Natural Lands Trust Preserve Blog

Mariton - Annual Picnic and Program

This Saturday, will be the Annual Friends of Mariton Picnic at 6:00 p.m.  This is a potluck picnic, so bring something to pass.  Mariton provides settings, beverages, and a grill for cooking.  People should bring folding chairs or blankets. 

Following the picnic will be one of my favorite programs.  Kathy and Eric Uhler from the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will do a live animal show.  The audience will learn interesting facts about local wildlife, as well as what to do with a "lost" or injured animal.  Kathy and Eric use animals that cannot be released back to the wild, and everyone gets a close look at these animals.  It is fascinating, and I learn something new at each one of their shows.

Duck Stamp

I recently was at the Post Office and remembered to purchase a federal Duck Stamp.  Technically, they are called Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (a term I have never heard used).  The stamp is required to hunt migratory birds like ducks, geese, woodcocks and doves.  I haven't hunted any of these birds in decades, but I still purchase the stamp every year, because it is a tax that I support. 

On the back of the card are printed two important facts:  "To date, Duck Stamp sales have provided $700 million that has been used to purchase 5.2 million wetland acres for the National Wildlife Refuge System."  The stamp costs $15.  This year's stamp features a print by Joseph Hautman of a pair of Northern Pintails. 

There are several National Wildlife Refuges (NWF) within a few hours drive.  Most recognizable are probably John Heinz NWF, near Philadelphia; Great Swamp in Basking Ridge, NJ; Cape May and E.B. Forsythe (Brigantine).  Most of the regional refuges have free admission,  but in other parts of the nation one has to pay to visit.  The Duck Stamp is a season pass to all NWFs. 

Fifteen dollars.  52 million acres protected.  Free pass into any National Wildlife Refuge.  My way to say, "I support wetland conservation."

Mariton - Kayaking on the Delaware

Last week, I shared a day on the Delaware River with a great group.  The NJ Outdoor Women's League (http://www.njowl.org/) scheduled a kayak trip from Phillipsburg, NJ to Riegelsville.  NJ OWL is a wonderful organization that provides opportunities for women to experience different activities outside.   NLT has done several trips with the OWLs over the years and I am always excited to team up with them.  The group always brings people that are engaged, enthusiastic, and open to learning new things. 

We took the opportunity on this trip to not only talk about the water quality of the Delaware, but also to introduce these NJ residents to some interesting places on the Pennsylvania side of the river.  We stopped to eat lunch at Wy-Hit-Tuk Park, part of the 60-mile long Delaware Canal State Park (just below Easton, PA).  The Park is undergoing a massive reconstruction to repair the damage from recent floods along the river.  I am very excited about the construction, because the state park is an fantastic recreation resource that brings millions of people in contact with one of the great natural resources of the eastern United States:  the Delaware River.

We took another break at Groundhog Lock in the Canal State Park, in Raubsville.  Here the group learned how canal locks work.  They also saw how the canal in this location was once harnessed to generate electricity locally.

Of course, we took time to talk about land preservation as we floated right in front of Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary.  I took time to talk about the generosity of the Guerrero's who protected the land for future generations.  And about Natural Lands Trust who continues to protect green space, which will provide opportunities for countless generations to re-create in the wonderful outdoors.  (A big THANK YOU to NLT employees Jim Thompson and Ryan Hopkins who helped lead the trip, and Steve Eisenhauer who scheduled the trip with NJ OWL.)

Mariton - Rainfall Update

Dan Barringer, my blogging colleague, asked me a question about Mariton's rainfall recently.  I realized I haven't posted on this subject lately, so I went back through the records.  I have been recording the daily rainfall at Mariton for several years and have records going back to 1997.  (Lighting strikes fried the computers that stored the 1992-1996 records.)

At the end of July, we had received 30.41 inches of precipitation.  The average for the same time period over the last 12 years is 29.67 inches.  So, we are close to average for the last decade.  Meteorologists say that rainfall will usually average out in any six or twelve month period.  It is how we get to those averages that can make or break a farmer or a roofing contractor.

For instance, in April we received 2.70 inches (not a lot of April showers), and Mariton's average is 4.49 inches.  May was right at average receiving 4.63 inches compared to the average 4.46 inches.  June was very dry and several gardeners complained about this.  We received 2.12, the average is 4.95. 

July is either a month of feast or famine.  Many years it is the month with either the most rainfall, or the month with the least.  This year Mariton received 6.20 inches, the average is 5.17 inches.  What makes July so variable is the thunderstorms (and hurricanes).  Sometimes the storms drop water on you, sometimes they pass just south or north.  I felt that at Mariton we were missed by most of the deluges this year and just nipped by the edge of a storm cell.  Still we received over an inch of rain each week.  It kept the lawn needing mowing, and the gardens needing weeding.  Conversely, some areas within the region were hammered by every storm cell that developed, while others areas were completely missed and stayed dry during the month.

So far in August (about 1/3 of the month), we have received 0.87 inches compared to an average of 3.72 for the entire month.   

Mariton - Red Admirals

Last year, many people commented about an abundance of Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta) at Mariton.  Not only did we count 12 on the Butterfly Census in 2007, but many people in the Northeast noted an "irruption" of the species.  Today, I saw my first Red Admiral of the season (none were counted during the Census in June).  I have not even seen one while working in the meadows this summer.  This photo is from Carole Mebus.

