I SSUE F IFTY - E IGHT GREAT SWAMP WILDERNESS AREA TURNS FIFTY N OVEMBER 2 0 1 8 By Laurel Gould, Friends Volunteer H i g h l i g h t s ifty years ago, in Thwack in the Park 3 F 1968, President Volunteers Reach 16,000 Hours 4 Lyndon Johnson signed the Great Swamp Wilder- Robbins Viewing Platform 6 ness Act which created Millington Gorge 8 the first Wilderness Area in New Jersey. Wait a mi- Wildlife Population Changes 9 nute, you say! Wilderness in New Jersey? It sounds Board of Directors like an oxymoron. But the 3,660 acre Wilderness Joe Balwierczak President Area at Great Swamp
Steve Herdman National Wildlife Refuge Vice-President was created by law and is
Walter Willwerth part of the 110 million Secretary acre National Wilderness
Laurel Gould Preservation Systema Treasurer unique collection of pub- lic lands set aside by Con- Jane Bell gress to ensure future generations will be There are two Wilderness Areas in New
John Berry able to experience wilderness. Jerseythe other is at Forsythe NWR. There are 8 ½ miles of marked trails in the Allen Dreikorn Here are some things you may not know. Great Swamp Wilderness Area, but visitors The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964 may hike off trail. Randi Emmer preserving the wildest of our public lands Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are Susan Garretson Friedman with the highest level of protection. permitted in the Wilderness Area. In 1968, Great Swamp became the first Before Congress would pass the law creat- Ellen Greenhorn national wildlife refuge with formally de- ing the Great Swamp Wilderness Area, the Jim Mulvey signed wilderness. town had to remove a road running By law, no motor vehicles or motorized through the area and take down houses. George Solovay equipment are allowed in Wilderness The Wilderness Area today is more “wild” Areas. If a tree falls across the trail, it is Janet Stadelmeier than when the law was passed 50 years removed with a cross-cut saw! ago. In the spring, daffodils bloom along Kathy Woodward Wilderness Area designations are created by law and an act of Congress is required the Orange Trail, a silent reminder of how far we’ve come. Laurel Gould to remove lands from the National Wilder- Editor ness Preservation System.
Mike Horne Project Leader Lenape National Wildlife Refuge Complex “If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology.
We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got Printed on recycled through with it” ~President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the Wilderness Act of 1964 paper ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 2
PRESIDENT’S CORNER By Joe Balwierczak, President, Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
we celebrated National Wildlife Refuge already a member. Many of us have Week and Friends were permitted, dur- very busy lives and thus carefully man- ing this week, to escort visitors to the age our free time. Spending some of water impoundments to see ducks and that free time as a volunteer can be a geese fly in to rest for the evening dur- very rewarding experience. If you are ing their trip south. not a current volunteer with the Friends, I would like to suggest that in Like the visiting waterfowl, we also are the coming year you explore some of aware of the calendar and start prepar- the volunteer opportunities that the ing our homes and gardens for the Friends offer. Volunteer orientations coming winter. Fall traditions such as describe the ways volunteers help to football games and Halloween are tak- make the Great Swamp NWR a better ing our attention as well, and we know place for wildlife and for human visi- that the holiday season will be here tors. These orientations are offered a s I write this column, the neigh- before long. Thus, with the new year number of times throughout the year A borhoods around the Great not too far away, I would like for the and notices of when they are held are Swamp NWR are experiencing a notice- readers of the Swamp Scene to also posted on the Friends website. Also, able change in the weather, indicating think about the coming year and how the annual meeting of the Friends will that the fall season has started in ear- you will be involved with Great Swamp be held at 5 pm on Saturday December NWR in 2019. st nest. Short sleeves are out and lined 1 at the Helen Fenske Visitor Center jackets are dug out of hall closets. The I hope that all of you will continue your when we will review the past year and leaves are changing colors and flocks membership in Friends of Great see what lies in store for 2019. of birds are flying south. In October, Swamp NWR or consider joining if not I hope to see many of you there.
FRIENDS BOARD APPROVES FY2019 BUDGET ach year the Friends Board and Refuge staff meet to share ideas for new projects for the coming fiscal year (October 1 E to September 30). The Board then creates a budget, projecting income and operating expenses before selecting new projects to fund. Here are some of the projects that have been budgeted by our committees for 2019.
