11 Hardscrabble Road
PO Box 693
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
(908) 766-5787
E-mail: scherman-hoffman@njaudubon.org

HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. / Closed Mondays

Center Closed:

• March 23, for Easter Sunday

• The Nature Store at Scherman-Hoffman will be closed Tuesday & Wednesday, February 26th and 27th, so that we can do a physical inventory in the store.

• The Nature Store will also be closed every Tuesday in March (4th, 11th, 18th & 25th) and we will return to our original operating schedule (Tues.-Sat. 9 to 5, Sun Noon-5, closed Mondays) in April. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Scherman-Hoffman Information Page

EVERY DAY AT SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Office is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. Trails are open seven days, dawn to 5:00 p.m. (park in the Scherman Lot if visiting Mondays or before 9:00 a.m. other days).
VISIT the Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education.
SHOP our nature store. We are the area’s best source for binoculars, spotting scopes, bird seed, feeders, field guides, natural history books, and nature gifts.
WATCH our state-of-the-art feeding station.
HIKE our 3 miles of trails. 
LEARN from our educational materials, exhibits, and expert naturalists. In addition to the programs and field trips listed below, we offer group programs and tours for schools, scouts, clubs, and other organizations by reservation at least 2 weeks ahead. We also offer a wide variety of lectures and slide programs for club meetings and special events. Please call for more information and the fee schedule for these programs.

Program Registration Information: Program registration information: Checks should be made payable to NJAS and sent to P.O. Box 693, Bernardsville, NJ 07924, or brought to the Hoffman Nature Center during open hours. Indicate which program(s) you are registering for, and please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number in case we need to contact you. It is also possible to register by phoning us during office hours; please have your credit card ready. Prepaid registration ensures a place and is required for all trips. Walk-ins are possible for in-house programs at the Hoffman Nature Center if not full. No refunds except in case of cancellation by us. No cancellation for bad weather unless specifically stated.

Tips and rules for all field trips: We target the best sites for natural history at this season and invite birders and naturalists at all levels. Trips go in any weather. See the individual trip descriptions for hoped-for highlights. Preregistration is required so that we can notify participants of last-minute changes in time or meeting place. Trips begin at the site promptly at the specified time and normally travel by car caravan to other nearby locations.

For directions Click Here, or directions can be mailed on request. Bring lunch, water, binoculars, sunscreen, extra layers of clothes, and wear shoes that can get a little muddy. Leaders will have scopes; feel free to bring your own. Focused children accompanied by an adult are invited.

Click Here for more tips on how to prepare for and enjoy field trips.

Whether you register for programs by mail or phone, please be sure to provide the following information: Your name, address, phone, and e-mail; dates and titles of program(s) you are registering for; name and phone of an emergency contact; and whether you will get instructions from the Web site or will need them mailed.

FREE NATURE WALKS AT
SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Every Friday and Saturday
8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Meet at the Hoffman Center. Normally led by Michael Pollock on Fridays and Mike Anderson on Saturdays, these walks are just plain fun and informative: birds, trees, tracks, and more. Leisurely walks on wide, well-maintained trails are a great way to introduce friends and family to NJAS – bring a friend!
Cost: Free.

ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE AT SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN
Featuring native plants and shrubs for northern New Jersey
Order by April 19
(Pickup date: May 3)
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Get in your orders, delight yourselves, support New Jersey Audubon, and contribute to the local ecosystem, all in one glorious gesture. Fill your garden with native plants and a few others selected for their special appeal to birds and butterflies. If you ordered plants in the last four years, you will automatically receive an order form; otherwise, call 908.766.5787 (Scherman-Hoffman Sanctuary) to request a form. Orders are due by April 19. Pickup day is Saturday, May 3, at Scherman-Hoffman. Mark your calendars! There will be a limited quantity of plants available for anyone who did not place an order.

