Spring Birding on Delaware Bay - Horseshoe Crab Spawning Season

The Delaware Bay serves as a crucial stopover for a variety of shorebird species during their migratory journey, particularly in the springtime which coincides with the horseshoe crab spawning season.

This period is marked by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs along the bay's beaches, where they lay their eggs in the sand. The abundance of horseshoe crab eggs provides a vital food source for the shorebirds, aiding in their migration.

Among the most notable visitors are the red knots, ruddy turnstones, semipalmated sandpipers, sanderlings, and dunlins. These birds, some traveling from as far as South America, time their arrival to match the peak of the crab spawning season, which typically occurs from late April through June, with the highest activity in May.

The red knot, in particular, is a species of great interest due to its dramatic long-distance migration and reliance on the crab eggs to fuel its journey to the Arctic breeding grounds.

The conservation of both the horseshoe crabs and their spawning grounds is essential for the survival of these migratory shorebirds, as the eggs are packed with protein and fatty acids, crucial for the birds to build up their energy reserves.

Observing these shorebirds can be a remarkable experience, but it is important to do so from a distance to avoid disturbing their feeding and resting.

The Delaware Bay region, with its rich ecological resources, plays a significant role in the life cycle of these migratory marvels, making it a site of both scientific interest and natural wonder.

On the Delaware side of the bay at Mispillion Harbor, the Dupont Nature Center offers an excellent vantage point for observers. The center's observation deck and live cam provide up-close views of horseshoe crabs, shorebirds, and other wildlife.

Other notable viewing spots include Slaughter Beach, Kitts Hummock, and Pickering Beach, where the crabs come ashore to lay their eggs, and shorebirds stop to refuel during their long migrations.

It's important to follow all beach access rules and observe the wildlife from a distance to minimize disturbance.

For those who are less mobile, Port Mahon Road offers an opportunity to view the shorebirds and crabs from a vehicle.

On the New Jersey side of Delaware Bay, Cape May is a prime location for nature enthusiasts to witness the remarkable phenomenon of shorebird migration during the horseshoe crab spawning season.

Along Cape May Point, Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, Cape May State Park, and other beach access points provide opportunities to spot shorebirds.

The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor offers a special event known as the Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Celebration Days, which takes place in May.

This event features a variety of programs, including guided shorebird viewing experiences, beginner birding walks, pontoon boat cruises, horseshoe crab survey and rescue walks, educational workshops and presentations, and more.

Another notable event is the Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival hosted by The Wetlands Institute, highlighting the spring shorebird migration and horseshoe crab spawning with guided programs around Seven Mile Island and the Delaware Bayshore.

Things To Do In Delaware

Lighthouse near Lewes DE

This post includes examples of things to do in Delaware USA. 

Delaware Beaches

Delaware has a great selection of beaches for bathing, swimming, shell collecting, fishing, and other recreation.

Popular Delaware beaches include Broadkill Beach, Lewes, Indian River Inlet, Rehobeth, Dewey Beach, and Fenwick.

Many Delaware coastal towns have boardwalks, shopping and beachfront dining. Delaware also has state parks that offer beach access and a variety of activities.

Saltwater Fishing

Delaware Bay is known for its outstanding saltwater fishing. Anglers catch striped bass, weakfish, croakers, black drum, porgies, sheepshead, flounder, black sea bass, tautog, sharks, and other saltwater species.

Annual Events

Popular annual events in Delaware include the state fair in Harrington, NASCAR races, music festivals, food festivals, and many others.

Delaware Birdwatching

Songbirds

The First State is visited by large numbers of songbirds. The marshes, wildflowers, and areas of brush provide ideal nesting and feeding habitat. Other songbirds inhabit the tall pine forests of Delaware. Warblers, nut hatches, sparrows, red wing blackbirds and others nest on the refuge in the summer, while cardinals, jays, woodpeckers and finches reside during the winter months.

Shorebirds

Herons, egrets, ibises, oyster crackers, marsh hens and other shorebirds are frequently spotted along the marshes of Delaware Bay. 

Delaware Bay beaches are famous for their spring bird migrations. Each year, countless numbers of ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, red knots, piping plovers, gulls, and other birds converge along Delaware Bay shorelines to feed on horseshoe crab eggs. Peak action usually occurs in mid to late May.

