February, 2005

Athos I Oil Spill Tragedy (Eric Stiles)

On November 26, 2004, the Athos I, a 750’ long single bottom hull oil tanker, reported a breach in its hull near Mantua, New Jersey.  While the investigation is ongoing, a large pipe is reported to have caused the tear in the hull.  Nearly 300,000 gallons of crude oil washed into the Delaware River, and was subsequently found from Artificial Island, Salem County to north of Petty’s Island, Camden County.  This spill not only directly killed and/or harmed wildlife directly, but will continue to impact this critical estuary for decades. 

New Jersey Audubon Society and its membership were impacted at two levels.  First, since NJ Audubon has worked to protect wildlife since 1897, this catastrophe will reverberate for decades through long-lived toxins in our soils, water and benthic communities.  Second, we own two islands in the Delaware River, just downstream from the spill.  New Jersey Audubon Society received Monds and Chester Islands in 1997 because of their importance to migrant and breeding birds.  Our nation’s symbol- the federally threatened Bald Eagle has built a nest on Monds Island, perched as the crowning jewel atop a 110’ tall, century-old Eastern Cottonwood tree.  The island also hosts nesting Great Blue Herons, songbirds and provides critical migration habitat for spring and fall songbirds.

NJ Audubon Society participated directly in the oil response efforts in several important and meaningful ways.  We were able to contact our legislators directly when key locations such as Mannington Meadows and Supawna National Wildlife Refuge were not being adequately protected.  Many of our members volunteered as “expert avian monitors” for state and federal wildlife agencies to observe tributaries throughout the watershed.  Our conservation department sent staff biologists to monitor nesting bald eagles, and I personally spent a day with the U.S. Coast Guard Assessment Team patrolling the Delaware River from Mantua Creek to the Commodore Berry Bridge.  Our attorneys from participated in the Unified Command Center, working to protect critical wildlife within the impacted spill zone.  Our members also donated materials desperately needed by Tri-state to clean and rehabilitate oiled birds.

We will continue to seek substantial reforms through federal and state legislation and policies (see Opinion Column).

Birding and Wildlife Trails Moves Into Action (Lillian Armstrong)

The Delaware Bayshore Birding and Wildlife Trails project is now in full swing.  The Trails team has been on an aggressive campaign to meet with members of the community in Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties.  From Freeholders to fishermen, environmental commissions to historical societies, civic associations to bird clubs, we’ve been out and about spreading the word about the Trails guide.

One of the most important aspects of the project is engaging the local community in the site nomination process and the development of the local driving loops.  You may wonder why we bother, since we have some of the finest birders and wildlife experts in the world right here in our backyard.  Certainly, we should know where the spots are by now! 

But this is not just a book of maps, and this is not a book of sites for finding rare and elusive species.  This is a book anyone can use, from beginner to expert, to plan a trip devoted to getting outdoors and enjoying nature.  We want to know residents’ favorite places for experiencing wildlife safely and reliably. And we want to know the best way to get there.  Who knows that better than local residents?  By including a wide circle of individuals and organizations in the planning process, we believe those very participants will embrace the product as their own.

We started the year off with a bang -- a press conference held in Cape May Court House on January 10th.  Tom Gilmore provided an overview and served as host to Executive Director of Travel and Tourism, Nancy Byrne, Steven Moy (who unveiled our new logo) of the Department of Transportation, County Freeholder Leonard Desiderio, and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell.  The Cape May County Zoo provided a wildlife viewing opportunity by bringing two of their live educational birds, Hugo the Barn Owl, and Klever the Kestrel.  We received terrific coverage on local television and state-wide on NJN, as well as print coverage in the Press of Atlantic City and the local newspapers in all three counties. 

That press event was the precursor to a series of public meetings, one in each county.  Although poor weather and, perhaps, winter doldrums, kept attendance low, those who did come out enthusiastically welcomed the project and filled out nomination forms on-the-spot.

As we sit today, we have received some 60 nominations for the Delaware Bayshore Birding and Wildlife Trails with the February 28th deadline a whole month away.  And the Hackensack Meadowlands Birding and Wildlife Trails and Places to Fish program is just kicking off.  2005 is going to be a busy and productive year.

NJ Audubon Opens its Trenton Center for Advocacy (Ted Korth)

NJ Audubon ushered in year 2005 with the opening of its Center for Advocacy in Trenton, which will greatly enhance NJ Audubon's ability to carry out the advocacy components of its mission.

From wildlife programs to open space preservation, pollution issues to education funding, and all that is in between, NJ Audubon works on many legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives which affect New Jersey's environment. 

Though the same "grass roots" organization and activities that forwarded our avian protection initiatives 100 years ago continue to be important, today, regular access to the Legislature, agencies and statewide decision-makers is necessary to maintain continuity and regularity in our agenda.

President Tom Gilmore notes that a more visible presence in the state capital will allow the constant political shepherding our mission agenda now requires.

The Trenton Field Office (no pun intended), conveniently located directly across from the front doors of the State House.

Ted Korth, Director of Policy and Kathy Bird, Policy Associate, serve as staff.

We are located at 142 West State Street, 4th Floor, Trenton, New Jersey, 08608, (609) 392-1181.  Please don't hesitate to give us a call.

Wildlife Funding Initiative Receives Bipartisan Support (Ted Korth)

Knowing that our members have great appreciation for elected officials who support core wildlife programs in our state, we ask you to take special note of four such persons:  Senators Bob Smith (D-17th Legislative District) and Leonard Lance (R-23rd Legislative District) and Assemblymen John McKeon (D-27th Legislative District) and Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-16th Legislative District).

Over the past three years, NJ Audubon has worked with a number of partners at the state and national level to secure funding for non-game wildlife projects in New Jersey.  The focal point of that effort has been the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program. 

While licensing fees and excise taxes have provided funding for the management of game species, non-game species – which comprise more than 90 percent of our wildlife population – have never received such attention.  The State Wildlife Grant program is an attempt to remedy this inconsistency.

The SWG program is a federal program that provides funding to states to carry out non-game wildlife projects.

In New Jersey, such funds are used for many projects.  Grassland birds, osprey, eagles, bats, turtles, whales and mollusks all benefit from SWG-funded projects.  The SWG program avoids much federal oversight, allowing states to apply funds to wildlife projects in the manner they determine to be most appropriate.  Good stuff, there is of course a catch.

Receipt of federal SWG funds requires that the state match one state dollar for every three federal dollars provided.  No match, no money.  In New Jersey, this match has been provided by funds generated by voluntary citizen contributions in the form of “Conserve Wildlife" license-plate purchases, wildlife "check-off" on state income-tax forms, and donations to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.  Though New Jersey has benefited from several million dollars of SWG funds and related projects over the past years (we counted 16 ongoing wildlife projects), New Jersey has never appropriated any state funds for this program.  Unfortunately, the well has run dry.

The state match provided for year 2004 SWG funds all but emptied the account.  Funds from license plates, tax check-off and elsewhere, which initially had placed a large principal on account, are insufficient to replenish the SWG account to the level needed for the match.

Potential for Wind Energy – Still Blow'n (Ted Korth)

In the last issue of this magazine, we briefly discussed the advent of wind power projects in New Jersey.  To re-cap, there is a need to decrease our reliance on fossil fuel derived energy, and of the many renewable energy forms now available, wind power has the potential to become a main supplier to New Jersey’s electric grid.  However, some of the best wind for making electricity in New Jersey can be found just offshore, in the area through which many migrating shorebirds/waterbirds fly and where fishing grounds and shipping channels are located.  For better or worse, the reality of large offshore wind power facilities has come to us faster than has reliable biological and structural information that would assure such facilities are sited and constructed in the least ecologically and socially obtrusive manner. 

Two companies, Atlantic Renewable Energy and Winergy, have floated plans for wind projects off the New Jersey Coast.  Concerned with the lack of information - avian, marine and social – regarding the potential impact of such projects, Acting Governor Cody placed a fifteen month moratorium on wind projects in New Jersey coastal waters.  During the moratorium period, a blue-ribbon panel will research the issues surrounding offshore wind projects and report on the findings in March, 2006.  In recognition of our expertise, Ted Korth (NJAS Director of Policy) has been appointed to the panel.

