Endangered New Jersey

Salamanders At Cape May Vernal Pool

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

As a follow-up to yesterday's post about the spring amphibian crossings now taking place in NJ, here's a link to a post by Karena DiLeo, Wildlife Biologist for Conserve Wildlife Foundation (CWF).

Last fall, NJDEP's ENSP and CWF completed a project to enhance a complex of 12 vernal pools in Cape May County, creating habitat for state-endangered eastern tiger salamanders and other vernal pool breeding amphibians.

The interconnecting pools allowed eastern tiger salamanders to return to vernal pools to breed in early winter.

In mid-December, eastern tiger salamander egg masses were found in the pools. Egg masses collected from other sites have also been introduced into these pools as supplements.

Endangered or Just In Danger Amphibians and Reptiles

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

A yellow spotted salamander changing lanes

If the unusually warm weather and crocuses blooming in your garden haven't been harbingers of spring, then note that the amphibian migration has begun across a good part of New Jersey.

With the rain yesterday being just about the right temperature, some eager salamanders and frogs are moving to their breeding pools.

Unfortunately, our "Garden State" is also a highway state and crossing is quite dangerous for those creatures. There are some people out there helping out, but keep a watchful eye when driving on rainy nights if you can.

An article in The New York Times, "Bucket Brigade Gives a Lift So Salamanders Can Live to Mate", describes one group of "salamander people" in Mississippi are out on these rainy, early spring nights scooping up salamanders to help them cross the road. These "herpers" who search for and aid the amphibians or reptiles do their part to try to protect endangered, threatened and just plain in danger creatures.

Some salamanders can live up to 30 years, so they have been down this road (well, really, across this road) before. But they procreate only once a year.

I have written earlier here about similar projects in New Jersey. Saving other, more lovable species might be easier to get attention, volunteers and funding.

The NJDEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP), the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, and the NJ Audubon Society have been partners on the Amphibian Crossing Survey Project. Since 2002, they have been working to protect early-spring breeding amphibians like the wood frog, spotted salamander, jefferson salamander, and spring peeper during their annual migrations, which often lead them across perilous roadways. Volunteers help monitor sites in northern NJ (resources are limited, so that has been the focus area) particularly Warren, Passaic and Morris County. But they also help to identify additional crossings throughout the state.

A single vehicle can crush dozens of the slow-moving animals as they try to cross the road during migration. For example, some major amphibian road-crossings occur in West Milford in Passaic county. On rainy evenings from late February through March, teams of volunteers will be serving as “Crossing Guards” - slowing traffic, moving amphibians across the road, and collecting data about the migration.

According to the ENSP, amphibians are regarded by many scientists as indicators of a region's health and as the first indicators to harmful environmental changes such as pollutants and higher aquatic temperatures. Basically, if we see problems in the amphibian community, it’s just a matter of time before larger organisms (such as birds, mammals, and humans) will be affected as well.

Amphibian populations are declining worldwide as a result of a number of factors, including water pollution, increased pesticide use, and habitat loss, which is the most significant factor for all of New Jersey's species of conservation concern.

Amphibians depend on both terrestrial and aquatic habitats throughout their life cycles. The loss of forests and wetland habitats, including clearing forests, filling in vernal pools, and development that leads to changes in the water table that dry out critical wetlands, only add to these critters’ plight.

Finally, fragmentation of habitat can also play a critical role in the demise of an amphibian population as they attempt to travel from one area to another. Amphibians become easy prey targets in open habitats (lawns, driveways, roads) and at barriers such as curbs and fences that are often impossible to cross.

A spotted salamander being helped across a road.

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey has assembled a resource package to help teachers educate students about New Jersey's reptiles and amphibians. The package includes the Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of NJ and Calls of NJ Frogs and Toads CD, and a teacher's guide full of activities and lesson plans for grades 5-9. The activities are correlated to the state's Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Resource Package Flyer and Order Form (pdf)

New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Click image for enlarged view

The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail will show you roads less traveled where you can find historic villages, migrating eagles, and boardwalks on miles of sandy beaches.

This auto-trail stretches nearly 300 miles along New Jersey’s shore and bays. The trail route begins at the Raritan Bay in Perth Amboy, flows to Sandy Hook and then south down the entire Atlantic coast of New Jersey to Cape May. It then hooks back up the Delaware Bay and River from Cape May to Deepwater near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail encompasses five regions; Sandy Hook, Barnegat Bay, Absecon, Cape May and the Delsea.

You can explore the Trail’s five regions and you’ll find the nation’s oldest operating lighthouse; the town where revolutionaries burned British tea; and the state’s official tall ship.

Sandy Hook Region is the northern most and is approximately 40 miles long.

Barnegat Bay Region is near the center of New Jersey's Atlantic seaboard and is about 45 miles long.

Absecon Region includes Atlantic City and Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and is 20 miles long.

Cape May Region is approximately 40 miles long and includes lighthouses, bird refuges, and the historic town of Cape May.

Delsea Region is the most remote with over 60 miles of wetlands, history, and migratory bird stop-over points.

The Coastal Heritage Trail is designed primarily as a vehicular tourism route in which interpretive themes link destinations throughout the Trail area.

One stop along the way is the Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook which at 266 feet in Atlantic Highlands sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline.
This 12-acre site is also home to Monmouth County's 9/11 Memorial. see MonmouthCountyParks.com

All of the Trail destinations and welcome centers are operated by other organizations that maintain a variety of public hours. Availability of public transportation varies to and/or from destination to destination.

Specific information is available by contacting the trail headquarters, welcome centers, and individual destinations. Trail welcome centers are located at Fort Mott State Park (off State Route 49 between Salem and Pennsville in Salem County near the Delaware Memorial Bridge) and at the Ocean View Tourist Information Center (Milepost 18.3 on the Garden State Parkway in Cape May County north of Cape May).

Additional Information http://www.newjerseycoastalheritagetrail.com/

WildEarth Guardians

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

WildEarth Guardians is across the country from New Jersey, but they have a mission that we can certainly identify with in NJ. Their mission is to protect and restore wildlife, wild rivers, and wild places in the American West. We have four programs focusing on wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and climate and energy. Their headquarters are in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The species they protect may sound a bit more exotic than some of our Garden State species:

That wolverine is a candidate for endangered listing (North American subspecies Gulo gulo luscus, contiguous U.S. population).

