News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Aug. 6, 2009 - Vol. 39, No. 333
For more information, contact Matthew Bailey, Wildlife Biologist, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 302-382-4151, Pat Cooper, Cape Henlopen State Park Administrator, 302-645-8983, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
With plover chicks fledged, ocean beach to reopen at Gordons Pond
The oceanside beach at Gordons Pond will reopen to pedestrian and vehicular traffic by Saturday, Aug. 9, since all of the piping plover chicks at the site have fledged. Fledglings and adult plovers are still being seen on the pond side of the nesting area. Although the ocean beach will be open, the dunes and the pond will remain closed to protect sensitive habitat and to prevent disturbance of foraging birds.
In addition to the plovers, shorebird migration has begun over the last few weeks, with well over 500 shorebirds and wading birds at a time foraging on the pond. Seabeach amaranth – a plant listed as threatened on the federal endangered species list – also can be found on the dune slopes and overwashes at Gordons Pond, as well as on the Point.
Two piping plover chicks remain at the Point, with fledglings and adults still being seen on both the ocean and bay side. To protect the plovers, as well as the hundreds of migrating shorebirds foraging there, the Point remains closed.
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 320-645-8983.