Birds of Prey

Delaware is visited by a number of birds of prey. Ospreys arrive in the spring to raise young and feed on the abundant fish stocks. As seasons change, some ospreys migrate south while other birds of prey migrate into the fields and forests of Delaware for the winter. American eagles, red tailed hawks and other large hunters are present in fall thru spring. Other hawks such as sparrow hawks may be found year-round.

Waterfowl

Ducks, geese, brant and swans all make stops in the marshes and refuges of Delaware. In the refuges, geese and swans take up residence year-round. Other full-time residents include black ducks which raise their young in the refuge and marshes.

In autumn, migrating ducks and geese visits Delaware wetlands. Arriving are shoveler ducks, pintails, mallards, widgeons, teal, rudy ducks, canvasbacks, redheads, ring necked ducks, bluebills, and others. Mergansers, buffleheads, goldeneyes, and other diving ducks show up in the bay waters as cold weather sets in. Off the coast, rafts of sea ducks forage along the shoals over the winter.

Pelagic Birds

The waters off the Delaware coast are visited by up to 30 species of pelagic birds including albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, storm-petrels, phalaropes, skuas, jaegers, gulls, terns and alcids. These birds migrate along the offshore waters, many never see land on the eastern seaboard.

Delaware Facts

Delaware is one of the smaller states on the USA east coast, known as the "first state".

Delaware is the 49th state in the nation in terms of size at 1,982 square miles. Delaware is 96 miles long and from 9 to 35 miles wide.

The state is divided into New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County.

Most of the state is situated on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Delaware's state fish is the weakfish.

Dover Motor Speedway is known as the "Monster Mile" for its high banking turns and narrow straightaways.

The speedway's "Miles the Monster" statue is the largest fiberglass monster in the world.

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry carries vehicles and passengers across the Delaware Bay between Lewes, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey.

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal) is a marvel of engineering. The 14-mile-long, 450-foot-wide, 35-foot-deep ship canal connects the Delaware River with the Chesapeake Bay.

Central Atlantic Offshore Wind Sale Proposal

offshore wind lease sites - Central Atlantic | credit: BOEM

On December 11, 2023, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the proposal of an offshore wind lease sale in the Central Atlantic.

The Department has held four recent offshore wind lease auctions, which have brought in almost $5.5 billion in high bids, including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and New Jersey and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts.

BOEM has also advanced the process to explore additional opportunities for offshore wind energy development in the U.S., including in the Gulf of Maine and offshore Oregon. The agency has taken steps to evolve its approach to offshore wind to drive towards union-built projects and a domestic-based supply chain.

The proposed lease sale includes one area offshore the States of Delaware and Maryland, and one area offshore the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lease Area A-2 consists of 101,443 acres and is approximately 26.4 nautical miles (nm) from Delaware Bay. Lease Area C-1 consists of 176,505 acres and is approximately 35 nm from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

BOEM is seeking public comments on which, if any, of the two lease areas should be offered in a lease sale next year. These areas have the potential to power over 2.2 million homes with clean energy. BOEM partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to develop a comprehensive, ecosystem-based ocean planning model that assisted in the selection of the final WEAs.

In July 2023, BOEM announced three Central Atlantic Wind Energy Areas (WEAs), while indicating that WEA B-1 still needed more study. The December sale notice does not include WEA B-1, which is located approximately 23.5 nm offshore Ocean City, MD. BOEM has removed that WEA from this proposed lease sale due to the significant costs and mitigation that would be required. However, WEA B-1 may be considered as part of a potential second lease sale in the Central Atlantic, which could occur as soon as 2025.  

The Proposed Sale Notice, which will publish in the Federal Register, initiates a 60-day public comment period and contains information about the areas available for leasing, certain lease provisions and conditions, auction details, criteria for evaluating competing bids and procedures for lease award, appeals and lease execution.

BOEM is seeking feedback on several lease stipulations that would reaffirm its commitment to create good-paying jobs and engage with ocean users and other stakeholders.

Some of these potential stipulations include:

Providing bidding credits to bidders that commit to supporting workforce training programs for the offshore wind industry, developing a domestic supply chain for the offshore wind industry or a combination of both. 

Providing bidding credits to bidders that establish and contribute to a fisheries compensatory mitigation fund or contribute to an existing fund to mitigate potential negative impacts from offshore wind development in the Central Atlantic to commercial and for-hire recreational fisheries. 