The more we learn about wolverines, the more we find to admire. These reclusive loners were celebrated by Native Americans as powerful, all-terrain, all-season masters of the frozen North. Also called “mountain devil” and “carcajou” (French for “evil spirit”), wolverines, according to some, make the Tasmanian devil look like a sissy. Wolverines, perfectly adapted to their high-elevation habitats, will traverse miles and miles of deep snow and rough terrain in search of food. They can kill prey many times their size and will fearlessly defend food against much larger competitors. While this ultimate survivalist is more than capable of providing for itself, it has no defense against climate change. Global warming is reducing its habitat and now threatens to extirpate wolverines in the United States south of the Canadian border.

February Events at the Essex County Environmental Center

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:45:00 +0000

Canoeing on the Passaic River at Octoberfest event
at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland.

A variety of programs are being offered at the Essex County Environmental Center during the month of February that will teach children and adults about nature and help them gain a greater appreciation and understanding of our environment.

Visit the Essex County Environmental Center at 621B Eagle Rock Avenue in Roseland, NJ for environmental education and nature appreciation. With the help of partner groups, their schedule of events and activities include a walk in our woods, discovering habitats, getting pointers on gardening, learning about nature photography and much more.

Some events scheduled for February include:

"The Colorado Rockies," a fine art photography exhibit by Fred Dammont, on display at the Center during the month of February. Admission is free.

"Little Explorers Winter Nature Program" is a child-caregiver class that uses stories, walks and crafts to develop an awareness and appreciation for science and nature for the child as well as the caregiver. Each week, a different nature or science topic is covered. Cost is $6 per child/session (additional material fees may apply).

"Birding Hike in Essex County Weequahic Park" is presented by New Jersey Audubon and is geared for adults and children over 12. Visit an Essex County oasis while searching for wintering ducks, gulls and passerine birds. All can be viewed along an easy trail around the lake. Meet at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland and we will carpool to the park. This is a free hike. Space is limited. Hikes take place unless trails are impassable due to snow or ice. Hikes will be canceled is there is heavy rain or snow. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Birding Hike is scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 8 a.m.

"Maple Sugaring" is presented by New Jersey Audubon for children ages 4 to 12 and their family. Participants will "tap" a maple tree, collect some sap and make some maple syrup before returning to the Environmental Center for hot chocolate and sugar snacks. Cost is $5 for NJAS members and $7 for non-members. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-226-6082. Maple Sugaring will be held Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

"Birding Hike in Essex County Hatfield Swamp" is presented by New Jersey Audubon and is geared for adults and children over 12. Hikers will spend the morning searching for birds and other animals of winter. Meet in the parking lot of Stop and Shop in West Caldwell. Cost is $6 for NJAS members and $8 for non-members. Space is limited. Hikes take place unless trails are impassable due to snow or ice. Hikes will be canceled is there is heavy rain or snow. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Saturday, February 18, 8 a.m. Meeting site: Stop and Shop Supermarket, Bloomfield Avenue, West Caldwell.

"Three-Day Short Course on Beekeeping" is presented by the Essex County Beekeepers Society for adults and children ages 12 and older. This short course is appropriate for new beekeepers as well as those who need a refresher. Participants will be taken through a full year of beekeeping, including purchasing and assembling equipment to harvesting, extracting, and bottling honey. Basics of disease and mite management and control will be covered. Scholarships for this course are available to young people ages 12-22. Visit www.njbeekeepers.org for more details. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Cost is $90 per person and includes ECBS/NJBA membership, continental breakfast, and afternoon snack. For more information and to register, contact Pat Gamsby at BJORNLASS@AOL.COM or 973-227-2808. E-Mail is the best means of contacting Pat. Beekeeping Course will be held Saturdays, February 18 & 25; Field Day TBA Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registration is required for most programs at the Essex County Environmental Center. For more information or to register, please call 973-228-8776.

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Fighting Green Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:19:00 +0000

From an article in The New York Times comes this fringe idea that ecological and environmental projects are part of a worldwide plot.

"Activists Fight Green Projects, Seeing U.N. Plot"

Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy. They brand government action for things like expanding public transportation routes and preserving open space as part of a United Nations-led conspiracy to deny property rights and herd citizens toward cities.

They are showing up at planning meetings to denounce bike lanes on public streets and smart meters on home appliances — efforts they equate to a big-government blueprint against individual rights...

The protests date to 1992 when the United Nations passed a sweeping, but nonbinding, 100-plus-page resolution called Agenda 21 that was designed to encourage nations to use fewer resources and conserve open land by steering development to already dense areas. They have gained momentum in the past two years because of the emergence of the Tea Party movement, harnessing its suspicion about government power and belief that man-made global warming is a hoax.

It's not unlike the 1960s wave of environmentalism that hit the United States being seen as a hippie/treehugger/liberal movement only. I thought most of that had gone away as public interest groups, hunters, anglers and other "mainstream" groups began to work towards ecological sanity.

I guess I was wrong.

Read the rest of the article at
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/us/activists-fight-green-projects-seeing-un-plot.html

Edward Abbey

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Edward Abbey writing in a fire tower

It's the birthday of writer and environmentalist Edward Abbey, born in Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1927. He is one of the most colorful (and somewhat controversial) of the modern day environmentalists.

Meet Edward Paul Abbey, twentieth-century polemicist and desert anarchist, a character of elaborate contradictions and eccentricities whose words either infuriated or delighted his readers.

In a career spanning four decades, he wrote passionately in defense of the Southwest and its inhabitants, often mocking the mindless bureaucratic forces hell-bent on destroying it. "Resist much, obey little," from Walt Withman, was this warrior's motto.

While he was alive, attempts to label him in conventional terms nearly always fell short because he was neither left-wing nor right-wing, nor was he an outlaw. Abbey was a genuine rebel who simply did not believe in the moderns industrial way of life. He wrote against the grain, always choosing the path of the greatest resistance. Beginning in the 1950s, he depicted the Southwest not as a virgin utopia peopled by rugged individualists, but as a region under siege because of government and corporate greed, its people at risk of being cut off from the primary wellspring of their spiritual strength - the wild places. He's been dead for a while now, but the legend keeps in growing.

