10 Egg-cellent Things You Didn’t Know About New Jersey

A splend-egg time is guaranteed for all.

Ostrich Farms
Two-pound ostrich chicks hatch from the eggs, and in one year grow into tall, curious adults.
Photo by Cathy Rosselli.

Easter’s hopping into town. You know what that means: It’s Easter Egg Season!

giphy

Inspired by the Egg Hunts of our childhoods, we’ve rounded up 10 eggs-emplary items from around the state. Some may be pretty un-eggs-pected! This list is egg-ceptional! (Okay, we’ll stop.)

1. The Duke Farms 24-hour Bald Eagle Webcam

Duke Farms in Hillsborough is home to a family of bald eagles, and the farm set up a webcam overlooking the eagle nest in 2008 in partnership with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. The popular eaglets (who hatched last week!) have more than 9 million dedicated viewers.

Photo courtesy of Duke Farms

Photo courtesy of Duke Farms

2. Roaming Acres Ostrich Farm

Bet you never thought you’d find ostriches roaming New Jersey! Roaming Acres Ostrich Farm in Lafayette/Hardyston is home to between 300 and 400 fine feather friends, making it the largest ostrich farm east of the Mississippi. Read about the quirky birds and their curious nature.

Adult Ostriches.

Photo by Cathy Rosselli

3. Puglisi Egg Farm

Anyone up for omelets? Puglisi Egg Farm, a 17-acre farm in Howell, produces 750,000 eggs a week, and holds the envious title of New Jersey’s last family-run, large-scale egg farm.

Photo Courtesy of the Puglisi Family

Photo Courtesy of the Puglisi Family

4. Ospreys in the Meadowlands

Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey, a majestic bird has made its home. A flock of ospreys have nested in the Meadowlands, building their home on a rusted bridge a stone’s throw from Metlife Stadium. In the summer, catch a glimpse of these beauties on a pontoon eco-cruise, sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. $15 suggested donations.

Ospreys in New Jersey

Photo by Jim Wright/New Jersey Meadowlands Commission

5. Penguins A-Plenty

Penguins, like the New Jersey Monthly staff, are always dressed for a party. See these guys in action by attending a daily penguin feeding at Adventure Aquarium in Camden, or take a look at the Penguin Coast exhibit at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. If this lousy Smarch weather is getting you down, perk up by checking out the Jenkinson’s Aquarium penguin cam!

Courtesy of Jenkinson's aquarium

Courtesy of Jenkinson’s Aquarium

6. World Series of Birding

Enthusiastic bird-watchers descend on Cape May every year for the World Series of Birding, a 24-hour ornithological treasure hunt where teams try to spot as many critters as possible.

bird2.jpg

Flickr Creative Commons

7. Repair Precious Eggs Locally

Got a Fabergé egg that needs some fixing? Steven Weston, owner of Weston Gallery in Manasquan, has helped design and produce over 150 Fabergé eggs. Today, he repairs antique gilt frames, oil paintings, porcelain and more! Read about him and other fix-it professionals.

Photo by Flickr.com/MsSaraKelly

Photo by Flickr.com/MsSaraKelly

8. Turtles Make Their Home Here

Birds aren’t the only creatures that hatch from eggs! Various species of turtles have been popping up along the shore in recent years, though not always for the best reasons. Many are stranded due to shark bites, propeller cuts or other injuries. Fortunately, The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine has treated over 4,000 sea creatures and released them back to the wild. The facility also offers educational programs.

Photo by Flickr.com/wiredwitch/

Photo by Flickr.com/wiredwitch/

9. Duck Decoys Along the Delaware

A father-son duo in Edgewater Park craft and sell their own duck decoys in a distinctive Delaware River style. The wooden wonders, made of Jersey white cedar, retail for about $300 to $400 but sell to collectors at auctions for as high as $1000. Those are some dashing ducks!

Flickr Creative Commons

Flickr Creative Commons

10. Tasty Protein to Chow Down

Keep on the sunny side of life by starting off your day with these bright, delicious treats! Treat yo’ self to any of our favorite, under-the-radar breakfast hot spots. Or simply cozy up to New Jersey’s classic culinary fare: the diner.

Photo by Jason Varney

Photo by Jason Varney

Did we miss anything egg-cellent? Let us know in the comments!

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