Day 39 Wednesday May 11, 2016 Discovering the birds in WMA’s and Preserves

Day 39 Wednesday May 11, 2016 Discovering the birds in WMA’s and Preserves

Wildlife Management Areas  (WMA’s) are set aside to assist the bird (and wildlife) species with maintaining good habitats for them in which to survive.  They are used for hunting and fishing and other recreational purposes.  That is different from NWR’s which do not allow hunting, fishing, etc, and limit the recreational uses. Today we explored some of those WMA’s in the northeast portions of Cape May County. (NJ)

It should be noted (I may have mentioned this previously) that before I left on the trip, I prepared some details on getting to these places. Two days ago I was able to secure a booklet (just published and not for sale) at one of the NWR’s and have used it since then. Many states do have “birding trail” pocket size books to use, and NJ now has these. it covers most the state.  We found them in TX , SD, ND and NE to name a few. Michigan has come out with a modified version recently.

It si quite ironic that the State Parkway runs down the Eastern Coast and is just a few miles from most of these WMA’s and Conservancy areas that we visited today. The human development along the Parkway is complete so these “oasis” are  most necessary to maintaining the bird and animals welfare. Especially those that migrate along the Eastern flyway to the north and south.

A Semi Palmated Sandpiper (They will soon be
in the thousands along the beaches.)

Beaver Swamp WMA.

The road at the end near the lakes to
Beaver Swamp WMA

Lizard Tail Swamp Preserve Entrance
Saw a Yellow Billed Cuckoo here.

Just so we don't forget!

Where we ate lunch while watching the birds in the bushes.
Shellbay Ave. Pier at the other end of the rad.

That idyllic lake at the beaver pond converted.

The Visits today were these:

1. Beaver Swamp WMA. (It really was a Beaver dam and pond , but they have since left and          this 75 acre pond remains and is managed.)

2. Lizard Tail Swamp Preserve. (A long trail winds through the forest and although the highway is very close, the sound of traffic soon disappears as you enter the forest.)

3.  Carol Nicolette Park and Shell Bay Ave.Pier. (We ate lunch here on the road where there were some trees for birds to lite in. And we were successful is finding a few. 

4. North Cape May County Park  (and Zoo)  (This we had “mistakenly” dropped in on a few days ago, so did not stop again)

5.Cape May County Park North. (There was a very long walk to the entrance and no ‘auto route’ so we opted out ) It would have been a good stop.

6. Tuckahoe WMA.  This is a  14,000 acre tract that has Salt marsh, fresh water lakes, rivers and marshes and Pine Barren Woodlands. It was a terrific place to spend more time. You could certainly relax in this huge area.  One of the lakes has been planted with trout, and Turkey have been introduced. Coyotes abound and pheasants don’t do so well. (Another story) 

On the way back  we stopped at a Garden center that Ruth spotted on the way north. “Wild Garden Accents” was rather eclectic, but did have almost anything you would want for gardens from waterfalls and pools, to vases, pots,  decor of all kinds and and all sorts “Knick Knacks”. We did purchase a few gifts for family.

Birding today was not a big day, but as far as other things about New Jersey, we found that it does have a lot of diversity in habitat, and that was a bonus.

Tomorrow we expect to drive the barrier islands of the eastern shore.  More photos and more info. This will take us north to Ocean City .

If you wish to know an interesting story about this area and how it affected the politics of USA, then search for the term “Tuckahoe-Cohee”. It will be enlightening I am sure.