CLASSIC FIELD TRIPS

BEGINNING BIRDING FIELD TRIPS: Great Swamp and Scherman-Hoffman
Saturdays, March 22 and May 3
Saturday, April 19
9:00 a.m. to noon
There is no better place to begin birding than overlooking the bird feeders at the window of the Hoffman Center. Following this viewing from the center, we’ll caravan to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. At the swamp we expect to see a variety of late wintering birds and migrants. Led by Rich Borzelli. Loaner binoculars available.
Cost: $8 members, $15 nonmembers (can be applied to membership).

HACKENSACK MEADOWLANDS
Saturday, March 1
8:30 a.m. to early afternoon
Join associate naturalist Ken Witkowski to look for late winter and early spring raptors, waterfowl, and passerines in the Meadowlands.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

LAVA FLOWS AND DINOSAURS: THE JURASSIC IN NEW JERSEY
Saturday, March 8
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
During the Jurassic Period, New Jersey lay near the center of the supercontinent of Pangaea, which was beginning to split apart. This event was accompanied by massive flows of basalt lava. Dinosaurs and other strange animals roamed the earth. On this field trip we will examine both the basalt flows of the Watchung Ridge and associated sedimentary deposits in an attempt to understand what “New Jersey” was like at the time. Meet at the Essex County Environmental Center. This is a joint program with the Essex County Environmental Center. Led by Michael Pollock.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

FRANKLIN PARKER PRESERVE
Saturday, March 22
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Associate naturalist Lloyd Shaw will guide you around the Franklin Parker Preserve for birds of the season and Pine Barrens specialties as he meets the group in Chatsworth.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

SOURLAND MOUNTAIN: GEOLOGY AND HABITATS
DATE CHANGED to Saturday, April 5
9:00 a.m. to noon
Sourland Mountain rises above the relatively level surface of the Piedmont in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties. On this field trip we will examine the various rocks of the Piedmont and discuss the origin of the mountain. We will also discuss the impact the geology has had on both the natural habitats and human development in the area. We will meet in the Somerset County Park parking area and visit at least one nearby site as well. This trip involves about two miles of walking; some of it on steep trails. Please bring lunch. This is a joint program with the Plainsboro Preserve. Led by Michael Pollock.
Cost: $7 members, $10 nonmembers.

SWARTSWOOD LAKE STATE PARK
Saturday, April 5
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Join NJAS associate naturalist Ken Witkowski at Swartswood Lake State Park for early migrants, waterfowl, and looks at the Bald Eagle nest.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

ALLENDALE CELERY FARM
Saturday, April 12
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Join associate naturalist Rob Fanning at this well-known Bergen County birding hotspot in search of early spring arrivals.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

HYPER HUMUS: Sussex County
Saturday, April 26
8:00 a.m. to midafternoon
One of the most recent additions (and undoubtedly one of the best) to the state Wildlife Management Area system, Hyper Humus is a treasure trove for naturalists. This trip will be led by Jim Zamos, who lives next door and has birded at this site for over fifty years.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

NIGHT HIKE: GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Saturday, April 26
7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
This is the best time of the year to listen for frogs, owls, rails, bitterns, and coyotes. Great Swamp is the best place to hear them all.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers.

OLD MINE ROAD, DELAWARE WATER GAP
NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Saturday, May 10
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Meet associate naturalist Dennis Briede at the Karamac parking lot on Old Mine Road. From there we will bird several areas along the road and in the Worthington Campground area. These areas are excellent for early migrant warblers, vireos, thrushes and other birds. There is a good chance to see bears, eagles, and even porcupines in this area. Bring lunch.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

PROGRAMS AT THE HOFFMAN CENTER

GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS
Wednesday, April 16
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Uncertain what plants to order from our Native Plant Sale? We will discuss some of the best – as well as some of the least-known – native plants for the back-yard habitat. A discussion of planting requirements and companion plantings will focus on plants available at the SHWS sale. Led by Michael Pollock.
Cost: $8 members, $15 nonmembers (can be applied to plant sale on May 3).

