Climate and Chickadees

Black-capped Chickadee

There are a growing number of hybrid cars on New Jersey roads. Hybrids are more commonly known as biological offspring resulting from the interbreeding between two animals or plants of different species.

You might have purchased some hybrid plants at your garden center for planting. Hybrids are deliberately bred to take the best qualities of different species.

But sometimes this breeding occurs "naturally" and perhaps not with good results. Researchers have been studying "hybrid" chickadees. They are the offspring of northern black-capped chickadees and their southern relatives, Carolina chickadees. These two species began to mate in places where their separate ranges now overlap.

You may have learned that if you collected and planted seeds from your hybrid plants that they are infertile. The hybrid chickadees are also infertile and can't reproduce.

They are found only in a long, narrow strip of territory stretching from Kansas to New Jersey.

I first learned about this zone and the hybrid birds in a post by Michele S. Byers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.


The "hybrid zone" is a shifting line and the researchers have discovered it is a fairly accurate way of measuring the progression of global temperature changes.

The has moved north at a rate of about seven miles over the last 10 years. This matches the warming trend in winter temperatures.

In New Jersey, the hybrid zone crosses from Trenton to the Raritan Bay - the southern edge of the Piedmont region.

Carolina chickadee

It always seems to be controversial to bring up climate change, but it may be facilitating the northward movement of this zone. We know that looking at the minimum winter temperature in an area is a way to accurately predict the location of the hybrid zone, and minimum winter temperatures have gone up over the past decade.

Hybrid chickadees can be hard to distinguish by sight, so blood samples are used. The hybrid songs are a mix of the distinctive songs of the parent species.

The hybrid chickadee can eat a wide variety of foods. If one food source disappears, they find another. But about 75% of animals and plants have little or no ability to move as the climate warms.

You might guess that all birds could easily adapt by flying to new places, but that's not the case. Rather than being "generalists", like the chickadee, many birds, butterflies and moths are "specialists," adapted over millennia to depend on specific food sources. If the food sources decline as the climate changes, populations of these species will diminish or disappear.

Changes in our climate is happening too fast for most species to adapt. Habitats also have to adapt but some sensitive habitat have plants that cannot adapt and so will simply collapse and disappear.

The hybrid chickadees may be like the "canary in a coalmine"providing an indicator and a warning of changes in the environment.

Disappearing and Reappearing Butterflies

Florida's Meske's skipper was gone for a decade before returning.Photo: Mary Keimat/Flickr
A story from Florida makes it clear how unclear the status of a species can be when it comes to government listings.

If a species was never listed as threatened or endangered, but it appears to be extirpated or even extinct, it falls into a odd gray area. The government won’t declare them extinct. Technically, if we keep a species off the endangered species list, then it can’t go extinct.

The rockland Meske’s skipper appeared to be gone for good but the state government didn't want to declare them extinct. Then, it was seen again.

The species in Florida include two that have endangered status and two (the Florida leafwing and Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak) have been elevated to “candidates.” The agency won’t add something just to turn around and stamp it extinct.
Source: Mother Jones "5 Butterfly Species Just Vanished While No One Was Looking"

Climate and Hardiness Zones in NJ

planting early lettuce

Hardiness Zones, Gardening Zones, Growing Zones and Plant Zones refer to defined geographic regions that can support specific plants, flowers and trees.

The zones define a minimum range of temperatures that a plant or tree can survive safely in that zone.

The most common are the Hardiness Zones defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 2012 the USDA released an updated New Jersey hardiness zone map covering the period of 1981-2010. Believe what you will about climate change, but the trees are blooming earlier the past few decades.

warm weather planting - tomatoes

New Jersey's plant hardiness zone was changed in 2011 based on the warmer winters.

In 2012, trees started blooming around March 5. In 2010, after a warm spell at the end of March, the trees bloomed by April 1st.

For my part of NJ, we are in Zone 6B. The average first frost is between October 11 - 20 and the average last frost is April 11 - 20.

Hackensack’s Borg’s Woods and Wawayanda Swamp Natural Area

The improving weather makes many of us more enthusiastic about getting out for a walk or hike. Looking through the many options at NJ Urban Forest, I came upon two north Jersey possibilities for this weekend.

Both of these rambles go through areas that were once commercially owned and that were obtained for preservation and recreation.



First up is Hackensack’s Borg’s Woods. About 14 acres of Borg’s Woods were originally owned by Macromedia, Inc. which planned to build a condominium development in the mid-1980’s. After years of legal battles, Bergen County purchased the parcel in 1994 and an additional acre of the Summit Hill Ridge was purchased from two homeowners by the County in 1995.

Of course, these urban forests - as the name suggests - have pretty mild and shorter "hikes" that serious hikers would consider more of a walk.

The second trek goes through a section of Wawayanda State Park. The park was one of the first major acquisitions by the New Jersey Green Acres program made in 1963 from the New Jersey Zinc Company.



“Wawayanda” is like many NJ locations, of Lenape Indian origin. The word is said to mean "water on the mountain" although in modern parlance some say it means “way way yonder” since the park is rather remotely located in northwestern Passaic and southeastern Sussex counties.

The hike offered takes you to a rare inland Atlantic White Cedar swamp in the 2,167 acre park. The Wawayanda Swamp Natural Area is the largest natural area present in the park.

Another 90,000 infected trout

For the third time since last fall, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife is being forced to euthanize tens of thousands of trout at the Pequest Trout Hatchery because of a bacterial infection in the raceways where the trout are raised.

This time, it is 90,000 brook trout that would have been stocked in state waters over the next two weeks of the spring trout season. While fishing for trout goes on through the rest of the year, it is in the spring, when the water is coldest, that trout are stocked by the state

continue reading  -  Another 90,000 infected trout to be killed - New Jersey Herald

Bill Proposes Changes to the Endangered Species Act

Four new amendments to the 41-year-old Endangered Species Act (ESA) will require that government agencies involved with the conservation and protection of species to become more "transparent" to the public about their decisions.

One amendment, still being discussed, will require surveyors to count all of the animals in both private and public lands. This will allow the federal government to get a full count of all endangered or threatened species.

This bill may allow for researchers to discover that some species are no longer endangered. This bill was introduced by Chris Stewart, a Republican Representative from Utah who believes that this amendment will make the endangered species list smaller. The bill is seen by some as a way to "rein in" the ESA.

In a press release, Stewart said he agrees with the fundamental purpose of the Endangered Species Act -- to protect species from extinction -- but says the law as it is now goes beyond that.

"Unfortunately, not all laws are perfect," Stewart said. "And in this case, the interpretation of the law is resulting in inaccurate data collection, potentially preventing healthy and growing species from being removed from the threatened or endangered list."

Stewart cites the Utah prairie dog as an example, saying the species is only counted on federal lands, which results in a gross miscalculation of their total number.

"There are large populations of prairie dogs in yards, parks, cemeteries, and fields that never get counted toward recovery because they don't live on federal lands," Stewart said.

Defenders of Wildlife said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does count endangered species on private lands when the option is available.

But counting species on private lands can be problematic because it assumes all private property owners will be cooperative It is also a practice that can have wide variations depending on the time of year and weather conditions and that counting should be seen as only one of a number of important data points in determining the status of a species.

Falcon WebCam Kicks Off New Season from Roof of Jersey City Skyscraper

The Jersey City FalconCam – a popular webcam that captures the breeding, nesting, feeding and flight of a family of endangered Peregrine Falcons living on a Jersey City skyscraper – goes live this week for its 14th season of daily live webfeeds. For the first time, the FalconCam will be operated by the nonprofit Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) rather than the New Jersey State Division of Fish and Wildlife.

“We are so excited to relaunch this unique and inspirational FalconCam, especially for the thousands of devoted falcon lovers who thrill to their every move on this real New Jersey ‘reality show,’” said David Wheeler, CWF Executive Director. “For New Jerseyans to be able to experience the fastest animal on earth from their own computer screens is so rewarding because it connects us with the nature all around us, even in our most densely populated cities.”

After state funding could no longer cover the webcam, CWF assumed the responsibility for managing the FalconCam. CWF is relying on corporate and individual donations to fund the new camera, related equipment, and other costs, which combine to total $10,000 in expenses.

CWF biologist Ben Wurst installed the new equipment last week, adding new components that will give the viewer an even more “inside look at the falcons’ daily lives.

The FalconCam viewer experience will now utilize:

• a digital outdoor high resolution PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera that offers a scenic view of the nestbox, roof, and the New York City skyline
• a small “pinhole” camera was installed inside the nestbox that offers an eye level perspective of the falcons
• and a microphone inside the nestbox that will broadcast the sounds of the falcons and their high-rise city environment.

“In this digital age, the use of a webcam is a key component in engaging the public in wildlife conservation,” said Wurst. “To be able to share this with thousands of viewers is a truly magnificent thing, and I am very grateful for all of the contributions that have been made to support this program!”

In January, CWF ran a series of educational blog posts to help raise awareness for the state endangered peregrine falcons, and to raise funding for the new Falcon Cam. CWF also offers viewers the chance to join our free High Fliers Club, which offers members a chance to attend a falcon banding with biologists at this nest site in the summer of 2014.

Since 2000, a pair of peregrine falcons has nested on the roof of 101 Hudson Street in Jersey City. A webcam was installed inside the nestbox on the roof in 2001 to share the falcons’ annual life cycle with countless wildlife enthusiasts. Over the years the cam showed the ups and downs of the nesting pair during their nesting season from April to July. CWF also developed an educational curriculum, “Days of the Peregrine,” to help educate future generations about conserving endangered species, like the peregrine falcon.

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) has worked to protect at-risk species of wildlife in New Jersey and beyond for two decades. CWF utilizes science, technology, habitat restoration, education, communications, and volunteer stewardship to save imperiled wildlife from our state before they disappear forever.

Source: http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/about/media/releases/falconcam/ 
Learn more at www.ConserveWildlifeNJ.org

NJ Has More Cherry Blossoms Than Washington DC

Looking for some Spring season this weekend?

Washington D.C is famous for the thousands of cherry trees sent there as a gift from Japan more than a hundred years ago, but did you know that Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey has more cherry trees than Washington D.C.?

Every spring, residents and visitors can see the largest cherry blossom collection in the United States there.

Branch Brook Park, which runs through Belleville and Newark, has more than 2,700 Japanese cherry blossom trees that burst into full bloom during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival that features various events for visitors of all ages.

Branch Brook Park is historically unique for being the first county park in the United States opened to the public. It was designed by the famed landscape architectural firm of Olmsted Brothers, a successor to Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City.

Cherry Blossom Time Signals Spring in NJ

From April 5-13, Branch Brook Park in Newark will again host its spring festival under pink petals to celebrate the Essex County Park System and its beloved collection of cherry trees.

The week’s events include the Cherry Blossom 10K run on April 6, the children’s Fun Run/Walk on April 12 and special trolley tours throughout the park.

The celebration culminates on April 13 with Bloomfest, a free outdoor family-fun day from 11 am to 5 pm, including live music, food vendors, children’s activities, a crafter’s marketplace and Japanese cultural demonstrations.

essexcherryblossom.com

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Essex County Parks festival information
Branch Brook Park website
Branch Brook Park Alliance



GETTING THERE

By Car
You may use the intersection of “Clifton Avenue and Seventh Avenue” for Internet mapping or GPS.

From New Jersey: Take Route 280 East to First Street/Exit 13. Turn left onto First Street. Turn right onto Orange Street. Turn left onto Clifton Avenue. Park will be on the left.

From New York: George Washington Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey Turnpike South. Take Exit 15W for Route 280 West. Take Exit 14. Turn right onto Clifton Avenue. Follow above directions.


View Larger Map or get Driving Directions via Google Maps

By Train/Subway
Take NJ Transit or PATH Trains to Newark Penn Station. Board the Newark Light Rail toward either Branch Brook Park or Grove Street. For the Southern and Middle Divisions, exit at Park Avenue. Exit at Bloomfield Avenue to reach the Northern and Middle Divisions; the Northern Division is also accessible from the Davenport Avenue stop. The Branch Brook Park stop provides access to the Extension.

By Bus

A variety of bus routes provides services to Branch Brook Park. These include NJ Transit's bus lines #11. #27, #28, #29, #41, #72, #74, #90, #92, #93, #99 and #108. For schedule information, call 1-800-772-22221-800-772-2222 or visit www.njtransit.com.

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Fish Disease Hits Pequest Trout Hatchery

Raceway for fish at Pequest

Due to the re-occurrence of a fish disease that has affected a section of the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife announced  it is euthanizing a portion of its brook trout population that was scheduled to be stocked this spring and is taking other steps to protect the overall integrity of the facility.

This action is consistent with the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Fish Health Policy, which was approved last week by the State Fish and Game Council following a public comment period and two public hearings. The plan states that fish found positive of pathogens, such as furunculosis, will not be stocked in state waters.

Furunculosis, a fatal disease caused by a bacterium known as Aeromonas salmonicida, mostly affects cold water species of fish such as trout. Laboratory tests last weekend confirmed the presence of the disease in brook trout in an upper portion of the concrete raceway system used to raise trout for stocking of New Jersey’s waterways.

It is important to note that no human health risks are associated with this bacteriumand that it is not transmissible to humans or other animal species.

Despite the loss of the large number of brook trout, the Division still will release healthy trout in state waters in time for the Opening Day of Trout Season scheduled for April 5, at 8 a.m. None of the trout being stocked this spring have the disease. Some may have been exposed to the bacterium that causes furunculosis but were effectively treated. Others that will be stocked have tested negative.

brook trout - NJDEP

The 114,000 trout to be euthanized are a portion of the more than 600,000 trout the Pequest Hatchery raises every year. The fish are being humanely euthanized by introducing carbon dioxide into the water.

Rainbow trout appear to be resistant to the disease, so the hatchery is increasing production of these species for stocking in future years. Brown and brook trout tend to be more susceptible and these fish will be vaccinated to provide protection against the disease. The Division also is considering acquiring brown and brook trout that have been bred for resistance to furunculosis.

The 31-year-old Pequest Fish Hatchery had its first outbreak of furunculosis last fall, likely transferred into the hatchery by birds. Osprey feeding on infected fish in the wild may have spread the bacteria through contact when feeding on fish in the affected pool at the hatchery. As a result, some 25,000 trout were euthanized last fall.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife utilizes robust measures to protect raceways at Pequest from bird infiltration, including wire deterrents strung over the raceways and air cannon. The division is continuing to investigate other options, including enclosing the raceways under fabric domes or barn-like structures. It also is exploring installation of extra wells to allow each raceway to have its own unique water supply for each group of fish.

For the short term, the affected areas of the hatchery will be drained, dried, steam cleaned, and disinfected before the next round of fish are introduced back into the raceway.

SOURCE: http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2014/14_0018.htm