Views from theTower
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AUTUMN 2021 | VOLUME 49 | NO. 3
Hope and Feathers - Celebrating the Osprey's Return
by Devin Griffiths, Marketing & Communications Specialist
500 pairs, exceeding pre-DDT levels for the first time – a remarkable milestone for a bird once on the brink. They continue to flourish today.
There is perhaps no more iconic salt marsh creature than the Osprey. At two feet long and boasting a wingspan greater than five feet, it is a large, majestic bird. From spring through summer, Ospreys are a constant presence in the marsh, a powerful manifestation of Nature at her most wild. This wasn’t always the case. Before the 1950s, coastal New Jersey played host to between 450 and 500 Osprey pairs each year, but decades of habitat loss through coastal development and reproductive failures due to rampant use of the pesticide DDT took a heavy toll. By 1974, this onetwo punch had eliminated 90 percent of New Jersey’s Osprey population, leaving only 50 nesting pairs and landing the bird on the state Endangered Species List. Throughout North America, the situation was similarly dire: Osprey numbers had plummeted. The species sat on the knifeedge of extinction; one more push could send it into the abyss. Thankfully, that was not the Osprey’s fate. The dedicated work of conservationists, scientists, attorneys, and a public armed with knowledge of DDT’s perils (largely through Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking Silent Spring), led to the pesticide being banned in 1972. Four years later, Osprey numbers were rising – their recovery fostered by both the removal of DDT from the ecosystem and the construction of artificial nest platforms to replace now scarce natural nest sites. By 1986, there were more than 100 pairs in the state; by 2013, the Osprey population surpassed
This spring, we once again welcomed Ospreys back to the marsh, and witnessed the unfolding lives of these incredible birds. Our camera-equipped platform again hosted a breeding pair, and we watched spellbound as they reunited after six months apart, nested, and raised three young birds – two females, who hatched within a day of each other, and a male who hatched several days later. The Osprey cam was a constant source of wonder, particularly as the season progressed and the young birds developed and began to experience their world. We watched dynamics emerge. Most often - sibling squabbles aside – there was relative peace on the platform. When it came to food, there was a clear hierarchy: the older chicks were fed first, and they weren’t shy about reminding their younger nest-mate, usually through a few well-placed pecks. However, as long as food was plentiful – and here in the marsh, it often is – everyone ate. Sometimes there was even enough for one more. For a few days this summer, a recent male fledgling from a nearby platform flew in for a meal – much like your neighborhood friend who always managed to show up right when dinner was ready. This new arrival never fazed the mother, who fed it alongside her own young – of course ensuring that hers ate first. Occasionally, though, drama disrupted the carefully orchestrated harmony. Late this season, after the three resident chicks had fledged but were still returning to the nest to eat, another newly fledged bird showed up – this one a large female. She generally kept her distance from the two resident females, setting her sights instead on the
younger, smaller male – stealing fish from him and chasing him off the platform, sometimes holding him down and pecking at his head in an attempt to assert dominance over the platform and the supply of food it represented. This went on for about a week, until the mother bird had enough and put the interloper in her place. Apparently emboldened by this, the young male turned the tables, defending his food and protecting his place on the platform. From that point on, the birds formed an uneasy truce, co-existing under a new dynamic. When the parents head south to spend the winter apart – the mother first, followed in mid-September by the dad – we'll watch this new dynamic evolve as the young Osprey navigate their marshy world on their own. And we'll keep an eye on the ongoing antics in their tricky game of survival until they, too, head south on the winds of autumn. The return of the Osprey is one of conservation’s greatest triumphs, and it’s a story to which The Wetlands Institute is intimately connected. Joe Jacobs – a founding member of our Board of Trustees – spent two decades banding Ospreys and pioneered the use of nesting platforms, putting up many throughout the marshes in Stone Harbor and Avalon. And Herbert Mills, who founded the Institute itself, conducted extensive research on Ospreys, contributing significantly to their recovery. It’s thanks to these visionaries – and many others like them – that we can thrill to the sight of these magnificent birds soaring on outstretched wings above the marsh, or settling in for another season on the platform to raise a new generation. With so much dire environmental news these days, the Osprey represents a ray of hope, and a welcome reminder of the positive change we can create and what we, together – with foresight, courage, and will – can accomplish.
