Part 1, Monday, was an introduction to these exciting programs.Part 2, Tuesday, highlighted the Harvest the Bay Day happening this Saturday, August 9 from 3-8pm. Part 3, Wednesday, gave the “Insider’s Look” into the amazing outdoor programs, told through the words of the experts teaching the programs at Island Beach State Park. AndPart 5, Friday, will feature a personal account from one of CWF’s interns who works at Island Beach State Park.
Learn from the Experts: A Round Table Interview with Island Beach State Park Naturalists
Q: So many people know Island Beach as one of the most popular beaches along the New Jersey Coast. Is there to more to IBSP than just the beach and fishing?
A: Absolutely! The IBSP Nature Center is located approximately 7 miles from the park entrance and offers interactive, educational activities for the entire family along with pristine views of the ocean, bay and Barnegat Lighthouse. IBSP Park educators also conduct a variety of programs including kayak tours, island history/Eco-Hikes, surfing lessons, snorkeling, fishing, clamming, moonlight hikes with a beach bonfire, and more! Next time you visit IBSP, stop by and check it out!
A: I attended NJ Governor’s School for the Environment, where I was introduced to Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center (Sedge). I volunteered at Sedge for a summer and became an intern the following year. I attended Rutgers University and received a B.S. of Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior, and a minor certificate in Informal Science Education.
–Tom Seager, Park Educator
Q: What is your favorite part of working at IBSP?
A: I enjoy working with the different types of animals, the different programs each day, and most of all, educating the public to spread awareness and show them how much fun nature can be.
–Scott Witte, IBSP Seasonal Supervisor
Q: Are there programs specifically designed for children?
A: Yes! IBSP offers the WILDCHILD programs including our most popular Surfing Safari (Ages 8-17), Nature Toddlers (Ages 3-5), and Island Explorer’s (Ages 6-12). Visit www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/programs/islandbeach for more information.
Q: Are there volunteer opportunities at IBSP?
A: Yes! Volunteers are an integral part of our program here at IBSP. We are always looking for volunteers to help with the Nature & Interpretive Centers, daily programs, trail maintenance, tank maintenance, and more! Stop by and fill out an application or call the Nature Center at 732-793-1315.
-Becca Hanson, IBSP Seasonal Supervisor
Q: What options are available for school groups/class trips at IBSP?
A: We strongly encourage school groups to visit IBSP. This island provides a very unique experience for students to learn about coastal ecology, barrier island ecosystems, native species, local geology, and historical features of the area. Programs can be tailored to suit any grade level and often include seining tours to find and identify species in the bay, beach walks, trail hikes and tours of our Nature/Interpretive Centers. Any school group interested in scheduling a visit, or if you would like additional information, please contact the Nature Center at 732-793-1315.
When it comes to choosing which Island Beach State Park Programs are best for you, it’s tough to decide from so many great options!
So today we bring you the expert naturalists and educators who teach the programs. Hear their own evocative stories behind each program then decide what’s best for you!
Part 1, Monday, summarized these exciting programs.Part 2, Tuesday, highlighted the Harvest the Bay Day happening this Saturday, August 9 from 3-8pm. Part 4, Thursday, will be a round table interview with the Island beach State Park naturalists. AndPart 5, Friday, will feature a personal account from one of CWF’s interns who works at Island Beach State Park.
John Leonard, Park Naturalist, Island Beach State Park
As a Park Naturalist for THE best park within the NJ Parks and Forestry system I’ve been able to do some wickedly fun and educational things within its borders for the past five years. From fishing its shores for monster striped bass, to kayaking and seining the waters of Barnegat Bay. Nothing satisfies me more than sharing those experiences and seeing the smiles with the thousands of visitors who visit our park daily. But what if I told you, the adventurous few, we have a program that happens only twice a summer, and is scheduled during a time and at a place where the park becomes virtually deserted. Alone. On a barrier island. Far from the lights and crowds you are accustomed to at the Jersey Shore. Tempted?
