Piping plover chicks hatch at Gordons Pond

Four piping plover chicks hatched June12 from the sole nest this year at Gordons Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park. Both adults were seen with the chicks that afternoon.

Over at the Point, three pairs of plovers have set up foraging territories along the bayside with their chicks, and have been observed going back into the dunes for shelter and rest. The chicks at the Point hatched June 8-9.

“At this early stage of a plover chick’s life they are still very vulnerable to hypothermia, especially in the recent drenching downpours,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey. “Consequently, we are very careful not to disturb the broods and only observe them from afar. We don’t have full counts of the chicks, but full counts will emerge as things progress.”

In other beachnester bird news, least terns are still defending an area near the tip of the Point, and two nests with eggs have been found and are being tended.
.

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