June 14, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 206

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

Section of fence moved to safeguard nesting plovers at Gordons Pond

Piping plovers have been very busy this past week at Gordons Pond with three nests being incubated. The third nest at Gordon’s Pond was found with four eggs on June 10, located well south of the fence that delineates the closed area. This necessitated moving the southern fence further south to enclose and help protect the new nest. The southern fence is now located about 80 feet north of the Gordons Pond surf vehicle crossover access to the beach.

The earliest hatch date for the piping plovers at Gordons Pond is expected to be July 3.

Meanwhile, all six plover nests that were laid on the Point at Cape Henlopen have hatched. Four of the broods have established foraging territories on the bay shoreline. The other two broods are foraging in a large overwash on the northern half of the Point. Another pair of plovers has been showing interest in an area on the Point, but no nest has been observed yet.

In other beachnester news, both of the oystercatcher nests that were being incubated in the beginning of June have been lost. It’s believed that one of the nests was lost to flooding and the other to predators. The least tern colony has also been hit by predators. While there are still two nests on the ground, it appears that all other least tern nests – about eight – have been taken.

For more information, please contact Wildlife Biologist Matt Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.