The Full Moon Hike begins deep in the park, 3.5 miles past our bathing beaches at our Nature Center, a building many say is haunted by old souls of the sea. After a quick introduction of your guides at dusk we begin our educational journey, slowly working our way westward through the dense maritime forest. Quietly walking all our senses slowly awaken. The sounds of far off birds, rustling of mammals and amphibians in the undergrowth searching for a meal, pungent odors of decaying matter all come into focus. Learning as we walk, taking note of all our surroundings. As we reach Barnegat Bay we are rewarded by a liquid orange sun dipping slowly beneath the horizon illuminating the sky in a spectrum of color, a perfect time to observe the bay and all its glory.
Retracing our steps with natural light fading we begin our trek ocean side. Dense, dark forest gives way to the moonscape like terrain of our secondary, then primary dune system. A place that seems inhabitable, but in fact are home to our famed red fox. In addition to being extremely important barriers of ocean storm surge, these dunes have been rumored to hold buried treasure from pirates as far back as the 1600’s.
As we cross that final dune we leave the quiet solitude of the secondary dunes and are rewarded with an impressive elevated view of the ocean and sands which we’ve all come to love. Immediately we feel the air temperature drop, we hear thundering waves crashing on our pristine shores and view a brilliant burning fire just waiting for us to enjoy. Here we are free to enjoy the beach, collect shells or simply gather around the fire and enjoy the dancing flames as the yellow full moon slowly rises above the waves in the eastern sky. As an added bonus for all guests big and small, we are comforted by the melty goodness of roasting marshmallows, decedent chocolate and lightly sweet graham crackers to enjoy.
“Seining tours are a fun, interactive way for kids and adults to gain first hand experience with the marine life in our area. They are also an invaluable tool for school groups learning about coastal ecology” – Becca Hanson, Seasonal Supervisor
Did you know that IBSP offers free daily seining tours every day, twice a day? Pull a seine net through the Barnegat Bay and discover the amazing creatures who live here. Can you scare away hungry predators by growing twice your size in less than 6 seconds? A pufferfish can! Scoop up some silversides, the ‘french fries of the bay’, and understand the importance of this abundant fish in the Barnegat Bay food chain. Meet the snails, our bottom-feeding friends who keep the bay clean. What’s today’s catch of the day?
The Snorkel/Kayak Program at Island Beach State Park is a mix of snorkeling and kayaking in the Barnegat Bay. After a brief introduction and overview of the necessary kayaking skills, participants start the tandem kayaking adventure. All snorkel gear and kayak gear are provided. Park educators explain the ecology and importance of the Barnegat Bay and its ecosystems, and also review the different species that can be expected while snorkeling. When the tide is right, kayaks are anchored on a nearby sand bar and participants can snorkel in the adjacent deeper channel. Participants may see a variety of species, such as pipefish, crabs, flounder, hermit crabs, schools of bait fish, as well as different types of aquatic vegetation. This tour is new at the park and is becoming increasingly popular! Come join us for this unique underwater ecosystem viewing experience!
“From my personal experience with this program I find that it gives the children a wonderful hands-on approach to understanding the natural balance that takes place at Island Beach State Park.”- Josephine, Park Educator
Nature toddlers during craft time
This program is specifically designed for children ages 3 to 5 years old and takes place at the Nature Center. Age-appropriate hands-on activities, stories, crafts and hikes guide your child’s natural curiosity as they explore the animals and plants of Island Beach State Park. Natural Educators provide an educational hour of fun for parents and their children.
“From an educators stand point, I find that this program truly enriches the child’s love of learning. This program is supported with appropriate children’s literature and affords the children the opportunity to learn hands on; which in my experience is the most beneficial. It is delightful to take part in helping to create memories that are sure to last for a life time!” – Lisa, Park Educator
This program is specifically designed for children ages 6 to 12 years old and takes place at the Nature Center. With the help of Natural Educators, children get the chance to explore the outdoors, make crafts, listen to stories, learn about animals, and investigate the local ecosystem. This is a two hour program that explores different topics each week such birds, turtles, jellyfish, and much more!
IBSP Kayak Tours
Most people come to Island Beach State park to enjoy the swimming beaches. They drive to Ocean Beach Area 1 or 2, spend a few hours on the beach and go home feeling satisfied with their visit to the park. Little do they know they have only scratched the surface in terms of what this park has to offer!
Kayak tours are one of the more popular activities provided by IBSP park educators. Below is a list of tours and a brief description of each:
Learn about the history of Island Beach dating back to the first recorded description in 1609 by Robert Juet, the first mate to Henry Hudson, the parks involvement in the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, pirates in the park, all the way to present day uses. All of this is done while kayaking around the Island visiting important historical landmarks and enjoying the beautiful Island ecosystems.
“The sunset paddle is one of my favorite programs offered at the park. Being on the water, witnessing the natural serenity of the area and its inhabitants, and watching the brilliant colors of the sunset is an experience like no other.” – Kelly Scott, Park Naturalist
Enjoy a peaceful and relaxing evening paddle through the famous Sedge Islands and watch the sunset over Barnegat Bay. This is prime time for observing the parks different wildlife species, including egrets, herons, gulls, turtles and maybe even a lingering fox watching from shore.
Learn about one of the largest estuaries in NJ by kayak! Park educators will discuss the bay’s geology, ecological function and importance, and local flora and fauna. In addition, the Eco-tour also includes a seining event to observe marine life and park educators will teach the “clammers dance.”
Expert Park Natural Educators will guide you on a peaceful paddle through the dynamic Barnegat Bay estuarine ecosystem. Discover the diversity of birds that inhabit Island Beach State Park in the summer. We will discuss migration patterns and year-round residents. Keep an eye out for additional birding tour during the upcoming fall migration!
Nature Center/Interpretive Center
Do you want to see wildlife close-up – and spend a day at the beach? Then come visit the Island Beach State Park Nature Center!
Once a coast guard building, the Nature Center showcases a unique combination of amazing views and lots of interactive fun for the whole family. Our Nature Center is home to a wide variety of local creatures from our 2 year old albino corn snake Newton, to our baby diamondback terrapins. Dont forget to take in the spectacular view from the top floor where the bay, the ocean, and Barnegat Bay lighthouse are all visible.
Just across from the Nature Center is the Forked River Interpretive Center where visitors can enter the world of yesterday and explore the incredible history of Island Beach State Park. Visitors can learn about the massive effort to bring Ospreys back to the Island, the historic Reeds Hotel and many other amazing stories and tales of life as it used to be on this breathtaking island.
Before you leave, make sure you take a visitors guide and check out the Summer Programs offered by IBSP Park Naturalists and educators! Let us show you how much fun nature can be!
“Surfing Safari is by far the most popular WILDCHILD program offered at IBSP. Space is limited, and classes typically fill up fast. Register early to reserve your spot!” – Tom Seager, Park Educator
Surf’s Up Dude!
Learn about waves, what they are, where they come from, and why they break. Paddle out with expert Natural Educators and IBSP Lifeguards, and maybe you’ll be hangin’ 10 by the end of the summer! Drop off your child for two hours of fun!
Part 1, Monday, was an introduction to these exciting programs.Part 3, Wednesday, gave the “Insider’s Look” into the amazing outdoor programs, told through the words of the experts teaching the programs at Island Beach State Park. Part 4, Thursday, was a roundtable interview with the Island Beach State Park naturalists. AndPart 5, Friday, will feature a personal account from one of CWF’s interns who works at Island Beach State Park.
The rich ecological resources of Barnegat Bay and IBSP, coupled with high numbers of visiting park patrons serves as the perfect backdrop for our Harvest the Bay Festival. IBSP, has two extensive natural areas, coupled with two large points of recreational usage and a marine conservation zone, making it an easy link to demonstrate the function of healthy coastal ecosystem, the effects of human interaction and beneficial aspects of management. Each year, the park hosts over 1 million guests that that engage in boating, clamming, fishing, swimming, and hiking along the 10 miles of shoreline.
Barnegat Bay acts as an early life history nursery for many species of fish/invertebrates that are both recreationally and commercially significant in terms of harvest. The bay supports healthy aquatic flora including submerged aquatic vegetation and phytoplanktonic growth. Subsequently, early life history stages of coastal bivalves, crustaceans and forage fish occur along the bay because of high levels of primary productivity. However, some fisheries resources in Barnegat Bay have experienced a decline in recent years. Despite healthy levels of biological productivity in Barnegat Bay, anthropogenic effects do require monitoring and education to better promote coastal stewardship including coastal development along the watershed, increased nutrient loading, decreases in dissolved oxygen/pH, habitat loss, and the effects of over-harvesting marine resources.
The Harvest the Bay Festival was designed to promote the value of shellfish and finfish as food resources in Barnegat Bay by highlighting their ecological, economic and social importance. Vendors from governmental, non-profit and private organizations will be present to discuss with the public, the importance of Barnegat Bay to their mission. Also, local restaurant vendors will be present to display locally caught food selections of Barnegat Bay and the adjacent coastal ocean. Ultimately, the goal of the Harvest the Bay Day is to celebrate the importance of Barnegat Bay and educate the public about its significance, while promoting the following Harvest the Bay educational programs:
Harvest the Bay Clamming
Harvest the Bay-Clamming is one of the best ways to experience Barnegat Bay. Join park educators and learn about the anatomy of Quahog clams, their ecological importance in the bay, harvesting restrictions, and more. The program provides clam rakes or you can use your feet! Learn the skills and “clam-dance” of the baymen that still live in the area. While clamming, you are also likely to encounter some of the birds of Island Beach State Park such as the Osprey and Oyster Catcher.
Harvest the Bay Crabbing
Discover the fascinating life cycle of the Blue Claw Crab, its niche in the ecosystem, when and how to harvest them, and what you can do to assure their populations remain at a healthy level.
Harvest the Bay Fishing
Bluefish, Fluke, Black Drum – the bay is host to a variety of local fish. Explore the role of finfish in the bay’s ecosystem and discover techniques for successful fishing. Cast a line into the bay and reel in your catch of the day!
The Jersey Shore has changed immeasurably over the past century. But one place gives you the chance to recapture the beauty and wild feeling that once encompassed the entire coast – Island Beach State Park.
At Island Beach State Park, you can still find hands-on adventures along the Atlantic Coast and the Barnegat Bay. You can still be immersed in the nature of coastal beach dunes, maritime forest, and vast saltmarsh. You can still find wildlife like osprey, red fox, diamondback terrapins, piping plover, sea turtles, and an incredible array of fish and shellfish.
This week CWF is highlighting the hands-on interactive learning programs offered at Island Beach State Park. This marks the first of five blog stories that will spotlight these programs.
Part 1, Today, will be an introduction to these exciting programs.Part 2, Tuesday, will highlight the Harvest the Bay Day happening this Saturday, August 9 from 3-8pm. Part 3, Wednesday, will give the “Insider’s Look” into the amazing outdoor programs, told through the words of the experts teaching the programs at Island Beach State Park.Part 4, Thursday, will be a roundtable interview with the Island Beach State Park naturalists. AndPart 5, Friday, will feature a personal account from one of CWF’s interns who works at Island Beach State Park.
CWF is excited to partner with New Jersey State Parks and offer incredible programs about New Jersey’s natural world at Island Beach State Park.
Become a WILDCHILD, take a sunset kayak tour, try your hand at surf-fishing, go bird watching, or enjoy a movie night at the park! Whatever you decide, you will be guided by professional educators and naturalists who have plenty of natural and wildlife stories to share with you.
At nearly 10 miles long, Island Beach is New Jersey’s most expansive stretch of undeveloped barrier island. Our programs help you to connect with the beauty of this ecosystem and its ample natural resources. Have your kids participate in a WILDCHILD program including surfing, surf-fishing, and island exploration. Try and catch the big one during a surf-fishing class or discover the beauty of Barnegat Bay through kayaking.
The other day, my dad and I got the chance to accompany CWF biologist, Ben Wurst, on an osprey-banding excursion – him for photography, and me for the experience.
At 6 am, we set out on a small boat in Tuckerton, New Jersey. Through the salt marshes, we visited each nest for Ben to take notes on the ospreys occupying them. When the conditions were right , he could also band the chicks.
