Views from theTower NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN 2017 | VOLUME 45 | NO. 3
The Incredible Journeys of Monarchs
Its fall in Cape May and that means one thing – it’s time for the great migrations of wildlife headed south. Cape May sits in one of the world’s great migration corridors and in addition to being on one of these great highways, our area is also a stopover point. Think of it as a great truck stop on an interstate system. Cape May is also an important breeding area for Monarchs as well as a stopover for migratory Monarchs as they make their way south to the mountains of Mexico to spend the winter. Monarch butterflies are remarkable and tough. Every time I think of their life history and journey, I marvel at all the things about nature that we just don’t understand. It takes four generations of Monarchs to complete a full migration cycle! Monarchs arrive in central Mexico in October and overwinter in the mountains where they huddle in great masses and rely on mild weather and shared body heat to stay warm. In February, hibernating monarchs reawaken, find a mate, and begin the flight northward. They will make it into south Texas to lay their eggs before they die. These special monarchs have lived about 6 months through the long winter and are different from the other generations that make the Monarch migration
work. In March, this first generation is born and goes through the various life cycle stages – egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult butterfly. These adults fly further north moving into the mid-Atlantic where they lay eggs and die. This 2nd generation is born in May and goes through the various life stages. They have moved further north where they lay eggs and die. The 3rd generation moves into our area, and further north arriving in July. Perhaps you have noticed that we don’t see Monarch butterflies until later in the summer. This is why – it’s taken them 3 generations and flying from Mexico to get here! These butterflies lay eggs and it is their offspring – the 4th generation – born in September that are the ones that will migrate to Mexico and overwinter there to start the journey back north again next spring. I often ponder this. How is it that a creature as seemingly delicate and fragile can fly that far? How do they transmit the information from generation to generation about their role? None of them have made the
by Dr. Lenore Tedesco
flight – or completed the segment. And they pass the information through four generations to make one complete migration. Monarchs are in trouble though and need our help. Thankfully, there’s a lot we can do to help. Two things are critical – the availability of milkweed for caterpillars, and the availability of flowers in September and October for fuel for the migrants. Maintaining native plants and adding milkweed to your garden is a great way to help. Avoiding herbicides and pesticides is important too. Stop by the gardens at the Institute, the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary or come to our annual plant sale each May where we offer native plants and an assortment of milkweed plants to add to your garden. Making your patch of land welcoming and suitable for these travelers will not only put out the welcome mat so you can enjoy their visits, but also helps give them a helping hand along the way. I hope the next time you see a Monarch, you will be as amazed as I am.
wetlandsinstitute.org | 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 | 609.368.1211
A non-profit organization studying, preserving and protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems. Founded in 1969 by Herbert Mills, Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund.
Marsh Musings by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director
Raymond Burke III, Chair Deborah A. Hays, Vice-Chair Jane Rakestraw, Treasurer Dr. Dorothy Ives-Dewey, Secretary Jeffrey Alderton Michael Craig John Cuthbert Roberta DeVries James Donohue John Flynn
Lois Hamilton Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr. Mary Millar Wayne Renneisen Robert Rich Hank Schellenger
Staff Leadership
Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research and Conservation Bonnie Girard, Director of Finance and Administration Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development Christine Mattera, Director of Marketing and Communications
Research & Conservation Allison Anholt, Research Scientist Brian Williamson, Research Scientist
Education
Haley Faith, Outreach Coordinator Shelby Schmeltzle, Aquarist/ Environmental Educator Sue Slotterback, Environmental Educator
Administration
It’s hard to believe that autumn is here already. We spend so much time getting ready for summer and all we hope to accomplish in our research, conservation and education programs, and in seeing all of you. Before you know it, the season has already flown by. As always, the first indicators are out in the marsh. My natural rhythms calendar always lets me know the seasons are changing even though it’s still sunny and in the mid-80’s. The first clue is the arrival of the shorebirds in the pannes. Many start their southbound migrations by midJuly and are again frantically feeding as they were last time we saw them in mid-May when they were headed north. The osprey chicks have fledged and many are on their own now that their parents have already headed back to South America and the Caribbean. The marsh itself has also begun to change. The vibrant greens are spectacular and now have the added purples and reds of sea lavender and pickle weed. It seems too soon to me – kind of like the way I hate to see the stores flipping over their inventory to sweaters when it’s still summer.
