Ospreys love to bring garbage back to their nests. While out checking on nests I’ve found everything from rope, fishing line, flip flops, plastic bags, a Frisbee, hats and even a plastic crab in nests. The problem is that every year while volunteers and staff are checking on nests at least one chick is found entangled in this garbage. Fishing line gets caught around their feet and legs and a plastic bag can entangle a chick. If no one went out to check on these nests most of these chicks wouldn’t make it. It’s not only the chicks that suffer from the garbage we throw out. Adult ospreys have been found dead and hanging from fishing line. Ospreys and other species whose diet consists of mostly fish are particularly vulnerable to injury and death from fishing line and hooks. During a visit to an NJ eagle nest a chick was found with a fishing hook embedded in its mouth. I have also found horseshoe crabs and terrapins entangled in fishing line and these are just a few examples of how garbage effects wildlife.
Hello all! I’m new to this blog so I’m going to introduce myself. My name is Agata Kaczkowski and I’m a student in New Jersey City University. Currently I’m lucky enough to be completing my internship for Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. In May, 2012 I’m expecting to graduate with a B.S. in Biology (which explains my love for nature).
As the temperature outside reached 95°F. Ben Wurst and I arrived on Sedge Island on 06/28/2010. A camp composed of middle school students greeted us as we approached the island. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how knowledgeable these kids were on the subject of ospreys! After a brief introduction, Ben and I started our journey to visit over 20 nests with hopes of finding healthy osprey chicks. Even though the weather was extremely hot the cool breeze from the ocean and the ability to soak my feet from time to time in the water made all the difference. The students followed us to the first couple of nests, where they got to hold an osprey chick as it was banded, and they took some photographs with the chicks. As we approached the second nest, the female osprey was flying really low and seemed very aggressively protective of her young. The female is usually larger and more protective of the chicks than the male. She was soaring really low as Ben was banding the chicks at the nest site, the kids observed the whole incident from their kayaks. Ben and I had over 20 nests to visit, so as the kids went back to the island we continued our journey. At the fourth nest we encountered an unpleasant situation- deceased three-week-old chick. Of the two that hatched, one had died, most likely of natural causes. We cleaned the nest and moved along.
The boat was a great way of getting from one nest to the other, although at times we had to push it because the water was too shallow for the boat. My job was to record the nest type, the number of chicks hatched, number of chicks banded and the band number (that was only if Ben thought it safe enough to band them). Most of the chicks were banded, although a couple were too young to band. We ended up banding about 26 osprey chicks around the island.
Cleaning up the fishing nets and balloon ribbons from nests was a must because the young may get tangled in the debris and not survive. I personally found bottles and shopping bags all over, which was frustrating because this is how the habitat gets destroyed. I will keep you all updated on my next field experiences…
Over the past few weeks volunteers and biologists have been performing ground surveys to help determine the health of the osprey population in New Jersey. The surveys are part of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Osprey Management Project. Ospreys are listed as a threatened species in New Jersey. They were originally listed as endangered in 1974 after only 50 nesting pairs were found in 1973. By 1986, their status was upgraded to threatened after their population rebounded to 100 nesting pairs. Today there are over 450 pairs of ospreys that we help to monitor in New Jersey.
Ospreys are highly dependent upon humans to provide artificial nesting structures for them and they are highly susceptible to many different heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants like DDT, DDE, PCBs and more recently brominated fire retardants (PBDE) that bio-accumulate in the food chain.
Surveys are performed each year during summer when osprey nestlings are old enough to band (3-6 weeks old) but not old enough to fly. They cover all major nesting areas including, the Delaware Bay, Raritan Bay south to Cape May, and inland. During ground surveys nestlings are banded with USGS aluminum leg bands for future tracking. I survey areas from Great Bay in Little Egg Harbor north to Fort Monmouth in Oceanport and Mantoloking along the Atlantic Coast.
The data we collect (whether or not a nest is active and the # of young produced) is used to calculate the productivity rate. Ospreys need a productivity rate of at least .8 young/nest to sustain the population. In the past 5+ years they have had more than double this rate. The population has grown by 21% from 2006 to 2009. Last year there were 485 nesting pairs in New Jersey. This year we expect there to be even more. Last years results are summarized in the 2009 Newsletter.
Last year was a record-breaking year. Before the effects of DDT, habitat loss and persecution decimated the population in the mid-1900’s there were over 500 nesting pairs. Since the mid-1970’s, when the project began the population has slowly risen to its current level. Each year more platforms are damaged by harsh winter weather and the extremes of being located in saltmarshes. Work is continual and never ending. Repairs to existing platforms occur during the “off” season or non-breeding season from late August to the end of March. New platforms (built with stainless and galvanized hardware, that are meant to last) are placed in areas where suitable habitat exists where little to no available nest sites occur. It is our goal to help the population recover to historic numbers.