In addition, BOEM is preparing a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts from lease issuance within the Central Atlantic WEAs. The publication of the draft EA is forthcoming and will be available for review and public comment, according to BOEM.

More information on the Central Atlantic PSN can be found at BOEM’s website at www.boem.gov.

2018 Clean Diesel Grants

In November, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced funding for three clean diesel projects totaling $4.7 million. The grants are part of an effort to reduce air pollution from aging diesel engines in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The funding will go to the Maryland Environmental Service (MES), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA), and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (WashCOG).

EPA’s Clean Diesel Program provides support for projects that protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines.

This program includes grants and rebates funded under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). DERA funding has supported nearly 25,000 cleaner buses across the country for America’s schoolchildren.

Cumulatively, this funding will result in overall lifetime emissions reductions of more than 1,013 tons of ozone-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx): 58.7 tons of particulate matter (PM); more than 240 tons of carbon monoxide (CO): 724 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2); and, will save more than 91,000 gallons of fuel.

Clean Diesel Grants:

Maryland Environmental Service (MES)

EPA will provide $2.5 million to the port of Baltimore to assist MES in its efforts to reduce diesel emissions and exposure at the port. This project will replace or repower cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks, as well as marine engines on the pleasure vessel, The Spirit of Baltimore, which will improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions by 37 tons of PM, 398 tons of NOx, 165 tons of CO, and 724 tons of CO2, as well as saving 64,450 gallons of fuel.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA)

The agency will provide MARAMA with more than $1.3 million to provide incentives to dray truck owners serving the ports and railyards of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware for voluntary early replacement of 40 drayage trucks with older (1997 – 2006) engines. Replacement trucks will have model year 2013 or newer engines with the latest particulate and NOx reducing technology. This initiative will reduce emissions by 197 tons of NOx, 11.5 tons of PM, 75 tons of CO, as well as air toxics in areas that are not currently attaining federal health-based air quality standards.

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (WashCOG)

EPA will provide WashCOG with $882,000 to partially fund the re-powering of four diesel propulsion engines and four auxiliary engines on two marine passenger vessels. These vessels are currently operating on the Potomac River in Washington, DC and surrounding communities in Maryland and Virginia. The retrofits will result in reductions of 418 tons of NOx, and 10 tons of PM.

For more information about the DERA program, visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.

source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Delaware River Restoration Fund Grants

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recently announced 13 grant awards totaling $2.28 million for water quality restoration and habitat conservation in targeted regions throughout the Delaware River watershed.

Grantee organizations have committed $4.19 million in match, generating a total conservation impact of more than $6.47 million.

The grants were awarded through the Delaware River Restoration Fund, a partnership between NFWF and the William Penn Foundation.

This is the fourth year the fund has administered grant awards; this year, additional support was provided by the U.S. Forest Service.

“The 2017 grants from the Delaware River Restoration Fund represent a continued commitment to restoring water quality and habitats in this iconic watershed,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO at NFWF. “The William Penn Foundation’s unparalleled investment in the Delaware River watershed and the important work of these grantees will benefit a range of native species, from eastern brook trout to golden-winged warblers.”

The Delaware River Watershed covers 13,539 square miles of land and water, running from the Catskills in New York through Pennsylvania and New Jersey, ultimately emptying into the Delaware Bay.

Grant projects take place in a variety of landscapes across the watershed and ultimately benefit water quality locally and for those downstream.

From 2013 through 2017, the William Penn Foundation has provided $8 million in grant funding for NFWF to administer competitively through its Delaware River Restoration Fund.

source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

2016 Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival

Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival
May 28, 2016 - 10am - 4pm
Milton Memorial Park
Milton, Delaware
www.HistoricMilton.com

The Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival celebrates horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, long considered by many to be a natural wonder of Delaware Bay.

The annual Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival often draws 1,500-plus visitors who annually enjoy arts and crafts, as well as an art show, boat rides down the Broadkill River, canoe trips on Prime Hook Creek, games, food, music, and more.

This year, the event is sponsored by the Milton Chamber of Commerce and Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge.

A shuttle bus will be available to transport visitors to and from the Refuge. For more information, www.historicmilton.com or call the Milton Chamber of Commerce at 302-684-1101.