Terrie Campbell, Financial Admin. Assistant Kimberly Dmytro, Tidepool Shop Christina Faulk, Administrative Assistant Charlene Smith, Gardener Stephanie Stroble, Front Desk Receptionist/ Admissions Coordinator Glenn Thompson, Maintenance
Visit Us Hours: September 5 - 24, open Daily 9:30 to 4:30. September 25 - May 20, open Saturday and Sunday 9:30 to 4:30. Check our website for Holiday Hours. General Admission: Members: Free. Non-members: $8 Adults, $6 Children 3-12. Views From the Tower is the quarterly newsletter of The Wetlands Institute and can also be found on our website.
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We had a great summer. The Summer Celebration moved to the Icona and the new venue and auctioneer were great and the community support was amazing. The undergraduate interns did a wonderful job and presented their work at our annual intern symposium. Each year, I am
so proud of their accomplishments. Their work continues to build our great tradition of student mentoring while also contributing to our research and education programs. This summer, our volunteers were truly remarkable and helped make sure we could continue to deliver high quality programs, manage visitor questions, provide extra support to staff in Summer Nature Programs, and help with our conservation programs. We couldn’t do it all without all of our volunteers.
Finally, I am so pleased to have been able to speak with so many of you this season. Whether you stopped in and asked to see me, sent me a note or email, saw me out on the trail and shared a story or asked a question, it’s wonderful to have time to get to know you. It’s always my pleasure to meet you, speak with you, and hear your ideas and questions. I especially enjoy getting an opportunity to personally thank you all for your support. We have made no small plans – and your support has enabled us to implement them. It makes all the difference. This is your Wetlands Institute. Thank you for making it all possible.
Gift Planning that Creates your Legacy and Fortifies The Wetlands Institute by Carole Forte In 1969, Herbert Mills, then Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund, founded The Wetlands Institute to draw attention to the dramatic losses of wetlands and the threats that their loss posed to society. The Wetlands Institute has for nearly the past 50 years taken a leadership role in addressing critical wetland conservation issues. Today, the threats to our marshes and coastal ecosystems have never been greater. Friends and supporters of The Wetlands Institute can sustain the Institute through their matured bequest gifts that benefit the Institute at a future date. Providing for The Wetlands Institute through a bequest or planned gift entitles you to lifetime membership in The Herbert Mills Legacy Society. These generous donations will help to enhance our research, conservation and education programs and bolster our endowment to brace against challenging economic times. Over the past year, bequests from several good friends of the Institute were realized. We are tremendously grateful for their commitment to the future of The Wetlands Institute that will have a powerful impact for generations to come. Please consider “leaving your legacy” by naming the Institute as a beneficiary of your will. Making a significant and enduring gift to The Wetlands Institute is easier than you might think. For more information, visit our website at wetlandsinstitute.org/ leave-a-legacy, or contact Lenore Tedesco, Ph.D., Executive Director, at ltedesco@wetlandsinstitue.org, or 609-368-1211.
Citizen Conservationist Award - by Dr. Lisa Ferguson This year, we were grateful to recognize all the contributions Homer Wesolowski has made to The Wetlands Institute – and our conservation and research projects - with the 2017 Citizen Conservationist Award. In 2011, Homer Wesolowski came to The Wetlands Institute offering his time and talents as a volunteer. Little did we know how impactful his contributions would be and how much we would enjoy working with him. Homer found the best match for his skills in the massive amounts of data that are collected each year in our long-running diamondback terrapin program. As someone who distills disorder into the discrete, and does so with unreasonable patience, foresight, and thoughtfulness, the databases and programs he developed have been a game changer for us. His contributions have undoubtedly advanced the capacities of our programs and the impacts of the work.
Five Years of reTURN the Favor! - by Dr. Lisa Ferguson There is a lot of love for horseshoe crabs in New Jersey. 2017 was the fifth year of New Jersey’s horseshoe crab rescue program and it was a year that surpassed all others. The program’s extraordinary partners and volunteers conducted over 800 walks to collectively rescue over 130,000 stranded crabs from NJ’s bayshore beaches this season alone, bringing the five year total to 275,000 rescued crabs. The number of people who learn about the conservation of Delaware Bay resources and become involved through this program is inspiring! Join us next spring for trainings and walks, and follow the program for reports and updates – returnthefavorNJ.org.
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Around the Marsh Welcome Shelby Schmeltzle! Shelby Schmeltzle is our new Aquarist and Environmental Educator. She graduated in 2016 from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology. Since graduating she has been worked up and down the east coast from Mystic, CT to the Florida Keys. Shelby is responsible for taking care of the aquarium exhibits and marine animals. She also assists with educational programs both at the Institute and on Traveling Environmental Education and Group Outreach Programs. Be sure to say hello the next time you visit!