Preliminary results show that some areas fared very well this year. The colony from Little Egg Harbor to Atlantic City had 25 active nests that produced 57 young. Last year, 36 nests produced 55 young. The climate has been optimal for ospreys, except for the occasional thunderstorm with high winds. Temperatures have been above normal and precipitation has been below normal. Full results from the season will be available this fall once the survey results are collected and summarized.
Our work would not be possible without the support of our members and volunteers. Thank you!
On June 29th I visited Fort Monmouth to survey the nesting platforms there. Four structures were occupied including this platform that was placed along a tributary of the Shrewsbury River, an area in need of more nesting structures for ospreys. A total of 8 young were produced there this year. The young were banded with a federal USGS bird band for future tracking.
The trip wasn’t work related, and was planned before I knew I would be helping with our bat monitoring work in New Jersey. But it was appropriate because Austin happens to be home to the largest urban bat colony in North America.
Located near the center of the city, the Congress Avenue Bridge spans Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River. Renovations made in 1980 created ideal roosting habitat along the bottom of the bridge and it wasn’t long before migrating bats discovered it. Now, estimates are that 1-1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost below the bridge between March and November. Each night around dusk the bats exit the bridge to forage for insects along the river. When conditions are right the effect is dramatic: a column of bats silhouetted against the setting sun that can last for 45 minutes as the bats exit the bridge. Although there were petitions to eradicate the bats when they first took up residence, the city has come to embrace them and it isn’t unusual for several hundred people to line up along the bridge on summer nights to watch the bats exit and begin foraging.
Unfortunately, it was cloudy and slightly cool on the evening I visited the bridge and the bats waited until nearly dark before starting to emerge. It was difficult to observe the bats except in the illumination of the streetlights lining the bridge or when they veered closer to the shore. Although it wasn’t the spectacle I’d been hoping for, it was still impressive. Even under less than ideal conditions I saw hundreds (possibly thousands) of bats-more than I observed in the week of training in Illinois, and probably more than in the rest of my life combined.
Here in New Jersey we don’t have Mexican free-tailed bat and we certainly don’t have any bat populations that rival the numbers of the Congress Avenue Bridge Colony. Even before the arrival of white-nose syndrome populations at our largest hibernacula numbered in the tens of thousands, not millions. So it was exciting and encouraging to see such a thriving bat population in person. It was also impressive to see how the city has embraced the colony as a beneficial, unique and interesting attraction. Similarly, the response to our acoustic monitoring project in New Jersey has been overwhelmingly positive. Landowners and the general public all seem interested in learning about bats, concerned about white-nose syndrome, and are eager to help however they can.
My experience in Austin was also a reminder that even at the best locations, there are variables that affect what you observe on any single night. Rain or cool weather reduce bat activity, and there’s still a lot we don’t know about bat foraging behavior; for instance they may actively forage in an area one night but not the next. So negative results during one visit isn’t enough evidence to decide bats aren’t in the area. Ideally we would visit each site multiple times to control for this variability. However with fifteen sites to monitor, only a few staff members and a fairly short survey period (roughly June 1st to July 31st) we know getting to each site once will keep us busy. As a result, we may have to survey some sites even though the conditions aren’t ideal. Unfortunately, these are common problems when surveying for endangered species and are something that many at CWF have had to deal with.
Our acoustic bat monitoring project is just getting underway; we’re taking the lessons learned in Illinois and using that knowledge to monitor for bats in New Jersey. Expect more updates on our techniques and preliminary results as we have a chance to visit more sites.
Native grass and wildflower seeds are loaded into a no-till planter. Photo: M. Hall
By MacKenzie Hall, Private Lands Biologist
New Jersey isn’t a corn belt state and probably isn’t what you picture when you think “prairie.” Fair enough. But New Jersey is an incredible medley of ecosystems, and for the past five years we’ve been working to make sure that native grasslands remain in the mix.
Switchgrass, big bluestem, and other native warm-season grasses provide excellent habitat for ground-nesting birds like the threatened bobolink and grasshopper sparrow (which is why we like them). But they have many other uses, too, such as livestock forage, mulch, and even bio-energy (which is why farmers like them).
Pat Hilton plants a prairie mix for wildlife and agriculture. Photo: M. Hall
More and more NJ farms are incorporating warm-season grasses and bird-friendly practices. Pat Hilton just converted eighteen acres of her Readington Township farm to native grasses and is delaying the hay harvest on another thirty acres. This will allow ground-nesting birds to fledge their young before the grass is cut.