Ospreys are truly beautiful birds, magnificent to behold, and even more so up close. I was fortunate enough to hold one chick while Ben attached a band around its ankle.
Brooke Sambol holding an Osprey (c) Eric Sambol
Over the years, CWF has played a major role in osprey monitoring and species rehabilitation. The work they’ve done has really paid off. Due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT during the 1970’s, osprey populations in New Jersey plummeted from over 500 nests to just 50 nests. Since then, biologists, including those from CWF have implemented an intensive osprey rehabilitation project.
This included the replacing of healthy osprey eggs from Maryland into DDT-weakened New Jersey nests, the building of hundreds of osprey nest boxes along the coast, and diligent monitoring.
In 2013, biologists counted 405 nesting osprey pairs. The success is monumental, and a testament to the change that can occur through science and dedication.
Brook Sambol is a Coastal Wildlife Intern with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
On May 30, 2014 EarthShare New Jersey launched the exciting new Rain Barrel Auctions program. Thanks to a donation of barrels from Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. in Bordentown, N.J., each of the 24 members of EarthShare New Jersey will have one designed which captures the important work each of these charities do for our environment. The auctions are designed to raise awareness and funds for the local members of EarthShare New Jersey.
Rain Barrels offer a long-term, sustainable way to collect and store the rain water that drains from our roofs and gutters. The water can then be used around the home, in the garden, or even for hydration as long as it is adequately filtered and cleaned. Each of the rain barrels being auctioned off are not only functional, but exquisite one of a kind works of art designed by artists from across the state. The program will run until the end of 2014.
The rain barrel designed for CWF was recently posted on eBay. CWF is very excited to have been selected for this effort, and we hope this rain barrel raises awareness and the sale is a success! The proceeds for this rain barrel will be split with CWF and EarthShare.
EarthShare is a national non-profit federation with 25 years of experience in connecting people and workplaces with effective ways to support critical environmental causes. Together we’ve raised more than $300 million for programs that care for our air, land, water, wildlife and public health — in your community, across the U.S. and around the world. EarthShare develops and manages employee engagement and giving campaigns to increase support for its member organizations and help our workplace partners achieve their philanthropic and CSR goals.
Conserve Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit and an EarthShare local member organization. Together CWF and EarthShare work to create a sustainable environment through education, conservation, preservation and community awareness. Through ongoing statewide and community activities we address so many important issues.
Check out our rain barrel, with beautiful artwork by Diane Novobilsky, here!
This marks the third story in Shorebird Week! Our first blog post, on Tuesday, introduced the film “A Race Against Time” and directed you to a free viewing of the film on our website. Our second blog post, highlighted an incredible news story about a resighting of the iconic Red knot B95 on the Delaware Bay! And today’s blog post, will highlight volunteers incredible effort to save stranded horseshoe crabs!
Volunteer Don Senior extracts an impinged horseshoe crab from the rubble on the south end of Fortescue beach along the Delaware Bay on Saturday (c) Phillip Tomlinson South Jersey Times
This story illustrates the incredible efforts of volunteers for Conserve Wildlife Foundation and other conservation groups to save the stranded horseshoe crabs on Delaware Bay beaches. Horseshoe crabs can easily be flipped onto their backs by incoming tides, and they are not able to right themselves on their own. They also get trapped easily by tides and man-made obstacles, such as debris, which leaves them unable to return to the water leaving them to eventually die.
Return the Favor, a multi-group effort, has committed to rescuing as many horseshoe crabs as possible from South Jersey’s Delaware Bay beaches by regularly combing designated stretches of beach and helping to flip the crabs back on their bellies and redirect them back to the water. If possible these volunteers go out daily and rescue all of the flipped or impinged crabs. These efforts have been very successful so far, and they hope to continue these efforts and engage more about who want to volunteer.
This marks the second story in Shorebird Week! Our first blog post, on Tuesday, introduced the film “A Race Against Time” and directed you to a free viewing of the film on our website. Today’s blog post, will highlight an incredible news story about a resighting of the iconic Red knot B95 on the Delaware Bay! And tomorrow’s blog post, will highlight volunteer’s incredible efforts to save stranded horseshoe crabs!
