6/3. The other nest is due to hatch on or near 6/11. A third pair hatched three chicks on June 5-6, but all chicks were lost by the morning of 6/7 to unknown predation (most likely ghost crab or avian). The fourth egg from this nest has been abandoned. There are currently two active PIPL nests on South Point.
PIPL Breeding Summary:
|
Total Nests to Date |
Active Nests |
Total Nests Hatched |
Total Nests Lost |
Total Eggs Hatched |
Unfledged Chicks |
Lost Chicks |
Fledged Chicks |
|
13 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
24 |
9 |
9 |
6 |
Nest Summary/Expected hatch dates:
Nest/Brood 1 - Cape Point. Four chicks hatched on 5/13. Four chicks fledged 6/8.
Nest/Brood 2 - Cape Point. Two chicks hatched on 5/14. One chick fledged 6/3, and the other chick fledged 6/9.
Nest/Brood 3 & 5 - Cape Point. Three chicks hatched on 5/21. One chick was lost on 5/28 and another on 6/6. The one remaining chick from Brood 3 is 20 days old and should fledge sometime after 6/17. The two adopted chicks from Brood 5 are 17 days old and should fledge sometime around 6/20.
Nest 4 - Cape Point. Four chicks hatched on 5/21 and are 20 days old and should fledge sometime around 6/17.
Nest 5 - Cape Point. Two chicks joined Brood 3 on 6/1.
Nest 6 - Cape Point. Four chicks hatched on 5/21, one was lost on 5/22 and another on 5/28 the remaining two remaining chicks are 20 days old, and should fledge sometime around 6/17.
Nest 7 - South Point. Lost on 5/2.
Nest 8 - South Point. Lost on 5/5.
Nest 9 - South Point. This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 5/4, and hatched three chicks 6/5 - 6/6. All three chicks were lost to unknown predation (probably ghost crab or avian) on 6/7. The fourth egg from this nest was abandoned by 6/8.
Nest 10 - South Point. This nest was discovered as a three-egg nest on 5/16 and exclosed the same day. The nest was still a three egg nest as of 5/25. This nest was most likely a re-nest from Pair #7, which lost Nest 7 on South Point. This nest was lost to storm overwash and flooding on 5/26.
Nest 11 - South Point. This nest was discovered as a three-egg nest on 5/16 and exclosed the same day. The nest became a four-egg nest on 5/17. This nest was most likely a re-nest from Pair #8, which abandoned/lost Nest 8. Hatching should occur on or near 6/11.
Nest 12 – North Ocracoke. This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 5/27 and exclosed on 5/31 as a three-egg nest. Hatching should occur on or near 6/26.
Nest 13 – South Point. This nest was discovered at a one-egg nest on 6/3 and exclosed as a three-egg nest on 6/7. This nest is believed to be a re-nest from pair #7, which lost Nest 7 on 5/2 and Nest 10 on 5/26. Hatching should occur on or near 7/3.
WIPL Update:
WIPLs have been observed on a regular basis on South Point (Ocracoke) within the pre-nesting closure. A three egg nest, found as a 1 egg nest on 5/10, continues to be incubated. This nest was due to hatch on or near 6/6.
American Oystercatchers (AMOY):
|
Location |
Total Nests to Date |
Active Nests |
Nests Hatched |
Nests Lost |
Total Chicks Hatched |
Unfledged Chicks |
Chicks Lost |
Fledged Chicks |
|
Green Island |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Bodie District |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Bodie/Hatteras District |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
|
Hatteras District |
12 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
20 |
18 |
2 |
0 |
|
Ocracoke District |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
CAHA TOTALS |
26 |
4 |
15 |
7 |
36 |
29 |
7 |
0 |
2010 AMOY Breeding Pairs: Twenty-three confirmed breeding pairs of AMOYs have been documented this year.
Bodie District:
- Green Island: One breeding pair has a three egg nest. Another breeding pair has three chicks.
- Bodie Island: A one-egg AMOY nest is being incubated.
- Bodie/Hatteras District (Rodanthe to Ramp 30): One pair has a three egg nest. One pair has three chicks that hatched on 5/15 and 5/16. A second pair has lost both of their chicks. A third pair has lost one of their two chicks.
Hatteras District: One breeding pair has a three-egg re-nest, another breeding pair which abandoned a nest (two undeveloped eggs and one lost to unknown predation) on 6/6 is scraping and has been observed copulating. A third pair, which lost a nest to raccoon predation on 6/6, has not been observed. Eight nests have hatched and two chicks have been lost. There are currently seven broods (four with three chicks and three with two chicks) of AMOY chicks. The oldest brood was banded on 6/5 at 25 days old.
Ocracoke District:
- North Ocracoke: One pair has three chicks.
- Other Beaches (Ramp 59-Ramp 72): The northern-most pair has one chick. A second pair is incubating a three-egg re-nest after losing two chicks.
- South Point: One pair continues to be observed in its territory. The other pair lost a two egg nest in the high surf and flooding of South Point on 5/26. New scrapes have been observed for this pair, although it appears as though they may be spending time on an in-shore island.
Colonial Waterbirds (CWB):
Bodie District:
Colony BIC01- 0.8 mi S of Ramp 4 active with LETE nests and scrapes.
Green Island:
Colony GIC01- N, W, and S end of Green Island active with COTE scrapes and nests.
Bodie Hatteras District:
Colony BHC01- 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23 to 0.3 mi S of Ramp 23 active with LETE scrapes and nests.
Colony BHC02- 0.2 mi S of Ramp 27 active with LETE scrapes, nests, and chicks.
Colony BHC03- 2.7 mi N of Ramp 27 active with LETE scrapes, nests, and chicks.
Hatteras District:
Colony HIC01 - 1.5 mi S of Ramp 38 to 2.4 mi S of Ramp 38 active with LETE nests and chicks.
Colony HIC02 - 0.1 mi W of Ramp 45 active with LETE nests and chicks.
Colony HIC03 - 0.1 mi E of Salt Pond Ramp active with LETE nests and chicks.
Ocracoke District:
Colony OIC01- 0.9 mi S of Ramp 72 active with a few LETE scrapes and nests.
Colony OIC02- 0.1 mi N of Ramp 59 active with LETE and COTE nests and chicks.
Colony OIC02-A- 0.8 mi N of Ramp 59 active with LETE, COTE, and BLSK nests as well as LETE and COTE chicks.
Sea Turtle Nests (New Nests this Week):
Bodie District Nests:
None this week
Bodie District False Crawls:
None this week
Bodie Hatteras District Nests:
None this week
Bodie Hatteras District False Crawls:
None this week
Hatteras District Nests:
6/5 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found just E of Ramp 49.
6/7 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found in Buxton Village at the end of Cottage Ave.1
6/9 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.9 mi S of Ramp 30.
Hatteras District False Crawls:
6/4 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.3 mi SW of Ramp 55.
6/4 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.4 mi SW of Ramp 55.
6/5 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found in front of Ramp 45.
6/5 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.7 mi SW of Ramp 45.
6/9 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.1 mi NE of Ramp 49.
Ocracoke District Nests:
6/4 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.3 mi SW of Ramp 59.
6/6 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.5 mi SW of Ramp 72.
6/7 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.0 mi NE of Ramp 70.
Ocracoke District False Crawl:
6/5 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found in front of Ramp 67.
New nests this week: 6
Total nests to date: 8
New false crawls this week: 6
Total false crawls to date: 6
- On the morning of 6/7, turtle patrol noticed a loggerhead sea turtle crawl and discovered that a sea turtle, while attempting to nest, became disoriented, encountered a sand fence then deposited her eggs at the edge of the sand fence. After nesting, the sea turtle took a circuitous route through the neighborhood by traveling further away from the ocean, under one of the support beams of the nearby house, back along the side of a house, down a driveway and west on Cottage Ave for approximately ~150 meters before turning around and crawling back the length of the road to a pedestrian walk-over at the end of the road and back into the ocean. Please remember to turn off unneeded outside lighting that faces the beach front during turtle nesting season!
Sea Turtle Strandings:
Bodie District:
- 6/7- A fresh loggerhead sea turtle was found dead 0.1 mi S of Rodanthe Pier.
