Shorebirds Eat, Fly Early Bay Beaches Reopen

REEDS BEACH – “I am pleased to say the majority of at-risk migratory shorebirds have left the Delaware Bay after a very successful season. For this reason, we wanted to announce that we have opened the closed beaches five days earlier than the normal June 7 reopening date,” stated Dr. Larry Niles, project leader for Conserve Wildlife Foundation and American Littoral Society in a June 3 release.
The numbers of birds were slightly lower than the last two years but the departure condition of the birds, including the red knot, ruddy turnstone, sanderling and semi-palmated sandpipers, were among the best in the last 20 years of our research project, he added.
Restoration of beaches in Cape May and Cumberland counties, which has occurred over the past three years behind the leadership of American Littoral Society and Conserve Wildlife Foundation, along with many other partners, was an important part of the shorebirds’ success. The horseshoe crab spawn this year was very good and still goes on, he added.
The early spawn was spotty because of cooler than normal water temperatures in the bay but there was always enough for the birds to gain weight. The restored beaches and creek mouths were critical to this success.
The second most important part of the management of the shorebirds on Delaware Bay is the protection of beaches from disturbance. That cooperative effort includes municipalities. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Conserve Wildlife Foundation, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and other groups developed a corps of highly motivated volunteers to educate the public on the need for the beach closures and to report any violations to the Division’s Bureau of Law Enforcement. 
Each township, Lower, Middle, Maurice River and Downe, contributed to the effort, Niles stated.