HIKE & SEEK™ October 13!

This weekend be sure not to miss one of the biggest events on the Sanctuary all year: Hike and Seek™ We've been getting a lot of press about this event, on nj.com, patch, and the Bernardsville News, 

HIKE & SEEK™
Saturday, October 13
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Hike & Seek™, a National Wildlife Federation fundraising event, is a cross between a nature hike and scavenger hunt, aimed at bringing family and friends together in the great outdoors – for fresh air and fun! Held at the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, the 1.5-mile hiking adventure will allow for kids to connect with nature and interact with five adventurous Stop & Study locations on our trails. By trading screen time for green time, this go-at-your-own-pace event will surely create a lasting impression and promote a healthy lifestyle for kids of all ages! Please preregister at: http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hikeandseek_home. 

If you can't make Hike and Seek™ but still want to learn about nature this weekend, be sure to check out our Mountains Majesty program or go on a nature walk in Kittatinny Valley: 

MOUNTAINS MAJESTY
Sunday, October 14
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Pete Bacinski will treat you to a spectacular nature and scenic tour of America’s western mountains, featuring national parks such as Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, North Cascades, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Glacier; as well as Mt. Evans, southeast Arizona, and Montana/Wyoming’s Beartooth Range, America’s little-known scenic treasure. This PowerPoint program features landscapes, glorious wildflowers, and the birds and mammals of these remarkable locales. Please preregister by calling 908.766.5787.
Cost:$15 members, 
 $20 nonmembers.

NATURE WALK AT KITTATINNY VALLEY STATE PARK, ANDOVER, SUSSEX COUNTY
October 20,
8:30 to about 11:30 a.m.
Repeating on November 10 and 17, 
8:30 to about 11:30 a.m.
Led by Tom Halliwell, Joe Burgiel, or other NJ Audubon naturalists. Cosponsored by NJ Audubon and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee. Meet in the parking lot on the left, at the south end of Twin Lakes on Goodale Road, Andover. This is about 0.5 miles east of Route 206 (DeLorme 24, G-2; Boyle p. 44.) Bring binoculars.
Directions: Take route 206 N to Andover. About 1.6 miles N of the traffic light in Andover, turn right onto Goodale Road (just past the lake on the right).  Drive about 0.6 mile on Goodale Road to the parking lot on the left overlooking Twin Lakes

Celebrate Autumn at the Sanctuary this Week!

The leaves are changing at Scherman-Hoffman, and we are super excited to ring in the new season with our Tree ID Fall Foliage and Fall Family Fun at Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary programs this weekend! Come up to the Sanctuary to see all of the rich foliage and enjoy our programs. 

We are also having a Bird Seed Sale this weekend! Support NJ Audubon by purchasing our high-quality locally grown bird seed, mixes, and suet at our Nature Store here at Scherman-Hoffman. Members receive 20% discount on their bird seed purchases.

Saturday, October 6

Digital Photography Workshop 2: Composition 
10am-12:30pm

Led by Phil Witt and Dave DesRochers. Workshop 2 will focus on composition – that is, capturing the best image. The workshop will also begin covering the basics of digital editing. Although the workshop will demonstrate digital editing using PhotoShop, the majority of the editing techniques can be implemented in other digital editing programs. The workshop will be organized around three nature photography principles: light, composition, and moment. You can attend this workshop without having attended Workshop I. 

$12 members, $20 non-members

FREE Saturday Family Fun Program: River 
2pm-3pm

Bring your family to Scherman -Hoffman for a fun-filled hour exploring with our naturalists our habitats and the animals and plants that live here. We’ll head down the trail to the Passaic River with nets and buckets to look for crayfish and aquatic insects.

Sunday, October 7

Glenhurst Meadows Field Trip

8am-12pm

Extensive wildflower meadows among old oak groves and other hardwoods along the Passaic River. Sparrows are the highlight. Trails will be wet if there is any recent rain, so wear rubberwaterproof boots. Meet at the Glenhurst Open Space parking lot on Mountain Ave. (Take the driveway to the end.) Led by Mike Newlon.

