calendar

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods … What's New? … Events

Calendar

Free Nature Walks to Pond and Park
for Children and Parents
With Experienced Naturalists—All on Staten Island!

Sunday, February 5, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Super Bowl Owl Prowl at Pouch Camp – Join owl enthusiast, Cliff Hagen, for the 3rd annual Super Bowl Owl Prowl, a chance to seek out, listen to and possibly watch our nocturnal neighbors of Pouch Camp. Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot of High Rock Park. Though flashlights are not necessary, they are acceptable. For more details call Cliff Hagen at 718-313-8591.

Saturday, February 18, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Forest Restoration Workshop on the Red Dot Trail at High Rock - Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot at High Rock Park. We will follow the Red Dot Trail that loops behind the administration buildings down to the extension of Altamont Street where we will remove invasive plants and cut alien vines that strangle young trees. If you don’t have your own, Protectors will supply tools, gloves and refreshments. After a two hour work session (our 188th consecutive monthly workshop) we will take a short walk over nearby trails. For more information call Don Recklies at 718-768-9036 or Chuck Perry at 718-667-1393.

Sunday, February 19, 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Willowbrook Park: Gateway to the Greenbelt - We'll take an easy walk on the white trail to Rockland Avenue and the nature center. Learn why this is a wet woods! Please wear waterproof shoes. Meet at the parking lot by the archery range, accessed by car via Eton Place off Richmond Avenue. Look for the sign for the carousel. For more information, contact Hillel Lofaso at (781) 751-6629.

Saturday, February 25, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Great Kills Park – Meet in the parking lot at the corner of Hylan Boulevard and Buffalo Street. Participants will proceed to the tidal mud flats and other sites within the park. The focus will be on identifying wintering waterfowl in the bay and in the sheltered boat basin. We will also look for snow bunting and horned lark in open areas. Raptors can often be found later in the winter. Bring binoculars and dress for the winter weather. For more information call Howie Fisher at 718-981-4002.

Saturday, February 25, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.

Conference House Park Beach and Woods - Past and present blend in the Conference House Park where history stretches back thousands of years with the seasonal occupation of the Lenape people and hundreds of years of the Dutch and English habitation. We’ll observe evidence of the human occupation of the area, observe local geology and discover what the natural and unnatural debris at the high tide line reveals. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Hylan Blvd. For more details call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Saturday, March 3, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.

Reed’s Basket Willow - Discover this hidden natural park in Dongan Hills. We’ll visit the three bodies of water in the park and hike through the woodlands. Although none of the willows grown by the Reed family still exist, the woodlands and stream are still home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Meet at the Spring Street entrance in Dongan Hills. For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Saturday, March 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

South Shore Beach Walk - Be ready to do a lot of walking on sand. We will meet at the Conference House Pavilion at the end of Hylan Blvd and walk the beach to Mount Loretto. Expect to find a variety of seashells and other evidence of marine and inter-tidal life as well as flotsam and jetsam of human activities. For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Saturday, March 17, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Forest Restoration Workshop between Moses Mountain and SeaView - Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot at High Rock Park. If you come late, walk to the first bend of the entry road, follow the Yellow Trail past Moses Mountain and take the unmarked trail to the right toward SeaView where we will be removing plants and cutting alien vines. If you don’t have your own, Protectors will supply tools, gloves and refreshments. After a two hour work session (our 189th consecutive monthly workshop), we will take a short walk over nearby trails. For more information call Don Recklies at 718-768-9036 or Chuck Perry at 718-667-1393.

Saturday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

High Rock Park and Pouch Camp – Early migrating birds begin to arrive with the first signs of spring. Kinglets and Phoebes should be present in the woods. Learn to identify migrating waterfowl in flight or on Orbach Lake and the surrounding kettle ponds. Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot and be prepared for muddy trails. Waterproof sneakers or boots are suggested. For more information call Howie Fisher at 718-981-4002.

Sunday, March 25, 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

Deer, Doves and Ducks – Walk the length of River Road, the southern boundary of the defunct NASCAR site. Discover the beauty of the area while we search out roaming deer, and an assortment of birds with a focus on migrating waterfowl. The fresh water, tidal creeks and salty Kill provide a variety of habitat for an array of birds. Meet at the corner of River Road and Chelsea Avenue. For more information call Cliff Hagen at 718- 313-8591.

Sunday, April 1, noon to 3 p.m.

Protectors Semi-Annual Spring Meeting - Get to know more about Protectors and the projects we're working on. Then, dust off your binoculars and dig out your field guides as we brush up on field identification skills at this kick-off to spring workshop. Learn about the trails of the Greenbelt and how we can fit you up with a family outing next weekend at a natural area near you. Free admission and refreshments. Located at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue at Brielle. For more information call 718-751-6629.