Morning Excursions in Nature: Vernal Pool Exploration
Sponsored by Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Thu, May 13, 2010 9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield Instructor: Scott Santino - Teacher-Naturalist, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Audience: Adult Members: Adult $10.00 Nonmembers: Adult $12.00
Join us for one or more of these morning walks during nature's most promising season. Migrant birds are returning daily from southern wintering grounds, spring ephemeral flowers seemingly appear overnight, frog song enlivens the marsh, and nature beckons us to witness each unfolding minute. We have picked a variety of topics as our focus for these spring excursions, though we will stop and discover whatever special is happening in nature that morning.
Thursday, May 6: Connecting Birds and Habitats We kick off this series by visiting marsh, pond, field edges, woodland, and swamp to listen and look for the birds that can be found in each habitat. Early May provides great opportunities to see and listen to resident birds in breeding plumage, along with migrant birds that may be looking for nesting areas or simply feeding and resting before flying farther north.
Thursday, May 13: Vernal Pool Exploration One of the most exciting places to visit in spring is a semi-permanent wetland called a vernal pool. By mid-May, vernal pools are bubbling with new life including salamander larvae, wood frog tadpoles, numerous kinds of insects, and the many animals that visit the pool to feed. We'll take a close-up look at more than one vernal pool on the sanctuary.
Wednesday, May 19: Wetland Connection Wetlands are areas where water influences the type of soil, plants, and animals found in them. Many wildlife species depend on wetlands for habitat. We will look closer at marvelous wetland plants and explore their relationship with insects, birds, and mammals.
Thursday, May 2: Insects Everyone Needs to Know During this morning excursion, we'll search field, forest, and wetland habitats for common insects. You'll be amazed by this wonderfully diverse group of animals that includes butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and more.
Thursday, June 3: Thomas Proctor's Arboretum Former sanctuary landowner Thomas Proctor journeyed to different countries in the early 1900s to bring back trees and shrubs for his budding arboretum. Discover these unique species on the sanctuary landscape, many of which are still here 110 years after they were planted.
Fee per walk: $10.00 member, $12.00 nonmember Fee for the series: $45.00 member, $55.00 nonmember
Instructions and Directions: Meets in front of the Visitor Center. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. Participants are welcome to pack a lunch for picnicking following the program.