TWI Staff watching the solar eclipse on August 21
Growing Young Minds by Planting Seeds of Experience in the Summer Nature Program by Sue Slotterback For the past seven weeks children ages 4 through 13 have been having fun getting wet and muddy. They’ve made animal costumes and had a parade, created a project for the Cape May County 4H Fair, presented a whale puppet show, caught fiddler crabs, fed turtles, had a sponge cloud relay, painted shells and rocks, created concoctions in the Mud Kitchen, put on their very own weather forecast, and even kissed a horseshoe crab! To adults, all this pretending, painting, and just plain playing may seem frivolous, but in reality these are only a few of the ways children learn best, fully engaged and giggling, gaining stepping stones through the garden of understanding the natural world around them.
Go Paperless Paperless newsletters are more sustainable and they help reduce our cost so a larger portion of your gifts directly support our research, conservation and education programs. Sign up for our e-newsletter at wetlandsinstitute.org/about-us/newsletter.
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Summer Intern Projects Coastal Conservation Research Program The summer flies by fast when you are immersed in research and conservation projects (and mud and sand…) at The Wetlands Institute. From late May through early August, CCRP interns design and conduct independent research projects, contribute to annual data collection for ongoing research projects, and help with conservation efforts. They also do the important work of spreading the information they learn to people of all ages through conservation and outreach programs, and work with volunteers.
from left: Elliott Fackler, Sydney Godbey, Addie Schlussel, Michael Stankov, Patrick Williams, and Matthew Shippee
The program is aimed at providing undergraduate students a comprehensive experience working in coastal systems, new field and analytical skills, and professional development – but in the end those of us who work with the students learn so much too! This summer CCRP interns made great achievements in their projects, all presented August 7 at the Annual Intern Symposium.
Addie Schlussel (St. Mary’s College of Maryland) added new depth to our understanding of patterns of movements of terrapins on local roadways to aid conservation measures.
Elliott Fackler (Bloomsburg University) crafted an Esri StoryMap from field surveys and several years of data collected on stranded horseshoe crabs along the Delaware Bay through the reTURN the Favor program.
Michael Stankov (University of Connecticut) mapped territories and disputes of American Oystercatchers at an important nesting site.
Sydney Godbey (Ursinus College) explored new methods for locating and tracking behavior of juvenile diamondback terrapins.
Matthew Shippee (University of Virginia) compared disturbances and reaction indices of colonial nesting birds at two sites in southern New Jersey.
Patrick Williams (Stockton University) finalized his two year project examining structure and change in the terrapin population in two local creeks.
Educators Leading the Way The Wetlands Institute’s Environmental Education Interns spent 12 weeks leading public education programs, while immersing themselves in the unique environment of the surrounding salt marsh and barrier islands. They worked hard and through it all developed the skills they need to continue their careers in environmental education. Each year, interns are asked to develop and implement an education project of their choosing that is personally and/or institutionally beneficial. The deliverables from their projects leave a lasting impact on The Wetlands Institute and we hope you’ll stop by to see their education initiatives in action. Amanda Devers (West Chester University) created 8 unique, seasonally focused seek and find cards that allow visitors to learn about the seasonal array of wildlife, plants, and birds that live and thrive in both the salt marsh and the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary.
from left: Hannah Locke, Danielle Meeker, Phoebe Shoap, and Amanda Devers
initiative by properly labeling indoor trash and recycling receptacles; constructing a new compost bin made from recycled pallets; and developing a Science Feature dedicated to home sustainability.
Hannah Locke (Eckerd College) proposed ideas to revitalize signage along The Wetland Institute’s salt marsh trail creating new opportunities for visitors to learn about the plants and wildlife living within the salt marsh.
Phoebe Shoap (Ursinus College) focused on breaking down barriers between youth and scientific research by creating a fun and informational PowerPoint Presentation and a Magnetic Sea Turtle Matching Game that translates a complex climate change research into a tangible message that is easily understood and retained by children.
Danielle Meeker (Christopher Newport University) improved aspects of The Wetlands Institute’s Responsible Disposal
These ladies proudly presented their finished projects at the Annual Intern Symposium on August 7.
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Our 3rd annual Summer Celebration held at the Icona Golden Inn on the evening of July 29 was a huge success! We want to thank all who came out to celebrate summer overlooking the marsh and to support our programs. Special thanks to our Premier Event Sponsors! Mark your calendars now for the 4th Annual Summer Celebration July 28, 2018.
