Parker River National Wildlife Refuge FREE!! February Programs

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Join Us for Free, Fun, Programs!
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
February, 2017

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.

**Behind the Scenes Refuge Tour of Parker River NWR
Held on the following days: Saturday, Feb. 4^th @ 9:30 am; Sunday, Feb. 5 @ 1:00 pm; Friday, Feb. 10^th @ 9:30 am; Saturday, Feb., 11^th @ 9:30 am; Sunday, Feb., 12^th @ 1:00 pm; Friday, Feb. 17^th @ 9:30 am; Sunday, Feb. 19^th @ 1:00 pm; Saturday, Feb. 25^th @ 9:30 am; and Sunday, Feb. 26^th @ 1:00 pm
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.

Advance registration 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.

**Please note: When snow and ice precludes access to the regular ?behind the scenes? segments of the tour, the tour leader will, instead, include a loop to the northern tip of Plum Island.

Special Film Screening: Sea of Truth
Thursday, February 2^nd, 2:00 ? 4:00 pm
This screening is part of a series of programs that explores the importance of different ocean ecosystems, the current health and stability challenges they face, and what can be done to protect and enhance these systems for future generations. Sponsored by Greenbelt ? Essex County?s Land Trust. This program will take place in the refuge visitor center auditorium. Free admission; NO preregistration.

Kids? Conservation Cinema
On certain Sunday afternoons through March, the refuge will be screening FREE, child and family-friendly films that generally feature a wildlife and/or environmental theme. All films will be projected on the big screen in the refuge visitor center?s awesome auditorium. No preregistration; simply show up! All movies begin at 1:30 pm. Here is what we have scheduled for the month of January:

Film Title: Frozen
Sunday, February 5^th @ 1:30 pm
When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna, teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.
(2013; Rated PG; Runtime: 1 hr, 42 mins.)

Film Title: Brave
Sunday, February 19^th @ 1:30 Pm
Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. (2012; Rated PG; Runtime: 1 hr, 33 mins.)

Kids? Story & Activity Hour
Monday, February 6^th; Monday, February 13^th; & Monday, February 27^th ? each session beginning at 10:00 am
Bring your 3-5 year old youngster to the refuge visitor center for a good old-fashioned story hour. For each session, a refuge volunteer will read a story about an animal or some other interesting aspect of nature. The kids will then complete a related craft to take home. Enrollment is limited to 12 children. The parent or guardian must remain for the entire program.   Preregistration is required for this program.

Image Editing for the Beginner
Saturday, February 11^th, 9:00 ? 11:30 am
So, you?ve managed to fill up your digital camera?s memory card with images. ?Now what?? you ask yourself. For many people, half the fun is yet to come ? time spent editing images on a computer. For the novice, the idea of editing digital photos on a computer can be a little intimidating. But that need not be the case. This presentation will introduce a basic ?digital workflow? ? a series of simple steps that will move your photos from good to great! (Note: This is a presentation, not a hands-on workshop with computers.) Meet the instructor in the visitor center auditorium at least 10 minutes prior to the session start time. Preregistration is NOT required.

The Photographic Society of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Next Meeting: Saturday, February 11^th @ 1:30 pm
The Photographic Society welcomes anyone who has an interest in nature, wildlife, and/or photography ? whether you are a total novice or earn a living by taking pictures! The club meets every month, generally on the second Saturday afternoon. Club activities include special presentations, slide shows (of members? work), intra-club mentoring and training, photo shoots, on-line photo sharing, and involvement in the refuge?s various photography-related programs, events, and outreach activities.   Venue capacity is limited to 85 attendees (first-come, first-served). Admission to this program is free and preregistration is NOT required.

Making Tracks: Learning to Read Wildlife Clues
Sunday, February 12^th, 10:00 ? 11:30 am
If you have ever seen tracks in the snow, sand, or soil and were curious about what made them, then this is the program for you! Refuge staff will lead you through the basics of identifying common animals through the clues that they leave behind. A brief introduction to animal tracks and other sign in the visitor center classroom will be followed by a trip to the refuge where we will look for tracks and attempt to determine their owner?s identity.   This is a program for beginners, so parents are encouraged to bring their children 10 and older. Please dress appropriately for cold and damp weather. Meet in the lobby of the visitor center ten minutes prior to the program start time. Preregistration IS required, as the program is limited to 10 people.

Monthly Book Club:
February?s Book Selection: Half-Earth: Our Planet?s Fight for Life, By E.O. Wilson
Thursday, February 16^th from 6:30 ? 8:00 pm
The discussion group is limited to 15 participants and will take place at the refuge visitor center. Pre-registration IS required for the session. Please call our headquarters at (978) 465-5753 to register. *Note: Those who call and leave a message after hours, your registration is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation call from a Refuge staff member.

Merrimack River Eagle Festival
Saturday, February 18^th, 10:00 am ? 3:00 pm
Once again, the refuge is partnering with the Massachusetts Audubon Society at Joppa Flats to celebrate the local presence of wintering American bald eagles. The refuge visitor center will host a variety of fun, hands-on, eagle-themed craft activities that will include dissecting owl pellets, and other cool stuff! In addition to these fun activities, visitors will be able to view two live owls from Drumlin Farm. Everything is FREE! For a complete rundown of all Eagle Fest activities, visit this web site: http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/joppa-flats/news-events/the-merrimack-river-eagle-festival-2017.

Special Presentation: Aquaculture & It?s Growing Importance, with Dr. Joe Buttner
Wednesday, February 22^nd, 2:00 ? 3:30 pm
This presentation is part of a series of programs that explores the importance of different ocean ecosystems, the current health and stability challenges they face, and what can be done to protect and enhance these systems for future generations. Sponsored by Greenbelt ? Essex County?s Land Trust. This program will take place in the refuge visitor center auditorium. Free admission; NO preregistration.

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

Sunday Feb 26, 2017

Month of February 2017

Location

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950

Fees/Admission

FREE!

Website

Click Here

Contact Information

978-465-5753
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