Wildlife Protection

Protecting the American black duck

We are initiating a program to protect American black ducks. These migratory birds are always of great concern to protect within the world of conservation. Their populations are on a steady decline, “at a rate of about 84% between 1966 and 2014.”1 There are at least two sites on the property that are an ideal location for the migratory birds to find comfort on their journey.

We are working with John Parke, Stewardship Project Director at the NJ Audubon Society, and Kara Hasko, Agriculture Conservationist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), to optimize our methods in creating an ideal balance at the Sanctuary. We plan to use native species of plants to enrich the lakes and ponds in an effort to attract more waterfowl to the area. Together, we will determine the most sustainable way to use the land for our rescued farmed animals, while also giving a tremendous amount of habitat back to endangered and native species of wildlife.

1 Cornell University. “American Black Duck Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2019, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Black_Duck/lifehistory.