Draft General Management Plan for Sandy Hook and Jamaica Bay

Yesterday the Star-Ledger reported that Gateway National Recreation Area is in the midst of drafting a new general management plan. This is the first I can remember hearing about this, although it is possible that I heard something about it previously and did not recognize its significance. The plan will set priorities for programs and maintenance at all the parks within Gateway. These include Sandy Hook in New Jersey and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Fort Tilden, Floyd Bennett Field, Fort Wadsworth, and Great Kills in New York, along with several smaller units. You can read the general management plan and its various alternatives and submit comments on Gateway's website.

Many of these parks were once part of New York City's harbor defenses, a role they played as recently as the Cold War. The remaining coastal fortifications are a unique historic resource that deserves to be protected and as open to the public as possible. Because these areas were involved in harbor defense, much of the land remains minimally developed, in contrast to adjacent parts of the metropolitan area's coastline. This means that the various parts of Gateway are also important wildlife areas. Finally, Gateway provides public access for the metropolitan area's beachgoers and related recreational activities.

Each of these elements is important. However, the first two are what make Gateway unique within the metropolitan area so they should get special emphasis in any future management plan. New Jersey has relatively few areas along its Atlantic Coast where natural dune communities and related ecosystems may flourish: Sandy Hook, Island Beach State Park, the Two Mile Beach division of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, and the complex formed by Cape May Point State Park and the Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. Sandy Hook's beachfront, saltmarshes, and maritime forest make it an important stop for migratory birds during both spring and fall migration. They serve as breeding grounds for endangered Piping Plovers and other beach nesters and host numerous waterbirds in the winter months. Dense development of the rest of the state's coastline makes the few remaining natural areas all the more critical. Likewise, the historic structures of Fort Hancock (and elsewhere in Gateway) are a unique resource that should be maintained for future generations and as open to the public as possible. Some of the structures are in very poor condition, and I worry that if something isn't done to preserve them soon, that they will pass a point of no return and eventually be gone forever. For that reason, my preference is that the National Park Service adopt Alternative C: Experiencing Preserved Places as the basis for future management at Sandy Hook and elsewhere within Gateway.

There are some good elements within Alternative B and Alternative D that ought to be considered regardless of which alternative the National Park Service chooses. Under Alternative B, the park's historic structures would see the most adaptive reuse, something that could probably be done under any of the three action alternatives. This means that the buildings would retain their historic appearance but would be renovated for use as restaurants, lodging, or offices. Buildings that are actively in use are more likely to be maintained, so adaptive reuse could further the goal of maintaining Sandy Hook's historic character. Expanding transportation options is also an excellent idea. In particular, a shuttle linking points on Sandy Hook, the ferry terminal, and the closest NJ Transit train station could reduce traffic congestion and provide alternative ways for people to visit the park. Kayaking facilities could enhance the recreational experience as well as provide a vehicle for environmental education if naturalists led kayak tours around Sandy Hook. The hiker/biker trail on Sandy Hook is often very crowded (sometimes with packs of birders) so widening the existing trail or adding other trails could make it easier to get around the park.

However, such recreational facilities should not be expanded at the expense of Sandy Hook's natural ecosystems. I would not want to see expanded camping areas eat away at the unique maritime forest on Sandy Hook. I would not want to see expanded boating activities adversely affect the saltmarshes and coves along the bayside. Both Spermaceti Cove and the inlets at Plum Island (across from Lot B) are heavily used by waterfowl and other birds as migratory stopovers and throughout the winter. Any expansion of beach facilities, particularly at North Beach and including the addition of shade structures and concessions, should take care not to disrupt the breeding activities of endangered Piping Plovers and other beach-nesting birds.

The combination of natural ecosystems and historic structures make Sandy Hook unique, both in New Jersey and in the wider metropolitan area. I hope that the National Park Service will take care to preserve and enhance these resources. This post is based on a comment I submitted to the National Park Service yesterday. I encourage any birders that visit one or more of Gateway's park units to submit comments of their own. Comments do not necessarily need to be long or address every aspect of the alternative plans, but I do think it is important that the National Park Service hear from us.

Birds at Sandy Hook

As of Friday evening, the forecast called for rain all day on Saturday. However, the forecast changed for the better by Saturday morning, so it was possible to make a trip out to Sandy Hook. There were a lot of birders present, many of them in two large tour groups (one led by NJ Audubon and the other run by a local birdwatching store). The other birders had some good finds, including a Clay-colored Sparrow on the Fisherman's Trail and a Mississippi Kite flying along the bay side of the peninsula – both of which I missed.

Instead, I was treated to a nice variety of birds and a beautiful day. There was a lot of bird activity along the Fisherman's Trail, though on closer inspection, most of the movement turned out to be American Robins and Gray Catbirds. Around the spot where the Clay-colored Sparrow was seen, I watched a few Field Sparrows moving around. Had I known the rarity was there when I walked out, I would through those apparent Field Sparrows more closely. There was very little present around the tidal cut at the end of the trail aside from three or four Ospreys that were fishing just off the beach.

Back in the parking lot, a friend involved with one of the tour groups pointed out a group of shorebirds in a puddle at the south end of the lot. These included a Pectoral Sandpiper (a year bird for me), a Dunlin, three Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, and a Semipalmated Plover. The Pectoral Sandpiper alone was worth a stop, as its plumage looked especially crisp and bright.

