Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ

06/18/2026

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2026 Species on the Edge 2.0 Challenge!

High school students from across New Jersey showcased their creativity, innovation, and passion for protecting endangered and threatened wildlife through this exciting conservation challenge.

After a highly competitive judging process, we are proud to announce the winners:

🥇 1st Place ($2,000 Student Prize)
Operation Bobcat
Science Park High School, Newark Public Schools

🥈 2nd Place ($1,000 Student Prize)
Nexus Marine Robotics
J.P. Stevens High School, Edison Public Schools

🥉 3rd Place ($500 Student Prize)
The Barnes Boys
Metuchen High School, Metuchen Public Schools

In addition to student prizes, the facilitators of the winning teams will receive awards recognizing their dedication to inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.

The Species on the Edge 2.0 Challenge encourages students to develop innovative solutions that help protect New Jersey's rare, threatened, and endangered wildlife. The challenge was sponsored by the PSEG Foundation, Atlantic City Electric, Phillips 66, and Church & Dwight. We are incredibly proud of all participating teams and grateful to the educators, judges, and partners who made this program possible.
Check out the winning videos at http://conservewildlifenj.org/education/edge2-0/

06/09/2026

June 9 is officially Oystercatcher Day — an international awareness initiative dedicated to all species of oystercatchers and the fragile ecosystems they depend on.

Here at Conserve Wildlife Foundation, every day is Oystercatcher Day for our shorebird biologists! For more than 20 years, we’ve been proud to play a leading role in American oystercatcher research, management, and conservation in New Jersey.

To celebrate this inaugural Oystercatcher Day, check out our latest blog post by Biological Technician Meredith Wray, who shares an inside look at the exciting new research CWF is conducting in New Jersey’s marshes to better understand and protect these iconic shorebirds.

It’s 7 a.m. at Captain Mike’s Marina in Tuckerton, New Jersey and all is calm along the Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area. Red winged blackbirds and clapper rails are […]

06/07/2026

We are grateful to Union County for being such a dedicated steward of this peregrine falcon nest site and for helping make this conservation success story possible year after year!

Now, what do you think the names of these miracle chicks should be?

[Link to vote on their names in the comments]

06/02/2026

A special thanks to everyone who donated to our recent beach nesting bird fundraising campaign. Thanks to you and our generous matching donor we can continue our work to keep species like piping plover in New Jersey's future!

The matching funds campaign has closed but you can still make a donation here https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=4WPPUN23K7B5L
or mail a check to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, 2 Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

05/31/2026

Today is the last day of our fundraiser to benefit piping plovers and other beach nesting birds. https://square.link/u/dChvRcPd

Thanks to a generous donor, all donations made through the end of May (today) will be matched up to $15,000. Double your impact for New Jersey's Piping Plovers!

State-endangered piping plovers are currently experiencing significant declines along New Jersey's Coast. In 2025, the state population plummeted to just 76 pairs, the lowest recorded pair count since 1987. They need our help now, more than ever.

05/30/2026

Double your impact for New Jersey's Piping Plovers! All donations MATCHED, up to $15,000, through the end of May.
https://square.link/u/dChvRcPd

State-endangered piping plovers are currently experiencing significant declines along New Jersey's Coast. In 2025, the state population plummeted to just 76 pairs, the lowest recorded pair count since 1987. They need our help now, more than ever.

Protecting piping plovers requires intense research, monitoring, and management, but funding for this work is not guaranteed. Your contribution directly helps CWF continue our efforts to protect this iconic shorebird species at this critical time.

05/29/2026

Drama, new beginnings, and now a chance to help name Union County’s newest peregrine falcon chicks! 🇺🇸

This year’s Falcon Cam season has been one of the most eventful yet, with territorial battles, a changing nest pair, and the successful hatching of two chicks atop the historic Union County Courthouse.

Now you can help choose patriotic names for the chicks as part of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.

Read the full story and cast your vote at the link below!

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents and nature fans of all ages to help name the newest peregrine falcon chicks living atop the historic Union County Courthouse Tower in Elizabeth. Members of the public can now cast their votes online at www.ucnj.org/falcon by choosing two patriotic names for the chicks in celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. Voting will remain open through June 12.

The eight names selected for the public vote are: Liberty, Patriot, Justice, Glory, America, Independence “Indy,” Valor, and Anthem.

“Every year, the Falcon Cam gives residents a unique opportunity to experience wildlife and nature right here in the heart of Union County,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek. “This year’s naming contest is a fun way to celebrate our nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary while also helping educate residents about the importance of protecting endangered species. We are proud to continue our partnership with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey to share the story of these remarkable birds with viewers here in Union County and around the world.”

