by Steve Rochette, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers andDr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director, The Wetlands Institute No one organization can solve the most complex or difficult societal and environmental issues. Moving beyond the status quo and taking bold action is not always neat and linear. Thus, it’s no surprise that the...

by Meghan Kolk, Conservation Scientist, and Devin Griffiths, Marketing & Communications Specialist If you've ever visited us here, you've likely seen the gourd towers on our back lawn and the rectangular wooden boxes spread around the property, and you may have wondered who they're for - and more importantly, whether or not they work. These...

by Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team The Wetlands Institute is not merely a building, it is a gateway for experiential education that enriches connection, drives community building, and draws generations together. Sandra Mackin Mezzanotte's grandparents and parents met in Ocean City. In the late 1960s, Sandra’s parents purchased a home in Ocean...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Tick tock, where did summer go? It happens every year. We wait patiently for its arrival and then wonder where the time went. The interns have come and gone, but once again enriched us with their energy, curiosity, and discoveries. Summer Nature Program participants filled every space of the Institute...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Salt marshes are an essential component of coastal ecosystems, performing services that benefit both wildlife and people. They are among the most diverse habitats on Earth, rivaling coral reefs and tropical rain forests. They provide essential food, refuge, and nursery habitat for more than 75% of fish...

by Brian Williamson, Research Scientist If you frequent shore communities of southern New Jersey in the summer months, you have likely seen a northern diamondback terrapin, either a hatchling scrambling to the nearest vegetation, a female hastily crossing a road to nest, or a smaller-bodied male basking on the bank of a tidal creek. These...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Ah summer. That magical time when we all embrace the beloved coastal way of life. Seems to take too long to arrive and then end too soon. It’s a great reminder to savor the moments that make it so special. For all of us at The Wetlands Institute, it’s a very busy time of year, but it’s also one we relish...

by Ray Burke, Wetlands Institute Supporter Growing up on a farm bordering Jenkins Sound, my earliest memories included family adventures into the marshes and tidal creeks between the mainland and Seven Mile Beach. There was, however, one particular event that forever directed my attention to Ospreys inhabiting the marsh.In 1963 my parents became...

by Devin Griffiths, Marketing & Communications Specialist Saturday, May 11, 3:00 AM. It’s deja vu all over again as The Marshketeers – our unstoppable band of birders – set out hours ahead of the sun for the NJ Audubon World Series of Birding, a 24-hour birding marathon in the name of conservation. We catch the first birds of the day along a...

by Meghan Kolk, Conservation Scientist Shorebirds face a multitude of threats that are outside of our control, but human disturbance is one factor that we can reduce. With ever-growing demands on our beaches, there are fewer spaces for shorebirds and seabirds that depend on the beaches year-round to feed, rest, and raise their families. Many of...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Coastal marshes, tidal creeks, and bays are the cradle of life. They host a phenomenal diversity of wildlife; are nursery grounds for fish and shellfish; are home to myriad wildlife that rely on them for food, nesting, and resting; are crucial to coastal resilience, offering protection against damage to...

by Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team The Wetlands Institute is pleased to announce it has awarded the first fellowship in the Jeannie Morris Graduate Fellowship Program for Coastal Conservation and Research. Our first fellowship recipient is Garret Maggio, a Ph.D. student in the Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry Program at East Carolina...

by Chip Roach, Institute Supporter and Loyalty Society Member We have been visitors to The Wetlands Institute (TWI) building and donors for decades. It is TWI’s stewardship of the tidal marsh and the architectural beauty of the headquarters building that were the main motivators of our giving. Then, onto the scene came twin boys, named Justin and...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director As spring arrives in the marsh, I reflect on the passing of another year and how things have evolved. I take stock in the external forces that drive our work, the accomplishments we have achieved so far, and all we have planned for the new year. I have the benefit of seeing the marshes almost every day...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director, & Elizabeth Hefner, Development Team The Wetlands Institute (TWI) is a gateway to connections that inspire stewardship. Our mission is to promote appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of wetlands and coastal ecosystems, and for the past 55 years, we have fervently believed that the most...

by Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Executive Director Tidal marshes are the foundation of a complex web that sustains the coastal way of life. Whether by providing food, shelter, and home to the myriad of life that rely on them; protecting our communities from storms; or connecting us to nature through their calming and majestic presence, our marshes are...

by Julie Blum, Research Scientist Salt marshes are highly dynamic environments, and understanding how they change over time is an important element of marsh research. To monitor these changes, our research team collects spatial data through a combination of on-the-ground surveying and remote sensing techniques. We then use mapping software to...

by Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Director of Research & Conservation Earlier this year, reTURN the Favor (RTF) program volunteers were busy on the beaches of the Delaware Bay rescuing stranded horseshoe crabs. Early May through early June is the period when Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, and other long-distance migratory shorebirds...

by Danielle Meeker, Aquarist & Environmental Educator This school year, The Wetlands Institute is proud to welcome Anthony Jordan-Michl as an Aquarium Intern. Anthony is a senior at Lower Cape May Regional High School (LCMR) and a participant in their Structured Learning Experience Program. As part of his academic schedule, Anthony gains...

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 into classrooms across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware, and open...

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 nursery grounds for fish and shellfish and crucial to coastal resiliency, offering...

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 educating the region on coastal ecology. On the research side, I have been a part of...

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 continue monitoring and assessments; and we commit extra time to analyzing data,...

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 entertaining behaviors. The Delaware Bay also supports a population of American...

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 like Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons can be very...