Mariton - Blossoms

The Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is blooming in the meadows and is a great attractant for butterflies.  I am seeing Monarchs and still plenty of Great-spangled Frittilaries.  Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) is also in bloom.  This plant fills the air with its soothing aroma even when gently bruised.  Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is still blooming in the meadows.  The goldenrods are just about to start opening their blossoms. 

I hiked trails recently early in the morning to beat the heat.  The Wood Thrush are still singing enthusiastically.  I heard Peewees (a great mid-summer sound in my mind).  Towhees are also calling.

On the Water

Recently Natural Lands Trust purchased a fleet of kayaks for the Pennsylvania preserves.  This small fleet will compliment the work that Steve Eisenhauer has been doing for several yearsfor NLT in southern New Jersey.  We worked for several years seeking funding and contemplating the logistics of equipment and programs.  Thanks to funding from Northampton County, Williams Township, Paunacussing Preserve, Crows Nest Preserve and NLT's Membership Department, we were able to purchase a fleet of top quality boats, paddles, life preservers, and a trailer for transport and storage.  We would also like to recognize Old Town Canoe for providing a great package of gear.  Special thanks to our local dealer, Nature's Way Canoe and Kayak, for being our contact with Old Town, and then discounting the purchase even more.  Bill and Debbie were very helpful in guiding our boat and gear selection.  Here is a photo of me (left) and Bill from Nature's Way during the pick up.

Our first trip in the new boats was on a section of the Delaware River between Kingwood and Bull's Island.  Steve Eisenhauer set up this trip for the NJ OWL (Outdoor Women's League).  Jim Thompson at Paunacussing coordinated the trip.  We had great weather, great water conditions and a great group of people that enjoyed spending time on the water and learning a little more about nature.  Incidentally, it was a trip that I had done with the NJ OWLs a few years back that inspired me to work on this fleet.  The kayaks are a great way for NLT to fulfill one of its strategic goals of connecting people with nature.

I grew up around water and have revived my love for canoing in the last year.  The other night, Maureen and I took advantage of a full moon to go out at Lake Nockamixon with some friends for a sunset/full moon paddle.  It was a wonderful trip.  We saw a Great Egret, Green Herons and several Great Blue Herons.  At dusk, one of the Great Blues let us drift by it only 10 feet away.  A hawk flew over with a mouse in its talons.  We had Belted Kingfishers diving in front of the boats as we explored Haycock Run.  But it was the bats that made the evening wonder-filled.  We had thousands of bats dipping the surface of the lake grabbing insects as we paddled.  We could see them back lit by the setting sun and rising moon.  They flew by only feet away as we glided on the glassy water.  Fortunately, everyone in the group was mesmerized (instead of terrified) by the experience. 

   

Mariton - Bluebirds still doing well

Right now, there are three active bluebird nests at Mariton.  One nest, near the Nature Center has 3 chicks that will be leaving the box within days.  Another box has 4 young that look healthy and should fledge out in two weeks.  The third box has 5 eggs.  The timing and location of this last nest could be better, but we will hope for the best.  Mariton has had a lot of bluebird nesting activity - along with a lot of nests lost this year.  In the end, the same amount of bluebirds will probably fledge as in past years. 

Mariton - Butterfly Walk

It wasn't on the schedule, but after the Pipevine Swallowtail last week several wanted a chance to look at butterflies again.  We had several special treats.  Valerie brought a pair (male and female) of Luna Moths that she captured at her home.  (Thank goodness Show and Tell doesn't end when you leave grade school.)  She plans to release them after the female lays its eggs, and then rear caterpillars for release it suitable habitats.  It was a real treat for me to see Luna moths again, I haven't seen one in several years.  Not only did I get the treat of seeing them, but I learned so much about them.  Thanks Valerie.

One of the first butterflies we saw when we reached the meadows was the Pipevine Swallowtail.  It is a week older and little faded, but still a rare treat.  Other great finds of the morning included a Pearl Crescent, Eastern Tailed Blue, and some brand new Monarchs.  Carole stopped and discovered this Coral Hairstreak.  A really fabulous find and beautiful photo to accompany it.  (Photo by Carole Mebus).  There is still a little milkweed in bloom.  The butterfly bush (as you can see from the photo) is still very much in bloom.  Monarda is just beginning to bloom.  It is a great time to look for butterflies.

Mariton - Pipevine Swallowtail

We spotted a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) butterfly on the Tuesday Morning Butterfly Walk.  As most of the readers know I am still struggling when it comes to butterflies.  This is one of the "black" swallowtails that I didn't think I would have to learn when I set that as one of my goals for this year.  So, when we saw a pair of these zipping around the first field, I did look at them for practice, but assumed they were Spicebush Swallowtails.  (I am still working on the jiz of butterfly ID and that comes from repeated practice.)  Fortunately, the butterfly in the photo stopped to feed on nectar when Virginia noticed the markings were that of a Pipevine Swallowtail. 

We were pretty excited as this would be considered a very uncommon sighting for Mariton (possibly rare?)  That is one of the joys of the the Tuesday Butterfly Walks for me.  It gives me more practice, and we see the variety of butterflies that inhabit the meadows during the whole butterfly season, instead of just a small window.  Very exciting.