Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Field Summary for July 08– July 14, 2010 

(Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Districts)

 

Piping Plover (PIPL) Observations:

 

Observations	Thurs 7/8	Fri 7/9	Sat 7/10	Sun 7/11	Mon 7/12	Tues 7/13	Weds 7/14
Oregon Inlet	1	0	1	0	2	0	0
Cape Point	1	1	3	0	0	0	0
South Beach	3	1	2	8	4	1	1
Hatteras Inlet	0	0	3	0	0	0	0
Hatteras Overwash	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
N. Ocracoke	1	1	2	4	2	7	7
S. Ocracoke	2	2	9	26	1	3	2

 

Bodie District:

            Bodie Island:  Up to two PIPL has been observed foraging.

 

Hatteras District:

            Cape Point:  Up to three PIPL have been observed foraging.

                                                                                                                       

            South Beach:  The three-egg PIPL nest from Pair 12 was observed to have only one egg on 7/11.  No signs of predation were observed at that time.  Later in the day on 7/11, one chick was observed in nest.  A total of 8 PIPL (including fledglings) have been observed on South Beach at one time.

 

            Hatteras Overwash/Hatteras Inlet:  Up to three PIPL have been observed foraging at Hatteras Inlet

 

Other Beaches:  One PIPL observed foraging 1.5 mi North of Buxton Village.

                       

Ocracoke District:

            North Ocracoke:  Up to seven PIPL has been observed foraging and/or roosting on the ocean and inlet shorelines.  No new breeding activity observed this week.

           

South Point:  Up to 26 PIPLs have been observed along the inlet and oceanside shorelines, as well as within the mudflats.  At least three pairs have had documented nests.  No chicks have fledged nor are there any chicks on the ground. One active nest remains.  This three-egg nest found on 6/29 and had been reduced to two eggs by 7/10.  Hatching for this nest should occur on or around 7/19.

 

PIPL Breeding Summary: 

 

Total Nests to Date	Active Nests	Total Nests Hatched	Total Nests Lost	Total Eggs Hatched	Unfledged Chicks	Lost Chicks	Fledged Chicks
16*	Ocracoke-1	11	4	31	1	15	15

* This counts the three egg nest on Ocracoke, found 6/29, as a separate nest, although it is believed that this nest may be a clutch continuation from Nest #15, which was predated by ghost crabs 6/23.

 

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 Brood 3 chick fledged on 6/17.  Brood 5 chicks (2) fledged on 6/21.

Nest/Brood 4 - Cape Point.  Four chicks hatched on 5/21 and four chicks fledged (three on 6/18) by 6/21.

Nest/Brood 5 - Cape Point.  Four chicks hatched on 5/24.  Two chicks were lost on 5/30.  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.  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.  Lost to storm overwash and flooding on 5/26.

Nest/Brood 11 - South Point.  Four chicks were lost between 6/13 and 6/16 (1 chick was lost to a ghost crab, the cause of loss for the other three chicks is unknown).

Nest 12 – North Ocracoke.  Three chicks hatched 6/25, one was lost on or around 6/28. The other two were lost on or before 7/1.

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.  Three chicks hatched 7/1, but only one chick was observed by 7/2.  All chicks were lost by 7/4 to unknown cause.

Nest 14 – South Beach.  Two eggs were lost on 7/11, cause unknown.  One chick hatched on 7/11.

Nest 15 – South Point.  A one-egg nest was discovered on 6/20 but was predated (presumably by ghost crab) on or before 6/23.

Nest 16 (or Nest 15a) – South Point.  A three-egg nest was discovered and immediately exclosed on 6/29 on South Point Spit.  It is believed that this nest may be a clutch continuation from Nest #15, which was predated by ghost crabs on 6/23.  This nest lost one egg to a ghost crab on or before 7/10.  Two eggs continue to be incubated.  Hatching should occur on or near 7/19.

 

 

 

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 7/13 two fledged chicks were present and foraging on the sound-side shoreline of South Point. On 6/19 a one-egg WIPL nest was found on South Point.  This nest became a two-egg nest on 6/22, and was exclosed as a three-egg nest on 6/27.  This nest should hatch on or near 7/16.

