Jersey Adventures

The summer has come to an unofficial end, and I have departed the New Jersey area for home and then senior year. Waking up this morning, I could have almost pretended that the past 12 weeks had never happened. But my slowly fading tan, new shorebird knowledge, and slightly more confident attitude say otherwise. A year ago, I would have never thought to end up in NJ for a summer working an interp/education position. I couldn't be more happy that that's how things ended up, though. I talked to over 100 people a day sometimes and led several guided walks throughout the summer. I learned how the process of goose banding works, how forests and salt marshes can be surveyed, and what is involved in searching and monitoring nesting birds. I can now confidently spout facts to anybody who asks about an endangered bird named piping plover, and I've gotten better at engaging all ages in learning about a wilderness area. I also successfully put together a senior project idea, with the help of some friends. This summer was truly amazing, and I hope the rest of this year and the school year are equally enjoyable! Below are some pictures of my last weeks.

Picking up trash was never fun but always important!

Some of the amazing people I got to work with!

I think they all enjoyed my walks a lot more than I realized.

Working in the salt marsh was fun. 

I didn't get to play in the forest nearly as much as I wanted to!

Cute least tern chick. 

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

I have been in New Jersey for 5 days now, and I've enjoyed every moment so far. I am currently interning at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge for the summer as an outreach intern stationed at Holgate. I will be spending the majority of my summer sitting at an exhibit on the beach to inform the public of the protected wilderness area for nesting birds. The picture below shows our display for piping plovers, which are an endangered species of bird, and a variety of shells and brochures.

I will also be leading two of four guided nature walks down the beach throughout the summer. I'll be in charge of the Wilderness Walk and the Beachcombing Walk. The walk will allow the public to walk into the protected wilderness area, albeit only for a short time. 

The refuge headquarters itself is beautiful, located in Oceanville, NJ. The Visitor Center is amazing, housing many interesting displays and a live video feed of osprey chicks. There is an 8-mile wildlife drive overseeing many salt marshes and a forested area. I drove along it for the first time just yesterday, and I was able to see a diamondback terrapin laying eggs, two deer, and many birds, including willets, laughing gulls, great egrets, snowy egrets, canadian geese, and an american oystercatcher. While at Holgate, I also got to see my first wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, one of which jumped out of the water! Below are some pictures of the refuge itself.

 I hope to have many more amazing experiences as the summer continues!