Join us on BioBlitz weekend, May 15 - 16, 2009, at Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Bookstore/Gift Shop to participate in these great activities in the refuge, site of our BioBlitz. These programs are offered first come first served on the day of the event, and sign up will take place at the hub until the maximum number for each program has been reached. There is no charge for these programs but we ask that you consider a donation. Please note that some programs are particularly appropriate for a particular age group. This schedule may be subject to change. Check at the registration table as you enter the Bioblitz hub for meeting point.
Friday Evening, May 15, 2009
Frog Call Survey 6:00 p.m.
Join GSNWR staff member Tony Collins to learn who made that call, and which frogs and
toads are calling around the ponds of the Refuge. A short presentation may begin the walk.
Bats of the Refuge 7:00 p.m.
Learn more about the denizens of the night, as refuge biologists present an informative
program about the bats of Great Swamp. As part of the BioBlitz, mist nets will be set
up temporarily to catch bats to identify and tally.
Barred owl
© Blaine Rothhauser
Owl Prowl 8:30 p.m.
Join ace owl caller Emile DeVito on a short hike to call out screech, barred or other
owls present on the refuge after dark. No flashlight required!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Male oriole singing
© Blaine Rothhauser
Early Morning Bird Hike 7:00 a.m.
Ornithologists on the BioBlitz team may well see or hear over 70 species of
birds as they scour the refuge for wandering warblers, secretive songbirds,
resident robins and more. Learn just HOW they figure out which bird is which.
We will concentrate on how to identify the birds of the area by sight or sound.
Bring field guide and binoculars if you have them. Listen for migrant warblers
just arrived, or other resident birds you may know by sight but not sound!
Search for Stream Critters 9:30 a.m.
Get down and dirty in the stream to see up close and personal the creatures that call
it home! Learn how these macro invertebrates can help scientists determine
how clean the water is. Wear rubber boots and prepare to get a little wet!
Best suited for ages 8 & up.
Wildflower Walk 10:00 a.m.
Who could resist the chance to learn more about what’s growing at Great Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge? Plants can’t run away and so lend themselves to
identification. We will concentrate on learning how to identify what we encounter
using field guides, magnifying lenses and more. Best for ages 5 and up.
Radio Telemetry Tracking Demonstration 11:00 a.m.
Join refuge biologist Mike Horne to learn how some of the rare species are tracked
as they go about their daily lives. Using radio telemetry equipment, Mike will
demonstrate the tracking process…with the aid of a few helpful turtles!
Fungal Foray 12:00 noon
Join Dorothy Smullen, expert educator and mycologist, for a talk and walk to
learn more about mushrooms, toadstools, and the many other fungal friends living on the refuge.
Insect Identification 1:00 p.m.
More than any other group of animals, insects will make up the bulk of our fauna
count. See how insect observation and identification is conducted and learn what
different combinations you can turn six legs, three body parts and no backbone into!
Red-shouldered hawk
© Blaine Rothhauser
Raptor Trust Presentation 1:30 p.m.
Learn about New Jersey’s magnificent birds of prey as The Raptor Trust
leads a presentation of just what makes a raptor a raptor! Learn about the rehabilitation
of injured birds carried out by the Trust. There will be live raptors to learn from too.
Suitable for all ages.
Vernal Pool Survey 2:00 p.m.
Colin Osborn, vernal pool specialist at the refuge, will lead a tour of the vernal
pools of the GSNWR, vital habitat for many reptiles, amphibians, and a host of other
wetland species.
BioBlitz Speaker Presentation 2:00 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate the day’s successes, share exciting and unusual finds,
tally our total and draw our mountain bike, binocular, and MP3 raffle.
Wood duck © Blaine Rothhauser
Conduct Your Own Mini BioBlitz
Ongoing all Bioblitz long! Pick up our BioBlitz brochure and conduct your family’s own BioBlitz on the trails of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. You will use your observation skills to spot different kinds of plants and animals, and learn more about the physical parameters of the site. For every completed BioBlitz “survey,” you will receive a prize. Stop by the registration table to pick up a brochure and learn the rules of scientific discovery! For all ages.