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE & REPAIR PROJECTS VISITOR CENTER AREA ENHANCEMENTS Chandler S. Robbins Memorial Viewing Platform Improvements on the Nature Detective Trail Refurbishment of Garden Club Blind Interpretive signs for purple martin gourd racks Boardwalk on White Oak Trail Enhance Pollinator Meadow for improved habitat
EDUCATION PROJECTS VISITOR SERVICES Reprinting of Junior Refuge Manager Activity Guide Fall Festival—20th Annual! New interpretive signs at Wildlife Observation Center GARDENKEEPER PROJECTS Water bottle filling station inside Visitor Center New workbench, charging stations, and tool storage Installation of weather station at Visitor Center Expansion of Butterfly Garden, new plant markers and interpretive materials for visitors VOLUNTEERS Volunteer Recognition Event sponsorship HABITAT AND WILDLIFE Support of Great Swamp Strike Team—sprayers, native seed mixes for treated areas, consulting services INCOME SOURCES The Friends receive income from sales in the Nature Shop. Head-start turtle research project (9th year!!) Donations are received from individuals, corporations and PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS organizations, and from generous Foundation grants. Donation to National Wildlife Refuge Association, the non -profit supporting Friends and the Refuge System However, the largest source of income for the Friends is you—our members. TRAIL BLAZERS New tools, backpacks, folding saws for trail maintainers Thank you for your incredible support!
F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 3 A THWACK IN THE PARK By Marilyn Kitchell, Refuge Biologist, Photo: Hal Korber/Pennsylvania Game Commission Management at Patuxent Re- the heart of the average sub- search Refuge in Laurel, Mar- urbanite as sign of a healthy yland. Once compiled, the bit of nature left to beand data is used to monitor the scrubby brushlands can be rangewide population and perceived as an interim mess, then to set annual harvest no longer pretty or useful to limits at the federal level. This us. Beauty is, of course, in the long-term dataset shows that eye of the beholder. For the the woodcock population has woodcock, the loss of brush- been in steady decline since lands has been an ugly thing. surveys began. And the prima- ry reason for their decline? And so, odd as it sounds, the Habitat loss. only way to maintain these ephemeral habitats is…to cut You see, woodcock depend them down. By cutting early on the brushlands for rearing successional (“young”) habi- spent the fall of 2017 and tected from the sun’s evapo- their young from ground tats in rotation, staggered I winter of 2018 thwacking rative rays by leaves above nests. The protection it offers from year to year and field by my way through the refuge’s and underfoot, is chock full of from mammalian and avian field, the refuge is able to brushy young forests. Black- earthworms who erroneously predators, and the rich earth- consistently maintain suitable berry brambles snagging my think THEY are protected by worms that can be found habitat for our woodcock thick Carhartt coveralls and all this bramble. Not to be there, make it prime real es- friends. And as much as our grabbing my every limb made outsmarted, the woodcock tate. But brushlands them- brushlands love to grow up progress slow. Gnarly stumps have developed a graceful selves are a short-lived phe- into forest, they are equally nomenon, and around the lay their own obstacle course dancea sort of forward- eager to regenerate following Swamp they can attain forest at my feet. Ducking below and stepping, vertical bobbing cutsoften growing back even character (with trees dominat- around bare thin branches, I motionto detect the earth- thicker than they started. In tried to spare my rosy red ing and shading out the as little as 6 months those worm’s nearly imperceptible ground layer) in as little as 10 cheeks and face from the underground presence. fields will be dense with vege- poking and scratching that years. Across the east, nearly tation 5-6 feet tall, eagerly Shielded by all that’s above, 13 million acres of scrubby threatened the only parts of the woodcock must feel that sprouting upward and out- brushland habitats have been me exposed in the cold, crisp this is the perfect place to ward. lost either to suburban devel- air. My task: to evaluate each build their ground nests and opment or to forest conver- And the woodcock happen to field and determine its fate raise their fluffy young. sion since the 1960’s, and love hanging out in those real- would it be cut this year, or So if these brushy fields are with it go the woodcock. Here ly thick brushlands, even if I would it remain? so good for the woodcock, you in the northeast, mature for- do not. might ask: why was it my task No wonder the woodcock love ests seem to have captured to evaluate them for cutting? this stuff, I thought. This is a To answer that, we turn to the miserable place to be a large US Fish and Wildlife Service’s mammal. Opposable thumbs Migratory Birds program, and aside, I can’t imagine it’s the annual surveys that much easier for a fox or a coyote to make its way they’ve been conductingone that the refuge participates in through here. annually since 1968. I envision what it must be like for a woodcock to wander Each spring, States and Na- tional Wildlife Refuges alike through this brush, navigating their way through stems send volunteers and staff out to listen for singing males on spaced like agility pegs and horse jumps. A canopy of 1,000 woodcock survey routes across the species branches is layered above. Dense leaves hide the sky range. Following a standard- ized protocol, this cooperative Average number of woodcock heard on annual survey routes across from the woodcock’s upward- the Eastern region, 1968-2018. looking and predator-leery data is submitted annually to the Division of Migratory Bird Graph from Seamans and Rau 2018 (American Woodcock Population Status, eyes. The moist earth, pro- 2018. USFWS, Laurel, MD.).
