July 24, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 316

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.

Plover nest at Gordons Pond hatches
while chicks grow and fledglings fly

The last known piping plover nest at Gordons Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park hatched on July 19, and the next day the parents were seen with a single chick, plover monitors reported this week. The other three chicks may have been taken by predators.

Two other pairs of plovers hatched chicks at Gordons Pond this season, and three chicks from these two nests have already fledged.

“The fledglings are still being seen periodically on the pond shoreline, but they are flying quite well and may even be venturing up to the Point on occasion,” noted Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey.

Meanwhile on the Point, one nest is still being incubated and is expected to hatch soon, while seven chicks – three each in two broods and one in the third – have been observed in the area. The Point’s fledgling has been spotted in numerous locations.

“The fledglings at Cape Henlopen are now so mobile, it’s difficult to tell to what brood they belong, and they are not always found in the territories where they spent their time as chicks,” Bailey said.

For more information on beachnesters and monitoring efforts, please contact Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.

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