Healthy Kids Snacks educational story video #GardenCuizine @CUMaurice #eaglesknowbest #preventdiabetes

Provide Kids Healthy Snacks to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Diabetes

Over the past few years New Jersey's endangered American Bald Eagles have made a strong return, especially in South Jersey, not too far from where I work in Cumberland county. 

American Bald Eagles get illustrated in story telling and are the symbol of strength and power featured in designs on the US National seal, passports and money.

The recovering Bald Eagle population is wonderful news. Especially for bird watching enthusiasts, biologists and environmentalists who knew that Eagles had rapidly declined after pesticide use of DDT in the 1950's through 1972 when it was finally banned. 

According to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, there was only one Eagle's nest left in NJ by1982. Since then a lot of people have worked hard to save the American Eagle from extinction.

Today, majestic Bald Eagles can be seen soaring throughout the state of NJ, usually near water. The majority fly near their huge nests, built in tall trees, along the Delaware Bay in Salem and Cumberland counties. Eagles lay their eggs right now, from mid February to early March.

Harry and I were thrilled to tour that beautiful area with the group Citizens United Maurice River. The winter morning we went was misty and cold. As we looked across the wetlands, three, white, mute swans photo-bombed my attempt at photographing Eagles! That photo turned out to be one of my favorite pictures, "Misty Mute Swans Soaring South Jersey Wetlands."

Anyway, the CDC story below caught my attention since it includes a wise Eagle. It is taken from one of a series of Eagle books written by Georgia Perez. She features Native American children (who have high risk for diabetes), Miss rabbit, a tricky coyote and a wise Bald Eagle. 

• Mr. Eagle encourages the children to drink water instead of soda and to select healthy snacks like carrots and cherries instead of chips and cookies.

• Eating a healthy diet along with exercise has been shown to help prevent childhood obesity and related diseases like diabetes.

• Bald Eagles know best about good snack choices. We can all learn skills from Mr. Eagle on how to better navigate the environment when others (coyotes) tempt us with tricky treats.

This story inspires me to inquire about being a vendor at the Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival next February in 2020. Keep learning about Eagles and the importance of protecting their habitat. And, remember that healthy food choices help to prevent childhood obesity and diabetes.

Related Links
Conserve Wildlife Endangered Species

Blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved. Tricky Treats video story illustrations are by Patrick Rolo and Lisa A. Fifield. United States Seal image courtesy of Wikipedia. Public Domain.

Women's March soared spirits as high as American Eagles today #USA #environment @NWF #DownJersey @CUMaurice

Eagles in NJ soared high today

as Women's Marches in Washington and around the World made history

While people were traveling to Washington and to destinations for the Women's Marches, American Eagles were soaring high in South Jersey today.

Did you participate in the Women's March? People came out in masses from all across America and the world. I tried to get on a bus from NJ to Washington DC but all the buses were full! At first I was disappointed. But, then I realized how positive it was that so many people wanted to attend. 

The Women's March showed a true outpouring of Americans committed to supporting our democracy. Women (and Men) were able to peacefully express their opinions on how they feel about Trump's behavior and what they hope for in the future of America.   

After watching the news so intensely before and after Trumps inauguration, it felt great to get outside and go for a walk and enjoy nature today. Maybe it was no coincidence that our walk was to see Bald Eagles - symbolic of the United States of America.

American Sweetgum Seed Pods : Winter food source for Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, Sparrows, Squirrels and other wildlife

 
Bald Eagles faced possible extinction after habitat loss and from the use of DDT, a harsh chemical that is now banned. There was only one American Eagle pair left in NJ in 1970. As of 2015, there were 150 American Eagle pairs! Wow, what a significant come back here in South Jersey thanks to recovery efforts.

Today, we marched with the Citizens United (CU) Maurice River group in South Jersey on Bald Eagle Trail at Glades Wildlife Refuge in Cumberland County, NJ. A woman in our group wore a sign echoing some of the many concerns being felt across America.

We were lucky to see around 21 Eagles! The birds of prey were perched in trees while some soared over the pristine Jersey salt marsh and wetland. Some Eagles were looking for love. Believe it or not, now through March is Eagle nesting season. Baby Eaglets fledge in late June to early July.

