Ok, which one of you did this

[MikeToole]

$2,500 REWARD OFFERED IN PIPING PLOVER CASE CONCORD, N.H. – Just as the breeding season for the state endangered and federally threatened piping plover shorebirds got underway earlier this spring, so did a federal investigation into who stole a full clutch of protected plover eggs from Hampton Beach State Park during the first week of May. There were four pairs of piping plovers present on New Hampshire beaches this year: two at Hampton Beach State Park and two at Seabrook Beach. The first pair at Hampton Beach State Park established their nest early in May and biologists set up a protective fence around it to keep predators out. “Unfortunately, someone vandalized the fence and stole all four plover eggs,” said Brendan Clifford, a biologist with the N.H. Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program.

[spence]

My guess would be a large Northern Water Snake who knew how to use a hatchet and didn't mind a little sand in the vent...if you know what I mean

-spence

[SurfCaster413]

Blame it on the canadians in there banana hamocks

[MAKAI]

A little pancetta , scallion, and asiago . Yum !

[StriperZ]

Figure out whatever eats the eggs, and you will solve the mystery.

[Frankiesurf]

If a pair of plovers lose their eggs, to either predators or idiots, then they will stick around and lay another batch of them. If the birds mean restricted beach access for you then that will possibly affect you for another 4-6 weeks after they normally leave.

It really isn't a laughing matter if you are affected by them. If they don't breed and the fledglings don't grow and migrate then beach access issues will NEVER be restored.

[MAKAI]

Just like obamacare, the bird issue on the nss is a fait accompli.
See you in August no matter what happens. We are no more than an annoying fly to them, we are too few for them to care about.
Do you really think that no matter how many fishermen showed up at these placating dog and pony meetings of theirs that access would ever be restored ? C'mon, why would or should they. What's a few dozen angry fishermen ? The far greater financial loss to the local economy without fishermen money is not enough to get them to be concerned. The powers that be would have to have a paradigm shift to give back what they took away. A different tact must be found other than " we want our beaches back". We need a bigger stick.


Maybe if the next President was an avid surf fisherman. . . . . . hmmmm.

[Saltheart]

If the damaged fence shows it was people , then I'm glad there's a reward and I hope someone turns them in.

It would be absolutely stupid to protest beach closures by going in and stealing eggs or destrying nests , etc. If anybody is doing it , they are the enemy of both the birds and the fisherman.

[capequahog]

need more info, what kind of "fence" was it, need pics, before and after, a full investigation with 8x10 glossy photos

[Raven]

then there's the thought of a plover person doing this to further their own agenda........

much like the Mexican guards letting the prisoners out of jail
providing guns and vehicles....

corruption at it's finest

[kenyee]

What's to stop the PETA people from deliberately vandalizing the place and framing the other side? (like the "racial slurs" thing at a Tea Party event where no video surfaced to corroborate the media "story")...

No video, and I don't believe it...

[Raven]

same point: i was trying to make...Kenyee


there's a sign in my Doctor's office that says

"if it's undocumented
it never happened"

[CaptMike]

Originally Posted by capequahog

need more info, what kind of "fence" was it, need pics, before and after, a full investigation with 8x10 glossy photos

With a paragraph on the back of each one?

[FishermanTim]

I sounds a little too coincidental for it to be a randon act.
My vote is for the plover-lovers wanting to further their cause by making "everyone else" be the bad guy.

Then there's the story this weekend about the Plymouth plovers and the beach restrictions. I always love when an outside party sticks their nose into someone else's business.

[MikeToole]

This occurred right on Hampton Beach where there is not shortage of kids doing stupid things. A few years ago one of the horse mounted police ran the horse over the eggs. The chances of a plover making it on such a heavy used beach is very small. Main reason their numbers are down.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by MikeToole

This occurred right on Hampton Beach where there is not shortage of kids doing stupid things. A few years ago one of the horse mounted police ran the horse over the eggs. The chances of a plover making it on such a heavy used beach is very small. Main reason their numbers are down.

They choose the most vulnerable locations to lay their eggs with easy access to predators, high susceptibility of losing a clutch due to storms, wind and high tides. That is why their numbers are down - their breeding behaviors are not conducive to the species longevity.

If there was a breed of monkey that tended to jump off cliffs to their death, the environuts would put netting at the base of every waterfall in the Amazon.

Humans beings, the only species that feels the weak and stupid should be nurtured instead of allowed to cull themselves out.

[stripermaineiac]

Reminds me of an incident on the Cape yrs ago when an Autobon member put a baby plover in the track and ran it over then took pics of it and tried to blame the oversand beach fishermen. nice thing was is that he was filmed doin it by a beach walker. Might even still be in jail.Never trust the anti's as they will do anything to prove someone else wrong.

[Frankiesurf]

Actually the numbers are increasing coastwide. Not enough to stop protecting them but the efforts in place are mostly doing the job.

There is nothing by PETA stating any action taken or considered for piping plovers. They are against animal cruelty. The FWS is taking care of what it needs to, PETA is not involved due to this. Some people need to blame others for stupid deeds done by their own.

The lack of law enforcement on the beaches is another reason any Tom, #^&#^&#^&#^& and Harry can cruise the beach without the proper permits and destroy the habitat. Crack down on the soccer moms, stupid kids and drunks that want to prove a point and this kind of thing wouldn't happen.

[MAKAI]

Does any one think there is a magic number of plovers that will get access restored ?
Or would you imagine they would just have more to shepherd over ?

I can't see where a few accidental squashings would be acceptable.

But hey, I'm a cynic anyway.

[Frankiesurf]

When they are no longer deemed protected. There is no "magic number". They are migratory birds and do not always come back to the same area. Therefore the numbers in each area do change but the overall numbers stay the same.

For some reason people think that these birds will just fix themselves, others hope for extinction. Striped Bass are a living creature as these birds are. Most conscientious fisherman will make a big stink to save the bass but wouldn't care if these birds disappeared.

I, as a surf fisherman, fish for more than just the catch. I fish for the experience. The oytercatchers, the terns, the plovers, shooting stars, the moon, jellyfish, etc.. are all part of this experience. I do not want any of these to disappear as my experience would not be what it is without them.

[MAKAI]

I hope you never have to experience the horse head seal.
We could work around the birds, just walk.
But the seal herd.....35+ years of " experiences " on the cape. Poof, gone.
It aint the same in a boat.

[Swimmer]

Hungry homeless person with a hot skillet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Frankiesurf]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

I hope you never have to experience the horse head seal.
We could work around the birds, just walk.
But the seal herd.....35+ years of " experiences " on the cape. Poof, gone.
It aint the same in a boat.

For that you must talk to Canada. They have done seal hunts in the past. In the US they are a protected species for some reason.

We don't have many of them here in NY. They come around but not in the numbers you guys up there experience.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by Frankiesurf

We don't have many of them here in NY. They come around but not in the numbers you guys up there experience.

Just wait until they find a suitable sand bar or island to call home.