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DISCOVERY DAYS

Every summer, we host weekly Discovery Days on our campus. Discovery Days are free, family friendly, and open to all. They are held every Wednesday during summer and include a group tour of our preserved salt-marsh, our working beehives, our terrapin nesting gardens, and last but not least, LBI’s most famous nesting pair of ospreys, Jack & Wendy.

Wooden signpost along a sandy forest path at LBIF reads “Nature Trail,” “Osprey Blind,” and “Caution! Poison ivy along trail,” surrounded by pine trees and coastal vegetation.

2026 DISCOVERY DAY SCHEDULE

Join a Staff Member from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey as they guide you through the LBIF Campus, making informative stops along the way! Learn about our resident ospreys, the native plants throughout the nature trail, how we catalog terrapin turtle nests, and more!

SCHEDULE:
Every Wednesday at 10:00am beginning July 15 – August 26
 
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
  • Discovery Days are weather dependent.
  • Close-toed shoes and pants are recommended.
  • Wear sunscreen/bug spray.
  • Limited to 15 people.
  • Sign-in at the LBIF front desk.
Two ospreys stand in a large nest while a researcher observes and records data in the marsh landscape behind them.

Science Is Everywhere

Did you know that there are over 650 pairs of nesting ospreys in New Jersey, but only four nests are located on LBI? 

Ospreys are one of Long Beach Island’s most iconic coastal birds, often spotted soaring over Barnegat Bay or nesting near the shoreline. Once endangered, these remarkable raptors have made an inspiring comeback thanks to local conservation efforts. During Discovery Days at LBIF, families can learn about their role in the coastal ecosystem, how scientists monitor their nests, and ways to help protect them.

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey: “New Jersey Osprey Project” page with nesting platform info, survey data, and conservation efforts.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Official 2022 Osprey Report PDF detailing status, trends, and management in the state.

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