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Lewes —
A nest of piping plovers that had been estimated to hatch about July 9 was two days early.
On the evening of July 7, one tiny chick was seen running around just outside the nest’s predator enclosure, while an adult incubated the remaining eggs.
Although it is not unusual for a nest to take several days to hatch, a hiatus of six days between eggs hatching is very unusual. However, it is not unusual to have nests in July hatching a little early, perhaps due to the heat of mid-summer increasing the rate at which embryos develop, according to wildlife biologist, Matthew Bailey.
Despite regular and thorough searches of the nesting area at Gordons Pond, located in Cape Henlopen, plovers there are showing no signs of re-nesting after losing their nest/brood on the night of the estimated hatch date. Plovers have been observed down at Gordons Pond since the loss, but they are not defending any specific area and no nest scrapes are being found.
For more information on beachnesters and monitoring efforts, contact Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.
On the evening of July 7, one tiny chick was seen running around just outside the nest’s predator enclosure, while an adult incubated the remaining eggs.
Although it is not unusual for a nest to take several days to hatch, a hiatus of six days between eggs hatching is very unusual. However, it is not unusual to have nests in July hatching a little early, perhaps due to the heat of mid-summer increasing the rate at which embryos develop, according to wildlife biologist, Matthew Bailey.
Despite regular and thorough searches of the nesting area at Gordons Pond, located in Cape Henlopen, plovers there are showing no signs of re-nesting after losing their nest/brood on the night of the estimated hatch date. Plovers have been observed down at Gordons Pond since the loss, but they are not defending any specific area and no nest scrapes are being found.
For more information on beachnesters and monitoring efforts, contact Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.
A nest of piping plovers that had been estimated to hatch about July 9 was two days early.
On the evening of July 7, one tiny chick was seen running around just outside the nest’s predator enclosure, while an adult incubated the remaining eggs.
Although it is not unusual for a nest to take several days to hatch, a hiatus of six days between eggs hatching is very unusual. However, it is not unusual to have nests in July hatching a little early, perhaps due to the heat of mid-summer increasing the rate at which embryos develop, according to wildlife biologist, Matthew Bailey.
Despite regular and thorough searches of the nesting area at Gordons Pond, located in Cape Henlopen, plovers there are showing no signs of re-nesting after losing their nest/brood on the night of the estimated hatch date. Plovers have been observed down at Gordons Pond since the loss, but they are not defending any specific area and no nest scrapes are being found.
For more information on beachnesters and monitoring efforts, contact Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.
On the evening of July 7, one tiny chick was seen running around just outside the nest’s predator enclosure, while an adult incubated the remaining eggs.
Although it is not unusual for a nest to take several days to hatch, a hiatus of six days between eggs hatching is very unusual. However, it is not unusual to have nests in July hatching a little early, perhaps due to the heat of mid-summer increasing the rate at which embryos develop, according to wildlife biologist, Matthew Bailey.
Despite regular and thorough searches of the nesting area at Gordons Pond, located in Cape Henlopen, plovers there are showing no signs of re-nesting after losing their nest/brood on the night of the estimated hatch date. Plovers have been observed down at Gordons Pond since the loss, but they are not defending any specific area and no nest scrapes are being found.
For more information on beachnesters and monitoring efforts, contact Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.
