Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) has released the agenda for its upcoming science workshop Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 26 and 27) to evaluate factors affecting shorebirds and sea turtles on Seashore beaches.
The Monday workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Tuesday workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon, both in the Ramada Plaza Nags Head Oceanfront, 1701 S Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills.
The workshop is open to the public. All attendees will be asked to register. Attendees wishing to comment need to sign up to comment during the registration, and will be given three minutes each to comment on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore monitoring and research program.
Agenda Monday, Sept. 26:
8-8:30 am Registration
8:30-8:50 am Welcome and Introductions
8:50-9:20 am Status of Nesting Wildlife on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches
9:20-10:30 am Piping Plovers Biology, Monitoring, and Management
10:30-10:45 am Break
10:45-11:30 am Oystercatcher Biology, Monitoring, and Management
11:30 a.m. to noon Colonial Waterbird Biology, Monitoring, and Management
Noon-1 pm Lunch on your own
1:00-1:35 pm Sea Turtle Biology, Monitoring, and Management
1:35-2:05 pm Coastal Geology and Sea Level Rise
2:05-2:50 pm Human Dimensions: Visitor Management at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
2:50-3:00 pm Break
3:00-3:30 pm Gaps in Biology of the Species and Research Priorities
3:30-4:00 pm Gaps in Monitoring and Management and Research Priorities
4:00-4:15 pm Gaps in Changes in Coastal Geography and Geology and Research Priorities
4:15-4:35 pm National Park Service Research Activities
4:35-4:50 pm Gaps in Human Dimensions and Research Priorities
4:50-5:20 pm Future Research and Monitoring Programs
5:20-5:50 pm Public Comment
5:50-6:00 pm Wrap Up and Next Steps
6:00 pm Session Ends
Agenda Tuesday, Sept. 27:
8:30-8:45 am Registration
9:00-9:15 am Welcome and Introductions
9:15-11:30 am Panel Deliberation on Discussion Questions
11:30-12:00 pm Public Comment
Noon Session Ends
The goal of the panel is to: review current knowledge of the ecology, population dynamics, and habitat needs of beach-nesting bird and turtle species at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and prepare a written report that:
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Synthesizes the relevant scientific knowledge about the abiotic and biotic factors that may affect the species’ use of Seashore habitats and their productivity;
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Assesses the role and relative importance of these abiotic and biotic factors in determining the species’ use of Seashore habitat and their productivity;
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Assesses the reasonableness of the Seashore’s management targets, i.e., desired future conditions for the species; and
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Provides conclusions about key uncertainties and scientific monitoring and research needs that would assist the Seashore in reaching management objectives through adaptive management.
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