BINS AND SCOPES FOR BIRDING
Saturday, April 19
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Whether you’re new to birding and want to buy your first binocular, you are finally ready to upgrade your present binocular, or you want to buy a spotting scope, the more you know about optics the happier and more confident you’ll be with your final purchase. In this workshop, store manager Denis Cleary will briefly review what the numbers and the jargon mean, after which there will be an extended period of hands-on comparisons of the various binoculars and spotting scopes we carry.
Cost: Free to members, $5 nonmembers (can be applied to purchase).

IRON ORE AND MORE:
WHY MINE IN NEW JERSEY?
Wednesday, April 30
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
New Jersey has a rich history as a mining state. Iron, copper, lead, zinc, and graphite were all extracted commercially from the ground earlier in the state’s history. We will examine the relationships between plate tectonics and the setting(s) in which the most important of these mineral deposits formed. This program, with Michael Pollock, will help set the scene for upcoming field trips to several of these locations, including the mining areas on Sparta Mountain that will be visited on Sparta Mountain Day, May 18.
Cost: $8 members, $15 nonmembers.

PINE BARRENS BOTANY, BIRDS, AND BUTTERFLIES
Saturday, May 3
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Lucille’s Restaurant on Route 530 in Warren Grove.
A visit to the Pine Barrens for botany, birding, and – weather permitting – butterflies such as elfins and other early spring species. We will visit the East Plains and its dwarf Pitch Pine forest, Warren Grove, Webbs Mills, Whitesbog, and other areas for early blooming plants such as Sand Myrtle, Pixie, Birdfoot Violet, and Swamp Pink; and will stop at areas known for Pine, Hoary, Henry’s, and Brown Elfins, and Hessel’s Hairstreak. Frosted Elfin is a possibility if there is time. Come early if you’d like breakfast. Leader: Rick Radis.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

WALPACK/FLATBROOK-ROY AREA
Saturday, May 17
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join associate naturalist Dennis Briede across from the church in Walpack Center. We will explore the Flatbrook River area from Walpack to the Flatbrook-Roy Wildlife Management Area just south of Peters Valley. This area has great habitat for migrating birds that are feeding as well as resting on their journey north. The scenery is fantastic in this area. Bring lunch and bins.
Cost: $15 members; $20 nonmembers.

RAISING MOTHS AND
BUTTERFLIES FOR FAMILIES
Saturday, May 24
1:00 to 2:30 p.m
Kids! Would you like to raise a moth or a butterfly at home? Have you ever found a caterpillar and didn’t know what to feed it? What kind of cage is best for raising caterpillars and hatching adults? Bring your parents to Scherman-Hoffman for this hands-on workshop with live specimens. With Michael Pollock.
Cost: $8 per family members,
      $15 per family nonmembers.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

The following programs in Franklin Township are led by NJAS staff and are funded by the Franklin township open space committee; they are free to the public. These sites are the first grassland restoration projects NJAS has implemented for Franklin Township. They are now in the fourth year and are very successful. April is the beginning of the nesting season for many species of birds. The dusk display of the American Woodcock is a sure sign of the changing season. In May we will be looking for both migrants and resident nesting birds, including grassland species: Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, and Field and Grasshopper Sparrows. Bring bino-culars if you have them; we will have some loaner binoculars available.

SPRING DANCE OF THE WOODCOCK: GRIGGSTOWN
Saturday, April 5
5:30 p.m. until dark
The woodcock is a long-billed woodland bird that probes in the soft wet soil of wetlands and eats its weight in worms in a day. In early spring to mate and nest, males of the species begin calling and performing an aerial courtship display flight when the afternoon shadows are almost gone. Meet at the parking lot located up the hill from the driveway entrance at 1091 Canal Road – just west of the Griggstown Causeway.

MIGRANT AND BREEDING BIRDS OF THE
NEGRI-NEPOTE GRASSLAND PRESERVE
Sunday, May 4
8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Meet at the parking lot located at 260 Skillmans Lane.

MIGRANT AND BREEDING BIRDS AT
GRIGGSTOWN NATIVE GRASSLAND PRESERVE
SUNDAY May 4
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meet at the parking lot located up the hill from the driveway entrance at 1091 Canal Road – just west of the Griggstown Causeway.

