Sedge House Dedication

On August 17, 2005 a group of seventy people gathered at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center to name the house for a person who has done more for conservation in Barnegat Bay than any other person. Paul D. (Pete) McLain was commended by the DEP’s Directors of both Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Forestry, for his untiring efforts over the past fifty years.
Other dignitaries from local and national conservation organizations were joined by Pete’s family and friends to honor him. After the dedication of the house, the group enjoyed fresh clams and crabs recently caught in the waters around the island.

For the past five years visitors to the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center have heard tales of Pete’s many accomplishments as they have kayaked in the channels and ditches in the salt marsh. As they gaze at the tall tower south of the sedge house, they hear how Pete almost single handedly reintroduced the peregrine falcon to the eastern United States by bringing chicks from Alaska and rearing them in a nest on the hacking tower he built. Everyone who visits the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone is impressed by the more than thirty osprey platforms in the area.
In the 1970’s Pete began bringing fertile eggs from Maryland to replace the DDT laden eggs in NJ nests. As a result of this effort, the Sedge Island Area now has the largest osprey concentration in New Jersey and one of the largest on the East Coast.

Two other people were also honored at the dedication. Tony and Jackie Raniero have been the caretakers of the island for over 30 years. They were also recognized for their unrelenting contributions and efforts that make the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center the incredible place that it is. Visitors first meet Tony when he transports them from the Island Beach dock to Sedge Island. Later they see him fixing something, cutting the grass or doing some other work around the island. Now as a result of another plaque being installed, people will be made aware that Tony almost single handedly constructed the shop/boathouse. Jackie, while less visible, keeps track of the visitors and makes sure the house is in order after each group leaves. For the past few years she has made a major contribution to research on the diamond back terrapin by capturing and tagging over 100 nesting females each year.

To Pete, Tony and Jackie: We thank you for your tireless effort and love of this education center and area.

‘…there are those who love Barnegat Bay and consider it a natural resource jewel. They have tasted the salt, smelled the clean air, enjoyed the wildlife, and feasted in its fins and shellfish. To know Barnegat Bay is to love it” ~ Pete McLain

To see more photos from this event:

Sedge House Dedication

NJ Audubon School of Ecology

It was great to have such a wonderful group of students on Sedge Island!


On our long paddle down to the beach we spoke about different plants and marsh ecology. We made observations about our environment and noted the abundance of green head flies. I was amazed that we could hear the roaring ocean from the bay!

On our way we stopped and dug soft clams, crabbed and gathered 3 different species of worms. We hiked to the beach, had some lunch, and got our feet wet in the surf. Afterwards we spoke about the Army Corps of Engineers Dike and saw the exposed geotubes. We came to the conclusion that no matter how much man tries, he cannot beat Mother Nature.

Back at the Sedge house it rained a bit, but that did not stop us from seining and fishing. We looked at killiefish, mumichugs and even a few small juvenile winter flounder.


That evening the advisors did a great activity demonstrating watersheds, and everyone worked together to put the pieces of huge map together to form one watershed.



Advisors Mary, Pat, Scott and Tara, were all wonderful. From identifying different marsh species (not just the birds) to cooking wonderful meals, you were all great! I hope your time at Sandy Hook was as much fun as your time on Sedge Island. Don't forget to check out the pictures from your trip posted at the right. If you have any problems accessing them, just drop me an email and I will try to resolve the issue.

Katina

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Teacher Training Workshop

We had record heat and humidity along with mosquitoes, gnats and unbearable hoards of green head flies. All in al I think everyone dealt fantastically with the not-so-ideal conditions.
Everyone was eager to participate and chip in with all the activities and discussions. I think overall I enjoyed all of the discussions about different teaching methods and different school systems.

Our first day we kayaked through the mosquito ditches past the peregrine hacking tower. We stalked crabs and horseshoe crabs, and surveyed the bagged clams in our clam lease. The next day we set out for a long kayak in the record heat and fought with the green head flies the whole way.

We received some relief when lunching across from Barnegat Lighthouse, and then headed to the beach for a well-deserved swim in the ocean. When we got back to the Sedge House, the screen porch was the place to be and we spoke about different curriculums and made paper folding crabs and seaweed presses.

Our last day was also jam packed with clamming and seining. We identified many local species and boarded the boat with a breeze for the mainland.

As a first year teacher everyone had amazing advice to give me. Thank you to everyone for making this a great workshop!

Katina, Jim and Carly