Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Support the MD Piping Plover Program

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:27:48 -0400

I received the following information from Dave Wilson of the Coastal
Bays program and forward it on to all of you:



From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:48 AM
To: 
Subject: Support for MD Piping Plover program


Friends and Cooperators

Assateague Island National Seashore has managed Maryland's only Piping
Plover breeding site since the population was listed 20 year ago.  The
island continues to host about 25% of the breeding population in the
southern recovery unit.  The NPS management strategy, permitting
natural events to dictate the geomorphological processes, will
undoubtedly serve the plover and other rare species requiring
ephemeral habitats well in the long run.  Unfortunately, plover
habitat elsewhere on the East coast is experiencing, and will continue
to experience, continued pressure from human encroachment.

Over the past 20 years, the NPS has received critical help in
monitoring and managing plovers through staffing support by the
Maryland DNR Endangered Species program and the Student Conservation
Association program.  Unfortunately, both agencies have decided to
drop support for this Threatened species.

The NPS now finds itself short of staffing support at a very
interesting and critical period.  The population remains stable, but
reproductive success is dropping far below the level necessary to
maintain the population.  The NPS and Army Corp of Engineers are
adjusting the 2002 constructed restoration storm berm to promote
natural processes, but the island is also going through habitat
changes due to a relatively long
period without major storm influences.   Both of these influences are
reducing prime plover breeding habitat and we are trying to maintain
our level of monitoring to better understand how each of these
influences are impacting plovers.

At this time, the NPS is looking for ways to keep the program together
to maintain our protection of nests and data gathering on reproductive
success.  I am soliciting help from you and individuals or programs
you are
aware of, to help with the 2007 breeding season.   Collaboration could
help
in three different areas.

*     Nest protection is the most productive management tool to help
breeding efforts.  Nests protected by a predator exclosure have an 80%
chance of hatching, while only 20% of unprotected nests usually hatch.
Setting up exclosures are time consuming and take a bit of stamina.

We are looking for a couple (4-6) healthy individuals who can
volunteer for
one day a week over a several week period.   They will be part of 3-4
member teams led by my staff.  The window for exclosing nests runs
through May and June, and we are tentatively picking Wednesdays for
this project.
Due to training requirements, we really need people who can offer a
day per week for 4-8 weeks.  Individuals must be able to work 6:00 am
for a 7 hour shift, carry 20 pounds of equipment across the island,
and dig small precise trenches in the sand and shell for 15 minutes at
a time.

*     I have funding for 1-2 interns ($12/day plus free housing if
needed).
This is a full time, 40 hour, 6:00 am - 2:30 pm, M-F job that runs
12-16 weeks.  Interns need to have a desire and the ability (primarily
visual) to work intensely with plovers.  Lots of walking, scoping,
nest searches, and brood monitoring.  Starting date: ASAP.

*     Tuesday June 5 is the tentative date for the Maryland Annual
Plover
Census.  We are in need of 5-10 volunteers to spend the morning (6-11)
walking the northern 9 km of Assateague to census the primary breeding
population.  Good eyes and ears and familiarization with Piping plover
identification is necessary.

Working with piping plovers is a challenging, but rewarding
experience.
Whether protecting nests or monitoring birds, workers deal with a wide
variety of situations that can require an innovative approach - it's
never boring on the island!  I encourage anyone interested in any of
these projects to please contact me for further information.

Thanks, and happy birding!

Jack Kumer
Wildlife Manager
Assateague Island National Seashore
7206 National Seashore Lane
Berlin MD 21811


410-641-1443 ext.214