Although the least tern is not on anyone’s threatened or endangered species list, pre-nesting activity by the bird has caused the National Park Service to close over 600′ of beach in front of oceanfront houses in northern Avon on Hatteras Island. Irene Nolan, writing for the Island Free Press, has done an excellent job of describing what is happening and why.
“The National Park Service has expanded the resource closures for least terns in front of oceanfront houses in north Avon.
The newest closure includes two 75-meter buffers for least terns that are making “scrapes” in the sand, which is considered breeding activity. There are no new nests yet.
The park also established two “corridors” to the water so that people have access to the ocean.
The total amount of beach now closed for the birds is 200 meters — or about 656 feet. That’s more than the length of two football fields.”
[box type=”bio”] To read more about the NPS decision to restrict access to the ocean, click HERE. [/box]