F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 4
MORE THAN 16,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS! VOLUNTEERS REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE! es—16,000!
That’s the number of hours donated by volunteers to Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Fiscal Year 2018. A new record! This includes corporate and school work groups, summer interns, RV volunteers, but it also in- Ycludes 193 individual Friends and volunteers. So―you can just imagine what a difference volunteers make.
Where do volunteers spend their time—and what are they doing to benefit Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge? Let’s take a look at four of the major areas.
HABITAT AND WILDLIFE—3,473 HOURS
his area is the key reason for the existence of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge—to conserve, enhance and protect T habitat for wildlife. This year volunteers ... Removed invasive species, which threaten habitat diversity—and reintroduced native species beneficial to wildlife. Created pollinator habitat—pollinator insects are in decline. Expanded a Monarch garden; raised caterpillars and released butterflies. Monitored the bluebird trail and purple martin nest gourds. Banded ducks for migration research. Cleaned out wood duck boxes and surveyed the number of successful egg hatches. Planted and tended native plant gardens for birds and butterflies—and to educate our visitors.
The Great Swamp Strike Team works year-round to tackle emerging invasive species that threaten refuge habitat. Pictured here is a “striking” example of how effective a focused and persistent effort can be.
Before (left): Wildlife Biologist Colin Osborn surrounded by glossy buckthorn in Field 48 on October 13, 2016. After (right): Strike team members working in the same Field 48 on October 25, 2018. Volunteers make such a difference!
FRIENDS―1,026 HOURS
Friends of Great Swamp NWR is an all-volunteer organization and these volunteer hours are spent keeping our non-profit organization vibrant, growing, and financially stable. This year volunteers ... Maintained membership records, sent renewals, and welcomed new members. Acknowledged donations and tracked grants. Paid the bills and kept the books. Provided communications through the website, Facebook, and Swamp Scene. Operated the Friends Nature Shop. Coordinated volunteers and provided volunteer training and orientation.
F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 5
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR—3,561 HOURS
his category focuses on improving infrastructure and keeping the refuge in good shape. These volunteers build board- T walks, bridges, kiosks, and trails as well as taking care of maintenance and repair. This year volunteers … Designed and constructed a new 600 foot boardwalk to the Friends Blind. Worked with staff on the major restroom renovation project at the Wildlife Observation Center. Installed benches, built kiosks, and constructed bridges for wet areas on trails. Maintained 11 1/2 miles of trails including 8 1/2 miles in the Great Swamp Wilderness Area. Mowed and mowed! Lawns, entrance roads, around parking areas, and along roadsides. Picked up litter along refuge roads in spring and fall.
VISITOR SERVICES AND RECREATION—8,142 HOURS
efuges have a “wildlife first” missionbut people are welcome tooand our volunteers are experts at making visitors R feel welcome and sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm. This year volunteers ... Staffed the Visitor Center daily, greeting visitors and providing refuge orientation—over 4,000 volunteer hours. Greeted visitors are the Wildlife Observation Center during busy spring and fall migration seasons. Assisted young people in earning a Junior Refuge Manager Badge and led walks for schools and other organizations. Hosted programs for the public including Second Sundays, Fall Festival, and walks for National Wildlife Refuge Week. Created seasonal displays for the Visitor Center to enhance visitor experiences. Provided volunteer speakers for organizations who requested a free refuge- based program. Set up displays in local libraries to publicize the refuge. Hosted a monthly Refuge Readers book group.