-- from Epitaph for a Desert Anarchist

He decided to hitch-hike cross-country, knowing that he might be drafted when he turned 18, and he fell in love with the West. He did get drafted, and spent a couple of years in Italy, then went to the University of New Mexico on the GI Bill. He worked as a seasonal ranger in national parks, and he published his first few novels.

Abbey was working as a school bus driver in Death Valley when he decided to write down an account of his time as a park ranger at Arches National Monument near Moab, Utah. It was published as Desert Solitaire in 1968.

In 1975, he published The Monkey Wrench Gang , the story of four irreverent, beer-drinking, gun-wielding, fun-loving characters who will do anything it takes to stop developers from coming in and destroying the West. The book was a best-seller, and its popularity made Desert Solitaire a best-seller, as well.

He became known for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. Writer Larry McMurtry referred to Abbey as the "Thoreau of the American West".

In July 1987, Abbey went to the Earth First! Rendezvous at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where he was involved in a heated debate with an anarchist communist group known as Alien Nation over immigration. The incident is a chapter in his book Hayduke Lives.

Controversy continued when in 1987 the Utne Reader published a letter claiming that Abbey, Garrett Hardin, and the members of Earth First! were racists and eco-terrorists. Abbey was extremely offended, and demanded a public apology, stating that he was neither racist nor a supporter of terrorism. Abbey said that as far as "eco-terrorism," he supported tactics that were trying to defend against the terrorism he felt was committed by government and industry against living beings and the environment.

In 1984, Abbey went back to the University of Arizona to teach.

Edward Abbey died on March 14, 1989, at the age of 62, in his home in Tucson, Arizona from complications from surgery.

He left a message for anyone who asked about his final words: "No comment." He also left instructions on what to do with his remains: Abbey wanted his body transported in the bed of a pickup truck, and wished to be buried as soon as possible. He did not want to be embalmed or placed in a coffin. Instead, he preferred to be placed inside of an old sleeping bag, and requested that his friends disregard all state laws concerning burial.

"I want my body to help fertilize the growth of a cactus or cliff rose or sagebrush or tree. No formal speeches desired, though the deceased will not interfere if someone feels the urge. But keep it all simple and brief."

He requested gunfire and bagpipe music, and "a flood of beer and booze! Lots of singing, dancing, talking, hollering, laughing, and lovemaking." (You can read online what happened to his body after his death.)

More at http://www.abbeyweb.net

NJ Native Fish Art and Writing Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

One of the 2011 Winning entries

The Native Fish Art and Writing Contest is an annual contest, sponsored by Trout Unlimited. It is open to all New Jersey students in grades 4 through 7.

Teachers should know that participation can meet NJ Core Content Curriculum Standards Science 5.5: Grade 4 - A.1, C.1; Grade 6 - C.1; Science 5.10: Grade 6 - A.1 (as based on Trout Life Cycle (pdf, 96kb) (from Trout in the Classroom Activity Guide).

To enter the contest, participants need to research one of New Jersey's native fish. With the information gained from their research, students write a short story depicting one year in the life of that fish and submit an artistic depiction of the species featured in their story.

The story must be original and include correct biological and ecological information about the fish. Things to include in the story are habitat, food, habits, and any other ecological information that pertains to that fish. The fish species must be named in the story and the fish must be native to New Jersey. Stories must be 500 words or more and typed.

The drawing of the native New Jersey fish can be done in acrylics, pencils, watercolors, oil, oil pastels, crayons or ink. Art must be original and depict a scene from the story. The finished size of the artwork must be 8.5 x 11 inches.

Entries will be judged on both the artwork and the short story.

There are first and second place winners in each of the following categories: 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, and 7th grade. All winners will receive a certificate and fishing equipment. First place winners will also receive a youth membership in Trout Unlimited. In addition, each winner and their immediate family will be invited to the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Warren County for a luncheon and awards ceremony on the morning of opening day of trout season (Saturday, April 7 in 2012). Winners will also be able to fish at the Pequest Fishing Education Pond.

Entries must be received by Friday, March 2, 2012. Entries must include the entrant's name, home address, home telephone number, grade and school name. Failure to include this information will lead to disqualification. All entries become the property of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and will not be returned.

Submit entries to:
Native Fish Art and Writing Contest
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
605 Pequest Rd.
Oxford, NJ 07863

Winners are notified within 2 weeks following the contest deadline. No other notifications are sent.

Note that this contest is not affiliated with Wildlife Forever's State Fish Art Contest. For information on their contest, see www.statefishart.com.

Follow these links for information on New Jersey Fish

Visiting Revolutionary War New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Hopefully, anyone who grew up in New Jersey knows that our state was pivotal in the American Revolution and played an important part in the American colonists's victory. NJ is often referred to as both the "Crossroads of the Revolution" and the "Military Capital of the Revolution".

Throughout the Revolutionary War, there were 296 clashes between the Americans and British within the colony of New Jersey. That is more than any other colony in the Revolutionary War.

I have written here earlier about a key battle that occurred January 3, 1777 in the town of Princeton, when the patriots were pushed back by a British charge General Washington with his staff took to the field to rally the retreating troops back into battle.

But there are many other historical locations that are less well known.

The Abraham Staats House is one of the finest surviving buildings from the Dutch Settlement of the Raritan Valley in the 18th century.The house was entered onto the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

It is located on the Delaware-Raritan Canal. There are a variety of birds which have been spotted on the property and on the canal.

Of course, not all Jersey colonists were in favor of breaking from the crown. Governor William Franklin was the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin and was a loyalist who supported the Stamp Act. Governor Franklin signed the charter for Queen's College, which would evolve into Rutgers University. He was like other colonists who had emigrated from England and still felt loyalty to England. On January 8, 1776, Governor Franklin was arrested for opposing the Revolution.

