Success
Plover Chicks "Live to Leave" in 2008
The 2008 nesting season has come and gone. I am pleased to report that six Piping Plover chicks matured to the age that they could fly far enough to be out of harms way. What the biologist call, "fledged". It is my hope and a statical conclution that those six chicks joined their parents and migrated south at the end of August.
This was my second (and last) season working for the town of Chatham, Massachusetts (specifically, the Police Department/Beach Patrol) monitoring various endangered species. Although it may sound ridiculous, monitoring endangered species is a mandated responsibility imposed on any private or public land owner who has the misfortunate of sharing their habitat with a species, deemed "endangered" by State and/or Federal Law (a.k.a. the endangered species act).
You can see a photo summary of 2007 by Clicking Here and/or read the State Report for 2007 and/or the State Report for 2008 .
View the photos in my PHOTO GALLERY and see the the different species as they come and go.
"What is" and "Where is" North Beach?
April 14, 2006 was the last time I "drove off" of North Beach. It was that April Nor'easter that allowed Mother Nature to established her own "vehicle barrier" by separating the barrier breach from the mainland. Today, North Beach Island is maturing into the ultimate wildlife haven.
In 2007, I tried (with little success) to address the "What" and "Where" regarding North Beach. But now, Timothy J. Wood (Tim Woods) author of “Breakthrough, The Story of Chatham's North Beach” has put together an extremely comprehensives website which "Chronicles" (no pun intended; as Tim is the publisher of the Cape Cod Chronicle) the evolution of North Beach Island. Please visit the site to fully understand how this island came to be and what the future may have in store for the area and the camp owners.
Turning in the "Badge" and the "ATV".
As for the coming year(s), I wish the Town of Chatham great success with their monitoring program. I look forward to running into the many friends I have made on the beach, as I peruse my next interest...KITE SURFING!! I am sure my dear friend, the town Harbormaster will find me (at least once) tangled up around a red nun!
Thanks in advance for the rescue, Stuart!
Meet the First Chicks of the 2008 Season
Click to Enlarge
Welcome the first Piping Plovers Chicks of the season. The four chicks hatched out on June 22.
As of June 23 all four chicks were seen together
feeding with both parents. Unfortunately, the odds are not in their
favor. The island is riddled
with predators.
CLICK HERE to learn how
this nest escaped the odds that were stacked against them and destroyed
several neighboring nests.
Check out our Nesting Pair Summary Page
North Beach Island
The above Map was made using Google Earth. It is not scientific. It depicts the island based on a hand held Garmin and my own experience, seeing it regularly.