 Red Knots and horseshoe crabs congregate on Delaware Bay beaches in an ancient rite of Spring that is also crucial to the future health of coastal ecosystems. Weakening the Endangered Species Act would make it harder to protect both. (Photo by Susan Allen) Every spring, a prehistoric ritual unfolds on the sandy shores of the Delaware Bay. The rufa Red Knot, a master of long-distance migration, touches down on our beaches to fuel up on horseshoe crab eggs before completing its arduous journey to the Arctic. This spectacle is a reminder that our coastlines are not just beautiful landscapes; they are vital engines of life that have supported complex ecosystems for millennia. From the shorebirds on the sand to the life beneath the waves, these coastal systems are the foundation of our natural heritage.
The reach of these habitats extends far beyond the Red Knot. Our rivers and estuaries serve as critical corridors for the Atlantic sturgeon, while our salt marshes provide rare nesting grounds for the elusive Eastern blackrail. Even the majestic North Atlantic right whale relies on these coastal waters as a migratory highway. These species represent the incredible diversity of our region, and they all share one thing in common: a fundamental dependence on the integrity of our coastal habitats to survive and thrive. However, a new threat has emerged that puts this entire web of life at risk. Proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) seek to weaken protections for "threatened" species and the habitats they rely on. As climate change accelerates and industrial development along our coasts expands, these safeguards are more important than ever. Weakening the ESA now would make it significantly harder to protect vulnerable species just when they need our help the most. We must ensure that the "threatened" designation remains a powerful tool for conservation, not a watered-down label.
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Thanks to All for A Night of Holiday Cheer and Community Support at the NE Chapter Party!12/16/2025  We had a wonderful and lively time celebrating the season and reflecting on a year of accomplishments at the American Littoral Society Northeast Chapter's annual holiday party on Saturday, December 13!
Thanks to those who came out for the event and all of you who stood and worked with us through the year. We want to send a special thank you to Cecilia Dean and David Selig for their incredible generosity in opening their beautiful home to us this year. The atmosphere was festive, warm, and the perfect setting for our community gathering. The 50 guests in attendance enjoyed a delicious meal from local Rockaway culinary wizard, Whit Aycock of the Blarney Castle, who treated us to fantastic pastas and a seasonal salad. For dessert, we were spoiled with lovely, carefully crafted brownies from Pastry Chef Tracy Obolsky of Rockaway Bakery. The space was made even more festive thanks to the selection of beautiful Poinsettias from our friends at Lisena Garden Center!  Our pinniped friends have returned to Sandy Hook, and winter waterfowl are once again filling the bay and ocean with color and activity.
From January through March, the Littoral Society invites you to join us for our Seal & Winter Waterfowl Walks—one of the best ways to experience the magic of winter wildlife on Sandy Hook. In addition to seals, the bayside tidal pools and protected coves create ideal resting spots for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway. Last winter brought several unforgettable sightings. A standout moment was a Dovekie bobbing in the ocean waves—a tiny seabird and a rare visitor to New Jersey. We also enjoyed watching familiar winter favorites: mergansers (always prompting an enthusiastic “MERG!”), buffleheads, pintails, and many others showing off their striking plumage.  In November, the American Littoral Society returned to Anthony Rossi Elementary School in Vineland, NJ, to replant two of the rain gardens we first built in 2020. We were joined by teacher Amanda Trionfo’s 3rd graders.
These gardens were designed to capture stormwater before it can rush across the school’s parking lot, pick up pollutants, and flow into the storm drain leading to Menantico Creek and the Maurice River. By slowing that water down and allowing it to seep into the soil, the gardens help recharge the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer while supporting native plants, pollinators, and the local wildlife that depends on them. Over the years, Rossi students have become proud caretakers of these living classrooms, helping us weed, observe seasonal changes, and conduct mini “bio blitzes” to see what creatures call the gardens home. |
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