Wednesday, March 9, 2005 6:30 p.m.
(normal schedule; second Wednesday of odd-numbered months)
Millville Public Library, Gant Room
Presentations:
How to Spot Butterflies, by Pat and Clay Sutton
and
An Update from Lillian Armstrong on the Creation of a Bayshore Birding and Wildlife Trails Program
Pat and Clay Sutton, a husband-and-wife team with over 50 years of experience between them as professional naturalists and authors, will present a slide program dealing with their fascination with butterflies, and they will convey the excitement of searching for, studying, enjoying, and attracting these winged jewels — just as they have in their book by the same title. They will share some of their butterfly watching adventures both on their home turf in southern New Jersey (at Cape May and along the Delaware Bayshore) and afar– an Arctic wilderness trip in northern Alaska, a winter trip to THE Monarch roost in Mexico, and more.
The Suttons’ three “How to Spot” books (owls, hawks and eagles, and butterflies), all published by Houghton Mifflin, will be available for sale with an opportunity for personalized signing. The books will be brought from the Cape May Bird Observatory’s store and will benefit that non-profit organization. Or plan to bring your own copies from home to get them personalized / signed.
Pat and Clay Sutton live near Cape May, New Jersey, the world renowned migratory crossroads that is famous for its hawk, owl, songbird, shorebird, and Monarch butterfly migration. They have studied the natural world for over 25 years. Pat, a naturalist since 1977, works for New Jersey Audubon Society as the Cape May Bird Observatory’s Program Director and is a founding board member of the North American Butterfly Association. She coauthored CMBO’s “Cape May County Butterfly Checklist,” and developed the Cape May County butterfly site guide in “Butterflies Through Binoculars” with David Wright. She is a passionate photographer of butterflies, moths, and other critters. Clay is a freelance writer and co-author of “Hawks in Flight” (with Pete Dunne and David Sibley) and “Birds of Prey of North America” (with Richard Walton). Clay is a wildlife biologist, lecturer, and naturalist. He was formerly an environmental planner, administrator, and environmental consultant. Migration in all its forms remains a consuming interest. Articles and photography by Clay and Pat have appeared in New Jersey Audubon, Peregrine Observer, New Jersey Outdoors, Sanctuary, American Butterflies, Wild Bird, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Birder’s World, Birding, Living Bird, Defenders, and others.
Lillian Armstrong of NJ Audubon will update us on the Birding and Wildlife Trails Program. You might even get involved in nominating a favorite wildlife site.
The Premiere of the new film on Glenn Rudderow is tentatively set for June 3 at Cumberland Co. College, so pencil it on those calendars! Remember the 400 seats have filled up very quickly in the past.
Cumberland County Improvement Authority waterways clean up day is scheduled for March 19th. To help, call Citizens United team captain Ed Pio at 327-2421.
Osprey Work Party Days – On Sunday March 6th and 20th arrive between 7:30 and 8 am at the Galettos. The early start time is tide related. If you can’t make it till later the ground crew might still need some help. We expect to wrap things up by early afternoon. Please call if you have a boat that can be available that day. Bring waders (or the tallest boots you own), a life jacket (we have extra), screw guns, and a good sense of humor. Dress in layers (bring a dry set of clothes)- rain or shine, oh boy! To RSVP or for more information please call Jane at 856-327-1161.
New Jersey Canoe and Kayak Trips
Explore the waterways of Southern New Jersey. The ever-popular South Jersey Canoe Trips are back, offered in partnership with Citizens United to Save the Maurice River. This year we are also offering kayak trips, thanks to grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the National Parks Service. New Jersey Natural Lands Trust Manager and CU Trustee Steve Eisenhauer will lead the trips, sharing natural science and human history while introducing you to the public waterways of this area. Trip dates and locations are listed below. Sign up early as space is limited. You will be sent directions upon registration.
Canoe Trips:
April 30, noon: Maurice River
May 28, noon: Union Lake
June 25, noon: Menantico Ponds
July 30, noon: Manumuskin River
August 27, noon: Cumberland Pond and Manumuskin River
September 24, 3 pm: Peek Preserve on Maurice River
October 22, noon: Dividing Creek
Kayak Trips:
June 11, 1 PM: Muskee Creek on Weatherby Road
July 9, noon: Peek Preserve on Maurice River
August 13, noon: Almond Road on Maurice River
Sept. 10, 3 PM: Peek Preserve on Maurice River
October 8, noon: Raybins Beach on Delaware Bay
Space is extremely limited, so register early; at the latest, please register by two weeks in advance of each trip; Steve Eisenhauer, Assistant Director of Stewardship and Protection Natural Lands Trust, PO Box 436, Newport, NJ 08345 phone: 856-447-3425 fax: 856-447-3405 e-mail eisenhauer@natlands.org
Raptor Festival – this year’s raptor festival was a smashing success. Many volunteers stationed the Citizens United table: Gladis McGraw, Joanne Murphine, Ethan Aronoff, Renee Scagnelli, Tony Ficcaglia, Leslie Ficcaglia, Ed Pio, Irene Bird, and Ryan, Donna and Rob Dailey. President Jane Morton Galetto traveled to the viewing areas and gave a presentation called “A River Worth Protecting.” This presentation was also provided to school children at Holly Heights School before the event. It is available to civic groups, school groups and the like on a limited basis. Call 856-327-1161 and make arrangements with Jane.
CU on the River!