New Jersey Is Monitoring the Gulf Oil Spill But Any Impact Is Unlikely

Via Brian T. Murray / The Star-Ledger

New Jersey is forming a team of specialists to monitor the BP oil spill off the coast of Louisiana in the unlikely, but worrisome event the slick reaches East Coast shores.

Fearing the potential impacts on Jersey Shore tourism and the state’s fishing industry, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said he is not taking any chances as he announced today the creation of a “Gulf Spill Team” to closely monitor the disaster. The team will create a scientific model of the likely path of the contamination and develop a plan of action, although scientists have said it will require a “sequence of unlikely events” for the slick to hit the east coast.

"Right now, we are very optimistic the oil will not reach New Jersey and will not affect fishing nor the summer beach season." said Martin. "However, we are keeping close watch on this situation to be prepared for any possible scenario.''
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/nj_gulf_oil_spill_task_force.html

However, more recent assessments in NJ say that ocean currents make pollution of our coast virtually impossible. Our beaches and fishing industry will not be affected by the Gulf oil spill this summer, but are more threatened by misinformation, state Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin has said.

Martin told the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee the leaking oil remains currently confined in the Gulf of Mexico and has not reached the Loop Current that could take it towards the tip of Florida, and north along the Atlantic Coast towards the Carolinas.

And should that happen, Martin noted, the Gulf Stream would then carry it eastward and out to sea. Martin said the oil could only reach New Jersey through a sequence of unlikely, atypical events – and even then would not reach our coast until at least late autumn.

"Our beaches are clean and our tourism industry is safe from oil throughout the summer,'' Martin said. "Our fishing and seafood industries are safe because all of the migratory fish were already here for the season before the spill occurred.

"The greatest risk the state faces right now from the Gulf oil spill is misinformation – so it's important to get the facts right,'' Martin added. "It is crucial that we make plans and decisions based on facts and science, and keep the public accurately informed in order to avoid creating issues where they may not exist.''

The Endangered Species Act Works

The Endangered Species Act works. Another example of that is the growing population of gray wolves in northern Wisconsin. State officials estimate the population is 700 to 750, the highest for wolves since pre-settlement times and far above federal goals set in the 1990s.

State officials are asking the feds to remove the wolf from the endangered species list and allow the state to manage the population.




Gray Wolves: Return to Yellowstone (America's Animal Comebacks)

Pine Barrens Whitesbog Blueberry Festival This Saturday

The 27th annual Whitesbog Blueberry Festival will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 26, rain or shine, at Whitesbog Village in Browns Mills, N.J.

"Admission to the festival is only $8 per carload, and people really take advantage of that," said Susan Burpee Phillips, executive director of the Whitesbog Preservation Trust, the organization that oversees the preservation of Whitesbog and various activities there. The festival is the organization's major fund-raiser.

"There will be 40 handmade crafters, an art exhibit including Pinelands artists, bluegrass music, blueberry baked goods . . . blueberry picking, old-fashioned wagons and history tours, lectures and demonstrations through the grounds [and] 21 buildings in the village," Phillips said.

http://www.whitesbog.org

Read more about the festival and village at http://www.philly.com

Mapping To Prevent Common Species From Becoming Endangered

Could a new U.S. map of ecosystems help keep healthy species from ending up endangered?

Ground and satellite surveys of land cover by the U. S. Geological Survey’s Gap Analysis Program produces data that conservationists may be useful to create and sustain habitat for wildlife.

The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) national land cover viewer displays data on the vegetation and land use patterns of the continental United States. It combines land cover data generated for the Southwest Regional Gap Analysis project completed in 2004, the Southeast Regional Gap Analysis Project completed in 2007, the Northwest Regional Gap project, and the updated California Gap project completed in 2009. For areas of the country without an Ecological System level Gap project, data created by the Landfire Project was used.

All these projects use consistent base satellite imagery, the same classification systems and similar mapping methodology allowing for the creation of a seamless national land cover map.

Eastern box turtle

Research and mapping related to endangered species is done nationwide, but other species (known as common species) are often not as well studied. The Gap Analysis Program works to determine which common species’ habitats may not be well represented by existing parks and conservation areas.

