Piping plovers nest at Gordons Pond

A stretch of beach in the Gordons Pond area of Cape Henlopen State Park will be closed to public and surf vehicle access on Monday to protect the first piping plover nest of the season in the area, said Matthew Bailey, the state's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program manager.

The nest, discovered late Friday afternoon,  isn't in immediate danger this weekend as long as park visitors respect the already fenced off areas, Bailey said.

This nest is within an area that is already off limits to the public but Monday an additional area will be fenced off to allow the birds to establish a feeding territory from their nest to the water's edge, Bailey said.

There is one egg in the nest now but as many as four eggs could be laid by next week, he said.

“The news is especially exciting this year because the storms that hit the beaches over the winter carved out lots of new plover habitat at Gordons Pond,” Bailey said. “This may lead to greater nesting success both this year and in coming years.”

The birds, a threatened species, are especially vulnerable to disturbance from both humans, their pets and predators like foxes, crows, seagulls and feral cats. Over the last two decades, state environmental officials have taken extraordinary steps to protect the nesting birds and ensure that the young birds survive to fledge. The adult birds act out a broken wing defense mechanism to lure potential predators – including humans and their dogs -– away from the nest -– one reason state officials fence off a protected zone. Too much time away from the nest can impact hatchling success.

The adult birds blend in with the sandy, beach habitat and their young -- about the size of a piece of popped, popcorn -- are extremely difficult to see.

Bailey said the plan on Monday is to fence an additional half-mile area of beach between the Gordons Pond Observation Towers and Herring Point dune crossover. Signs, twine and PVC stakes will be used to mark the restricted area.

“Closing off plover nesting areas is an established protocol every year at Cape Henlopen, and this closing is in the typical area that beachgoers are accustomed to,” said Bailey, coordinator of the state's Piping Plover Protection Program. “The area will remain closed until the last of our plover chicks are fledged, usually in late August.”

Reach Molly Murray at (302) 463-3334 or mmurray@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @MollyMurraytnj.

Piping Plovers

Status: Once common along the Atlantic coast, piping plovers were hunted for feathers used in the millinery trade in the 19th Century. Plovers recovered to a 20th Century peak in the 1940s but increased coastal development and beach recreation has lead to a population decline. They were listed as a threatened species in 1986. The population has more than doubled over 20 years. The Atlantic population is estimated at 2,000 pairs. Delaware's number of nesting pairs are typically fewer than two dozen.

Habitat: Coastal areas. The birds especially favor flattened, storm damaged beaches. Predation increases as dunes provide cover for foxes, crows and gulls which feed on the young birds and eggs.

Diet: insects, small crustaceans.

Life cycle: Chicks typically fly within 30 days of hatching.

Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service