$15 members, $20 non-members

Fall Family Fun at Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary

8:30am-12pm

Led by John Parke. Come bring the family and enjoy a great half-day of wildlife -watching with a NJ Audubon naturalist and staff of the Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary, a 120-acre preserved farm located in rural Warren County. Licensed by the state of New Jersey to care for native mammals, the Sanctuary is dedicated to rehabilitating these animals back to health so they can be returned to the wild where they belong. We will explore the property’s trail system through meadows, forest, and wetlands to look for native wildlife, and then witness the release of rehabilitated animals back to the wild. Antler Ridge is located at 52 County Road 661, Newton, NJ 07860. Parking is limited (20 cars), so you must preregister with NJ Audubon Scherman -Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary by calling 908.766.5787.

FREE

Fall Foliage Tree ID 

2pm-3pm

Why do tree leaves turn color? How do you identify trees both in summer and winter? Learn some basic tree vocabulary in order to identify trees in an indoor and outdoor presentation. Check out the variety of trees on the trails at Scherman -Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary. Led by Dorothy Smullen. Preregistration required. Limit 15.

$7 members, $10 non-members

Looking Back on our Hawk Weekend

Our Hawk Weekend here at the Sanctuary was certainly a great weekend for birders! Below you can find the counts for both Saturday and Sunday. In addition to some great birding, we also had a great turn out--on Saturday alone 115 people came out to the Sanctuary!

Having Pete Dunne at Scherman Hoffman was fantastic. For more information on the second edition of his book Hawks in Flight , I recommend taking a look at this great review by Jeff Bouton.

Also take a look at Margo Beller's blog post about the weekend!

 Hawk Weekend Counts

Saturday:
Osprey: 9
Bald Eagle: 14
N. Harrier: 2
Sharpie: 12
Coop: 15
Red Shoulder Broad Wing: 832
Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 0

Sunday:
Osprey: 22
Bald Eagle: 3
N. Harrier: 1
Sharpie: 16
Coop: 5
Red Shoulder Broad Wing: 1653
Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 1

This weekend: Mushroom Meander, Hawks, and More!

 This weekend, Scherman Hoffman hosts another great hawkwatch while also offering our unique Mushroom Meander with naturalist Dorothy Smullen!

SCOTT’S MOUNTAIN

Saturday, September 22

9:00 a.m. to noon

Join Hawkwatch director Henry Kielblock at one of the premier hawk-watching locations, Scott’s Mountain Hawkwatch at Merrill Creek. The program will begin indoors with a hawk identification workshop at the Merrill Creek Visitor’s Center. Then we’ll head out to the inlet/outlet tower to observe and count hawks as they pass overhead. Hawkwatch data is submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of North America. Please meet at Merrill Creek Visitor’s Center.

Cost:    $15 members,

            $20 nonmembers.

Directions to Visitor’s Center,off of Richline Road. Reach it from Route 57 west, right on Montana Road, up the hill and left on Richline Road to the Merrill Creek sign, then left into the nature center, staying right at the fork until you come to the parking lot.  OR, from 78 on the south or 80 on the north, take Route 519 to Fox Farm Road in Harmony.  Turn onto Fox Farm Road and follow it, staying right at the Y, past the reservoir to Richline Road.  Turn right on Richline, proceed to the Merrill Creek sign, turn right and proceed as above.  Facilities several places.   

MUSHROOM MEANDER

Sunday, September 23

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Join Dorothy Smullen, former president of the New Jersey Mycological Association, on a stroll through the woodland trails looking for mushrooms and other fungi. Not only are fungi important as nature’s recyclers, but many also are essential for the health of oak and pine forests.

Come and check out the variety. Preregistration required. Limit 15.

Cost: Free.

 

FREE SATURDAY FAMILY PROGRAMS: FIELD

Saturday, September 22

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Bring your family to Scherman-Hoffman for a fun-filled hour exploring with our naturalists and habitats. This week’s topic is the Field where you and your family can explore the field with nets and bug boxes to see who lives there.

Cost: FREE.

Hawk Weekend Sept 15-16!

Our exciting Hawk Weekend is about to start! We have several hawk-related events happening this weekend. To pre-register for any of these events and to learn more about them, go to our calendar.