MARCO Forum in Dewey Beach DE

Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) Forum
January 29, 2016
Hyatt Place
1301 Coastal Highway
Dewey Beach, DE

DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs is hosting the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) forum on scientific data that will be used to develop an Ocean Action Plan (OAP) for the region.

The forum will be held 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Jan. 29 at the Hyatt Place, 1301 Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach. The public and stakeholders are invited to attend.

Established in 2009 by the Governors of Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, MARCO provides a forum for the coastal Mid-Atlantic states to collaborate on shared regional priorities related to marine habitats, renewable offshore energy, climate change adaptation, and ocean water quality.

Attendees are required to register by Jan. 28 at: http://midatlanticocean.org/event/public-workshop-on-ocean-planning-data-products/

source: DNREC

Scotton Landing Fishing Pier (Delaware - St. Jones River)

In Delaware, Scotton Landing Fishing Pier is now open to the public, according to DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. The recently renovated pier has a new wooden deck and handrails.

Located on the tidal St. Jones River in Delaware, the pier is a popular location for fishing, crabbing, birdwatching, and other activities.

Scotton Landing Fishing Pier is owned and maintained by the Division of Fish & Wildlife. For more information, please call the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

source: DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Arts in the Estuary - Dover Delaware

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is holding Arts in the Estuary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 at the St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover and at the John Dickinson Plantation, located next to the Reserve at 340 Kitts Hummock Road.

Arts in the Estuary will feature artists, photographers, jewelers, wood carvers, and exhibitors showcasing their work for sale at the St. Jones Reserve.

Visitors can view painting and carving demonstrations, speak to local artists, paint an estuary landscape, and get tips on how to create their own artwork.

Children of all ages can demonstrate their talents by painting with soils, making fish prints, and doing other children’s activities.

Live musical performances will include Bethany Krumrine at 11 a.m. and by Rick Schuman at 12:30 p.m.

At the John Dickinson Plantation, period artists will demonstrate their heirloom crafts and costumed interpreters will guide visitors through the mansion and demonstrate the colonial art of preserving, smoking and pickling foods.

The event also includes the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Native Plant Sale.

Arts in the Estuary will be held in celebration of National Estuary Day. Admission is free to the event, which will be held rain-or-shine. 

For more information about Arts in the Estuary, visit: http://de.gov/dnerrarts

Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier 2015

In September, DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced that the historic Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier in Cape Henlopen State Park will reopen just in time for the fall fishing season.

The pier and surrounding surf-fishing opportunities make Cape Henlopen State Park the most popular fishing destination in Delaware, and after a spring and summer closure for repairs, DNREC worked to get the pier reopened ahead of its projected construction schedule.

The pier was closed late last year due to engineering concerns about the structural integrity of the pilings that it sits on. In April, the piling repair project was awarded through competitive bid to Commerce Construction of Bridgeport, N.J.

Recently, the contractor completed $400,000 of repairs to approximately 108 pilings, wrapping up the first phase of the pier’s latest renovation project. The second phase entails decking replacement and various repairs to the pier’s superstructure and fencing. It will again be competitively bid, with work done over the winter to minimize impact on recreational fishing.

The Cape Henlopen Fishing pier was originally built by the Army to serve Fort Miles during World War II. The pier is now over 70 years old and, according to DNREC’s consulting engineers, has long outlived it useful life expectancy. The pier has had repairs made in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012.

The latest renovation project is expected to extend the life span of the pier for two to five years and is the largest repair to date undertaken by Delaware State Parks.

Anglers using the pier from the Labor Day weekend forward are reminded that the privately-operated park concession Lighthouse View Bait & Tackle Shop will be closed in the spring of 2016.

 source: DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation

Labor Day Weekend Things To Do - Mid Atlantic

The list of things to do during Labor Day Weekend 2015 is a long one. This list includes a few of the many festivals, shows, and other events that will be held in the Mid Atlantic region.

New Jersey

West Cape May Tomato Festival
Wilbraham Park
Perry Street
West Cape May, NJ 08204

The West Cape May Tomato Festival celebrates the Jersey fresh tomato and the end of the summer season.


Delaware

Season Finale Fireworks Celebration with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, Sep. 5, 2015
Time: 7:00 P.M.
The Freeman Stage at Bayside
31750 Lake View Drive
The Freeman Stage at Bayside
Selbyville, DE
Price: Free

Celebrate Labor Day and America with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, in an evening of the great American Classics of Jazz, Swing and Orchestral Favorites. The event includes a post-concert fireworks display.


