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US names red knot bird a threatened species

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By JAMES M. ONEILL

AP FILE PHOTO

A red knot, center, feeds among ruddy turnstones and sanderlings along the Delaware Bay shoreline in Middle Township, N.J.

The red knot, a migratory shore bird that stops along beaches in New Jersey to fatten up for the last leg of its yearly journey, has been declared threatened by the federal government under the Endangered Species Act.

Since the 1980s, the red knot population has plummeted by about 75 percent, due to loss of habitat from coastal development and a significant drop in horseshoe crabs whose eggs the red knot eats to fuel its 9,000-mile spring migration from the southern tip of South America to breeding sites in the Canadian Arctic.

The bird was already declared endangered by New Jersey, but the new federal listing could provide more financial resources to projects that restore red knot habitat, federal officials said. The listing also means that federal agencies must take into consideration the impact on red knots when involved in projects that affect the birds habitat.

Using the best scientific studies available, we have indication the red knot will likely be in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future, Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said Monday when announcing the listing. The agency oversees the endangered species program.

As part of the listing process, over the next year the agency will conduct an assessment of critical habitat essential for the red knots survival on the Atlantic Coast, including beaches along Delaware Bay where about 50,000 birds feed on horseshoe crab eggs each spring. The report on critical habitat should be ready in a year.

The red knot is an amazing creature, with one of these mystical, magical migrations, Ashe said. The oldest known red knot, aged 21, has accumulated enough miles over its marathon migrations to have flown to the moon and halfway back.

The red knot population declined through the 1980s and 1990s as Delaware Bay horseshoe crabs were overharvested. The crab has been used as farm fertilizer, as bait for eel and conch traps, and for its blue blood, which has a clotting agent used by the drug industry.

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US names red knot bird a threatened species

Bringing Sand to the Beach

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Many of us have fond childhood memories of visits to the beach and pleasant times spent there whether sunbathing, walking, fishing, surfing, or simply enjoying the atmosphere. But beaches have even more to offer: They sustain life.

Most of the ecosystem is invisible to us, since it is within the sand, but we can readily appreciate the birds, turtles, and seals, as well as the commercial fisheries (clams, mackerel) that depend on healthy beaches.

Above all, however, beaches are remarkable natural defenses against the power of the sea. While seawalls crumble and cliffs collapse, beaches absorb the power of the waves by changing their shape.

Why, then, if beaches are such wonderful attractions, ecosystems, and sea defenses, are they in trouble?

We have impacted beaches worldwide, degrading them with pollution, oil, and litter, by driving on them, and by physically destroying them. Many beaches have been completely obliterated, and there are entire stretches of coast where not a single natural beach survives.

Instead, poor imitations of the real thing artificial or replenished beaches line the coasts of southern Europe, the eastern United States, and the Persian Gulf, to name but a few. Most beaches on Spains famous costas are human constructions long, thin engineering projects that provide a recreational area, but otherwise bear no more resemblance to a natural beach than a city park bears to an indigenous forest.

Most beaches are being destroyed by our efforts to hold them in place and protect beachfront property. Flexibility is the key to a beachs survival. When we limit beaches by building seawalls, groins, and breakwaters to hold them in place, we remove their ability to adjust, and thus fatally weaken them rather like tying a boxers hands behind his back and expecting him to survive the full 12 rounds.

Sand is the lifeblood of beaches. Taking the sand from a beach is a sure way to destroy it. Yet, beach sand mining is widespread. Sand is a valuable commodity, equaled only by water in the scale of human demand for a natural resource.

Beach sand is often seen as a free and easily exploited resource, so, in many parts of the world, beach sand is big business. Ironically, sand is mined from some beaches simply to replenish eroded beaches elsewhere.

The value of beach sand is well illustrated by the theft of an entire beach (500 truckloads) in Jamaica in 2008 that was never recovered, despite a police investigation.

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Bringing Sand to the Beach

Beaches Is Broadway Bound; Musical Will Continue Development in Chicago

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Beaches Is Broadway Bound; Musical Will Continue Development in Chicago

By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 08 Dec 2014

Beaches, the new musical adapted from the 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart which premiered earlier this year at Virginia's Signature Theatre starring Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress will replace Deathtrap in Drury Lane Theatre's 2015-16 season.

Eric Schaeffer (Signature's artistic director, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), who helmed the musical's world premiere, will again direct the Broadway-bound production, which will run June 24-Aug. 16, 2015.

Opening night is set for July 2. Casting was not announced.

"This is one of the most exciting seasons that weve ever presented in our 31-year history," said Kyle DeSantis, president of Drury Lane Theatre, in a statement. "We are elated to produce Beaches, the first new production in two decades on the Drury Lane stage, as well as two Regional Premieres and two musical revivals. We believe that we have a responsibility to help cultivate the development of new works and this season marks our renewed commitment to this."

Beaches marks the first new work on the Drury Lane stage in 21 years and signifies the theatre's renewed dedication to develop new works.