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
Deborah A. Hays, Chair Jane Rakestraw, Vice-Chair Robert Rich, Treasurer John Flynn, Secretary Jeffrey Alderton Raymond Burke, III Timothy Jon Clay, D.M.D John Cuthbert Roberta DeVries James Donohue Trish Luing Margaret McAllister John Millar
Jeannie Morris Wayne Renneisen Donna Rothman Hank Schellenger Jon Tullis Amy Welsh William Wermuth Francis J. White III
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
Research & Conservation Samantha Collins, Research Scientist Brittany Morey, Research Associate Brian Williamson, Research Scientist
Education
Danielle Meeker, Aquarist/ Environmental Educator Erin Rawls, Outreach Coordinator Michelle Rebilas, Environmental Educator
Development & Communications Kristen Egan, Development Manager Devin Griffiths, Marketing and Communications Specialist Rae Griffiths, Office Assistant
Administration
Terrie Campbell, Financial Admin. Assistant Jeff Dix, Maintenance Technician Kimberly Dmytro, Tidepool Shop Barbara Parks, Administrative Assistant Stephanie Stroble, Front Desk Receptionist/ Admissions Coordinator
Visit Us Hours: Starting September 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.
I write to you today on the 10th Anniversary of my tenure as the Executive Director of The Wetlands Institute (TWI). It’s true that the past decade has seen unprecedented growth, and my mantra of making no small plans has been a guiding principal of the strategy that I have employed. The Institute has undergone a remarkable transformation, and research and conservation have been restored to the foundational status that this Institute deserves. Through it all, education programs and visitor services have blossomed, matured, and expanded. We’ve seen a lot of rocky roads including Sandy, an economic downturn, and now COVID, and I am proud to say we are financially strong and as the urgency of our work becomes more apparent every day, we are poised to truly make a difference as we serve our mission. I am proud of The Wetlands Institute, our history, and our accomplishments. I also understand that perhaps my greatest achievement lies not in what I have done, but in bringing together a remarkable team to lead the way in developing excellence in each area of our work. My first move was to strengthen the financial side of the equation by completely revising Bonnie Girard’s role. Bonnie keeps the financial and administrative wheels turning. Her role has evolved constantly as grant accounting, human resources, and legal compliance efforts grow ever more complex. Bonnie has been the rock that helped build the foundation crucial to all else. The second key decision was bringing Brooke Knapick to New Jersey. I recruited Brooke to work with me in Indiana, and as soon as I got to TWI, I knew that our education programs
needed her. Brooke has an incredible ability to bring science and education together in dynamic and inspirational ways. She is driven every day to provide outstanding, impactful, and meaningful educational programming to TWI. She has transformed our programs across the board, embracing and enhancing a competitive advantage of TWI that is born from housing research, conservation, and education under one roof. Under her leadership, education and visitor programs are flourishing. By the middle of my second year at TWI, I was able to put the last piece of the leadership puzzle in place. Dr. Lisa Ferguson joined the leadership team and undertook the daunting task of building a culture of research and conservation excellence that had faded in the intervening years following the separation from Lehigh University. Lisa possesses a rare gift. She is a talented scientist that believes in the importance of community, relishes mentoring young scientists, and values the role of applied research. She forged a path that honored the history of terrapin conservation championed by Dr. Roger Wood, added innovative new ways to understand terrapin populations, and has embedded emerging research into conservation best practices. She has done this while building a remarkable horseshoe crab conservation program, and created a coastal bird research and conservation program. So upon reflection, my greatest accomplishments lie less in what I may have been able to achieve, but in the strength of the leadership team that has been so amazing in their excellence, vision, and commitment to ensuring that their Wetlands Institute is something we can all be proud of.
