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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016
Nesting restrictions to aid plover recovery
REEDSPORT
—
Beachgoers are urged to help in
recovery efforts of the threat-
ened Western snowy plover by
respecting nesting areas and
beach restrictions noiw through
Sept. 15. The plovers, a small
shorebird, nest on open sand
along Oregon’s beaches.
During nesting season, they
can become frightened easily
by human disturbances and
abandon their eggs.
“We’re making great strides
in reversing the downward
slide of this species,” said
Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National
Forest wildlife biologist. “It
takes everyone’s efforts, so we
hope people will do their part
in sharing the beach this nest-
ing season.”
Plovers are small and well-
camouflaged and can be easily
harmed by vehicles and dogs,
often inadvertently. Last year
plover monitors discovered
tracks from an off-highway
vehicle that had traversed
across a closed area and
crushed a nesting adult and its
chicks.
Nesting areas are delineated
by ropes and sign posts. Maps
and signage at trailheads and
COURTESY PHOTO
Signs and ropes are posted designating plover nesting areas along local beaches.
parking lots also will alert visi-
tors of nearby nesting areas.
Nesting areas are closed to
all entrance. In addition, the
dry sand surrounding the nest-
ing areas are closed to the pub-
lic.
During nesting season, some
activities are also restricted on
the adjacent wet sand. Hiking
and horseback riding, however,
are permitted on all wet sand.
The following activities are
prohibited around nesting
enclosures and their beaches:
Camping, bicycling, hiking and
horseback riding (permitted on
wet sand only), kite flying, rid-
ing motorized vehicles of any
kind, or walking dogs on or off
leash.
All restricted beach areas
have nearby beaches that per-
mit dogs on leash and kites.
Oregon State Parks maintains
online maps of dog-accessible
beaches during shorebird nest-
ing seasons at www.oregon
stateparks.org.
The Western snowy plover is
a federally protected shorebird.
Nesting areas within the
Siuslaw
National
Forest
include:Baker and Sutton
beaches, Siltcoos estuary south
to within a 1 mile of Sparrow
Park Road, which includes:
Oregon Dunes Day Use
beach
Tahkenitch Creek estuary
Ten Mile Creek estuary,
starting from π mile south of
the Douglas/Coos County line
to the Coast Guard South OHV
Trail
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service listed Western snowy
plovers as a threatened species
in 1993. Habitat loss from inva-
sive European beachgrass, as
well as human disturbances,
including litter and discarded
food scraps which attract pred-
ators, have contributed to the
birds’ decline.
Part of the Siuslaw National
Forest and its partners’ Dunes
Restoration strategy is aimed at
removing European beachgrass
near nesting areas to improve
habitat conditions.
Gem Walkers set
April jaunt, meeting
The
Coastal
Gems
Volkswalkers will host a group
walk Tuesday, April 5.
The group will be repeating
the Three Loops walk in
Depoe Bay. Those who want
to carpool to Depoe Bay can
meet at the Commons in
Yachats at 9 a.m., or be at the
Sea Hag in Depoe Bay at
10:15 a.m. to register.
The 10K walk is rated 2B
because of uneven footing on
the forest path and a couple of
minor hills. Walkers can mix
and match the three loops to
create a shorter walk. The
route would be difficult for
strollers and wheelchairs.
As always, leashed pets are
welcome on walks, but be sure
to bring water and clean up
materials. A sturdy 6-foot
leash, not the retractable type,
is required.
On Wednesday, April 6, the
group will hold its monthly
meeting in Yachats.
For more information or
directions, call Maryann
Brown in Waldport at 541-
961-4279.
Buying or Selling? I can help.
Amanda DeTar
Broker
541 999-4285
NED HICKSON/SIUSLAW NEWS FILE PHOTO
Junior pitcher Heidi Jones struck out eight during Siuslaw’s 5-3 softball season-opening
win at Waldport on Thursday.
Softball
Siuslaw
News
www.shoppelocal.biz
from 1B
The Viks then went on to load
the bases with consecutive sin-
gles from senior Anna Stonelake
and junior Claire Waggoner, with
senior slugger Taylor Dotson
helding out for a bases-loaded
walk that put Siuslaw ahead 1-0.
Next to the plate was Launius,
who brought Waggoner and
Dotson home with her double to
right-center field.
The Irish managed to cut
Siulaw’s lead to a single run after
bringing two across the plate in
the bottom of the third inning,
thanks in part to four walks by
Jones, whose curveball seemed
to catch the umpire off guard.
In the top of the fourth,
Siuslaw struck back with a pair
of runs from juniors Chehalis
Stinger and Auriel Hager-Tolle,
both on Irish errors, to move
ahead, 5-2.
Waldport threatened with the
bases loaded in the fourth inning
but couldn’t follow through, then
left the tying runs on second and
third in the bottom of the fifth
inning — with both rallies end-
ing on a relay off the ground
from Jones to Waggoner at first
base for the final outs.
The Vikings will host their
first game Monday, when they
take on Philomath for a double-
header beginning at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Siuslaw will be
on the road for another double-
header, at Cottage Grove, then
for a single game at Harrisburg
on Friday.
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