We are hopeful that New Jersey will continue its leadership role in state-based energy and ecological issues by creating an appropriate process to encourage the development and use of renewable energy.   

Franklin Township Natural Areas (Troy Ettel)

Much is underway with New Jersey Audubon Society’s Franklin Township Natural Areas project.  The joint initiative between NJAS and Franklin Township has greatly expanded to include other critical partners.  The Natural Resource Conservation Service (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Dept. of Interior) have stepped forward in a big way to make implantation of the habitat plan a reality.  Both NRCS and USFWS are providing the majority of the funding being used to restore the wetland at the Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve, to remove hedgerows impeding grassland restoration at the Negri-Nepote and Griggstown Native Grass Preserves, and to complete the native grassland restoration.  Much needed technical expertise is also being provided by biologists from NRCS and the USFWS. 

In addition to completion of the wetland at Negri-Nepote, about 30 acres were planted to native grasses and wildflowers this spring at both sites.  Seven Boy Scouts are also currently working on projects that create habitat for target wildlife and help improve access and site interpretation for the public.  These include construction of trails, trailhead kiosks, wildlife viewing blind, barn swallow nest structure and a trail bridge.  In addition a butterfly garden and a bluebird trail are being created by Scouts.   

Both sites are now fully open to the public, accessible by a marked trail system and parking lots.  For more information, Click Here. (PDF file)

Pinelands Forest Advisory Committee Recommendations to Guide Forestry Practices and Protect Wildilfe (Troy Ettel)

After nearly a year of deliberation, the Pinelands Forest Advisory Committee has provided forest management recommendations to the Pinelands Commission.  In general the recommendations summarize a mutual agreement amongst committee members that inappropriate use or management of Pinelands forests can bring serious harm to native animals and plants while also accepting that in turn lack of appropriate applied management will have negative impacts on the native ecosystems of the Pinelands as well.  In response, the recommendations offer a guide restricting certain practices, such as planting hybrid pine trees, while setting limits for others such as drum chopping and clearcutting.  The recommendations are a key part of addressing the way over one million acres of Pinelands forest will be managed.  These forest lands provide habitat to a number of rare species including red-headed woodpecker, northern pine snake, and Pine Barrens treefrog.

Mushett Family Foundation Stewardship Initiative Reaches New Heights (Troy Ettel)

The Mushett Family Foundation continues to provide financial support for NJAS stewardship activities.  Their generosity has allowed NJAS to participate in a number of significant initiatives including the Pinelands Forestry Advisory Committee and the New Jersey Grassland Habitat Coalition.  The New Jersey Grassland Habitat Coalition is a partnership involving the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and a number of non-governmental organizations interested in the preservation of grassland and early successional wildlife.  NJAS was a founding member of the coalition that has committed to raising funds for private lands’ biologists to focus on enrolling private landowners in conservation programs that will benefit farmland wildlife, including grassland birds. 

The Mushett Family Foundation has also been a key supported of NJAS stewardship outreach program.  In 2003, the Foundation awarded NJAS funding allowing the creation of demonstration stewardship templates for municipal properties and NJAS’ own sanctuaries.  Additional funding from the Mushett Foundation has now allowed NJAS to expand its outreach initiative to other municipalities containing critical wildlife habitats to work with them on stewardship plans.

Grassland Restorations at Atlantic City Airport (Troy Ettel)

NJAS is acting as a consultant to the South Jersey Transit Authority (SJTA) on the grassland mitigation project at the Atlantic City (AC) Airport.  NJAS Research Department is also conducting avian monitoring to evaluate the success of the project.  Currently, only AC Airport and the Lakehurst Naval Air Station are known to consistently support populations of Upland Sandpiper (state endangered).  A 290-acre Grassland Conservation and Management Area consisting of 165 acres of newly restored grassland and 125 acres of enhanced existing grassland will be created, maintaining the airport grasslands as one of the largest in the state.

This winter and spring, woody vegetation was removed from within a portion of the restored grassland area to prepare the site for native grass planting.  NJAS will be working with SJTA and Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade and Douglas, Inc., the consultant managing the project, to oversee and make recommendations for the ongoing restoration plans until completion of the project.