Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Resource Management Field Summary for June 10 – June 16, 2010
(Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Districts)
Piping Plover (PIPL) Observations:
|
Observations |
Thurs 6/10 |
Fri 6/11 |
Sat 6/12 |
Sun 6/13 |
Mon 6/14 |
Tues 6/15 |
Weds 6/16 |
|
Oregon Inlet |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cape Point1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
|
South Beach |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Hatteras Inlet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hatteras Overwash |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
N. Ocracoke2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
S. Ocracoke1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 Does not include chicks or brooding adult in totals.
2 Does not include incubating adults.
Bodie District:
Bodie Island: Fresh PIPL scrapes continue to be found in the same area where they were previously documented. Breeding behavior has been documented indirectly through PIPL tracks.
Hatteras District:
Cape Point: Up to six PIPLs have been observed at one time. Five broods have 15 chicks of which eight have fledged. Six chicks have been lost to unknown causes. One pair has been observed scraping and performing courtship displays. This pair is in the territory of Pair 5, whose brood merged with Brood 3 (from Pair 3). We are considering this to be a new pair although it is possible that Pair 5 may be attempting to re-nest.
South Beach: A two-egg nest from Pair 12 was discovered on 6/15. One lone male continues 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. One pair has a 4 egg nest, which is a re-nest found 6/3. A second pair hatched three chicks on 6/5-6/6, but all chicks were lost by the morning of 6/7 to unknown predation (most likely ghost crab or avian). A third pair hatched 4 chicks on 6/12-6/13. As of 6/16 all chicks have been lost (one loss is known to be ghost crab predation, while the cause of loss for the other three chicks are unknown). There is currently one active PIPL nest 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 |
|
14 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
28 |
7 |
13 |
8 |
Nest/Brood 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 27 days old and should fledge sometime after 6/17. The two adopted chicks from Brood 5 are 24 days old and should fledge sometime around 6/20.
Nest/Brood 4 - Cape Point. Four chicks hatched on 5/21 and are 27 days old and should fledge sometime around 6/17.
Nest/Brood 5 - Cape Point. Two chicks joined Brood 3 on 6/1.
Nest/Brood 6 - Cape Point. Four chicks hatched on 5/21, one was lost on 5/22 and another on 5/28. Two chicks fledged on 6/16.
Nest 7 - South Point. Lost on 5/2.
Nest 8 - South Point. Lost on 5/5.
Nest/Brood 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/Brood 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/Brood 11 - South Point. This nest was a four-egg nest that was discovered on 5/16 and hatched 4 chicks 6/12 – 6/13. All four chicks were lost between 6/13 and 6/16 (1 chick was lost to ghost crab, the cause of loss for the other three chicks is unknown).
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.
Nest 14 – South Beach. A two-egg nest was discovered on 6/15 and was exclosed as a three-egg nest on 6/16. It should hatch on or near 7/12.
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, hatched on 6/6 with three chicks. Although the WIPL chicks are not observed daily, on 6/15 all chicks were present and foraging on the sound-side shoreline of South Point.
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 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Bodie District |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Bodie/Hatteras District |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
|
Hatteras District |
12 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
20 |
12 |
2 |
6 |
|
Ocracoke District |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
CAHA TOTALS |
27 |
3 |
17 |
7 |
40 |
25 |
9 |
6 |
2010 AMOY Breeding Pairs: Twenty-three confirmed breeding pairs of AMOYs have been documented this year.
Bodie District:
- Green Island: Two pair have two broods (each brood has 3 chicks).
- Bodie Island: The one-egg AMOY nest hatched on 6/12 and the chick was lost on 6/14.
- 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. One pair has one chick that hatched on 5/26.
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 been observed to the north and south of their nesting territory on multiple occasions.
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. Eleven chicks have been banded and six have fledged.
Ocracoke District:
- North Ocracoke: One pair has two chicks. This pair lost one of three hatched chicks on 6/13 to an unknown cause.
