Wildlife Talks

Creature of the Night: The Bats of New Jersey – Leah Wells

Our bat program “Creatures of the Night: the Bats of NJ” goes over general bat facts, benefits of bats, common myths & misconceptions, threats bats face, and our bat projects at CWF.

Bats often get a bad reputation of being spooky or even fearsome, but they are actually some of the most beneficial animals to people, and right now, bats need our help! Join Conserve Wildlife Foundation biologist Leah Wells in a presentation to learn about these amazing night flying creatures in your area, and what you can do to keep them around!

Bald Eagles: An All-American Recovery – Larissa Smith

The bald eagle population in New Jersey continues to soar largely due to the work of faithful volunteers and biologists from the NJ Endangered & Nongame Species Program and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ.  Learn how the population rebound from one pair in the 1980’s to over 260 active pairs today and what is being done to continue monitoring and protecting New Jersey’s eagles.

Peregrine Falcons: Flying High in New Jersey – Ben Wurst

Peregrine falcons are well known for their beautiful plumage and swift dives to catch prey. Many are not aware that they were once extirpated from New Jersey and critically endangered throughout the United States. They were one of several top tier predatory birds who were devastated from the effects of DDT. To help them recover, they were federally listed as endangered in 1970 and biologists began an innovative program to bring them back. Thanks to the efforts of these biologists, New Jersey is now home to around 40 nesting pairs of peregrines, who nest on the cliffs of the Palisades, buildings and bridges in cities, and former “hacking” towers. They are a symbol of America’s recovering rare species. Join Ben Wurst, CWF Senior Wildlife Biologist, who has worked in partnership with NJ Fish & Wildlife for the past 15 years to monitor falcons in New Jersey, as he will discuss their life history, recovery and their current management.

New Jersey’s Fish Hawk: The Amazing Osprey – Ben Wurst

Did you know that in 1974 only 50 osprey nests were left in NJ? Today, ospreys are a common sight along the New Jersey shore during the summer. Join us to learn about the amazing life history of ospreys, current monitoring techniques, and their amazing comeback. Ben Wurst, Senior Wildlife Biologist with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ will share his experience from working to manage this amazing species over the past 20 years.

Horseshoe Island – A New Island for Birds Emerges Along the New Jersey Coast – Todd Pover

In a state where undisturbed habitat for our at-risk wildlife is hard to find, a new island that recently formed off New Jersey’s coast provides a haven for nesting and migratory shorebirds. Todd Pover, Senior Wildlife Biologist at the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey will share the story of the formation of the island, how various bird species have used this new site, and what is being done to protect the species when they are there. He will also touch on the status of beach nesting birds in the state and region.

Barnegat Light Habitat Restoration for Beach Nesting Birds – Todd Pover

Join Todd Pover, Senior Wildlife Biologist at Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, to learn about efforts to restore breeding habitat for piping plovers and other endangered shorebirds in the shadow of New Jersey’s iconic Barnegat Light. The project, which has become a model for habitat restoration, was completed in 2020 and continues to reap benefits for beach nesting birds. Todd will also touch on the status of beach nesting birds in the state and region.

Beach Nesting Birds: The Birds of Summer – Todd Pover

Beach nesting birds, including piping plovers, least terns, and black skimmers are some of the most at-risk species in our state. These birds nesting on New Jersey’s busy beaches would likely not survive without intensive monitoring and management. Todd Pover, Senior Wildlife Biologist at Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey will discuss efforts to protect these birds, how they are faring, and what you can do to help.

The Incredible Journey of the Piping Plover – Todd Pover

Join Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey’s Senior Wildlife Biologist Todd Pover to explore the life and behavior of the piping plover, an endangered shorebird. Todd will discuss ongoing protection and breeding trends on the beaches of New Jersey, including new developments. He will also draw on personal experiences and survey efforts in the Bahamas, where the largest concentration of piping plovers overwinters.

Monitoring American Oystercatchers on the Delaware Bay – Emmy Casper

Breeding populations of American oystercatchers have been heavily monitored on New Jersey’s ocean beaches since 2003, but little is known about the oystercatchers nesting along the state’s Delaware Bay beaches…until now. Learn how biologists from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, The Wetlands Institute, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working together on a new project to unravel the mysteries of this previously understudied population. Wildlife Biologist Emmy Casper will share stories from the field and discuss how on-the-ground monitoring, trail cameras, and bird banding are all being used to learn more about the oystercatchers that call the Delaware Bayshore home.

New Jersey’s Rarest Reptiles and Amphibians – Christine Healy

In this talk, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey biologist, Christine Healy, will present some of the rarest reptile and amphibian species in the state. Learn about the at-risk species in your area and why they are vital to maintain a balanced ecosystem. Christine will discuss the threats to these species and how CWF, the state, and other agencies are working to protect these important and often misunderstood creatures.

Terrapins and Tires: Community Based Conservation of Terrapins – Ben Wurst

Northern diamondback terrapins are a unique, coast hugging turtle that lives exclusively in brackish water. Each year, females exit the protection of their aquatic habitat to seek out suitable areas to lay eggs and help ensure their species lives on. Since 2010, CWF has been engaged in the conservation of terrapins within Barnegat and Great Bay watersheds by recruiting volunteers to help conduct surveys and patrols to reduce roadkills of adult females. Join CWF Senior Wildlife Biologist, Ben Wurst as he discusses the amazing life history of terrapins and conservation efforts to help ensure the survival of this species in a changing world.

Small, Secretive and Endangered: Bog Turtles – Christine Healy

Did you know that the New Jersey state reptile is the bog turtle?

Once abundant throughout New Jersey, bog turtles are now primarily found in the remaining rural areas of New Jersey, such as Sussex, Warren, and Salem counties. Intense land uses such as large-scale agriculture, urbanization, wetland alterations and stormwater outputs are incompatible with bog turtles and have depleted bog turtle populations from much of the state.

Since the 1970s biologists have studied the life history, habitats and distribution of the bog turtle in New Jersey. Current conservation efforts are productive and include habitat management, population monitoring, land acquisition and landowner education. The bog turtle was listed as an endangered species in New Jersey in 1974 and as a “threatened” species throughout the United States in 1997. Learn about bog turtles with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

The Story of Salamanders – Christine Healy

Unlike frogs, their boisterous amphibian counterparts, salamanders are generally shy and elusive creatures. In fact, outside of captive specimens held in zoos or aquariums, many people may have never met one face to face. Yet New Jersey is home to 16 species of these amazing animals, all waiting patiently for seasonal rains to announce the onset of the breeding period. During this talk, you’ll learn about the life cycle and adaptations that make salamanders special, and simultaneously weirder and more impressive than the legends that gained them global notoriety promised. Through species profiles, you’ll be introduced to salamander diversity across the Garden State with a special focus on two species that Conserve Wildlife Foundation (CWF) biologists have been working diligently with for over a decade. Finally, we’ll discuss threats that amphibians face and how you can help protect your new favorite neighbors right at home.

Thinking Outside the Box about Your Woods and Bogs: How Private Forestry Practices Can Protect Rare Turtles – Christine Healy

Turtles are well-known for their longevity. The oldest member of this group (a Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan) celebrated his 191st birthday earlier this year. While a long lifespan is certainly a credit, it also lends a false sense of security when it comes to the stability of a species. High density does not equal “healthy” if young individuals are not rejuvenating a population.

New Jersey has been proactive in protecting native turtles through state law, but since much of the remaining habitat available for our rarest species occurs on private property, landowner collaboration is essential for their continued survival. During this talk, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) biologist, Christine Healy, will introduce you to three of our local turtles (box, wood, and bog), discuss management strategies that you can employ in your forests and wetlands to benefit them, and share resources that provide financial and technical support to turtle champions.