March 13, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 95

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 Piping Plovers of the Season Spotted at Cape Henlopen 

            With the regularity of the famed swallows of San Juan Capistrano, the piping plovers have returned to Cape Henlopen State Park for another season, Wildlife Biologist Matt Bailey announced today – and the tiny endangered shorebirds have shown remarkable timing. 

“Rivaling the astounding precision achieved by the ancient Mayan calendars, the date of 2008’s first sighting of piping plovers in Delaware matches exactly the date of the first sighting in 2007,” Bailey said.

Two male piping plovers were seen on the ocean shoreline at Cape Henlopen State Park’s Gordons Pond on March 11. The following day two more piping plovers, also male, were observed on the tidal flats of the Point at Cape Henlopen.   

“As with many shorebird species, male piping plovers tend to arrive at the breeding grounds somewhat earlier than the females. This early bird strategy gives the males a chance to nail down the best possible real estate for their nesting territories, thus giving them the best chance to be chosen by a female as a mate,” he explained.

The males seen at Cape Henlopen earlier this week didn’t give any indication that they had been considering specific territories yet. However, there was one set of plover tracks meandering along the dune face and overwashes at Gordons Pond.  

“Window shopping, one might say,” Bailey noted, adding there is no way to know if the plovers seen this week will stay in Delaware or will migrate further north. “We will be keeping a close eye on the beaches and will continue to fence off historic and potential nesting areas in order to give the plovers in Delaware the best opportunities to nest early and successfully,” he continued. 

For more information on piping plovers and volunteer monitoring, please contact Matt Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.