3,000 Eggs Left After Drone Scares Birds
2021-06-10
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1Some 3,000 tern eggs were abandoned at a Southern California nesting island after a drone crashed and scared off the birds, a newspaper reported in June.
2In May, two drones were flown illegally over the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, California.
3One of them went down in the wetlands, The Orange County Register, a local newspaper, reported.
4Fearing an attack from a predator, several thousand terns abandoned their ground-based nests, reported the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.
5Usually during June, the white birds would be watching their eggs as they begin to hatch.
6But now, the sand is filled with eggshells.
7Melissa Loebl is the manager of the nature reserve.
8She called it one of the largest abandonment of eggs ever at the coastal area.
9The reserve is about 160 km north of San Diego, California.
10Last year, the pandemic brought more and more people to outdoor spaces.
11In 2020, about 100,000 visitors came to the Bolsa Chica reserve.
12That is up from about 60,000 in 2019, she told the newspaper.
13That has led to an increase in human activity, including flying drones, walking dogs, and riding bicycles.
14All these activities are not permitted.
15Loebl said that there has been a great increase in dogs, particularly those permitted to run free.
16She explained that this is especially bad during the nesting season.
17"The dogs chase the birds, and the birds abandon their nests," she said.
18Another problem is the development of multimillion-dollar homes near the reserve, said Fish and Wildlife guardian Nick Molsberry.
19While most residents respect the rules of the reserve, he said, some do not.
20Some residents, suggested Molsberry, feel entitled and feel they "should be able to use the land as they like."
21Officials, however, are increasing enforcement and fining people who break the rules.
22The reserve is the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay just south of San Francisco and the Tijuana River Estuary in Mexico.
23Some 800 species of plants and animals live at or migrate to Bolsa Chica.
24I'm Anna Matteo.
1Some 3,000 tern eggs were abandoned at a Southern California nesting island after a drone crashed and scared off the birds, a newspaper reported in June. 2In May, two drones were flown illegally over the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, California. One of them went down in the wetlands, The Orange County Register, a local newspaper, reported. 3Fearing an attack from a predator, several thousand terns abandoned their ground-based nests, reported the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife. 4Usually during June, the white birds would be watching their eggs as they begin to hatch. But now, the sand is filled with eggshells. 5Melissa Loebl is the manager of the nature reserve. She called it one of the largest abandonment of eggs ever at the coastal area. The reserve is about 160 km north of San Diego, California. 6Last year, the pandemic brought more and more people to outdoor spaces. In 2020, about 100,000 visitors came to the Bolsa Chica reserve. That is up from about 60,000 in 2019, she told the newspaper. 7That has led to an increase in human activity, including flying drones, walking dogs, and riding bicycles. All these activities are not permitted. 8Loebl said that there has been a great increase in dogs, particularly those permitted to run free. She explained that this is especially bad during the nesting season. 9"The dogs chase the birds, and the birds abandon their nests," she said. 10Another problem is the development of multimillion-dollar homes near the reserve, said Fish and Wildlife guardian Nick Molsberry. While most residents respect the rules of the reserve, he said, some do not. 11Some residents, suggested Molsberry, feel entitled and feel they "should be able to use the land as they like." Officials, however, are increasing enforcement and fining people who break the rules. 12The reserve is the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay just south of San Francisco and the Tijuana River Estuary in Mexico. Some 800 species of plants and animals live at or migrate to Bolsa Chica. 13I'm Anna Matteo. 14Staff writers for the Associated Press reported this story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 15_______________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17abandoned - adj. left without needed protection, care, or support 18drone - n. an un-crewed aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers 19wetland - n. an area of land (such as a marsh or swamp) that is covered with shallow water 20predator - n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals : an animal that preys on other animals 21hatch - v. to come out of an egg 22resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place 23entitled - adj. having a right to certain benefits or privileges 24marsh - n. an area of soft, wet land that has many grasses and other plants