Views from theTower
Quarterly Newsletter
AUTUMN 2019 | VOLUME 47 | NO. 3
Celebrating a 50-Year Legacy of Research, Conservation and Education by Dr. Lenore Tedesco On June 22, 2019 more than 300 of our friends and supporters joined us on a glorious day in celebration of a wonderful milestone – the 50th Anniversary of the founding of your Wetlands Institute. For 50 years, this organization has had remarkable, positive impact in this community. In fact, the vision and perseverance of the founding fathers and the World Wildlife Fund forever changed the heritage of the region. The bold actions they took to preserve these marshes and create an ethic of conservation enabled South Jersey to become a rich and vibrant environment, and placed it in a strong position to remain so. When Herbert Mills succeeded in masterminding the purchase and permanent protection of more than 5000 acres of coastal marshes here, he tackled head-on the seminal issue of his time: the widespread loss of coastal wetlands to dredging, filling, and development. He understood the value of these wetlands for fisheries, recreation, aesthetics, and coastal resilience. He was a man talking about coastal resilience 45 years before it was a widely recognized benefit. Mills set this institution on a course of research, conservation, and education – one from which it has not deviated.
Former Executive Director Cindy O’Connor with founding board member Lee Harp and Trustee Mary Millar.
were no doubt underpinned by the value they saw in the marshes themselves.
Executive Director Dr. Lenore Tedesco addresses the crowd.
Mills understood the importance of education and spoke often of the need to connect people with nature so that they would become stewards themselves. He secured these marshes and immediately set upon a course to establish a research and education center here in the marshes, in this community. He intentionally housed research, conservation, and education under one roof – a core competency and distinctive feature of our mission, and an ethic that has served us well. Funds for the land acquisition and construction of our facility came overwhelmingly from private donors – individuals who understood the value of the natural world. Like Mills, they may have been alarmed at the rapid loss of vast tracts of marshes to development. Perhaps they already understood the role that these marshes have for protecting our communities during storm events. Maybe they loved to fish and crab in the back bays and noticed the dramatic changes that were rapidly occurring. Perhaps they achieved a level of calm and peace from looking out over these majestic marshes and took comfort in knowing they could have a role in ensuring they would always be here. Regardless of why so many stepped forward to support the founders of The Wetlands Institute, their actions
We lost Herbert Mills less than five weeks after the dedication of the building – a ceremony presided over by Mills and the Prince of the Netherlands, with more than 500 people in attendance. In the face of that loss, the founding board stepped up and carried on his mission. That founding board was a remarkable collection of great people that included some of the brightest minds in research and conservation nationally. Joe Jacobs was instrumental in documenting the plight and status of Osprey, and was the architect of the nesting platforms that have helped make their recovery one of the great conservation stories of our time. Early work by soon-to-be Institute researchers established the immense biological value of these environments and provided some of the information that was important to the passage of many of the wetlands and tidelands protections that are now in place, forever protecting these critical resources. Work done here helped set the standards for building consensus, developing public–private partnerships, and showcasing the rewards of conservation.
Joan Galli, Honorary Trustee, and Anne Galli, former Wetlands Institute Public Education Coordinator and Honorary Trustee.
The people who stepped up and led brought bold ideas and addressed
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.
Deborah A. Hays, Chair Jane Rakestraw, Vice-Chair Robert Rich, Treasurer John Flynn, Secretary Jeffrey Alderton Raymond Burke, III Michael Craig John Cuthbert Roberta DeVries James Donohue Lois Hamilton
Mary Millar Wayne Renneisen Donna Rothman Hank Schellenger Amy Welsh William Wermuth
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
emerging challenges head-on. All were responsible for staying true to our mission and creating something amazing. Marion Glaspey led quietly, but make no mistake, she was a great and stabilizing force. Lehigh University managed the Institute from its founding until 1986. Their contributions, and the research conducted here since, provide crucial data to help us continue to tackle the seminal issue of our time, namely changes to these environments from rising seas. The many people who led the education program have consistently worked diligently to forge strong and interwoven relationships between research and education. Over the years, so many have stepped up and led through their ideas, their support, and their commitment, and all are part of the fabric that make the Institute the organization that it is today.