They do that partially by doing a "mash up" of data and maps about species and land use.

You can view and search the mapping system online and also download data.

barn swallow

Looking at New Jersey there, you find a diversity of land use. We have developed, open space that includes areas with a mixture of some constructed materials, but mostly vegetation in the form of lawn grasses. Impervious surfaces account for less than 20 percent of total cover. These areas most commonly include large-lot single-family housing units, parks, golf courses, and vegetation planted in developed settings for recreation, erosion control, or aesthetic purposes.

We also have oak and pine forest. These forests stretch across large areas in the central Appalachians and northern Piedmont, north to central New England. The setting ranges from rolling hills to steep slopes, with occasional occurrences on more level topography. The soils are coarse and infertile; they may be deep (on glacial deposits in the northern part of the range), or shallow, on rocky slopes of acidic rock. The well-drained soils and exposure create dry conditions.

The forest is mostly closed-canopy but can include patches of more open woodlands. It is dominated by a variable mixture of dry-site oak and pine species such as chestnut oak, white oak, red oak, black oak, scarlet oak, pitch pine, and white pine; these may occur as oak forest, mixed oak-pine forest, or patches of pine forest. Heath shrubs (hillside blueberry, huckleberry, and mountain laurel, etc.), often dense, are characteristic.

States Schedule Hearings on Horseshoe Crab

The following is from a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

States Schedule Hearings on Horseshoe Crab Draft Addendum VI
Draft Addendum Explores Management Options for Delaware Bay Region


In February, the Horseshoe Crab Management Board initiated development of Draft Addendum VI in response to several factors. These include the impending expiration of Addendum V's provisions on October 31, 2010; the findings of the recent benchmark stock assessment for horseshoe crab and its associated Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) framework; and continued public concern regarding the horseshoe population and its ecological role in the Delaware Bay, specifically its connection to the red knot population.

The Draft Addendum proposes a number of options for management of horseshoe crab in the Delaware Bay Region (coastal and bay waters of New Jersey and Delaware, and coastal waters only of Maryland and Virginia). These range from an extension of the current management measures under Addendum V to several alternatives generated from the Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) framework. The ARM framework provides the Board with a tool to manage horseshoe crab harvest explicitly taking into account multispecies interactions with shorebirds (mainly the red knot).

The 2009 Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment concluded that crab abundance in the Southeast and Delaware Bay Regions has increased, while abundance in the New York and New England Regions has decreased over the respective time series. Since the 2008 fishing season, New York and Massachusetts adjusted their state regulations to provide further protection to the horseshoe crab resource and maintain a sustainable fishery.

While horseshoe crab abundance in the Delaware Bay Region continues to rebuild, the red knot (rufa subspecies), one of many shorebird species that feed on horseshoe crab eggs, is at low population levels.  Red knots have shown no sign of recovery despite a nearly 80 percent reduction in horseshoe crab landings since 1998. Technical advisors recommend continued precautionary management of the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab population.


New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crabs.

The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled meetings follow:

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
July 1, 2010; 6:30 PM
Assunpink Wildlife Management Area Conservation Center (several hundred yards up from Central Region Office)
1 Eldgridge Road
Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey
Contact: Amanda Dey at (609) 259-6967

Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
July 28, 2010; 7:00 PM
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Contact: Stew Michels at (302) 735-2970

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
July 21, 2010; 6:30 PM
Ocean Pines Library
11107 Cathell Road
Berlin, Maryland
Contact: Steve Doctor at (410) 213-1531

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
July 7, 2010; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Avenue
4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247


The Board is scheduled to meet in August during the Commission's Summer Meeting to review public comment and consider taking final action on the Draft Addendum. Fishermen, shorebird advocacy groups, and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum, either by attending public hearings or providing written comments.

The Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400.

Wild Turkeys

In the 1950’s, there were only 100,000 turkeys in the wild, today there are an estimated 3 million of them in the wild.

Turkeys have been on this planet in one form or another for 10 million years and have become one of the most popular, well known wild birds.

