The Beach is for the Birds

Originally published in Seven Mile Times' July issue, 7/1/2015

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I hope you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes. ~ U nknown

This Beach Is For The Birds Stone Harbor Point a critical habitat to protect & conserve

By Dr. Lenore Tedesco

Black Skimmer he Seven Mile beaches are a true treasure. Whether your appreciation for the beaches comes from the long hours spent relaxing in your beach chair, the long walks on the hard-packed sand, landing that fish that didn’t get away, or the time spent frolicking in the surf with family and friends – our island beaches are remarkable. They are remarkable for humans – and also for our feathered friends.

Stone Harbor Point is a gem of Seven Mile Island. Extending from the jetty south of 123rd Street to the southernmost tip of Stone Harbor, the Point is a wildly dynamic and untamed beach and dune complex that delights the senses.

Hereford Inlet defines the southern end of the Point and is one of only a few inlets along the New Jersey and mid-Atlantic coastline that is not hardened and fixed in place. The constantly shifting sands that make it a difficult place for boats

Piping Plover with her chicks make it an amazing place for wildlife.

The ever-changing dunes, beaches and offshore bars create critical habitat that is favored by numerous species of birds for nesting, roosting, fishing and feeding. These same shifting sands are also a delight for anglers, photographers and shell collectors. The wide-open expanses, low dunes and extensive sand flats and lagoons make it an amazing place to relax, breathe deep, reconnect to the rhythm of the tides, and soak up the salty air. Stone Harbor Point is a place to find the perfect shell, photo or tranquil moment.

The Point is also a haven for several species of beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds. Piping plovers, American Oystercatchers, least terns and black skimmers nest and raise their young on Stone Harbor Point each summer.

Several species of migratory shorebirds travel thousands of miles to feed and rest on their long journeys between

Red Knot their winter areas in South America and their nesting areas in the Arctic. They arrive hungry and tired, and their time here is critical to their survival.

Stone Harbor Point is a protected conservation area and an important place for birds year-round. Beach uses are restricted to protect sensitive species, but ample space is available for recreation. Depending on your perspective, this is a truly wonderful thing or an inconvenience. Many people fall squarely in the camp of wonderful.

Sharing the beach with the birds is an enriching experience, and knowing that Stone Harbor Point is such critical habitat makes it an even more special place.

Suitable habitat is declining for shorebirds and beach-nesting birds. The incredible amount of coastal development, habitat loss and sea-level rise are all negatively impacting these birds.

Many species are in serious decline or are listed as state or federally threatened

or endangered. Stone Harbor Point is one of only a few places with large areas of available habitat for beach-nesting birds. However, in the past few years, these birds have struggled to successfully nest at Stone Harbor Point. The lower elevations at Stone Harbor Point following Superstorm Sandy are a challenge for beach-nesting birds that place their nests on the upper beach in shelled areas and among the sparsely vegetated dunes. Very high spring tides and storm surges can bring water into these areas and flood nests. Predation and human disturbance is also taking a toll on the birds at Stone Harbor Point.

A project to improve habitat for coastal birds is underway at Stone Harbor Point. This winter, elevated sandy habitat areas were created to protect nests from storm flooding and provide safe resting areas for migratory birds.

Protection from predators and disturcontinued on page 106

Roosting Shorebirds July 2015

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Real generosity is doing something nice for someone ...

At the Wetlands Institute

Red Knot and Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling continued from page 104

bance are critical aspects of the project as well. The project, funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, is led by the New Jersey Audubon Society and includes The Wetlands Institute, Niles and Associates, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Borough of Stone Harbor.

Every year since 1999, beginning in mid-March, a portion of Stone Harbor Point is closed to people. The areas are closed to allow space for federally protected beach-nesting birds to nest and raise their young. The feathers of these birds are the color of sand, seaweed, shells and wood bits, so they are hard for predators to see. However, their camouflaged coloration makes it difficult for people to see them, too, putting them at risk of being crushed. Disturbance of the birds remains a significant problem and threatens the survival of eggs and chicks on the beach by exposing them to the sun and predators like crows, gulls, skunks, foxes and raccoons. If adult birds are disturbed repeatedly, they may even abandon their nests. Posts and signs delineate the closed portions of beaches and are designed to give the birds some peace and quiet to nest and raise their young. They are placed to help beachgoers be aware that they are sharing the beach with nesting birds. The area of fencing is determined by the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife working cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The elevated habitat areas were constructed to be inside the protective fencing so that the closed portions of the beach were not changed by the project.

Balancing protections for birds with recreational access to beaches for people July 2015

CRABULOUS CRAB DAY

Friday, July 17 | 9:30am-3pm has been difficult for federal, state and Non-Member: $10 Adult, $8 child, $30 family pack of 4 local governments. Large portions of the Member: $8 Adult, $6 child, $25 family pack of 4 beaches, even where birds are nesting nearby, remain open to the public and ample space is available to enjoy beachcombing, shell collecting, walking, jogging, observing nature and fishing.

When you visit the Point, please do your part. By sharing the beach with these birds, you are helping them survive so that future generations of beachgoers have the pleasure of observing our local birds. Sharing the beach with the birds is easy to do. Following a few simple rules is critical for the birds’ survival.

To protect rare and sensitive birds at Stone Harbor Point: • Stay out of protective fencing.

• Never bring dogs or pets to the beach.

• Do not disturb feeding or resting flocks of birds.

• Don’t land boats or watercraft – it’s prohibited at all times.

• Observe and obey all posted signs.

Enjoy the beauty and wonders of the special place that is Stone Harbor Point, and remember: to the species that spend time there, it’s a critical place. With habitat loss and coastal development, the Point provides some of the last great wild places for their survival. You never know what you’ll see during a visit to the Point. It’s a great place to catch a glimpse of some amazing wildlife in action and also a great place to help them. It’s also a great place to recharge your batteries and reconnect to the wonders of our island.

Information about Stone Harbor Point and rules specific to it can be found at stoneharbornj.org/ community-interest/stone -harborpoint. Information about the habitat restoration project can be found at TinyURL.com/http-NJA-StoneHarbor-org.

Join the gang at The Wetlands Institute for a day filled with Crabulous fun and see just how much you can learn about crabs!

• Crab Races and Games • Crabbing Tips and Tricks • Crab Cake Cook-off and Cooking Lessons • Crab Teaching Tank • Crabbing Tournament • Crab Photo and Video Scavenger Hunt

SUMMER HAPPENINGS

The Wetlands Institute is open daily from 9:30am-4:30pm, with extended evening hours and activities until 8pm Tuesday-Thursday from June 16 to Sept. 6.

Summer at the Institute is packed with fun for the whole family: • Totally Turtle Tuesday and Horseshoe Crabmania Thursday • Crabbing at the Dock • Catch ‘o the Day • Summer Nature Programs • Aquarium Teaching and Touch Tank • Salt Marsh Safari • Beach and Dune Walks • Hooked on Fishing • Back Bay Birding and Wildlife Tours • Back-Bay Kayaking and Paddleboarding • and much more!

Dr. Lenore P. Tedesco is the Executive Director of The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. Tedesco has a Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics from the University of Miami, and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Boston University. She joined The Wetlands Institute in October 2011. Prior to then, she had been a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Indiana-Purdue University for 21 years. She has focused her research activities on coastal and wetland ecosystem dynamics and restoration.

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