Morven

Another National Historic Landmark in Princeton is known as Morven. Now, it is a museum and public garden. The museum occupies the house called Morven, which was formerly the New Jersey Governor’s Mansion and 18th century home of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Its restoration and conversion to a museum were completed in 2004. Morven Museum & Garden is administered by Historic Morven, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1987, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of State. The state acquired Morven in 1954.

The Jacobus Vanderveer House is located in Bedminster Township, Somerset County, on part of the 218 acres that make up River Road Park. The oldest part of the Jacobus Vanderveer House was built in the early 1770s. It is typical of the Dutch frame houses that dotted the countryside before the American Revolution. Much of the original fabric of the house remains intact. It includes a wall in the west parlor that features raised wood paneling above the fireplace with a barrel-back cabinet to the side and the home has original flooring of wide pine boards. The house gained a Federal style addition in the early 1800s.

Some Revolutionary War Links for New Jersey

New Jersey's Newest National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Not far from downtown Paterson is is the Great Falls on the Passaic River which recently become America's 397th national park. The National Park designation makes the 35-acre site eligible for federal funds.

The 77-foot waterfall in downtown Paterson is second only to Niagara Falls in terms of water volume east of the Mississippi River.

Alexander Hamilton (lieutenant colonel in the American Revolution, confidant to George Washington, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and first Secretary of the Treasury) formed in 1792 an investment group called the Society of Useful Manufactures (the “SUM”) whose funds would be used to develop a planned industrial city that was later to be known as Paterson.

Hamilton believed that the United States needed to reduce its dependence on foreign goods and should instead develop its own industries. The industries developed in Paterson were powered by the 77-foot high Great Falls of the Passaic, and a system of water raceways that harnessed the power of the falls. The district originally included dozens of mill buildings and other manufacturing structures associated with the textile industry and later, the firearms, silk, and railroad locomotive manufacturing industries. In the latter half of the 1800’s, silk production became the dominant industry and formed the basis of Paterson’s most prosperous period, earning it the nickname “Silk City.”

Take a look at the Great Falls from a webcam view via EarthCam and the City of Paterson.

Conservationist Aldo Leopold

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:14:00 +0000

Lately, I have written a number of posts about the various hunting and trapping seasons here in NJ. So, today, when I saw on an almanac that it was the birthday of Aldo Leopold, I thought I should post a bit on him to balance the scales.

Aldo Leopold is the author of a key book in the conservation movement, A Sand County Almanac.

He was one of those kids that was drawn to the outdoors. After college, he entered Yale's forestry graduate program (one of the first in the country - not something you'd expect from an Ivy school) and became one of the nation's first professional foresters.

One of his assignments was to hunt livestock predators in a New Mexico national forest. But as he observed the bears, wolves, and mountain lions, he concluded that removing them had a broader impact on the entire ecosystem.

He developed a philosophy that humans should not dominate the land. He popularized a definition of "wilderness" that meant nature in its own, untended state, rather than the conventional idea that wilderness is land for outdoor activity.

Eventually, he developed the first management plan for the Grand Canyon. He wrote the Forest Service's first game and fish handbook. He formed The Wilderness Society with other conservationists in 1935.

His "sand county" farm (worn out land purchased for $8 an acre) near the Wisconsin River, became his real world experiment. He planted 40,000 pine trees and tried to tend the land with his own conservation ethic of peaceful coexistence with nature. He documented this in essays collected in A Sand County Almanac.

The book was published in 1948, one week before he died of a heart attack while battling a grass fire.

(via Amazon) ...A Sand County Almanac has enthralled generations of nature lovers and conservationists and is indeed revered by everyone seriously interested in protecting the natural world. Hailed for prose that is "full of beauty and vigor and bite" (The New York Times), it is perhaps the finest example of nature writing since Thoreau's Walden.

... the heart of the book remains Leopold's carefully rendered observations of nature. Here we follow Leopold throughout the year, from January to December, as he walks about the rural Wisconsin landscape, watching a woodcock dance skyward in golden afternoon light, or spying a rough-legged hawk dropping like a feathered bomb on its prey. And perhaps most important are Leopold's trenchant comments throughout the book on our abuse of the land and on what we must do to preserve this invaluable treasure... a new generation of readers can walk beside one of America's most respected naturalists as he conveys the beauty of a marsh before sunrise or the wealth of history to be found in an ancient oak.

Much more... www.AldoLeopold.org

Busy New Jersey Beavers

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

USFWS.gov

The beaver is the second largest rodent in the world. Even children are familiar for its wide, flat tail, trre-gnawing and for building dams.

Those tails are useful for slapping the surface of the water to warn other beavers of approaching danger. Although these critters are rather awkward on land, they can navigate quickly under water and can stay submerged if necessary for up to 20 minutes.

Trees (bark and leaves) are their favorite winter food, but in summer other vegetation, especially aquatic plants like water lilies, make up their diet.

Beavers are known for their engineering of dams on rivers and streams. Their intent is to build their lodges (homes) in their preferred pond setting. They ingeniously place vertical poles, and then fill in the spaces between the poles with horizontally placed branches. Then, they further fill in the gaps with a combination of weeds and mud to hold back the water around their lodge. They have even been known to create "canals" in order to float larger tree materials they need rather than dragging them over land.

Their powerful front teeth are cartoonish but they are effective for cutting trees and plants for building and for food.

Though beavers are found throughout New Jersey, it is likely that many residents have never actually encountered one in the wild. Children and adults might mistake a groundhog for a beaver.

NJ's beaver population is strong because they generally coexist well with humans and they have few natural predators.

Not all cases of beaver building have been met with amazement by humans. There have been reports over the years of busy beavers encroaching on human activities. In Camden County, beavers on Kirkwood Lake created dams that made the water rise so that homes that normally had about 100 feet of land between them and the lake wound up with only a few feet of land.

In Middlesex County, a beaver blocked a culvert on a road in the Jamesburg Park Conservation Area and built a dam between two cranberry bogs. The town wanted to avoid flooding that had occurred in previous years. In that case, the town got a permit to trap the beaver out of season. They snared a 31.5-pound, 40-inch-long female beaver in an underwater trap.

This past year, in Princeton Township, human intervention with beavers also made the news.
A pair of busy beavers killed by a local animal control officer activated animal lovers who wondered why the beavers were not relocated rather than killed.