In the United States around the 1930’s, it is reported that their numbers were dwindling due to overhunting, disease and forest clearing. Thanks to preservation efforts involving a new form of herd trapping and transplanting the birds to more tranquil habitats, the Wild Turkey is now plentiful, residing in all lower 48 states and Hawaii.

New Jersey is home to thousands of wild turkeys, flourishing in woodsy rural, suburban and even some urban areas where they can feed on grains, berries, beechnut, acorns, oats, grasses, ferns and insects. When winter is tough, they can last as long as two weeks without eating.

Turkeys are neither endangered or threatened in NJ.  Hunting is regulated by the State Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife and it is legal in New Jersey.

There are six species of wild turkeys: the Eastern , Merriam’s, Rio Grande, Florida, Mexican and an offshoot species from the Yucatan.

Domestic turkeys can be identified by their black legs, while wild turkeys have pink legs.

Turkeys evolved on the North and South American Continents exclusively and became a great game bird for Indians and settlers. Indians of the American Southwest, Mexico and Central America first hunted the wild turkey and also domesticated them. Spanish Explorers enjoyed them so much they took Mexican Turkeys back to Europe in the 1500’s.

Male turkeys, referred to as Toms and Gobblers, are much larger than the female hens, have more colorful plumage and have different calls.

The average wild turkey weighs in at 20 lbs compared to the domestic variety which can be as large as 15-30 lbs.

On myth is that turkeys are stupid birds, but hunters know that wild turkeys can be elusive and clever in evading hunters. The wild turkey can see five times better than a person and hear up to eight times more accurately than humans. Wild turkeys avoid humans, they can and will take flight to avoid them, while domestic varieties tolerate humans as their caretakers. Wild Turkeys can fly at speeds up to 55 miles an hour, they are good at running too, they can reach speeds of 25 miles an hour.

There are many sounds and calls of the turkey, as many as 50 including the more popular “gobble, gobble” call of the male turkey, which can be heard from a mile away.

A turkey has a snood but no ears. The snood is the fleshy thing that hangs off the turkey’s chin, sometimes referred to as a beard. Even though the wild turkey has no ears to speak of, they have excellent hearing.

Only 50% of turkey eggs hatch and mature into adults. Many don’t survive for various reasons, including becoming part of the next level of the food chain when they are still eggs or baby hatchlings. Typically, a hen produces a clutch of 9-18 eggs. These eggs are very tasty and a great source of protein in the diet of animals like the raccoon, skunk and opossum.


One of the largest organizations in the world dedicated to the wild turkey is the National Wild Turkey Foundation which promotes safer hunting and well planned preservation of the turkey and it’s habitat.


High Ridge Gobbler: A Story of the American Wild Turkey

A proud suburban wild turkey

Peregrine Falcon Webcam Views

Many visitors to the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife web site are familiar with the Peregrine Webcam which streams video from Jersey City.  Fortunately there are another estimated 20 nests found throughout the state, from river bridges to coastal nesting platforms to the Palisades and beyond.

Star-Ledger videographer Andre Malok recently accompanied biologist Kathy Clark on banding day in Atlantic City. There, for the past 20 years, peregrines have been nesting on a ledge outside a Hilton Casino penthouse suite.  His video provides a "bird's eye view" of the nest area, biologists at work, and the reactions of hotel staff.

To view Andre's video visit http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2010/06/peregrine_falcons_nesting_on_t.html on the NJ.com website.

To learn about and view the Jersey City nestbox, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/peregrinecam/index.html on the division's website.

The Great American Backyard Campout at Cape May

Join the Nature Center of Cape May, the National Wildlife Federation and outdoor enthusiasts across the country for a nationwide event called the Great American Backyard Campout. The campout will begin Saturday, June 26, at 5:00 p.m. and end around noon on Sunday, June 27.

Nature center Program Director Sue Slotterback will lead this family celebration of “getting out there” for an overnight campout.

