Hiking in a meadow in Sussex County over the weekend, I came upon a small semi-hard grayish-yellow mass attached to a goldenrod stem. This “foam-like” cube was an egg case of a praying mantis. However, I was not as excited as some may think, because the majority of mantids in…...
Shortleaf Pine an Important Component to NJ’s Forests
This past week NJ Audubon’s Stewardship Department presented an overview of the Bobwhite Quail Restoration Initiative and the project’s tie in with the National Shortleaf Pine Initiative at the 4th Biennial Shortleaf Pine Conference in Galloway, NJ. According to the 2016 Shortleaf Pine Restoration Plan, “Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinate) has…...
New Jersey Audubon Receives Two Awards for Delaware River Watershed Initiative Efforts
For the third time in four years, the New Jersey Audubon Stewardship Department has won the prestigious “Firman E. Bear Ecological Excellence Award,” given by the New Jersey Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in partnership with Pinelands Nursery. The award recognizes excellence in an ecological restoration project…...
The Tale of two fields: Building Soil Health & Improving Water Quality with Cover Crops and No-Till
Photos & Text by Kristen Meistrell Every season, farmers across the Garden State tend to their crops while preparing for next season’s harvest. For some, part of this process involves turning the soil over to incorporate old crop residue, such as corn stalks, into the soil. This method is called…...
Pine Island Cranberry Co. Receives NJ’s First NBCI Firebird Award
Bill Haines, Jr. owner and CEO of Pine Island Cranberry Company (PICC) of Chatsworth, NJ was the recipient of New Jersey’s first ever National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative’s (NBCI) National Fire Bird Conservation Award. The award, presented at the NJ Fish and Game Council Meeting by James Sloan, New Jersey Division…...
Tour of Hortulus Farm & Garden Connects People with Nature
“Inspiration” was the word of the day as NJ Audubon lead a special outing with friends and members to the much celebrated Hortulus Farm and Garden. Set amongst the diverse habitat and rolling hills of Bucks County, PA, Hortulus Farm and Garden is a Master Gardener and horticulture enthusiast’s dream!…...
Keeping Common Species Common
When thinking of what is “common”, it suggests things that one perceives as being familiar or ordinary or perhaps even not special in any kind of way. Sometimes these things that are considered common are taken for granted or overlooked because of their perceived abundance. Sometimes even how they are…...
FIGHTN’ FEMELSCHLAGERS ENCOUNTER LITTLE EGRET AND MORE AT WSB
The NJA Stewardship Department World Series of Birding team, The Fightn’ Femelschlagers, had a great day out in South Jersey participating in the 34th Annual World Series of Birding racking up 114 species of birds! Bald Eagle, Whip-poor Will, Savannah Sparrow, Prothonotary Warbler, American Widgeon, and Black Skimmer were just…...