Oceanside beach at the Point reopens Aug. 30

A stretch of oceanside beach at The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park will reopen Saturday, Aug. 30. The Point’s bayside beach will remain closed until Wednesday, Oct. 1, for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.

The Point has closed annually since 1993 each March for the benefit of threatened and endangered beach-nesters and migratory shorebirds, including piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns, red knots and other species.

During this year’s closure, nine piping plover chicks successfully fledged from nests at The Point. More than 27 least tern chicks hatched, and broods are still active on the beach as well as fledgling least terns from other sites. An additional full report on beach-nesting bird activity in the closed area will be released by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife after the conclusion of the breeding season.

While piping plovers nest in isolation and their nests can be enclosed with protective fencing, least terns nest in colonies and cannot be enclosed to protect them from predators. All active broods of least terns are on the oceanside of The Point and may still be present after the area opens, so the beachgoers are asked to use caution when driving or walking in this area.