“We'll be taking a night hike along the harbor, doing some camp crafts, learning basic camp skills and having lots of fun sleeping under the stars. Local musician Carl Behrens will also be on hand to entertain us around the campfire,” she explains. Slotterback asks campers to arrive at the nature center by 5:00 p.m. No individual campers under third grade will be allowed, and some equipment may be available.

The fee of $5.00 per person includes campfire s’mores and breakfast.

Participants may register online at www.backyardcampout.org under “Happy Harbor Campers.” They should also call the nature center at 609.898.8848 for details on what to bring.

The Nature Center of Cape May and NJ Audubon are brand new affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. The center is located at 1600 Delaware Avenue, in Cape May, right on the shores of Cape May Harbor.

Visit them on Facebook at NJ Audubon’s Nature Center of Cape May.

Cape May Walking Tours: Short, Fun, No-stress Tours for All Ages and Abilities
The Summer City by the Sea: Cape May, New Jersey--An Illustrated History
Cape May's Gingerbread Gems
Cape May Point: The Illustrated History : 1875 to the Present
Birds And Birding at Cape May 

Oil Disaster Shows Need for Endangered Species Act Overhaul

wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/

Of the many regulatory problems that helped make the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster possible, the Endangered Species Act’s shortcomings have received little attention — but fixing its flaws and loopholes could help prevent future catastrophes.

Oil companies never considered the impacts of a massive spill on the Gulf’s sperm whales or five sea turtle species. They didn’t have to, because the law doesn’t require it.

“We need to include disaster planning in the Endangered Species Act consultation process,” said environmental lawyer Keith Rizzardi. “We can learn from experience.”

Read more at http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/06/esa-overhaul/

Night of the Moon Jellies

by Mark Shasha


This beautifully illustrated picture book for ages 4-8 follows 7 year old Mark who discovers on the beach small jellylike objects that he places in a bag of seawater.

A moonlight ocean boat ride with his grandmother finds thousands of moonjellies shimmering in the water. (He wisely releases his own discovery among them.)

It's a nice book to bring to the beach this weekend with the kids. Unfortunately, it doesn't really explain what moon jellies are all about.

jellyfish live in water  http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/

New Jersey beachgoers of all ages have seen them.Unfortunately. they usually see them dead on the beach.

Their common name is Moon Jelly and their scientific name is Aurelia aurita.

The tentacles of a moon jelly are attached under the "umbrella shaped body." Moon Jelly are harmless to humans.

This is one of the most common jellyfishes found on the beach in New Jersey. Most of the time, they are found washed up on shore where they look like a round disk-shaped pad of fairly firm, clear jelly.

Most moon jellies you find will be about 4 or 5 inches in diameter. The disk that washes up on shore is only the remaining part of the creature. Yes, it's harmless to pick up.

When the creature was alive, it was a a carnivore that ate mostly plankton. They use stinging nematocysts to subdue the food they catch and also have a mucus layer that they pull food into. This sticky goo serves to trap their prey.

They stay close to the water surface for feeding, and that makes them food for by some large fish, turtles and even some birds.

Their locomotion is not that efficient, so currents often wash them ashore.



This video below shows a different species than the one that lives in NJ waters, but the behavior and appearance is very similar to our local moon jellyfish.

Endangered Species Northeast Region

From the lynx of the northern Maine forests to the Lee County cave isopod in southwestern Virginia, each of the Northeast Region's endangered and threatened species is unique, and each poses different conservation challenges.
Invasive species and advancing ecological succession plague bog turtles and Karner blue butterflies; beach-nesting piping plovers must avoid both predators and bathers to survive; eagles face continuing habitat loss; and swamp pinks suffer from changes in hydrology.

The biologists of the Northeast Region Endangered Species Division of the Fish & Wildlife Service work with many partners to protect and conserve listed and candidate species.

They have cooperative management agreements with all 13 states in our region, and they carry out a large share of the recovery work.

Private conservation groups also play a major role, particularly in providing permanent habitat protection for many listed species. Species ranging from Robbins cinquefoil to Cheat Mountain salamander to Michaux sumac all benefit from site protection.

Finally, private landowners play a significant role in this region because the federal land base is limited in size. Lynx and red-cockaded woodpeckers are two species that are benefiting from certain timber management regimes on private lands.

