Piping plover nest on Bodie Island in 2005
Photo: Mandy Haage-Fuller

Pre-nesting Areas Established
National Park Service moves to protect shorebirds

by Shelby Kinnaird

On March 22, 2006, the National Park Service announced a plan to establish pre-nesting areas for protected shorebird species at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Beginning March 27, temporary closures will be put in place at the following locations: Bodie Island Spit, Cape Point, South Beach, Hatteras Spit and Ocracoke South Point. These measures will allow the shorebirds to define territories, find mates, forage for food and establish nesting sites.

Where possible, the NPS will provide access along the shoreline for off-road vehicles (ORVs) to access popular fishing and recreational areas.

"The goal is to provide adequate pre-nesting areas by April 1 while allowing for continued ORV access and recreation along the shoreline," said Outer Banks Group Superintendent Mike Murray. "The pre-nesting closure areas will be marked with 'symbolic fencing' consisting of wooden posts, bird usage signs, string and flagging tape. Since this year's pre-nesting areas are based, in part, on the proposed interim strategy, I invite the public to join us on site to see what we are doing, ask questions and, if they wish, help us put up fencing."