The beaver pair were contributing to flooding at the Pettoranello Gardens section of Community Park North, which has a pond and several streams. Workers tried to dismantle the dams, but the beavers got busy and rebuilt.

It didn't help that the state Division of Fish and Wildlife said the Princeton animal control department had not gotten the proper permit prior to killing the beavers. It seems odd but, according to a spokesman for the department, beavers trapped either in conibear traps, which kill them, or in live traps, still must be euthanized and may not be relocated.

As said earlier, our state beaver population is healthy. The state regularly surveys the 30 hunting and trapping zones in the state. Permits obtained from the Division of Fish and Wildlife are required to trap beaver and/or otter.

During the 2009-2010 season, more than 600 beavers were trapped and killed. The beaver season runs from the end of December to early February. (The duration of the trapping season for beaver on 23 Wildlife Management Areas is January 1 through February 9, 2012, but if the anticipated harvest of beaver and/or otter has not been accomplished during this season, up to 14 additional days may be authorized by the Director.)

More on "Beavers as Master Builders of Wildlife Habitats"

Coyote Hunting in NJ

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Beginning today, a special night hunting season on coyotes will begin in New Jersey. Hunters have been allowed to use rifles to shoot coyotes during daylight hours since November, but by obtaining a special permit, hunters are able to shoot coyotes at night during the season that continues until mid-March. The state established its coyote hunting program in 1997.

Estimates from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife say that there are more than 5000 coyotes in the state.

There were several reports of coyotes attacking pet dogs last year including one small dog that was walking unleashed with its owner that was killed in Sparta Glen Park in Sussex County.

Coyote attacks on humans are rare and they are wary of people and will avoid them. The rare cases include two separate attacks in NJ when in Monmouth County in 2007 coyotes attempted to drag off a child.

Coyotes' preferred prey is rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals. Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to keep rodent populations under control. But, as with our Garden State bears, they have adapted to eating available sources like garbage, pet food and unattended domestic animals (especially cats and small dogs) and carrion.

Eastern coyotes in NJ can be up to 60 pounds, but average about 40 pounds. They are found in all NJ counties.

Eastern coyotes are larger than Western coyotes. Past interbreeding between gray wolves and coyotes may be responsible for the larger size and color variations in NJ coyotes. To the untrained eye, coyotes resemble German shepherd dogs. They can be seen in coats of blond, red and black, according to the state Division of Fish and Game.

Over 2,000 night hunting permits were issued, but because coyotes are extremely smart and difficult to find, the numbers are expected to be low.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/coyote_info.htm

2011 Bear Hunt in NJ

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The 2011 bear hunt in NJ is over but the controversy over the hunt will certainly continue into 2012.

The hunt once again had a court challenge from anti-hunting groups this year. The challenge was ultimately rejected by the State Superior Court earlier this month. The New Jersey Animal Protection League and the Bear Education and Resource Group brought the challenge to the courts.

Their argument was that NJ's Comprehensive Black Bear Management Plan (CBBMP)which has the hunt as part of its plan to control our black bear population is seriously flawed.

So, the hunt went on. During the six-day firearms season, hunters in northern NJ (mostly Morris, Sussex, Warren, & northern Passaic counties, and plus smaller areas of Hunterdon, Somerset and Bergen counties) harvested more than 460 black bears. That number was actually less than the state's goal of 500.

The bears taken included a surprisingly large 776-pound bear taken in Montague, and a new record holding bruin that weighed in at 829 pounds. Those are weights that rival the sizes of a small grizzly in other parts of the country. Those are not bears you would want to surprise on a hike in northwestern New Jersey or in your backyard.

Despite the annual protests by animal rights groups, the NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin contends that the state's plan is a "science and fact-based policy that we have adopted as part of the comprehensive approach to managing black bears" and that it is "a legitimate response to deal with the large back bear population and a resultant increase in public complaints about bear/human encounters."

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearseason_info.htm

NJ Bald Eagle Nesting Pairs Passes 100

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:08:00 +0000

The dramatic recovery of the American bald eagle has reached a milestone in New Jersey, with more than 100 pairs now nesting in the Garden State, according to a newly released analysis of the species' population.

The survey by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program counted 102 pairs of actively nesting eagles, plus 11 more pairs in the process of establishing nesting territories. The survey documented a record 22 new nests, of which 16 are in southern New Jersey, four in northern New Jersey and two in central New Jersey.

"The recovery of the bald eagle from one nesting pair in an isolated swamp in southern New Jersey in the early 1980s to more than 100 pairs today is a truly remarkable success story that is a testament to the excellent work that has been done to manage the species, and to how far we've come as a state in restoring and protecting our environment," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said.

The species' recovery from the edge of extirpation is directly related to a ban on the use of DDT, a once widely-used pesticide that caused egg failure, as well as decades of restoration and management efforts by the DEP, which released 60 eaglets from Canada into New Jersey in the 1980s and early 1990s to rebuild the population.

The bald eagle remains listed as an endangered species in New Jersey. The federal government removed the bald eagle from its endangered species list in 2007. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is overseeing a 20-year recovery monitoring period.

Each January, the Endangered and Nongame Species Program conducts a mid-winter survey as part of a nationwide effort to track population trends. The survey coincides with the time of year when eagles are preparing nests for the breeding season.

Statewide, 75 percent of the nests successfully produced offspring. A total of 119 eagle chicks were hatched, for a success rate of 1.25 per active nest.

The overall number of eagles counted during the mid-winter survey, including nesting eagles and those not nesting, stood at 238. This was 28 percent lower than the record 333 observed in 2010, likely due to snow and high winds impairing the visibility of observers.

Eagles primarily depend on fish for survival. With its broad expanses of undisturbed coastal wetlands, the Delaware Bay region of Cumberland and Salem counties remains the state's stronghold, with 60 percent of bald eagle nests.

But eagles are being found in many more places. Eighteen of New Jersey's 21 counties now have at least one active nest.

