The Outer Cape newspaper published a beautifully constructed defense of our lawsuit written by Swede Plaut, an Audubon volunteer and well known and well loved animal welfare activist here on the OC. It's encouraging to know that there are conservationists who understand that we are not a threat to shorebird survival. Here's his letter: Vehicles Worse Than Kitesurfing For Shorebirds The pending litigation challenging the ban on kitesurfing in the waters off National Seashore beaches centers on the potential disturbance kitesurfing might pose to threatened and endangered shorebirds. Good thing we have the National Park Service to protect these rare creatures. Is the Seashore correct in determining that kitesurfing is a potential cause of disturbance to nesting, fledging and staging shorebirds? Yup. The science is there. But can the National Seashore defend this ban in comparison to other activities they allow in shorebird habitat? Nope. The National Seashore annually collects thousands of dollars in fees and in return hands over miles of ocean beaches, some of the most productive shorebird habitat on Cape Cod, to hundreds of SUVs, ORVs and vehicle campers while the shorebirds most need the beaches. Unlike kite surfers, these vehicles traverse the beach daily, burying every trace of wrack, that messy line of seaweed and bugs and crustaceans that is the dinner plate for shorebirds. Vehicles leak oil, gas and coolant. People bring generators and televisions and kites. And when they drive away they leave behind a wasteland. So what's the difference between these two activities? Money. The campers and drivers pay big money for the privilege of taking over the beach, and the industry (Ford to Range Rover and on and on) and a very powerful and well-financed lobbying group called the Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association are ever vigilant and prepared to apply pressure on the National Park Service to accommodate their demands. Kite surfers pay to use seashore parking lots and then they walk to the water. Is there scientific research that documents the harm vehicles cause to shorebird habitat? Yup, lots and lots of it. Much of it researched and documented right here on the Outer Cape, on those very beaches now open to vehicles. I would hate to be a well-educated seashore biologist and be working for the National Park Service. If you are at all interested you really should go visit one of the few beaches where kitesurfing is permitted. You will see shorebirds scooting away from kite surfers and other beachgoers as they head to the water. Go visit a beach where the National Seashore collects money and allows vehicles. No shorebirds. S.P.