Category: Wildlife News

by: Sarah Neil, CWF communications intern

Horseshoe crabs are ancient creatures, having first evolved hundreds of millions of years ago. Since then, they haven’t changed much, but the world around them certainly has. Human activity has taken a toll on horseshoe crabs- for years, people have been harvesting them for use as bait and in medical applications. New Jersey now has a moratorium preventing this from continuing, but their population is still lower than it should be. Luckily, something as simple as flipping a horseshoe crab off of its back can help to restore their numbers. I recently had the privilege of joining Larissa Smith, Senior Wildlife Biologist at CWF, on a trip to the Delaware Bay. In partnership with ReTurn the Favor, she regularly visits beaches that are rife with stranded horseshoe crabs and helps them get back to the water. At the nightly high tide, hundreds of crabs come up to shore to spawn, but when the tide goes out, many of them get stuck on their backs or buried in vegetation, unable to return to their habitats. Rescuing them can be as easy as turning them back onto their legs, but others need a bit more help.

On this day, we started with just a few unfortunate crabs that needed assistance getting off of their backs. We picked them up, flipped them, and off they went. But then, as we turned from the beach to a marshy creek, we were met with hundreds of crabs trapped in the grass. At first, it seemed like we were too late to save them, but as we went along, we found that almost every single one was still alive. So, we wrestled them out of the greenery and carried them back down to the water.

It was a lot of work, but we soon managed to rescue over 100 horseshoe crabs from that section alone. Most of them were females, as evidenced by their large size and pincers. Each one that survived represented a potential new generation of crabs. Female horseshoe crabs can lay around 80 thousand to 100 thousand eggs per year, most of which become food sources for other animals like laughing gulls, which were flocked heavily on the beaches that day. While it’s a bit unfortunate for the crabs, the loss of some of their eggs helps to keep the ecosystem running smoothly.

In just a few hours, we helped 198 horseshoe crabs return to the bay, and we had a lot of fun doing it. The effort to restore the populations of New Jersey’s horseshoe crabs is full of obstacles, but there is also so much hope. Just about anyone can flip an overturned horseshoe crab, and the feeling that comes along with doing so is wonderful. While the horseshoe crabs may not be able to thank us, we can always tell that they greatly appreciate our support.

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This year is shaping up to be a terrible one for ospreys in New Jersey. Early season surveys, which we began to conduct more of in recent years, after nor’easters and shortages of prey caused nesting pairs fail to produce young. These early surveys provide valuable data on the outcomes of nests and insight on nest failures.

This spring and early summer, we have observed a high number of nest failures in an area around Long Beach Island on Barnegat Bay. This has also been observed directly through live streaming osprey cams from Cape May to Oceanville and reported by some of our dedicated volunteers in other areas. Right now all signs point to lack of food, which either caused adults to abandon incubation or starvation of their young.

A crucial prey item for ospreys is Atlantic menhaden, a forage fish that is found in the ocean and estuaries. They are found all along the Atlantic coast and are widely considered to be the most important fish in the sea. Not only are they filter feeders but they are food for a very wide variety of wildlife, from humpback whales and dolphins to ospreys, loons, tuna and striped bass, etc. They are also a very valuable fish that is used as whole bait, meal (solids, mainly for use in aquaculture as food for farm raised fish) and oils. In 2016, over 323 million pounds of menhaden was landed in Virginia alone. In coastal Virginia, osprey populations have collapsed and the likely culprit is lack of prey. 

This spring adult menhaden were not very plentiful, especially after a nor’easter impacted the coast in late May. Observations of ospreys showed some were still catching menhaden but much smaller fish. Since then it has been a cascading effect of adult male ospreys not being able to find enough food to feed their mates and their young. When they can’t find food, they spend more time and energy searching and hunting and less time at their nests, leaving their mates to do more incubation and often times starving. This is when incubating females have to leave their nests and then their eggs or young are exposed to predators or harsh environmental conditions like extreme heat, which results in nest failure. There are still plenty of fish available to ospreys but fewer adult menhaden, which ospreys are more dependent upon, especially during this time of year when they are foraging more frequently to provide for their families. As a bioindicator species, ospreys showing us the shortage of menhaden in real time through the lens of their failed reproduction.

We hope learn the full extent of food stress on ospreys this year during upcoming nest surveys. For those who watch a nest or have a pair that nest near your home, you are encouraged to report osprey nesting activity online, via Osprey Watch. Since ospreys were recently upgraded to stable as their conservation status, we are concerned about their long term stability in a rapidly changing world. Your support to help us monitor ospreys during this time is crucial, as we do not receive any state or federal funding to carry out this important fieldwork.

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Only a short boat ride off the coast of Little Egg Harbor Township lies an undisturbed haven for endangered beach-nesting birds. The shorelines of Horseshoe Island and Holgate are fully-stocked with piping plovers, black skimmers, and many signs warning boaters not to land on the protected islands. Members of the public are not allowed into these highly-restricted areas, and the only people allowed to step foot there are a small group of biologists.

