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N.J. Audubon Society and Edison Wetlands Association found seven threatened or endangered species present

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Despite humans' best efforts over the years, birds and other wildlife are thriving in the lower reaches of the Raritan River, according to a new study.

A survey by the New Jersey Audubon Society and the Edison Wetlands Association during last year's breeding season found seven threatened or endangered avian species, plus nine others of special concern.

"I think what was surprising was the diversity we saw," said Audubon senior research scientist Nellie Tsipoura, who prepared the report with Kristin Mylecraine.

"The Raritan really seems to be recovering from a century of industrial abuse," said David Wheeler, operations director for the wetlands association.

As well as the river itself, researchers went into the estuary wetlands of Raritan Bay, where freshwater and saltwater mix. The conditions create habitats for many marine and avian species.

In the Raritan watershed, though, they have long had industrial, warehousing, waste disposal and even military uses as neighbors. Among the areas covered in the study were parts of Raritan Center, an industrial complex and former arsenal, Kin-Buc Landfill and National Lead.

Some of avian inhabitants were expected. The research team found high numbers of herring gulls and great black-back gulls, Canada geese, European starlings and red-winged blackbirds.

But they also saw bald eagles, as well as species whose low recorded populations put their survival in jeopardy. The latter included endangered black skimmers and northern harriers.

Birds from the state threatened species list included black-crowned night herons, bobolinks, Cooper's hawks, grasshopper sparrows and ospreys.

"We found 13 osprey nests along the river," from the Edison boat basin to the bay, Tsipoura said, adding the results were "really a pleasant surprise." Osprey populations in New Jersey are rising after being decimated by DDT, habitat loss and persecution, in the words of the report.

In all, the researchers observed 91 species, plus four that were seen in the area but not at any of the nesting sites. Some of the species of concern, a classification at less hazard than threatened, were American kestrels, great blue herons and snowy egrets

The findings are a big step forward in human understanding of conditions along the river. Rich Kane, a former Audubon vice president, studied birds in the area during the 1980s. But there has been little reliable data, and no serious surveys in recent years.

While trying to make recommendations about restoration and future land uses along the lower Raritan, Edison Wetlands has been "kind of disappointed that there were hardly any solid data" about wildlife habitats and populations, Wheeler said.

Many of the river's industrial sites were major polluters, leading to Superfund designations and other clean-up efforts. But their presence, even those now closed, deterred other human activities, aiding the area's wildlife.

"That wound up protecting a huge amount of wildlife habitat that otherwise might have been turned to condos years ago," Wheeler said.

There is also an indirect silver lining: EWA funded the study from its settlement with a landfill operator, Edgeboro Disposal Inc.

But that history does pose a continuing conundrum for the association. One of EWA's goals is to provide more human access to some areas along the river. Research such as the avian survey will help determine how to balance waterfront projects with wildlife protection, he said.

In some cases, the point may be moot. The researchers observed 63 bird species at the 930-acre Raritan Center. Marshes around Washington Canal are another area of particular diversity, attracting many of the birds on the protection lists.

Although they were not recording other animals, the researchers also were glad to see wildlife in numbers at many locations. But Tsipoura cautioned that more work needs to be done before too many conclusions can be drawn.

The study was done during the spring, and at the very least, one should be done during the August-October migration season, she said. More and longer studies also would help refine the picture, she said.

"For example, last year was a very wet year, and this year's been dry," Tsipoura said. "I'm sure that could make a difference in the numbers and types of species."

Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it