Marcy,

Even though you requested the reply offline, this is a topic that might be of interest to other readers of this list. Although Mr. Worcester County (aka Mark Hoffmen) or Jim Stasz would be the better authorities on this, my take on this is that the increased traffic doesn't have a major impact on the better Assateaque shorebird locations. 

The birds along the surf are impacted by the throngs of surfers, fisherman and general beach stroolers throughout the better months of the year near the ranger station and main area of the park, not just during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Although you need a 4WD to travel it, the farther south along the ORV Zone that you travel, the less that this tends to be an issue. The surf zone above and below the main areas still provides planty of habitat to the migrating birds that prefer this habitat when passing through the region, and most of the birds that you'll see here are just that; passing through heading north and south. Generally only the Killdeer and Piping Plovers are the nesting representatives of this group. 

As for shorebird habitat, there are areas that you can only walk to the north on the bay side that doesn't get the traffic that bothers the birds. To the south, most of the habitat, like at Fox Hill South, can only be reached by the ORV zone. There is very good shorebird habitat here and it tends to not get a lot of impact from the visitiors. 

The Piping Plover habitat is roped off to keep people out of the nesting areas. Although I'm sure that it's not a perfect system, the birds seem to be more than holding their own here. In July and August, during the peak of southbound shorebird migration, this is also peak time for the park and the shorebirds are plentiful. 

In my opinion, the real impact of the extra visitors during the summer isn't the effect on the shorebirds here, it's the impact to the birders that, (along with the fishermen and surfers that are here most of the year as well), is created by the curious throngs that fill the park and sometimes limit the access to the ORV zone or make navigating the main road a nightmare, especially when the Sika Deer or Ponies are hanging out along the shoulder (OOOH, Look at the cute pony, STOP and take a picture!). AAAAARRRGH!!!!

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Marcy Stutzman <> 

> I was wondering what the recent storms might have done for finding 
> shorebirds on Assateague Island. Since summer and hordes of people are right 
> around the corner, the next couple of days might be the last to try. Please 
> reply offline. Thanks. 
> 
> Marcy Stutzman 
> Russett, MD 
>  
>