Sept. 1, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 366

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.

With last piping plover chicks fledged,
Point reopens at Cape Henlopen

It’s official: the last piping plover chicks have fledged at Cape Henlopen State Park. The recently fledged chicks were last reported on the tidal flats of the bay side of the Point on Friday afternoon, Aug. 28, and were seen flying east over the dunes heading towards overwashes that are located in the interior of the Point.

Piping plover chicks are judged to have reached fledgling status when they have been observed flying a distance greater than 50 feet. The Point and Gordons Pond, both located in Cape Henlopen State Park, are the only two places where piping plovers nested in Delaware in 2009.

Since there are no more unfledged plover chicks on the Point, the ocean side of the Point reopened to vehicular and pedestrian traffic today. The bay side of the Point will remain closed until Thursday, Oct. 1 to provide undisturbed resting and feeding areas for shorebirds undertaking their southward migration. 

The interior of the Point and the habitat on the east shore of Gordons Pond remain closed year-round to protect the fragile dune ecosystems that exist within.

In addition to the nesting piping plovers, which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, seabeach amaranth (also federally listed as threatened) has been observed at the Point and Gordons Pond. 

Although the overwash habitat that amaranth prefers was hit hard by waves generated by Hurricane Bill and many of the plants were lost, searches for seabeach amaranth will continue into September and it is hoped that more amaranth will be found.

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.

For more information on Cape Henlopen State Park, please call the park office at 302-645-8983.