What's up with the bling bling on that bird? I know youz guyz on the east coast dig the bling, but even your birds?
I'm as into protecting our surfing environment as much as the next surfer - (like protecting sharks, for example - important for the ecosystem/food chain) but hundreds of species (maybe more) become extinct each year - some are important - piping plovers are not! - time for a new thread!
reality Reality is its the out of state touron idiots in their huge trucks blasting up and all over the dunes who ruin it for everyone else... And BTW neocon idiots, park service officials LIVE and WORK on the banks, and 99% of the time they have advanced degrees in applicable, sciences, its their advice that shapes policy. Too many times its big biz and tourism focused interests that cloud environmental issues. And humans part of the ecosystem?!?!?!? Are you freaking serious? That was the case 15,000 to 400-some years ago, during the Paleoindian thru Woodland/Late Contact Native American periods, now we are fully an intrusive species. Is your 11-foot jacked up F-350 also part of the ecosystem? Seriously, its comments like the ones Im responding too that give surfers the dingbat burnout reputation they sometimes deserve.
How 'bout needing a permit to drive off-road? That way tourons would have to take a class or some kind or informational lessons before they get their permit to go have a hillbilly race and flip their Mud-covered pickup-trucks a few times. And the responsible ones won't be as bummed, at least you can still drive on the sand. Btw, not to hijack but do most of you guys realize that soon-to-be 4th largest cement plant IN THE COUNTRY is planned on being built in Wilmington NC. Do you know what ticks me off? At the general assembly in Raleigh a few days ago, the legislatures or whatever (the d!ickheads) voted against even listening to the people who drove all the way up from Wilmington just so they could state the negativity of this plant. D!ickheads didn't even feel like listening to them. I say no one votes next year for ANYTHING, let's see how the government chooses it's leaders.
"now we are fully an intrusive species" Perhaps we should just eliminate all the humans, problem solved!!!!!! Are you freaking serious?
cuts two ways... Years ago my bud and I scored one of my best Delmarva sessions ever right in the middle of a section of beach that was closed due to plovers. We had to paddle a long way from the nearest open section of beach to get to it, but it was firing and we had it to ourselves since nobody had easy access to spot it. it was the middle of summer, and without the plover closure the break would have been packed with ORV fishermen and lazy surfers who wont ride a wave they cant park right in front of.
We need to think this through! Other critters, who can not modify their environment for good or bad like humans can, are indicators of the state of that particular environment or ecosystem or habitat. The PP needs the changing conditions of the barrier island to reproduce. So when we say that PP are not an important species, we are also saying that the habitat that they require is not important. This is where it gets sticky. The best parts of the east coast are the barrier islands. When a species dependant on the dynamic conditions of a barrier island become “threatened” we need to know why. In the case of the PP it looks like they need open, non-vegetated dry sand bars, common where winter wash over occurs which is a condition common to the barrier island system. If we do not notice red flags going up when a species becomes threatened due to a change or loss of habitat, we are ignoring what may be a critical part of the system. I started going to the OB in the early 70s and the changes that have occurred there in my short lifetime have been alarming to say the least. I remember when there was nothing from Nagshead south until you got to Avon, which were only a few cottages and maybe a grocery store that was not open on Sundays. I respect the views of the locals that live there year around and their input is important to many decisions may that may affect the nature of the island. However when these views do not go beyond “what’s in this for me” mentality, no one wins. “Money talks and BS walks” too often ends in environmental disasters. Knowledge of the systems that our decisions may change is the best we can do. If someone comes to the conclusion that “I don’t care about baby turtles or birds, I just want to drive my truck on the beach anytime I want” after being exposed to all the information available, that is their view which they are free to express. However when public officials take this input into consideration it must be weighted against the views and rights of everyone that uses or is interested in that area. I remember having long talk years ago with Ted James of Fox Water Sports about the uniqueness of the outer banks verses the people that want to and did build many homes and businesses on the island. Ted’s conclusion was that if the development did not stop or slow down, you might as well go to OC, it’s all the same. If a policy affects what we see as the use of an area, and we accept that idea that policy may have some merit even though we do not agree, would it not be better to try to solve the problem by better understanding the situation and suggesting educated alternatives? Sorry to babble on, but the fact that many young people who use the same outdoor areas that I use for recreation and go on to college for business degrees puts the future of special places at which I like to play on shaky ground. I am curious, how many of you have seen a baby turtle stuck in tire tracks on the beach and what was your reaction?
no problems with baby turtles seals or other species getting in trouble but if I happen to see a turtle stuck,I'd probably pull over and give it a nudge.
