Spring (March, April, May) 2008 FIELD TRIP DIRECTIONS

BEGINNING BIRDING FIELD TRIPS: Great Swamp and Scherman-Hoffman
Saturday, March 22. 9:00 a.m. to noon
Sunday, April 19. 9:00 a.m. to noon
Saturday, May 3. 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)
Directions:
Exit Route 287 at 30B, bear right after exiting, proceed through the light at 202 onto Childs Road, bear right at the fork onto Hardscrabble Road.  We’re one mile ahead on the right; go up the long driveway to the Hoffman Nature Center.

HACKENSACK MEADOWLANDS
Saturday, March 1
8:30 a.m. to early afternoon
Join NJAS Associate Naturalist Ken Witkowski to look for late winter and early spring raptors, waterfowl and passerine birds in the Meadowlands.
Cost:  Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers
Directions:
* From the NJ Turnpike: Take exit 16W to Rt. 3 West. Take Rt. 3 West to Route 17 South (Lyndhurst Exit). Follow around the ramp to the traffic light (Quality Inn will be on your left). Make a left onto Polito Avenue. Continue to the end of Polito Avenue. At the STOP sign make a left onto Valley Brook Avenue. Follow this road to the end (approx. 1 ˝ miles). Cross the railroad tracks (keep to the left). Meadowlands Environment Center is the first building on the left after the tracks. The second building houses Commission administrative offices; meet in the parking lot for the offices.
* From the Garden State Parkway: From the Parkway North, take Exit 153A; or from the Parkway South, take Exit 153 to Rt. 3 East. Follow Rt. 3 East to the 2nd Rt. 17 South Exit (the sign will read: Rt. 17 South/Lyndhurst - Service Road). At the end of the exit ramp there will be a traffic light, and the Quality Inn will be directly across the street to your left. Go straight through the intersection onto Polito Avenue. Continue to the end of Polito Avenue. At the STOP sign make a left onto Valley Brook Avenue. Follow this road to the end (approx. 1 ˝ miles). Cross the railroad tracks (keep to the left). Meadowlands Environment Center is the first building on the left after the tracks. The second building houses Commission administrative offices; meet in the parking lot for the offices.
* From Newark:  Rt. 21 North to Exit for Route 3 (East/West). Follow signs for Rt. 3 East. You will come off exit and be on Rt. 3 heading East. Stay in the right lane and you will pass exits for Park Ave., Ridge Road, and the third exit will be Rt. 17 South/Service Road. Take this exit and continue straight onto Polito Avenue. Take to the first STOP sign and make a left onto Valley Brook Avenue. Follow this road to the end (approx. 1 ˝ miles). Cross the railroad tracks (keep to the left). Meadowlands Environment Center is the first building on the left after the tracks. The second building houses Commission administrative offices; meet in the parking lot for the offices.
* From Northern Bergen County:  Take Rt. 17 South; cross over Rt. 3 (divided highway ends after Rt. 3) to the first traffic light (Quality Inn will be on your left). Make a left onto Polito - At the STOP sign make a left onto Valley Brook Avenue. Follow this road to the end (approx. 1 ˝ miles). Cross the railroad tracks (keep to the left). Meadowlands Environment Center is the first building on the left after the tracks. The second building houses Commission administrative offices; meet in the parking lot for the offices.


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 super-continent of Pangaea which was beginning to splitting apart.  This event was accompanied by massive flows of basalt lava.  Dinosaurs and other unfamiliar 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 understand what New Jersey was like at the time.  Meet at the Essex County Environmental Center.  This is a joint program with Essex County Environmental Center. Led by Michael Pollock.
Cost:  $15 members, $20 non-members


FRANKLIN PARKER PRESERVE
Saturday, March 22
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
NJAS 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
Directions:

The meeting point is the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center of Batsto Village.

From the north:  take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 52.
Turn left onto Route 654.
After approximately one mile, make a right hand turn onto Route 9, and  proceed for less than 2 miles.
Turn right onto Route 542 and follow this (less than 15 miles) until you reach Batsto Village.

From the south:
Leave the Garden State Parkway at Exit 50.
Proceed for approximately one mile on Route 9 and turn left onto Route 542.
Follow this (less than 15 miles) to Batsto Village.


SOURLAND MOUNTAIN:  GEOLOGY AND HABITATS
Saturday, March 29
9:00 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 2 miles of walking; some on steeper trails.  Please bring lunch.  This is a joint program with the Plainsboro Preserve. Led by Michael Pollock.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers
Directions:
* From Route 287 Southbound, follow Route 287 South to Exit 17 (Somerville/Routes 202/206 South). When the highways split, take Route 206 South. Follow the Route 206 South directions below.
* From Route 287 north, follow Route 287 North to Route 22 West. Follow the Route 22 directions below. 
* From Route 22 westbound, follow Route 22 to Routes 202/206 South. When the highways split take Route 206 South. Follow directions from Route 206 South.
* From Route 22 eastbound, after Milltown Road in Bridgewater, take the next exit off of Route 22 eastbound, onto Route 28 East. After 2 miles, Route 28 will intersect Route 206 South. Follow directions from Route 206 South.
* From Route 206 southbound, follow Route 206 through Somerville and Hillsborough approximately six miles from the Somerville Circle to Route 514 which is Amwell Road. Make a right turn onto Amwell Road and proceed two miles to East Mountain Road. Turn left onto East Mountain Road. Travel for one mile, and you will see the Sourland Mountain Preserve entrance sign on the right
* From Route 206 northbound, follow Route 206 through Princeton and Montgomery. Traveling up a small ramp, make a left onto Route 601. Follow Route 601 for a half mile, and make a right turn onto East Mountain Road by the Carrier Foundation. Travel for one mile, and you will see the Sourland Mountain Preserve entrance sign on the left.