Endangered Species Program Partners

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service programs related to Endangered Species
• Other Federal Agencies
• State and Local Government
• American Indian Tribes
• International Partnerships
• Private Landowners
• Private Organizations (NGOs)

CONTACT INFO

Region Five — Northeast
Division of Endangered Species
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley, MA 01035-9589


New Jersey U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
927 N. Main Street, Building D
Pleasantville, NJ 08232-1454
609-646-9310

Brookdale Park, June and Roses

Fragrant flowers blooming in the Essex County Brookdale Park Rose Garden have been enjoyed by passersby every summer for the last 50 years.

The North Jersey Public Rose Garden was formally opened and dedicated in June of 1959. At that time, there were 750 rose bushes planted at the flagpole in Essex County Brookdale Park, on the borderline of Montclair, Bloomfield, and Glen Ridge. It was the first and only garden in the state designed to instruct the public in plant adaptability to particular areas. The site was jointly sponsored by the North Jersey Rose Society and the Essex County Park Commission.

The Master Gardeners of Essex County have been caring for the Rose Garden since 1997 and formed a Rose Garden Committee in 2003 to aid in restoring the garden back to its original elegance.



Brookdale Park is located in what once was a gathering place for the Lenni Lenape Indians. During the 17th Century, Dutch settlers transformed the area, then called Stonehouse Plains, into farming and grazing land. In the 1800s, when the area got its own post office near the Third River, the neighborhood came to be known as Brookdale.

In 1928, land purchases began and the basic work was completed by 1930. With the onset of the Depression, construction schedules slowed as money was needed elsewhere. As unemployment spread, agencies such as the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) were organized and subsequently provided most of the funding and labor needed to construct the park. Brookdale Park was completed in 1937.

Brookdale Park, designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers firm, which also created New York’s Central Park, is one of Essex County’s largest parks. With 78 acres in Bloomfield and 43 acres in Montclair, Brookdale is a serene oasis in an otherwise densely populated area.

A rose garden featuring more than 100 species of roses, trails for walking and running, lush groves and extensive lawns, playgrounds, sports fields, track facilities, tennis courts, an archery range and stadium grandstand are some of the attractions that make Brookdale Park a magnet for nature lovers, families, and physical fitness enthusiasts for miles around.

Essex County Brookdale Park's 121.4 acres spans both Bloomfield and Montclair Townships. Entrances can be found at Watchung Avenue, Bellevue Avenue, and Grove Street. When visiting the Rose Garden, please use the Grove Street entrance.

DIRECTIONS - from the Garden State Parkway, take Exit 151 and turn onto Watchung Avenue towards Montclair; make a right turn onto Grove Street and the Park is on the right.

Founded in the summer of 2009, Brookdale Friends is a volunteer organization focusing on horticultural projects in Brookdale Park, Essex County, NJ. Current programs include: Volunteer Mornings, the Brookdale Park Dogwood Collection, the Brookdale Park Children’s Garden and Give the Gift of Evergreen.

• Essex County Brookdale Park Map
• Beautiful American Rose Gardens
• Smith & Hawken: 100 English Roses for the American Garden
• Roses (Plants & Gardens Series)

Essex County Environmental Center Programs for June

A variety of programs are being offered at the Essex County Environmental Center during the month of June that will teach children and adults about nature and help them gain a greater appreciation and understanding of our environment. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites children and adults to visit the Environmental Center where they can enjoy an enriching recreational experience through nature and conservation activities.

"Our Environmental Center has become the premiere location for environmental education and nature appreciation. With the help of our partner groups, our dynamic schedule of events and activities will captivate all ages," DiVincenzo said. "Walk in our woods, discover habitats, get pointers on gardening, learn about nature photography and much more. It's all about nature and it's all at our Environmental Center," he added.

