Urban Park Rangers
Rockaway Beach Endangered Species Nesting Area (RBESNA)
The
piping plover (Charadrius
melodus) is a small, plump shorebird that
breeds on Atlantic beaches from Newfoundland to
Virginia, as well as on inland beaches from eastern
Alberta and Nebraska east to the shores of Lake
Ontario. In 1986 the piping plover was federally
designated as endangered on the Great Lakes and
threatened on the Atlantic Coast.
The plover nests on Rockaway Beach in Queens, and the breeding area includes the beach between B45th and B56th Streets. Over the last few seasons, "satellite" sites have been established both to the east and the west of this main site.
The
Urban Park Rangers monitor the plovers on Rockaway
Beach according to the guidelines provided by the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Nests are observed
at least three times a week, and records are kept
regarding the number of plovers observed, the number
of nesting pairs and the number of eggs in a clutch.
Observations are usually made from afar using binoculars
and spotting scopes so as not to disturb the nesting
plovers.
Related Info
Wildlife Research & Habitat Enhancement Permits Anyone wishing to conduct research on wildlife in city parks, including but not limited to: monitoring using anything other than portable, hand-held or simple free-standing equipment; trapping and/or releasing animals including invertebrates; entering closed or limited-access areas; or collecting water or soil samples; or anyone wishing to enhance wildlife habitat in city parks, including but not limited to the installation of nest boxes, MUST apply for a permit from the Department of Parks & Recreation Urban Park Rangers. This permit is in addition to any permits required by Federal and/or State Agencies with jurisdiction over the wildlife being studied, and also any other Department of Parks & Recreation permits from other Offices or Divisions. For more information on how to apply for a permit, please contact Shalini Beath at 212-360-2774 or by e-mail using the Rangers contact form. |