 

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	5	1	0
Bodie District	2	0	1	1	1	0	1	0
Bodie/Hatteras District	5	0	4	1	10	1	5	4
Hatteras District	12	0	9	3	22	3	4	15
Ocracoke District	6	1	4	1	8	0	6	2
CAHA TOTALS	28	1	20	7	47	9	17	21

 

2010 AMOY Breeding Pairs:  Twenty-three confirmed breeding pairs of AMOYs have been documented this year. 

 

Bodie District:

• Green Island:  Two pairs have two broods (locating the chicks is difficult on the island; however, the southern brood is believed to have 2 chicks and the northern brood is believed to still have 3 chicks).
• Bodie Island:  No AMOY breeding behavior was observed.  The AMOY pair that lost a chick has been observed roosting near its previous nesting area. 
• Bodie/Hatteras District (Rodanthe to Ramp 30):  One pair has one chick that hatched on 6/26.  One pair has three chicks that fledged on 6/21.  One pair has one chick that fledged on 7/3.

 

Hatteras District:  There are no active nests remaining in Hatteras District.  There are three unfledged chicks which are 42 days old.  Fledging is overdue, however, no flight has been observed.

 

 

Ocracoke District:  

• North Ocracoke:  One pair has one fledged chick.  Another pair has documented scrapes north of Ramp 59, although no nest has been found.
• Other Beaches (Ramp 59-Ramp 72):  The northern-most pair has fledged one chick.  A second pair hatched two chicks from a three-egg nest on 6/29, but both chicks were lost on or before 7/1.
• 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.  A one-egg re-nest was found for this pair on 6/21.  The nest became a two egg nest on 6/23 and should hatch on or near 7/16.

 

Colonial Waterbirds (CWB):

            Bodie District:  

Colony BIC01- 0.8 mi S of Ramp 4 active with LETE scrapes, nests, chicks and fledglings.

 

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, chicks and fledglings.

Colony BHC02- 0.2 mi S of Ramp 27 active with LETE scrapes, nests, chicks and fledglings.

Colony BHC03- 2.7 mi N of Ramp 27 active with one incubating LETE.

 

Hatteras District:  

Colony HIC01 - 1.5 mi S of Ramp 38 to 2.4 mi S of Ramp 38 active with LETE nests, chicks and fledglings.

Colony HIC02 - 0.1 mi W of Ramp 45 active with LETE nests, chicks and fledglings.

Colony HIC03 - 0.1 mi E of Salt Pond Road is active with LETE nests, chicks and fledglings. The GBTE nest was depredated by a raccoon on 7/8.

 

Ocracoke District:  

Colony OIC01- 0.9 mi S of Ramp 72 active with LETE scrapes.

Colony OIC02- 0.1 mi N of Ramp 59 active with LETE, COTE, and BLSK nests and LETE and COTE chicks.

Colony OIC02-A- 0.8 mi N of Ramp 59 active with LETE, COTE, and BLSK nests and 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:

7/9- A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.3 mi N of Ramp 30.

7/10- A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.2 mi S of Ramp 23.

7/11- A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.9 mi N of Ramp 23.

7/11- A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.3 mi S of Ramp 27.

7/14- A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.4 mi S of Ramp 27.

 

Bodie Hatteras District False Crawls:

None this week

 

Hatteras District Nests:

7/8 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.2 mi W of Ramp 49.

7/8 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.6 mi N of Ramp 38. 

7/9 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.0 mi E of Ramp 49.

7/9 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.0 mi W of Ramp 49.

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.4 mi S of Ramp 38.

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.1 mi S of Ramp 38.

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.1 mi N of Ramp 38.

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.2 mi S of Ramp 49.

7/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.1 mi S of Ramp 44.

7/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.2 mi S of Ramp 30.

7/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.3 mi W of Ramp 45.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.3 mi E of Ramp 49.

 

Hatteras District False Crawls:

7/8 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.3 mi S of Ramp 30.

7/8 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.5 mi S of Ramp 30.

7/8 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.9 mi S of Ramp 38.

7/8 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.4 mi S of Ramp 34.

7/9 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.8 mi S of Ramp 44.

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.2 mi W of Ramp 45.

