Piping plover nesting season off to a good start with three nests

Unseasonably cool weather aside, the piping plover nesting season has gotten off to a noteworthy start with three nests spotted last week on the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park. A pair of piping plovers also has been seen at Gordon’s Pond, but they don’t appear to have set up a territory there yet.

As many as nine piping plovers have been sighted at one time out on the tidal flats on the bay side of the Point, and it is expected that more pairs and their nests will reveal themselves in the near future.

In other beachnester bird news, two American oystercatcher nests were found on the Point last week. Unfortunately, both nests were too close to the high tide line and have either succumbed to flooding or were taken by predators.

To date there has been no sign of beachnester bird activity at Delaware Seashore State Park.

For more information on beachnesting birds and monitoring efforts, contact Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.