This story highlights the iconic Red knot, B95, being resighted on the Delaware Bay. B95, nicknamed Moonbird, is at least 20 years old, which makes him the oldest Red knot on record. He received his nickname because he has flown the equivalent of the distance between the earth and the moon and at least halfway back in his lifetime.
Iconic Red knot shorebird B95
One of Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s partners, Manomet Center for Conservation Science, highlights this bird in an fascinating news story about his resighting and the research efforts being done by the CWF biologist Dr. Larry Niles and Amanda Dey, senior biologist with the Endangered and Non-game Species Division of N.J. Fish and Wildlife and their team to restore the Delaware Bay.
A banded red knot searches for food on a Delaware Bay beach.
This week for Animal Week, we will be spotlighting Shorebirds in the Media! Endangered red knots, ruddy turnstones, and other magnificent birds travel from South America to the Canadian Arctic during their migration, and make an important stopover along the Delaware Bay Shore from May to June.
The 2014 Shorebird film, “A Race Against Time” celebrates the Delaware Bay Beach Restoration
The film can now be enjoyed for free on our website:
Greener New Jersey Productions this spring produced a 30-minute film documenting the ambitious campaign by Conserve Wildlife Foundation, American Littoral Society and other partners to restore Delaware Bayshore beaches decimated by Hurricane Sandy. This project ensures that the at-risk horseshoe crabs and globally migrating shorebirds relying on this habitat can survive.
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, and New Jersey Audubon have partnered for many years to conduct research on Delaware Bay shorebirds in order to prevent their decline.
This story marks the last of our five blog stories spotlighting New Jersey’s Diamondback Terrapin – and educating people on the research and efforts being done to protect these fascinating reptiles!
Part 1, Monday, was an introduction into the world of the Diamondback Terrapin.Part 2, Tuesday, featured CWF’s research efforts to protect the terrapins.Part 3, Wednesday, looked at great places to view these beautiful turtles .Part 4, Thursday, highlighted some important ways you can help protect the Diamondback Terrapins. Part 5, today’s post, will showcase some other important regional research being done by our partners.
Beyond New Jersey: Diamondback Terrapins across the Northeast
By Stephanie Egger, CWF Wildlife Biologist
Contributions by Don Lewis (Cape Cod Consultants), Russ Burke (Jamaica Bay Terrapin Research and Conservation), and John Wnek (Project Terrapin)
Conserving the Northern diamondback terrapin in New Jersey is vitally important to CWF and our partners. As a result, it is crucial that we work cooperatively with our partners in the Northeast for the long-term protection and sustainability of terrapins from a regional perspective.
The terrapin has been identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Northeast States Wildlife Action Plans (WAP). The terrapin is found in eight states of the Northeast /mid-Atlantic regions and are considered Threatened in Massachusetts and Endangered in Rhode Island under State laws. In New Jersey, while the terrapin receives some protection under commercial and recreational fishing regulations, it is also considered a game species. The species has been also identified by the Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NEPARC) as a species of regional conservation concern in the Northeast Amphibian and Reptile Species of Regional Responsibility and Conservation Concern Report as it found in ≥ 75 % of states listed in their WAPs and > 50% of northern diamondback terrapin distribution is within the Northeast Region of North America (NEPARC 2010).
Our regional partners have invested many years into the survival of this species through their conservation and research efforts below and as partners in the development of the Northeast Regional Conservation Strategy for Terrapins headed by CWF.
