Fish biology; how to set up equipment; safety practices; bait and tackle choices; casting; and fishing regulations will be covered at each workshop. Participants will put their new skills into practice with a fishing experience.
Did you know that one species of dragonfly reaches speeds of 58 kilometers (36 miles) per hour, making it the world's fastest-flying insect?
WE are in dragonfly migration season, which is believed to run from August to November. However, researchers know much less about dragonfly migrations than they do about bird or whale migrations.
North America may have up to 18 migratory dragonfly species. A recent study revealed that the species undertakes complex long-distance migrations every year that span generations and seem to be influenced by temperature, making them particularly vulnerable to climate change.
They have been observed eating flies, bees, beetles, butterflies, and even small birds. Dragonflies achieve a hunting success rate of up to 97% by waiting for prey before attacking or scouting an area.
Their compound eyes provide nearly 360-degree vision, with each eye possessing as many as 30,000 ommatidia—individual units that point in a unique direction and have their own lens. Besides their complex compound eyes, dragonflies have three smaller eyes at the front of their heads called ocelli, which are thought to help keep them stable while flying. While humans possess three light-sensitive pigments involved in color vision—blue, green, and red—dragonfly eyes have as many as 30 such proteins.
They also have two pairs of wings, but the angle and speed of each wing are controlled independently, enhancing the insect's flight control and agility.
A recent increase in coyote sightings near Wildwood’s back bay has raised concerns among local residents. These cunning and very adaptable predators are digging underneath fences, entering backyards, and keeping frightened residents at home. Homeowners are keeping their pets inside, and they’re thinking twice about letting small children outside unattended.
City officials say locals feeding the coyotes is contributing to the problem. The city has put up more than a dozen warning signs around town to not feed any coyotes. The mayor noted that the coyotes are fearless and that they don’t run and just stare when a car comes closer to them.
These sightings have been concentrated near Wildwood’s former landfill, which is currently being redeveloped into a nature preserve. Officials are hoping the completion of the project will keep coyotes further from residential homes.
Residents throughout the state are encouraged to follow these guidelines to mitigate coyote encounters:
Over the next several months, more than 170,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials will be planted throughout the nearly one-mile Newark segment of New Jersey’s newest state park, a nine-mile greenway in Essex and Hudson counties.
A sampling of the plantings includes 206 deciduous canopy trees, such as red maple, black tupelo, American sycamore and white oak; 335 understory and evergreen trees at maturity, including eastern redbud, flowering dogwood and eastern red cedar; 1,356 large shrubs, including gray dogwood, witch hazel, northern bayberry, highbush blueberry and pussy willow; and 2,889 small shrubs, including black chokeberry, inkberry, Carolina rose and black raspberry.
The planting plan also includes 165,609 groundcover perennials spanning 132,980 square feet, featuring milkweed, black-eyed susan, wreath goldenrod, New England aster and wild geranium, among others. In addition, 84,139 square feet will be planted in native upland wildlife forage and meadow habitat, along with 46,693 square feet of lawn grass mix.
Once established, the plantings will improve air quality by filtering pollutants and capturing carbon, help moderate temperatures through natural shade, and support stormwater management by absorbing rainfall and reducing runoff. The plantings will also create habitat for native wildlife, including birds and pollinators. In addition, green spaces are linked to improved mental health, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being.
