Duke Farms, located on 2,740 acres in Hillsborough, Somerset County, N.J., is one of the largest privately-owned parcels of undeveloped land in the state. The property provides critical habitat for endangered species and serves as an important resting place for migratory birds. The property also contains critical grassland habitat, a rarity in this heavily-developed state.
Duke Farms is host to:
- Birds: 226 species (14 State Endangered/Threatened; 2 Federally-listed Endangered/Threatened)
- Butterflies: 44 species
- Fish: 9 species
- Grasses: 35 species (1 State Endangered/Threatened)
- Herps (amphibians and reptiles): 22 species
- Mammals: 25 species
- Plants (understory): 228 species (1 State Endangered/Threatened)
- Trees/shrubs: 171 species
The grounds of Duke Farms are used for limited recreational and educational activities as well as for environmental, agricultural and horticultural research. The property is currently the site of numerous research projects, several of which are highlighted here:
Conservation Study of Threatened Birds on Agricultural Grasslands Partner: Rutgers University
Study of the relationship between state-listed endangered/threatened species of grassland birds and agricultural practices with the goal of identifying ways to lessen the impact of farming on species that rely on grassland habitat.
Invasive Plant Species Removal Methodology
Partner: Ecological Solutions
Adaptive plant management to identify best practices for removing invasive plant species from woodland understories as well as maintenance methods. Also referred to as exotic, non-native, noxious or non-indigenous weeds, invasive plants impact native plant and animal communities by displacing native vegetation and disrupting habitats as they become established and spread over time.
Eastern Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring Project
Duke Farms
Monitoring nesting and breeding success for 54 bluebird nest boxes on the property. Duke Farms also participates in a study of Eastern Bluebird population trends sponsored by Rutgers University.
Grassland Restoration Best Practices
Duke Farms in conjunction with the Raritan Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Partnership, New Jersey Audubon Society, Rutgers University
Formulation of replicable best practices in grassland restoration. Grasslands are characterized by the low growth of grasses, forbs, weeds, sedges and/or rushes. Urban sprawl has greatly reduced New Jersey’s grasslands and the species that rely on grassland habitat.
Carbon Sequestration in New Jersey Forests
Partner: Rutgers University
Study to assess the quantity of carbon stored by New Jersey forests and annual sequestration – the amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, that is removed from the atmosphere by plants and its long-term storage in soils.
Pollination Biology of Native Restored Wildflower Populations
Partners: Center for Urban Restoration Ecology - Rutgers University and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Study of the process of pollination during early phases of ecosystem recovery with a goal of identifying potential ways to accelerate the process.