Research & Conservation Samantha Collins, Research Scientist Brittany Morey, Research Associate Brian Williamson, Research Scientist
Education
Erin Rawls, Outreach Coordinator Sue Slotterback, Environmental Educator
Administration
Terrie Campbell, Financial Admin. Assistant Kimberly Dmytro, Tidepool Shop Christina Faulk, Administrative Assistant Devin Griffiths, Marketing and Communications Specialist Stephanie Stroble, Front Desk Receptionist/ Admissions Coordinator Glenn Thompson, Maintenance Jamie Warner, Manager of Advancement Dale Watson, Gardener
Lifetime member Nancy Roberts flanked by her son, John Osborne Roberts, and Jennifer Jacobs Zeigler, daughter of pioneering Osprey conservationist Joe Jacobs.
Our celebration on June 22nd was enjoyed by current and former board members, former interns, community
Visit Us Hours: May 20 - September 22, open daily 9:30-4:30. Starting September 23, 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.
wetlandsinstitute.org
Congressman Van Drew addresses the celebration crowd.
partners, scientists and conservation partners, municipal leaders, federal, state and local government representatives, members, and friends. We were excited
Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Dahle addresses the gathering.
to have some long-time supporters and friends in attendance. Sallie Oberg, Herbert Mills’s daughter, celebrated with us and introduced her children and grandchildren to her father’s legacy. Former Institute Executive Director Cindy O’Connor was with us. Jennifer Jacobs Zeigler and Roger Jacobs (Joe Jacobs’s children) came from California and North Carolina to participate in the celebration. We heard praise for our accomplishments and future growth from U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew, U.S. Army Corp Philadelphia District Commander Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Dahle, and NJDEP Assistant Commissioner Dave Rosenblatt. When I arrived at The Wetlands Institute, I was charged with reigniting the spark, with realigning the Institute’s mission of research, conservation and education. Today’s Wetlands Institute is stronger
than ever. The staff here is topnotch, making contributions in the fields of wildlife biology, environmental education, and coastal conservation. Our engagement with our partners is strong. We have dramatically expanded the scale and scope of the research and conservation programs here and are dedicating our resources to addressing the Enjoying the celebration. L to R: Barry Hamilton, Julie Schellenger, Trustee most pressing conservation Michael Craig, Trustee Hank Schellenger, Trustee Lois Hamilton, and Courtney issue of our time – namely the Hamilton. fate of these marshes under the onslaught of rising seas. We are stepping forward – as Herbert Mills did 50 years ago Congressman Van Drew presents Institute Executive Director – to understand, steward, and test ways to preserve these marshes, their inhabitants, Dr. Lenore Tedesco with a proclamation commemorating The and our coastal communities. It’s our turn to lead – and we are again stepping up. Wetlands Institute’s 50 years of environmental leadership.
Marsh Musings by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director
The Wetlands Institute is securing our future through the 50th Anniversary Endowment Campaign. Achieving our $3.5 million goal will allow us to invest in the people and programs that define The Wetlands Institute and our future. We are well on our way to achieving and even surpassing our goal. We are pleased to announce that we have secured $3.26 million in gifts and pledges as of August 1st. Gifts of $1.55 million have been contributed to the unrestricted endowment and $1.71 million has been dedicated to strategic programs including the Luing Family Internship Program, the Barbara and Jim Summers Intern Endowment Fund, the Wermuth Family Aquarium Fund, the Jean Morris Graduate Fellowship Fund, and the Jacobs Coastal Bird Conservation Fund. Endowment gifts are invested and provide a permanent source of income. They are gifts that grow over time. Each year, a portion of earned income is used to support programs. Over time, investment returns increase the value of the endowment, so that the impact of each donor’s gift continues to grow. Through endowment, you can create a personal legacy and permanently support everything you value and appreciate about The Wetlands Institute. Gifts of appreciated stocks and pledges over a 3-5 year period are excellent ways to invest in The Wetlands Institute. We are inviting support to help us get across the finish line. I invite you to be a permanent part of the grand plans we continue to make. Will you make a gift that has impact now and forever? Contact Lenore Tedesco (ltedesco@wetlandsinstitute.org or 609.368.1212) to learn more about how you can be part of The Wetlands Institute legacy.
Our 2019 Institutional Sponsors
THE DILLER FAMILY AND FOUNDATION
Around the Marsh A Haven For Weary Wanderers by Devin Griffiths These days around the marsh, there’s change in the air. As I write this, summer has just started to wane, the edges of the light shifting away from the harsh brightness of mid-year towards the more subtle tones of autumn. The Osprey chicks are just shy of fledging, juvenile Yellowcrowned Night-Herons and Barn Swallows explore the marsh on newminted wings, and a well-timed glance might reveal the inky form of a downy Clapper Rail chick vanishing into the concealing grasses. Throughout the year, life abounds in the saltmarsh. However, the approaching fall presages the arrival of a family of birds particularly dependent on the marsh’s autumnal bounty, a feathered flood from the far north: shorebirds. The biannual migration of birds is perhaps nature’s grandest spectacle – and shorebirds its undisputed long-distance champions. Most of the shorebird species that visit us here on the Atlantic Coast breed in the Arctic tundra and spend their winters in South America, some heading to Tierra del Fuego at the extreme southern edge of the continent – a journey of nearly 10,000 miles. Some, like Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers (the world’s smallest shorebird), make non-stop hops of up to 2,500 miles – a considerable feat for birds that weigh less than an ounce. These are marathon migrators, and paragons of endurance.
