And the Winnah Is ….!

Winning Photos for CORFA’s August Photo Contest

By Joan VanGorp, Friends of Neal Smith NWR 

Monarch caterpillar beginning to pupate | Karen Blakely Van Dyk

For CORFA’s August Photo Contest, Karen Blakely Van Dyk shared beautiful images of monarchs and monarch caterpillars at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. 

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve and enhance populations of wildlife and their habitats, to protect and enhance water quality, and to provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and research. The refuge conserves the biological diversity of the Wallkill Valley by protecting and managing land, with a special emphasis on forest-dwelling and grassland birds, migrating waterfowl, wintering raptors, and endangered species. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan identifies the Wallkill River bottomlands as a priority focus area for waterfowl management within New Jersey.

Friends of Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 2006 to support the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the refuge. Volunteers manage the activities of the Friends group and work in concert with refuge staff to protect the environment and promote public awareness.

Monarchs on liatris in “Jean’s pollinator garden” at the refuge | Karen Blakely Van Dyk

The Friends’ mission is to support the refuge through:

  • Environmental stewardship

  • Educational and recreational opportunities for the public

  • Habitat management and enhancement

  • Land acquisition

Wallkill River NWR headquarters is in Sussex, New Jersey, and is part of the Lenape NWR Complex. The refuge encompasses more than 6,000 acres of the Wallkill Valley, which used to be farmland and sod fields. Just 7 miles north of headquarters is the popular Liberty Loop Trail, which is a favorite spot for wildlife observation and photography. A portion of the trail is part of the Appalachian Trail and, like the Winding Waters Trail, is located in New York. In addition to these two walking trails, there are numerous trails along the Wallkill River in New Jersey. You can also fish or kayak on Owens Pond or the Wallkill River. Visitors may also take an archery course or attend one of the many events held at the refuge.

The refuge has a variety of wildlife from amphibians to large mammals and is also a stopover for many migrating birds, including an occasional rare one.