From my local paper...
Norton Point Beach reopened to vehicles
Dave Belcher, Trustees of Reservations Chappaquid#^&#^&#^&#^& superintendent, called on Friday and said the west end of Norton Point Beach was closed to vehicles to protect the only surviving plover chick from a nest of four eggs. Dave said high tides had washed away two eggs and the two remaining eggs hatched, but one chick quickly disappeared.
He estimated the closure could last up to 28 days -the time it could take for the chick to learn to fly. The chick never got the chance.
Yesterday, Dave called and said the chick was gone and the beach was open to permitted vehicles. There are more chicks about to hatch, however.
"This was only the first round," said Dave.
Those chicks will need all their survival instincts and a lot of luck to survive the abundance of natural predators along that stretch of beach.
