Mid-Winter News

Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center is in a state of semi-hibernation. Late fall Tony and Jackie Raniero loaded up their car and drove to their six-month home in Florida. Several weeks later after we said good-bye to the last group at Sedge, employees from Fish and Wildlife came to the island to shut things down. They winterized the buildings by draining pipes, turning off the gas, and removing the solar inverter to put into storage. Kayaks and small boats were stored in the boathouse. I took the pontoon boat over to the marina where it was hauled out, cleaned up, and covered.

The official Sedge visitor season was over but we continue to have things to do. The warm temperatures in the late fall and early winter made it comfortable to paddle out to the island. On two occasions some members of the Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association and I spent the better part of two days checking all thirty osprey platforms. We made careful notes and developed a plan to strengthen some of the poles that support the higher nests. On my last paddle out to check the house in early January, I was pleased to discover that buildings were ok and so were the shellfish that are in bags hanging from the dock. I was also please to find some beautiful green parsley growing n Jackie’s garden (great salad that night!)

One of my biggest disappointments of the year came when Katina told me that she would not be working at Sedge in 2007. Those of you who have spent time with her during the past two summers know that she is a woman who is always looking for new challenges. Her plans include a major trip around the world followed by law school. But Katina is not abandoning us completely. Before she leaves on her trip, she will bring a group of teachers from Cranford High School to Sedge for a long weekend. And, if she has time she will volunteer with several groups in the spring. All of us who have had the good fortune to spend time with Katina will miss her greatly. We wish her well wherever she is. GOOD LUCK, KATINA!!

The good news is that Brett Ciccotelli will be taking Katina’s place. Many of you will remember Brett as one of four interns who volunteered last summer during the months of June and July. Brett grew up near Camden, NJ and is presently majoring in environmental education at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. When he is not studying, Brett leads hikes and canoe expeditions with professors and classmates. Brett’s friendly outgoing personality coupled with his knowledge and experience in natural areas will make him an outstanding assistant program director at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center in the summer of 2007.

We are well into plans for the coming season. Many groups have booked dates and our calendar for June, July and August is almost full. We plan to have four interns working at Sedge again this summer. It is likely that two will be recent graduates from the MATES program, both of whom volunteered last summer. We will continue to work with various researchers on projects which will include: diamond backed terrapin nesting patterns, the effect of human interference on American oyster catchers, mercury content in bluefish, and water quality monitoring. With 600,000 baby clams and 100,000 oysters holding over from last year and the prospect of doubling that number in 2007, we will again be a major player in the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Project. But, and perhaps most important- We will have a second Clivus Multrum composting toilet.