Experiencing nature at Fairview Farm, headquarters of Raritan Headwaters Association.

May 2012

May 2      Wake Up Call:  Do Habitat Restoration Projects to Bring Back Pollinator Populations Really Work?
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Clarence Dillon Library, 2336 Lamington Road

While the importance of pollinators to our food supply is widely acknowledged and the decline in pollinator populations has received a great deal of attention in recent years, not much is known about how we can help bees, butterflies and the other insects which provide such valuable ecosystem services.

Dan Cariveau is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University.  One of his key research areas focuses on evaluating the outcomes of pollinator restoration projects implemented on private lands in New Jersey.  He has been conducting research at Fairview Farm and will share his observations with us.

The Raritan Headwaters Association hosts a Wake Up Call program the first Wednesday of every month between October and May.  Everyone is welcome to attend these gatherings which are designed to allow municipal environmental officials and the general public to meet informally and learn more about issues of critical concern to citizens in the watershed.

Coffee may be purchased and muffins will be provided.  For more information, please contact Kate Deans at 908-234-1852, ext. 316 or via email at kdeansraritanhead  (kdeansraritanheadwatersorg)  waters.org  (kdeansraritanheadwatersorg?)  .

 

May 12      10th Annual Ride for the River
The Ride for the River is a Motorcycle Poker Run is a fixture among motorcycle enthusiasts who have an appreciation for the beauty of our 470 square mile watershed region.  This year we expect that over 200 riders will participate, and that additional families and friends will also join us to enjoy this exciting day.  Click here to learn more information about this event and to register.

 

May 17      Hunterdon Green Table: The Highlands Rediscovered                                                                                                                                         8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.                                                                                                         Echo Hill Environmental Center, 41 Lilac Drive, Stanton Station

The Highlands Rediscovered is a NJN documentary that explores what makes this region special by focusing on the natural history of the Highlands, as seen through the eyes of professionals who study and work there.  Shot in High Definition video with an emphasis on recording the Highlands’ physical attributes, this program is a visually captivating exploration of an under-appreciated wilderness surrounded by – and supplying water to – one of the most densely-populated areas in the nation.

After the showing of the documentary, Elliot Ruga and Julia Somers of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition will provide an update on the Highlands Council staff changes, conformance and other Highland’s issues.

The Hunterdon County Green Table is sponsored by the Raritan Headwaters Association, Hunterdon Land Trust, NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program, and Hunterdon County Park System and serves as a forum for land conservation leaders and interested members of the public in Hunterdon County.   This program is free of charge and refreshments will be provided.  For more information, please contact Bill Kibler at 908-234-1852, ext. 312 or via email at bkiblerraritanheadwatersorg  (bkiblerraritanheadwatersorg?)  .

 

May 17      Open House at Fairview Farm                                              

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.                                                                                                        Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve, 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster

Fairview Farm is home to the Upper Raritan Watershed Association.  If you’ve not visited before, or if it has been a while since you last ventured out for a walk through the meadows and woods of this lovely 170-acre former dairy farm, RHA invites you to attend this open house.  You’ll have a chance to hear about some of the work that RHA is involved in as you enjoy some light refreshments and check out what’s new along the special Children’s Trail, hike around the pond to see what the aquatic critters there are doing and spend some time in the Bird and Butterfly Garden to get inspired about the gardening projects that await you at home this year!

This program is free of charge and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Susan Brookman at (908)234-1852, ext. 319 or via email her at sbrookmanraritanheadwatersorg  (sbrookmanraritanheadwatersorg)  .

 

May 19      BioBlitz                                                                                                            5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.                                                                                                        Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve, 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster

We’ll hold our second annual BioBlitz at its Fairview Farm wildlife preserve in Bedminster on Saturday, May 19 from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  During the 15-hour event, volunteer teams of scientists, students, teachers and other community members will inventory the plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, insects, fungi, and other organisms they find at the preserve.

The BioBlitz will serve an important role in RHA’s efforts to be an effective steward of the preserve.  As Lauren Theis, Stewardship Program Manager, explains “This event will generate a list of species found at Fairview Farm, a 170-acre former dairy farm that is home to RHA.  The BioBlitz helps us find and identify species that should be monitored, controlled or protected.  Last year our teams discovered both plants and animals that we didn’t know lived at Fairview Farm and it won’t surprise me if we find more this year!  The pre-dawn to darkness time frame gives us the opportunity to observe diurnal, nocturnal and crepuscular organisms and it gives us a great snapshot of the natural systems at work across the preserve.  We incorporate everything we learn into our stewardship plan for Fairview Farm.”

While the event has a decidedly scientific theme, we invite people of all ages from across the region to visit Fairview Farm during the event.  The scientists leading the inventory will share information about the organisms they are identifying and naturalists will be on hand to lead nature hikes from morning through evening.  Executive Director Cindy Ehrenclou is especially excited about these aspects of the event and says “The BioBlitz is a celebration of the diversity of life in our own backyards.  We hear so often about the negative impacts humans have on the planet.  We see our BioBlitz as a celebration of something positive – an experience that leaves everyone feeling optimistic and energized about nature.”

Ethicon has provided a grant to RHA to cover the costs associated with the BioBlitz.  With its Somerville campus so close and a commitment to serving the communities that are home to its employees, Ethicon has supported RHA for several years by sponsoring work days at Fairview Farm.  Ehrenclou explains, “Ethicon employees have blazed trails, removed invasive trees and shrubs, planted native grasses and carried out a number of other stewardship projects at Fairview Farm.  By underwriting the costs associated with the BioBlitz (for supplies such as magnifying glasses, water monitoring kits and field-ready notebooks and meals for the volunteers who will have a very long day of fieldwork), Ethicon is once again demonstrating its value to our community as a partner, and we are very grateful to everyone at the company who is involved with RHA.”

We hope that many citizens will take advantage of the opportunity to join biologists in the field to learn about the different types of flora and fauna in our local ecosystems, connect with nature, enjoy the outdoors, broaden their knowledge of local wildlife and ultimately become better advocates for the protection of natural resources.  For more information about the BioBlitz, please contact Lauren Theis at (908) 234-1852, ext. 314 or via email at ltheisraritanheadwatersorg  (ltheisraritanheadwatersorg)  .

 

May 19      Nature Photography Workshop
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve, 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster

Bring your camera or a notepad for a photography workshop with acclaimed amateur photographer Duane Degutis.  Duane will explain some basic and intermediate techniques for photographing wildlife and natural landscapes with manual lenses.

This program is free of charge and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Lauren Theis at (908) 234-1852, ext. 314 or via email at ltheisraritanheadwatersorg  (ltheisraritanheadwatersorg)  .

 

May 20      Migratory Bird Walk                                                                                        7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.                                                                                                 Fairview Farm, 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster

Take an easy morning hike on trails through meadows and forests with Randy Little from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to watch for migrating birds.  Randy will help participants learn key identifying features of some interesting species, including calls and visual cues.

This program is free of charge and open to the public.  For more information, please contact Lauren Theis at (908) 234-1852, ext. 314 or via email at ltheisraritanheadwatersorg  (ltheisraritanheadwatersorg)  .