Piping Plover update--Sweetwater Lake CLOSED TO HUMAN ACCESS
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Duane Nelson
Jul 15, 2015, 6:07:06 PM7/15/15
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Birders,
Effective July 15th, the southwest pool of Neesopah Reservoir (Kiowa County), colloquially known as Sweetwater Lake, is CLOSED TO ALL HUMAN ACCESS.
About three weeks ago, I posted a hopeful message to cobirds that, despite epic flooding that contributed to the demise of all Colorado Piping Plover nests at historic sites this year, a few pairs had relocated to an undisclosed playa lake in SE Colorado. I offered to show the birds to anyone that absolutely, positively, needed to see the birds, but highly suggested that birders wait until next year to see the birds. I hoped that this would be the end of human pressure on the birds this year. I was wrong.
Within the past week, birders "discovered" the hangout of the few pairs of plovers that are somehow still in Colorado despite flooding, hail, downpours, loss of habitat, and depredation by coyotes and snakes. The location was divulged to ebird, as were census numbers of all birds present. It is impossible that these counts took place without causing at least one nesting pair of Piping Plovers to be flushed from an unseen nest near the parking area, hidden by rank vegetation.
I have had to spend the greater part of the week trying to figure out how to protect three remaining nests or broods from what should never be a threat, impact by birders. Finally today, our management plan came together. I got permission from the Colorado Land Trust to close human access to their property at Sweetwater Lake. I also got assurances from the local District Wildlife Manager (DWM) for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in that district that he would conduct daily visits to make sure that no human activity would take place beyond the closure boundary. Of course, I will be in the area frequently, and I am law enforcements "best friend" when it comes to protecting Piping Plovers and Least Terns.
Now for a bit of good news in this impossible field season: One Piping Plover nest hatched three of four eggs, and, as of today, there are two eleven day old young. A second nest should hatch later this week. The third nest, if it survived disruptions to incubation, is due to hatch in nine days. A month ago, it seemed like there would be no successful nests, and that the nesting culture might be lost.
Because of the late initiation dates, Sweetwater will probably be closed through the first of September.
Sincerely,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County CO
Effective July 15th, the southwest pool of Neesopah Reservoir (Kiowa County), colloquially known as Sweetwater Lake, is CLOSED TO ALL HUMAN ACCESS.
About three weeks ago, I posted a hopeful message to cobirds that, despite epic flooding that contributed to the demise of all Colorado Piping Plover nests at historic sites this year, a few pairs had relocated to an undisclosed playa lake in SE Colorado. I offered to show the birds to anyone that absolutely, positively, needed to see the birds, but highly suggested that birders wait until next year to see the birds. I hoped that this would be the end of human pressure on the birds this year. I was wrong.
Within the past week, birders "discovered" the hangout of the few pairs of plovers that are somehow still in Colorado despite flooding, hail, downpours, loss of habitat, and depredation by coyotes and snakes. The location was divulged to ebird, as were census numbers of all birds present. It is impossible that these counts took place without causing at least one nesting pair of Piping Plovers to be flushed from an unseen nest near the parking area, hidden by rank vegetation.
I have had to spend the greater part of the week trying to figure out how to protect three remaining nests or broods from what should never be a threat, impact by birders. Finally today, our management plan came together. I got permission from the Colorado Land Trust to close human access to their property at Sweetwater Lake. I also got assurances from the local District Wildlife Manager (DWM) for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in that district that he would conduct daily visits to make sure that no human activity would take place beyond the closure boundary. Of course, I will be in the area frequently, and I am law enforcements "best friend" when it comes to protecting Piping Plovers and Least Terns.
Now for a bit of good news in this impossible field season: One Piping Plover nest hatched three of four eggs, and, as of today, there are two eleven day old young. A second nest should hatch later this week. The third nest, if it survived disruptions to incubation, is due to hatch in nine days. A month ago, it seemed like there would be no successful nests, and that the nesting culture might be lost.
Because of the late initiation dates, Sweetwater will probably be closed through the first of September.
Sincerely,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County CO
Duane Nelson
Jul 15, 2015, 8:09:55 PM7/15/15
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Ed, this is the letter I sent to the
Colorado birding community this afternoon. I have received several
letters of support so far, but that's not what I'm looking for. I
want the Piping Plover nests here to succeed.
Duane
Duane
No virus found in this message.
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Duane Nelson
Jul 15, 2015, 8:15:03 PM7/15/15
to cob...@googlegroups.com
David,
This is a letter I sent to cobirds today, after one of Colorado's more obsessive birders "discovered" the lone nest site in Colorado, entered the territory of a nesting pair of plovers in order to identify and count all the birds on the lake, then disclosed the location and number of birds present to the worldwide birding community via ebird. I will either become a hero or greatest asshole of all time to the birding community. I don't care. I'm there to protect the birds.
This is a letter I sent to cobirds today, after one of Colorado's more obsessive birders "discovered" the lone nest site in Colorado, entered the territory of a nesting pair of plovers in order to identify and count all the birds on the lake, then disclosed the location and number of birds present to the worldwide birding community via ebird. I will either become a hero or greatest asshole of all time to the birding community. I don't care. I'm there to protect the birds.
Duane
On 7/15/2015 4:07 PM, Duane Nelson wrote:
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2015.0.6081 / Virus Database: 4392/10238 - Release Date: 07/15/15
Janeal Thompson
Jul 15, 2015, 8:26:54 PM7/15/15
to Duane Nelson, cobirds
Thanks for all of your hard work to protect Piping Plovers and Least Terns here in SECO. I am glad to know one of the nests is successful.
Janeal Thompson
Janeal Thompson
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/55A6F784.1020003%40centurytel.net.
Todd Deininger
Jul 15, 2015, 9:05:26 PM7/15/15
to co-birds
Does anyone know if this can be hidden from general view on ebird? Would the original lister be able to block public access?
I was under the impression that ebird did not disclose the location of sensitive species.
--
Todd Deininger
Longmont, CO
Longmont, CO
chundertmark8
Jul 15, 2015, 9:10:03 PM7/15/15
to Todd Deininger, co-birds
I believe the original lister can hide the entire list from the public.
Chuck
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
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David Suddjian
Jul 15, 2015, 10:14:53 PM7/15/15
to Colorado Birds
An eBird reviewer can invalidate a report because it is of a sensitive species, and it will not appear in eBird's public output, such as species occurrence maps. It could then be validated at a later time where there is no threat.
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/w8921klmljkxlppjwsyb597k.1437008929908%40email.android.com.
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