The Marshes That Bind Us by Kristen Egan, Development Manager
This summer season, Lukens saw a lot of herself as a young nature lover and artist while teaching Annabelle Nickel, a firsttime Summer Nature Program participant in the 10-13 year-old age group. “I loved watching her sit quietly over lunch drawing the purple martins and other coastal birds in her journal. I shared some of my own drawings with her and we really bonded,” said Lukens. For Jayne Lukens, returning to the wetlands as a Summer Nature Program instructor was much more than a summer job. Lukens grew up in Ocean City, NJ and returned to the area after spending the past five years in Vermont. “I feel at home walking the trails here along the marshes,” shared Lukens, who also attended the Summer Nature Program growing up. She credits her mom’s work starting and running the Bayside Summer camp program in Ocean City, the positive influence of local Captain Bill Stuempfig, and her time at The Wetlands Institute for connecting her with nature and encouraging her to pursue a future in environmental education and conservation work. As an environmental educator, she hopes to pay it forward for the next generation to care.
Lukens was particularly proud of Annabelle, who, after being apprehensive all week, found the courage to pick up a horseshoe crab on her last day of the program. “I was so proud of her in that moment,” said Lukens. “That’s the connection with nature that is so cool to see because you know she’s going to remember that moment. I’m going to remember that moment.”
Welcome to the Team! Meet Barbara Parks Barbara Parks, a lifelong resident of South Jersey, joined The Wetlands Institute staff in June 2021 and got right to work. She is responsible for providing administrative support to Institute operations and managing visitor services and front desk staffing. She also coordinates the Institute’s volunteer programs and assists with special event planning and facilities rentals. Barbara brings a bounty of enthusiasm and energy, and is a welcome addition to our Institute family.
Go Paperless
Annabelle’s story is a snapshot of many connections happening all summer long during our Summer Nature Program. The impact of these moments lasts a lifetime, and in 2021 we helped create more than ever: This season, over 525 kids attended our Summer Nature Program – our highest enrollment ever, surpassing all previous years’ numbers by close to 40 percent. We are grateful to all of our supporters who make moments like these possible. Lukens majored in Environmental Studies – with a minor in Wildlife Ecology – at Unity College in Maine, and is excited to advance her career in environmental education and conservation. Outside of her work at The Wetlands Institute, Lukens also enjoys leading kayak tours with Baycats in the Great Egg Harbor Bay.
Learn, Support, Experience! Our Adoption Programs offer the chance to learn more about the coastal animals you love while supporting the work we do to research and protect them. Each program has several options to symbolically adopt an animal and receive an adoption certificate, educational newsletter, and other fun items. Adoptions make great gifts, too! Check them out on our website, www.wetlandsinstitute.org.
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.
T H E 7 TH A N N U A L
Our 7th annual Summer Celebration held at ICONA Avalon on the evening of July 31 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!
- Presenting Sponsors THE DILLER FAMILY AND FOUNDATION
LARRY L. LUING MARGARET McALLISTER FAMILY FOUNDATION & ERIK HIRSCH - Gold Level -
DRS. TIMOTHY & ROSEMARY CLAY
ROSEMARY & BILL HANKOWSKY WILL & JENNIE WERMUTH
- Silver Level -
Avalon Flooring Burke Subaru California Closets Roberta “Bert” DeVries PSEG Wayne & Kay Renneisen Tom Russell / Stone Harbor Marina Seven Mile Times John & Amy Swanson Jon Tullis Washington Inn
- Bronze Level Brown & Brown Insurance Bryn Mawr Trust Ray & Ellen Burke Citizens Bank Concentus Wealth Advisors CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC Donelan Family Wines Jim Donohue & Carol Mager Fiduciary Trust International Hafetz & Associates Halliday Financial Lois & Barry Hamilton Harbor Outfitters
