U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service THE CAPE MAY PENINSULA Is Not Like the Rest of New Jersey Fall migration of monarch butterflies Photographs: USFWS Unique Ecosystems Key Migratory Corridor If you have noticed something The Cape May Peninsula is well-known “different” about the Cape May as a migratory route for raptors such Peninsula, particularly in regard to as the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter its vegetation types, of course you striatus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), are right! The Cape May Peninsula and northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), is not like the rest of New Jersey. The as well as owl species in great numbers. primary reason is climatic: nestled at The peninsula’s western beaches within Piping plover chick low elevation between the Atlantic Delaware Bay provide the largest Ocean and the Delaware Bay, the spawning area for horseshoe crabs peninsula enjoys approximately 225 (Limulus polyphemus) in the world frost-free days at its southern tip and, as a result, sustain a remarkable compared to 158 days at its northern portion of the second largest spring end. The vegetation, showing strong concentration of migrating shorebirds characteristics of the Pinelands flora in in North America. The increasingly the northern portion of the peninsula, rare red knot (Calidris canutus; a displays closer affinities to the mixed candidate for federal listing) as well hardwood forest of our country’s as the sanderling (C. alba), least southern Coastal Plain. Southern tree sandpiper (C. minutilla), dowitcher species such as the swamp chestnut oak (Limnodromus spp.), and ruddy (Quercus michauxii) and loblolly pine turnstone (Arenaria interpres) are (Pinus taeda) reach their northernmost some of the many bird species that distribution in Cape May County, while feed on horseshoe crab eggs to gain the common Pinelands trees such as weight for migration to their summer Swamp pink pitch pine (P. rigida) and short-leaf pine breeding grounds in the arctic. The (P. echinata) are less evident in the peninsula is also renowned for the southern portion of the County. early fall migration of thousands of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Least tern Box turtle Red knot Black skimmer Cape May National Wildlife diversity and for sustaining human Refuge life through the ecological and The Cape May National Wildlife hydrological functions they perform. Refuge consists of 11,683 acres with Refuge lands are also included in 4,583 acres in the Delaware Bay the North American Waterfowl Division, 6,576 acres in the Great Management Plan and are recognized Cedar Swamp Division, 514 acres by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird in the Two-Mile Beach Unit, and an Reserve Network, and the American authorized acquisition boundary of Bird Conservancy, which support an additional 21,191 acres. The refuge partnership approaches to conserving is actively involved in protecting the waterfowl throughout North, Central, and South America. Finally, the American oyster catcher with chick ecology of the Cape May Peninsula, providing necessary habitat to 317 Cape May Peninsula and the Cape Habitats for Endangered, bird species, 42 mammal species, and May National Wildlife Refuge are Threatened, and Rare Species 55 reptile and amphibian species. The designated on the New Jersey Coastal Profound changes have occurred in Delaware Bay Division protects salt Heritage Trail Route, which extends the peninsula’s environment since the marsh, forested uplands, forested south for nearly 300 miles from Perth first European colony was established wetlands, vernal pools, shrub/scrub, Amboy to Cape May and westward in 1640. The expansive Atlantic white- and grasslands. The Delaware Bay along the Delaware Bay to the cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) and Division attracts large numbers of Delaware Memorial Bridge. red maple (Acer rubrum) swamps were shorebirds, waterfowl, and other cut, in some cases three times, by the migratory birds. The Great Cedar Fishery Resources 1850s. Current stands are recovering Swamp Division has the largest All of Cape May Peninsula’s marshes but are fragmented. Further, the contiguous forest on the refuge and and tidal creeks provide important Cape May Peninsula is home to a is part of the Pinelands National nursery areas for sport fish such as large number of rare species (27 bird Reserve and the Great Egg Harbor summer flounder (Paralichthyus species, 2 mammals, 3 amphibians, National Scenic and Recreational dentatus) and bluefish (Pomatomus 4 reptiles, 30 invertebrates, and 147 River. This division protects hardwood saltatrix), American eel (Anguilla species of plants). A few of these swamps, salt marshes, bogs, forested rostrata) and blue crab (Callinectes species are federally listed (the bald uplands, and grasslands. Unique sapidus). Seventy percent of the eagle [Haliaeetus leucocephalus], viewing opportunities exist for species sought by recreational and piping plover [Charadrius melodus], Atlantic white-cedar stands, a variety commercial fishermen depend on swamp pink [Helonias bullata], and of warblers and other songbirds, bald shallow water habitats for at least seabeach amaranth [Amaranthus eagle, wintering owls, and northern part of their life cycle. pumilus]), and many are State- diamondback terrapin. The Great listed as threatened or endangered. Cedar Swamp Division also supports The Service is a committed conservation The killing of thousands of northern large numbers of marsh and water partner in protecting the Cape May diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys birds, songbirds, raptors, reptiles, Peninsula and invites you to visit, study, terrapin terrapin) by vehicular traffic and amphibians. The Two-Mile and enjoy the unique resources that every nesting season (June-July) has Beach Unit along the Atlantic Ocean are sustained and safeguarded for your prompted efforts by Richard Stockton offers opportunities to view barrier benefit, and for future generations. State College and The Wetlands islands, maritime forests, tidal ponds, Institute in Stone Harbor to salvage and beaches used by beach-nesting and incubate eggs from carcasses. The birds and thousands of migrating Cape May Peninsula also supports shorebirds. The piping plover, least nesting colonies of the State- tern, and American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) nest on listed (endangered) black skimmer U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Rynchops niger) and least tern (Sterna adjacent property and feed and rest Ecological Services antillarum); however, these beach- onsite during the seasonal beach New Jersey Field Office nesting species are highly vulnerable to closure from April 1 to September 30. 927 North Main Street, Building D predation by invasive species such as Pleasantville, New Jersey 08232 feral cats and Norway rats, and to the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge use of recreational vehicles on beaches. is on the Ramsar List of Wetlands P: 609/646 9310 Foresight by the State of New Jersey of International Importance as “of F: 609/646 0352 has put aside considerable areas of the significant value not only for the E: [email protected] W: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ country . in which it is located, peninsula as public lands, including njfieldoffice/ thousands of acres as State forest but for humanity as a whole.” The (Belleplain) and wildlife management Convention on Wetlands signed in Federal Relay Service for the deaf areas (Tuckahoe, Peaslee, Beaver Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 developed and and hard-of-hearing Swamp, Cape May Wetlands, Dennis maintained an international network 800/877 8339 Creek, Highbee Beach, Heislerville, of wetlands which are important for and Cape Island). the conservation of global biological Novemberr 2006.