We’ve Expanded! Virtually, That Is

by Brooke Knapick, Director of Educational Program Development During the 2022-23 academic school year, a record-breaking 16,785 children and young adults participated in formal education programs with The Wetlands Institute. It was a privilege to be welcomed back...

Marsh Restoration Comes Home

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director & Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team Coastal marshes, tidal creeks, and bays are cradles of life. They host a phenomenal diversity of wildlife, including the beloved diamondback terrapin and majestic Osprey. They are...

A Decade of Commitment

by Steve Popowski, Wetlands Institute Volunteer I have volunteered with The Wetlands Institute for over a decade, and what keeps me coming back are the opportunities to support the Institute’s dual mission of performing meaningful conservation research while also...

Marsh Musings – Winter 2023

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director As the seasons change, all of us at The Wetlands Institute welcome the changing energy and opportunity to shift focus. Make no mistake, education programs connect kids with nature throughout the fall; our research teams...

Oystercatchers of the Delaware Bay

by Meghan Kolk, Conservation Scientist If you’ve ever taken a stroll along an Atlantic Coast beach, you’ve likely encountered American Oystercatchers. These large, charismatic shorebirds draw attention with their flashy appearance, boisterous vocalizations, and...

Studying a Creature of the Night

by Sam Collins, Research Scientist Some of the most iconic species of our coastal wetlands are herons and egrets, which are often observed wading in the open water areas of the marsh trying to catch a quick meal. Unlike conspicuous and easily observed wading birds...

Bycatch in Traps: A Pervasive but Solvable Problem

by Brian Williamson, Research Scientist Diamondback terrapin populations face many threats, but none as widespread or detrimental as bycatch in crab traps. Terrapins breathe air, and can only hold their breath for about 45 minutes during warmer months. As carnivores,...

Reflections From a Seasonal Naturalist

by Eunice Hudzik, Seasonal Naturalist As a Seasonal Naturalist, it is almost a certainty that each day, while either out in the marsh or on the beach, I will experience some kind of wildlife sighting. These likely encounters have fueled my enthusiasm for a job that...

Making Our Mission Happen

by Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team For most of us, exploring the marsh and visiting The Wetlands Institute is part of the fabric of summer. Every year, you join us in celebrating the joy of diamondback terrapin hatchings, the spectacle of shorebird migration, and...

Marsh Musings – Autumn 2023

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Yep, it happened again. Summer flew by and once again, I’m not sure how it went so fast. As we settle into the rhythm of fall, it’s a time when I take a minute to reflect on all the wonderful things that we accomplished...