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Which is why areas like our coastal saltmarshes are so critical. The abundance of life contained within the sheltering grasses – this incredible biomass of crustaceans, invertebrates, mollusks, and marsh grass seeds – provides the food these birds need to power their remarkable journeys. And within those grasses, too, is safety, and a chance for much-needed rest. I walk the marsh most evenings, pausing between the end of the work day and the drive home to breathe deep of the salt air and commune with the birds. Watching them go about their lives grounds me firmly in the moment, and connects me to nature in a way that nothing else does. And it provides a tangible reminder of why we do what we do: Life for a shorebird is hard; without the marsh, it might be impossible. That is reason enough to protect them.
Welcome to the Team! Meet Erin Rawls My name is Erin Rawls and I am the new Outreach Coordinator at The Wetlands Institute. I was born and raised in sunny Clearwater Florida, and grew up exploring the mangroves and beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Growing up in Florida meant experiencing a lot of unique wildlife, including actually seeing an alligator crawl out of the sewer! I graduated from the University of Florida in 2015 with a B.S. in Zoology and Psychology, and afterwards discovered the field of environmental education. As an environmental educator, I have taught hundreds of children about the unique features of their local ecosystems. I have worked throughout the United States and abroad including jobs in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Costa Rica, and even had a previous stint as an educator in southern New Jersey. Most recently, I lived in California and experienced the awesome Pacific Ocean. I am excited to return to the East Coast and back to southern New Jersey. In my spare time, I like to bird, sleep, and go to the beach where I can do both! Growing up so close to the beach, I have always had a love for the ocean and marine life. I believe that the oceans and marshes are some of the most special ecosystems in the world, and I am excited to share this love with others, especially those who don’t live near the beach. While at The Wetlands Institute, I hope to bring some of the magic of the wetlands to others and hopefully inspire them to protect the world around us.
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Summer Intern Projects Coastal Conservation Research Program We spent a productive and fun summer with the interns in the Coastal Conservation Research Program. The interns spent time on the marshes, beaches, and roads contributing to our ongoing monitoring projects; delved into independent research projects of their own; and gained new experience with data collection techniques, analytical approaches, and science communication to take forward in their careers. Their accomplishments over the course of the 10-week program were impressive, and they push us to learn and improve the work of our department. Jamie Infanti* and Tully Frain*, both 2019 graduates of the University of Connecticut, tracked the success of and risk factors for birds nesting in the local marshes. Jamie, a second-year CCRP intern, continued research on Common Terns, exploring the relationship of vegetation and nest density to nest survival in a year with high predation pressure. Tully conducted surveys to identify territories and nests of secretive marsh-nesting sparrows, and characterized vegetation, elevation, and location of nests to improve future monitoring and conservation efforts. Zachary Hulmes+, a rising senior at the University of Rhode Island, examined spatial and temporal trends in road crossings of Diamondback Terrapins in relation to conservation measures on Stone Harbor Boulevard over a three-year period. Jessica Klein#, a rising senior at Stockton University, monitored
2019 CCRP Interns, L to R: Aileen Lavelle (front), Emilie Karovic, Tully Frain, Jamie Infanti, Amanda Lyons (undergraduate visiting researcher), Jess Klein, Zachary Hulmes.
a newly constructed nest mound for Terrapins to identify benefits and issues, and proposed modifications to enhance effectiveness, including a new barrier fence design she trialed. Emilie Karovic+, a rising junior at the University of Connecticut, explored saltmarsh pannes to learn more about the role they play in Terrapin movements, particularly for gravid adult females during the nesting season. Aileen Lavelle#, a rising junior at the University of California, Berkeley, modeled maximum water depth and temperature in the marsh over two years to examine inter- and intra-annual differences, and potential implications for marsh-dwelling species such as Terrapins.
