New Hanover County made a 30-year commitment to monitor and protect migratory shorebirds that nest on the north end of Wrightsville Beach and the southern end of Figure Eight Island. That stipulation was part of the permit allowing the county to move Mason Inlet to save the Shell Island Resort and nearby properties from the encroaching ocean. Now the county wants to break its commitment – at least the part that requires counting nests and eggs.
The federal and state agencies involved in those discussions must ensure that any changes allowed do not weaken protections for the birds and their nests.
Fortunately, the decision on whether to grant that request will come only after careful consideration by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. The fish and wildlife agency wrote the finding that required a 30-year monitoring agreement, and it will undertake another study to determine what protections are still appropriate.
Several species of shorebirds that nest at Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight are protected by federal law. Among them are the American oystercatcher, the least tern, the black skimmer and the piping plover, which is considered a threatened species. These birds happen to like the same sandy habitat as beach lovers, so it's important to prevent people from trampling nests.
Better signs and barriers could make visitors more aware that they are sharing the beach with protected migratory shorebirds, and the penalties for disturbing the nests.
The cost of monitoring, as well as engineering and maintenance dredging, is borne by the Mason Inlet Preservation Group, a property owners organization that includes residents of the Shell Island Resort and other developments near the inlet. That was part of the deal – the inlet was relocated to save their property, which was built in an erosion-prone area.
County officials say the annual cost of monitoring is $20,000 to $25,000 annually; they believe that adequately trained volunteers may be able to keep track of the birds' nesting habits and educate beachgoers as to the need to stay out of the nesting area. The county would enlist more professional help during maintenance dredging and other activity that could disturb the shorebirds. Residents of Shell Island also may be willing to pitch in.
That could be a reasonable compromise, if those volunteers are as committed as those who carefully guard sea turtle nests and the new hatchlings' march to the sea. But the corps and the wildlife agency should review the success of such an effort on a regular basis and make any changes necessary to protect the birds.
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