Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Inc.

2011-09-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

FRIENDS OF SUPAWNA MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
ANNUAL GENERAL MENBERSHIP MEETING
The Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge invites the public to attend the Annual General Membership Meeting October 6, 2011, at 6 PM at the Pennsville Veterans of Foreign War Hall.
The agenda will reflect the accomplishments of 2011 with a short slide show. The Friends’ purpose is to support the US Fish and Wildlife Service in its responsibility to preserve and maintain the 3000 acre Wildlife Refuge. Friends and Volunteers support this effort by mowing, maintaining trails, cleaning and repairing wood duck nesting boxes, sponsoring the US Fish and Wildlife Service Annual Youth Fishing Event, picking up trash on the Refuge and along Lighthouse Road, participating in the statewide Lighthouse Challenge, conducting nature walks, and adopting major projects to enhance the Refuge. In 2011, the Friends have added a very successful environmental education program in conjunction with Dr. Robert Belding and the Pennsville School District. Our corporate sponsor, Carneys Point Generating Plant, has funded this educational outreach. Currently the Friends are assisting USFWS biologist, Heidi Hanlon, in a long term study of the bats that reside on the refuge each summer. Everyone with an interest in working as true stewards of this local natural area is invited to join the Friends and participate in this important challenge.
We are pleased to welcome our new managers. The new Refuge Manager is Brian Braudis who comes to Supawna Meadows from Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Brian was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. He graduated from Slippery Rock University with degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. He earned a Masters of Science degree from Wilmington University. Brian has worked at six refuges in the Refuge System and is deeply committed to enhancing public and community involvement and support. Brian is married to Mary Pat and has a daughter and son.
For the first time in the Refuge’s history, Supawna Meadows shares with Cape May NWR, a Visitor Service Manager. David Bocanegra was born and raised in Puerto Rico where he began his career with the Federal Government in the National Parks Service. He was stationed in San Juan National Historical Site. In 2001, David joined the Fish and Wildlife Service at the Caribbean Islands Complex NWR in Cabo Rojo as the Visitor Service/Outreach Specialist. He transferred to Cape May/Supawna Meadows Complex in November 2010. David graduated from Sacred Heart University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. He is married to Arlene and has two children.
Both Brian and David bring new ideas and plans for the local Refuge where the community can enjoy a true wildlife experience and even become a part of its development.
A social coffee hour will begin at 6 PM featuring desserts and a cake donated by the Pennsville Acme. The meeting will begin at 7 PM. There will be small gifts for the children. The community is encouraged to come out and meet the new staff and the Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
For additional information please email us at friendsofsupawna@gmail.com or phone 299-5138.

2011-07-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Upcoming volunteer opportunities:
Saturday August 13th - Refuge Work Day. Meet at the refuge office starting at around 9am to perform a number of miscellaneous jobs that have been needing attention such as cleaning the office (inside and out), replacing signs along the refuge, some light painting, and whatever else we can think of! Let us know if you can make it by that day and what you're interested in helping out with. If there's something you've noticed that needs attention around the refuge, let us know and we can add it to the job list! Bad weather date - 8/20.
There will be an invasive species day in the upcoming month or two - details to follow once it's been planned. Hope you can make it out, and as always follow us on our blog at http://friendsofsupawnameadows.blogspot.com/. Click on the link on the right side of the page and enter your email at the prompt for automatic email updates whenever something is posted.John Wilmot, President The Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Inc.

2011-05-19T04:14:00.000-07:00

Youth Fishing Event
SupawnaMeadows National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday June 4, 2011
8:30 AM to 1 PM

Offered by: Friends of SupawnaMeadows NWR and
United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Age 14 and under. Pre-registration is required beginning May 15. Please provide participants name and age.

Pre-register e-mail to: friendsofsupawna@gmail.com
T-shirts, food and gifts. Fishing equipment and bait provided. No artificial lures please.

Please wear appropriate footwear (no flip-flops) and bring insect repellent.

Great Turnout for Winter Birding Events

2011-02-26T11:45:00.001-08:00

The Friends of Supawna Meadows hosted a fun weekend of winter birding the weekend of February 18 and 19. Naturalist David Lord presented "Winter Birding Sampler" to a group of interested bird watchers at the Friends Village in Woodstown.
David's presentation focused on how to identify common birds that are sighted during the winter in our area including smaller birds like the Dark eyed Junco and Fox Sparrow to larger birds such as the Bald Eagle and Great Horned Owl. Many of the photographs in the presentation were the work of local bird enthusiasts.

Saturday morning at 8 AM, about 20 birders braved the cold and walked the Grassland Trail at Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge with David identifying 21 species including American Black Ducks, Northern Pin tail Ducks, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Northern Flicker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and an assortment of other local winter birds.

Thanks to David Lord for an entertaining and informative presentation! And thanks to the Friends Village in Woodstown for the use of their auditorium.

A Little Piece of History......

2011-02-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

This month the Refuge got a little face lift with new boundary signs. David Bocanegra, Visitors' Services Manager and Rosalind Wu, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, began replacing old worn and faded signs with new ones. In the process, an old obsolete sign dating back to the 1960's and 70's was found. The sign depicts the time of the Bureau of Sports Fisheries. In 1974 the bureau became the Fish and Wildlife Service. That was also the year that Supawna Meadows became a national wildlife refuge. Look for even more improvements coming soon.