A Summer of Knowledge The Wetlands Institute’s Environmental Education Interns spent 12 weeks leading public education programs, while immersing themselves in the unique environment of the surrounding saltmarsh 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. Brandon Henry* (Stockton University) enhanced the existing “A Night at the Aquarium” program by adding a short presentation and interactive bingo-style activity on UV induced fluorescence in saltmarsh biota, featuring local animals from behind-the-scenes in the Aquarium. Reilly McFoy* (Lebanon Valley College) redesigned six “Creature Feature” presentations in Nearpod, a web-based presentation software that allows the creator to add in real-time activities such as games, polls, drawings, multiple choice questions, and more. Sarah O’Sullivan+ (University of Rhode Island) designed a way to keep children and visitors occupied and engaged during program breaks through the creation of outdoor, portable activity boards centered around educational themes such as Osprey Hunting, I-Spy, Word Search, Marsh Filtration Cartoon, and a collaborative piece with Madison Sandquist to bring
2019 EE Interns, L to R: Sarah O’Sullivan, Brooke Knapick (Director of Education), Madison Sandquist, Reilly McFoy, Brandon Henry.
awareness to climate change. Madison Sandquist+ (University of Miami) focused on the emergent issue of climate change by creating a climate change “Science Feature” showcasing direct effects on local saltmarsh species, an interactive board game for children highlighting environmentally friendly choices that impact climate change, and, finally, a 3-panel informative poster display and live coral exhibit for the Aquarium. *Position supported through The Larry L. Luing Family Foundation + Position supported through The Barbara and Jim Summers Intern Endowment Fund # Position supported through The Leff Family Foundation
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Thank you to our sponsors and donors who helped make this event a success!
THE
5 TH
ANNUAL
SUMMER CELEBRATION
CELEBRATION
Our 5th annual Summer Celebration held at ICONA Avalon on the evening of July 27 was a huge success! We want to thank all who came out to celebrate summer and support our programs. Special thanks to our Premier Event Sponsors!
- Title Sponsors -
THE DILLER FAMILY AND FOUNDATION - Platinum & Gold Level -
- Silver Level Archer Law Marsh & McLennan Agency Terry & Betty McCabe PSEG Nuclear, LLC Wayne & Kay Renneisen Seven Mile Times Stag&Hare John & Amy Swanson Washington Inn
- Bronze Level Jeffrey H. & Lee Alderton Anonymous Avalon Honda The Boland Investment Group Brown & Brown Insurance Bryn Mawr Trust Burke Motor Group Cape Regional Health System Concentus Wealth Advisors The Dehney Family Garden State Seafood Association Green Construction Company, LLC Hafetz & Associates Halliday Financial
Lois & Barry Hamilton Michael & Deborah Hays Hays Sheet Metal, Inc. OceanFirst Foundation Pennsylvania Trust Jane Rakestraw Bob & Josee Rich Scarborough Marine Group Hank & Julie Schellenger Sysco Philip & Amy Welsh Westside Meats Wills Insurance Management, Inc. Wilmington Trust
For a complete list of sponsors visit https://wetlandsinstitute.org/events/summer-celebration/
Autumn Happenings As the summer season draws to a close and we transition into autumn, The Wetlands Institute is open daily from September 3-22, 2019. 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 11AM & 2PM
Catch o’ the Day
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 seine or dip nets 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 burrfish 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 23, 2019. Starting then, The Wetlands Institute will 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 22, 2019. Starting September 23, we will 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.
Bird & Bug Bingo They might be games of chance but the facts and lovely illustrations make them enjoyable learning experiences for adults and children. For the bird or bug lover who has everything!
Gulls Simplified
Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings
As if gulls could ever be simple. This beautiful book raises gull ID to an art.
Identify nests, eggs, and all the stages of a bird’s development with this complete guide.
Boxed Notecards Earth Sky + Water boxed notecard sets feature horseshoe crabs, shorebirds, or dragonflies. Each set of ten cards comes with matching envelopes. Manufactured and assembled in New England!
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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 September 21, 2019 9:30am - 4:30pm • • • • • • • •
LIVE BUTTERFLY PRESENTATIONS AND TAGGING GUIDED BACK-BAY BOAT AND KAYAK TOURS ASSORTED ANIMAL CRAFTS MIGRATION-THEMED GAMES AND ACTIVITIES SPECIAL FALL TERRAPIN RELEASE GUIDED BEACH AND NATURE WALKS NATIVE PLANT GARDEN TOURS LIVE ANIMAL PRESENTATIONS
The Wetlands Institute’s Annual
Call 609.368.1211 or stop in to buy tickets. Drawing: December 19, 2019, 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 further environmental education and conservation programs at The Wetlands Institute. RA# 08-19 481-5-25895 Middle Township.