Sandy Neck Beach Closed Because Of One Plover Nest [VIDEO]

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shore bird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. It's that time again, and one nest has got a bunch of beach goers upset.

Sandy Neck Beach, it one of the best beaches on the cape. The nest in question, contains four speckled eggs that are expected to hatch any day now, is on the sole vehicle access road to the 4.5-mile beach, which means off-road vehicles could be out of luck for about 28 days if all plover factors fall into place.

Plover nests are also affecting off-road access in Dennis. Chapin Beach and the west end of the West Dennis Beach parking lot were closed last Thursday.

In Orleans, The Nauset Spit is open for off-road vehicles only on trails 1 through 4, but are closed beyond that because of plovers.

The National Seashore is having the same conditions, some birds are nesting but none have hatched, a spokesman said. As on Sandy Neck, several plover nests were lost because of tides on Memorial Day weekend.