Nesting Piping Plovers Force Temporary Beach Driving Ban At Island Beach State Park

Island Beach State Park, NJ -- The discovery of a piping plover nest at Island Beach State Park has led to access restrictions going into place to protect the birds.

Vehicular access for those who have beach buggy permits will be temporarily prohibited for an approximately 1.25-mile long stretch of the beach, according to a notice posted by the state Department of Environmental Protection on the Island Beach State Park website and distributed to fishermen entering the park over the weekend.

"Piping plovers, an endangered species of shorebird, have nested in Island Beach State Park’s
Southern Natural Area. Under federal law, the plover is listed as 'threatened' and as such, IBSP
is required to close this area to vehicle traffic when the eggs are expected to hatch." the notice read.

The beach is closed to vehicular traffic from the A23 entrance to Barnegat Inlet, the notice said. Vehicles will be allowed to go north from A23 to the A7 access, the notice said.

The closure begins Thursday, June 30, the notice said.

Foot traffic is allowed unless otherwise posted. No dogs are allowed in the closed area at any time.

The state Division of Fish and Wildlife has placed protective fencing around the nest to keep it safe from
predators, such as seagulls and foxes, the DEP said. The closed area is clearly marked with warning signs and
posts.

In a notice to its members, the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association said it has been told the closure will likely extend until Aug. 7 while the plovers hatch and then fledge. There are four eggs in the nest, and the nest site is being monitored by a camera, the NJBBA notice said.

The eggs are expected to hatch about July 3, the NJBBA said. It also noted that park police will be checking the area around the nest frequently.

"Anyone interfering with these birds could face fines from the state up to $5,000, as well as federal fines up to $25,000," the notice said.

"Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicles will be afforded the maximum amount of beach allowed by federal law," the DEP notice said. "There will be 4.5 miles of beach still open for MSFVs. The Gillikins MSFV entrance is open and not affected by the temporary closing."

(Piping plover with chicks via the National Park Service)

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said the closure was a three-mile stretch of the driveable portion of the beach. That number was incorrect; the stretch is actually about 2,000 meters or 1.25 miles, state DEP officials said. The article has been updated to reflect that number.