Maryland

At Baltimore MD, visitors can enjoy landmarks, historic sites, parks, boat tours and other attractions. Places to see include the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, North Point, Fort McHenry, tall ships, and many others.

Annapolis First Sunday Arts Festival
September 6, 2015
Calvert and West Streets
Annapolis, Maryland

The Annapolis First Sunday Arts Festival is a free arts and craft show featuring around 100 local and regional artists, crafts vendors, live music, dance, street performers, food, and more. The arts festival is held the first Sunday of each month May to October on Calvert and West Streets in Historic Annapolis, Maryland.


National Hard Crab Derby
September 3, 4, 5, 6, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD

The National Hard Crab Derby in Crisfield features exhibits, food, games, contests, and other attractions.

Crisfield Maryland Boat Docking Contest
September 6, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD

The Crisfield Maryland Boat Docking Contest features watermen from around the Chesapeake Bay competing for cash prizes.

Deal Island Skipjack Races and Festival
September 5-7, 2015
Deal Island Harbor
10319 Richard Webster Road
Deal Island, MD 21821

The Deal Island skipjack sailboat races are a local tradition.


Washington, D.C.

DC Blues Festival
September 5, 2015
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm   
Washington, D.C.

The 27th annual, free D.C. Blues festival will be held Sept. 5 at the Carter Barron Amphitheater. Performers at the Blues Festival will include Jackson and Oziel, The Mojo Priests, Full Power Blues, James Armstrong, and Sharrie Williams.

National Book Festival
September 5, 2015
10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Washington Convention Center   
Washington, D.C.

The 15th Anniversary National Book Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at the Washington Convention Center. Approximately 175 authors, illustrators, and poets will be attending the national book festival.


Virginia

2015 American Music Festival
September 4-6, 2015
Virginia Beach Boardwalk

The 2015 American Music Festival will showcase more than 30 bands. The festival will be held September 4-6, along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.


West Virginia

River and Trail Outfitters Kayaking Tour
Saturday, September 6th, 2015
Harpers Ferry, WV

On Saturday evening, River and Trail Outfitters will hold a guided kayaking tour on the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers near Harpers Ferry. Enjoy paddling by the light of the setting sun and experience the serenity and wildlife of the river.

2014 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest

The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife is encouraging photography enthusiasts to take a photo of a Delaware hunter in action, and enter it in the agency's 2014 Delaware Hunting Photo Contest. The winning photo will be featured on the cover or inside of the 2015-2016 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide to be published next year.

A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff will be looking for photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Hunters in Action.” Judges also will look at technical criteria including resolution, clarity and composition.

The contest is open to Delaware residents of all ages, with a maximum of three entries per person. To be eligible, photographs must have been taken in Delaware. Portrait orientation is preferred; landscape photos, if chosen among contest winners, may be cropped for presentation.

Photos must be 8 x 10 paper prints, with no frames or mats and no markings or signatures on the front or back. Normal processing of RAW image files, minimal cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable. HDR and focus stacking are permitted as long as manipulation is disclosed upon entry. Nothing should be added to the image or, aside from dust spots, taken away.

The entrant must hold all rights to the photograph and must not infringe on the rights of any other person. Images that involve unlawful harm to wildlife or damage to the environment should not be submitted and will not be accepted. Entries will not be returned.

Entries may be mailed to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Attention: Rachel Weissenfluh, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, and must include a completed and signed entry form. A photo release form signed by a parent or guardian also is required if a minor is in the photo.

Information and forms are available on the Division’s website or www.facebook.com/delawarefishwildlife. Information also may be requested by calling Rachel Weissenfluh at 302-739-9911, or emailing rachel.weissenfluh@state.de.us.

source: DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Mid Atlantic Superstar Beaches

Nineteen Mid Atlantic beaches have been named as superstar beaches by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

In June, 2014, NRDC announced the designation of 35 popular beaches across 14 states as superstars for consistently meeting water quality safety thresholds. Superstar beaches met national water quality benchmarks 98% of the time over the past five years.