Events scheduled for June are as follows:

"Yoga and Hike" is geared for adults. Help renew your spirits as the class hikes through Essex County South Mountain Reservation, looks and listens for birds, and stays present with our surroundings. The hike will begin with breath awareness and will be followed by a dynamic restorative yoga class. Bring a light lunch or a snack and a yoga mat. All levels are welcome. Meet in the Locust Grove Parking Lot at South Mountain Reservation (across from the Millburn Library). Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $8 per adult. Yoga and Hike will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County South Mountain Reservation
Locust Grove Parking Lot
Millburn, NJ

"Little Explorers Summer Nature Program" is a child-caregiver class that uses stories, walks and crafts to develop an awareness and appreciation for science and nature for the child as well as the caregiver. Each session, a different nature or science topic is covered. Space is limited. Advance registration and payment is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $6 per child per session (additional material fees may apply). Little Explorers Nature Program is scheduled as follows:

Ages: 2½ to 3½ years
Dates: Mondays, June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 16
Times: 10 to 11 a.m.

Ages: 3 ½ to 5 years
Dates: Mondays, June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23
Times: 10 to 11 a.m.

Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"4-H Young Gardeners Club" is for children in grades 1-8. Have you ever wondered how vegetables and flowers grow? Where spaghetti sauce comes from? How you can find a rainbow in a garden? Come join the 4-H Young Gardener's Club to find the answers to these questions and many more. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-3785. 4-H Young Gardeners Club will be held as follows:

Date: Tuesdays, June 8, 15 and 22, 2010
Time: 4 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Garibaldi Hall
Roseland, NJ

"Sunset Paddle on the Passaic River" offers wonderful opportuni ties to view wildlife awakening for a night full of activity. All equipment is included. Some paddling experience is required. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Meet in the Garibaldi Hall parking lot. Cost is $15 per seat. Sunset Paddle will be held as follows:

Date: Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Honey Bee Biology: Basic Hive Information" will be led by Joseph Lelinho, President of Essex County Beekeepers Association. The program will focus on the organization of the hive, including the duties of the Queen, Worker and Drone. Participants will see that even though the colony can be a very precise instrument in its timing and the role each member plays, the Honeybee is also the master of flexibility, which helps make it an amazing survivor. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $10 per person and free for ECBA members. Honey Bee Biology will be held as follows:

Date: Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Green Thumb Club – Gardening for Health and Nutrition" is for children ages 7 to 12. Participants will learn how to garden for optimal plant growth, production and food quality and gardening methods that keep the soil and land healthy. Each class provides self-contained concepts, so you may choose individual sessions or join us for all classes. This program is part of a six-month series which provides a complete health and nutrition program for young gardeners. Advance registration and payment is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $8 per child per session (includes a $2 materials fee). Green Thumb Club will be held as follows:

Date: Wednesdays, June 9 and 23, 2010
Time: 3:45 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Birding Hike in the Great Piece Meadow" is presented by the New Jersey Audubon Society. There will be many chances to encounter summer breeding birds and hear many different bird songs. Footing may be wet. Meet at the parking lot of Charlie Brown's Restaurant, 337 Fairfield Road, Fairfield. Space is limited. Cost is $6 for NJAS members and $8 for non-members. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Birding Hike is scheduled as follows:

Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Meeting site: Charlie Brown's Restaurant
337 Fairfield Road
Fairfield, NJ

"Pole Bean Teepee" is for children ages 3½ to 5. Native Americans built teepees from tree branches and reeds, but participants will build one using a variety of climbing beans. Hopefully, there will be enough beans to take some home for a snack. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $12 per child (includes materials). Pole Been Teepee will be held as follows:

Date: Thursdays, June 10 and 24, 2010
Time: 1 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"A Garden of Giants" is for children ages 4 to 6. Your friends may think you are telling them a story about giant plants, but wait until you show them pictures of what you grew! Try a few seeds in your own garden at home. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $12 per child (includes materials). A Garden of Giants will be held as follows:

Date: Thursdays, June 10 and 24, 2010
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Birding Hike in Essex County South Mountain Reservation" is presented by the New Jersey Audubon Society. Participants will hike the trails of this large county park in search of nesting birds, including Orioles, Bluebirds and Woodpeckers. Meet in the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo parking lot. Space is limited. Cost is $6 for NJAS members and $8 for non-members. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Birding Hike is scheduled as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2010
Time: 8 a.m.
Meeting Site: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Avenue
West Orange, NJ

