Piping plover chicks foraging on a Delaware Beach. The species is federally listed as “threatened” and DNREC seeks volunteers to monitor
and help protect the plover and other species in need of assistance as their numbers try to rebound on the East Coast. /Photo: Jessica McNulty

Important Effort Helps Protect State’s Endangered and Threatened
Shorebird Species Including Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is seeking volunteers who want to help protect Delaware’s beach-nesting birds – which include federally-listed threatened piping plovers and state-listed endangered American oystercatchers. Potential volunteers are invited to join a training session held by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 3 at Cape Henlopen State Park’s Officers Club Mess Hall.

Volunteers who act as monitors are an important and valued component of the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s conservation efforts for Delaware’s beach-nesting bird species. Stationed on the boundaries of the birds’ nesting areas, volunteers explain to beachgoers the importance of closing sections of the beach to prevent human disturbance thus helping increase the nesting success of the birds.

The May 3 volunteer training session will begin with light refreshments and a slideshow presentation, followed by a discussion about the beach-nesting bird monitoring program, and how volunteers can help to ensure that these shorebirds are not disturbed while nesting and rearing their chicks during the summer months. Weather and time permitting, the group will finish the training session by venturing out to the Point at Cape Henlopen to look for piping plovers and other shorebirds likely to be feeding on the tidal flats. Binoculars will be available for use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own optics if they have them.

Submission of an interest form prior to the training is encouraged so supervisors can prepare enough material, but volunteer walk-ups can also receive training to become beach-nesting bird monitors and submit the form afterward. Park entrance fees will be waived for volunteers attending the training.

For more information on the training, about beach-nesting birds, or about volunteer monitoring efforts, visit de.gov/pipingplovers or email DNREC Coastal Waterbird Biologist Kat Christie and her team at deshorebirds@delaware.gov.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov 

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The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park./DNREC Photo

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will close The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean and bay beach, starting Saturday, March 1. Since 1993, The Point has closed annually for most of the spring and summer for the benefit of threatened and endangered beach-nesters and migratory shorebirds, including piping plovers, American oystercatchers, least terns, red knots and other species.

The Point’s nesting habitat on the ocean side will reopen to the public Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.

The DNREC Divisions of Parks and Recreation, Fish and Wildlife, and Watershed Stewardship have worked together since 1990 to implement a management plan to help bolster and increase shorebird populations in Delaware.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Presidential Daughter Ashley Biden joined Governor John Carney, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin (right) and DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation Ray Bivens Dec. 13 for the rededication of the newly-renovated Biden Environmental Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. The namesake center after President Joe Biden has undergone a $15 million capital improvement-funded transformation to become a first-rate destination for environmental education, with classroom space that provides opportunities for lab work associated with marine ecosystems and indoor learning during inclement weather. The center also is now a place where groups gather for the day or overnight stay in a welcoming space to learn and experience the diverse coastal landscape of Cape Henlopen State Park. /DNREC photo: Errol Ebanks.

Governor John Carney and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, along with President Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley and other dignitaries today rededicated the newly-renovated Biden Environmental Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. Formerly used by the U.S. Navy Reserve for training, the 1960s-era structure has been modernized and updated by DNREC to meet current safety standards and accessibility requirements.

“President Biden’s foresight when he served as Delaware’s U.S. Senator to preserve this federal surplus land, including multiple buildings and bunkers, opened a world of possibilities for not only public recreation, but also environmental programs, training and retreats. It is part of the reason Delaware’s parks have been named the best in the country,” said Governor John Carney. “President Biden’s legacy as a dedicated public servant, compassionate leader, and proud Delawarean will continue to shape the state’s identity for years to come.”

The $15 million Biden Environmental Center capital improvement project was funded through Bond Bill appropriations, and renovations commenced in January 2023. The renovated Biden Environmental Center will be used for DNREC trainings, regional workshops and community-focused events. The classroom space will provide opportunities for lab work associated with marine ecosystems and indoor learning during inclement weather. The center also will be a place where groups gather for the day or overnight in a welcoming space to learn and experience the diverse coastal landscape of Cape Henlopen State Park.

“We are grateful to have a modern facility and amenities that invite environmental groups to collaborate with Cape Henlopen State Park’s natural campus right outside the door here,” DNREC Secretary Garvin said. “The Biden Environmental Center’s exhibits offer its visitors an observation of the past, present and future of the area’s cultural and natural resources that we hope will inspire further stewardship and conservation.”

With the help of then-Sen. Biden, the Biden Environmental Center and adjacent acreage was acquired by the state in the 1990s and converted to a facility for education programs, training and retreats. It was dedicated as the Biden Environmental Training Center in 1998. The facility served as the home of the Residential Environmental Education at Cape Henlopen (REECH) program for students, as well as hosting regional workshops and in-house training for DNREC staff. In 2013, the building was deemed unsafe with its lack of modern safety standards and accessibility. Overnight accommodations were halted, and planning began for an adaptive reuse of the property.

