Parts Of Duxbury Beach Restricted To Protect Endangered Birds
DUXBURY (CBS) -- Duxbury Beachgoers may need to find a new beach, at least for the start of the summer season.
The piping plover, a threatened shorebird on the federal and state endangered species lists is currently nesting on Duxbury Beach.
Starting Friday night, public access will be restricted to Duxbury Beach, Duxbury Beach Park (Blakeman's) and all parking areas will be closed.
Vehicle access in the area will also be limited and the beach may be closed at any time to protect the birds.
The resident pedestrian beach and parking lot will remain open.
The Duxbury Harbormaster says portions of the Duxbury Beach off-road vehicle corridor may re-open around July 15.
"The entire Duxbury Beach properties are monitored on a daily basis and will be re-opened, either in part or in whole, to recreational uses and off-road "permitted" vehicular traffic as soon as possible," the Harbormaster said in a press release.
Last month, New Hampshire officials said they found five pairs of piping plovers nesting on the shores of Hampton and Seabrook.
Last year, sections of Revere Beach were closed to protect the birds.
Information about the beach will be updated twice a day on the Duxbury Harbormaster's website. Beachgoers can also call (781) 934-2866 extension 5, for updated beach information.
The town of Duxbury requires beach goers buy a beach parking sticker to access the beach. Those stickers range in price from $80 to $160, a year, for residents and are $295 for non-residents.
The harbormaster said those sticker prices will not be refunded.