"In addition to the continued increase in the overall numbers of eagles, what's really exciting is that they are being found all across the state in all types of habitats, including along small lakes and reservoirs in northern New Jersey," said Kathy Clark, an Endangered and Nongame Species Program biologist who has worked on the recovery of the eagle since the program's early days.

This year, the Endangered and Nongame Species Program fitted a pair of eagle chicks that hatched at the Merrill Creek Reservoir in central Warren County with solar-powered transmitters that allow tracking of the birds' movement patterns by satellites.

The public can follow the movements of the two eaglets on the reservoir's website at www.merrillcreek.org. The Conserve Wildlife Foundation maintains a blog about these and the rest of New Jersey's eagles at www.ConserveWildlifeNJ.org.

"The tremendous results of 2011 show that species declines can, with hard work and dedication, be reversed," said Margaret O'Gorman, Executive Director of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. "Continued investment in stewardship of wildlife is essential to continuing the recovery of eagles and other wildlife in New Jersey."

The Bald Eagle Research and Management Project is made possible by those who donate a portion of their New Jersey state income tax refund to wildlife conservation and those who purchase Conserve Wildlife license plates for their cars. The project is also supported by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and federal grants.

"The bald eagle, along with scores of other endangered and rare wildlife species, have a much brighter future in our state due to the work made possible by funds from the tax check-off and the Conserve Wildlife license plate program," said DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda. "It's not too soon to begin thinking about donating a portion of your refund to this worthy and successful effort."

The 2011 bald eagle project report, which includes a map and listing of the distribution of nesting eagles in New Jersey, can be found at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/raptor_info.htm.

Source: NJDEP news release at http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2011/11_0141.htm

Water, Water Everywhere But Not That Much To Drink

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Water.org is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries. I found the organization through a news story on TV featuring one of its founders, actor Matt Damon. It's good to have a famous face and name attached so that a cause gets some exposure, but Damon is seriously involved in this effort.

The water crisis today is not an issue of scarcity, but of access. It is a frightening and sobering fact that the water in an American's toilet is cleaner than the water many people in the world have to struggle to get for drinking and cooking.

Some water facts from water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/

More people in the world own cell phones than have access to a toilet. 884 million people lack access to safe water supplies; approximately one in eight people.
3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease.
The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
People living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city.
An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country slum uses in a whole day.
Only 62% of the world’s population has access to improved sanitation – defined as a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact.
Lack of sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, including 1.2 billion people who have no facilities at all.
Diarrhea remains in the second leading cause of death among children under five globally. Nearly one in five child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – is due to diarrhea. It kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.
Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease, and 1.4 million children die as a result of diarrhea each year.

It is also shocking to see the impact water has on women. In just one day, more than 200 million hours of women’s time is consumed for the most basic of human needs — collecting water for domestic use. A study by the International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) of community water and sanitation projects in 88 communities found that projects designed and run with the full participation of women are more sustainable and effective than those that do not. This supports an earlier World Bank study that found that women’s participation was strongly associated with water and sanitation project effectiveness.

Over 50 percent of all water projects fail and less than five percent of projects are visited, and far less than one percent have any longer-term monitoring. Investment in safe drinking water and sanitation contributes to economic growth. For each $1 invested, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates returns of $3 – $34, depending on the region and technology

And, of course, there is the impact on the environment. 70% of the Earth is covered by water BUT less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use.

More than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas

The UN estimates that by 2025, forty-eight nations, with combined population of 2.8 billion, will face freshwater “stress” or “scarcity”.

Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater by far: about 70% of all freshwater withdrawals go to irrigated agriculture.

At home the average American uses between 100 and 175 gallons of water a day. That is less than 25 years ago, but it does not include the amount of water used to feed and clothe us. Conserving water helps not only to preserve irreplaceable natural resources, but also to reduce the strain on urban wastewater management systems. Wastewater is costly to treat, and requires continuous investment to ensure that the water we return to our waterways is as clean as possible.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/waterdotorg/

I like the Water.org philosophy that people in developing countries know best how to solve their own problems. They forge partnerships with carefully-screened partner organizations in the target countries that understand, and are part of, the local culture.The result is a solution tailored to the need of each community, instead of a technological fix the community has no way of maintaining.

Locally-based partners are better positioned to understand and navigate social, political, and economic issues impacting projects. They are more savvy at leveraging local financial resources for cost-sharing in projects. Using local expertise to implement projects is more cost effective than maintaining expatriate staff.

Help the efforts of water.org at DONATE.water.org

With each purchase of a limited edition Water.org CamelBak Groove bottle, you give a life-changing gift. While it keeps great-tasting filtered water always in your reach, it also brings safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries. $10 from every bottle purchased supports Water.org The bottle is 100% BPA-free, holds 20 oz, is dishwasher safe, and features the patented CamelBak Big Bite Valve.

Undiscovered and Yet Endangered

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:19:00 +0000

According to EndangeredSpeciesInternational.org, more than ten million species remain to be discovered in the world.

Most of them are already highly threatened since they are located within regions of great habitat destruction. Among the 46,000 species assessed, more than 17,000 are likely to become extinct in the very near future if no aggressive actions are taken. Plus, their natural ecosystems are vanishing at an alarming rate.

Plants and animals are part of our unique heritage, they keep us alive, purifying water, fixing nitrogen, recycling nutrients and waste, and pollinating crops. They are vital for the physical and spiritual well-being offering us a colorful and rich world.

A hundred bird species have vanished since 1600, nearly all due to human activities, chiefly habitat loss, overhunting, and introduced predators. Island birds are especially vulnerable. A list of some of these birds, the year each was last seen in the wild, and the cause(s) of extinction.is at endangeredspeciesinternational.org/birds5.html

The huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) from New Zealand
has already vanished. © Paddy Ryan

NJ DOT Reports More than 4700 deer killed by cars this year

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The New Jersey Department of Transportation says more than 4,700 deer have been killed by vehicles through the first week of November. That's on pace to nearly match last year's total of about 6,000.Mating season makes November the deadliest month for deer-vehicle collisions. A State Farm Insurance study found 18 percent of accidents occur in November. October and December are nearly as deadly.Those accidents cost an average of about $3,200. The state DOT says most deer killed in northern New Jersey end up in landfills. But those killed in Passaic County are used to feed animals at Space Farms Zoo in Sussex County.

via news12.com

Are You in North Jersey Bear Country'?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:54:00 +0000

The NJ DEP is advising residents and outdoor enthusiasts in North Jersey, especially in areas regularly frequented by black bears, to strictly adhere to guidelines for eliminating or securing potential black bear food sources during the fall period when bears feed extensively to build fat layers for hibernation.

