Parker River National Wildlife Refuge August, 2018 Free, Fun, Programs!

Join Us for Free, Fun, Programs!
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
August, 2018

REGISTRATION & CAPACITY:
All refuge programs are FREE, but space may be limited. Preregistration is required for all programs, unless otherwise indicated. Please call (978) 465-5753. Please Note: If a program requires preregistration, your registration is not confirmed unless and until you receive a phone call or voice mail message from a member of the refuge staff.

Programs conducted in the auditorium are limited to 85 attendees. Seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission of additional attendees will stop when capacity has been reached.

Please note that outdoor programs may be cancelled if there is inclement weather and/or insufficient registration. Visit us on the web for more information: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker_river/ or call Refuge Headquarters. The refuge visitor center is located at 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA.

Tide Pool Discoveries
Thursday, August 2^nd & Thursday, August 16^th, both at 9:30 a.m.
For generations children have enjoyed exploring tide pools and discovering the fascinating plants and animals that live in this realm between the tides. A refuge ranger will guide this hands-on program. Appropriate for children age 5 ? 10. Each session is limited to 15 children. Each session is 90 minutes long, allowing time for travel to and from the beach. Meet the ranger at the visitor contact station at parking lot 1. Parent/guardian must remain with his/her child for the entire duration of this program. Preregistration is required for this program.

Evening Program: Yankee Homecoming 2018
A Tale of Two Beaches - Plum Island & Salisbury Beach
Friday, August 3^rd, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
How did Plum Island and Salisbury Beach evolve from remote and inhospitable barrier beaches into popular beachfront destinations? Why do they have such distinct personalities? With the help of dozens of fascinating photos, maps, documents and postcards, presenter John Macone will present "A Tale of Two Beaches.? Once remote places, the beaches have evolved and changed. The presentation will describe the dramatic events that have altered the coastline and effected the communities: erosion from severe storms, devastating fires, and shipwrecks.

John Macone is the former editor of the Daily News of Newburyport and co-author of the book Plum Island and Salisbury Memories. He currently works as the Communications and Development Specialist for the Merrimack River Watershed Council. Spaces in the refuge?s 85-seat auditorium will be filled on a first come, first served basis. This free evening program is being presented in partnership with Newburyport?s Yankee Homecoming historical lecture series and is sponsored by the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Parker River NWR.  Spaces in the refuge's 85-seat auditorium will be filled on a first come, first served basis. NO preregistration for this program.
Behind the Scenes Refuge Tour of Parker River NWR
Held on the following days: Saturday, August 4^th @ 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, August 5^th @ 1:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 11^th @ 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, August 12^th @ 1:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 18^th @ 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, August 19^th @ 1:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 25^th @ 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, August 26^th @ 1:00 p.m.; and Monday, August 27^th @ 9:30 a.m.
Join a refuge ranger for a behind the scenes tour of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Tour will be conducted via refuge van, with several brief ?drive by? stops along the way. The tour will present an ?up close and personal? look at the refuge through the multiple lenses of the cultural history of Plum Island and the Great Marsh, native wildlife and their habitats, and the role of refuge management in the conservation of these precious natural resources. Participants may be driven along areas on the refuge otherwise closed to the public. This guided, two hour program is most appropriate for older teens and adults. Binoculars and/or a camera are recommended, but not required. Meet the ranger in the lobby of the Refuge visitor center 15 minutes prior to the program start time. Each session is limited to 14 participants; no more than 4 individuals per sign-up. Again, this is a vehicle ? based tour, with limited stops on the Refuge. Preregistration is required for this program, as enrollment is limited. Be advised that individual tours may be subject to cancellation. *Please note: Those who call and leave messages after hours, your registration is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation call from a refuge staff member. Please call (978) 465-5753; to register for this program.

