While winter storms have threatened some waterfront homes, they’ve been a boon to nesting piping plovers, who prefer the scoured beaches left by storms and hurricanes. But this year’s population of the tiny migratory shorebird still face challenges from predators.
Large numbers of Portuguese man-of-wars were found washed up on the south shore of the Vineyard this week, prompting The Trustees of Reservations to post notices at Norton Point beach in Edgartown.
Chilmark town beaches Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket remain closed to
swimming after droves of Portuguese man-of-war began washing up on the
southern shore of the Island Monday, stinging five swimmers within
minutes at Lucy Vincent. Two of the swimmers were hospitalized and
released for wounds from the jellyfish-like creatures.
