Piping Plover Nest Site Selection at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

• Lauren Pollock, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Delaware

• Greg Shriver, Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware

Piping Plovers are a small migratory shorebird that are listed as a threatened species in Delaware under the Endangered Species Act. Reasons for population decline include habitat degradation, predation, and human disturbance. They have strict breeding habitat requirements associated with shorelines and open sandy beaches. Previous research has been done to try and better understand specific breeding and nesting habitat requirements. The purpose of this research project was to determine how natural dune vegetation impacts nest site selection and if human intervention can increase nesting habitat for Piping Plovers. The human intervention aspect was performed in the springtime before nesting season began. Certain areas of the nesting habitat were deemed a treatment area, where landscape was modified in hopes to benefit the Plovers. These modifications included various things such as raking, corridor building, and in some circumstances spraying to control invasive plant species. Once nests were established different measurements were taken, such as distance to the dune fence, distance to open water, substrate type, surrounding vegetation type, and vegetation type/density. These measurements are beneficial in the long run in helping to understand what habitat types are being utilized on Delaware shores. Fledge rates were also recorded for each brood. Data is still actively being collected and analyzed, and results are forthcoming.