Middlesex bird population an example of diversity Report: County is home to 308 species of birds, some rare, endangered BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer A new report by the Edison Wetlands Association shows that Middlesex County has 308 different species of birds. The EWA said that some rare and endangered birds, formerly indigenous to the area, are returning. It turns out, the human population isn't the only thing that is diverse in Middlesex County.According to a report released by the Edison Wetlands Association, an Edison-based grassroots environmental organization, Middlesex county is the home to more than 308 different species of birds, many of which have made comebacks after being nearly wiped out due to development over the past few decades. The American bald eagle and the peregrine falcon, two birds long thought to have left these lands, are returning in numbers that have surprised bird enthusiasts, said David Wheeler, director of operations for the EWA. "Both birds had been largely eradicated from much of the northeast back in the '70s," Wheeler said. "They were more or less wiped out in our area." But now they can be seen perched on bridges, he said, with sightings skyrocketing over the past few years. COURTESY OF THE EDISON WETLANDS ASSOCIATION The report has left Wheeler and his colleagues pleasantly surprised because it shows that the county, which is considered a densely populated suburban area, is thriving ecologically. "We were pleasantly surprised to see the sheer number, over 300 birds, in such a densely populated, highly developed area," Wheeler said. As in many things, the diversity of the area comes down to three things: location, location, location. "It's a tribute to our location," Wheeler said, "being along the waterways, the Raritan River, Raritan Bay, and also being along the migratory routes during the spring and the fall for a lot of the birds." The diversity of the birds, which includes many rare birds not usually associated with this part of the country, shows what could exist in one's own backyard, Wheeler said. The return of the birds, which were largely displaced during the 1970s when much of the area started to be developed, is a sign that the Middlesex County environment may have turned a corner toward stronger ecosystem recovery. "Wildlife as a whole is also bouncing back," Wheeler said. "In the last year, we've had even things such as bottle-nosed dolphins and otter swimming up the Raritan River. We've had black bear spotted in the county. This is kind of symbolic of the kind of recovery of some of our ecosystems." Wheeler said the open space located in Middlesex County, while falling far short of being considered wilderness preservation, has great diversity and is beginning to recover. "There certainly is more of an effort being made by a lot of the towns in the county," Wheeler said, "to really make the best of what we still have remaining." The county matches up well against any urban or dense suburban area in the country, Wheeler said. Being in such a small area makes having this many types of birds that much more astounding. The state of New Jersey and some towns have compiled a list of the birds in their area, but no list compiled to date has looked at the entire county until now. "For us it was such an important resource to have," Wheeler said. The report is also meant to provide a resource for families to find places to encounter birds and wildlife in their own backyards. "We're hoping that this does shift people's view into valuing what they have," Wheeler said. "A lot of the towns will have these great areas that people just aren't familiar with, even people that live right next door may not be aware." Wheeler feels that the list could mean better action toward preserving endangered and threatened species of birds through better protection of the land that the county now knows they inhabit. More than that, though, the report is a chance to create more public access to wildlife. Said Wheeler: "Getting the information out there so people can actually get out there and visit and see firsthand - experience nature - those are things that we are hoping we could use as a stepping stone to get people talking about nature and all of these things right in their backyard." The report is available, free of charge, by visiting the EWA Web site, www.edisonwetlands.org, or by contacting the EWA directly.