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Don't Step on the Plover Eggs
February 04, 2004
Stupid people will stomp on, or otherwise damage Western Snowy Plover eggs in beach nests - so close parts of beaches from March to September to protect breeding grounds. Otherwise this "endangered species" could become extinct. That's the result of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruling in 1993, for Surf and Ocean Beaches in Santa Barbara County. Now, the City of Morro Bay and a local citizens group concerned about tourism spending impacts are challenging what they call the "junk science" behind the decision, in a new lawsuit. More here from the Contra Costa Times. Maybe some protective signage, a broader public information campaign, and a more faith in human nature would suffice to protect the plover eggs. While there may not be any endangered species habitats on Seattle's Puget Sound beaches, there are very prominent warnings posted against removing marine life. I've stopped several young "adult" know-nothings from illegally poaching live bounty off the beaches here, and heard countless parents give similar warnings to their children. It seems pretty draconian that portions of public beaches - the lifeblood of many waterfront communities - should have to be declared off limits based on the assumption that man and nature cannot co-exist. Posted by Matt Rosenberg at February 4, 2004 10:43 AM Trackback Pings TrackBack URL for this entry: Comments:
Matt, I have very little faith in human nature ! Public info, prominent signage, etc. wouldn't make any difference, I'm afraid. As a lifelong pedestrian I've found that l) information/drivers manuals, etc don't work when respecting people in crosswalks AND 2) prominent traffic lights, marked crosswalks don't help either. Bottom line (same as with plover eggs): Sorry, you ought to sit and read the extensive reports and statistics the gov did before issuing the endangered status, and moreover read the accounts that plover watchers have given to the park authorities. People don't give a damn about the birds...and plovers unfortunately freeze when in danger. the little ones are so small they can't climb out of tire tracks and so huddle in small concavities where they get crushed. here's some links for you to investigate-- and before you makde such simplistic comments, consider that Washington has 22 species of endangered salmon and the Columbia River is a large sewage canal--and if theat doesn't make you think,well--there's still the Washington Chernoby at Hanford it wasn't so long ago one of your neighbors shot a green turtle--strictly illegal at Ocean Shores --about May 16, 2004 Recover Plan 2001
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