Don Lewis and Sue Wieber Nourse, Cape Cod Consultants for terrapins
In Wellfleet Bay on Outer Cape Cod resides the northernmost population of diamondback terrapins. Research on these elusive critters began in June 1980, and this longitudinal study has continued uninterrupted through this, its 35th season. Terrapin research and conservation in Massachusetts encompasses more than 250 miles of coastline, dozens of estuaries and hundreds of sites from the fist of Cape Cod through Buzzards Bay on the South Coast to Mount Hope Bay on the Rhode Island border. Within this expanse, there are many vestigial groups on the cusp of extirpation and a few stable populations. Intense conservation measures over the last decade and a half have reversed statewide population declines, and numbers have begun slowly, yet steadily to increase throughout the range. These measures focus on dramatically increasing the number of hatchlings entering the system through protecting nests and shepherding hatchlings from wild nests through a gauntlet of predators to the safety of their nursery salt marsh. We also strive to expand nesting habitat through uplands preservation and coastal turtle gardens. The result has been a significant, measurable increase in juvenile recruits entering these populations.
Covering this broad expanse of estuaries and beaches entails a large volunteer effort of citizen scientists augmented by hundreds of homeowners within coastal communities throughout Massachusetts. Outreach forms the cornerstone of terrapin conservation. Whether formal in classrooms or informal on beaches and in backyards, hands-on educational experiences transform bystanders into supporters. The goal of each encounter is simply to change personal pronouns from “your turtles” to “our turtles.”
When terrapin activity ends in October, staff and volunteers change into winter garb and return to now frigid Cape Cod beaches to save stranded, cold-stunned sea turtles. Each fall hundreds of sea turtles get trapped in the enormous “seine net” of Cape Cod sticking forty miles into the Atlantic Ocean, and they become too cold to survive without human intervention. Thousands of the most endangered sea turtles in the world have been recovered from Cape beaches, rehabilitated and returned back to the ocean.
Jamaica Bay, New York
Russ Burke, Hofstra University and Jamaica Bay terrapin partner
Alex Kanonik (Queen’s College) and Russell Burke (Hofstra University) run a citizen-science project focusing on the ecology of the diamondback terrapin population in Jamaica Bay, New York. Our work is built around a mark-recapture project started in 1998, and has been the basis for nine M.S. theses and numerous publications co-authored by high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students. Our early focus was on nesting ecology and nest predation, then hatchling behavior, and field tests of temperature sex determination. Currently we are investigating terrapin diets, movements and distribution in Jamaica Bay and elsewhere in New York. We also work closely with biologists at JFK airport to address their issues with terrapins on the runways.
Barnegat Bay, New Jersey
John Wnek, Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science and Project Terrapin
Project Terrapin, through the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science, New Jersey, is conducting its 13th year of diamondback terrapin nesting research at Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. We are studying the reproductive output of terrapins throughout Barnegat Bay with an emphasis on populations at Island Beach State Park and Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
We are also studying populations by identifying critical habitat throughout the Barnegat Bay Estuary. We conduct a mark and recapture study throughout the northern Barnegat Bay region. The past two years, we have been focusing on possible impacts on nesting ecology as a result of “shifting” nesting habitats from the storm surge from post-tropical cyclone Sandy. We are also mapping nesting areas throughout the system.
Our team has a few different conservation projects, including the establishment of nesting habitats in areas where there are a high density of nesting terrapins in developed coastal communities. We also sponsor a bycatch reduction device (BRD) distribution program working with local crab pot retailers and manufacturers. To date, we’ve distributed over 20,000 BRDs throughout Ocean County, New Jersey.
We are also working with local environmental education centers and schools to promote diamondback terrapin education, with an emphasis on habitat and the importance of protecting our barrier islands. Project Terrapin has developed an education module called the Terrapin Education KIT used by informal and formal educators. Finally, we also sponsor a hatchling head start program for schools throughout the state and eastern Pennsylvania.
Our latest initiative is to assist with the protection of our barrier islands by promoting and funding coastal vegetation plantings so that the dunes and coastal habitats are better stabilized. This past year, we have reached over 6,000 people, including school students, with volunteers providing over 1100 hours. Project Terrapin works with several colleges and universities supporting both graduate and undergraduate research studies.
NEPARC. 2010. Northeast Amphibian and Reptile Species of Regional Responsibility and Conservation Concern. Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NEPARC). Publication 2010-1.
Stephanie Egger is a Wildlife Biologist for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and Co-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic region of the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
Learn from the Experts: A Round Table Interview with Island Beach State Park Naturalists
Q: What is your favorite part of working at IBSP?
Part 1