Michael & Deborah Hays Hays Sheet Metal, Inc. Jim & Ann Lim Philadelphia Phillies Jane Rakestraw RBC Wealth Management / The Boland Investment Group Bob & Josee Rich Hank & Julie Schellenger Philip & Amy Welsh Laura Wilson & Mark Menting Yacht Club of Stone Harbor
For a complete list of sponsors visit https://wetlandsinstitute.org/events/summer-celebration/
Summer Intern Projects Coastal Conservation Research Program by Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research & Conservation
Six interns joined our 2021 Coastal Conservation Research Program (CCRP) this summer for an intensive hands-on learning experience in the marsh! This year, CCRP interns worked closely with our staff to contribute to long-term projects monitoring the diamondback terrapin population and conducted surveys of wetland bird populations. They also explored their own research questions, gaining experience with proposal development, data analysis, scientific writing, and public speaking. It was an action-packed 10 weeks, and we are grateful for their hard work and proud of their accomplishments! Laura Cammarata, a recent graduate of West Virginia University, compared macroinvertebrate communities in disturbed and undisturbed areas of local saltmarshes. Cameron Forehand, a rising senior at Clemson University, explored the use of salt pannes by diamondback terrapins during the nesting season. Nicole Fox, a rising senior at Stockton University, conducted head-count surveys of diamondback terrapins in the Delaware Bay to examine distribution and bycatch risk. Samuel Hermanstorfer, a recent graduate of University of Wisconsin – Madison, quantified impacts of Fish Crow on other species inhabiting the saltmarshes. Brandon Ross, a
2021 CCRP Interns, L to R: Brandon Ross, Cameron Forehand, Autumn Turney, Nicole Fox, Laura Cammarata, Sam Hermanstorfer.
recent graduate of University of Connecticut, investigated the changes in diamondback terrapin use of a creek during the nesting season. Autumn Turney, a recent graduate of LenoirRhyne University, investigated the use of flight line surveys to estimate Black-crowned Night-Heron populations and the influence of environmental factors on counts. Each presented the results of their independent projects at the Luing Family Internship Program Intern Symposium on August 2.
A Return to Mentorship by Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development
The Wetlands Institute’s Environmental Education (EE) 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. Heather Bariso (Stockton University) revitalized our Wetlandia education space by designing a way to educate visitors about salt marsh animals by creating a pair of large 4’x4’ wall posters featuring the most common animals in the marsh ecosystem. Posters include facts and information about both terrestrial and aquatic creatures, and are supplemented by a hands-on Food Web Matching Game. Grace Fanning (The University of Pittsburgh) created a new Science Feature to teach visitors about the Lenni-Lenape, the indigenous people of New Jersey, through an informative presentation about Lenape culture and practices along with an interactive tracking and identification game that tests knowledge of local species of plants and animals. This new program provides a new perspective on our region’s history and encourages an ethic of environmental stewardship. Olivia Hogan (Eckerd College) designed a new educational video to enhance the audio and visual components of our Secrets of the Salt Marsh aquarium,
wetlandsinstitute.org
2021 EE Interns, L to R: Olivia Hogan, Callie Knudson, Heather Bariso, Grace Fanning.
complement and extend the learning experiences within the Aquarium, and contribute to its overall atmosphere. The video provides information about our local marine animals, gives visitors an up-close look at these special creatures, and exposes them to some behaviors they might not have otherwise seen. Callie Knudson (Unity College) created a new interactive education experience to enhance our Osprey Learning Station. She developed a pair of posters to present information about the Ospreys and threats they face, and unique crafts and activities that change with the seasons and provide visitors hands-on learning experiences that reinforce the informational components and highlight the importance of these incredible birds.
