ALS

Mid-Atlantic Chapter Trips

Winter Ducks February 14
Start at Sandy Hook and carpool south to the coastal ponds and lakes of Monmouth County as we look for winter ducks. Partially frozen ponds and limited open water help to concentrate these northern migraters and make them easier to spot. Mergansers, buffleheads, brandt, grebes, loons, northern long-tailed duck, northern pin-tailed duck and more are all possible sightings.
Meet at Littoral Society Headquarters, Sandy Hook, at 10am.
$5 per adult
Children under 12 free.

Bear Swamp Old-Growth Forest in South Jersey March 7, 2010 CANCELED DUE TO FLOODING

Your chance to hike parts of a 1400 acre preserve not open to the general public. Join us and a guide from the Natural Lands Trust for a trip to one of the oldest old-growth forests in the northeast. Learn more

$15 FOR MEMBERS,
$20 FOR NON-MEMBERS

Spring Equinox Shore Walk on Sandy Hook March 20
(With the Park Service)
Called the equinox because it’s one of two days in the year when daylight and darkness have agreed to equally share the 24 hours in a day. According legend, on the equinox, you can balance a raw egg on its end. Truth or myth? Who knows for sure? We know for sure that it’s a great day for an early evening walk on Sandy Hook Meet at 7 p.m. at Guardian Park in Sandy Hook. Call to reserve, we need a headcount.
FREE - Call to reserve

Coastal Day (formerly members day) May 1
We used to call it Member’s Day, a traditional annual event open only to members. But now we’re inviting non-members to join us as well.. Come on out and get a feel for the love of nature and the camaraderie that Littoral Society members and staff share. Join us for a day of fun and learning - catch up on our recent successes and the continuing threats to the coast, explore Sandy Hook"s unique environment with our expert naturalists. Plenty of activities for kids of all ages. A special "issues" session with Society staff. Bring a picnic lunch, lawn chairs, blankets, etc. More details will be posted on our web site in early April. Rain date Sunday, May 2nd. Meet at the Littoral Society Headquarters at 10am.
$5 per person.
Children 12 and under are free

Holly Forest Exploration May 8
Some of the oldest American holly trees in the country can be found among Sandy Hook’s nearly 300 acres of holly forest. We will hike through the restricted 64 acre maritime forest area and get to see an undisturbed holly forest with some of its oldest, rarest, and largest holly trees. Waterproof foot ware is recommended.
Meet at the Sandy Hook Visitors Center at 10am.
$5 PER ADULT
Children under 12 free.

Surf Fishing Clinic at Sandy Hook May 9
Join Society staff for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach at Sandy Hook. We will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and "reading" a beach. All skill levels will be accommodated. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 years of age are wel¬come with a supervising adult. Space is lim¬ited, so call ahead for reservations and directions.
$20 PER FAMILY/individual
$40 FOR NON-MEMBER FAMILIES

Surf Fishing Clinic at Sandy Hook May 15
Join Society staff for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach at Sandy Hook. We will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and "reading" a beach. All skill levels will be accommodated. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 years of age are wel¬come with a supervising adult. Space is lim¬ited, so call ahead for reservations and directions.
$20 PER FAMILY/individual
$40 FOR NON-MEMBER FAMILIES

Horseshoe Crab Walk (Navesink River, Rumson) May 27
Get up close and personal with a living fossil. Take an evening walk alongside the scenic Navesink River to look for spawning horseshoe crabs. Learn about an animal that has survived virtually unchanged for 400 million years. Wear foot gear that can get wet. Great for families.
7:30 p.m. Call for location.
Free.