SWARTSWOOD LAKE STATE PARK
Saturday, April 5
Meets 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
Directions:
Take I-80 to Exit 25 (US 206), and drive north on US 206 for about 12 miles to the town of Newton. At the square in the center of Newton, US 206 makes a left turn at a traffic light, goes one block and makes a right turn, then, in about 200 feet, comes to another traffic light at Mill Rd.  Turn left onto Mill Rd. (Rt. 519) and go 0.4 miles to the light at Swartswood Rd. (Rt. 622), where there is a sign for Swartswood Lake State Park. Turn left onto Swartswood Rd. and follow it for about 4.4 miles to the intersection with Rt. 619 (East Shore Drive). Turn left, and go 0.6 miles to the entrance to the state park, on the right. (DeLorme 23, C-25)

ALLENDALE CELERY FARM
Saturday, April 12
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Join NJAS Associate Naturalist Rob Fanning at this well known Bergen County for a birding hotspot in search of early spring arrivals.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers
Directions:
Take the Garden State Parkway north to Exit 163 (Rt 17). Follow Rt. 17 north for about 7.2 miles to the Allendale exit. Go west on E.Allendale Ave. for 1 mile to Franklin Tpke, turn right, and go about 0.2 miles to the small parking lot on the right. (DeLorme 26, E-11)


HYPER HUMUS: Sussex County
Saturday April 26
8:00 a.m. to mid-afternoon
Undoubtedly one of the best, recent additions to the state Wildlife Management Area system, Hyper Humus is a treasure trove for naturalists. This trip will be led by Jim Zamos. Jim lives next door and has been birding this site for over 50 years.
Cost: $15 members $20 nonmembers
Directions:
Meet in parking lot of Paulinskill Valley Trail on Warbasse Junction Road (CR 663). If coming on Route 15 North, exit onto Route 94 South where it bears off to the left in Lafayette (get in left lane at the traffic light). Take Route 94 for 0.7 mile and turn left at Warbasse Junction Road (CR 663). Take Warbasse Junction Road 0.6 mile to the parking area on the right. If coming on Route 206 North, go through Newton and stay on 206/94 North at the town square. Travel 2.3 miles north of Newton on 206/94 North and turn right onto 94 North where it splits off from 206 North. Go 1.9 miles on 94 to the right turn onto Warbasse Junction Road (CR 663) and proceed 0.6 mile to the parking area on the right.

NIGHT HIKE: GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Saturday, April 26
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
This is the best time of the year to listen for frogs, owls, rails, bitterns and coyote. Great Swamp is the best place to hear them all.
Cost: $10 members $15 nonmembers
Directions:
 From Route 287, take exit 30A.  Go east off the exit ramp, passing a large corporate park on the left.  You are now on Maple Avenue.  Proceed on Maple Avenue through Basking Ridge.  After passing the Lord Stirling Riding Stables, turn left onto Lord Stirling Road.  After passing the Somerset County Environmental Education Center, the road turns to gravel, crosses a bridge, and turns back to pavement, and the name changes to White Bridge Road.  Proceed on White Bridge Road to the first left turn, onto Pleasant Plains Road.  Proceed on Pleasant Plains Road past the Great Swamp NWR headquarters to the Friends office and parking lot, on the right.


OLD MINE ROAD, DELAWARE WATERGAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Saturday, May 10
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Meet NJAS 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 etc. There is a good chance to see bear, eagle or even porcupine in this area. Bring lunch.
Cost: $15 members $20 nonmembers

Directions:
Take I-80 west to the last exit in NJ. Bear right at the end of the exit ramp, going north on Old Mine Rd. Karamac parking lot is the first parking lot you will see on the left after going through the five-minute traffic light on Old Mine Rd.

WALPACK/ROY-FLATBROOK AREA
Sunday, May 17
 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join NJAS 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 from their journey north. The scenery is fantastic in this area. Bring lunch and bins.
Cost: Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers

Directions:
From the junction of  Routes 206 & 15 at Ross’ Corner, go about 7.1 miles north on Rt 206 and make a left turn onto Struble Rd. (This left turn is about 0.3 miles past the turnoff you will see on the right for the Stokes Forest Headquarters).Follow Struble Rd. for about 5 miles, going past Tillman Ravine and descending the hill until you come to an intersection where the Walpack Cemetery is ahead of you on the left. Go straight through the intersection for another 0.4 miles and park by the church, shortly after crossing the iron bridge over the Flat Brook.(DeLorme 18: L-8)