Rehabilitated Piping Plover Released at Cape Henlopen State Park

Sussex County, DE - A male piping plover nicknamed "Nomad" has been successfully rehabilitated and released at The Point in Cape Henlopen State Park, a coordinated effort between several organizations, including the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The bird, originally rescued at Fowler Beach in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, is a federally listed threatened species and classified as endangered in Delaware.

Nomad, an adult plover first banded in 2023 at Assateague Island National Seashore, was observed unable to fly or walk at Fowler Beach on June 30, 2024. Despite his injuries, he appeared alert and showed no visible signs of damage. Wildlife biologists determined that a high-stress event, likely caused by an extended pursuit by a predator, had led to muscle damage.

The bird was captured by hand and transported to Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research in Newark, Delaware.

Following a week of rehabilitation, where Nomad received immediate veterinary care, he was deemed healthy enough for release. On July 2024, he was transported to The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, one of Delaware's two active piping plover nesting sites. It was selected due to its lower predator activity compared to Fowler Beach.

Nomad has since been observed foraging and behaving as expected for a healthy adult plover. "Every individual matters for this vulnerable species, and the major effort between partners to return this bird to the breeding population was an excellent example of collaboration in conservation," said Kat Christie, DNREC Coastal Waterbird Biologist.

Piping plovers face population decline in southern regions of their range, including Delaware. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge houses the state's largest population of nesting piping plovers and plays a critical role in aiding population restoration across nearby areas, including impacted beaches in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

For more information on DNREC's piping plover conservation efforts or to learn about volunteer opportunities as a beach steward, visit the DNREC website or contact Kat Christie's team at deshorebirds@delaware.gov.