Hatteras District:
- 6/4 - A severely decomposed female loggerhead sea turtle was found dead 0.7 miles S of Friso Pier
Ocracoke District:
None this week
Marine Mammals:
Bodie District:
- None this week.
Hatteras District:
- None this week.
Ocracoke District:
- None this week.
Closures – additions/modifications/removals:
|
Closure # |
Location |
Species |
Date Installed or Removed |
|
Bodie District |
|
|
|
|
BI10-001-F (Deliberate Violation) |
0.9 mi S of Ramp 4 |
LETE |
6/7/2010 |
|
BH10-001-E |
Less than .1 mi S of R 27 |
LETE |
6/7/2010 |
|
BH10-004-C |
2.7 mi N of Ramp 27 |
LETE |
6/9/2010 |
|
Hatteras District |
|
|
|
|
HI10-010-C |
1.0 mi S of R 38 |
LETE |
6/7/2010 |
|
HI10-007-E |
1.0 mi N of Buxton |
LETE |
6/7/2010 |
|
HI10-007-F |
1.0 mi N of Buxton |
LETE |
6/8/2010 |
|
HI10-001-G (Deliberate Violation) |
Cape Point – R44 |
PIPL |
6/9/2010 |
|
HI10-002-K (Deliberate Violation) |
South Beach- 1.9 E R49 |
LETE, AMOY |
6/9/2010 |
|
Ocracoke District |
|
|
|
|
None this week | |||
Closure intrusions:
Bodie District:
6/3- The rope that connects two carsonites to the bird signs on the northern buffer, just south of Ramp 27 was missing.
6/3- Footprints leading from the dunes to the beach were found in the LETE closure 0.1 mi S Ramp 23.
6/3- Two sets of footprints were found near the surf, leading from the northern buffer 0.3 mi N Ramp 23. Another pedestrian walked into the closure while staff was documenting the footprints and was asked to leave the closure.
6/4- One pedestrian was observed walking through the closure 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23
6/5- One set of footprints entered the north end of the closure 0.1 mi S of Ramp 27. The footprints went ~300 meters into the closure.
6/6- Two pedestrians walked over Ramp 23 to the beach and were asked to exit the closure.
6/6- At low tide a pedestrian walked along the beach into the closure 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23 and was asked to exit.
6/7- Four sets of footprints and one set of dog prints entered the closure 0.3 mile north of Ramp 23 near the water. Two sets of footprints went through the entire closure. Two sets of footprints and the dog prints entered the north end of the closure and went south into the closure about 50 meters.
Hatteras District:
6/3- Two sets of footprints were discovered in the Hatteras Inlet pre-nesting closure.
6/6- Three people from the campground were observed inside the closure at Ramp 45. They exited the closure after being informed of the violation.
6/7 – Five people entered the Cape Point Closure from Ramp 44, observed RM staff monitoring PIPLs and immediately turned around and left. Once out of the closure, one of the individuals made a “gesture” to the staff. Law enforcement made contact.
Ocracoke District:
6/ 3 – One pedestrian fishing the northern most point on north Ocracoke Island within pre-nest closure in the inter-tidal zone. Visitor had walked from the ferry beach below the signage to get to the spit. Visitor became agitated and confrontational but did leave the closure.
6/4 – Observed one set of bare footprints within the north Ocracoke pre-nesting closure on the east side (north of Ramp 59)
6/9 – One pedestrian found walking through colonial waterbird colony 2A on North Ocracoke. Visitor was approached and guided out of the colony. Visitor had apparently walked under the signs and string at the ferry beach. No resource damage was observed. Law enforcement made contact.
Deliberate Violations:
Bodie District:
6/6- Four signs were removed from the north end of the closure 0.8 mile south of Ramp 4. Two of the signs were broken. One set of bare footprints entered the closure and continued for about 15m. LE was contacted.
Hatteras District:
6/9- A vehicle drove from Ramp 49 through the South Beach pre-nesting closure and Cape Point pre-nesting closure to Ramp 43. At Ramp 45, bare footprints were observed where the perpetrators untied a rope that blocked the way. LE was contacted and evidence was observed and collected at the Point where the perpetrators had stopped to urinate. Both the north side of Cape Point at R44 and the west end of the South Beach pre-nesting closure were expanded by 50 meters.