"Design a Sun-Catcher" is for children ages 10 and up. Join GlassRoots to create a rectangular or circular fused sun-catcher. Each participant will cut their own glass and glue their own design to it. Back at their studio in Newark, GlassRoots will add the finishing touches to each sun-catcher. GlassRoots will mail the finished product to the participant (shipping fees will apply) or it can be picked up at their studio. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $25 per person (plus an additional shipping fee). Design a Sun-Catcher will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2010
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Garden Hideaway" is appropriate for children ages 3½ to 5. Participants will create a special house from sunflower and morning glory seeds. The house will attract all kinds of visitors from hummingbirds to ladybugs to butterflies, but the best part is when you can hide inside. Participants will be able to take home some seeds and watch the plants grow above your heads. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $12 per child (includes materials fee). Garden Hideaway will be held as follows:

Date: Thursdays, June 17, 2010
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Peter Rabbit Garden" is appropriate for children ages 4 to 6. Find out about this little rabbit that got into a lot of trouble in Mr. McGregor's garden. Participants will plant their own garden and see if Peter returns with his friends to nibble on the vegetables. Take home a little garden of your own! Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $12 per child (includes materials fee). Peter Rabbit Garden will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Lenape Day" is an opportunity to discover the world of the Native Lenape people while participating in a variety of Native American activities, including crafts, cooking, fishing, farming and more. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $6 per child and $8 per adult. Lenape Day will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Hands-On Composting" is geared for adults. Take "going green" to a whole new level and learn how to compost. In this hands-on workshop with Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension, learn the basics of home composting. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $8 per adult. Hands-On Composting will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Horticulture for Seniors: Flower Arranging for Summer Fun" is a free horticulture class designed for senior citizens that is led by the Master Gardeners of Essex County. Weather permitting, the program will be held outdoors and include a picnic to celebrate this last program of the season. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. Advance registration is required one week prior to program. For information, call 973-379-5488 or 973-731-0717. This program is free. Horticulture for Seniors will be held as follows:

Date: Monday, June 21, 2010
Time: 1 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Birding Hike in Essex County Branch Brook Park" is presented by the New Jersey Audubon Society. Walk through some of the paths of this varied park scene that holds a surprising variety of birdlife, from forest birds to ducks and herons. Meet at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center at the north end of the park. This is a free hike. Contact Kelly Wenzel at 973-226-6082 for more information and to register. Birding Hike is scheduled as follows:

Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Time: 9 a.m.
Place: Essex County Cherry Blossom Welcome Center
Essex County Branch Brook Park
Near the Mill Street Entrance
Newark, NJ

"Watercolors" is for ages 16 and up. Experience the joy of painting and create your own original watercolor! As flowers are blooming all around, it is the perfect time to explore this beautiful artistic medium. In this course, learn about a seasonal flower and how to draw and paint it. Participants will take home their very own creation – fully matted and ready to frame. Professional grade materials included; just bring a camera. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $40 per person. Watercolors will be held as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"New Jersey Woodturners" is presented by the New Jersey Woodturners Association. Discover the wonders of creating art from found pieces of wood, wood species, and turning tips and techniques. Topics vary month to month; call the Environmental Center for details. Cost is $8 per adult and free for NJWA members. New Jersey Woodturners will be held as follows:

Date: Monday, June 28, 2010
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
Garibaldi Hall
621A Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"Grow Your Own Salad" is presented by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Essex County. Participants will learn the basics of creating a small vegetable/salad garden. Harvest your own tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers this year to enjoy with your family and friends. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. Cost is $8 per adult. Grow Your Own Salad will be held as follows:

Date: Monday, June 28, 2010
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center
621B Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ

"NJ Birds Behaving Boldly" is a photography exhibit by Janet Markman that will be on display at the Essex County Environmental Center during the month of June. The Center is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. For information, call 973-228-8776.

