Coastal Creature Feature, April 2008
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Getting ready to dive! Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus |
The February Creature was the Northern Gannet. With a wingspan of up to two meters, it is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic. To gather food, this creature makes spectacular dives into the ocean from heights up to 40 meters, and can reach undersea depths of approximately 20 meters by using its wings and feet to swim. In the early spring, these birds will migrate to their mating grounds in Canada. Congratulations to Julie Todd of Brick, NJ, for being selected from a pool of correct entries.
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April Coastal Creature |
April Creature: This spring, just as they have done for the past 200 million years, this gentle creature will gather along bay beaches in this region to mate. As they emerge from the muddy bay bottoms where they spend most of their lives, they are recognized by their spiny tail and helmet-shaped body (pictured right). Thanks to the American Littoral Society and NJ Audubon Society, this creature has recently caught the attention of the NJ State Legislature, and harvesting them for bait is now prohibited. For a chance to win a COA T-shirt, submit your guess to COA by mail or fax (18 Hartshorne Dr., Suite 2, Highlands, NJ 07732; 732-872-8041; Education@CleanOceanAction.org), or by completing the online form below.
(The Coastal Creature Feature winner will be announced in the June newsletter.)
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