Black bears may be especially on the hunt this season for high calorie foods, such as food scraps in household trash and bird seed from outdoor bird feeders, due to localized scarcities of acorns and other tree nuts, which are an important black bear food source known as ''mast.'' Mast production, especially the acorn crop, is typically cyclical, and this year's scarcity follows two very plentiful mast years. Factors such as gypsy moth infestation, spring frost, excessive spring rain and humidity influence the natural mast production cycle.

In low mast years, such as this year, bears are more likely to exploit alternative foods, such as human trash and bird seed, to provide the calories they need to prepare for winter. Homes and campgrounds become prime potential food sources for black bears when natural foods are in short supply.

The black bear population has stabilized this year in Northwest Jersey as a result of the State Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, which includes a mix of education, research, hunting, and non-lethal techniques. The result has been a decrease in bear-human incidents compared to 2010. But the mast shortage will increase the potential for bear-human conflicts this fall as bears may become bolder and more persistent in searching for food near homes and campgrounds.

"Residents, hikers and campers can reduce the likelihood of attracting bears if they are aware of all potential food sources for bears and diligently bear-proof residences and camps by removing or properly securing any potential bear food," said David Chanda, Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The bear hunt is just one facet of the State's Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, which also includes public education, research, bear habitat analysis and protection, non-lethal bear management techniques, enforcement of laws, and efforts to keep human food sources, especially household trash, away from bears to limit bear-human encounters.

New Jersey residents and visitors should be aware that feeding or intentionally providing food for black bears is against the law. Violators could face a penalty of up to a $1,000 for each offense. Conservation Officers and State Park Police, along with local police departments, will be on the lookout for incidents where food is intentionally provided for black bears.

These simple rules for living in black bear country--particularly Morris, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, northern Passaic, northern Somerset and western Bergen counties --will help minimize conflicts with black bears:

Reducing conflicts with bears is a community effort. It only takes several households with unsecured food for bears to create a nuisance bear that could affect an entire neighborhood.

Invest in bear-proof garbage containers. If not using bear-proof garbage containers, store all garbage in containers with tight fitting lids in a secure area such as a basement, the inside wall of a garage, or a shed.
Put garbage out on collection day, not the evening before.
Wash garbage containers with a disinfectant at least once a week to eliminate odors. Draping ammonia or bleach soaked cloth over containers will help to eliminate odors.
Do not place meat or sweet food scraps in compost piles.
Feed birds only from December 1 to April 1, when bears are least active.
When feeding birds when bears are active, suspend birdfeeders at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
Feed outdoor pets during daylight hours only. Immediately remove all food scraps and bowls after feeding.
Clean outdoor grills thoroughly after each use. Grease and food residue can attract bears.
Do not leave food unattended while camping or picnicking.
Store all food items in coolers inside vehicles where they can not be seen or in bear-proof food storage lockers at State Park facilities
Never feed a black bear. It is dangerous and against the law.
Report bear damage or nuisance behavior to your local police department or to the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (877) 927-6337.

To learn more about New Jersey's black bears, visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearfacts.htm

To read the State's Comprehensive Black Bear management Policy, visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm

SOURCE: NJDEP - News Release 11/P117 - Residents in North Jersey 'Bear Country' Urged to Secure Trash and Other Residential Food Sources:

Wildlife Rehabilitators Advisory Committee

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:02:00 +0000

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will be forming a Wildlife Rehabilitators Advisory Committee to improve the state's wildlife rehabilitation program and the care that is provided to injured and orphaned wildlife.

Wildlife rehabilitators answer questions and if necessary, properly care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. Wildlife rehabilitators donate their time and do not charge for their services.

Resumes are now being accepted from all interested applicants. Applications will be reviewed for a person's expertise, experience and geographic distribution throughout the state.

For more information on the committee, its makeup and duties, and how to apply to serve on it, visit njfishandwildlife.com/news/2011/rehabcommittee.htm on the division's website.

An injured baby raccoon is treated at the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge.

21st Great Tomato Tasting at Rutgers

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0000

The 21st Great Tomato Tastinggives you the chance to taste over 60 tomato varieties (heirlooms and hybrids) along with apples, peaches, herbs, and honey. There is also a teaching garden and even a wagon tour highlighting Rutgers/NJAES agricultural and horticultural research.

The Melda C. Snyder Teaching Garden will showcase garden displays of deer tolerant ornamentals, the Rutgers holly and blueberry breeding programs, columnar varieties of fruit trees for the home landscape and award-winning Jersey Grown™ daylilies to name a few.

RSVP website: http://snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/tomatoes.html or call 908-713-8980

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 3:00 PM to dusk at Snyder Farm, 140 Locust Grove RoadCity, Pittstown, NJ.

Green Acres Program Fiftieth Anniversary Photo Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:40:00 +0000

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but how many pictures would it take to capture the amazing diversity and beauty of 650,000 acres of open space and parks protected in New Jersey over the past 50 years with the help of the state's Green Acres Program?

These last days of summer and early autumn still offer time to explore the parks and open spaces nearest you, and what better way to celebrate your special place than by taking a photograph.

Nearly every community in New Jersey has been touched by the Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres Program. To help celebrate its 50th anniversary, DEP announced the photo contest in June, marking when the first Green Acres bond referendum was signed. The deadline for the photo contest is October 16.

The contest is open to anyone six years of age or older. The goal is to photograph a New Jersey park or open space property that is preserved with Green Acres funds, many of which are marked with distinctive green and white Green Acres signs emblazoned with a Mercer oak tree.

Participants are encouraged to enter up to 3 photos (one per category) in the following categories:

People in Parks
Scenic
Nature in New Jersey Close-Up

Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winners at a public ceremony and the winning photos will be displayed online at the Green Acres website as well as at various parks throughout the state.

