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MyspaceThe 2,200 or so snowy plovers that nest on 28 distinct beaches from southern Washington state to Baja California now have a new level of protection to celebrate, as this week the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service designated nearly 25,000 acres of federal land as critical habitat for the threatened shorebird species. The acreage is a bump from the 12,150 acres that were first designated in 2005 (but then subject to a lawsuit from conservationists), although it is a drop from the 28,000-plus acres proposed in 2011, due mostly to deals worked out with tribal reservations.
There is also an exemption for Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County, as the base recently completed an environmental management plan that protects the species accordingly. Outside of federal lands, the service’s spokesperson Lois Grunwald explained, “There will be no direct impact from critical habitat on public access and recreational activities. As a listed species, it is protected with or without critical habitat.” Both Sands Beach near UCSB and Surf Beach near Lompoc are considered great place to see the plover in action, and are subject to seasonal closures.
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Comments
That explains all the twittering.
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
June 19, 2012 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL, Ken_Volok!
at_large (anonymous profile)
June 19, 2012 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great! More land roped off for birds that flourish and live pretty much everywhere else in North America.
The Plover itself is not "threatened", it's the exact same bird as every other plover. Just another excuse for the government to regulate public land. The beach at Sands is pretty much gone from where it was 2 years ago. Lame.
ducknsb (anonymous profile)
June 19, 2012 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I go out of my way to step on their nests.
Beaches for People.
I also support the removing of the Seals in La Jolla.
rstein9 (anonymous profile)
June 20, 2012 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is nothing a landowner fears more than an endangered species on his property. If the landowner sees it before the government does, the endangered species usually "disappears" in short order.
Botany (anonymous profile)
June 20, 2012 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just to be clear, Plovers are not "endangered" or "threatened". The habitat of the "Western Snowy Plover" (what plovers are called if they live on the west coast, even though they are the same as any other plover) is "threatened".
ducknsb (anonymous profile)
June 20, 2012 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ducknsb.... Allow me to correct your post -- the Western Snowy Plover is indeed a threatened species as is their habitat. Not like all other plovers in their grouping, they serve an specific purpose in nature as do all creatures. The health of threatened and endangered species is strongly linked to our own well-being. By taking action to protect imperiled native fish, wildlife and plants, we can ensure a healthy future for our communities.
Sands Beach @ Coal Oil Point has a terrific Snowy Plover Docent program that has been able to keep the beach open for people AND birds with just a little bit of education. I prefer to share my beaches with the wildlife who make all of our lives that much richer & better.
MediaPro (anonymous profile)
June 20, 2012 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)