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Behind the Scenes Tour!
Held on the following days: Monday, August 6^th & Monday, August 20^th - both sessions 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Join a refuge ranger for a behind the scenes tour of Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, located in Newington, NH. Participants will have an opportunity to visit areas of the refuge that are not normally open to the public. See a diversity of wildlife habitats while learning how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is managing this very special landscape for conservation. Consider bringing along binoculars and a camera. The tour is limited to 8 participants; no more than 2 individuals per sign-up. This is a vehicle-based tour, with limited stops on the refuge. This guided program is most appropriate for older teens. and adults. Meet the ranger in the lobby of the Parker River NWR visitor center in Newburyport no later than 9:00 am OR in the Great Bay NWR parking lot in Newington, NH no later than 9:45 am. (Indicate location you prefer at time of registration.) Be advised that individual tours may be subject to cancellation. *Please note: Those who call and leave messages after hours, your registration is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation call from a refuge staff member. Please call (978) 465-5753 to register for this program. Preregistration required. For directions to the refuge, click on this link: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Bay/visit/plan_your_visit.html

The Eastern Coyote: A True Survivor (Update!)
Tuesday, August 7^th, 7:00 ? 8:00 p.m.
The coyote is one of the most misunderstood and persecuted animals in North America. Over the past year, refuge interns Dominic Noce and Noah Keller have continued studying the coyote population on Plum Island using camera traps ? a technology that demonstrates that these are intelligent and emotionally complex animals. They will be giving a presentation on the general behavior and biology of the eastern coyote, as well as behaviors noticed in the pack living at the northern portion of the refuge. Spaces in the refuge?s 85-seat auditorium will be filled on a first come, first served basis. NO preregistration for this program.

Bicycle Tour of Great Bay NWR
Friday, August 10^th, Thursday, August 23^rd, & Thursday, August 30^th ALL sessions 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Join a refuge ranger for a behind the scenes tour, by bicycle, of Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge,
located in Newington, NH. Participants will have an opportunity to visit areas of the refuge that are not
normally open to the public. See a diversity of habitats and learn how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
is managing this very special landscape for wildlife. Cyclists will travel over generally level terrain on a
combination of paved and unpaved surfaces. The distance covered will depend on how many stops are
made and how much time is spent at each stop. Tour duration will be about 2 hours. Appropriate for
adults and children age 16 or older. Each participant must provide a either a hybrid or mountain
bike, helmet, and water bottle. Insect repellant, sun block, binoculars and/or a camera are optional
(provided these items can be safely stowed while biking). Meet the ranger in the Great Bay NWR
parking lot 15 minutes before the tour start time. Limited to 10 participants. Preregistration
required. For directions to the refuge, click on this link:
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Bay/visit/plan_your_visit.htm

Evening Program: The Birds of Midway
Thursday, August 16^th, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Perched on the northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, halfway between North America and Asia, Midway Atoll is one of the most remote locations in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Nearly three million birds nest on Midway, including the largest Laysan albatross population (along with "Wisdom," the oldest known wild bird), one of the world's rarest ducks, and a flock of rogue canaries.

Come hear about some of Midway's most incredible wildlife from Kiah Walker, Parker River NWR biological technician, who spent six months as a biological volunteer on Midway. She will share never-before-seen photographs, stories about her experiences, and knowledge about the conservation efforts on this unique national wildlife refuge. Since graduating from Williams College, Kiah has been monitoring, managing and researching birds on both coasts of the U.S. and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, with a particular interest in seabirds and shorebirds as indicator species. At Parker River, Kiah works on the piping plover recovery program and the pepperweed project.

Spaces in the refuge's 85-seat auditorium will be filled on a first come, first served basis. This free evening program is sponsored by the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the Parker River NWR.  NO preregistration for this program.

Great Bay Shoreline Cleanup
Saturday, August 25^th, 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m.
With the help of community volunteers, we can keep our bay clean. Volunteers will be guided by
USFWS personnel to closed areas of the refuge where they will remove garbage and debris from the
shoreline. Let's promote clean water and a healthy environment for wildlife and people! Groups and
families are welcome. We advise wearing long pants, long sleeve shirts, and sturdy boots. Bring
sunscreen, bug spray, a light snack and water. Supplies provided include trash bags, gloves, and data
tracking sheets. Meet at the parking lot at Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Sign up online
at: https://naturegroupie.org .

These Visitor Center Exhibits Change Monthly:

Artist of the Month Gallery: Each month a different photographer or artist displays their nature and/or wildlife-related fine art in the refuge visitor center auditorium.

Photographic Society Slide Show: Just inside the visitor center's front door is a large video monitor that displays the latest nature and wildlife-themed slide show that was produced by members of the refuge's very own photo club. A new slide show, set to music, and focusing on a unique theme, is produced each month.

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Date and Time

Friday Aug 3, 2018
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM EDT

See program schedule

Location

Parker River NWR
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-465-5753

Fees/Admission

FREE!!

Website

Click Here

Contact Information

978-465-5753
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