DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife schedules training in Lewes for volunteer beachnesting bird monitors

LEWES (April 11, 2019) – Volunteers wanting to help protect Delaware’s beachnesting birds, including federally-listed threatened piping plovers, are invited to join DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife monitoring team at a training session to be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 4, at Cape Henlopen State Park’s Biden Environmental Training Center, 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE 19958.

The training session will begin with a slideshow, followed by a discussion about the monitoring program and how volunteers can help ensure that beachnesting shorebirds are not disturbed while nesting and rearing their chicks. Light refreshments will be provided.

Weather permitting, the group will finish the 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. Birding scopes and binoculars will be available for use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own optics if they have them.

Volunteers are an important component in the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s conservation efforts. When stationed on the boundaries of the bird nesting areas, volunteers can explain to beachgoers the importance of closing these nesting areas to prevent human disturbance and to increase the nesting success of the birds.

Pre-registration for the training is encouraged, but volunteers also will be accepted at the door. Park entrance fees will be waived for volunteers attending the training. For more information on the training, beachnesting birds, or monitoring efforts, please visit piping plover or contact Henrietta Bellman at 302-735-3612 or Henrietta.Bellman@delaware.gov.

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

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

Vol. 49, No. 91


DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s DuPont Nature Center to reopen April 3

(The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve will reopen for the 2019 season April 3. DNREC photo by Chris Bennett.)

Volunteers sought for spring cleanup day March 16

DOVER – The DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve, a DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife facility located in the heart of Delaware’s Bayshore Region, will reopen Wednesday, April 3 after having been closed for the fall and winter. The center will be open in April from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. The center’s 2019 schedule for April through September can be found on the DuPont Nature Center website.

Prior to reopening, the DuPont Nature Center will hold a volunteer spring cleanup day from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 16. Projects include exhibit and tank set-up, planting beach grass, and cleaning the center and surrounding grounds. Volunteers under age 18 must provide a parental consent form, and volunteers under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Lynne Pusey at lynne.pusey@delaware.gov or 302-422-1329.

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. Indoor freshwater and saltwater tanks allow a close-up look at a variety of aquatic species, from horseshoe crabs to diamondback terrapins.

Located on the edge of Mispillion Harbor at the intersection of the mouths of the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek, the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve offers a variety of interactive exhibits and educational programs. Spring and summer programs can be viewed on the DuPont Nature Center website.

The DuPont Nature Center is located 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 contact Lynne Pusey, lynne.pusey@delaware.gov or 302-422-1329.

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

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

Vol. 49, No. 49


DNREC postpones Delaware Coastal Cleanup to Sept. 22 due to weather concerns

The logo for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental ControlDOVER – Due to uncertain weather conditions related to Hurricane Florence, the 31st Annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup will be postponed to the rain date of Saturday, Sept. 22, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced today. The cleanup will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at all sites as previously planned for Sept. 15, unless volunteers have been otherwise notified.

“With the possibility of adverse weather conditions still in the forecast, we are taking the precaution of postponing the Coastal Cleanup for the safety of our volunteers,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “We hope our volunteers will be able to join us on Sept. 22, and that we will have a better opportunity to accomplish our goal of cleaning up our beaches, waterways, and watershed areas statewide.”

Sponsored by DNREC, the cleanup spans 49 sites in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, including river and ocean shorelines as well as wetland and watershed areas.

For more information about the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, please visit https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-cleanup/, or contact Joanna Wilson, Delaware Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at 302-739-9902, or joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

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

Vol. 48, No. 248


DNREC seeking volunteers for Delaware Coastal Cleanup

Volunteer registration to close Sept. 5

DOVER (Aug. 27, 2018) – Volunteers are still needed and welcomed to join the 31st annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 15. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the cleanup spans 49 sites in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, including river and ocean shorelines as well as wetland and watershed areas. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to preregister at https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-cleanup/ to ensure enough supplies are readied for each Cleanup site. Preregistration will close Wednesday, Sept. 5.

“The Delaware Coastal Cleanup is DNREC’s largest volunteer event of the year, and we are looking for more volunteers at some of our sites,” DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin said. “Our volunteers are what make this annual statewide cleanup possible – and with their help, we are making a difference. Not only are we cleaning up trash from our beaches, waterways, and watershed areas, we are encouraging people to visit our parks and natural areas.”

Cleanup sites that still need additional volunteers include:

  • New Castle County:
    • Fox Point State Park
    • Woodland Beach – McKay Tract
    • Woodland Beach – Taylors Gut
  • Kent County
    • Big Stone Beach
    • Bennetts Pier
  • Sussex County
    • Slaughter Beach
    • Oyster Rocks Road
    • Beach Plum Island
    • Lewes Boat Ramp
    • Cape Shores
    • Boat Hole/Love Creek
    • DeauvilleDewey/Indian Beach
    • South Bethany Beach
    • Nanticoke Wildlife Area – Phillips Landing
    • Delaware Seashore State Park – 3Rs
    • Delaware Seashore State Park – Keybox Road
    • Holts Landing State Park
    • Fenwick Island Town Beach
    • Fenwick Island State Park

Delaware’s Cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines, rivers, streams, and lakes by volunteers. Information collected helps identify the source of the debris and focus efforts on eliminating or reducing it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

For more information about the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, please contact Joanna Wilson, Delaware Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at 302-739-9902, or joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

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

Vol. 48, No. 232


Nominations Open for Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards

NEW CASTLE (June 28, 2018) – Nominations for the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards are being accepted by the State Office of Volunteerism through Friday, Aug. 10. These awards recognize the important contributions made by Delaware’s volunteers, 18 and older, to their communities.

“Volunteers all across our state are doing incredible things on behalf of individuals, organizations and communities in need,” Governor John Carney said. “The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards offer an opportunity to nominate and honor those champions for making a difference in our state.”

Individuals, organizations, community groups, and corporate volunteerism can be nominated for volunteer efforts during 2017 in the areas of:

  • arts/culture
  • community service
  • economic opportunity
  • education/literacy
  • environment
  • health & special needs
  • healthy futures
  • human needs
  • public safety
  • social justice/advocacy
  • veterans/military families

The Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a person who has had a longtime commitment to volunteerism. Award recipients will be honored at a special ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Dover Downs Hotel.

“The 2018 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards provides an excellent opportunity for organizations to recognize volunteers for their service and also serves to highlight best practices,” said Kanani Hines Munford, Senior Administrator in the State Office of Volunteerism and Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service. “Now is the time to nominate individuals and groups for their exemplary service.”

The nomination form is available on www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov. Nominators may also request a nomination form by emailing dhss_VolunteerDelaware@delaware.gov or calling (302) 857-5006.

“The Commission advocates for volunteerism and encourages Delawareans to nominate those exemplary groups and individuals who selflessly give their time and their talents to the communities they serve,” said Georgeanna Windley, Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service, of the 2018 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards.

Nominations must be delivered by Friday, Aug. 10, to the Office of Volunteerism, Attn: Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards, c/o April Willey, Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover, DE, 19901, or emailed to dhss_VolunteerDelaware@delaware.gov.

The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor and are coordinated by the Division of State Service Centers’ State Office of Volunteerism and the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.