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
– William James
F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 6
FRIENDS BLIND—TO BECOME CHANDLER S. ROBBINS MEMORIAL VIEWING PLATFORM
hen Chandler “Chan” a two-level viewing platform W Robbins, a renowned in memory of George’s fa- ornithologist and researcher ther. George Robbins ex- whose career spanned more plained their choice. “It was than 60 years at the Patux- simply because we wanted ent Wildlife Research Center to improve our birding expe- in Maryland passed away in rience, while at the same 2017, the family of his son time create a memorial for George considered a fitting my father that we thought to tribute. For over forty years, sponsor the building of a George and his wife Andrea, taller viewing platform in the while traveling between their refuge.” New Hampshire home and George’s family in Maryland, One level of the new viewing On September 28, in the Friends Blind, George Robbins presented would stop in Chatham to platform will be ADA compli- the donation to Laurel Gould, Friends’ Treasurer visit Andrea’s parents. While ant, raised about four feet above ground level. The sec- (Left to right: Andrea Robbins, George Robbins, Laurel Gould, there, Great Swamp Nation- Kathy Woodward, Deputy Refuge Manager Lia McLaughlin al Wildlife Refuge was al- ond level, accessible by ways a deliberate birding stairs, will be eight feet destination for them. above ground which should the future site of the plat- In thanking the Robbins form is a new ADA compliant Family, Friends President boardwalk, designed and Joe Balwierczak comment- “We are thrilled created by George Solovay ed: “We are so proud to and his dedicated and hard- have a viewing platform with to be able to create a special place working team of carpenters. the name Chandler S. Rob- Thie project, which was bins on it here at Great that so many will enjoy.” funded by the Friends, was Swamp NWR. It is even finished earlier this summer more amazing that this plat- Now, thanks to a generous provide an extensive view of and provides a relaxing and form will be ADA compliant gift from George and Andrea the impoundment area and scenic walk through the and will provide a birding Robbins, the Friends Blind waterfowl. The entire struc- woods. experience for many who at the Wildlife Observation ture will be open, to en- would never have had that Center will be replaced with hance viewing. Leading to It was important to Andrea opportunity. What an incred- and George that the ible legacy to leave for Great new structure be Swamp visitors who come handicap accessible. from near and far to enjoy According to Andrea, birding in all seasons.” “We also traveled extensively with Refuge staff and volunteers George’s father in his are presently working on the later years, while he permitting process and the was using a wheel- design phase. It is anticipat- chair. Although Chan ed that the Chandler S. Rob- may never have actu- bins Memorial Viewing Plat- ally visited the Great form may be ready for visi- Swamp himself, he tors in 2019. would have greatly appreciated the easy Andrea sums it up: “It is all access that the new very exciting! And we are wheelchair accessible thrilled to be able to create boardwalk and view- a special place that so many ing platform would will enjoy.” have provided to him, so that he could view George Solovay’s model of the Chandler S. Robbins Memorial Viewing the birds with us.” Platform at Great Swamp NWR
F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 7 CHANDLER S. ROBBINS 1918—2017 1956. He re-banded the established the ABA Chan- world’s oldest known banded dler Robbins Education/ bird in 2002. Conservation Award.
