East Hampton Fireworks Postponed-With plovers on the nest and fledglings afoot, show moved to September
Piping plovers nesting on the East Hampton Village ocean beach and as far east as Amagansett have forced the East Hampton Fire Department to cancel its July 2 Independence Day fireworks for the first time since 1960.
The display will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 3, during Labor Day weekend.
Piping plovers are a federally protected species. Plover nests are always a concern for officials in the spring. This year, late storms with high tides and erosion wiped out some nests and forced the plovers to begin anew, said Latisha Coy of East Hampton Town's Natural Resources Department.
Two chicks have hatched from a nest in front of the Sea Spray Cottages east of Main Beach, and the adult birds are incubating two more eggs, Ms. Coy said.
The chicks will not leave the area until 25 to 35 days after they hatch, which means the town's efforts to protect the endangered shore birds will continue for at least another month.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service requires that fireworks be launched at least three-quarters of a mile from the nearest nest of the diminuitive shorebirds. Federal regulations prohibit moving the nests.
In addition, state fire code does not allow launch sites within an 1,100-foot distance of a house or other structure, which would rule out any alternate location for the East Hampton display.
"The larger the shells, the more distance is required from buildings," the East Hampton Fire Chief, David Browne, said yesterday.
If the department only had to worry about plover nests, it might be able to launch the fireworks from a spot between Main and Georgica beaches. "Unfortunately, we can't get enough distance there from the houses," said Larry Cantwell, the village administrator.
"We sent people out to measure all the other beaches trying to find someplace where we could move it," Mr. Browne said. The search was fruitless, he said.
Usually, Bay Fireworks runs the display from a site near the Sea Spray Cottages. "It's the first time we actually had sightings right there where they are setting them off," Mr. Browne said.
After learning about the plover nests earlier this week, the village and the fire department asked Bay Fireworks if it could launch the display from a barge, but it was too late to arrange for one, Mr. Browne said.
"We looked at a lot of options and none of them seemed practical or possible," Mr. Cantwell said. "I'm disappointed. I always enjoy the fireworks."
The display, which is sponsored by the fire department and supported by private contributions, is a big event for the firemen, Mr. Browne said. At houses along the beach near the display, there are private parties whose hosts have given generously to the fireworks fund. "I feel bad for these people," Mr. Browne said.
Even before news was out about the cancellation, he said, "I've had calls asking when the date is going to be for next year so they can set up parties."
The department will send a letter expressing regrets to all those who have contributed to the fireworks fund.