 Photo by Don Riepe This year's 20th Annual Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival was truly one for the books! On August 17, 2025, over 350 bird lovers, families, and nature enthusiasts flocked to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to celebrate the peak of the shorebird migration season.
The East Pond’s shoreline provided the perfect vantage point for spotting an incredible variety of species. Attendees were thrilled to see a White Pelican, a Short-billed Dowitcher, a Semipalmated Plover, and both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Birders of all skill levels were guided by renowned experts, including Don Riepe, Kevin Karlson, and Steve Walter, who generously shared their knowledge on bird identification and natural history. We were especially excited to welcome the Littoral Society's new Executive Director, Danielle McCulloch, to the celebration. This milestone event was made possible by the collaborative spirit of our partners. A huge thank you to Gateway NPS, the NY Bird Alliance, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Park Conservancy, NYC Parks, and Wild City for their support.  New Jersey is updating its development rules to better protect people, property, and natural spaces from future flooding. The NJ PACT Rules will replace old standards that haven’t kept pace with today’s flooding risks. Known as the REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscape) rules, they are part of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT) initiative. They aim to reduce the state's vulnerability to flooding. Time is running out to get better rules in place. These rules are needed, stronger and better for our communities and the coast, so let's get them enacted! Want to help protect our state?
Need help figuring out what to say? Here's some guidance: I support the proposed NJPACT REAL Rules, which will make our state more resilient and better prepared to face the threats facing our communities and coast, like flooding and sea level rise. I am writing to ask the NJDEP to adopt these rules immediately. I support these rules because they use the best available science to guide construction that will withstand expected sea level rise and increased rainfall that we are already experiencing in the state, while also helping to prepare us to withstand and recover from future storms. I support these rules because they encourage nature-based solutions to restore wetlands, shorelines, and floodplains, which help to reduce the impacts of flooding. These rules will capture and remove water pollution, which too often restricts our use and enjoyment of our ocean and bays. I support these rules because they close existing loopholes that put people and places at risk. The climate is changing, and so must we! Want to learn more? Watch the NJ League of Conservation Voters video on the Rules.
These rules will shape how we build in flood-prone areas for decades to come. Adding your voice can help get them passed!  On Saturday, July 12, the waves rolled in, the sun shone bright, and Brighton Beach buzzed with energy as over 100 local residents, students, and beachgoers gathered to join the American Littoral Society and the National Wildlife Federation partners for City of Water Day—a region-wide celebration of our waterfronts and a powerful reminder that we are Stronger Together in the face of climate change.
City of Water Day is organized by the Waterfront Alliance, with support from the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program, and is a free citywide, family-friendly celebration of our shared shorelines across NYC. This year’s theme, Stronger Together, focused on the strength of connected communities—whether it’s checking on a neighbor during a heatwave or collaborating on long-term climate resilience strategies. Across New York and New Jersey, events highlighted local ecosystems, climate risks, and the power of unity. Here on Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, the American Littoral Society and the National Wildlife Federation’s Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) Program hosted our joint Coastal Encounters & Climate Conversations event which brought this year’s City of Water Day theme to life.  Daniell McCulloch (L) and Tim Dillingham outside Littoral Society HQ on Sandy Hook. The American Littoral Society, a leader in coastal conservation since 1961, is proud to announce Danielle McCulloch as its new Executive Director, succeeding Tim Dillingham, who has led the organization for the past 23 years.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome Danielle,” said Tim Dillingham “She’s been an incredible partner for years and is the perfect person to lead the Society’s work. The combination of her scientific expertise, her ability to work with differing communities and her passion for caring for the coast make her the right woman for the moment. I am sure under her leadership, the American Littoral Society will continue to lead and accomplish its mission with strength, innovation and dedication.” Dillingham has led the Society since 2003, as its second Executive Director, succeeding Dery Bennett. With over 20 years of experience in coastal conservation, Danielle is dedicated to protecting fish, wildlife, and coastal communities. Her passion began along the shores of Chesapeake Bay, where she saw firsthand how storms and floods impacted local people and ecosystems, motivating her to work to defend the coast. "I’m honored to join this extraordinary team," Danielle said, "and to build on the remarkable legacy of Dery Bennett and Tim Dillingham. I’m dedicated to guide the Society to meet the challenges where land, water, and community meet, so our coasts remain places of beauty, protection, and life for generations to come." |
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