In addition to exterior upgrades, the two-story building now offers a large meeting room that can accommodate 98 people or it can be sectioned off into two rooms that hold 49 people each. It also sleeps 46 people among its 21 guest rooms with private bathrooms, including two ADA-accessible guest suites. A catering kitchen will support functions at the center. For more information about the Biden Environmental Center, call 302-644-5005.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Piping plover on Fowler Beach /Photo: Dennis Murphy 

Beach-nesting piping plovers – a federally-listed threatened species and Delaware state-listed endangered species – experienced a decrease in adult pair numbers but increased nesting success in Delaware during 2024, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

Seven pairs of piping plovers were recorded nesting at The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, as well as 17 nesting pairs documented at Fowler Beach on Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, for a total of 24 nesting pairs. Before this year, pair counts in Delaware had steadily increased since 2016. The pair count stabilized at 24 in 2021 and 2022, but sharply increased to 31 in 2023.

“After low productivity in 2023, some former Delaware birds were reported breeding in other states in 2024, and ultimately we were back to hosting 24 pairs of plovers this year,” said Katherine “Kat” Christie, DNREC Coastal Waterbird biologist and leader of the Delaware Shorebird Project.

However, she said, prospects have become better for the piping plover’s recovery in Delaware and along the East Coast through partnerships between DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Fish  and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services. “Partners are working together to better understand the drivers of population change and behavior, such as a study investigating piping plover chick and fledgling movement,” Christie said. “Trained biologists fit each plover with a unique combination of plastic leg bands allowing them to be identified using a spotting scope or binoculars.”

Such focus enabled DNREC and USFWS biologists to determine that piping plovers produced more fledglings in 2024 than in recent years – with 41 chicks raised to fledging, or flying age (25 days old) across the state. Last year, 29 chicks were raised to fledging age after multiple instances of chick predation and severe weather events. In 2024, Christie said, several nest and brood failures were attributed to suspected depredation. No plover pairs attempted to nest at Gordon’s Pond on Cape Henlopen this year, after a pair tried but ultimately failed to establish a nest there in 2023.

Productivity – calculated as fledglings per breeding pair – was the highest Delaware has seen since 2020. Record piping plover nest productivity (>2.0 fledglings per pair) was documented in Delaware from 2018 through 2020, but was poor in 2021 through 2023. In 2024, largely due to the markedly high fledging rates at Fowler Beach, piping plover nest productivity in Delaware was 1.71 fledglings per pair. This surpassed the recovery goal metric of 1.5 fledglings per pair established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1996 as part of the piping plover recovery plan. Delaware’s nesting productivity has not met that goal since 2020, even though fledgling counts for 2024 are comparable to counts during those record high productivity years due to increases in pair numbers. Productivity ranged from 0.8 to 1.4 fledglings per pair in 2021-2023.

Delaware beach-nesting bird species update

In other beach-nesting bird species updates, two pairs of American oystercatchers nested at The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, one pair at Delaware Seashore State Park, and one pair at Fowler Beach. Although three nest attempts successfully hatched, no American oystercatcher chicks fledged on monitored beaches in 2024. Least terns bred at The Point again this year, with 16 nesting attempts identified after no nests were seen in 2023. Biologists were able to confirm seven hatched least tern nests, though no fledging was confirmed from the colony at The Point. The least tern colonies at Fowler Beach had higher success than the previous years, with a high count of 62 incubating adults observed, and at least 66 fledglings confirmed.

These nesting areas remained closed through Oct. 1 to provide an undisturbed foraging area for southbound migrant shorebirds, including many fledglings making their way out of their natal grounds for the first time. During regular surveys, biologists observed adults and fledgling piping plovers, American oystercatchers, royal terns, ruddy turnstone, sanderling, semipalmated plovers, black-bellied plovers, lesser black-backed gulls and other species utilizing this valuable stretch of beach on the Delaware Bay. For more information, visit de.gov/shorebirds or email deshorebirds@delaware.gov.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Delaware Natural Resources Police arrested 22-year-old Phillip A. Hartana of Philadelphia, Penn. and 22-year-old Nicholas D. Edwards of Wilmington, Del., following an investigation into the assault of a 7-year-old child and his mother at Cape Henlopen State Park.

On June 22, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., state park officers were dispatched to the area of the Cape Henlopen State Park fishing pier for the report of an assault. Officers determined that Hartana and Edwards were out in the water, at low tide, playing “Spike Ball.” The child approached the two men and attempted to join into their game. When the child was denied, the child splashed Hartana. Hartana then began to aggressively splash the child, then dunked the child pushing him underwater for several seconds. After being let up, the child left the water and returned to his mother to tell her about the incident, which was confirmed by witnesses. The mother, who observed fresh bleeding scratches on her child’s chest, arm and back approached Hartana and began to yell at him. Without provocation, Edwards then shoved the mother two times. She then backed away and called 911 to report the incident.

Hartana and Edwards were then taken into custody and transported to Rehoboth Beach Police Department, where Natural Resources Police officers completed their investigation.

 Phillip A. Hartana was charged with the following crimes:
• Child Abuse 3rd Recklessly/Intentionally cause physical injury to a child with intellectual disabilities (felony)
• Assault Third Degree Intentionally or Recklessly Causes Physical Injury to Another (misdemeanor)
• Disorderly Conduct by Fighting or Violent Tumultuous or Threatening Behavior (misdemeanor)

 Nicholas D. Edwards was charged with the following crimes:
• Offensive Touching (misdemeanor)
• Disorderly Conduct by Fighting or Violent Tumultuous or Threatening Behavior (misdemeanor)

Both Hartana and Edwards were video arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3. Hartana was released on a $3,000 unsecured bond, and Edwards was released on a $300.00 unsecured bond.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Captain John McDerby, john.mcderby@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov