2024 Black Birders Week event in Wilmington's Brandywine Park

Getting for the bird walk along the Brandywine

Delaware’s second annual Black Birders Week bird walk was held in perfect weather on June 1, 2024 at Brandywine Park in Wilmington. Cosponsored by Outdoor Afro, Delaware Nature Society, and Delaware Audubon, the walk rewarded the participants with a rich variety of birds, including numerous Osprey, an unexpected Common Merganser, and several sets of nesting American Robins. Ian Stewart of Delaware Nature Society and Joe Francis of Delaware Ornithological Society led the walk, and pointed out the distinctive features of birds seen for the participants who were fairly new to birding. Participants of the walk came from the Wilmington Area, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Observing Cedar Waxwings along the Brandywine

Introductions before the bird walk

Middle School Students Earn Delaware Audubon Society’s Red Knot Awards of Excellence

Siddarth Sankar

Ellie M. and Aadhavan Rengapragash

In 2022, the Delaware Audubon Society initiated a new award to recognize young scientists (grades 6-12) who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in conservation and/or bird-related study. The awards are conferred upon students who complete science projects that align with the society’s mission of promoting species and habitat conservation, particularly those showing interest and promise in the study of birds (ornithology).

The “Red Knot Award of Excellence”, now in its third year, was named for a bird species that stops in Delaware each year on its spring migration, one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom at more than 9,300 miles. The awards (first, second, and third place as well as an honorable mention) were granted to students who competed in the Delaware Valley Science Fair in Oaks, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 3rd.

Siddarth Sankar, a middle school student from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, earned the first-place award for his project “Window Pain: Science of Balancing Transparency and Mortality.” Siddarth invented a device to detect bird window strikes and alert homeowners so they can respond and take injured birds to a rehabilitation center for care. The awards committee was impressed by Siddarth’s attention to an important driver of avian mortality and ingenuity in devising a solution.

Second place was awarded to middle school student Ellie M. of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, for her project “Does the Weather Affect Birds’ Foraging Patterns?”. Ellie observed birds at her backyard feeders, tallying and identifying them, while also keeping track of weather conditions, and found that birds, especially insectivorous species, were more active at feeders in times of cold, snowy weather compared to sunny, unseasonably warm weather. Natural history studies like this one form the backbone of ornithological research, providing important foundational data necessary for promoting avian conservation.

Middle school student Aadhavan Rengapragash of Mount Laurel, New Jersey earned the third-place Red Knot Award for his project “ShoreTech - A Novel Vision Based Approach to Prevent Plastic Pollution Using Object Detection.” Aadhavan’s invention uses object detection technology to recognize and gather plastic bottles on beaches to reduce the potential of harm to wildlife. The award committee was impressed by this sophisticated project’s potential for improving wildlife habitat along shorelines.

Tenth-grade student Erin L. of Newtown, Pennsylvania earned an honorable mention for her project “Impact of Different Lights on Light Pollution.” Light pollution is a serious issue affecting birds as it can disorient them and cause them to expend extra energy during migration, even leading to collisions. Erin investigated how size, shape, and position of outdoor lights affect light emission, highlighting how simple design elements can reduce light pollution.

The Red Knot Award of Excellence selection committee was impressed by the ingenuity of these projects and the students’ interest in birds, natural history, and serious conservation issues. Like the award’s namesake, these awardees have gone the “extra mile.” Each awardee was presented with a certificate, monetary award, and a gift membership to the National Audubon Society.

For students interested in competing for the 2025 Red Knot Awards, please email delawareaudubon@gmail.com for more information.

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Sen. Carper asked for help for horseshoe crab buyout

Senator Tom Carper and the Delaware’s wildlife advocates at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.

On September 12-13, Delaware Audubon joined wildlife activists from 13 states to mark the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.  The 70+ activists participated in 27 meetings with Congressional staff and members to promote continued support of the landmark legislation which provides protection for nearly 2,370 species which currently face varying risks of extinction.

The species of greatest concern in Delaware is the red knot, which was listed as Threatened in 2014 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Since that time, the number of red knots observed stopping in Delaware during their spring migration has continued to decline. The number observed in 2023 was the lowest on record. Although red knots face numerous threats, the lack of horseshoe crab eggs on Delaware Bay beaches during the spring stopover has a significant impact.

Unlike the states of New Jersey and Connecticut, Delaware continues to allow a harvest of horseshoe crabs, despite the red knot's listing under the Endangered Species Act. The effort to enact moratorium legislation in Delaware is at a stalemate because of opposition from the part-time fishermen who remove horseshoe crabs from the beach while they are spawning.

In the face of this stalemate, an approach to consider is to simply buy the crabbers out. Congress can help by allocating federal ESA funding for this red knot recovery effort. Senator Tom Carper, who has demonstrated interest in protecting the red knot, can help by supporting the spending request that we made during a meeting in his office.  That help is essential to recover the red knot, conserve the horseshoe crab and ensure fair compensation for the impacted fishermen.

As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Carper has the means to find a way to protect Delaware's iconic red knot. Doing so will seal his legacy as a defender of Delaware's valuable natural heritage.

Wildlife advocates from 13 states on the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.

Climate Bill Signing at Lums Pond

Standing, left to right: Rep. Krista Griffith, Sen. Sarah McBride, Rep. Debra Hefferman, Rep. Edward Osienski, Rep. Sophie Phillips, DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, Sen. Stephanie Hansen, Rep. Eric Morrison, Dustyn Thompson of the Sierra Club. Seated: Governor John Carney.

On Thursday, August 3, Delaware took a critical step toward reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable future as Governor John Carney signed several environmentally-focused bills that House Democrats researched, introduced and championed earlier this year.

Audubon’s Survival by Degrees report shows how climate change is affecting the places that birds need to survive. Two thirds of North American bird species could face extinction if we fail to slow the rate of global climate change. Audubon supports common sense solutions to reducing carbon emissions. Delaware’s new climate measures play a small but important role in achieving a sustainable future for birds and people.

In May,  Delaware Audubon participated in the Climate Action Rally in Dover in support of House Bill 99, the Climate Solutions Act of 2023, organized by the Delaware Nature Society.  Representatives of our chapter were also in attendance of the August 3 bill signing at Lums Pond.

Collectively, these bills drive the First State toward a more sustainable future by reducing the state’s carbon footprint, cutting emissions, offering incentives to residents, and ensuring businesses are prepared to utilize renewable energy.

The bills signed include:

  • House Bill 99 (Reps. Debra Heffernan and Sophie Phillips and Sen Stephanie Hansen): Lays out targets to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

  • House Bill 10 (Rep. Heffernan): Sets targets for purchasing electric school buses.

  • House Bill 11 (Rep. Krista Griffith): Ensures large commercial buildings are equipped for solar installation.

  • House Bill 12 (Rep. Phillips): Expands the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

  • SS 1 for Senate Bill 103 (Sen. Sarah McBride and Rep. Griffith): Amends Delaware code to make it easier to bring EV chargers into residential areas.

  • Senate Bill 170 (Sen. Hansen and Rep. Osienski): Commitment to study offshore wind with neighboring states and PJM.

  • SS 1 for Senate Bill 7 (Sen. Hansen and Rep. Heffernan): Expands the Delaware State Energy Office.


Delaware Audubon Awards Conservation Grants to 4 Research Projects at 2 Delaware Universities

The mission of Delaware Audubon is to protect birds and their habitats through education, appreciation, and conservation. As part of that mission, in 2023 our chapter initiated a conservation grant program to help grassroots efforts that align with our mission. Individuals or groups wishing to conduct local scientific research, habitat improvement, or environmental education or outreach were invited to submit grant applications.

Three grant applications that were submitted were approved and are listed below.

Researcher: Blake Struthers

Advisor: Dr. Christopher Williams, University of Delaware

Title of project: Evaluation of Wood Duck nesting ecology in inland forested wetlands and coastal open marshes

Researcher: Claire Bernard

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Buler, University of Delaware

Title of project: Identifying Purple Martin diet and its effect on nestling development


Researcher: Emma Jonas

Advisor: Dr. Douglas Tallamy, University of Delaware

Title of project: The impact of ground cover on the subsurface pupation of Lepidoptera

Researcher: Tahira Mohyuddin

Advisor: Dr. Christopher Heckscher, Delaware State University

Title of project: Quantifying the Ecological Importance of Delaware Bay Coastal Barrier Islands and Near-shore Habitats to Transient Songbirds during Fall Migration

Black Birders Week bird walk at Curtis Mill Park in Newark

The first Black Birders Week bird walk in Delaware was held on May 31, 2023 at Curtis Mill Park in Newark. The event was organized by Tracey Duffy (standing, in yellow shirt) of Outdoor Afro Delaware. Troy Bynum of Audubon Wyncote (kneeling, in center) and Steve Cottrell of Delaware Audubon (kneeling, on right) helped guide the walk. Herb White (standing, on far right), Superintendent of Newark Parks, helped to explain the vegetation in the park. Also participating were Robin Roberts, Rae Whatley, Gayle Jones, and Sidney Williamson with her two children.

35 bird species were found during the late afternoon field trip. Highlighs included Great Egret, Green Heron, Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Killdeer, and two Red-tailed Hawks. Over 120 nesting Purple Martins were observed flying to and from the Delaware Audubon-managed colony there, the largest in New Castle County.

The walk was part of the fourth annual Black Birders Week, a series of events nationwide from May 28 to June 3 aimed at highlighting Black nature enthusiasts and increasing the visibility of Black birders, who face unique challenges and risks when engaging in outdoor activities. This was the first held in Delaware, and it represents the start of an annual tradition.

Purple Martin at Curtis Mill Park colony. Photo by Troy Bynum.