Native Plant Workshop, Plant Sale, and Garden Planting June 5
Learn how you can improve the health of Barnegat Bay with native plantings in your own back yard. Speaker will focus on plants native to our coast and we will offer a variety of native plants onsite for purchase. Attendees will have the opportunity to assist in the creation of a native plant demonstration garden on the grounds of the Wannamaker Complex! The Littoral Society’s Shore Steward program was developed to encourage citizens to better care New Jersey’s fragile coastal environment; using native plants in our yards and gardens is one way to do that.
Meet at 10:00 a.m.
Wannamaker Complex, Island Heights
$5 per person

Summer Solstice Walk June 21
(With the Park Service)
The Sun is high, the day is long; it must be the Summer Solstice. This is longest day of the year (in terms of daylight hours).. The Earth has tilted as far on it’s axis as it’s going to and starts back in the other direction. As good an excuse as any we can think of to take an evening walk on the beach at Sandy Hook. Come early with your own picnic supper, dine on our porch, and then join us for a stroll. A special tour inside a gun battery may be included.
Meet at 8 p.m. at Guardian Park. Call - we need a head count.
FREE - Call to reserve

Sunset Eco-Cruises on Barnegat Bay June 26
Join us as we cruise Barnegat Bay from Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island. Ride aboard Paradise Cruise’s pontoon boat “Flipper.” Enjoy a bay eco-tour with the Littoral Society’s Helen Henderson, our expert on Barnegat Bay issues, and Jeff Dement, naturalist and Fish Tagging Program Director, followed by a beautiful sunset. Visit the salt marshes, see plenty of wildlife and “Ol’ Barney”.
Barnegat Light, Long Beach Island
Cruise departs from the Lighthouse Marina on 6th Avenue and the Bay- right next to USCG Station Barnegat Light
Cost: $25 per person. Complementary wine and cheese

Fossil Hunt (Big Brook, Colts Neck) July 10
This is a unique New Jersey experience, fossil hunting. Wade through the Big Brook in Middletown and sift for ancient shark"s teeth, squid guards and fossilized mollusks. This is one of the best areas in the country to search for Cretaceous Era fossils. Be prepared to get wet and muddy, but the prizes are well worth it. We"ll bring the necessary gear and you bring footwear for muddy banks and shallow water. Great for families. Directions will be mailed upon payment.
Meet at 10:30 a.m.
$15 PER MEMBER FAMILY
$25 FOR NON-MEMBER FAMILIES

Discovering the Fishes of Sandy Hook – A Seining Adventure for the Family July 15
(Formerly Family Nights)
We take our seine net down to the water and see what we can find. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it from above but there’s a lot going on under the surface of Sandy Hook Bay and our net will help bring some the action to the surface. Every pull of the net is different with different fish to see and talk about. This is a reworking of Family Nights, one of our favorites and we’ve streamlined it just a bit for more time at the water, more pulls of the net and more opportunities for discovery..
$10 per Member Family
$25 per non-member Family

Discovering the Fishes of Sandy Hook – A Seining Adventure for the Family July 22
(Formerly Family Nights)
We take our seine net down to the water and see what we can find. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it from above but there’s a lot going on under the surface of Sandy Hook Bay and our net will help bring some the action to the surface. Every pull of the net is different with different fish to see and talk about. This is a reworking of Family Nights, one of our favorites and we’ve streamlined it just a bit for more time at the water, more pulls of the net and more opportunities for discovery.
$10 per Member Family
$25 per non-member Family

Discovering the Fishes of Sandy Hook – A Seining Adventure for the Family July 29
(Formerly Family Nights)
We take our seine net down to the water and see what we can find. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it from above but there’s a lot going on under the surface of Sandy Hook Bay and our net will help bring some the action to the surface. Every pull of the net is different with different fish to see and talk about. This is a reworking of Family Nights, one of our favorites and we’ve streamlined it just a bit for more time at the water, more pulls of the net and more opportunities for discovery.
$10 per Member Family
$25 per non-member Family

Fluke Tagging Trip July 31
Join our fish tagging director for a day of Summer Flounder (Fluke) fishing and tagging. The boat departs from Atlantic Highlands municipal marina at 7:00 am. All tackle, bait, and tags will be provided. Call for fare info. Advance payment required. Space is limited.
Contact jeff@littoralsociety.org or call 732-291-0055 X106 for reservations and info.
Payment secures your place on the boat.

