Beaches, Bays, and Barrens: A Natural History of the Jersey Shore

After an initial chapter about the early visits of naturalists (e.g., Audubon) to New Jersey and some thoughts about endangered species and the state of natural history, the remaining chapters each deal with a distinctive ecological entity. First, beaches and dunes, followed by chapters dealing in turn with salt marshes, Barnegat Bay, Cape May, the Bayshore at the mouth of the Delaware River and concluding with the Pine Barrens, the vital watershed for much of the state's varied coastline. The text also presents a selection of historical or cultural events, such as the decoy carvers who helped establish an American art form or the domestication of wild blueberries in the Pine Barrens. Concluding with a short afterword encouraging the participation of readers in furtherance of conservation in New Jersey, Beaches, Bays, and Barrens both celebrates and contributes to the lasting natural beauty of the Jersey Shore.