Posts Tagged ‘conservation’
Monday, January 22nd, 2018
Statewide Census Documents over 650 nesting pairs in New Jersey
by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager
An osprey prepares to land on a natural nest. Barnegat Bay, NJ.
Since we began to work more closely with ospreys in 2006, we have documented the population grow beyond the historic population estimate of 350-450 nesting pairs (Henny 1977) to a new historic milestone. In 2017, a total of 668 active nests were recorded during a statewide census of nesting ospreys, which is well above the post-DDT milestone of 500 nesting pairs, and show that the population continues to grow. This is the second census conducted without the use of manned aircraft since 2009 after all known osprey nests were released and mapped online in 2013. Despite the lack of aircraft, we’re still able to obtain an accurate representation of the size and health of the statewide population, while reducing the overall project cost. (more…)
Tags: 2017 NJ Osprey Project Report, 2018, Barnegat Bay, bird, census, citizen science, conservation, Environment, fieldwork, indicator species, nest, New Jersey, NJ, osprey, osprey survey, Osprey Watch, project redband, raptor, Survey, volunteer, wildlife, WildlifeNJ
Posted in Birds, osprey, Volunteer Programs, Wildlife News, Wildlife Protection | 1 Comment »
Thursday, November 16th, 2017
How did they do?
Emily Heiser, CWFNJ Wildlife Biologist
Statewide pair-nest success was down this year, but remains above the long-term average. photo by Northside Jim.
For the 12th year in a row, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, in partnership with New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species, assisted in monitoring and managing the state’s Beach Nesting Bird Project. Four species are regularly monitored throughout the field season: piping plovers (federally threatened, state endangered), least terns (state endangered), black skimmers (state endangered), and American oystercatchers (state species of special concern). Statewide, piping plovers are of particular concern as their numbers continue to decline and federal recovery goals have not been achieved. (more…)
Tags: 2017, beach, beach nesting bird project, beach nesting birds, conservation, New Jersey, piping plover, Shorebirds, wildlife
Posted in Beach Nesting Birds, Shorebirds | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 26th, 2017
Kris Schantz, 2017 Inspiration Award Honoree
As a Principal Zoologist for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program, 2017 Women & Wildlife Inspiration Award Honoree Kris Schantz works with one of New Jersey’s most underappreciated and persecuted species: the timber rattlesnake. She earned her Masters of Science degree from Rutgers University based on a study of the rattlesnake and its habitat in northern New Jersey, and her passion in both learning and developing greater understanding of this species has helped improve its protection.
Ms. Schantz partners with academic and consultant biologists, as well as a number of reptile enthusiasts to accomplish the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s conservation mission. Her responsibilities have expanded to include other vulnerable snake species, such as the corn snake, northern pine snake, and scarlet snake. (more…)
Tags: 2017, Charity, conservation, events, NJ, njenviro, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, Wildlife NJ, Women & Wildlife, women in science, women in stem
Posted in Events, Get Involved, Reptiles, Uncategorized, Wildlife News, Wildlife Protection, Women&Wildlife | Comments Off on NJ DEP ENDANGERED AND NONGAME SPECIES ZOOLOGIST KRIS SCHANTZ HONORED FOR INSPIRATION
Thursday, October 19th, 2017
Hazel England, 2017 Education Award Honoree
As Director of Education & Outreach for Great Swamp Watershed Association, 2017 Women & Wildlife Education Award Honoree Hazel England has spent 24 years as an enthusiastic environmental educator and naturalist in New Jersey, bringing education programs to students and teachers of all ages about our local ecosystems and habitats. Her work focuses on providing powerful learning experiences for educators, encouraging youths to explore and understand New Jersey’s incredible biodiversity, and partnering with agencies to open up more environmental opportunities for students of all ages.
Since 2004, Ms. England has dedicated herself to developing, coordinating, and implementing a wide variety of educational and stewardship programs and activities at the Great Swamp Watershed Association as the Director of Outreach and Education. She currently focuses on creating programs about water quality and conservation, ranging from curriculum development, to watershed-wide issues, to local resident workshops. (more…)
Tags: 2017, conservation, Environmental education, Great Swamp Watershed Association, GSWA, habitat restoration, outreach, women & wildlife awards
Posted in Education, Events, Habitat Restoration, Uncategorized, Wildlife News, Wildlife Protection, Women&Wildlife | Comments Off on GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR HAZEL ENGLAND HONORED FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS
Thursday, October 5th, 2017
The Lucky 8: Tiny terrapin hatchlings rescued!
by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager
A clutch of eight tiny terrapin hatchlings found beneath one of our X-ING signs. photo by Ben Wurst
While removing our seasonal (better late than never!) terrapin X-ING signs on Great Bay Blvd. in Little Egg Harbor yesterday, we stumbled upon some tiny northern diamondback terrapin hatchlings. These little guys were hiding or trapped under a very large (and heavy) X-ING sign made from old pallets that someone knocked over (I say guys because they hatched later in the season and it was a very cool August, but some could be girls). At first I didn’t see anything, but upon closer inspection I saw several hatchlings in the vegetation. One, two, three, four, five, six. Then I dug a little with my hand and found two more. The sign had been atop a nest. (more…)
Tags: 2017, Bass River Elementary, conservation, great bay, great bay blvd, Great Bay Blvd WMA, hatchling, head start, little egg harbor, Little Egg Harbor Twp, MATES, NJ, northern diamondback terrapin, terrapin, wildlife, WildlifeNJ
Posted in Education, Marine, Reptiles, Wildlife News, Wildlife Protection | 2 Comments »
