Contact: Marnie Pepper, Delaware Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, phone: (302) 382-4151
or Pat Cooper, Cape Henlopen State Park, phone: (302) 645-8983

Cape Henlopen State Park Will Reopen Stretch of Gordons Pond Beach That Was Fenced Off to Protect Piping Plover Nest

The eighth of a mile stretch of beach at Cape Henlopen State Park's Gordons Pond area that was closed in May when a pair of piping plovers nested outside the restricted nesting area will be reopened this week. The quarter-mile section closed in March will remain fenced off to protect three remaining nests, one with a chick that should fledge any day.

According to Marnie Pepper, the Division of Fish and Wildlife biologist who is coordinating the beachnester monitoring program, the adults abandoned the nest, leaving two eggs in the nest bowl. "Generally, piping plovers lay four eggs, but less healthy birds will often lay fewer eggs," she said. "We have been monitoring the area to make sure the birds were not planning to re-nest in the same area, but it appears they have moved elsewhere. We don't know what caused the abandonment, but it was probably a variety of factors. There were no signs of predator harassment."

There are now seven active piping plover nests – four at Cape Henlopen's Point and three at Gordons Pond. Last year, 12 nesting pairs produced eight fledglings.

"We still want to remind visitors to the park that disrupting the birds while they are feeding or nesting can have a serious impact on the survival of the adults and their ability to successfully raise their young," Pepper said. "It's especially important for people and their dogs to stay out of the restricted areas."

The Gordons Pond beach will be reopened as soon as all eggs hatch and the young birds can fly. That is usually in late July or August, depending on when the plovers nested. Eggs typically hatch in about 30 days and chicks fledge about 35 days after hatching.

The historic nesting habitat on the ocean side of the Point will reopen on Sept. 1, by which time all the season’s young birds are typically able to fly. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.


 

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