New Jersey Fish and Wildlife will begin habitat work in Glassboro Wildlife Management Area on or about February 1st, 2023. Approximately 21 acres of American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) habitat will be created along Carpenter Ave, via the creation and management of meadow habitat with moist soils. The American Woodcock is a member of the Sandpiper family that utilizes its long, narrow beak to forage for earthworms in damp soils. These birds can be found in the spring and summer months, when males vocalize their unique “Peent” call and perform a spiraling sky dance to attract mates. American Woodcock populations are shown to be in decline on the eastern seaboard of the United States due to meadows and scrub/shrub habitats slowly maturing into forested habitats.

Future management practices will also include the planting of herbaceous flowering plants, often referred to as a “pollinator mix”. These flowering plants provide forage and cover for an abundance of field and meadow species, with a focus on the needs of insects dependent on flowering “pollinator” plants. These “keystone” insect species have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance.

New Jersey is home to a high biodiversity of wildlife, with each species relying on its respective habitat niche to survive. In a setting free from human development, natural disturbances maintain a high variety of habitat types to support these species. In New Jersey these natural disturbances are often reasonably suppressed to protect human life and property. Fish and Wildlife has taken a proactive stance on habitat management to replicate the presence of natural disturbances and ensure all of New Jersey’s wildlife has suitable habitat to thrive.

We appreciate the public support for proactive habitat management on these multi-use tracts.

A section of Carpenter Ave. will be closed for the duration of the project. Please see the map below for reference.