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The red knot is a shore bird species that visits the shores of Cape May on its migration route. This species has the longest migration route of any species that visits our shores. It travels from tropical and temperate conditions in the winter all the way to the Arctic for breeding, a journey that totals…

Plastic is something we use mindlessly everyday for cooking, storage, travel, amongst many others. As a material it is lightweight, durable, strong, and cheap to manufacture. It’s no wonder our world is so blind for the horrors that plastic causes outside of our small bubble of a world. The same reasons we love using plastics…

For some of you non New Jersey seaside residents, you would be surprise to here that New Jersey has offshore reefs. You are probably asking yourselves, New Jersey has reefs? Where are they? Are they like the ones you see at the Great Barrier Reef? Let’s find out. New Jersey Has Reefs             You heard…

It is argued that the human species is the most intelligent species to roam the planet. We communicate in depth, we have extraordinary cognitive abilities, and we build and expand like no other species – but, we build our complicated designs and stable habitats in an ever changing environment. There is indeed something that we…

How Garbage is Harming Adult Ospreys and Their Chicks Ospreys are one of New Jersey’s largest species of raptors. They have a wingspan of about 59.1 inches to about 70.9 inches, and can weigh from 49.4 ounces to 70.5 ounces (Osprey Life History, n.d.). They are usually easy to spot when flying due to their…

Sharks: Who is the Real Monster? Sarah Caplan Intern at Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center   Introduction Sharks have become one the most feared creatures of the sea, but are these fears based on false representations of them? Or are they actually cold-hearted monsters who seek the flesh of humans? Most people have…

The Water Quality in Cape May, New Jersey and its Effects on Bottlenose Dolphins Mary Jacketti Intern at Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, University of Miami   Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if the Atlantic Ocean or Delaware Bay in Southern New Jersey was clean or polluted. We…

Shark Encounters of New Jersey Arianna Nixon Intern at Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, University of Tampa September 6, 2017* *To view the most recent shark attack data, please visit the Global Shark Attack File.   The state of New Jersey has approximately 227 km of costal land, commonly referred to as the…

Marine debris is any man-made solid material that has been directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed or abandoned into the marine environment (NOAA, What is marine debris?). 60% to 80% of all marine debris is composed of plastic (Derraik 2002). Plastics are lightweight, durable, and cheap synthetic organic polymers. This has allowed them to…

For over 400 million years, sharks have greatly inhabited the ocean’s open waters. However, in a recent turn of events, their populations are beginning to decline due to human’s two greatest instincts; fear and food. For a long time, humans and sharks lived in peace. The idea that sharks were mostly harmless and that they don’t actually bite people, was the popular belief of the time. We ignored them for the most part and they ignored us, however in 1916, everything changed. A series of shark attacks off the coast of New Jersey created a nationwide panic, that would soon get the name the “twelve days of terror”. Beginning on July 1st and continuing until the 12th, five people were attacked and only one person survived. This was not only one of the greatest tragedies of the time, but also…

Humpback whales have always been characterized by their large pectoral fins. In fact their scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae, translates to “big winged New Englander,” paying homage to their nearly 15 foot fins. These fins are specifically designed to be extremely hydrodynamic, allowing for easy movement through the water, despite their size. They are so efficient, that…

On Wednesday, July 12, 2017 there was a stranding of a spotted dolphin on the 49th street beach in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. The dolphin was reported to be seen in the surf around 11:22 am and beached itself not shortly thereafter. Initial observations suggested the dolphin was sick and was trying to beach…