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[From Fall 1993]
The 1993 piping plover nesting season has ended as the birds have stored enough fat reserves to enable them to complete their annual fall migration. By now, most birds have reached their wintering areas.
This year, only 27 piping plover pairs nested on the Virginia portion of Assateague. However, 1993 has ultimately proven to be more successful in terms of reproduction than last year. All together, 29 chicks have fledged, meaning they survived to flight stage. By comparison, only 19 chicks were successfully reared in 1992. Assawoman and Metompkin divisions of Chincoteague Refuge and Wallops Island have also experienced reproductive success. In these areas, 17 plover pairs fledged 31 chicks, which is 1.82 per nesting pair.
As in previous years, general public respect of closed nesting areas has undeniably assisted in the piping plover recovery effort. Such public support and cooperation is acknowledged and greatly appreciated. In addition to management efforts, public support and cooperation should continue if piping plovers are to succeed in the years to come.
Larry Ulibari,
Refuge Operations Specialist
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