Todd Pover, Senior Wildlife Biologist at CWF, and his team travel to these islands throughout the nesting season to keep an eye on nests and collect data on them. They work in partnership with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife and Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge to get access to the refuge and record information. 

A day in the field starts with a visit to Horseshoe Island, a new and unique addition to the New Jersey off-shore landscape. What started as a small sandbar less than a decade ago has become a half-mile island that has been growing every year. While the new space is great for birds looking to start a family, the best part of the deal is that the island is free of mammalian predators like foxes, which are common nest destroyers. 

The walk around the island takes the team a few hours to complete, even after dividing up the work. They venture from point to point, stopping where nests and mating pairs had previously been observed. Most of the focus for this trip is on American oystercatchers, a special concern beach-nesting species, and piping plovers, which are endangered. At each stop, the researchers look for eggs and chicks at the nesting sites so they can be logged and development can be tracked. Sometimes the nests are destroyed or the chicks don’t survive, and that is also recorded. All of this data is stored in a database so that the success of each generation can be measured over time.

Occasionally, the team will find a new nest, but the process is tricky. Sometimes, they’ll get lucky and the parents will be nearby, leading them right to the site, but other times, they have to follow tiny, sandy tracks to find the divots in the sand that beach-nesting birds scrape out for nests. 

“It’s like being a detective,” said Madison Patterson, one of the biologists.

One of the joys of the work for the crew is finding that a previously unsuccessful pair of birds had renested. Many of the individuals on the island are banded, especially the American oystercatchers, so it makes it easier to identify which bird is which. For the plovers, not only do they get bands, but names, too. On Horseshoe, a male named Secretariat seems to enjoy scurrying around the island, using his camouflage to hide from the researchers. But, the professionals that they are, they find him anyway and add him to their logs.

By noon, it’s time to get back on the boat and head to the next stop: Holgate, a Unit of the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR. Unlike Horseshoe Island, this location does have mammalian predators, as well as a large population of endangered least terns. It also has the largest number of piping plover pairs in New Jersey. 

All across the island, tern, skimmer, and plover eggs abound. Each step must be taken with the utmost care, as one wrong move can destroy a nest and take a toll on the next generation’s population size. That’s pretty serious: these species have been classified as endangered in the state for decades and the constant threat of habitat loss due to human activity makes it even harder for these birds to bounce back.

In the mid afternoon, the team finishes up their final bits of data collection and gathers back on the boat. As they return to the mainland, the sounds of squawking soften and the islands vanish into the distance. But they would not be gone long, for tomorrow would bring a new day, new trails, and new lives for the team to document.

For more information on CWF’s beach nesting birds project, visit our project page.

Tiny terrapins, most only measuring a few inches in length, were introduced to their new marshy homes this May thanks to the Little Egg Harbor School District and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. For a few months, teachers and their students cared for the young turtles and, in doing so, gave them the extra boost that they needed to face life in the wild. 

Continue reading “Investing in our Future [Terrapin] Stewards”

Shorebird stewards may not wear capes but they are superhero’s to the multitude of shorebirds stopping along the Delaware Bay in the spring.  During May, the beaches in New Jersey are an important stopover for these migratory birds who are mainly feeding on the horseshoe crab eggs, deposited during the annual horseshoe crab spawn.  The shorebirds, which include the red knot a NJ endangered species, have a short window to reach their ideal weight before leaving on the next half of their journey north to breed.  Eight beaches in Cape May County and two in Cumberland County have restricted access during the migration so that the shorebirds can feed undisturbed.

Since 2003 Conserve Wildlife Foundation has coordinated the Shorebird Stewards, who help protect the feeding shorebirds by educating the public.  This season thirty-one stewards were stationed at beaches between May 10th to May 26th.  While most stewards are from New Jersey, we have stewards from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Some of the stewards volunteer for a day, while others work the entire season and many return year after year. No matter how often someone has been a steward, they have a made a difference and we have definitely seen a positive change in peoples attitudes over the years.  Visitors come from all over to view the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs and one of the main questions the stewards get asked is, “where are the shorebirds today”?

Some days the beach where the steward is assigned has only few shorebirds, while other days the beach is covered with the feeding birds.  While the majority of beach goers have a positive attitude about the beach restrictions, there will always be those that want to go on the beach.  While these situation aren’t always pleasant, the stewards are trained to handle them calmly and with education.

Thank you to 2025 shorebird superheroes!

Earlier today, we joined our partners from Union County and NJDEP Fish & Wildlife to band the four young peregrine falcons produced at the Union County Courthouse in downtown Elizabeth. The four eyases are right around four weeks old and prime age for banding. After ascending to the roof, viewers of the live stream on YouTube watched as we carefully bagged each nestling and brought them inside the building.

