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Volunteer Piping Plover Beach-Nester Monitor Training To Be Offered

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

LEWES, Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- Volunteers who would like to learn more about Delaware’s endangered piping plovers and other beach-nesting birds.

Find out how they can join DNREC’s monitoring team are invited to attend a training session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.

The session, which is free of charge, will begin with refreshments and a slideshow, followed by a discussion on the monitoring program and how volunteers can help to ensure that our beachnesting shorebirds are given the peace and quiet they need to successfully rear their chicks.

Weather permitting, the group will finish out the session by going out to the Point at Cape Henlopen to look for piping plovers and other shorebirds that will likely be out on the tidal flats feeding. A few birding scopes and pairs of binoculars will be available for use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own optics if they have them.

Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey hopes the session will draw both new and seasoned volunteers in good numbers to help DNREC staff in their efforts to protect beachnesters and educate the public.

“Volunteers are a critical component of our protection efforts. When posted at the boundaries of the nesting areas, they can help explain to the public facts about the breeding birds and the importance of keeping closed areas free of human disturbance. Without having volunteers to supplement the coverage that our staff can provide, many people might never have the chance to better understand how humans can make a difference in the breeding success of beach-nesting birds,” Bailey said.

Pre-registration is encouraged, but attendees also will be accepted at the door. Park entrance fees will be waived for volunteers attending the training by notifying the fee booth attendant. For more information, please contact Wildlife Biologist Matt Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.

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Delaware DNREC To Offer Rain Barrels At Discount Price To Residents

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- As part of its comprehensive water conservation plan, the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship is offering rain barrels at a discounted price to residents of Delaware.

Having a rain barrel provides an innovative way to capture rainwater from your roof and store it for later use. Water collected from rain barrels can be used to wash cars and to water lawns, gardens and indoor plants.

“Without a rain barrel, this water would run off your roof and become stormwater, picking up pollutants on its way to a storm drain, stream, lake, bay or ocean,” said Environmental Scientist Sharon Webb of the Division’s Nonpoint Source Program. “By using a rain barrel, you can lower your water bill, conserve well water in the dry season and reduce polluted stormwater runoff.”

Regular retail price for these heavy duty plastic barrels is $119. However, by purchasing the barrels at a quantity discount, the Nonpoint Source Program can offer them for $66 each.

The terra cotta-colored barrels are made from recycled food grade barrels that originally entered the United States filled with olives and pickles. Thoroughly scrubbed, the barrels may have some small scrapes and scratches from their travels. The barrels are fitted with a screw-on perforated top with an inside mesh screen to help keep out debris, bugs, pets and children, plus a spigot and an overflow hose fitting to allow water to be diverted into a second barrel.

A limited number of barrels are available and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please call 302-739-9922 or email sharon.webb@state.de.us. To check on availability during distribution please call 302-739-9922. Payment must be made by check or money order made out to “State of Delaware.”

For New Castle County residents barrels will be available for pick up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19 at the New Castle County District office Maintenance Yard, 2430 Old County Road, Newark (signs will be posted). For directions to the facility, please visit http://newcastleconservationdistrict.org/ and click on directions at bottom of page.

For Kent County residents, barrels will be available for pick up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at Polytech High School, 823 Walnut Shade Road, Woodside (signs will be posted). For directions, please visit http://local.yahoo.com/info-12366682-polytech-high-school-woodside.

For Sussex County residents, barrels will be available for pick up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 16 at the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, Lewes Facility, off Pilottown Road, Lewes. For directions, please visit www.swc.dnrec.delaware.gov/Shoreline/Pages/LewesFieldFacility.aspx.

Barrels will fit in the backseat of most cars and not in the trunk so you may want to bring a tarp or blanket to protect the seat.

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