- 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 scrapes, nests and chicks.
Green Island:
Colony GIC01- N, W, and S end of Green Island active with COTE scrapes, nests and chicks.
Bodie Hatteras District:
Colony BHC01- 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23 to 0.3 mi S of Ramp 23 active with LETE scrapes, nests and chicks.
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 and one GBTE nest.
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:
6/15- A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 3.1 mi N of Ramp 27.
Bodie Hatteras District False Crawls:
6/10- A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.2 mi N of Ramp 23.
Hatteras District Nests:
6/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.04 mi N of Ramp 55.
6/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.8 mi S of Ramp 30.
6/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1 mi E of Ramp 49.
6/16 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1 mi W of Ramp 45.
Hatteras District False Crawls:
6/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.0 mi W of R 45.
6/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.1 mi W of Ramp 45.
6/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.3 mi W of Ramp 45.
6/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.4 mi W of Ramp 45.
6/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.9 mi W of Ramp 45.
6/16 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.6 mi E of Ramp 49.
Ocracoke District Nests:
6/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.4 mi SW of Ramp 59.
6/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.3 mi NE of Ramp 70.
6/15 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.1 mi NE of Ramp 67.
6/16 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.6 mi NE of Ramp 67.
Ocracoke District False Crawl:
6/15 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 3.7 mi SE of Ramp 59.
6/15 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 3.45 mi SE of Ramp 59.
New nests this week: 9
Total nests to date: 17
New false crawls this week: 9
Total false crawls to date: 15
Sea Turtle Strandings:
Bodie District:
- 6/11- A moderately decomposed green sea turtle was found dead 0.1 mi S of Ramp 1.
- 6/12- A moderately decomposed green sea turtle was found dead 0.1 mi S of Ramp 4.
Hatteras District:
None this week
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 |
|
|
|
|
BH10-003-B |
Ramp 23 |
LETE |
6/09/2010 |
|
BI10-001-G |
0.8 mi S of Ramp 4 |
LETE |
6/11/2010 |
|
BI10-001-H |
1.3 mi S of Ramp 4 |
LETE |
6/11/2010 |
|
BI10-001-I |
2.0 mi S of Ramp 4 |
AMOY |
6/12/2010 |
|
BH10-001-F |
0.5 mi N of Ramp 30 |
AMOY |
6/12/2010 |
|
Hatteras District |
|
|
|
|
None this week |
|
|
|
|
Ocracoke District |
|
|
|
|
None this week |
|
|
|
Closure intrusions:
Bodie District:
6/12- Footprints were documented entering the buffer 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23.
6/12- One set of footprints were documented coming over Ramp 23 to the beach.
6/12- One set of footprints were found entering the buffer 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23.
Hatteras District:
6/14 – Two sets of pedestrian footprints were documented going from the Cape Point Campground, east down Salt Pond Road and south down Salt Pond Ramp to the beach.
Ocracoke District:
None this week.
Deliberate Violations:
None this week
National Park Service Beach Access Report for June 17, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2010
CONTACT: 252-473-2111, ext. 148
Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches are being managed under the terms of the U.S. District Court approved consent decree. Park visitors can expect to see resource closures for breeding shorebirds in effect to varying degrees from mid-March to mid-to-late-August and sea turtle nesting closures may occur until early November. Shorebird pre-nesting closures were established at the inlets, Cape Point, and South Beach in March. As soon as subsequent breeding activity is observed, the consent decree requires that automatic, non-discretionary buffers be implemented.
As of June 17, 2010, of the constantly changing, fluctuating estimated 68 miles of ocean shoreline within Cape Hatteras National Seashore, approximately 25.1 miles of ocean shoreline is open to ORV and pedestrian access; approximately 25.7 miles of ocean shoreline is open to pedestrian only access; approximately 1.9 miles of ocean shoreline is considered “limited access” (areas that are open but may require hiking off-trail to access; and approximately 15.6 miles of ocean shoreline are temporarily closed to all public access due to shorebird resource protection areas. The latest Google Earth beach access map can be viewed at: http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm. For more information, check the National Seashore’s website at: http://www.nps.gov.
