Cape Chronicle Newsletter - August 1, 2019

August 01, 2019 Posted by: Mike Barber

Abridged edition of the Cape Chronicle. To subscribe to the full e-newsletter, email e-mail us.

Photos of the Week

An interesting color palette greeted visitors to the seashore in the 1950s and 1960s. National Park Service buildings were painted in popular pastel colors of the time. Enjoy!


The 1925 Bodie Island Coast Guard Station served as park headquarters from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s.


Bodie Island Light Station

Visitors sit for an interpretive program on the porch of the Double Keepers’ Quarters, Cape Hatteras Light Station.

An aerial view of the old Navy docks and the first NPS visitor center at Silver Lake Marina on Ocracoke Island.

Seashore Updates

• Dare County’s CurrentTV created a Video on Demand section on its website that includes National Park Service videos. Currently, you can watch a sea turtle program, lighthouse climb program, the 20^th anniversary of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move event, and the 50^th anniversary of the lunar landing event, by visiting https://currenttv.org/series/national-park-service. More videos will be uploaded in the future.
• As of August 1 at 4 p.m., staff have found 418 sea turtle nests across the Seashore. The previous record for a single season was 325 nests.
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore has made additional adjustments to beach access in the Cape Point area.
  • This afternoon, additional pedestrian access was provided along the east-facing shoreline to allow for walking to the tip of Cape Point. The pedestrian-only access begins at approximately 0.61 miles south of Ramp 44. Drivers of ORVs can travel 0.61 miles south of Ramp 44, exit vehicles, and access the tip of Cape Point by walking a short distance.
  • An adjustment to ORV beach access was also made this afternoon. ORVs can now travel south of Ramp 44 and continue around the west-side of the least tern protection buffer to reach a portion of the south-facing beach, commonly referred to as “the hook” side of the point.
  • A protection buffer remains in place within the interior of Cape Point to protect multiple least tern chicks. The adjustments that were made this afternoon are subject to change due to the mobility of the least tern chicks. For current beach access information, visit http://go.nps.gov/beachaccess.
  • Additional ORV and pedestrian access will be provided when possible.
• This morning, priority ORV ramps began opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. All other designated ORV ramps open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Transition to night driving (24 hours a day) could occur as early as September 15, if there are no sea turtle nests along a route. The priority ramps are ramps 2, 4, 25, 27, 43, 44, 48, 49, 70, and 72.
• Visitors can sign up for beach safety text messages by texting “Join OBXBeachConditions” to 30890.

Upcoming Events

Bodie Island Lighthouse Climbing

• Dates: Daily until Oct 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Climbing

• Dates: Daily until Oct 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

See Inside Ocracoke Lighthouse

• Dates: Aug 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Aug 7-8 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.; and Aug 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Description: The base of the Ocracoke Lighthouse will be open for viewing.

Hatteras Island Interpretive Programs/Activities
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Move

• Dates: Aug 3-Aug 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. (daily program)
• Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center pavilion
• Description: Learn about the monumental move event that happened in 1999 when the entire light station was moved 2,900 feet away from the threat of a changing shoreline.

Shaping the Barrier Islands

• Dates: Aug 3-Aug 9 from 3:30-4 p.m. (daily program)
• Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center pavilion
• Description: Wars, wind, hurricanes, and ocean currents have all had impacts on the shores of Cape Hatteras. Join us to learn about some of these events and the changes they have made to the island.

Fish with a Ranger (Buxton)

• Date: Aug 5 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Location: Buxton
• Description: We bring the poles, you bring the bait! Call 252-475-9622 to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.

Fish with a Ranger (Rodanthe)

• Date: Aug 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Location: Rodanthe
• Description: We bring the poles, you bring the bait! Call 252-475-9622 to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.

Especially for Kids

• Date: Aug 6 and Aug 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion
• Description: Hands-on games or activities for kids and families all about seashore animals.

Dark Skies Over Hatteras

• Date: Aug 6 from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Location: Ramp 43 parking area
• Description: Bring blankets and chairs for this evening of stars and stories on the beach.

Castnetting

• Date: Aug 7 from 9:30-11 a.m.
• Location: Location varies, call to pre-register
• Description: Practice this early method of fishing still used today. Call 252-475-9622 to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.

Morning Bird Walk

• Date: Aug 8 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Location: Meet at the fish cleaning tables near Ramp 44
• Description: Meet winged residents and those traveling the Atlantic Flyway. Binoculars are available. Bring bug spray.

Salvo Soundside Activities for Kids

• Date: Aug 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Location: Salvo Sound Access (Day Use Area)
• Description: Meet at Salvo Sound Access for soundside exploration and discovery.

Ocracoke Island Interpretive Programs/Activities
Pirates!

• Dates: Aug 5 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Aug 7 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Ocracoke Visitor Center
• Description: Learn about Blackbeard and others with a park ranger.

Barrier Island Nature

• Dates: Aug 5 from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Aug 8 from 2:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Ocracoke Visitor Center
• Description: Join a park ranger for a talk about the wild side of the park.

All About Turtles

• Dates: Aug 6-7 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Aug 9 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Ocracoke Visitor Center
• Description: Activities for all ages.

Ocracoke History

• Dates: Aug 6 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Aug 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Location: Ocracoke Visitor Center
• Description: Learn about the island’s rich past.

Banker Ponies

• Dates: Aug 7-Aug 8 from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Location: Ocracoke Pony Pasture
• Description: Meet the ponies unique to Ocracoke! Bring bug spray.

Birds and Beaches of Ocracoke

• Date: Aug 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Location: Meet at public parking lot adjacent to campground
• Description: Join a ranger for an island exploration. Fun for all ages! Bring bug spray.

Inclement weather may impact lighthouse climbs and other interpretive programming.

Special Events
“Forecasting Disaster” – Special Interpretive Program

• Dates: Aug 14 and Aug 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Location: U.S. Weather Bureau Station, 57190 Kohler Rd, Hatteras, NC
• Description: Explore the historic U.S. Weather Bureau Station in Hatteras with park rangers and learn about the vital role this station played in predicting the weather and safeguarding the residents of the Outer Banks in the early 1900s. Participants will have the chance to practice taking weather readings following the program. [Press Release]

1st Annual Surf Fishing Heritage Celebration - Special Event

• Date: Nov 2
• Location: Fessenden Center, Buxton
• Description: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, along with partner organizations, will celebrate the area’s strong surf fishing history at the 1st annual Cape Hatteras Surf Fishing Heritage Celebration. More details about this event will be posted on a special event web page and Facebook event page.

Bonus Photos…thank you for scrolling this far!

Park Ranger speaking to visitor near Cape Hatteras National Seashore entrance.

Sun shades and the colorful bathhouse at the Coquina Beach Day Use Area.

Visitors enjoying the tip of Cape Point on the afternoon of August 1.

Cape Point