The View
Margaret O'Gorman, Executive Director
"In recent weeks I have had some great opportunities to view wildlife in places where you wouldn’t normally expect them. These sightings made me think about adaptability of wildlife in New Jersey and the hope for what these adaptations represent
At a friend's house recently, Lisa and Harry were welcoming their new baby with a naming ceremony for friends and families. It was a beautiful Saturday in late June, blue skies and no humidity - just perfect for an outdoor gathering. At the party, people hung out in the yard talking and enjoying great food while nearby, a mourning dove sat with two newly hatched chicks on top of a box of garbage bags placed on a shelf 5 feet of the ground, right next to the back door of the house.
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In Search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Buster Raff, Volunteer
My special thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology since I was fortunate to be selected as an Ivory-billed Woodpecker recovery team volunteer and spent April 7 to April 22, 2007, searching the “Big Woods” in Arkansas. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture or see an ivory-bill but I did gain valuable experience of a lifetime.
On several occasions I heard kent-like calls, but was never able to record these sounds. I learned first hand that blue jay, grackle, and turkey make great imitations of kent calls. However, in the early morning on the second day, I heard a series of loud and very close kent calls that were so much like the recordings I had studied that I followed in the direction of the sounds and into the swamp, never to hear the culprit again. It was a quick encounter that was over in several seconds; the recorder on my video camera did not pick up the sound and there was no second chance.
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Champagne Island: No honeymoon for Beach Nesting Birds.
Margaret O'Gorman, Executive Director
Champagne Island in Hereford Inlet has been in the newspapers recently as conservation groups have urged the state to increase protections for the colonies of rare and protected colonial beach nesting birds who use this island to breed, roost and raise their young. Among the colonies in question, is the largest black skimmer colony in the state, with over 1600 individuals present. The black skimmer, a beautiful bird, is endangered in New Jersey. The overall population of black skimmers in the state has not been fully tallied for this breeding season. In recent years the colony within Hereford Inlet has represented as much as 75% of the state’s population, a trend which looks to be the case again this year from preliminary estimates. Another colony of note is that of the royal tern. This is the northernmost colony of royal terns known on the planet and is new to New Jersey. Keeping company with the royal terns and the black skimmers on Champagne Island are significant numbers of breeding American oystercatchers, common terns, and several gull-billed terns. The island, an ephemeral sand bar, provides important habitat sandwiched between Stone Harbor and Wildwood.
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In Memoriam
Peggy J. Drake, friend of New Jersey Wildlife
We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Peggy J. Drake, a great friend of New Jersey wildlife and a supporter of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation for many years. Ms. Drake, 79, was a scientific editor and naturalist who became an enthusiastic volunteer for the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) after she retired from the business community. This Somerville, NJ resident joined the ENSP Speakers Bureau in 1995 to make her unique contribution to New Jersey’s endangered and threatened wildlife. Peggy quickly assumed the role of Area Coordinator for the Speaker’s Bureau, keeping track of scheduling and providing equipment and materials to other speakers. She especially enjoyed informing the public about our rare wildlife and the challenges that these animals face.
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We are pleased to announce the publication of the
2008 Species on the Edge Calendar!
The award winning artwork and essays from the 2007 Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest are beautifully represented in this full color 12-month calendar.
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Workplace Giving Impacts New Jersey’s Environment
Pola Galie, Development Associate, Explorations Editor
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey recently joined Earth Share of New Jersey. Earth Share is a coalition of leading local and national environmental nonprofits. Earth Share's mission is to work with employers across the state to offer employees an environmental giving choice. Through ESNJ, employees can make payroll deduction contributions to Earth Share or any of its 26 New Jersey based members or 38 national members.
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Administrative Staff
Margaret O'Gorman
Executive Director
Patricia Shapella
Contributions and Membership Manager
Maria Grace
Education and Outreach Manager
Pola Galie
Development Associate - Exploration editor
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