Wildlife & Habitat
While the refuge's primary concern is to meet the habitat needs of these two species, we manage refuge habitats to support a wide variety of water birds and other wildlife. Special emphasis is also placed on protection and habitat management for the endangered and threatened bird species which nest here. Forsythe Refuge is a part of the Hudson River/New York Bight Ecosystem.
Marshes and Water BirdsMore than 80 percent of Forsythe Refuge is tidal salt meadow and marsh, interspersed with shallow coves and bays. These are important resting and feeding habitats, as abundant marsh plants provide food and cover for water birds and other wildlife. The quiet tidal waters serve as nurseries, spawning and feeding grounds for fish and shellfish which are important in the diets of many wildlife species -- and of people!
At the Brigantine Division, refuge staff have used the management technique of diking to create 1,415 acres of impounded fresh- and brackish-water marsh habitat in the heart of naturally occurring tidal salt marsh. We created these wetlands to support a wider variety of wildlife than could native salt marsh alone. Water levels in the impoundments are managed to enhance the resources on which wildlife depend. In spring, refuge staff draw the water down to maximize growth of plants beneficial to waterfowl. The drawdown also provides mud flat feeding habitat for shorebirds and wading birds. We re-flood the impoundments just in time for the arrival of fall migrants. Each spring and fall tens of thousands of migrating ducks and geese, wading birds and shorebirds concentrate here. They linger to rest and feed on the rich resources provided by our managed impoundments, thus providing Wildlife Drive visitors with spectacular viewing and photo opportunities. Several migratory species, including the black duck, remain at the refuge through summer to nest and raise their young. Atlantic brant and black ducks also overwinter here. Peregrine falcons and ospreys frequent refuge wetlands and take advantage of the nesting platforms erected for their use. Bald eagles use refuge habitats along the Mullica River, and occasionally forage over refuge impoundments. Barrier Beaches and Endangered Beachnesters
More than 6,000 acres of the refuge are designated as the Brigantine Wilderness Area. This includes Holgate and Little Beach, two of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches in New Jersey. They provide essential nesting and feeding habitat for the rare piping plover, black skimmer and least tern. These birds, along with other beach-nesting species, have suffered drastic population declines as human beach developments and recreational uses have eliminated the habitat they need. Forsythe Refuge is one of their last strongholds. The dunes, prime nesting habitat, constantly shift and change as the forces of wind and wave action mold them. Beach grasses, which trap blowing sand and stabilize the dunes, provide important cover for wildlife, especially developing young birds. Use by humans and their pets can result in severe erosion, loss of habitat, and harm to beach-nesting birds. The refuge manages its fragile beach areas for the rare birds which depend on them. In order to minimize disturbance to the birds and their habitat, this management includes limiting or prohibiting public access. Holgate is closed to all public use during nesting season; Little Beach is closed all year except by special use permit for research or education. Forests, Swamps and FieldsAlmost 5,000 acres of the refuge are woodlands dominated by such tree species as pitch pine, oaks, and white cedar. Fields are maintained in the midst of these wooded communities to provide habitat for grassland-nesting birds, and to increase habitat diversity. A wide variety of upland wildlife species, including songbirds, woodcock, white-tailed deer and box turtles, frequent these upland areas. Waterfowl such as black ducks often nest here. |
Last updated:
October 29, 2009
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