During his 60 years of full- "What symbolized Chan Rob- time work at Patuxent (he bins most eloquently to me retired in 2005), Robbins was his worn-out old pair of made critical contributions to government binoculars,” research on forest fragmen- Klinger says. “Dented, heavy tation, bird banding, breeding as lead and beat to hell. I bird surveys and bird identifi- hope they go into a Fish and cation. He was a senior au- Wildlife Service museum thor of The Field Guide to someday. He could have af- Birds of North America, or- forded the finest optics in the ganizer of the North Ameri- world, but he was comforta- Robbins uses his binoculars. Photo by Barbara Dowell, courtesy USGS can Breeding Bird Survey and ble with what he had. His much more. acuity of eye and ear exceed- enowned U.S. Fish and Service retiree David Klinger Wildlife Service ornithol- remembers: "Several of us ed the powers of mere phys- R "Chandler Robbins was the ics.” ogist Chandler Robbins died from the National Conserva- 'dean' of the bird conserva- March 20, 2017. He was 98. tion Training Center got to- tion world, one might say," In “retirement,” Robbins be- Born July 17, 1918, in Bos- gether at Patuxent around says Jerome Ford, assistant came "Scientist Emeritus" at ton, Robbins devoted his life 2007, about the time of the director for Migratory Birds. Patuxent and continued to to birds, their study and pro- centennial of Rachel Car- "His amazing legacy lives on work at the U.S. Geological tection. son's birth. We wanted to every day in the work of our Survey's Patuxent Wildlife know what Chan Robbins dedicated Migratory Bird Pro- Research Center. “I got to He graduated from Harvard could tell us about Carson, with a degree in physics and gram employees." bird with two true recognized as well as about his own luminaries in the birding began teaching math and eventful life. We were smart A listing of groups that have science in Vermont. Robbins world―Roger Tory Peterson enough to know we needed honored him, even just and Chandler Robbins, so I then joined the Service in an oral history with this through 2005, reads like a 1945 as a junior biologist guess you can say I've lived a 'grand old man' of ornitholo- who's who of conservation full life,” says Klinger. at Patuxent Research Ref- gy, and, for hours, he didn't groups. The National Audu- uge, where he engaged in disappoint.” bon Society named him as early research on the effects one of 100 Champions of of DDT and had his papers Robbins was also the one Conservation of the 20th edited by his col- who first banded the Laysan Century. In 2000, the Ameri- league Rachel Carson. albatross named Wisdom in can Birding Association Reprinted from: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Open Spaces, March 21, 2017 (https://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2017/3/21/ Renowned-FWS-Ornithologist-Chandler-Robbins-Dies)
TWENTY YEARS AND COUNTING! FRIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 1999—2019
n 2019, the Friends will be celebrating their 20th anniversary. We’re planning some I special events and activities. We’ll be reuniting with some of the many people who have helped the Friends grow and thrive over the years and we’ll be highlighting some of the many accomplishments which have enhanced the habitat, wildlife and recreational opportunities here at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Stay tuned … and plan to join us! .
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POSTCARD FROM AN ICE AGE—MILLINGTON GORGE Story and Photos by Peter Lebovitz, Friends Volunteer
trap rock, redirecting the Passaic River on its current long and torturous journey to the sea. Today, this postcard from the ice age offers a scenic retreat for hiking and fishing. The river here is stocked with trout, and it offers a surprising change in scenery for kayakers paddling downstream from Lord Stirling Park.
If you go, be aware that the footing can be a bit precarious in places, and if you descend to the river, a bit soggy. Travel- ling northward along the embankment, the gravel path gives way to a smaller trail worn through the brush. Further down this trail, at the point where the Passaic’s headwaters enter the gorge, you will come upon a Stream Gauging Station operated by the US Geological Survey. This was installed to record wa- ter depth and rate of flow data which are used in the planning of various wa- ter control projects.
he entrance is unmarked and in- enormous lake. Known today as Lake GETTING THERE T conspicuous. Parking is on a patch Passaic, it was formed in the waning From South Maple Street / Basking of gravel alongside a railroad crossing. years of the last ice age from water left Ridge Road, turn south onto Pond Hill Here, an opening in the tree line leads behind by the melting glaciers. But the Rd at the Basking Ridge / Millington to a crushed stone and timber path. advancing glaciers had pushed vast line. Drive a short distance up the hill But a few steps in and you are transport- amounts of rocks and soil southward, along the river, and park alongside the ed to a different realm entirely. Beneath blocking any escape route for the glacial railroad crossing. An opening in the tree- a dense forest canopy, the land drops melt or the ancestral Passaic River. And line on the Northeast corner of the off sharply to your right, plunging over water was now filling Morris County like crossing leads to the path along the 150 feet to a river below. The path a clogged sink. So where did all that gorge. (GPS Coordinates: 40.677829, - winds along the embankment above the water go? 74.528602) river and across a wooden bridge. A flight of rough wooden stairs leads down The Third Watchung Mountains were the THE PASSAIC RIVER to the water. last barrier holding back the remains of The Passaic River rises in Mendham and Lake Passaic. Its waters eventually over- flows southward, skirting the western Only a short distance from the refuge, flowed and spilled over a gap in the edge of the Great Swamp. The entire Millington Gorge may be the most fasci- mountain range. Over time, the rushing swamp drains into these headwaters nating nearby place you’ve never seen. water carved Millington Gorge into the which then exit the refuge through It is not named on maps or Millington Gorge. After leaving the guide books, and there are no gorge, the river travels another 80 signs pointing the way. But this miles, flowing through 45 towns and is where the Passaic River prop- providing drinking water for about 2 er begins, as its headwaters million people. In Paterson, it forms leave the Great Swamp water- the spectacular Great Falls where, in shed. And the gorge where you the late 18th century, its hydropower now stand is a fundamental part was a key factor in the industrializa- of the history of both the swamp tion of New Jersey. Sadly, by the and the refuge as we now know time it reaches Newark Bay, the Pas- it. saic has become one of the most
Fifteen thousand years ago, the polluted waterways in America. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was at the bottom of an USGS Stream Gauging Station
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WILDLIFE POPULATION CHANGES AT GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE By Leo Hollein, Volunteer n more than 15 years of grounds. The purple martin I volunteering in various racks hold 12 artificial gourds wildlife programs at Great that have been very success- Swamp National Wildlife Ref- ful in attracting martins as uge, I have observed changes they nest in most of the in wildlife populations. There gourds. It is a pleasure to have been increases as well stand near the racks and lis- as decreases in species pop- ten to the almost continuous ulations. Some changes chirping from the martins. would generally be consid- ered as positives and others Kestrel nest boxes have not negative. The changes have been as successful. Kestrels been due to human activities, raised two clutches in 2006 habitat changes and natural and had a nest depredated in events—or a combination of 2007. There has not been these factors. The population any nesting kestrel activity in the nest boxes since then. of a specific species may also American Kestrel Photo by Chuck Hantis be cyclical in nature. Kestrels are present during spring and fall migration. The ing the bluebird boxes and combination of human initia- Data exists to quantify a num- Raptor Trust releases 10 to increasing the distance be- tives and natural events. This ber of these population 20 kestrels that are orphans tween pairs of boxes have has reduced over-browsing of changes as well as convinc- from the urban areas along proved successful. However, Refuge vegetation. An over- ing anecdotal observations the Hudson River. It is not wood duck nesting has de- abundance of whitetail deer on other changes. For exam- known why kestrels do not clined in boxes over the last will browse much of the na- ple bald eagles have nested use the nest boxes. One theo- decade. This trend is con- tive vegetation that in turn for the last three years in the ry is the Cooper’s hawks prey sistent with the reduced num- leads to an abundance of Refuge. There is no previous on juvenile kestrels. The re- ber of wood ducks trapped introduced flora. record of bald eagles nesting duction in nesting kestrels is and banded in the Refuge in the Refuge. Species that not confined to the Refuge during the summer. The Ref- The decrease in the deer have increased in population but has been widely noted uge habitat has become less population was due to a include black bears, wild tur- throughout New Jersey. combination of changing attractive to nesting wood keys, eastern bluebirds, pur- ducks than in the past. The hunting rules and disease. ple martins, house wrens, The two long term nest box programs also show different Refuge is implementing steps Refuge hunts have been mute swans, Canada geese to reverse this trend. and wood turtles. Species results. Over the last ten held annually since 1974 to years bluebirds have aver- control the deer population. that have decreased include DEER HERD NUMBERS DROP white tailed deer, nesting aged over 200 fledglings per The white tailed deer popula- The four day hunts take kestrels, screech owls, wood