Get Involved with Island Beach State Park
Get Involved with Island Beach State Park
Sunday, February 16th - The Cape May Raptor Banding Project: Paul Napier, will present “The Cape May Raptor Banding Project” which will cover a brief history, some impressive Project statistics, an overview of the intern program, how the Project contributes to science projects, and portraits and facts about the raptors banded. There will be lots of great close-up photographs.
Paul Napier, President of the Cape May Raptor Banding Project, has been banding raptors since 1988. He started out as a birdwatcher, then discovered raptors and never recovered. He has traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad in order to learn more about the many exciting birds of prey that share our environment. Paul has been President of the Cape May Raptor Banding Project since the early 2000s when Project founder and noted raptor expert William S. Clark retired. Register Here
Sunday, February 23rd - Crabbing at Barnegat Bay: Catch Them if you Can
The Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) and its students have embarked on projects related to blue crabbing in Barnegat Bay. From removal of abandoned crab pots to providing awareness about crabbing in the area, join MATES students who will share their results from a recent survey conducted on crabbing and crabbing perceptions. Also, results of the numerous crab pot projects will be shared included a study on the movement of crab pots underwater, and the effectiveness of crab catch when using bycatch reduction devices (inserts) in the funnels of crab pots. Also, learn about ways that you can get involved in being part of a new crab awareness project at Barnegat Bay! “We promise the presentation will be informative, interactive and that you will not get bit!” Register Here
Sunday March 1st - Attracting Birds to your Jersey-Friendly Yard
Birds delight us with their song, colorful feathery attire and comical antics as they fly across the yard. They also provide vital "ecosystem services" such as pest control, nutrient cycling, pollination and seed dispersal. Learn some tips on how to create a healthy, functioning yard that attracts your favorite birds - and watch your home grow into a “Jersey-Friendly Yard”.
Becky Laboy is the full-time Education Outreach Specialist with Ocean County Soil Conservation District. She also teaches Field Studies as an adjunct professor with Kean-Ocean University, instructs the Barnegat Bay Volunteer Master Naturalist course through Ocean County College, and leads birding tours with Ocean County Parks. She has nearly 25 years of experience as a formal classroom teacher and informal environmental educator. She also serves as a co-leader for the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. When not teaching and leading people on outdoor adventures, Becky can usually be found behind a pair of binoculars as an avid and devoted birder. In fact, Becky is on a quest to visit all 50 states and to see 50 bird species in each state! Her Life Lists stands at 926. Register Here.
March 22nd - The Shipwrecks of Island Beach State Park and How New Jersey Contributed to Saving Shipwreck Victims
The first recorded shipwreck to occur off the NJ coast was in December 1705. Since then, thousands more ships have sunk off NJ. In the 1840’s NJ played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Life Saving Service with the passage of the Newell Act. Ocean County also played a significant role in both the history of shipwrecks, protecting the coast and facilitating the rescue of shipwreck victims. George Brown will discuss shipwrecks in Ocean County, the invention and use of lifesaving devices and how Island Beach was part of that effort until the end of World War II. Register Here.
March 29th - Pollinator Decline and Conservation with Jason Hafstad
Pollinator conservation is becoming a widespread concern following numerous studies showing drastic declines in insect populations worldwide. Major news organizations have released articles calling it the "Insect Apocalypse." Come learn about the status and trends of our pollinators and other insects, what threatens them, what the research reveals, what solutions there are, and how we can all contribute to a more insect-friendly world.
The Friends of Island Beach thanks our sponsors for the 2020 events. Please support these local businesses who support the park and the community:
