Going Batty for Bats at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Illustration by Jane Bell Fall Festival, September 14, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Help celebrate the fall season at the 20th Annual Fall Festival at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. This free family event features outdoor activities for all ages. Climb up on the Refuge bulldozer and other heavy equipment. Try your hand at target […]
Into the Woods
For most of us, a trip to the refuge means a stop at the Visitor’s Center and some time on the boardwalks at the Wildlife Observation Center. But if raw nature is what you crave, skip these man-made contrivances and head over to the Wilderness Area. Here you can wander through a primeval forest dedicated […]
Driving Through the Refuge
Cyclists and turtles are two common road hazards encountered in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge this time of years. We do our best to avoid the cyclists and hopefully they participate in the effort. But if not, we have insurance. Turtles, on the other hand, seem to lack the natural defenses needed to keep […]
Spring Sightings
Here are some of the sightings reported by visitors at the Wildlife Observation Center. Mark your calendars and come to Great Swamp NWR to experience the arrival of spring. March Listen for the “peent” call of the American woodcock. It’s peak duck season through mid-April, but that “quacking” call you hear may be the wood […]
Double Discount Days Are Coming
Friday, November 30 through Sunday, December 2, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Start your holiday shopping at the Friends Nature Shop. 10% discount on all items – 20% discount for members Not a member? Join any time. Your membership discount is effective immediately. Check out our unique and original gift items for kids and adults; […]
This Winter at the Refuge
November is Turkey Time! On Saturday, November 24, join us for the Annual Turkey Walk — a chance to walk off that Thanksgiving turkey dinner. It’s a leisurely walk along service roads, a good birding opportunity, and we might even see a turkey! This is an informal guided walk into the Management Area, normally closed to the […]
Oct 14 – 20 is National Wildlife Refuge Week
Photo: Jane Bell Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Join us for guided Sunset Walks, a unique birding event, and a special Second Sunday program. Sunset Walks every night. Sunday, October 14 – Saturday, October 20, 5:30 pm – dark. Meet at Bluebird Parking Lot, 197 Pleasant Plains Road. […]
The Big Turtle Year: Celebrating Wild Turtles Across the United States
Sunday, October 7, 1:00 pm at NJ Audubon Society’s Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary In 2017, George Heinrich and his team from the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust, crossed the country to find as many of the 62 species of turtles in the United States as they could in a single year. On December 27, they logged […]
An Invitation to Fall in the Swamp. Our Annual Festival is Worth the Trip.
Fall in the swamp is an almost magical season. Spectacular autumn foliage, awesome bird migrations and perhaps the best weather of the year. So to get an early start, you’re invited to the 19th Annual Fall Festival at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. On September 15, from 10:00 to 3:00, we will once again offer an […]
A Transformative Experience
Sure, we all know where butterflies come from. You know, they start out as homely looking crawly caterpillars and then one day…poof!…they turn into these gorgeous flying creatures. Of course, that’s not entirely true. First, many of these caterpillars are incredibly beautiful just as they are. And they don’t instantly turn into butterflies, there’s a […]