DATELINE CAPE HENLOPEN _ The first two piping plover nests at Gordon’s Pond Beach in Cape Henlopen State Park each have a full clutch of four eggs, with the parents-to-be defending their areas, and a third nest has been located hidden amongst the sea shells and debris.
To minimize disturbances to the tiny endangered shorebirds, a half-mile stretch of beach between the Observation Towers and the Herring Point crossover was closed to the public yesterday with signs, twine and PVC posts to mark the area.
“Closing off plover nesting areas is an established protocol every year at Cape Henlopen, and this closing is in the typical area that beachgoers are accustomed to,” said DNRE Biologist Matt Bailey, who serves as coordinator of the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Piping Plover Protection Program. “This area will remain closed until the last of our plover chicks are fledged, usually in late August or early September.”
Meanwhile, out on The Point, another favorite spot for nesting plovers, two nests with two eggs each have been found, and at least two other pairs have staked out territories. Just this morning, a third nest with one egg was discovered. The Point’s nesting area has been closed to the public since March.
Some other exciting news at the Point is that a two-egg American oystercatcher nest has been observed, with both adults defending their territory.
For more information on piping plovers and volunteer plover monitor training, please contact Matt Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.
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A Piping Plover recap from 2007:
Gordons Pond (GP) nest 1 - 0 fledged
GP3 - 3 fledged
GP8 - 0 fledged
GP12 - 2 fledged
The Point (PT) nest 2 - 3 fledged
PT5 - 2 fledged
PT6 - 2 fledged
PT10 - 0 fledged
PT11 - 0 fledged |
Photo by Dennis Murphy |