Discovering the Fishes of Sandy Hook – A Seining Adventure for the Family August 5
(Formerly Family Nights)
We take our seine net down to the water and see what we can find. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it from above but there’s a lot going on under the surface of Sandy Hook Bay and our net will help bring some the action to the surface. Every pull of the net is different with different fish to see and talk about. This is a reworking of Family Nights, one of our favorites and we’ve streamlined it just a bit for more time at the water, more pulls of the net and more opportunities for discovery.
$10 per Member Family
$25 per non-member Family

Discovering the Fishes of Sandy Hook – A Seining Adventure for the Family August 12
(Formerly Family Nights)
We take our seine net down to the water and see what we can find. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it from above but there’s a lot going on under the surface of Sandy Hook Bay and our net will help bring some the action to the surface. Every pull of the net is different with different fish to see and talk about. This is a reworking of Family Nights, one of our favorites and we’ve streamlined it just a bit for more time at the water, more pulls of the net and more opportunities for discovery.
$10 per Member Family
$25 per non-member Family

Discovering the Fishes of Sandy Hook – A Seining Adventure for the Family August 19
(Formerly Family Nights)
We take our seine net down to the water and see what we can find. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it from above but there’s a lot going on under the surface of Sandy Hook Bay and our net will help bring some the action to the surface. Every pull of the net is different with different fish to see and talk about. This is a reworking of Family Nights, one of our favorites and we’ve streamlined it just a bit for more time at the water, more pulls of the net and more opportunities for discovery.
$10 per Member Family
$25 per non-member Family

Kids Day – Sandy Hook September 11
This day is specifically designed for kids from 4 to 8 years old and their parents. We start off with some very basic introductions to Sandy Hook natural history and the art of seining for fish. Next we move to Spermaceti Cove for an hour of seining and fish identification. Kids are invited to help as much or as little as they like pulling the net. Then we return to the Littoral Society office for “Fishy Fun” where we teach the kids the ancient art of Japanese fish printing (using rubber fish and non-toxic paint). Each child goes home with his or her personal fish print. Kids should wear bathing suits or clothes they can get wet and must wear footwear they can wear in water.
Meet at the Littoral Society headquarters at 1:30 pm.
$5 per Child

Fall Equinox Walk September 23
The other equinox, if we can find the egg we’ll try again to stand it on its end. Egg or no egg the beach is beautiful in the fall. Another great excuse for a walk through Sandy Hook.
Meet at 7 p.m. at Guardian Park. Call 732-291-0055 as we need a head count.
Free - Call to reserve

Sunset Eco-Cruises on Barnegat Bay September 25
Join us as we cruise Barnegat Bay from Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island. Ride aboard Paradise Cruise’s pontoon boat “Flipper.” Enjoy a bay eco-tour with the Littoral Society’s Helen Henderson, our expert on Barnegat Bay issues, and Jeff Dement, naturalist and Fish Tagging Program Director, followed by a beautiful sunset. Visit the salt marshes, see plenty of wildlife and “Ol’ Barney”.
Barnegat Light, Long Beach Island
Cruise departs from the Lighthouse Marina on 6th Avenue and the Bay- right next to USCG Station Barnegat Light
Cost: $25 per person. Complementary wine and cheese

Greenwich Fair Birding Walk (Eagles) September 26
Every year the Town of Greenwich NJ on the shore of the Cohansey River holds a fair to celebrate the history and heritage of this area of southern New Jersey. Join Matt Blake of our South Jersey office as he leads a trip from the fair to look for eagles along the Cohansey River.
Price and meet location to be announced.

