The islands in the bay are closed to humans from May to September because they have been set aside as nesting sites for endangered and threatened shorebirds.
For example, Skimmer Island is aptly named because it’s the only site in Maryland where black skimmers and royal terns can breed. According to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, 12 species of birds nest there.
Royal terns lay only one or two eggs per season, sometimes in a shallow hole, sometimes on the bare sand in secluded areas. Black skimmers do much the same, and provide shade, not warmth, to the eggs before they hatch.
The eggs are generally camouflaged to blend in with the sand, which makes it difficult for humans to avoid them, and even harder for pets, which have been brought to the islands from time to time.
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5 comments:
Seriously if these birds can't survive without man made islands then maybe they should just be extinct. We live in one of the least populated areas of Maryland where there are a lot of places these birds could nest but their lives depend on these 2 tiny man made islands? Really? Makes no sense.
Seriously, people cannot read???
Well 3:54 there are plenty of places for you to park your butt without being on these islands also.
BLATANT LIES! "The only site in MD. Where they can breed"? Yeah, right... A small spit of MANMADE sand dune that wasn't there before so where did the little birdies breed before they made the island with the polluted dredge spoils that are unfit for nesting bird children anyway!
7:26 why the hostility? Are these birds your family? Personal friends? Are you dating one? One could wonder with your birdbrain comments.
Must be a disgruntled DNR employee that was told to allow the Mexicans and Muslims to camp out on the islands... Whitey has to pay the fine though....
Not unexpected but the next story from OC Today/Dispatch will be pictures of DNR ticketing violators.....there are other party spots along assateague as well as up towards Del....
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