As of May 1, 2010, all Seashore beaches are closed to off-road vehicles between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in accordance with the court ordered consent decree. The 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. prohibition on beach driving will remain in effect until November 15, 2010.
The annual seasonal closures of village beaches to off-road vehicle (ORV) use within the National Seashore went into effect at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Beach driving speed limits are reduced to 15 mph in all locations open to ORV use, unless otherwise posted, from May 15 through September 15. The ORV closures are established in village beach areas that receive heavy pedestrian use, including areas adjacent to Coquina Beach and the villages of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.
The Beach Access Report is issued every Thursday throughout the breeding season and will briefly summarize the current status of access in each section of the Seashore listed below. Updated news will be reported weekly in bold, BLUE print.
Note: *All distances are approximate. The mileage is determined on a weekly basis using GIS data and is divided geographically by island this year. Closure conditions may change in the field on short notice. On-site signage, rather than the Beach Access Report or the Google Earth map, is the most accurate and current indication of what is open or closed to the public. Closed areas are clearly marked in the field with “symbolic fencing” consisting of wooden or carsonite posts, closure signs, string, and flagging tape. Knowledge of tidal changes and caution should be exercised while traveling the beaches of the park. Pets are strictly prohibited in resource protection areas. Elsewhere, pets must be physically restrained at all time on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length. For more information, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 252-473-2111, ext. 148.
Bodie Island (Ramp 1 to Oregon Inlet; 5.7 miles of shoreline)
Mileage Summary: 3.1 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians; 1.3 miles open to pedestrians only; 0.6 miles of limited access; 0.7 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.
Ramp 1 - Ramp 2 (Coquina Beach Area) (1.2 miles)
Status: The beach is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access.
Ramp 2 - Ramp 4 (2.4 miles)
Status: Ramp 2 is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access. From Ramp 4 north, the beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for approximately 2.4 miles.
Ramp 4 – Oregon Inlet (Bodie Island Spit: 2.1 miles)
Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access 0.8 of a mile south of Ramp 4, where a resource protection area precludes through access to the inlet.
Hatteras Island (Village of Rodanthe south to Hatteras Inlet; 42.8 miles of shoreline)
Mileage Summary: 15.7 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians; 17.1 miles open to pedestrians only; 1.0 miles of limited access miles; 9.0 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.
Villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo - Ramp 23: (Pea Island NWR boundary to Ramp 23 – 5.3 miles)
Status: The beach is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access in front of the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo. There is pedestrian access for 5.3 miles.
Ramp 23 - Ramp 27: (4.3 miles)
Status: Ramp 23 is closed to ORV and pedestrian access. A resource closure extends from the Salvo Village boundary south of Ramp 23 and precludes ORV and pedestrian access. There is approximately 2.6 miles of ocean shoreline open for ORV and pedestrian access north of Ramp 27.
Ramp 27 - Ramp 30: (2.0 miles)
Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access at Ramp 27. There is a resource protection 0.01 of a mile south of Ramp 27 that precludes through access for ORVs and pedestrians. The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for approximately 0.5 of a mile north of Ramp 30.
Ramp 30 - Ramp 34: (4.3 miles)
Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.8 of a mile south of Ramp 30 and for approximately 3.3 miles north of Ramp 34. A resource protection closure precludes through access from Ramp 30 to Ramp 34.
Ramp 34 - Ramp 38: (3.9 miles)
Status: The beach is open for ORV access for approximately 0.4 of a mile south of Ramp 34. The beach in front of Avon Village is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access. There is pedestrian access for 3.9 miles.