Surf Fishing Clinic at Sandy Hook October 30
Join Society staff for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach at Sandy Hook. We will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and "reading" a beach. All skill levels will be accommodated. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 years of age are wel¬come with a supervising adult. Space is lim¬ited, so call ahead for reservations and directions.
$20 PER FAMILY/lNDIVIDUAL
$40 FOR NON-MEMBER FAMILIES

Surf Fishing Clinic at Sandy Hook November 6
Join Society staff for a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach at Sandy Hook. We will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure/bait selection, and "reading" a beach. All skill levels will be accommodated. Rods, reels and tackle will be provided, but bring your own if you have it. Children under 18 years of age are wel¬come with a supervising adult. Space is lim¬ited, so call ahead for reservations and directions.
$20 PER FAMILY/INDIVIDUAL
$40FOR NON-MEMBER FAMILIES

New Year’s Day Beach Walk January 1
Which came first, the New Year’s Day hangover or the American Littoral Society New Year’s Day Beach Walk? Which one is the better way to start a new year? Well we all know the answer to that one. We meet at American Littoral Society Headquarters at 11am for a winter stroll on Sandy Hook. Visual contact with the New York Chapter group at Floyd Bennett Field will be unsuccessfully attempted and then we return to the office for hot cider, hot chocolate, hot dogs and donated desserts. Dress warm and bring you left over holiday desserts to share.
Free

Visiting the Gulf Stream...In Brooklyn
By Sharon Sassmann

The hidden flow of nature is a grand and rare experience for humans, especially those who don’t have the knowledge and resources to know when and where to look. Every day we miss out on meteor showers, shooting stars, newly discovered species, and unusual visits from foreign creatures. One lucky group of people was able to experience this flow while seining in Jamaica Bay, searching for creatures that belong to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf Stream flows south to north in mid-October every year, bringing with it warmer water, bigger waves, and new marine animals that usually cannot be found along the North Atlantic Coast. The experience would not have been the same if it wasn’t for the expertise of Mickey Cohen. He offered what seemed like an endless bucket of knowledge about marine life around the world. With each creature found he enlightened the group with a fascinating story and interesting facts. It was a hands-on learning experience fit for people of all ages.

Many of the findings were actually native to the area, yet still rare and exciting to find in just one Jamaica Bay seining excursion. Among those were the following:

Silver Side Fish, a common fish caught commercially and considered low, but vital, on the food chain; Glass Shrimp, these shrimp’s organs can be seen through their clear body; Sea Robins, known as scavengers or garbage collectors because they survive from eating trash found on the sea floor; Pipe Fish, related to the sea horse they also use their “snout” to inhale their food; Calico Crabs, these have a calico pattern and flippers used to swim; Toad Fish, often found in the Hudson river, toad fish are also scavengers sometimes called “opportunistic eaters;” Bergal Fish, competition with the black fish but set apart by their bright green scales; and finally a Sea Horse, which has a slightly bigger mouth than the pipe fish to consumer larger organisms.

Another species found in the net was an Asian Shore crab. These crabs are foreign, but not from the Gulf. They are actually from Asia, and considered an invasive species. Mickey explained to the group that sometimes new species are brought on ships to new areas of the world, where they reproduce and typically harm the eco-system of the area. These Asian shore crabs eat the eggs of fish in the North Atlantic, and are considered damaging and un-welcomed.

From the Gulf, a Lizard Fish (Synodus foetens) was discovered. They look similar to the Sea Robin, but are far different. Covered with a gelatin-like substance, lizard fish have a soft, slimy feel. These fish have mouths full of long, sharp teeth and wait on the bottom of the sea floor to jump at their prey. The one found in Jamaica Bay was still young, only about 3-4 inches long, but the teeth were visible and distinct. Although the Sea Horse was the crowd’s favorite, this foreign (to the Northeast that is) creature provided an exceptional experience for the whole group. We all enjoyed having our eyes opened to the otherwise undetectable progression of the natural world happening around us everyday.
driepe@nyc.rr.com