PLEASE TAKE ACTION--DEVASTATING, UNPRECEDENTED PARK CLOSURES AND CUTBACKS LOOM!!

Park Closings

Proposed Budget Summary

Talking Points

Please contact Parks and Forestry,
your legislators http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/SelectMun.asp,
Governor Corzine http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html, (or call the Governor's office at 609-292-6000 weekdays between 8 AM and 6 PM),
Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner of the NJ DEP (PO Box 402, 401 East State Street, 7th floor Trenton, NJ 08625-0402, phone: 609-292-2885, fax: 609-292-7695),
and write letters to the editor of your local paper.

The latest news is that our outcry has been heard, and the budget cuts most obvious to the public (park closings, gated parking lots along the feeder canal, and closed river access ramps) will probably not occur.

While this is encouraging, the proposed dismissal of the entire maintenance staff on the feeder (responsible for Trenton and Bulls Island), and historic and natural interpreters in both The D & R Canal State Park (100% loss) and Washington Crossing State Park (40% loss) is still on the table. The interpreters constitute the parks' sole outreach to the public. They make them more meaningful and enjoyable; they also serve an important caretaker role. They lead interpretive walks and bike rides, make special events possible, hold workshops, interpret the historic houses, train volunteers, and provide our youth with a heightened appreciation of their natural and historic heritage.

So please keep those letters, emails, and phone calls coming!

LARRY NILES HIGHLIGHTS EAGLE RECOVERY Our local eagles received a lot of press recently, as a result of coverage given to KGA's annual meeting on May 10th, 2007. The speaker for this program, Larry Niles, Ph.D., worked for the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program for over 20 years, including 14 years as its Chief. He is now the Chief Biologist for Conserve Wildlife Foundation. In 1973, only one nesting pair of bald eagles was known in our entire state. By 1982, that single nest had failed for eight successive years. A group of scientists in the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) of the New Jersey Fish, Game and Wildlife department determined to do something about this tragic situation. Through dedication, enlistment of novel surrogate parents, and the relocation of young birds from other areas, the ENSP (with the help of dedicated volunteers) successfully re-introduced ald eagles into New Jersey. Now we have a productive American bald eagle nest in Princeton, and these magnificent birds are well on their way to recovery in the state. The fledgling rate is 1.3 birds per nest--very good--and about 80 young a year are now being produced. During the January 2006 Midwinter Eagle Survey, 55 active nests and 192 bald eagles were observed statewide. Dr. Niles showed data from nest surveys, mid-winter eagle counts, radiotelemetry studies, and contaminant research (e.g., analysis of compounds such as PCB's-found in alarming levels in the Delaware River--and the pesticide DDT in blood samples and eggshells), along with a memorable collection of eagle photos. He noted the relationship between habitat protection and the protection of endangered species, and cited loss of habitat as the biggest threat: what he called "the tightening noose." He described upcoming changes in legislation that will effect protection of these magnificent birds. The new rule, if passed, will create habitat conservation plans (HCP's), to simplify the permitting system and provide better protection for eagles and other wildlife. Development will be encouraged to happen where most appropriate, following the European model-- on the periphery of existing development. A wonderful coda to the program was provided by Kingston resident Curt Emmich, in the form of photographs of the banding of a six week-old eaglet. Click here to see eagle photos!