Registration is required for all programs at the Essex County Environmental Center, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register, please call 973-228-8776.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 20 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

Norvin Green State Forest

The forest at Norvin Green is a bird and wildlife haven that is part of the Wyanokie Wilderness Area.

It is near the Wanaque Reservoir and is home to an extensive trail system built from old logging roads. Several trails link up with public and private facilities, including the Weis Ecology Center and reservoir property. The existing trails, either old forest roads or new trails constructed by volunteers, are perfect for nature walks and other outdoor classroom activities.

With hills ranging from 400 to 1,300 feet in elevation, Norvin Green provides the avid hiker with scenic vistas, including the New York skyline, Burnt Meadow Brook and Lake Sonoma. The property is accessible by foot only.


http://www.stateparks.com/norvin_green.html


A topographical trail map is recommended for navigation of the trails. Maps may be purchased in the Weis Ecology Center or through the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference. Their North Jersey map set have 20-foot contours that show all trails and many woods roads in Ringwood State Park, Ramapo Valley County Reservation, Ramapo Mountain State Forest, Norvin Green State Forest, Wawayanda State Park, Abram S. Hewitt State Forest and the Pequannock Watershed, and features a large scale map of Campgaw Mountain County Reservation and includes a portion of the Appalachian Trail.





NJ Hiking offers a growing number of videos and this loop hike contains two newer trails, Lake Sonoma and Overlook. It's a pretty trail with some nice overlooks located in the northern section of Norvin Green State Forest.

getting there
Take Route 287 to exit 57, follow Skyline Drive to Greenwood Lake Turnpike to West Brook Road to Snake Den Road. Follow signs to Weis Ecology Center. Parking is available at Weis Ecology Center or along Burnt Meadow Road and Glen Wild Road.

TODAY: Essex County Open House at Turtle Back Zoo

8TH ANNUAL Essex County Open House

Saturday, June 5th

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ

FREE ADMISSION
~ Games and Family-Friendly Activities
~ Learn about Essex County Programs & Service
~ Ride the Carousel ($2 per ride)
~ Walk through the Outback Adventure & Aviary ($2 per feedstick)
~ Visit our Natural Habitat Exhibits featuring Gibbons Apes, Black Bears, White Naped Cranes, Penguins, Otters, Alligators, Bobcats, Eagles, Cougars, and the Reptile House ~

FOR INFORMATION, CALL 973-621-4400

http://essex-countynj.org/

Upper Delaware in the number one spot in America’s Most Endangered Rivers: 2010

It's a number one rating that no one wants to get. American Rivers released its annual report, America’s Most Endangered Rivers™ of 2010. The 25th anniversary edition of the report spotlights ten rivers facing the most urgent threats, and also features key endangered river success stories from the past two decades.

The Upper Delaware River, the drinking water source for 17 million people across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania is at risk from shale fracking for natural gas, a process that poisons groundwater and creates toxic pollution. This threat landed the Upper Delaware in the number one spot in America’s Most Endangered Rivers: 2010 edition.

“Unless we stop the threat of rampant shale fracking, the drinking water for 17 million people across the Northeast will be threatened by toxic pollution,” said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers. “We can’t let natural gas companies fatten their profits by putting our precious clean water at risk.”

“The threats facing this year’s rivers are more pressing than ever, from gas drilling that could pollute the drinking water of millions of people, to the construction of costly and unnecessary new dams, to outdated flood management that threatens public safety,” said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers.

In a statement, the Delaware River Basin Commission took a cautious view of the finding, saying:

"Being named to a “most endangered list” can lead uninformed people to draw incorrect conclusions that the quality of the Upper Delaware River is deteriorating...

Being named to a 'most endangered list' can lead uninformed people to draw incorrect conclusions that the quality of the Upper Delaware River is deteriorating. This is far from the truth and the five members of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) – Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and the federal government – intend on keeping it that way. The DRBC recognizes the importance of natural gas development to the region and the nation, and is not opposed to the appropriate development of this natural resource. But we must make sure that any natural gas development is done smartly so we do not harm the incredible water resources of the Delaware River Basin (DRB) and the over 15 million people it serves.”