• • • Title Sponsor • • •
The Diller Family
& Foundation
• • • Platinum Level • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • Gold Level • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • Silver Level • • • • • • • • • • • • Archer & Greiner PC Burke Motor Group Ray and Ellen Burke Cape May Seafood Association Marsh & McLennan Agency PSEG Nuclear
Wayne and Kay Renneisen RJ Soens Group Seven Mile Times Stag&Hare Will and Jennifer Wermuth
• • • • • • • • • • • • Bronze Level • • • • • • • • • • • • 7 Mile Brewery Jeff and Lee Alderton Brown & Brown Insurance Charlie and Noreen Cheleden Concentus Wealth Advisors The Dehney Family Exceptional Foods, Inc Hafetz & Associates Halliday Financial Barry and Lois Hamilton The Hays Family Hays Sheet Metal
Holman Automotive HUB International Joe Watson at Janney Montgomery Scott The Lim Family Terry and Betty McCabe OceanFirst Foundation Painting by Pearce, Inc. Pennsylvania Trust Jim and Diana Perella Jane Rakestraw Bob and Josee Rich
Chip and Nancy Roach Cindy and Tim Roach Hank and Julie Schellenger Tom and Judi Sprague Sysco TD Bank Wawa Westside Meats Wills Insurance Management, Inc. W.J. Hand Builders
For a complete list of sponsors, visit wetlandsinstitute.org/summer-celebration
Autumn Happenings To round out the summer season and transition into autumn, The Wetlands Institute is open daily from September 5-24, 2017! Unless otherwise stated, all activities are free with admission and occur onsite at The Wetlands Institute. For more information, visit wetlandsinstitute.org/events.
Salt Marsh Safari
Catch ‘o the Day
11am & 2pm Daily Watch our award-winning film, Secrets of the Salt Marsh, then join us for an interpretive marsh walk along our elevated walkway and onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek!
Creature Feature 12:30PM
Seashell Sunday
Monday & Friday
12:30PM
During this live animal presentation, get up close and personal with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs, or the popular animals of Finding Nemo.
Aquarium Feeding 12:30PM
12:30PM Wednesday Get your feet wet (or wear waders!) as you discover what swims in the back bays. Help us drag a seine net through the water to find crabs, shrimp, fish and more.
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
Help us feed the local marine life! We will open up feeding three times each week so you can see the octopus eating crabs and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp.
Sunday
Seashells at the seashore! Join us to learn all about seashells, how to collect them without harming the environment and touch an assortment of live mollusks and cool artifacts.
Winter hours and activities start September 25, 2017! Starting then, The Wetlands Institute will only be open on Saturday and Sunday. Please check our website calendar for programming updates as we transition from autumn to winter hours!
Tidepool Shop Our book and gift shop is open every day from 9:30am to 4:30pm until September 24, 2017. Starting September 25, we will only be open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Can’t visit us? Call and purchase by phone. We will ship your purchase anywhere in the United States.
Sunset Hill Stoneware American made stone drinkware perfect for hot and cold beverages. Every piece is hand made on a pottery wheel and hand dipped into custom glazes by Wisconsin artisans. Handmade to last a lifetime.
Organic Cotton Sweatshirts
Nature Journal
Wear our logo with pride in these soft Alternative Apparel sweatshirts. Crafted responsibly using 100% organic cotton and sustanainable processes. Adult sizes Small to Extra-Large.
Young explorers will enjoy recording their observations in this nature discovery journal by Toysmith. A convenient bag is included for leaves and flower collection.
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Presort Non-Profit US Postage PAID Permit 1940 Bellmawr, NJ
1075 Stone Harbor Blvd. Stone Harbor, NJ 08247-1424 A non-profit organization studying, preserving and protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems
As a conservation organization, we have a special responsibility to address the global challenges of climate change and sustainability. We are committed to minimizing environmental impacts in all aspects of our operations. Visit our website at wetlandsinstitute.org/about-us/ sustainability/ for more on our sustainability initiatives.
Views from theTower The Wetlands Institute’s Annual
Call 609.368.1211 or stop in to buy tickets. Drawing: December 19, 2017, 1:00pm at The Wetlands Institute
Only 240 tickets being sold... Get yours today! *$12,000 if all 240 tickets are sold. No substitution of the offered prize may be made. Winner does not need to be present to win. Must be 18 years of age or older to participate. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call toll-free 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Net proceeds will be used to To further environmental education and conservation programs at The Wetlands Institute. RA# 14-17 481-5-25895 Middle Township.
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