Pat’s rolling farm – call it “midwest-reminiscent” – is highly suitable for grassland wildlife and has already attracted eastern meadowlarks, kestrels, grasshopper sparrows, and northern harriers.
After another busy restoration season, we’re delighted to watch as the summer sun brings these grassland ecosystems to life.
Are you a farmer or farm owner? Check out the NJ Landowner Incentive Program for a grassland grant. Applications are due July 15, 2010!
Highly domed carapace (upper shell) and a hinged plastron (lower shell). Most terrestrial turtle found in New Jersey.
Identification
Box turtles range in length from only 4″ up to 8.5″. The shell of the box turtle is unique. It’s carapace is high and shaped like a dome. It’s keel, or the ridge along the backbone is weak or very flat. The plastron is hinged and can close very tightly, in front and in rear. This is meant to protect the turtle from predators, especially the neighborhood dog.
Sexes are slightly similar in appearance. Both have yellow, orange, olive, or tan on their carapace and plastron that is contrasted by a light or dark black background. Individuals can appear very different in coloration. The male (pictured above) is very vibrantly colored. Younger turtles are more vibrantly colored than older ones. Males have a longer and wider tail than females. Their carapace is often more flattened than females. Males have a more vibrantly colored (orange or red) eyes. The plastron of males is slightly concave. Females have lighter colored (light brown to light orange) eyes and their plastron is flat. Their carapace is often more domed in shape.
Distribution and habitat
The Eastern or Common box turtle occurs in the eastern United States from central Maine south to southern Georgia and Alabama, west to central Michigan and southern Wisconsin and then south into parts of Illinois, all of Kentucky, Tennessee, and then parts of Mississippi. It can be found in all of the 21 counties in New Jersey.
Range of the Eastern box turtle. Image courtesy Davidson College Herpetology Lab.
Box turtles inhabit open woodlands and meadows. They are often seen in neighborhood backyards in rural and suburban areas. They are usually not far from streams or ponds, however, during rainy weather they may roam farther from water. They are the most terrestrial turtle found in New Jersey. They like water, but are not adapted for swimming in water.
Studies have shown that box turtles have very small home ranges. Researchers found that their territories are around 250 square yards or less. If box turtles are removed from their territories and placed in an unfamiliar area, then they may die while trying to find their way back home. It is very important to not take a box turtle from its habitat and relocate it. If you find an injured one and do transport it to a state certified rehabilitator; record the animals location and make sure to inform the rehabilitator so it can be re-released where it was found.
Diet
Box turtles are omnivores. Changes in food preference occur during different seasons and life stages. Young turtles eat more insects, while adults eat more plant matter. Young turtles eat earthworms, snails, insect larvae, and some vegetative matter. Adults eat large quantities of fungi and particularly like berries and fruits from trees and shrubs.
Life Cycle
Box turtles, like other reptiles are cold-blooded and in the northern parts of their range hibernate from late October or November until April. During hibernation they burrow into loose soil, vegetative debris, and/or loose sand, and sometimes in the mud of stream bottoms. They dig burrows with their front legs, instead of their back legs (which are used to dig holes for laying eggs). Some hibernate at depths up to two feet deep. They can arise during warm spells.
Individuals become reproductive at 4 to 5 years in age. They can live to be older than 20 years in age. Mating begins shortly after individuals emerge from hibernation. During courtship, males chase or follow females to mate. Males often bite the edges of the females carapace, head, and neck. The male mounts the female (males have the concave plastron that helps during copulation) and hooks his back legs under the back edge of the females shell. During copulation the males body becomes upright and reproduction occurs. There has been evidence that females can remain fertile for two or three years after mating.
Eggs are laid in June and July. Nesting usually occurs in the late afternoon. Females deposit eggs in a hole that she digs in loose or sandy soil and sometimes in lawns. The cavity is around 3 inches deep, or about as long as the back legs of the adult female turtle. They lay between 2 to 7 eggs. Most hatching occurs in September or average incubation is around 87 to 89 days. Young either remain in the nest after hatching, emerge and go directly into hibernation, or emerge and explore for a few days to weeks, then hibernate. They do not require food during their first summer or fall before going into hibernation.
Current Status, Threats, and Conservation
Box turtles are fairly common throughout their range; however, they’re population is declining in New Jersey. Habitat destruction and fragmentation isolate individuals from finding mates and food. This causes local populations to decline in numbers or become extirpated from an area. Their slow reproductive rate does not allow for a fast recovery if a local population losses several individuals in a given amount of time.
Be aware for box turtles while driving!