FREE FIELD TRIPS AND PROGRAMS

SPRING WILDFLOWERS: SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN RESTORATION TOUR
Saturday, May 3
10:30 a.m. to noon
When you stop in to pick up your native plants at the Plant Sale, plan to join Michael Pollock for a spring wildflower walk. Although we will focus on the deer exclosure, where flowers that have not been seen for several years at SHWS should be blooming, we will also examine areas outside the exclosure, both to compare restoration progress and to identify those plants that actually survive with the deer! Cost: Free.

BITTERN WATCH AT THE HERONRY AT GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Every Friday evening from April 18 to May 16
5:00 p.m. to dusk
At almost 8,000 acres, the Great Swamp is a stronghold for breeding birds like Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Great Blue Herons, American Woodcock, Barred Owl, and American Kestrel. The swamp also attracts a good number of migrants in May. The quarter-mile stretch of road from the “rookery” parking lot to the closed bridge on Pleasant Plains Road has it all: wet forest, fields, hedgerows, open marsh, pond, riparian forest, and a river runs through it. The last three years we have been blessed with good looks at American Bittern in early May, before the vegetation blocks the view. Cosponsored by NJAS and the Friends of Great Swamp NWR. Meet at the Great Blue Heron Rookery parking lot on Pleasant Plains Road in the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Cost: Free.

KITTATINNY VALLEY STATE PARK, Andover, Sussex County
Second and third Saturdays of March, April, and May
March 8 and 15, April 12 and 19
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
May 10 and 17
8:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Walks cosponsored by NJAS and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee.
Led by Tom Halliwell, Joe Burgiel, or other NJAS naturalists, these walks combine birding, botany, butterflies, moths, and anything else that we can lay eyes on. 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.
Cost: Free.

SPARTA MOUNTAIN DAY
Sunday, May 18
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The third annual Sparta Mountain Day celebrates the diversity of flora and fauna at the 350-acre NJAS Sparta Mountain Preserve and the 2,000-plus-acre State Wildlife Management Area. In addition to short, naturalist-led nature walks and live wildlife exhibits, experts and authors on the history of Thomas Edison’s iron mining venture will lead interpretive walks and lectures at the Edison Monument. The monument marks the location of the iron mines, crushers, magnetic ore separator, mills, furnace, and the 500 Edison employees located at this site between 1889 and 1900.  Cost: Free.

THANKS

In advance of the introduction of the new society-wide retail POS system, it was necessary to take the inventory databases of all nine stores, merge them into one massive database (20,000 records), then complete the arduous task of “cleaning” and streamlining – eliminating duplication (not a simple task when “Peterson East” is described nine different ways in the nine stores), reworking descriptions for consistent nomenclature, standardizing formatting, and a host of other operations. According to one POS consultant who was, well, consulted, this undertaking is normally done by a costly trained team working for months. Our Excel wizards, the “Scherman-Hoffman Database Janitors” – headed by bookstore assistant Norann Hein and bookstore manager Denis Cleary, and including volunteers Lee Cleary, Terry Tuthill, Lorraine Novinski, Fran Duggan, and Pat Balko – did the job in approximately ONE WEEK. This is a significant accomplishment that will benefit NJAS in general and the retail stores in particular for years to come. Words do not adequately express our gratitude, but for here, for now, they will have to do: Thank you!

Under the direction of restoration specialist Michael Pollock, the following volunteers have continued the forest and meadow rehabilitation, maintenance, and management work within our deer exclosure: Andrew Dragunas, Stephen Gruber, Jackie Hartley, Randy Little, and the Pfizer Company work group (along with the Morris Land Conservancy’s Partners for Parks). The long-term success of this project is largely a result of their continued efforts. Special thanks to Eric Carlson for upgrading and maintaining the sanctuary trails and signage, as well as a multitude of projects to maintain and manage the sanctuary. Thanks also to Dick Donat for several projects at the sanctuary, including doubling the number of bluebird boxes.
 

Members receive discounts on program fees. If you are not a member and would like to become one, consider Joining New Jersey Audubon Society.