Mid Atlantic Superstar Beaches:

New York

Long Beach City (Nassau County)

New Jersey

Washington (Margate-Atlantic County)
40th St. (Avalon-Cape May County)
40th St. (Sea Isle City-Cape May County)
Stone Harbor at 96th St. (Cape May County)
Upper Township at Webster Rd. (Cape May County)
Wildwood Crest at Orchid (Cape May County)
Broadway (Pt. Pleasant Beach-Ocean County)

Delaware

Dewey Beach-Swedes (Sussex County)
  
Maryland

Point Lookout State Park (St Mary's County)
Assateague State Park (Worcester County)

Virginia

Virginia Beach at 28th St.
Virginia Beach at 45th St.
Back Bay Beach (Virginia Beach)
Little Island Beach North (Virginia Beach)


North Carolina

Ocean Pier at Main St. and Sunset Blvd. (Brunswick County)
Beach at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Dare County)
Ocean Pier at Salisbury Street in Wrightsville Beach (New Hanover County) 
Ocean Pier at Ocean Blvd. and Crews Ave. in Topsail Beach (Pender County)          


Mid Atlantic State Beach Water Quality Rankings (out of 30 states)

Delaware 1st

New Jersey 3rd

Maryland 4th

North Carolina 5th

Virginia 6th

New York 24th


Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches collects and analyzes the latest water testing results from the EPA and state beach coordinators at nearly 3,500 beach testing locations nationwide.

The 24th annual report card examines the various causes of water pollution that plague America’s beaches and presents crucial, timely opportunities to keep pollution out of America’s beaches, lakes, and rivers.

source: Natural Resources Defense Council

Delaware Seashore State Park Improvements

Delaware Seashore State Park is getting almost $10 million worth of major upgrades, replacements and enhancements along the south and north sides of the Indian River Inlet.

The improvements will include refurbishing the existing campground on the south side of the bridge, as well as replacing the previous campground and day use parking area on the north side of the bridge. 

Other upgrades and enhancements will include expansion for visitor parking, and construction of a scenic beach access, a promenade along the Indian River inlet replacing and updating 94 family camping sites and six new RV sites with full hookups, renovated bathhouses, a DART bus stop. Other improvements will include a playground, improved bathhouses and showers for beach users, more parking for anglers (daily), a nature walk, and outdoor pavilions. 

Construction will take place simultaneously on the north and south sides of the bridge. The area used as a construction site on the north side will be returned to an 80-space full hook-up family campground, 221 visitor parking spaces, a playground, enhanced fishing access along the inlet, as well as direct access to the beach on the north side of the inlet.

The park’s south campground and the southeast day use area are scheduled to reopen before Memorial Day weekend in 2014.

For more information, visit:

www.deldot.gov
www.destateparks.com 

Snowy Owls in Delaware

Snowy Owl

Snowy owls have appeared in Delaware recently.

Snowy owls range from nearly all white (adult males) to white with many dark bars across the forehead, breast and belly (juvenile female), and have a distinctive black beak. Adult females and juvenile males display a mixed coloration.

Snowy owls have a wingspan of up to 5 feet. Males are smaller than the females.

Typically, snowy owls prey on small rodents called lemmings, which are known for their drastic population fluctuations.

When lemming populations fluctuate, snowy owls may irrupt, or disperse widely, in order to find alternative food sources.

Snowy owl irruptions may also occur when high lemming populations enable snowy owls to produce large broods that are unsupportable locally.

In either event, this year, snowy owls appear to be dispersing well beyond their normal range.

Snowy owls in Delaware are not unheard of, according to DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife biologist Anthony Gonzon: "In any given year, one or two owls may show up throughout the course of the entire winter. For example, a single snowy owl was observed in late 2012 near Rehoboth Beach, but it remained here only for a short time.

"This year, however, is quickly shaping up to be extraordinary and unprecedented,” Gonzon said. "Over the course of six days surrounding Thanksgiving, at least six snowy owls have been sighted, providing Delawareans a great opportunity to share in this phenomenon."

In particular, the owls seen along Delaware Seashore State Park have remained in the same general area since being first observed on Friday, Nov. 29, providing hundreds of visitors from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey many opportunities to see and photograph them.

Snowy owls have also been spotted along Route 9 near Port Penn, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna, Port Mahon Road near Little Creek, and Cape Henlopen State Park.

source: Delaware, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife

Mid Atlantic Recreational Saltwater Fish Landings 2012

Saltwater fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in the Mid Atlantic region. According to Fisheries of the United States 2012 (NOAA Fisheries), Mid Atlantic anglers caught and released considerable amounts of saltwater fish during the 2012 fishing season.