Hawk Programs

Pete Dunne at the Sanctuary
On September 15-16 from 10am-4pm, author and NJA staff member Pete Dunne will be at the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary in Bernardsville to teach attendees about a mass southbound migration of Broad-winged Hawks. This raptor spectacle is highly visible with the birds traveling in massed groups called “kettles.” Flocks may number in the hundreds and thousands. Stop by the sanctuary for this great, drop-in event!

Hawks in Autumn
This work shop led by birder and NJA staff member Pete Bacinski will offer a comprehensive look at magnificent Hawks in flight and perched. You will also learn the keys to identification and much more from this presentation on Sunday, September 16 from 1:30-3:30pm. Stop by before and chat with Pete Dunne as well! Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members.

Montclair Hawk Watch
This family-friendly hawk watch from 9am-noon on Saturday, September 15 is another great addition to our hawk-filled weekend. We'll be on hand to help you identify and spot hawks as the move through the ridges of the Watchung Mountains. Park along Edgecliff Road (Just off of Bradford Ave. in Cedar Grove) and look for the pathway to the stairs. The stairway is steep, but worth the effort. Bring a hat, water, a folding chair, and binoculars. Pre-registration requested. Free.


Other Programs

Kittatinny Valley Nature Walk
The second of many, this walk led by NJA naturalists will take place from 8:00am-11:30am on September 15. Meet in the parking lot on the left at the south end of twin lakes on Goodale Road, Andover. This is about .5 miles east of Route 206. Bring Binoculars. Free. Cosponsored by NJA and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee.

Equipment/Exposure Photo Workshop
Interested in learning about photography? Our skilled teachers Phill Witt and Dave DesRochers will teach the first of three photo workshops on Saturday, September 15 from 10am-12:30pm. The main focus will be on reviewing the basics of nature photography. Cost: $12 members, $20 non-members.

Next Weeks' Programs: New Gallery Exhibit and More!

Next week our fall programs officially start! You will find them listed below and feel free to visit our online calendar for more events!

I would also like to share with everyone a unique opportunity coming up this month for seven lucky birders to go on an NJA field trip to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Sapsucker Woods in Ithaca, NY. Interested? Click here to learn more!

Saturday, September 8

Kitattinny Valley Nature Walk
8:00-11:30am

Led by Tom Halliwell, Joe Burgiel, or other NJA naturalists. Cosponsored by NJA and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee. Meet in the parking lot on the left at the south end of twin lakes on Goodale Road, Andover. This is about 0.5 mile east of Route 206 (DeLorme 24, G-2; Boyle p. 44.) Bring binoculars.

Intro to the Pine Barrens

10:00am to 12:00 noon

This is a two-hour lecture and discussion about New Jersey’s most unique region.  It will cover the plants, birds, herptiles (reptiles and amphibians), and mammals of the region.  Geology, hydrology, and history, including the iron industry and the “lost” towns, will also be illustrated.  Maps and other materials will be given out.  This program is designed for teachers to meet NJ Core Curriculum Standards.

Cost: $15 members

         $20 nonmembers

FREE Family Saturday Program: Vernal Pools

2:00pm-3:00pm

Bring your family to Scherman-Hoffman for a fun-filled afternoon of looking for tadpoles, frogs, and insects while exploring the on-site habitat!

Sunday, September 9

Wayrick Wildlife Art Gallery Reception for Henry Kielblock's Images of Kenya

1:00pm-3:00pm

From September through December the NJ Audubon Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary’s Isobel Wayrick Wildlife Art Gallery will feature the photography of Henry Kielblock in his exhibit Images of Kenya. On the subject of his show, Kielblock says, “[My] Kenya photo safari made real my life-long dream of seeing and photographing Africa's awesome wildlife.” You can see a preview of some of his photos from this exhibit listed below.

Kielblock’s photography has appeared in several magazines and on several book covers. His work is often of outdoor scenes, usually animals, birds, and landscapes, but also flowers, churches, lighthouses, and more. He is winner of several awards in county, state, and national photography contests. His work has been shown in county libraries and at Merrill Creek Reservoir, and you can view some of his photos on his website.

   

Art by Our Campers

Our summer camps are in their last session this week, and in celebration of a wonderful summer we have posted some of our campers' art! As always, you can learn about our summer camps on our website.