Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary is a 21.5-acre preserve in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, created in 1947 to protect a diverse coastal habitat. Herons began nesting there around 1938, and by 1964 more than 5,000 birds arrived each year to nest from March through July, using shrubs, a freshwater pond, meadow, maritime forest, and nearby Nummy Island’s salt marsh. In October 1965 it became New Jersey’s first National Natural Landmark. After about 1995, nesting shore birds and waders declined sharply and had nearly vanished by 2000. A rejuvenation project begun in 2005 sought to restore nesting conditions by improving tidal flow, removing invasive plants, and addressing feral cats.