Ramp 38 - Ramp 43: (6.0 miles; includes the Haulover soundside & Buxton Village)
Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 1.0 of a mile south of Ramp 38, where a resource protection closure precludes through access. There is pedestrian access for approximately 0.8 mile north of the Buxton Village boundary. From Ramp 43 north, the beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.4 of a mile.
Ramp 43 - Ramp 44: (0.4 of a mile)
Status: The beach is open for ORV access for approximately 0.2 of a mile south of Ramp 43. There is pedestrian access for approximately 0.4 of a mile south of Ramp 43.
Ramp 44 - Ramp 45: (Ramp 44 to tip of Cape Point: 1.0 miles; Cape Point tip to Ramp 45: 1.4 miles)
Status: Ramp 44 and access to Cape Point are temporarily closed to ORV access. There is pedestrian access from Ramp 44 south for approximately 90 meters. There is no ORV or pedestrian access to the “hook”, which is temporarily closed. Salt Pond Road is closed.
Ramp 45 - Ramp 49: (South Beach: 3.4 miles)
Status: Ramp 45 is closed to ORV and pedestrian access. There is ORV and pedestrian access east of Ramp 49 for 2.0 miles.
Ramp 49 - Ramp 55: (5.9 miles; includes Frisco and Hatteras Village)
Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian use north of Ramp 49 and south of Ramp 49 for 1.2 miles to the Frisco Village line. There is pedestrian, but not ORV, access from the Frisco village line to 0.1 of a mile east of Ramp 55. In Sandy Bay Day Use area, a resource protection closure precludes access of approximately 0.5 of a mile of sound-side pedestrian access adjacent to NC 12.
Ramp 55 - Hatteras Inlet: (Hatteras Inlet Spit: 2.6 miles)
Status: ORV and pedestrian access is open along the ocean shoreline from Ramp 55 south/west for 1.9 miles. The Pole Road is open to ORV and pedestrians from Ramp 55 to the north end of the Isabel overwash area where traffic is routed onto the beach due to a pre-nesting protection area. Cable Crossing area is accessible from the Pole Road for pedestrian and ORV sound shoreline access. The Spur Road is closed. There is currently no ORV or pedestrian access to the inlet.
Ocracoke Island (19.9 miles of shoreline)
Mileage Summary: 6.3 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians; 7.3 miles open to pedestrians only; 0.2 limited access miles; 6.1 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.
Hatteras Inlet (North Ocracoke Spit) to Ramp 59: (1.3 miles)
Status: Ramp 59 is open to ORV and pedestrian access. There is ORV access approximately 0.1 of a mile north of Ramp 59 and 0.9 of a mile south of Ramp 59. A resource protection closure precludes access for ORV and pedestrians to the north end and the inlet.
Ramp 59 - Ramp 67: (7.8 miles)
Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.9 mile south of Ramp 59 and for approximately 1.6 of a mile north and south of Ramp 67. There is no through ORV access between these two ramps.
Ramp 67 - Ramp 70 (includes Ramp 68): (3.8 miles; includes Ramp 68)
Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.6 of a mile south of Ramp 67. A resource protection closure was removed in this area which opened 1.1 miles of ORV access. A resource protection area located 0.6 of a mile south of Ramp 68 precludes through access for ORV and pedestrians to Ramp 70. The beach in front of the Ocracoke Campground and the Ocracoke Day Use area is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access.
Ramp 70 - Ramp 72: (1.8 miles)
Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access.
Ramp 72 to South Point: (2.6 miles)
Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access on the ocean shoreline for approximately 0.4 of a mile south of Ramp 72. A resource protection closure precludes through access for ORV and pedestrians to the inlet.
Temporary resource protection areas are necessary to protect threatened and endangered species and species of concern including piping plovers, American oystercatchers, colonial waterbirds (3 species of terns and black skimmers), and sea turtles. Posted areas are closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and pets.
-NPS-
