Category: Wildlife News

The End of Another Terrapin Season

Posted on by CWF
An Intern’s Perspective

By Derek Noah, CWF Intern, Summer 2014

Derek Noah, CWF Intern, collecting patron surveys at Stone Harbor, New Jersey.
Derek Noah, CWF Intern Summer 2014, collecting patron surveys at Stone Harbor, New Jersey.

My name is Derek Noah, I was an intern this summer for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF). I am a wildlife and nature enthusiast who likes to kayak, bike, and hike . I live in Monmouth County and I go to the beach during any extra time I have.

The Northern diamondback terrapin is a small to medium-sized species of turtle that lives in coastal salt marshes, including the marsh near the Stone Harbor Boulevard Causeway. Adult terrapins are commonly struck by vehicles while attempting to cross causeways, and terrapin eggs are eaten by raccoon and other mammalian predators. Currently, CWF’s Wildlife Biologist, Stephanie Egger, is working with other researchers and organizations on the best way to protect wildlife and satisfy people’s needs that visit, live, or work in coastal communities in New Jersey. I collected information from visitors, residents, and employees of Stone Harbor about their understanding and perception of terrapins and management of terrapins along roadways through a patron survey. I worked on this project in July and August and surveyed nearly 500 patrons! I conducted the surveys on the beach as well as local stores and shops. The survey introduced general questions of terrapins and ideas on how to limit terrapin road death through different road management practices.  The patron survey can be viewed here.

As a thank you for their participation each person surveyed received our newest “Be Terrapin Aware” decal and our “Be Terrapin Aware” Brochure. Continue reading “The End of Another Terrapin Season”

How To Identify and Find Barn Owl in New Jersey

Posted on by CWF

 

barn owlMichael Britt, avid birder and writer, highlights the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). This medium-sized owl, most widely known for its ‘heart-shaped’ face, is the only member of the Tytonidae family found in North America. In this story, he shares how to identify these owls, when are where to look for them, and offers personal accounts of his most memorable encounters with these beautiful birds.

  • To read the full story, click here.
  • For more information on barn owls and CWF’s efforts to protect these birds, click here.

Update on Duke Farms Eagle Cam

Posted on by larissasmith
Juvenile eagle, D-98 recovered dead in Maine

by Larissa Smith, Wildlife Biologist/Volunteer Manager

Duke Farms eagle chicks in nest after banding on May 14, 2014
Duke Farms eagle chicks in nest after banding on May 14, 2014

On July 27th the juvenile male, D-98, was found dead by residents of Little Sebago Lake in Maine. He was banded at six weeks of age along with his two siblings one male and one female at the Duke Farms eagle nest which was broadcast live online.

His body was found floating in the lake by residents who reported the band numbers to the National Bird Banding Lab. We then received the report that he was found dead and were able to contact the finders for more information. Residents of the lake which is NW of Portland, reported seeing him near an active eagle nest located on the lake. The nest had chicks which had fledged in early July. On July 25th residents reported seeing a juvenile with a green band sitting in a tree near a boat house;

“The youngster had been in a small tree next to our boat house for quite a long time when an adult, carrying a fish, swooped in over the folks sunning on the beach and attacked the young bird. It dropped the fish in the process. The adult flew off leaving the fish and the juvenile behind. Thanks to a cell phone photo, we know that the youngster had the band colors of the later retrieved juvenile”.

While we don’t know for certain we can assume that the juvenile’s death was in some part due to injuries that occurred when it was attacked by the adult.  It is always sad to report on the death of an eagle especially one that hundred’s of Duke Farms eagle cam viewers watched “grow-up”, but it is the reality of life in the wild. The mortality rate for first year eagles is fairly high as they are still learning to hunt and survive on their own.  It is very unusual to receive this much information on the details surrounding an eagles death.  D-98 made an approximately 390 mile trip up to Maine.  He probably found plenty of food at the lake which is why he was hanging around, but ended up in another eagles territory.  Hopefully the remaining two juveniles from the Duke Farms nest have better luck and survive their first year.

 

Piping Plover Population Reaches Lowest Levels in Decades

Posted on by CWF

 

Plover populations at Malibu Beach in Egg Harbor Township are near a record-low this year due to predation, recreation activities and habitat loss. (c) Edward Lea
Plover populations at Malibu Beach in Egg Harbor Township are near a record-low this year due to predation, recreation activities and habitat loss. (c) Edward Lea

New Jersey’s Piping Plover population is at its lowest levels in decades, which raises serious concerns, but they also had one of their most successful years ever statewide in producing chicks. There is hope this will jump start the population again. To read the full article, click here.

  • To watch the video about this years Piping Plover population, click here
  • To learn more about CWF’s efforts to protect these birds, click here.

Humpback Whales and Great White Sharks increasing in New York Harbor

Posted on by CWF
A humpback whale – named Jerry by researchers – spyhops off New York City. Photograph: Artie Raslich/Gotham Whale
A humpback whale – named Jerry by researchers – spyhops off New York City. Photograph: Artie Raslich/Gotham Whale

 

Cleaner waters along the New Jersey and New York coasts are increasing the abundance of Humpback Whales and Great White Sharks. These waters now contain more nutrients and less garbage, and have encouraged rises in fish populations – thus attracting more whales and sharks to the area. To read this full article, click here

For more information on marine mammals in New Jersey, click here.

Jersey City Magazine spotlights Falcon Cam!

Posted on by CWF

 

Peregrine falcon by Bonnie Talluto
Nesting female peregrine at 101 Hudson St. © Bonnie Talluto

Jersey City Magazine and the Hudson Reporter spotlight CWF’s beloved Falcon Cam in this month’s issue. The webcam, on the roof of  101 Hudson Street in downtown Jersey City, boasts countless dedicated viewers who just can’t stop watching!

Entangled sea turtle rescued off South Jersey coast

Posted on by CWF

Post by U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic.

 

U.S. Coast Guard and staff from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center rescued an 800-pound leatherback sea turtle off of the coast of Southern New Jersey. For more information on sea turtles facing risks along our coastline, click here.

To read the full article on this video, click here.

Road Salt – Friend or Foe?

Posted on by CWF
Photo by Kate Ter Haar, Flickr
Photo by Kate Ter Haar, Flickr

By Maria Grace, Education & Outreach Manager

New Jersey has been immersed in one of the coldest and snowiest winters in recent history.  With all that ice and snow, comes the task of clearing and keeping our roads passable so we can go about our daily lives.  Road salt is our go-to substance but it wrecks havoc on the environment, corroding metal, killing vegetation, and polluting our watersheds.

This article written by Lloyd Alter from Treehugger.com sheds some light on the problem and perhaps some alternatives.

 

Get Ready to Grow!

Posted on by CWF

seed starting picSpring is around the corner and now is the time to plan your garden.  It’s easy to begin with Seed Starting Kits from Back to Nature.  The kit includes the tools you’ll need to successfully grow your own food, starting vegetables from seed.

With their selection of locally sourced plants and organic materials, at Back to Nature, you’ll find everything needed for gardening success. Their store in Basking Ridge, NJ, hosts an array of artisanal gifts including pottery, woodwork, organic soaps and local honey.

Click here for more information.

10% Discount to CWF members available in-store, online, and landscape & construction.  Use the code CWFNJ10.  CWF will receive 5.5% of your purchase.