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Around the Marsh: 2021 Terrapin Highlights by Brian Williamson, Research Scientist
The summer of 2021 was another successful year for our terrapin research and conservation program. Although it was the 30th year of our terrapin project, we had many firsts this year. For the first time on record, we had a terrapin lay eggs four times on our property in a single nesting season. Previously, we had thought that terrapins only nested a maximum of three times per season, so this finding is very exciting and suggests that other females may be nesting more than three times per season as well. To add to this excitement, this terrapin, named Y2K and originally tagged in 2000, was a head-starter, a terrapin raised in captivity for a year before being released to the wild. In the 21 years since she was released, we have become very familiar with Y2K over the course of our mark-recapture and telemetry projects, learning more about her nesting habits and her movements during the nesting season. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of our markrecapture project, in which we tag terrapins using microchips with unique codes that allow us to identify them when we see them again. Four terrapins were captured this year that were first tagged in 1997, three of which were likely sexually mature and at least 6-8 years old when captured. This means that all of these turtles are at least 30 years old, and the oldest of them may be nearing 40 years old. All of them have been captured multiple times nesting on our property. Terrapins, and other turtles, can reproduce their entire lives,
so we hope we will continue to see them each year seeking nest sites on our trail. Terrapins are believed to live 20-40 years in the wild, and we hope to learn more about their maximum lifespan as we continue our research in 2022 and beyond.
Adult female diamondback terrapin Y2K, recaptured and released after nesting for her fourth time this season. She was tagged as a head-starter in 2000.
Welcome to Michelle Rebilas Hello! My name is Michelle Rebilas and I am the new Environmental Educator at The Wetlands Institute. I am originally from Burlington County, New Jersey and am an alumni of Stockton University with a B.S. in Marine Science. I grew up visiting the beaches in Cape May with my grandparents, rescuing horseshoe crabs on the beach and collecting Cape May Diamonds! From a young age, I had a passion and fascination for the natural world and a desire to protect it. I discovered my love for environmental education while working as a Guest Educator at Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey. This inspired me to pursue my Master’s Degree in Environmental Education from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. After completing my degree, I spent five years working for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, Florida as an Environmental Educator and Summer Camp Manager. I returned to New Jersey in 2017 to raise my family in the Garden State! I am thrilled to join The Wetlands Institute team and contribute to the important work they do to educate the public about coastal ecosystems and conservation issues. As the Environmental Educator, I will be responsible for the Summer Nature Program, Homeschool Programs, and Scout Programs. Through my work, I hope to inspire future conservationists and help people of all ages make meaningful connections with nature.
Our 2021 Institutional Sponsors
Autumn Happenings As the summer season draws to a close and we transition into autumn, The Wetlands Institute is open daily from September 7-19, 2021. 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!
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.
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
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 20, 2021. 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.
The Wetlands Institute is closely monitoring COVID-19 developments and guidance issued by state and local agencies, specifically as they relate to our Autumn Happenings. As needed, we are planning for and adjusting our programs and operations accordingly to promote community and staff safety, both on our grounds and during our programs. When visiting us, please join us in creating a safe, enriching, and fun experience for all of our visitors by understanding our programs may be modified in accordance with this guidance. We will see you soon!
Tidepool Shop
Our book and gift shop is open every day from 9:30am to 4:30pm until September 20, 2021. Starting September 20, we will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Can’t visit us? Call and purchase by phone, or browse our online Tidepool Shop at tidepool-shop.myshopify.com 24/7! We will ship your purchase anywhere in the United States.
Original Artwork The Tidepool Shop features a collection of unique, naturethemed original art - from small canvas photos to life-size handcarved sculptures, all created by local artists. Ideal for adding flair to your décor!
"Homer's Story"
Nature Journals
Local author Nelson Lamb's charming book tells the story of a Wetlands Institute Osprey family and the struggles of their smallest chick as he learns to fly. Features photos of Homer and his family as he grows into a fully flighted young Osprey.
These 100% recycled journals from Acorn Designs feature beautiful cover illustrations created by ecologically minded artists, and are ideal for capturing your thoughts, sketches, or reflections sustainably and responsibly.
1075 Stone Harbor Blvd. Stone Harbor, NJ 08247-1424
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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.
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Views from theTower
The Wetlands Institute’s
Call 609.368.1211 or stop in to buy tickets. Drawing: December 16, 2021 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# 07-21 481-5-25895 Middle Township.
Lend a helping hand ... ... become a member or renew today! Membership does more than give you access to the Institute and our programs – it allows us to continue our impactful research, conservation, and education work on behalf of our coastal ecosystem and all who depend on it. Your support makes a world of difference, so become a member or renew today! Visit wetlandsinstitute.org/membership to join.
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