Jacksonville, N.C. -- Onslow Beach serves as a migration stopover and nesting area for several rare species of shorebirds.
Piping plovers and red knots, both threatened species, American oystercatchers and least terns, both species of concern, are a few of the shorebirds that use Onslow Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Here are ways you can help shorebirds while enjoying the beach:
- Stay out of posted Shorebird Areas! Even if you do not see any birds, be sure to respect the posted shorebird areas and use designated walkways.
- Keep pets on a leash at all times! Per Base order, MCIEAST-MCB CAMLEJO 10570.2B, all pets are required to be on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Even well-behaved pets can be perceived as a threat to nesting birds.
- Take your trash with you! Food scraps and trash can attract animals that are likely to eat shorebird eggs or even chicks. Fishing line poses an entanglement risk to birds, please recycle used fishing line at designated receptacles.
- Keep your distance from birds! Give nesting shorebirds plenty of space and allow resting and foraging birds to do so in peace.
For more information about shorebirds or other threatened and endangered species, contact CLJN_TE@usmc.mil.