A stop at the garden behind the Officers Club turned up more birders and some warblers. There was only a handful of warblers, but they were good ones, as the foraging flock included a Tennessee Warbler and a Cape May Warbler. The warblers stayed low in a catalpa tree, so it was possible to get great looks at them (without neck soreness!) when the warblers were not obscured by the tree's giant leaves. A subsequent stop at Plum Island did not turn up any new birds for the day.

Sparrow Migration at Sandy Hook

On Friday, someone reported a Le Conte's Sparrow at Sandy Hook near the marine biology labs. Since this is a species none of us have seen, I went with my mother and sister yesterday to see if it might still be around. Migration was still heavy at Sandy Hook. The field south of Gunnison Road near the labs was loaded with sparrows – at least 9 species by my count. Unfortunately, none of the dozens was a Le Conte's, as far as I could tell. It is difficult to be sure that one was not present since the sparrow action was hot and heavy at times.

Sparrows present along Gunnison Road included Song, Swamp, Lincoln's, Savannah, White-throated, American Tree, and Chipping, along with many Dark-eyed Juncos. Even without the Le Conte's or other Ammodramus types, it was delightful to watch so many sparrows yesterday. Getting the chance to watch Lincoln's and Swamp Sparrows was especially rewarding – the first for its relative rarity and the second since it is one of my favorites. In the same area, there were good numbers of Hermit Thrushes, Eastern Phoebes, both kinglet species, and Brown Creepers. Many of the kinglets seemed to be foraging at or near ground level, often in a grassy lawn. Normally I see kinglets higher in the vegetation structure, so I was surprised to see them acting like juncos.

Raptors included several Red-tailed Hawks, at least two Merlins, and a few Sharp-shinned Hawks. Someone reported a Yellow-breasted Chat at the Gunnison lot a day or two ago, but it was either not present or uncooperative today. However, there was an immature White-crowned Sparrow near Battery Gunnison.

Here are a few photos of the autumn foliage on Sandy Hook:

There were very few butterflies around, but I did see a few Pearl Crescents.

Shorebirds at Sandy Hook

There were lots of birders at Sandy Hook yesterday, perhaps inspired by the news of favorable weather for migration. I did not see many warblers (only 5 species), but it was clear that there was substantial movement last night. There were dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers, particularly along the Fishermen's Trail near the hawk watch bunker. At Plum Island, the birds were changing over to a winter cast – Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows, and my first Dark-eyed Junco of the fall. Out on the beaches, most of the Laughing Gulls have moved on, and large flocks of Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, and Great Black-backed Gulls are taking their place. Winter waterfowl are not present in significant numbers yet, but it is only a matter of time until they are.

I enjoyed spending some time with the Sanderlings and Black-bellied Plovers at the end of the Fishermen's Trail. Sanderlings tend to cluster along the ocean's edge. As a wave recedes, they chase it to feed in the newly washed sand, and then they run back up the beach as a new wave breaks. When not feeding actively, they often loaf just a few feet from the waterline, as these Sanderlings are doing.

The dry spit where they were resting cannot have been very wide, perhaps two feet, with water on both sides.

As I was watching and photographing the Sanderlings, five Black-bellied Plovers flew in to join them. The birds all cleared away when a wave (probably amplified by the wake of a passing boat) washed completely over their resting spot.

Photos: Sand Ripples

The bay side at Sandy Hook is subject to strong tidal action from Raritan Bay. In sheltered spots, the receding water leaves interesting shapes in the sand. On Saturday, I photographed some of the ripples left by the sand. One area struck me as looking like a canyon in miniature.

Signs of Spring

Yesterday felt very spring-like, even if the calendar says otherwise. The sun was out, and the temperature was the warmest it had been in quite a while. Even the moderate breeze was not chilly enough to suppress the feeling of spring.

At Sandy Hook we were greeted by a Red-winged Blackbird singing from a power line – the first of many on the peninsula. At the first stop alone there were four males singing for territory. Song Sparrows too were singing, and each male seemed to perform a different variation of the basic song. Other singers included multiple Northern Mockingbirds, a Northern Cardinal, and a Carolina Wren.

With the exception of Black Ducks, waterfowl were relatively scarce. I am not sure if this is because the wintering birds have already moved north or because prolonged freezing temperatures earlier in the winter drove the usual winter flocks south. Small flocks of Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks dotted the ocean, along with a few Horned Grebes. On the bay side, there were Brant, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Bufflehead. I saw only one loon, a Red-throated Loon on the bay.

Yellow-rumped Warblers were very active, calling in the bushes and flying overhead. A very large flock of Cedar Waxwings was circulating around the boy scout camp area. A Red-tailed Hawk was circling in the same area. I am not sure if this was a resident bird or a northbound migrant.

Rusty Barn at Sandy Hook

Today I was at Sandy Hook. The birds present were mostly the usual salt-water set. One relative rarity was a Red-necked Grebe in the ocean near the park visitor center. There were also a surprising number of Boat-tailed Grackles and a few Northern Gannets.

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As is usual at this time of year, there were many Yellow-ramped Warblers foraging among the dunes. Today, though, I noticed a behavior that had not caught my attention before. Many of the warblers would call, and then fly straight up in the air and straight back down. When I have seen warblers hawk for insects in the past, they usually fly out from a perch, either horizontally or on a slightly inclined path, but not straight up. This makes me wonder if perhaps there is a territorial aspect to the vertical flights. I could not find a firm answer (either way) online.

To close this post, here are a few photos from the "Rusty Barn."



These and more are online at my Flickr photostream.