North Carolina was the top Mid Atlantic top state in terms of fish harvested while New Jersey anglers caught and released the most fish.

State        Harvested (thousands)        Released (thousands)
New York     3593                15138
New Jersey     6033                23749
Delaware     495                2059
Maryland     4052                11904
Virginia     7851                13695
North Carolina     8473                18536

source: NOAA Fisheries

Delaware Beaches Rated Number 1 in USA

Delaware’s beaches have been recognized for having the cleanest water quality in the nation. Delaware is also the location of two of the country’s few “Superstar Beaches,” according to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The advocacy group annually assesses all beaches in 30 coastal states.

Beaches at Rehoboth and Dewey were awarded 5-star ratings as Superstar Beaches for their perfect swimming water quality for the past four years. They were two of only 13 Superstar Beaches so designated by the NRDC among beaches of the coastal states.

In its report, ”Testing the Waters” in Delaware, the NRDC also recognized DNREC’s Recreational Water Quality Testing Program as one of the most comprehensive in the nation.

Delaware attracts more than 7 million visitors each year, many of them drawn to the state’s scenic Atlantic beaches. According to a recent report, The Contribution of the Coastal Economy to the State of Delaware, by Delaware Sea Grant College Program at the University of Delaware, the state’s coastal economy has a significant impact on Delaware’s overall economy – generating almost $7 billion annually.

Delaware ranked first out of 30 states for cleanest water quality overall. The NRDC report cited Delaware State Park beaches (Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore and Fenwick Island) and the state’s Atlantic community beaches (Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island) for having excellent swimming water quality, with only a single swimming advisory (of less than 24 hours) issued among all those beaches in 2012.

source: DNREC Division of Parks & Recreation

Delaware National Recreation Trails

Four Delaware trails recently received designations as national recreation trails:

Junction and Breakwater Trail (Cape Henlopen State Park)

The 4-mile Junction and Breakwater Trail follows a section of the former Penn Central Railroad between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. The trail is essential in connecting the two communities and gives residents and visitors an alternative to driving a vehicle. Interpretive signs along the trail provide information about the area’s plant and animal life.

Northern Delaware Greenway Trail (Brandywine Creek)

The 2.5-mile section of the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail in Brandywine Creek State Park plays an important role in connecting recreational, historic, and natural resources, while providing the community with a safe place to be active. Trail users can experience Piedmont wooded landscapes, spring wildflowers, and wildlife, view unique geologic features, and picnic, fish, and canoe along Brandywine Creek.

Northern Delaware Greenway Trail (Wilmington)

The 7.22-mile Wilmington section of the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail links existing parks throughout northern New Castle County between the Delaware River and the Brandywine River. The trail serves people in the greater Wilmington area, giving residents in nearby neighborhoods access to park land.

Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail

This rail-trail provides a connection between Newark's central business district, city parks, the University of Delaware, and White Clay Creek State Park. The 4.18-mile trail improves pedestrian safety and mobility, promotes cycling and non-motorized transportation, relieves traffic congestion, and encourages physical fitness.

source: U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

Delaware Fisherman Information Network - FIN

In Delaware, resident and non-resident anglers age 16 and older are required to obtain a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (F.I.N.) number.

The free number is included as part of a Delaware fishing license purchase. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may visit www.delaware-fin.com or call 800-432-9228 toll-free to obtain their free F.I.N. number.

source: DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Fall Trout Stocking in White Clay Creek

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that White Clay Creek in Northern Delaware has received its fall stocking of trout. DNREC Fisheries staff, along with volunteer help, stocked 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout throughout White Clay Creek from near the border with Pennsylvania downstream to Newark.

The volunteers used float boxes to carry hundreds of fish upstream and down from the truck access points along White Clay. Fisheries staff noted that the fish arrived healthy, most of which exceeded 12 inches in length.

Delaware’s trout stocking is conducted under the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Trout anglers support the program directly through the purchase of the required trout stamp along with the normal resident or non-resident fishing license. Proceeds from trout stamps go directly towards the purchase of rainbow trout for stocking.

To purchase a fishing license or trout stamps, or for more information about trout fishing in Delaware, visit www.fw.delaware.gov, or call the Fisheries section at 302-739-9914.

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife