Eric Stiles
Vice President for Conservation & Stewardship

December, 2002

Shorebird/Horseshoe Crab Conservation Campaign - Halt the Harvest

Each spring, the Delaware Bay hosts the second largest concentration of shorebirds in North America. Between .5 and 1 million shorebirds from 9 species stop over on the Delaware Bay where they gorge themselves on fat-rich crabs eggs. This world-renowned spectacle is being jeopardized by the harvest of adult horseshoe crabs.

New Jersey Audubon Society launched a conservation campaign with the American Littoral Society, Delaware Riverkeeper and NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club calling for an immediate moratorium on the horseshoe crab harvest of the Delaware Bay population. Data on drastic decline in shorebirds numbers and weight gain rates and adult horseshoe crabs and crab eggs provides irrefutable evidence of an impending ecological catastrophe. The catastrophe can only be averted through an immediate halt to the harvest of adult crabs.

Our coalition held a press conference on November 19th in Trenton calling for the Governor of New Jersey to take three actions:

1. Immediately instituting a moratorium on NJ horseshoe crab harvest.

2. Support regional efforts with states including Delaware to better address this shared resource.

3. Support an Atlantic Coast (Maine to Florida) and New Jersey horseshoe crab stock assessment.

Visit our Horseshoe Crab Alert Page for more information on how you can help.

Holgate Beach Wilderness Areas Assaulted by ORV Enthusiasts

NJAS is strongly opposed to any weakening of the legal requirements which currently prevent off road vehicle (ORV) enthusiasts from driving on the Holgate Wilderness Area of the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Holgate, New Jersey's only wild beach, is a three-mile stretch of land at the southern tip of Long Beach Island. It provides a sanctuary for over 300 species of birds, including the federally threatened Piping Plover. As a designated federal Wilderness Area, motorized vehicles are forbidden on the property above the mean high tide line (mhtl). New Jersey, which has jurisdiction over the beach below the mhtl, has permitted motorized vehicles in this zone.

ORV groups are now working through Congress to assault this wilderness. Congressman James Saxton, (R-3rd District and Vice Chairman of the House Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee) advocates allowing fishermen to drive onto the wilderness area above the mhtl. NJAS has joined other conservation organizations who are protesting this proposed weakening of the law. It is our belief that the long-term solution to this issue is for the state of New Jersey to restrict motorized vehicles below the high tide line as well. There are many good fishing areas north (Island Beach) and south (Brigantine) of Holgate Beach where vehicles can be driven. Fishermen and others would always be welcome to walk onto the Holgate area and enjoy the beauty of a sanctuary for wildlife

Atlantic City Airport Expansion Threatens Rare Species

The South Jersey Transportation Authority in a quest to compete with major hubs like the Philadelphia Airport plans to expand its facilities at Atlantic City Airport in the Pinelands. The A.C. airport is home to a wide range of rare, threatened and endangered species including Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Barred Owl, Cooper's Hawk, Pine Snake, Pine Barrens Treefrog, and Frosted Elfin. Until recently, these sensitive species were under the stewardship of the Federal Aviation Administration. Because of proper management and security, many federal facilities including this site provide critical habitat to threatened and endangered species. In 1999, close to 2,000 acres of land were leased to the South Jersey Transportation Authority to operate the Atlantic City airport. NJAS feels that their expansion plans which include hotels, conference centers, new roads, etc. will prove fatal to many resident endangered species. We also question many of their findings in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. For example, their consultant mistakenly omitted many critical areas for Upland Sandpiper in their analysis. NJ Audubon is partnering with the Pinelands Preservation Alliance to safeguard the plethora of rare, sensitive species onsite.

Birdwatchers are Big Spenders - Economics of Ecotourism

A survey of wildlife watchers in the United States was recently released by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and its results are staggering. In 2001, 1.64 million residents and 688,000 visitors watched wildlife in New Jersey. Wildlife Watchers in New Jersey alone spent $1.24 billion on travel-related expenses (e.g. meals and lodging) and equipment. Total dollars spent by wildlife watchers in New Jersey grew 43% (from $864 million) in 5 years time. In addition, while the number of wildlife watchers has declined slightly nationally, the numbers in New Jersey continue to soar. New Jersey wildlife watchers spent $652 per person in 2001, which is significantly higher than the national average of $510. New Jersey is also one of only 7 states in which wildlife watchers outspend hunters and anglers. In total, NJ wildlife watchers and hunters and anglers contributed $2.2 billion to local economy. Clearly, conservation is good business!