Winter Birding Seminar and Nature Walk

2011-01-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

The Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge welcomes David Lord's "Winter Birding Sampler " presentation to highlight winter birding at Supawna Meadows NWR.

David is a naturalist for NJ Audubon and is the naturalist on the eco-tour cruise boat The Osprey out of Cape May. He brings much knowledge and humor to his presentations and walks. The slide show presentation will be held at the auditorium of the Friends Village, Friendship Dr, Woodstown, NJ at 7 PM on Friday,February 18.

The nature walk will begin at the Grassland Trail parking lot on Saturday, February 19 at 8 AM. Rain date for the walk will be March 5th. Because there is limited space on the walk, the age is limited to 18 and over.

For additional information contact Judy Oshipp at jerseycat7@yahoo.com

Prescribed Burn at Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

2010-04-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

On March 25, Fire Personnel from USFWS and New Jersey DEP Forest Fire Service conducted a prescribed burn at the Refuge to control invasive species and to reduce hazardous fire fuel. USFWS has been using prescribed fires since the 1930’s to enhance and maintain wildlife habitat.

These burns are carefully developed by experienced fire managers and ecologists who work together to create a predictable fire that will produce the desired results. Included in the protocol are details such as weather parameters, smoke management, public notification, specialized protection equipment, and the desired goal.

This burn took place along the Grassland Trail to reduce the dead dry vegetation formed over the winter and to inhibit the growth of invasive species such as Phragmites, Mile a Minute and Multi flora roses and to encourage native vegetation growth.

Bat Study at Supawna Meadows

2009-12-06T11:20:00.001-08:00

The recent outbreak of White Nose Syndrome has caused a steep decline in the population of all species of bats in the Northeast. This sudden threat to the bat population has caused the Friends of Supawna Meadows NWR to join forces with US Fish and Wildlife in studies to identify sources and controls of the disease. An old barn on the Refuge has been the summer home of a fairly large, and apparently healthy, colony of maternity bats for several years. The Friends of Supawna Meadows received approval from USFWS to stabilize the barn to preserve this vital bat habitat.

The barn had extensive work done that included repairing and even replacing large supporting posts. Some of these posts had hidden rot which would have collapsed the barn by now if not repaired. The weak ones were braced and the rotted ones were patched with steel beams.

The bats returned in March 2009 to a safe barn where several important biological studies took place. In June, a bat count revealed about 1200 bats living in the barn. These bats are assumed to be mainly mature females who use this barn as a maternity habitat. Bat guano was collected twice to be analyzed to determine species. In midsummer, plans began for extensive research of this colony and to establish baseline data. Volunteers and members of the Friends sewed 200 bat collection bags. Others donated equipment and manpower to seal the barn so the bats could be efficiently and safely trapped.

A very impressive collection of biologists from the New Jersey DEP, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Dept of Agriculture, two universities and several bat conservation groups trapped over 400 bats. These experts determined the species, gender and age of each bat. Two hundred of them were further studied to determine size, weight and to look for symptoms of the deadly White Nose Syndrome disease. It was determined that this colony is very healthy. Hopefully, studies to learn more about this disease and its control will continue at Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

A bat count conducted the last week of July determined the colony had grown to about 3000 bats. It is expected that this number includes juveniles that were born here in the spring and the gathering of other smaller colonies.

We are now taking bids to start the next phase of stabilizing the barn. Anti-sway cables will be installed inside the barn to off-set strong wind and the stress of winter weather. Next spring, we hope to finish the final phase by replacing many missing side boards and repairing the tin roof.

The research at this site could be critical to the future of the entire bat population nation wide. Scientists are reporting probable extinction of all species across the nation unless extreme and immediate action is taken to save them. Connecticut has lost 90% of its bat population as of last winter. We are excited to be able to play a role in the struggle to save this important animal.

For additional information on bats and White Nose Syndrome, visit the Bat Conservation & Management site at http://www.batmanagement.com/ and click on the Special Information Page for White Nose Syndrome. Another worthy site is http://www.batworld.org/
Volunteers are welcome to join us in this great project.

Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Receives Funds to Expand Refuge

2009-03-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist., a member of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, announced February 25, 2009, the House of Representatives has approved $1.5 million for further land acquisition for the Pennsville Refuge. The funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

The property is an 80-acre parcel known as the Sinnickson Tract located at Lighthouse Road and Route 49. The property has been farmed in the past.
Representative LoBiondo said “One of the unique characteristics of southern New Jersey is our open spaces and I continue to strongly support efforts to preserve and protect our wildlife refuges. I am pleased that additional land can now be acquired in Salem County in our ongoing efforts to enhance Supawna for both local residents and visitors while protecting the habitat of native wildlife.”

Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge currently covers about 3,000 acres and provides a critical habitat to migrating water fowl. The refuge has not received funding for land acquisition for over fifteen years.

The House of Representatives approved the bill and the Senate is expected to act on the bill very soon.

The Friends of Supawna Meadows NWR, Inc. are very thankful to Representative LoBiondo for his long history of supporting Supawna Meadows NWR and his recognition of the importance of New Jersey's natural beauty.