Join self proclaimed conservation nerds Michael Bianchi and Joan Maccari on an adventure.
They started on a project to renovate and modernize their Madison, NJ home, learned a lot along the way, and ended up with an energy efficient Passive House. Follow their journey and discover some energy saving changes you can make in your own home … without doing a complete renovation.
Registration is requested. April Online Registration
Zoom logon information will be sent to everyone who registers an hour prior to the program on April 11 or you may find the Zoom logon information in our Events calendar.
Second Sunday programs are sponsored by Friends of Great Swamp NWR with generous support from the Marta Heflin Foundation.
Just what we needed – another exotic invasive insect species. And although it’s very colorful, it’s very destructive. This plant hopper feeds on 70 different types of plants and trees, particularly some economically important plants including fruit, ornamental and woody trees. It also secretes a sugary, sticky substance which can affect our quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors.
Spotted Lanternfly – Managing the Menace, March 14, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. via Zoom
Learn more. Join us for a special virtual Second Sunday program about the spotted lanternfly. We have a trio of speakers from the US Department of Agriculture and the NJ Department of Agriculture. They’ll cover the biology of this insect and the history of its introduction. Find out what these agencies are doing to curb the spread. There will also be suggestions on how individuals can help.
As this is a Zoom event, registration is required. You may sign up here. The Zoom logon information will be sent Sunday morning, March 14.
Sign Up For Happenings: Friends are publishing a new monthly digital newsletter called Happenings. It will announce upcoming events, both virtual and in person, as well as covering news and seasonal activities at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Sign up for the monthly Happenings here.
There has been a great deal of publicity in the news media recently around the successful resurgence of the bald eagle in New Jersey. For the first time, more than 200 pairs of bald eagles have been recorded nesting and they are now confirmed to be nesting in all 21 counties. This is quite a comeback from the early 80’s when only one pair of nesting eagles was reported. And it shows what’s possible when people get together and put forth the effort.
The program is a partnership between the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation assisted by more than 100 volunteers who monitor the nesting sites and locate new ones. One of those volunteers, Jim Mulvey, monitors the eagle nest here at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Jim reports that last year there was one eaglet that was large enough for him to be confident that it was the only nestling. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, volunteering was not allowed on the refuge so the survey could not be continued. However, Jim reports seeing an immature bald eagle recently, and this may have been our addition for the 2020 season.
Jim’s report from his first survey of 2021, on January 11, is that the eagles are not on the nest but they are nearby. Apparently, this is pretty routine and he expects eggs will be laid in the next week or two. The eagle nest may be viewed from the Chandler S. Robbins Memorial Viewing Platform at the Wildlife Observation Center.
Last year, before the shut-down, eagles were frequently seen flying over the wetlands or perched in nearby trees. If you visit the Wildlife Observation Center, remember to observe Covid-19 safety protocols, maintain a safe distance from others and wear a mask. And enjoy sightings of our nation’s symbol of freedom.
Second Sunday, January 10, 2021, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
The Friends are resuming their popular Second Sunday programs – virtually of course. Join us on Sunday, January 10 for a presentation on dragonflies and damselflies by naturalist Dorothy Smullen. Registration is required at ttsu.me/dragons, Zoom logon information will be sent a day ahead.
Winter Walks, Fridays, 11:00 – 12:30 pm beginning January 8
Ready for some winter exercise and fresh air?
Friends President Steve Herdman is reinstituting “Winter Walks”. Join Steve for a walk down Pleasant Plains Road from the Visitor Center to the Bluebird Parking Lot and back – about 2.5 miles round trip. These will be in-person walks, but masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Walk as far as you like at your own pace. Dogs are welcome, on leash, as walkers will be staying on the road. The Visitor Center will be open, however there is a five-person limit inside at any one time.
Additional events will be announced on our website Calendar of Events, so check back often.
These are challenging times for holiday shopping, but here’s an idea. Consider purchasing an engraved commemorative brick which would be placed on the patio at the Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center. What a great way to honor a loved one or someone special in your life. Share an inspirational quote, words of wisdom, or your feelings about Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
A commemorative brick is your lasting legacy and a generous and meaningful donation to Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. There are three styles of bricks to choose from. Download and complete this order form. Make your check payable to Friends of Great Swamp NWR and mail it, along with the order form, to: Friends of Great Swamp NWR, 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Basking Ridge NJ 07920.
If you would like a one-page mock-up of your brick, suitable for gifting, please note that on your order form and we will email it to you.
A great gift for the person who has everything . . .
The asters and the goldenrods are fading into Fall, the last of the season’s flowering plants.
No! Wait!
The lovely native shrub witch hazel is now coming into full bloom. But you have to look closely. The leaves of the witch hazel are turning a lovely lemon yellow and may obscure the flowers. But you can’t miss them if you look. They are bright yellow with four, long spidery petals which will bloom from October through December, unaffected by freezing temperatures.
The witch hazel is unique. Both the flowers and ripe fruits appear on the plant at the same time. The fruit capsules split open in autumn and forcibly expel two shiny black seeds as much as 20 feet away. The seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals and the flowers are pollinated by late season flies and bees.
This is a wonderful shrub for the home landscape. It has few pests and will tolerate light deer browsing. It prefers part shade and, in the wild, grows as an understory tree. Consider planting it where you can view it up close so you don’t miss enjoying the colorful flowers in an otherwise gray landscape.