Nature Blog Network

Pop culture typically gives the Garden State a bad rap.  Too often we’re inundated with images of guidos on the jersey shore, or with implications of mafia involvement in civil affairs, are the image of New Jersey’s natural areas as dumping grounds for the cities of New York and Philadelphia.  And that’s not to say that New Jersey doesn’t, in some small way, play into those stereotypes, but it’s not bound by them.  Because as naturalists are more aware of than most, Jersey is full of nature.  After all, they don’t call it the Garden State for nothing.

From the Appalachain foothills in the north to the bird migration mecca of Cape May on the southern tip, New Jersey is packed full of biological and geologic diversity in a tiny, easily accessible package.  One that just so happens to host a similarly great diversity of NBN affiliated nature bloggers as well, including some of this community’s original members.

Cape May wetlands, photo from wikipedia

So, enjoy New Jersey’s best!

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- For those NJ birders with long memories or a mind towards the past, enjoy Today in NJ Birding History which seeks to post on a notable Jersey bird-related event from the past eon the day it occurred.

- Kind of Curious is a more than kind of nice blog about science and nature and what have you, you know, basically everything that this Nature Blog Network is about.

- Don’t let the name fool you, A DC Birding Blog is based less in DC and more in New Jersey, but with all the useful and wide-ranging information on environmental policy and scientific studies you’d be forgiven for thinking John has some government connections.

- Laura from Somewhere in NJ is almost as well known in the nature blogosphere as you can be, and for good reason.  Her blog boasts great prose and excellent photos on the intersection of life and nature that we all work hard to find time for.

- Not just the home of underachieving New York Football or the final resting place of mobsters, the Meadowlands is actually a fine spot for experiencing nature near the big city, the Meadowlands Blog has just the information you need to change your opinion.

- New Jersey’s nature scene is nothing if not filled with committed individuals trying to support the ecosystems of the state.  For a taste, check out the New Jersey Osprey Project, who monitors and manages the state’s nesting Ospreys.

- New Jersey Outdoors is a blog about exactly what it sounds like.  Bill is a grad student and the proud member of the Scarlet Knight Herons World Series of Birding team.  It’s good stuff, but bonzai birding is kind of right down my alley.

- Less a blog proper and more a compiler of wildlife related news features and blog spots from the state, Wild New Jersey is a good place to find out what the wildlife community is up to.

- Last but not least, my friend and fellow Bloggerhead Kingbird, Patrick Belardo’s bird blog The Hawk Owl’s Nest is a stalwart among the  bird blog community, though he’s got his hands full these days with other stuff.

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Nest week I’ll be heading west, to that state that’s round on the ends and high in the middle, OHIO!

Ohio nature blogs will be the name of the game, so if you’d like to be included, please send your links to naswick (at) gmail (dot) come.

Til next week!