New to NJ, & looking for places to explore

Yan-tonz

Yan-tonz

New Member
Jun 23, 2018
12
3
Smithville, NJ
Hi everyone,

I just want to introduce myself! I recently moved to the southern NJ area from MA, and have been exploring different parts of the pine barrens since moving here. I am a coastal biologist, and have a passion for nature, birding, and botany. I regularly use iNaturalist, eBird, & Instagram to share my sightings and experiences with my friends and scientific community, and really enjoy being able to bring an appreciation for these great types of habitats to people who would otherwise not be exposed to them.

I'd love to get some suggestions for sites in the Pine Barrens to check out. I especially like checking out bogs and savannahs as they have such a great assortment of unique wildflowers to see. I've visited Webbs Mill Bog, Batsto Village, and the Franklin Parker Preserve so far...and seen quite a few rare species including 3 types of sundews, turkey beard, and a couple orchids as well!

However, I'd love to get some inner knowledge about places to check out from the experts! And as much as I enjoy going out to these places by myself, if there are any groups that do walks or learning tours, etc. of these places, I would love to know more about such events. Thanks everyone!

-Yian
 
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46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
Yan-tonz said:
However, I'd love to get some inner knowledge about places to check out from the experts! And as much as I enjoy going out to these places by myself, if there are any groups that do walks or learning tours, etc. of these places, I would love to know more about such events. Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

Welcome to NJ.

Check the State Parks and Forests and their associated non-profits for group walks and talks, as well as NJ Audubon; link's below. Also county parks have similar programs, you would have to search each county for info, I attached a link to the Ocean County guide and web site, the county in which I live, which has many programs and events.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/parkindex.html

https://njaudubon.org/wp-content/wildlife/Home.html

http://www.newjerseyvisitorsnetwork.com/regions/

http://www.oceancountyparks.org/

http://www.co.ocean.nj.us//WebContentFiles//5510ee13-f7b9-40f5-8d16-0edc21d10629.pdf

You might have a special interest in activities of Conserve Wildlife. They offer this event as an example; Sedge House is a great experience, dedicated to a close friend and run by Jim Merritt, whom I have worked with.

http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/sedge/

http://njfishandwildlife.com/sedge.htm
 
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Yan-tonz

Yan-tonz

New Member
Jun 23, 2018
12
3
Smithville, NJ
Thanks for all the responses everyone! I'm going to look into joining the Philly Botanical Club because some of those trips and meetings of theirs look really cool and seems geared towards what I'm looking for. I like that they have educational programs and walks for people interested in the flora and fauna of the parks.

I find that the state/county websites seem to cater more to the hiking/recreation crowd, and aren't really geared towards people like me who want to dig a bit deeper into what they have to offer. During my visit to Batsto state park for instance, I went to their wildlife center and no one in there was able to give me any more information about what to see on the trail beyond what was on their pamphlet.

It stinks because I really want to learn more about the unique pine barren ecosystem, but I'm having to figure it all out for myself, and I don't know any experts/guides familiar with the land. It helps to have somewhat of an idea where and what to look for so I don't end up wandering the pinelands for hours on end... but I hope to make some connections with people in the botany club and go from there!
 
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