DuPont Nature Center to Reopen Saturday, April 2

The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve will reopen Saturday, April 2 /DNREC photo

 

Health Protocols in Place for Guest Safety

The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve will welcome visitors again when it reopens for the season Saturday, April 2, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. The facility will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April through September on the following days:

  • April: Wednesdays and Saturdays only (closed Easter weekend)
  • May: Tuesday through Sunday (closed on Mondays)
  • June-July-August: Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday)
  • September: Wednesdays and Saturdays only

Visitors of kindergarten age and older will be required to wear a face covering while inside the nature center.

In the spring, the center’s large deck overlooking the harbor offers wildlife watchers an unrivaled view of the spectacle of spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally-listed threatened red knots that feast on horseshoe crab eggs to help fuel their 9,000-mile journey to the arctic. More information on horseshoe crab and shorebird viewing is available from the DuPont Nature Center at de.gov/dnc. Another attraction is the indoor saltwater tanks that allow a close-up look at a variety of aquatic species from horseshoe crabs to diamondback terrapins.

The center also offers live views of nesting osprey and wildlife visiting the area through its Osprey Cam and Mispillion Harbor Cam. Both can be found at de.gov/dnc.

Managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, the DuPont Nature Center is located in the heart of Delaware’s Bayshore Region at 2992 Lighthouse Road, near Slaughter Beach, east of Milford. Admission to the center is free and open to the public. For general information about the center, call 302-422-1329 or visit de.gov/dnc. For inquiries about the center’s programs and operations, email Lynne Pusey or call 302-422-1329.

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. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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DuPont Nature Center to Reopen May 1

Visitors will be welcomed at the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve when it reopens for the season Saturday, May 1. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control facility will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and is closed Mondays.

COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, including an indoor visitor capacity of 15 individuals in addition to social distancing requirements. All visitors age kindergarten and above will be required to wear a face covering while in the center or enjoying the center’s deck.

In the spring, the center’s large deck overlooking the harbor offers wildlife watchers an unparalleled view of the spectacle of spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally-listed threatened red knots that depend on horseshoe crab eggs to help fuel their 9,000-mile journey. More information on horseshoe crab and shorebird viewing can be found on the DuPont Nature Center website. Indoor freshwater and saltwater tanks allow a close-up look at a variety of aquatic species, from horseshoe crabs to diamondback terrapins.

The center also offers live views of nesting osprey and wildlife visiting the area through its osprey cam and Mispillion Harbor cam. The live cams can be viewed on the DuPont Nature Center website.

Managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, the DuPont Nature Center is located in the heart of Delaware’s Bayshore Region at 2992 Lighthouse Road, near Slaughter Beach, east of Milford. Admission to the center is free and open to the public. For general information about the center, please call 302-422-1329 or visit DuPont Nature Center. For inquiries about the center’s programs and operations, please email lynne.pusey@delaware.gov or call 302-422-1329.

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 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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DuPont Nature Center Closing for Winter

Observation Deck to Remain Open

The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve will close for the winter starting Thursday, Oct. 1, with a scheduled reopening Saturday, April 3, 2021 for the busy spring and summer seasons. The center is operated by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and provides programming and exhibits on Delaware Bayshore aquatic life.

During the winter closure, the DuPont Nature Center’s handicap-accessible observation deck will remain open from dawn to dusk daily. The nature center deck will not be actively maintained while the center is closed, and visitors are advised to consider weather conditions prior to accessing the deck.

The deck offers views of the Mispillion Harbor and surrounding saltmarsh and sandy beach habitat as well as a view of the Delaware Bay. Though the nature center is recognized as a location to view spring shorebird migration, it also provides excellent opportunities in the fall and winter to view shorebirds such as dunlin, sanderlings and black-bellied plovers.

The DuPont Nature Center is located at 2992 Lighthouse Road, east of Milford. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the DuPont Nature Center and its programs, please call 302-422-1329 or visit de.gov/dnc.

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 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 65,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center closing Sept. 28 for winter, reopening April 1, 2020

SLAUGHTER BEACH – DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve will close for the winter Saturday, Sept. 28, and will reopen Wednesday, April 1, 2020 for the busy spring and summer seasons. The center is owned and operated by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife and provides programming and exhibits about Delaware Bayshore aquatic life.

During the winter closure, the DuPont Nature Center’s handicap-accessible observation deck will remain open from dawn to dusk daily. The deck offers views of the Mispillion Harbor and surrounding saltmarsh and sandy beach habitat as well as a view of the Delaware Bay. During this time, visitors may see wildlife such as foxes, raccoons, bald eagles, northern harriers, and a variety of waterfowl such as buffleheads, hooded mergansers, and common goldeneye. Though the nature center is recognized as a place to view the spring shorebird migration, the viewing deck also provides excellent opportunities to see shorebirds like dunlin, sanderlings, and black-bellied plovers in the fall and winter months as well.

The nature center deck will not be actively maintained while the center is closed. Visitors are advised to take into consideration weather conditions prior to accessing the deck.

DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center is located at 2992 Lighthouse Road, east of Milford. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the DuPont Nature Center and its programs, please call 302-422-1329 or visit http://de.gov/dnc.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 239


DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife DuPont Nature Center to host Peace, Love & Horseshoe Crab Festival May 18

SLAUGHTER BEACH – The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve, a DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife facility, will host its 10th annual Peace, Love & Horseshoe Crab Festival from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 18, to celebrate the spring arrival of spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds. The center is located near Slaughter Beach at 2992 Lighthouse Road, Milford, DE 19963. Admission is free. The festival will be held rain or shine, except in the case of severe weather or coastal flooding.

Visitors will enjoy fun festivities and educational activities, with food available for purchase. Youth and families attending the festival will receive an Estuary Eco-Challenge passport to be stamped as they participate in a series of Eco-Station activities. The Eco-Stations will provide visitors with opportunities to identify shorebirds, get close to live horseshoe crabs and other aquatic species, create a craft, learn about aquatic species that live in the Delaware Bay, and much more.

Visitors will have great viewing opportunities from the center’s large deck to see the interaction between horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally-listed threatened red knots, which depend on horseshoe crab eggs as food to help fuel their long journey from South America to their Arctic breeding grounds. DNREC’s Delaware Shorebird Project Team members will be on hand to identify the shorebirds along the shoreline surrounding the center.

Ample parking for the Peace, Love & Horseshoe Crab Festival will be available at the nearby Lacy E. Nichols Jr. Cedar Creek Boating Access Area located on Lighthouse Road, with a shuttle running to and from the center throughout the day.

Located on the edge of Mispillion Harbor at the intersection of the mouths of the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek, the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s DuPont Nature Center regularly offers a variety of interactive exhibits, school tours, and weekly educational programs. To view upcoming educational programs, visit de.gov/dnc. Spring and summer hours from May 1 through Aug. 31 are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Peace, Love & Horseshoe Crab Festival, or about the DuPont Nature Center and its programs, please visit de.gov/dnc or call 302-422-1329.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Vol. 49, No. 120

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