According to Drury Lane, "The production is a poignant yet uplifting story of two extraordinary women exemplifying the triumph of the human spirit and the bonds of sisterhood. Beaches was adapted from the 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart, which was later adapted into the popular 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey."

The musical features a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas, lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by David Austin.

The season will also include the regional premiere of Billy Elliott (April 10-June 7, 2015, with an April 16 opening), directed by Rachel Rockwell with musical direction by Roberta Duchak; Peter and the Starcatcher (Aug. 27-Oct. 18, 2015, with a Sept. 3 opening), directed by Drury artistic director William Osetek; White Christmas (Oct. 29-Jan. 3, 2016, with a Nov. 5 opening), directed by Osetek with choreography by Matthew Crowle; and Bye Bye Birdie (Jan. 14-March 20, 2016, with a Jan. 21 opening), directed and choreographed by Tammy Mader.

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Beaches Is Broadway Bound; Musical Will Continue Development in Chicago

Lewes Bans Beach Smoking

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LEWES, Del. - The Lewes City Council voted Monday night to ban smoking regular and e-cigarettes on all beaches. Currently, the city has a ban at parks, but now will expand to be all-encompassing.

According to Councilmember Bonnie Osler, who spearheaded the ban, eliminating litter as well as protecting public health were the main reasons.

"I think getting second hand smoke off of the beaches is a good health move for people," she said. "Reducing littering is a good health move and again it means we have the same rules in all of our parks and beaches so we're uniform in our approach."

Osler said the reason they included e-cigarettes was because although there is not conclusive evidence against second-hand smoke, there are still potential health problems associated with the vapors.

"It's true that people on a beach may smell a cigarette that someone is smoking but that's not the cause for a ban," he explained. "That's the cause for a sensible rule where you just ask the person please don't smoke or move to a different location where their smoke is not effecting others."

He also questioned the e-cigarette portion of the ban.

But according to Osler, following in the footsteps of other beaches across the country will benefit the city in the long term.

"We all want to use the beaches and so we all have to play by the same rules in order to make it a safe and happy experience for everyone," she said.

The American Lung Association is providing a $10,214 grant for the signage and implementation of this ban. Osler said she does not expect the city to issue many citations as people start to learn about the ban, unless there is any flagrant violations.

To learn more about e-cigarettes on Delmarva, read the story on vaping by WBOC's Michael Chesney here.

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Lewes Bans Beach Smoking

Dangerous surf headed to San Diego beaches

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Story Published: Dec 8, 2014 at 7:24 AM PST

Story Updated: Dec 8, 2014 at 7:24 AM PST

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A series of storms over the Northern Pacific will generate increasingly large west-northwest swells along San Diego beaches this week, prompting meteorologists to issue a beach warning starting late Monday night.

The National Weather Service scheduled a beach hazards statement for local beaches from late Monday night to Saturday evening, saying 4- to 7-foot surf with sets to 9 feet is expected Tuesday afternoon, followed by 10-foot sets Wednesday through Thursday.

The largest surf will likely occur on Friday and Saturday when sets of 12 to 14 feet are possible, according to the Weather Service.

"The swells (will) start to very slowly lower late Saturday into Sunday," the agency said.

A beach hazards statement is issued whenever high surf capable of producing hazardous swimming and surf zone conditions is expected.

"The high surf and strong rip currents will result in dangerous swimming conditions," the NWS said. "Waves may over-top jetties and sea walls at times."

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Dangerous surf headed to San Diego beaches

FULL SCREEN: Fivers intimate portrait of mortality, Dirty Beaches final longing

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Full Screen collects all of the remarkable videos we've seen in the last 24 hours. Fiver, "Lonesome In This Grave"

The new video from Simone Schmidt's criminally underrated Fiver projectis the gorgeous fruit of a pure collaboration between three otherwise isolated elements: the song's lyrics, the video director and the subject. Toronto artistJeff Bierkexpands his idea of collaborative photography to create an achingly intimate portrait of video star Carl Lance Bonnici, letting the song's themes of slow mortality, decayand longingplay across his face as the words scrawl beneath it, before he commands a display of light against a wall and a brief, fleeting image of the singer.

Bierk explains in an email to Chart Attack:

"The video was made with my friend Carl Lance Bonicci on a break from my day at work. I sell cameras in downtown Toronto, in the neighborhood where Carl hangs out. So I've collaborated with him a few times on other photographs, and we talk daily about all sorts of things including where his photographs are showing and who is looking at them. He says seeing images of himself helps him to reflect on his life and his current situation. He thinks the images are important because they offer a truth about his life in this neighborhood, and most of all he loves the attention. It makes him feel important, he says.

For the video I felt a connection between the lyrics of the song (which I feel could stand alone outside of the song) the imagery they created in my head, and with Carl's face. They both spoke to me about mortality, frailty, longing, isolation and struggle. And of beauty, obviously, since both Carl and the song are so beautiful. For me, art is a real outlet for the weight of these feelings- a necessity to cope with them. The video is a moving portrait of Carl, he shakes, and conjures light to dance. The wall shakes and a faint image of Simone appears. It's about this kind of spiritual connection between the three of us: the shared weight of our own struggles and how we carry it. How the body often feels like a grave, like the song says."

As the Dirty Beaches project drifts slowly towards its completion (and transformation), everything Alex Zhang Hungtai releases carries an air of finality. So it makes sense that Loic Zimmermann's new 15-minute short film for the ambientStatelesstrack "Time Washes Everything Away" is basically Dirty Beaches at its Dirty Beachiest:Hungtai looks upon the strange beauty of some of the moredecrepit, isolated parts of Lisbon, watches panoramic vistas pass bywindows, blows a lonely saxophone. It's an absolute visual representation of the project's geographically-unfixed longing, the one Dirty Beaches has been leading towards.

Father John Misty abandoned his original kitten wedding video idea and its accompanying Huffington Post headline "EX-FLEET FOXES DRUMMER WEDS CATS" because this new song means too much for him. Not that the soft focus kaleidoscope iPadvideo, co-directed by Josh Tillman and his wife Emma Tillman on their wedding anniversary, is any schlockier than the song's lyrical deconstruction of the tacitchasteness of the wedding ritual (an expansion of the brutal "passionate obligation to a roommate" line of "Bored in The USA"). Butthe guy expresses sincerity through carefully deployed irony and song references. So its sweet in its way.

Tillman's press release is hiliarious, so you're getting it in full:

"A few months ago, I had an idea for a music video. I was going to rent a wedding chapel, get a dozen kittens and stage a kitten wedding, over which I would preside and intercut with performance footage of me lip-syncing the song which youre hearing today, Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins).

"Sounds great, right? It may have even gone viral because kittens. If a video goes viral, that means youre reaching a wider audience, and you might even get on a chart. If you get on a chart that means youre streaming more records, and the more records youre streaming the more money you supposedly have for hiring kitten wranglers.

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FULL SCREEN: Fivers intimate portrait of mortality, Dirty Beaches final longing

Kohala coast on rising destinations list

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KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - The Kohala coast - known for pocket-sized, postcard beaches and resorts carved out of a wasteland of lava - has a new distinction.

Waikoloa is now ranked eighth on the list of the top 10 rising destinations in the United States in the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice awards.

The popular travel website bases its rankings on an algorithm that measures how much improvement there has been since last year to travelers reviews of accommodations, dining and other attractions.

The rating essentially offers a ground truth, said Ross Birch, executive director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau. Like most top 10 rankings, it will give momentum to traveler interest in the island, he said, noting Waikoloa beaches also are popular with kamaaina and offer a quality, easily accessible experience to local residents coming over Saddle Road or through Waimea from the windward side.

The popularity of the Waikoloa resort area is reflected in hotel occupancy that has increased year to year, Ross said.

Its on the rise, mainly from the great responses like these from travelers who have already been here, he said.

Even though we have one of the lowest occupancy rates in the state, we have the highest return rate.

Jack Suyderhoud, a professor of business economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said hes heard from within the industry that times are good at West Hawaii resorts, but it is not clear whats driving the buzz in Waikoloa.

Suyderhoud spoke with West Hawaii Today via email from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he has been teaching.

In my talk with tourism folks, including those who are my MBA students here in Vietnam, they believe that word of mouth from sites such as TripAdvisor does have an impact on their sales, either for better or worse, he said.

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Kohala coast on rising destinations list

Bondi beach installs cameras to aid water rescues

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Australia's best known lifeguard Bruce 'Hoppo' Hopkins knows there's nothing better than the naked eye to spot the dangers of the surf - rip currents and sharks.

But the head lifeguard at Sydney's most famous beach Bondi is happy nonetheless that local authorities have installed cameras to help scan the water, a move officials believe saves lives.

"You get a report that someone has gone into the water ... you can put the camera on and get a closer look," Hopkins tells AFP from his lookout at the centre of the crowded beach.

"Nothing is going to beat your eyes - those of the life guards from the tower. This is for back-up and assistance," he says of the cameras which have made it easier to monitor Bondi for a couple of years and have more recently been installed at nearby beaches.

Lifeguards patrol Bondi Beach every day of the year, but the neighbouring, and sometimes challenging, beaches of Bronte and Tamarama are unpatrolled by paid lifeguards during some of the southern hemisphere winter months.

The new cameras at Tamarama, installed a few months ago, and those at Bronte allow lifeguards at Bondi to monitor what's happening at those beaches in real time.

They can respond to any emergencies by jumping on a jetski, often reaching the scene in just one or two minutes.

"Often you will get a call that a board rider or someone is in trouble. You can look at the footage to get a jetski (out there). You can always zoom in too, on rock fishermen," says Hopkins.

In decades past it used to be that swimming was discouraged at Sydney beaches due to the dangers of sharks and stingrays and for "reasons of decorum".

Not so today, with thousands visiting Bondi each year to enjoy the sun, sand and surf with Bondi lifeguards making 1,500 rescues per year as a result, dragging in swimmers, boardriders and rock fishers as well as recovering the bodies of suicides.

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Bondi beach installs cameras to aid water rescues


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