Selected words from the text of the guide have been compiled into this glossary for your reference. These terms are used to describe the wildlife you will see on the trails, their habitats and their behaviors.
amphibians :: cold-blooded, smooth-skinned vertebrae of the class Amphibia, such as a frog or salamander, that characteristically hatch as aquatic larva with gills. The larva then transforms into an adult having air-breathing lungs.
blind :: a structure used by wildlife watchers and hunters to prevent themselves from being seen by wildlife
bog :: a permanently wet area that gets water only from precipitation. Bogs usually lack drainage and are characterized by a high content of organic matter, extreme acidity and low fertility.
brackish :: water that is a mixture of both fresh and salt water
brood :: the eggs or young of birds and reptiles that are hatched and cared for at one time
cache :: the collection and storage of food to last through winter by animals such as squirrels and other rodents
canopy :: the overhead shade and layers of foliage provided by trees and shrubs in forests and woodlands
catadromous :: describes fish that live in fresh water but migrate to salt water to breed
coniferous :: describes a type of forest characterized by mostly needle-leaved, cone-bearing trees or shrubs, such as pine, spruce, and fir
deciduous :: describes a type of forest characterized by trees that seasonally shed their leaves
diurnal :: refers to a species that is active during the day, rather than at night
dredge spoil :: material that is removed from an area, usually waterways, and placed elsewhere
early successional :: A habitat consisting of plant species that are the first to take root and grow back after an area has been cleared. Early successional birds live in habitats that consist mostly of grasses and small shrubs.
fallow :: describes lands that are plowed, then left unseeded for a season
fecund :: fruitful, fertile
fish ladder :: a man-made series of pools at the side of a stream arranged like ascending steps, enabling migrating fish to swim upstream around a dam or other obstruction
fledglings :: young birds that have just left the nest, but are still not ready to go off completely on their own
flora and fauna :: the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) found in a specific area
food chain :: a community of organisms in which each member is eaten in turn by another member
fungi :: a kingdom of plantlike organisms that grow without roots, stems, leaves and photosynthesis, such as mushrooms and lichen
gut :: a narrow passage or channel of water
hacking :: A process during which young raptors (often abandoned) are raised by human caretakers in a type of nest box, called a hack. Note: Raptors and other migratory birds are protected by law and this type of process can only be done by those who have the proper state and federal licenses.
herbaceous :: a green plant that is distinguished from woody plants by being leaflike in appearance and texture
host plants :: plants upon which butterflies lay their eggs and caterpillars feed
hummock :: a low mound or ridge of earth; a knoll
Important Bird Areas :: Sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds and that make a significant contribution to the long-term viability of native avian populations. These may include sites for breeding, wintering, and/or migrating birds.
kettling :: the tendency of groups of hawks to swirl together in a thermal (see below)
lichen :: a fungus that grows co-dependently with algae, resulting in an organism that characteristically forms a crustlike or branching growth on rocks or tree trunks
nectaring :: the act of feeding on plant and flower nectar by butterflies and hummingbirds
nectar plants :: plants upon which butterflies and hummingbirds feed
neotropical :: refers to species that nest in North American sites but spend up to six winter months in warmer climates of the Americas including Mexico, and Central and South America
nocturnal :: refers to a species that is active during the night, rather than the day
owl pellets :: the indigestible parts of an owl’s latest meal, including whole and broken bones. This mass of fur, feathers and bones is too large to pass through the rest of the owl’s digestive tract and is regurgitated as a compact pellet.
passerines :: birds of the order Passeriformes, which includes perching birds and songbirds such as the jays, blackbirds, finches, warblers, and sparrows
pelagic :: describes animals that live their lives almost entirely in open oceans or seas, returning to land only to breed, nest and raise young
phragmites :: a type of invasive grass found in marshes and wetlands and having stems up to 6 meters high
plunge diving :: describes a bird’s act of diving headfirst into water in pursuit of food
raptor :: a bird of prey; including hawks, falcons, kites, eagles and owls
right-of-way :: a strip of land occupied by a street, railroad, electric transmission line, water main, sewer main, trail or other special use
rookery :: a place where birds of the same species breed and nest, especially herons and egrets
scat :: animal excrement
spartina :: grass of freshwater swamp or marshland
spawning :: to deposit eggs in large numbers. Horseshoe crabs spawn on the beaches of the Delaware Bay in May, and shorebirds, which eat the eggs, are provided with food.
staging :: the act of gathering in large groups in prime feeding habitat at the outset of migration. Purple Martin, for example, gather along the Delaware Bayshore from mid to late August before suddenly and collectively departing to continue their southward migration.
thermals :: columns of warm air that rise when the ground is heated by the sun. Raptors take advantage of these upward air movements to gain altitude during migration. The birds circle upward within the column of rising air and then glide down to the base of another thermal.
understory :: the underlying layer of vegetation that grows beneath a forest’s canopy, usually includes small trees and tall shrubs
upland buffers :: a measured zone of natural area comprised of undisturbed native vegetation designed to protect a critical habitat. Buffers that are not associated with streamside or wetland areas are considered to be upland buffers.
vernal pool :: a small pool that dries out periodically. Vernal pools generally contain water in the spring and early summer, dry out in late summer and fill again in the fall. Some species, such as wood frogs and other amphibians require vernal pools to survive during various parts of their life cycles.
whitewash :: white stains from owl excrements that are usually found where owls perch