The Virginian-Pilot
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Cape Point, a popular off-road-vehicle destination in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, was closed Tuesday to protect American oystercatcher shorebirds that were showing breeding behavior.
A news release from the National Park Service Outer Banks Groups said that the 0.2-mile section of beach south of Ramp 44 known as “the bypass” is narrow. With the required 150-meter buffer to the north and south, access to Cape Point is unavailable. There is currently no alternative ORV route to the Point, the statement said.
The Point is one of the favorite recreational beaches in the seashore, and ORV proponents say it is difficult to access without a vehicle. But environmental groups say that the Point, along with areas near Oregon and Hatteras inlets and the north and south points on Ocracoke Island, is also an important nesting area for shorebirds.
The closure is a requirement in the court-approved agreement signed last April by the Park Service, the Defenders of Wildlife, the National Audubon Society, Dare and Hyde counties, and a coalition of beach driving groups.
Establishment of closed areas where nesting shorebirds are spotted can be expected to become more frequent through the end of the breeding season.
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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another fact not mentioned
these are seasonal closures for the breeding season. The plovers and oyster catchers are done breeding and fledging by the end of the summer.
I am sure that will put a cramp on the large groups of people who like to catch a buzz by driving cases of beer on the beach but when the fishing heats up in the fall the beaches should be open.
Only a matter of time...
Before the beach drivers trot out the vengeful wrath of God upon the NPS. Why do you think the only breeding waterbirds are on top of gravel roofs? That is all that is left for them now that NC's beaches are overdeveloped and backed by condos, ridden with feral cats, raccoons, etc. because of people. You need to read further into Genesis:
No passage in the Bible is misused as the passage Genesis (1:26) where God gives man "dominion" over nature. This doesn't reference despoiling the environment or beach driving rights. God intended man to be stewards. See Genesis 1:28 where God commands man to "replenish the earth."
Just because you do not understand the role of particular species does not mean they hold no value in the natural world. After all, if God made it is good. 100 years from now the park service will be applauded for their management of the seashore, hopefully it will not be too late.
Hatteras Island is not Myrtle Beach.
“For every beast of the forest is mine; and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountain; and the wild beasts of the field are mine.”
Cape Point
You know darn well they are marking the fish. The audobon society sold 5 miles of beach in Currituck, now Pine Island. They have 3 miles of sound front for sale for $14,000,000 now. Now you know why they are aiming down our way. Don't poop where you eat! All these folks have to do is go to the roof of the old Sea Mark Foods and there they will find at the least 40-50 nesting pairs. Then head north to Belks and watch the display of at least another 40 or so. They like the white gravel of the roofs. Has no one checked the Eastern Shore? They are plenty full on those beaches like never before. Makes me sick, I am an American who can not walk in a National Park because of lawyers who have never stepped foot on our beaches, who don't even know what the birds look like. They will get their's, the Lord will make sure of it.
Another Long Season Ahead
Save all your pennies, nickels and dimes OBX 'cause the Park Service has got your community stones tied up again. The isolated village areas (Rodanthe, Avon, etc.) do not welcome beach goers because they have been overbuilt. The Park Service does not want beachgoers because their beaches have been over-nested. Survival of the fittest ruled before the year 2000. If intruded upon the birds would move, always have, always will - maybe that is why they have wings and we do not, the creator knew best then, knows best now. Unless someone is a wacked-out loon, responsible beach goers do not represent a clear and present danger to any nesting bird along the tracks of beach travel. Should all this chicken-little sky-falling nonsense prevail, all beaches with any birds will see closures for some odd reason or another. If there is no access to OBX beaches when the fish are running or the swells are epic, or just the view is the best around, then figure there will be great loss of revenue again this year in OBX.
Cape Point, Hatteras Is.
It seems to me that in the late 50's and early 60's
when we burned beach fires and partied on the point,
we could probably be designated by the park service
as showing breeding behavior. We were not fenced in
even though we are becoming extinct Hatteras Island
HEMO SAPIENS. I guess I will be next?
Bert Dixon III Frisco.
Drum are showing signs of feeding
The closing has nothing to do with the birds. It's wacko environmentalists trying to stop recreational fishing, and Cape Point is the prime spot.
A Pack of Lies
How can a useless and non productive branch of the federal government become the experts on such things as breeding habits? Are these clowns expecting us to believe that are trying to protect wildlife. How on Earth do they explain the thousands of birds that were slaughtered at the pea island preserve? How can they look at themselves in the mirror and keep a straight face. I think it is time to expose the truth behind all this crap and call a spade a spade, the enviromentaists have taken over the park service and it's going to heck quick. I watch park service trucks travel all day long past trash, dead animals, and road haxards throughout the park, has anyone told the folks to stop and pick up the trash? Has anoyone told the "rangers ?" to stop and remove the road hazards? All I can see these folks are interested in is issueing ciatations to raise revenues. This farce has to come to an end!
Here we go...
Reasonable?
Sir, they closed off access to South (Ocracoke) Point through vandalism when the fish showed there.
They closed off access to False Point through alleged vandalism when the fish showed there.
Now they have closed off access to the greatest fishery in the United States just as the fish showed there, due to possible breeding "behavior" of TWO non-threatened species that MAY breed.
This is not reasonable. You are wrong. This is a calculated plan.
This article will get hit so much in the next 24 hours as to be ridiculous. All, please take time to post thoughtfully. Be Well.
It makes sense
The closure is reasonable, because the birds are starting to nest in the area. It makes sense to close only areas the birds are actually using.
More than rednecks
Many folks well outside of our area come to fish on that particular section of beach...not just the local rednecks. I cannot believe they shut it down because the birds were showing "Signs" of nesting....