Timberdoodle Broods at MCR Forest Treatment Areas

by Merrill Creek Reservoir | Jul 30, 2026 | Animals, Birds, Habitat, Merrill Creek Reservoir

The American Woodcock (AKA The Timberdoodle) is a small plump semi-migratory shorebird that unlike its coastal cousins lives in young forests and shrubby old fields across eastern North America. Typically, wildlife enthusiasts and birders equate seeing Woodcock in...

Rare Plant Found at MCR – Ecological Forestry Practices Helping Biodiversity at MCR

by Merrill Creek Reservoir | Jul 21, 2026 | Habitat, Merrill Creek Reservoir, Plants

While performing vegetation regeneration survey work at one of MCR’s ecological forestry cuts recently, surveyors from New Jersey Audubon found a very rare plant for NJ.  The plant, the Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum) is an endangered native wildflower in New...

Mud, Sweat, and Cheers: Swallow Nesting at MCR

by Merrill Creek Reservoir | Jun 26, 2026 | Birds, Merrill Creek Reservoir

A visit to the MCR I/O Tower Parking Lot provides a birdwatch with a chance to see 5 of the 6 swallow species that regularly breed, migrate, or forage in New Jersey.  All 5 breed at MCR, including the Cliff Swallow which is a NJ State Species of Concern. ...

ANGLERS of MCR WE NEED YOUR HELP

by Merrill Creek Reservoir | Jun 19, 2026 | Fish, Habitat, Merrill Creek Reservoir

Starting June of 2026 MCR, in conjunction with NJDFW, is starting a study of MCR’s Salmonidae species in the reservoir.  Specifically, MCR is conducting creel surveys for ONLY Atlantic Land-locked Salmon, Lake Trout and Rainbow Trout.  Should an angler catch any of...

Unique Plant at MCR – The Fly-Poison Lily

by Merrill Creek Reservoir | Jun 15, 2026 | Habitat, Insects, Plants

Between 2021 through 2022 Merrill Creek Reservoir had a Botanical Inventory performed at the property.  The results of that inventory found “375 plant species, including 293 native species (78.1%) and 82 non-native species (21.9%). Additionally, the property hosts...