CU Maurice River Hosts Jan. 24 Eagle Trail Walk, Bayshore Soup Fundraiser

CU Maurice River will host its annual Eagle Trail Walk on Jan. 24, bringing guided observation and conservation education to Port Norris residents and visitors. The winter hike, staged at The Glades/Eagle Trailhead, highlights bald eagle recovery in the Delaware Bay region and connects participants with recent findings from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bald Eagle Project.

Naturalists from CU Maurice River will lead the walk, focusing on local eagle habitat, shoreline ecology, and the factors behind the region’s high number of active nests reported by NJDEP. The event is timed for winter eagle activity along the bay, when birds concentrate near open water and tidal flows, making sightings more likely for walkers of all experience levels.

After the hike, attendees are invited to a soup lunch at the Bayshore Center as part of the SOUPer Fest fundraiser. The pairing of field education with a community meal is designed to deepen public understanding of regional conservation priorities while offering a social and family-friendly way to support local programs.

Logistics are practical for winter fieldwork: meet at The Glades/Eagle Trailhead in Port Norris; waterproof boots are recommended; participants should dress in warm layers suited to shoreline conditions. Registration is required; prospective attendees can sign up through CU Maurice River’s event listings or the Bayshore Center’s event page. Bring binoculars if available and plan for muddy sections on the trail.

For Cumberland County residents, the walk serves both recreational and civic functions. It provides direct exposure to the species that are reclaiming local waterways and underscores the county’s role in habitat protection for the Delaware Bay ecosystem. The NJDEP Bald Eagle Project data referenced during the hike places the area among the state’s strongholds for nesting eagles, which has implications for land-use planning, shoreline management, and ecotourism in the region.

The event also offers an opportunity for local volunteers and supporters to connect with conservation organizations active in Cumberland County. Participation helps maintain public interest in habitat stewardship and supports fundraising efforts at the Bayshore Center that sustain educational outreach.

Attendees who want to take part should register ahead of time, prepare for winter shoreline conditions, and expect an educational walk followed by the SOUPer Fest lunch. The outing is a timely reminder that Cumberland County’s waters and marshes remain central to New Jersey’s bald eagle recovery story and to local efforts to balance recreation, habitat protection, and community engagement.