NJAS Co-hosts Symposium on the State of the Forest in the Highlands

Ecological issues regarding Highlands forest degradation and restoration were the focus of the State of the Forest Symposium on October 3, at the Morris County Cultural Center. Over 140 people attended this symposium which was jointly sponsored by New Jersey Audubon Society, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy.

The speakers and panelists presented a broad range of scientific research and expert views regarding the current health of the forests in the Highlands. Specific ecological stressors and challenges in preserving the Highlands forests included the threats imposed by superabundant deer herbivory, invasive plant species and by the destructive impact of non-native Asiatic earthworms on forest soils. Evidence was presented as to how ecosystem degradation affects wildlife diversity and the habitat on which it depends; for example, studies show that avian diversity declines when deer density is as low as 5 deer per km2.

Attendees participated in discussions of solutions and future actions to preserve, restore and enhance the forest resources in the region. Participants came away from the Symposium with a clear understanding that land acquisition in the Highlands by conservation agencies and groups alone is not going to safeguard our future. Proactive, integrated management and stewardship will be required to ensure water, wildlife and our forests for future generations.

For proceedings, please send an e-mail to conservation@njaudubon.org or a request to NJAS Conservation Department, POB 693, Bernardsville NJ 07924.

Sanctuary Development (Evesham) Update - A Mixed Message for Rare Species

Last June, state biologists discovered a vandalized Pine Snake (state-threatened species) nest in land slated for housing construction at the Sanctuary development in Evesham Township. Government scientists removed an adult female Pine Snake and ten eggs from the collapsed nest, releasing the mother and taking the eggs to a laboratory for hatching. After juveniles emerged, New Jersey Audubon Society, Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) and their expert consultant, leading Pine Barrens herpetologist Robert Zappalorti, argued the hatchlings needed to be returned to the nest area by mid-September so they could rejoin and strengthen the local population of this threatened species. Instead, in late October NJDEP placed the nine hatchlings into an artificial den, over .75 miles from their collection site, on state land near the Sanctuary development. NJDEP's delay unnecessarily prevented the government from returning the juveniles to their nest den. However, releasing the snakes into the artificial den within the likely range of the larger pine snake population was better than keeping them in captivity.

On a brighter note, NJAS and PPA are pleased that the Pinelands Commission has recently "called up" further construction approvals for review due to the pine snake's presence on the property. We are urging the Commission and DEP to take all necessary steps necessary to protect the pine snake's habitat. That means further studies of the population and its needs, preventing construction of houses on the snakes' habitat, and stopping the construction of roads across this habitat that would become death-traps for the pine snakes.

Lebanon Township Land Coalition Receives NJAS's 2002 Richard Kane Conservation Award

The Lebanon Township Land Coalition was honored as the recipient of the New Jersey Audubon Society's 2002 Richard Kane Conservation Award during the recent Cape May Autumn birding weekend which hosted 9,000 participants. On behalf of the Coalition, Ed Post who is a long-time NJ Audubon member received a plaque signifying this Award at the Weekend banquet.

The Lebanon Township Land Coalition was formed by concerned citizens who sought to preserve a biologically rich site in the Highlands from development. This development project, which included 39 McMansion homes on 248 acres, would have destroyed critical habitat for Bog Turtles, a federally threatened species. The site in northern New Jersey sits atop a 1000-foot ridge that drains into two native trout streams.

The Coalition played a key role in orchestrating citizen opposition and obtaining the backing of conservation groups. They were assisted by attorney Kevin Kelly and consulting firm Thonet Associates in fighting the sprawl project. As a result of their efforts, the Coalition was instrumental in defeating the proposed Mt. Lebanon Estates development in Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County.

This achievement exemplifies the profound positive impact local citizens can have in working together to safeguard our natural heritage for future generations. We salute the work of the Lebanon Township Land Coalition and hope other citizen groups will work to protect our children's heritage.