News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Aug. 28, 2008

Vol. 38, No. 391

For more information, contact Matthew Bailey, Wildlife Biologist, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 302-739-9912, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Storms, Predators Hamper This Year's Beachnester Breeding Season

Only Three Piping Plover Chicks Fledged at Cape Henlopen this Summer

Beachnesters in Delaware this summer faced a tough breeding season, with storms and predators taking a toll on the survival of their young.

"Due to a combination of uncommonly strong storms in the beginning of the season, including the severe May storm that washed away many established nests, and problems with predators, primarily red fox, our beachnesting birds were unable to match the productivity of past years," said Wildlife Biologist Matt Bailey.

Although the total number of pairs of nesting piping plovers was comparable to last year, only three piping plover chicks fledged this season, compared to12 in 2007, he said.

"As of last week, plover fledglings were observed feeding at Cape Henlopen State Park, but it was impossible to be certain which ones had hatched in Delaware and which ones had flown in from other states in the process of migrating south," Bailey said.

Shorebird surveys conducted at Cape Henlopen this August have recorded five to 10 piping plovers foraging on the shorelines in concert with the many other migrants that are also making their way south for the winter. The most recent survey recorded more than 400 terns of four different species using the Point at Cape Henlopen to feed and rest, fueling up for their flight south.

The ocean side of the Point is scheduled to be open to the public for the Labor Day weekend, with the bay side remaining closed until Wednesday, Oct. 1 to provide protected areas for migrant stopovers.

Least terns nested at three different locations but had little success, with predators taking most eggs before they could hatch. The sole exception was observed at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge's Fowlers Beach, where about 20 pairs of least terns nested and observations suggested that several chicks did reach fledge age.

Surveys are still being conducted for seabeach amaranth, a federally endangered plant that doesn't sprout until mid to late July with the heart of the season being in late August. So far this year, amaranth has been found at Cape Henlopen's Point and at Gordons Pond and also at Delaware Seashore State Park. Surveys for seabeach amaranth will continue until mid-September.