Birds and wildlife are important reminders to us of the ongoing need to be diligent in preserving and protecting the environment.

All day, the sky was gray and overcast. It was misty with the threat of rain. Luckily, we didn't get any rain. Along the walk, group naturalists and birders pointed out different birds and native plants as well as invasive species.

Boomer

CU Maurice River group is dedicated to protecting the watershed of the Maurice River and the region known as Down Jersey.

Related Event
2017 Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival
Presentations and Trail Walks
Over 40 Exhibitors and Merchants
Saturday, February 4, 2017
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(856) 453-2175

Related Links
Bald Eagle Fact Sheet and Eagle Cam link
Support National Audubon Society
Blog post and photos Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Cumberland County Photo Tour of Private Wildlife Gardens South Jersey #GardenCuizine #gardenchat #getoutside

Cumberland County Photo Tour 

of Private Wildlife Gardens

August 2015

with Pat Sutton, naturalist 

and wildlife garden educator

Photos alone can not capture the beauty of nature. Getting outdoors remains the best way to experience the smells and sights of pollinators in action and to learn about where our food comes from, native plants, birds, insects and the importance of preserving open spaces and caring for our precious environment. 

Watch for additional photos that will be added during the next few weeks 

Happy Gardening!

photos Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

@NWF Gardening for Pollinators #GardenCuizine #gardenchat

Gardening for Pollinators

private garden #1

Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting new friends and touring wildlife-friendly, private home gardens in South Jersey, sponsored by Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River. 

Our Cumberland County tour of private wildlife gardens began in the parking lot at the base of the Maurice River Bridge. Tall marsh grasses lined the river. The shining bright sun felt hot. When we arrived, our tour guide, Pat Sutton, was there to greet us.

Being an experienced naturalist and wildlife garden educator, Pat provided the group information on Gardening for Pollinators. She also gave us an informative itinerary with directions and information written by each gardener about their wildlife garden habitats.

Harry and I arrived early, giving us time to meet Pat and browse through a few select gardening books. The eager group of about 25 Master Gardeners and garden enthusiasts carpooled to each garden. First we traveled to Leesburg then on to Port Norris and Bridgeton, ending at a breath-taking riverside garden in Millville, NJ.  

At Janet's garden in Leesburg, hummingbirds and butterflies were everywhere. Surrounding her pool, instead of grass, were garden walks bordered by flowers that included masses of red salvias - more than any of the other gardens we visited. No wonder she gets so many hummingbirds!

Other blooms included: Tropical Milkweed, Agastache, Coral Honeysuckle, Joe Pye weed, Echinacea, Rudbeckia tribola and Verbena bonariensis. In early spring, she scattered 4+ large packets of mixed zinnia seeds that grew into a beautiful patch of colorful flowers that attract many pollinators. 

Along the fence was another butterfly magnet: bright orange Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) growing over 5-feet tall. An easy-to-grow annual that you can start from seeds as early as February, according to Janet. We only have one Tithonia growing in our garden, thanks to a gardening friend (thanks Linda!!). Seeds can be harvested and saved for next year. 

yum yum milkweed!

In a garden bed near a rain barrel against the house many hungry monarch butterfly caterpillars were devouring the foliage of milkweed, the only plant they can eat. We also let milkweed grow wild in our yard just for monarchs.

We had a hard time pulling ourselves away from every garden, so much so that we ran over our time schedule and missed PEEK Preserve, Natural Lands Trust garden. Seriously, we could have spent an entire day at each location. We visited 6 gardens, all focused on gardening for pollinators and NOT using pesticides.

We've done garden seed swaps in the past, but never a tour of more than one garden at a time. My head is still spinning with all the new garden ideas and contact information! Special thanks to Pat, CU, and all the gardening hosts and hostesses who shared their gardens and expertise with us.  

I'll be making a few continuing blog posts about more NJ wildlife gardens; including, Barn Studio of Art. Check back for added photos and related posts.

Happy Gardening! 
Related Links
How to Create a Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden by Pat Sutton 
Recommended Nectar Plants by Pat Sutton 
Garden for Wildlife

Blog post and photos Copyright (C) Wind. All rights reserved.