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.1 mi S of Ramp 38.

7/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.5 mi N of Ramp 55.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.0 mi S of Ramp 44.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.1 mi E of Ramp 49.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.30 mi E of Ramp 49.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.33 mi E of Ramp 49.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.37 mi E of Ramp 49.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.43 mi E of Ramp 49.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.5 mi E of Ramp 49.

 

Ocracoke District Nests:

7/9 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.3 mi S of Ramp 59

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 2.3 mi N of Ramp 67

7/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.41 mi N of Ramp 70

7/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 1.3 mi N of Ramp 67

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.51 mi S of Ramp 72, and was relocated to 0.7 mi S of Ramp 70.

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle nest was found 0.4 mi S of Ramp 70, and was relocated to 0.7 mi S Ramp 70.

 

Ocracoke District False Crawl:

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.9 mi N of Ramp 67

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 3.3 mi N of Ramp 67

7/10 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.7 mi N of Ramp 67

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.8 mi N of Ramp 67

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.6 mi N of Ramp 67

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.0 mi N of Ramp 67

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 2.8 mi N of Ramp 67

7/11 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 3.8 mi S of Ramp 59

7/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.6 mi S of Ramp 70

7/12 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.1 mi S of Ramp 70

7/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 1.6 mi N of Ramp 70

7/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.4 mi S of Ramp 68

7/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.1 mi S of Ramp 68

7/13 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.1 mi N of Ramp 67

7/14 – A loggerhead sea turtle false crawl was found 0.3 mi N of Ramp 68

 

New nests this week: 23

Total nests to date:  89

New false crawls this week: 30

Total false crawls to date:  72

 

 

Sea Turtle Strandings:

 

Bodie District:

            None this week

Hatteras District:

 A dead male loggerhead sea turtle was found 1.3 mi N of Ramp 34.  A necropsy was performed.

 

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-J	1.6 mi S of Ramp 4	AMOY	7/9/2010
Hatteras District
HI10-001-I	Cape Point	AMOY	7/7/2010
Ocracoke District
OI10-002-H	0.7 mi SW of Ramp 72	PIPL	7/10/2010

 

Closure intrusions:

 

Bodie District:

7/8-   Three sets of pedestrian tracks entered the pre-nesting closure on Bodie Spit and walked to the Bait Pond area, then returned the same way.

7/9-   An ORV parked outside of the pre-nesting closure on Bodie Spit approximately 0.7 mi S of Ramp 4.  Staff observed three individuals enter the closure and approach the electric fence.  Law enforcement (LE) was contacted.

7/11- Two pedestrians were observed within the closure just S of Ramp 27 and were asked to exit.

7/11- One set of dog tracks entered the closure on Ramp 23, went in ~30 ft., then exited.

7/12- Two sets of bare footprints followed the waterline through the buffer 0.3 mi N of Ramp 23.

 

Hatteras District:

7/8 – Staff observed a truck inside the Cape Point pedestrian corridor (currently closed to ORVs) traveling north at a high speed from the point toward Ramp 44.  LE was contacted.

 7/8 – One set of pedestrian tracks and one set of dog tracks were observed in sea turtle nest closure 0.1 mi N of Ramp 38.

7/8 – One set of pedestrian tracks and one set of dog tracks were observed in sea turtle nest closure 1.3 mi S of Ramp 34.

7/11 – One set of pedestrian tracks were observed in sea turtle nest closure 1.6 mi N of Ramp 38.

7/14 – One set of pedestrian tracks were observed in the sea turtle nest closure 0.2 mi N of Ramp 55.

7/14 – One set of pedestrian tracks and broken string were observed in sea turtle nest closure 2.2 mi S of Ramp 49.

 

Ocracoke District:

7/10 – An individual was observed walking with a cast net along the soundside shoreline of the pre-nesting closure on North Ocracoke.  LE was contacted.  

7/10 – One set of bare footprints was documented coming over the dune and into an AMOY closure 2.7 mi S of Ramp 59. 

7/11 – Two pedestrians were observed running along the ocean shoreline in an AMOY closure 1.7 mi N of Ramp 70.  Both were stopped and informed of closure regulations.