Residents can watch the falcon family live through Union County’s free Falcon Cam livestream, the only live peregrine falcon cam in New Jersey. The livestream provides two live camera views of the nest and surrounding rooftop area. Since the installation of the Union County Falcon Cam in 2016, viewers have followed the lives of Mango, the male peregrine falcon, and his mates as they successfully raised multiple generations of chicks atop the courthouse tower.

This year’s nesting season brought unexpected twists, territorial battles, and ultimately, a remarkable new chapter for Union County’s falcon family.

Sadly, as of mid-June 2025, Frida, the longtime female falcon who occupied the nest for six years and successfully raised 26 chicks with Mango, disappeared after being pushed out during a territorial dispute with another female falcon.

Soon after, a federally banded female falcon identified as 1947-31215 appeared at the nest site. With assistance from New Jersey State Biologist Kathy Clark, researchers determined the falcon hatched in 2016 and had previously been captured at JFK Airport before being transported and released in New Paltz, New York. She was later named “Lizzie” in honor of the City of Elizabeth.

Between March 23rd and April 2nd, Lizzie laid five eggs while viewers watched ongoing territorial disputes unfold live on camera. By mid-April, another unbanded female successfully claimed the highly sought-after nest site and was later named “Betsy,” in honor of Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross, who was born in New Jersey and is credited with sewing the first American flag.

With the frequent disruption surrounding the nest, many viewers feared the eggs would not hatch. But on May 11th, viewers watching the livestream witnessed the first chick emerge, followed by a second hatchling on May 13th.

Since then, Betsy and Mango have continued caring for the chicks together, keeping them warm and delivering a steady supply of food while thousands of viewers follow the falcon family online each day.

In addition to the livestream, the Union County Falcon Cam website features:

• Recent nest updates and news
• A history of Union County’s peregrine falcons dating back to 2005
• Educational classroom resources for teachers
• Information on helping protect peregrine falcons, which remain on New Jersey’s Endangered Species List
• A wildlife biologist Q&A feature through the Conserve Wildlife Foundation
• Kids Korner educational activities
• Behind-the-scenes footage from camera and microphone installations atop the courthouse
• Updated photos, videos, and interactive activities

Peregrine falcons once thrived throughout New Jersey and the eastern United States until the widespread use of the pesticide DDT devastated the population beginning in the 1950s. Following the federal ban of DDT in 1973 and decades of conservation work, peregrine falcons successfully returned to New Jersey through statewide reintroduction efforts launched in the 1980s.

For more information about Union County Falcon Cam and to cast your vote, visit www.ucnj.org/falcon.

For information about additional nature education programs offered by Union County, visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. For more information about the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, visit www.conservewildlifenj.org.

05/29/2026

Things have been a bit unusual at the Barnegat Light Osprey Cam this season. Duke has yet to form a new pair bond after Dixie stopped regularly visiting the nest, and we’re seeing signs of possible food stress impacting coastal nesting ospreys across New Jersey.

Early surveys found 30–40% of coastal nests inactive, with fewer females incubating eggs and more being observed along beaches searching for food.

While the nest has hosted many visiting ospreys this spring, the overall season is not shaping up to be a very productive one so far.

Reports of nest activity and prey observations by the public are crucial in learning true outcomes throughout the nesting season. Thank you to all our volunteers who help monitor osprey nests throughout the state.

Click the link in the comments to learn more and read the full nest update.

05/28/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest!

Fifth graders from across New Jersey showcased their creativity, bringing attention to the state’s threatened, endangered, and special concern species through stunning artwork and thoughtful essays.

We are grateful for the outstanding efforts of all participating students, parents, teachers, and schools who helped make this year’s contest a success.

A huge thank you goes out to our contest sponsors - Atlantic City Electric, Church & Dwight, and Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery.

Check out the full list of winners here - https://conservewildlifenj.org/2026/05/28/2026-species-on-the-edge-art-essay-contest-winners-announced/ and celebrate the next generation of wildlife advocates!

05/25/2026

Donate Today to Double Your Impact for New Jersey's American Oystercatchers! All contributions MATCHED through the end of May. https://square.link/u/dChvRcPd

While well-monitored on New Jersey’s ocean-side beaches, a large portion of the state’s American oystercatchers nest in hard-to-reach marshes and bays. These habitats represent an important and largely understudied part of their population.

Your MATCHED contribution will provide necessary funding to ensure CWF can continue to expand research into these understudied areas and inform future conservation efforts. Thank you for supporting New Jersey's nesting shorebirds!