Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Weekly Field Summary;
May 1 – May 7, 2008

(Bodie Island, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Districts)

Piping Plover:

PIPL Update:

Bodie Island: A single pair appears to be scraping near the location of the 2007 nest.

Hatteras Island: A four-egg clutch continues to be incubated. At least two more pairs continue to be observed at Cape Point. A pair was also observed conducting aerial displays at Hatteras Inlet this week.

Ocracoke Island: Up to four PIPLs are being seen regularly at the north end. A single-egg PIPL nest was discovered 5/3 at South Point and by the evening of 5/7 it was a three-egg nest and is scheduled to be exclosed on 5/8.

Am. Oystercatchers Update:

AMOY Update:  (active = # of nests w/eggs (not hatched); hatched= # of nests w/ chicks)

Green Island: 1 active nest/0 hatched nests/1 nest lost

Bodie District: 1 active nest/0hatched nests/0 nests lost (one egg lost to raccoon)

Bodie/Hatteras District: 4 active nests/0 hatched nests/0 nests lost

Hatteras District: 6 active nests/0 hatched nests/1 nest lost (unknown)

Ocracoke District: 2 active nests/0 hatched nests/0 nests lost

There are at least 16 other pairs in territories which have yet to nest.

Colonial waterbirds:

Bodie District: A colony of 25-30 pairs has established to the east of the Bait Pond.

Bodie/Hatteras District: No activity to report.

Hatteras District: There are colonies at just north of Ramp 34 (10 pair), on the east side of Cape Point (30 pair), and beginning at 1.9 mi east of Ramp 49 (60 pair).

Ocracoke District: No activity to report.

Sea turtle nests:

No activity at this time.

Marine Mammals:

5/2 Neonate bottlenose dolphin at dredge spoil on Ocracoke; Neonate bottlenose dolphin North of Ramp 23 in Waves.

5/3 Neonate bottlenose dolphin from Bodie Spit.

5/4 Neonate bottlenose dolphin on Frisco Beach; large whale bone found near Ramp 30 (possibly from whale at the Point over Easter weekend)

Sea turtle Strandings (this week only):

5/4: Green on oceanside Ocracoke. Severely decomposed.

5/5: Green on oceanside Ocracoke. Fresh dead.

5/6: Loggerhead at Hatteras Inlet. Dried carcass.

5/7: Green on oceanside Ocracoke, Moderately decomposed; Loggerhead on oceanside Ocracoke, Moderately decomposed, possibly a boat strike.

Closures - additions/modifications/removals:

Bodie District

BH08-005-A-Modification on 5/5 1.9 mi N of Ramp 27 for AMOYs

BI08-001-B-Modification on 5/7 1.3 mi S of Ramp 4 for AMOYs

BI08-001-C-Modification on 5/7 0.9 mi S of Ramp 4 for LETEs

BI08-002-A-Modification on 5/5 0.3 mi S of Ramp 4 for AMOYs

Hatteras District

HI08-001-A-Modification on 5/4 between Ramp 44 and Salt Pond Bypass Road

HI08-001-B-Modification on 5/5 ~0.6 mi S of Ramp 44 for LETEs

HI08-002-E-Modification on 5/2 ~1.9 mi E of Ramp 49 for LETEs and AMOYs

HI08-009-A-Modification on 5/7 just N of Ramp 43 for AMOYs

HI08-010-Modification on 5/3 just N of Ramp 34 for LETEs

Ocracoke District

OI08-001-A-Modification on 5/5 0.2 mi S of Ramp 72 for PIPLs

OI08-003-B-Modification on 5/2 0.8 mi SW of Ramp 68 for AMOYs

OI08-004-A-Modification on 5/7 0.3 mi S of Ramp 68 for AMOYs

Closure intrusions:

*Kiteborder entered closure at Sandy Bay, but was directed to another route. Kiteboarders on Ocracoke came ashore near AMOY nest.

Other News: Vandals broke signs and string at Hatteras Inlet.