Seabeach amaranth surveys completed at Cape Henlopen

CAPE HENLOPEN (Sept. 15, 2011) – The oceanside beach of the Point at Cape Henlopen was opened to the public on Sept. 1. The bayside will remain closed until Oct. 1 to give migrating shorebirds an opportunity to rest and feed during their southward journey. On Friday, Sept. 9 at low tide, about 50 shorebirds were seen on the bay side’s tidal flats. Species observed included ruddy turnstones, semi-palmated plovers, sanderlings and one piping plover.

Also on Sept. 9, final surveys for seabeach amaranth were concluded. Although Hurricane Irene did not hit the Delaware coast with the strength forecast previous to the storm, it did affect the low-lying beach areas where amaranth tends to grow.

Three locations at Cape Henlopen State Park hosted amaranth this season: Gordon’s Pond, the Point and Navy Beach. A single amaranth was found at each location. Only the Navy Beach plant survived Irene. Although damaged by the storm, the plant remained rooted and still appeared viable.

At Delaware Seashore State Park this season, 27 plants were found between Key Box and Conquest roads and three amaranth plants were found on the beach between Tower and Key Box roads. Judging from depths that fence posts were buried by Irene, it appeared that, in the zone where amaranth grows, these beaches picked up six inches to over a foot of elevation due to sand deposition. This was enough depth to cover any amaranth that was growing at these sites. 

Although only one amaranth plant made it through Hurricane Irene, it should be noted that the majority of plants had set seed prior to the storm, so the plants had completed the crucial parts of their life cycle and the seeds have been added to the seed bed, hopefully, to sprout in future seasons.

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.

Vol. 41, No. 354