Another threat to box turtles is the illegal collection for use as pets. They are highly sought for their use in the illegal pet trade (one of the world’s most profitable markets). Many people collect box turtles to breed in captivity for use as pets. Another conservation concern is the impact of high mortality rates from impacts with motor vehicles. Many roads transect suitable habitat for box turtles and many turtles that enter roadways die each year.
These threats have exacerbated their decline and the fact that the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program have listed them as a Species of Special Concern. This listing will mostly importantly help garner protection through enhanced habitat protection of suitable or critical habitat for box turtles.
How to help
The Endangered and Nongame Species Program would like for individuals to report their sightings of box turtles. Record the date, time, location, and condition of the animal and submit the information by submitting a Sighting Report Form. The information will be entered into the state’s natural heritage program, commonly referred to as Biotics. Biologists map the sighting and the resulting maps “allow state, county, municipal, and private agencies to identify important wildlife habitats and protect them in a variety of ways. This information is used to regulate land-use within the state and assists in preserving endangered and threatened species habitat remaining in New Jersey.”
Schwartz, Vicki and Dave Golden. 2002. Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of New Jersey. NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. Available in our online store!
Back on May 20th, we had our first Piping Plover nest hatch at Stone Harbor Point. Three out of the four eggs hatched, and since hatching only one chick was lost. On June 12th, I was delighted to witness the two chicks flying! When a chick survives to the point where it can fly, we call it a fledge or fledgling; usually about 25 days after hatching for piping plovers. I observed the pair of chicks flying even before their estimated fledge date; they grew up fast!
Watching the chicks over the last month has been fascinating. Within a day of hatching they are out of the nest feeding, not straying far from their parents. They grew quickly in the last month, now they’re just a bit smaller than the parents. The most discernable difference between the parent and the chicks now is the color of the beak; the chick’s beak is black while the parent’s is still yellow.
It is great news when a chick fledges; it has a much better chance of survival. As of right now there are three more chicks from another pair at Stone Harbor Point. Hopefully these chicks are just as successful. Sure makes all the hard work that goes into protecting them seem more worthwhile!
Visitors to Reeds Beach discuss the shorebird season with Shorebird Steward Jim May.
One part of my job that is quite enjoyable is getting to spend time on the Delaware Bay beaches in the spring and working with the Shorebird Stewards. As the CWF volunteer manager I organize the Shorebird Steward program which is part of the International Shorebird Project. During the two week period that stewards are on the beaches I try to get out and check on the beaches and meet with the stewards as much as possible. This season there were 26 stewards and 23 of those had worked as stewards during a previous season.
The main part of the steward’s job is to educate people about the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs, but they do a lot more than that in a day. Stewards also keep people from going into the closed areas of the beaches so that the shorebirds can feed undisturbed. They give directions and send people to the beaches where the most birds have been sighted that day.
Shorebird Steward Rochelle Gimmillaro points out shorebirds to visitors to Cook’s beach.
If they have time they also count the number of shorebirds on the beaches and if possible record any banded birds that they see. Stewards deal with all types of people and situations. Some beaches are much busier than others, such as Reed’s beach where there is a viewing platform. On many days there is a constant stream of people coming to the view the shorebirds and horseshoe crabs.
This season there were very few problems on the beaches and it is directly due to the shorebird stewards hard work and dedication to the project.
I look forward to getting back on the beaches next shorebird season and working with such a great group of volunteers.
The subject of peregrine falcons have hijacked this blog! On Friday, I visited a nest at Forsythe NWR to medicate the young for prevention of trichomonas, an avian disease carried by pigeons and doves. Adult peregrines can transfer it to their young and if not treated can kill them. Kim Steininger, a renowned and award-winning bird photographer joined me and got some amazing photos! While I was up on the nesting tower, Kim was stationed behind her camera, which was wielding a powerful lens to capture these amazing photos of the adult peregrines in flight while I checked on the nestlings.
This was my third visit to this particular nest. I can attest to the strong parental bond of this female to her young. During my first visit (5/21) she hit me while I was attempting to look for a parasitic fly that has caused hatchlings to die in previous years. The young were about 2-3 days old and were very vulnerable, so the aggressive nature is understood.
Peregrines and other birds of prey, like eagles, owls, ospreys, and hawks see humans as predators. This is because they don’t have any other predators in the wild. This is also why disturbance is a major issue during the nesting season. When an adult leaves the nest; its young are unprotected. They are susceptible to predators like gulls and crows. Never approach a nest and only view from established viewing locations!
On the second visit (5/24) the female landed on the nesting tower, not more than 5 feet away from me! In the nest 2 weeks the young will be banded with federal USGS bird bands and state bi-color bands for future identification.
