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Vol. 31, No. 54
Feb. 27, 2001
For more information, contact Steve Schilly, state parks operations
manager, 302-739-4405, Park Superintendent Pat Cooper at 302-645-8983,
or Kathleen Jamison, Information and Education Office, 302-739-4506.
One Good Tern Deserves Another,
The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park Closes for Birds March 1
The annual closure of The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park for the
benefit of piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other beach-nesting
birds that can't cope with people will begin on March 1.
Since 1993, the Division of Parks and Recreation has set aside a quarter-mile
stretch of ocean beach and dunes and a half mile along the bay shoreline
for the use of threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory
shorebirds.
The historic nesting habitat on the ocean side 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.
Beachgoers can look for the symbolic fencing - PVC piping connected
with twine and marked with red tape for visibility - that marks the
area from just north of the bayside crossing at The Point parking area
to just north of the oceanside crossing of The Point parking area. The
closed area includes the inner portion of The Point as well as the beach.
Most species of Delaware's beach nesting birds are showing significant
declines in populations. Last year, for example, only three pairs of
piping plovers nested in the state. One reason is that the birds are
competing for habitat with humans who want to use the same habitats
for recreation or development.
Some beach nesters - skimmers, gulls and terns, for example - can deal
with people better than others. These species nest in noisy colonies
and will mob and attack two- and four-legged trespassers alike. A tern
that spots trouble near the colony cries out, alerting its neighbors,
and is apt to dive bomb the intruder.
But birds such as piping plovers and oystercatchers rely mainly on
camouflage to protect their eggs and chicks. They can be unwittingly
stepped on or driven over by humans, or devoured by crows, foxes, feral
cats and other predators.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's divisions
of Parks and Recreation, Fish and Wildlife and Soil and Water Conservation
have been working together since 1990 to implement a management plan
to halt the decline of beachnester and migratory shorebird populations.
"We realize closing popular beaches during summer months can
be an imposition to visitors," said Park Administrator Pat Cooper.
"That's why we try to minimize the length of time these areas are
set aside for the birds. At the same time, we are committed to providing
protection for these species, hopefully to prevent them from completely
disappearing from the state. We appreciate the public's cooperation
in this effort."
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