Need help finding the Green Acres properties nearest you? Visit the program's 50th anniversary website at http://www.NJGreenAcres.org. There you can search the program's Open Space Database or search for properties by using a state map.

Additional photo contest details, rules, judging and submission forms are available online http://www.state.nj.us/dep/ga50/50photo.htm.

NJ Deer Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:08:00 +0000

image via wikimedia.org

Estimates are that there are nearly 200,000 whitetail deer in New Jersey. 100 years ago, deer in NJ were "endangered."

This population explosion is causing many problems throughout the state including damaged landscaping to homeowners, major accidents to motorists, and an ecological imbalance.

According to njdeercontrol.com, who offer a deer repellent product and strategies to prevent deer from coming on your property, some of the "favorite" plants and shrubs of deer in New Jersey are:

SHRUBS: Arborvitae, Azalea, Burning Bush, Holly, Hydrangea, Lilac, Mountain Laurel, Red Twigged Dogwood, Rhododendron, Rose of Sharon, Viburnum, Yew.

FLOWERS: Aster, Astilbe, Bee Balm, Cardinal Flower, Coneflower, Daylily, Gayfeather, Geranium, Hosta, Impatiens, Sedum, Sunflowers, Tulips.

Some White Tail Deer facts:

A deer’s nose is about 100 times more sensitive than a human's
Deer can jump a 9 foot fence
They are the largest wild herbivore in NJ
Their stomach is able to digest different foods at specific times of the year. This helps it survive the changing availability of food, and why only certain plants and shrubs are eaten at particular times of the year.
They actually thrive in today’s environment because they are an "edge species." This means they do not like large homogeneous tracts of land, but land with borders and edge habitats. As the human population has increased and divided land, we have created a more suitable habitat for the whitetail deer.
They have no natural predators in New Jersey in high enough numbers to affect their population. Humans - especially motorists - and domestic dogs are the only real "predators."

Project PORTS Seeking Volunters for Oyster Restoration

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:11:00 +0000

shells with spat

Project PORTS (Promoting Oyster Restoration through Schools) is a community-based restoration project that engages school children in activities associated with the enhancement of oyster habitat at the Gandy's Beach Oyster Restoration Enhancement Area.

Students construct shell bags, which are deployed in the bay to become a settlement surface, and home to millions of young oysters. Participating schools, PORTS Partner Schools, receive a truckload of clam shells, which are placed in stretchy mesh bags by students on site at the school. The bags are then transported to a lower Bay Cape Shore site where they are deployed for two months in the summer to capture the settling oysters known as spat.

According to the Littoral Society, the oysters have set a bit late this year, but they are growing nicely on the shell bags that were deployed in June.

They need volunteers to help with the oyster transplant on August 23rd and 24th in Green Creek, NJ.The estimated start times are:8:30 am on the 23rd8:00 am on the 24th.The work on the 23rd will be consolidating the bags into a few piles (min. age: 10).The work on the 24th will be moving, transporting, and emptying the bags onto the oyster boat (min. age: 15).

If you can assist with this project please email bill@littoralsociety.org

The oyster spat (a baby oyster or larvae) and shell are transplanted to the upper Bay Gandy's Beach location where they grow, thrive, and provide important ecological benefits to the Bay ecosystem.

This work complements the State and Federal fishery-centered restoration efforts and demonstrates a way that local citizens can invest in the Delaware Bay and feel a personal commitment for its stewardship.

These young oysters are transplanted to upper bay conservation and fishery areas in early August.

Mature oyster

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica is one of, if not the most important species of the Delaware Estuary.

Dating back thousands of years, the oyster has served as a keystone organism in the estuary, positively influencing water quality and providing food, habitat, and refuge to countless organisms.

Challenged by disease, habitat deterioration, and overfishing, the resource is presently a fraction of what it once was.

The Everglades of Central Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Ronkowitz) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Well, the marketing people weren't called in when they named Dismal Swamp in Central New Jersey. The Dismal Swamp Conservation Area is anything but dismal, in the same way that the "Pine Barrens" are not barren.

David Wheeler, Director of Operations for Edison Wetlands Association, (EWA) did several posts on the G.R. Dodge Foundation blog on protecting the Dismal Swamp.

Known as the “Everglades of Central Jersey,” the 1,240-acre Dismal Swamp Conservation Area is the largest natural area remaining in northern Middlesex County, spanning portions of Edison, Metuchen and South Plainfield. EWA is leading a number of coalitions to preserve, restore, promote, and transform this natural oasis from a long-overlooked area in one of New Jersey’s most overdeveloped regions into a nature sanctuary treasured by the public and immensely valuable to wildlife. EWA’s vision, leadership and collaboration resulted in the creation of the Dismal Swamp State Preservation Commission in 2009, with EWA’s Bob Spiegel continuing to strengthen this state oversight as Chair of the Commission.

The Dismal Swamp serves as a natural oasis holding United States Environmental Protection Agency Federal Priority Wetlands. The Dismal Swamp is home to over 180 species of birds, and two dozen species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, as well as a dozen threatened and endangered species, such as the American bittern, bald eagle, and spotted turtle. The Dismal Swamp also provides natural flood control and wildlife habitat, while its forests produce oxygen, and its wetlands clean and purify water

Beaver-cut tree along the Bound Brook

EWA has worked since then to preserve many other key Dismal Swamp properties, partnering with groups like NY-NJ Baykeeper and New Jersey Audubon Society, and agencies like the Middlesex County Freeholders and the NY/NJ Port Authority to save over 800 acres in Edison and nearly 100 acres in South Plainfield from over development.

EWA is also working on a number of trails projects to expand opportunities for hiking, birding, and wildlife viewing in the area.

In 2011 the Middlesex Greenway just opened the newest leg of its trail connecting hikers and bicyclists from Perth Amboy, Woodbridge, and Edison with Metuchen’s portion of the Dismal Swamp. EWA continues to work with elected officials and the Edison Greenways Group to extend the greenway into the heart of South Plainfield’s Dismal Swamp.

David Wheeler is the author of Wild New Jersey. David also posted on the restoration of the Raritan River.