year. This is an increase over tion in the Refuge has de- place in November. The ducks and mallards. No doubt the previous results as pair- creased significantly due to a chart on page 10 presents other species have waxed the history of deer harvests and waned but there is not at the Refuge. From 1974 sufficient evidence to include to the end of the century them in the lists. the deer harvest gradually increased, most likely due Human activities include add- to a larger hunt area and ing and maintaining nesting improved deer habitat. The homes for bluebirds, purple number of deer harvested martins, wood ducks and kes- has plummeted in this cen- trels. The two newest addi- tury. Browsing studies of tions of nesting homes for Refuge vegetation confirm birds are the 4 purple martin the deer population is now racks and 6 kestrel boxes. well below the guideline of Two martin racks are at the 20 deer per square mile. visitor center. Two are located on the former headquarters (continued on page 10)
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WILDLIFE POPULATION CHANGES (continued from page 9)
The most significant change Hunters preferred to har- in deer hunting rules went vest bucks. Removing bucks into effect beginning with from the herd does not sig- the year 2000 hunt. The nificantly impact the deer new system was called the population. “Earn-a-buck” program and was aimed at reducing the There was a significant out- doe (adult female) popula- break of Epizootic Hemor- tion that annually can have rhagic Disease (EHD) follow- twins or even triplets under ing Hurricane Irene that hit favorable conditions. While the Refuge in the late Au- hunt details vary year by gust 2011. There were also year, this program requires smaller disease outbreaks a hunter to harvest one or in 2007 and 2014. Irene more antlerless deer before brought about 6 inches of earning the right (buck tag) rainfall that led to extensive to harvest a buck. The flooding following an al- “Earn-a-buck” program led ready wet August. Small to a gradual decline of the midges (culicoides variipen- deer population from 2002 nis) commonly referred to Photo by William Bell to 2010. The previous deer as gnats or “no-see-ums” hunting system was called can transmit the EHD virus Refuge on hurricane winds. EHD is only fatal to wild rumi- the “hunter’s choice”. Un- when biting deer. A midge Any disease-carrying midges nants such as deer. EHD rare- der this program a hunter carrying the EHD virus may that were present in the ly causes illness to domestic could harvest any deer. have been carried into the Refuge had ideal breeding animals and does not infect conditions to expand their humans. People are not at population. Epizootic means risk by handling infected deer that the disease occurs at or eating venison that has the same time in many indi- been exposed to EHD. As viduals of the same spe- shown in the deer harvest cies. As the name implies chart, the number of deer the disease causes exten- harvested fell below 50 for sive internal hemorrhaging. the first time in hunt history from 2011 to 2017. Eventu- While the EHD virus is often ally the deer herd will recov- fatal, not all infected deer will er. It has been proven that die. Some will fight off the the deer hunt rules can be disease and develop antibod- adjusted to maintain the herd ies to ward off future infec- below the population guide- tions. Surviving does pass lines. these antibodies to their off- spring. The good news is that
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F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG ISSUE 58—NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 11
F RIENDS OF G REAT S WAMP N ATIONAL W ILDLIFE R EFUGE M EMBERSHIP A PPLICATION
The Friends of Great Swamp is an independent, non-profit organization organized in 1999. Our operations and activities are managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. As our mission statement indicates, our focus is Refuge-centric — we support the goals, projects, and mission of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
To become a member of the Friends of Great Swamp, fill out the information on this form, and mail with your check to: Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
E ASTERN BLUEBIRD—$15-$49 PAINTED TURTLE —$50—$99 RIVER OTTER—$100—$249
M ONARCH BUTTERFLY—$250—$499 WOOD DUCK—$500 + New Member?
TOTAL ENCLOSED $ You may also join online at www.friendsofgreatswamp.org Name ______Address ______City ______State, Zip Code ______Phone Number ______E-Mail Address ______Gift Membership From: ______(If this is a gift, please include your full name on the line above so we may notify the recipient)
We need more Friends ... Become a Friend Today—or, Give a gift membership to a friend.
Thank you
Memberships help support the projects and programs at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Membership Benefits The Swamp Scene Newsletter. A 10% discount in Friends Nature Shop . Notifications of upcoming events. Satisfaction in knowing you are helping protect wildlife and wild places while safeguarding a national treasure for future generations.
Gift Memberships will include a coupon redeemable at the Friends Nature Shop for a free Great Swamp pin or Great Swamp patch.
F RIENDS OF GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — WWW.FRIENDSOFGREATSWAMP.ORG Friends of Great Swamp NWR 32 Pleasant Plains Road Basking Ridge NJ 07920
The Swamp Scene November 2018
Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Is an independent, volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to
Promoting stewardship of the natural resources of the Refuge, Inspiring an appreciation of nature through education and outreach, Engaging in partnership activities that support and enhance the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System.