April 7, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 132

For more information, contact Matthew Bailey, Wildlife Biologist, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 302-382-4151, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

First-of-Season Piping Plovers, American
Oystercatchers Spotted on Delaware Beaches
Volunteers Sought to Help Monitor Beaches for Nesting Birds

This spring DNREC’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program is seeking volunteers who can help assess Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay beaches for the presence of beach-nesting birds such as the endangered piping plover.

“Anyone who likes to walk on the beach and who owns a pair of binoculars can help. With a little guidance, the species of birds we are looking for can be easily identified,” said Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey.

Piping plovers and American oystercatchers are already being seen regularly at Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore state parks. In addition, one plover and one oystercatcher have been spotted on Fowler’s Beach at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, and there have also been reports of oystercatchers in the Rehoboth Bay area.

With the recent cool, wet weather, it has been difficult to tell where the birds may set up nesting territories, since wet sand does not hold their tracks well. However, Bailey said data from past years indicates the first piping plover nests are usually found during the last week of April, and oystercatchers also tend to be early nesters.

In an annual effort led by Heritage program staff, fencing has been erected to safeguard nesting areas that have been popular with the birds in the past at Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore state parks. The Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Heritage staff members were assisted by Delaware State Parks staff, AmeriCorps, the University of Delaware’s Gamma Sigma Sigma sorority and veteran plover volunteers.

Although beachnesters have been seen at many of their traditional nesting spots, many beaches including state park areas and municipal beaches have not yet been checked for birds this season. Volunteers are being sought for this task as well as continued monitoring – and the earlier in the season, the better.

“We are hoping to check as many beaches as possible prior to the arrival of summer beachgoers. Early observations at these beaches may reveal patterns of beachnester use that might not be detected as summer crowds increase,” Bailey said.