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The Delaware Bay Coastal Program staff wrapped up their 2025 participation in the Delaware Shorebird Project (DSP). Since 1997, the DSP has been studying the health and status of several shorebird populations, including the Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper and the federally threatened Rufa Red Knot. The DSP team includes local volunteers, researchers, and state and federal scientists, including Coastal Program staff.
In May and early June, the team caught, banded, and processed nearly 3,000 shorebirds over 14 capture events primarily for Rufa Red Knot, sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher. They captured birds using canon netting and traps that do not harm the birds to record their age and sex, weight, wing length, and head and bill length. The team conducted aerial surveys and flock counts of the various species. The team also attached unique satellite leg tags on 16 Ruddy Turnstones which will allow the team to recognize the birds during future migrations. The tags will provide data on habitat use in Delaware Bay, migratory routes, nesting areas, and wintering areas.
The long-term dataset DSP maintains for these birds helps the team answer current questions to support recovery but will also help to answer questions in the future. This year was unusual because many of the birds remained in Delaware Bay about a week later than they typically do possibly because of the weather conditions reducing foraging and weight gain. The DSP team hopes it will not interfere with their tight breeding schedule once they arrive at their summer habitat in the arctic.