Continue reading “Photo from the Field: Union County Courthouse Falcons Banded”

I recently headed home from eagle nest checks near the Delaware River.  As usual, I was on the lookout for interesting raptor sightings, especially eagles.

I spotted a beautiful sub adult eagle perched along the South Branch River.  I pulled over, took out my camera, and got some great photos of this gorgeous bird.  I guessed it might be 4 years old because of the amount of white on its head.  Could this be one of the eagles from the local nests?  We have long suspected that fledglings return to their natal area. We had proof of this while tracking “Duke”, the 2019 banded eagle from Duke Farms, who had a solar tracker backpack attached. He returned frequently to his natal area. While I watched this eagle, it took off and even more exciting, I spotted a green NJ band on its right tarsus!!  Unfortunately, when I downloaded the photos, I could not make out the number of this NJ banded eagle.

I sent photos and a description of its location to all the knowledgeable and experienced Eagle Project volunteers in my area of Central NJ.  I also notified a couple of local (and always very helpful and supportive) interested supporters in the area who are “unofficially” part of the Eagle Project.  I am so thankful that everyone in our group works together for the benefit and protection of our eagles!  There is no possessiveness, jealousy, or one-upmanship, just help, support, and encouragement!

I had confidence that with this group, someone was sure to spot something!!  Imagine my absolute surprise and delight when Steve, a talented and devoted local eagle watcher emailed the group that he had found “my” sub adult and gotten a clear image of her green band:  H22!!  She is one of “mine” which I held at banding in 2022. I was overcome with emotion and excitement!  I would never have known that H22 was alive and thriving if not for Steve’s search and photos. Right on cue, Mary Ellen, another Eagle Project volunteer produced emails and photos that I had sent to the group after the 2022 banding showing H/22 as a 6-week-old nestling.  How heartwarming it was seeing her again as a nestling!

What a joy it is knowing that she is still living and healthy.  I still can’t believe that an eaglet that I held is the same one I saw as a thriving three-year-old. Hopefully she will stick around our area, avoid dangers, find a mate, build a nest, and raise her own eaglets in about 2 years’ time!

We’re thrilled to see the fourth and final peregrine falcon egg hatch atop the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth via the Union County Falcon Cam. The nest is now bustling with activity as proud parents Frida and Mango care for their four fluffy eyases.

The first three chicks, now nearly a week old, are growing rapidly—peregrine falcon chicks can double their weight within just six days of hatching. The newest hatchling, only a day old, is already being attentively brooded and fed by the adult. At this early stage, the chicks are covered in soft white down and rely entirely on their parents for warmth and nourishment.

Over the coming weeks, these eyases will continue to grow quickly, developing juvenile feathers and strengthening their muscles in preparation for fledging. Typically, peregrine falcons fledge around 6 to 7 weeks of age, so we can expect these chicks to take their first flights in early to mid-June.

Stay tuned to the Union County Falcon Cam to witness these remarkable developments in real-time. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the life cycle of one of nature’s most formidable aerial predators!

Exciting news for osprey watchers—Duke has returned! This morning, the longtime male of our Barnegat Light Osprey Cam returned to his home on Long Beach Island after an incredible journey south for the winter. After months of migration, crossing thousands of miles between New Jersey and the tropics, Duke is back to reclaim his territory. But this year, there’s a twist—a new female is waiting for him!

His previous mate, Daisy, has not yet been spotted, and while we don’t know much about this new female (since she’s unbanded), we’ll be closely observing her iris and feather patterns to track her identity. Today, Duke wasted no time settling in—he was seen feeding on his perch, interacting with the newcomer, and lounging in the nest bowl (classic Duke). If Daisy doesn’t return, he will likely form a new pair bond with this female, marking a fresh chapter in his long and successful life.

At 19 years old, Duke is the oldest known nesting osprey in New Jersey—a testament to how far conservation efforts have come. Ospreys are living longer, healthier lives, a reflection of improved environmental policies and protections. Stay tuned as we watch this season’s drama unfold—will Daisy return, or will Duke start anew?

Spring is a season of renewal. For peregrine falcons who nest atop the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth, it marks the beginning of another nesting season. As days grow longer and warmer, these incredible birds of prey are incubating four eggs, a promising sign for the continued success of New Jersey’s urban peregrine population.

Peregrine falcons, once on the brink of extinction in the eastern U.S., have made a remarkable comeback thanks to conservation efforts throughout the region. Urban nesting sites like the Union County Courthouse provide a safe haven for these raptors, offering protection from human disturbance and plentiful food sources. Over the next several weeks, the dedicated parents will take turns keeping the eggs warm until they hatch, bringing new life to downtown Elizabeth.

As we welcome spring’s renewal, we also celebrate the resilience of these magnificent birds. Join us in watching their life cycle unfold via the Union County Falcon Cam. We are thankful to continue our partnership with Union County to help stream this live view and share their incredible life history with the world.