First Avian Flu Poultry Case Since 2023 Confirmed in New Jersey

Federal and state partners are coordinating disease response after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the N.J. Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health confirmed a new Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza poultry case in a Union County live bird market. This is the first positive HPAI case for domestic poultry in New Jersey since 2023. “No poultry were sold to the public that may have been infected,” the USDA pointed out.

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a contagious respiratory disease that affects birds. It's caused by the influenza A virus, which is mainly spread between wild aquatic birds. 

The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife division and APHIS continue to work with local officials to provide guidance on the safe removal and disposal of dead birds in the wild.

On Long Beach Island, numerous residents have reported dead gulls, ducks, and other birds on the beaches over the past month, causing some concern. However, officials stress that the risk of avian flu to the general public remains low.

Wild birds, including waterfowl and shorebirds, are considered natural reservoirs for avian influenza. Since the beginning of the U.S. outbreak in January 2022, avian influenza has impacted wild and domestic birds in every state. 

Occurrences can be monitored online at aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections.

      Preventing the spread  

• Avoid contact with birds that appear sick or have died
• Avoid contact with surfaces that have bird feces
• Keep pets (including pet birds) away from sick or dead wild birds

New Jersey State Parks Are Hiring For Summer Jobs

 

Do you or someone you know need to find a summer job? .

It's not too early to apply for summer jobs and you can apply for a summer job with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which is hiring over 800 seasonal workers for State parks, forests, and historic sites. 

Opportunities include lifeguards, maintenance staff, visitor service assistants, office assistants, naturalists, and history educators. 

Pay starts at $16 per hour, with Liberty State Park and The Greenway positions at $20 per hour. Lifeguards earn $18.50, or $19.50 for oceanfront roles, with training and certification provided. 

Apply by early March to secure a position that boosts your skills and supports New Jersey's top tourist spots.
Go online to https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/jobs.html for more information and to apply.

There are a variety of opportunities from being outside and in the water as a lifeguard, Visitor Service Assistants provide accurate information to visitors at various facilities, patrol grounds and collect gatehouse fees, to office personnel who help register campers, answer phone calls and perform other customer service duties as requested by the park superintendent.

Lighthouses in New Jersey

Twin Lights Lighthouse, Highlands

New Jersey has 11 lighthouses open to the public and several others that aren't accessible. 

The most notable ones are probably Absecon Lighthouse - Atlantic City, Barnegat Lighthouse - Barnegat Light, Cape May Lighthouse - Cape May Point, and Sandy Hook Lighthouse - Highlands.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States, having been lit in 1764. The lighthouse was funded by a lottery organized by 43 prominent New York merchants who petitioned the Colonial Assembly of New York to build it. The purpose was to guide ships safely into New York Harbor.

The octagonal lighthouse stands 103 feet tall and was designed by Isaac Conro. It originally stood closer to the tip of Sandy Hook but has since moved inland due to natural changes.

During the American Revolution, the lighthouse was a strategic target for British forces. Despite attempts to destroy it, the lighthouse survived and continued to operate.

In 1790, the lighthouse was transferred to federal authority under George Washington's directive. Today, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and is maintained by the National Park Service. It is a popular tourist destination and offers tours during the summer months

Ascend the 228 steps of the Absecon Lighthouse and you'll see breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline and up top you'll come face-to-face with the original first-order Fresnel Lens, first lit in 1857. The lighthouse's multi-million dollar restoration also includes a stunning replica of the Lightkeeper's dwelling, an educational museum, gift shop, a Fresnel Lens exhibit in the original Oil House and expansive grounds.

The site of Barnegat Lighthouse on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County was regarded as one of the most crucial "change of course" points for coastal vessels. Vessels bound to and from New York along the New Jersey coastline depended on Barnegat Lighthouse to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars and the offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailor. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail.

Built in 1859, the Cape May Lighthouse is still an aid to navigation. Visitors who climb the 199 steps to the top of the lighthouse are rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Climbing the lighthouse has become an annual tradition for thousands of visitors. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible visitors' orientation center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and memorabilia. A little further down Sunset Boulevard is the World War II Lookout Tower, which was part of the immense Delaware Bay harbor defense system known as Fort Miles. Features include a Wall of Honor recognizing area veterans. 

About NJ lighthouses  visitnj.org/...lighthouses

Fishing Education Instructor Training March 16

Are you an angler who wants to share your passion for fishing by learning how to assist our education staff at workshops, events, and programs? 

The NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's R3 Fishing Program is offering a Fishing Education Instructor Training on Sunday, March 16, 2025. The training will cover an overview of fishing programs and volunteer opportunities, the standards and best practices used, knot tying, casting, regulations and more!

As a fishing education instructor, you will help teach parts of the workshops and keep the event running smoothly. Participants must be 18 years or older and willing to volunteer at more than one fishing education program. You don’t need to be an expert angler to help others learn basic fishing skills, and you don’t need any teaching experience. This training will provide you with what you need to help get people fishing.

This free  4-hour training will cover an overview of fishing programs, volunteer opportunities, the standards and best practices used, knot tying, casting, regulations, and more.

When:  Sunday, March 16, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Where:  Assunpink Wildlife Conservation Center, Eldridge Rd.; Robbinsville Twp., NJ 08691

REGISTRATION AT https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx