Parker River NWR April Free Programs!

Join Us for Free, Fun, Programs!
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
April, 2016

REGISTRATION & CAPACITY:
All refuge programs are FREE, but space may be limited. Pre-registration is required for all programs, unless otherwise indicated. Please call (978) 465-5753. Please Note: If a program requires pre-registration, 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 canceled 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.

2nd Annual American Conservation Film Festival – NORTH
Friday, April 1st – Sunday, April 3rd
The refuge’s second annual American Conservation Film Festival NORTH is primed and ready to go for the weekend of April 1st – 3rd. And it’s all FREE! As was the case for last year’s inaugural festival, we have “cherry-picked” a diverse array of award-winning films that focus on such topics as international bird conservation, the biodiversity of a unique southern forest type, an “up close and personal” view of life in an osprey nest, the story of one city’s effort to recycle its entire waste stream, and the mating rituals of New Guinea’s celebrated birds of paradise.

This year’s festival includes an effort to showcase a collection of “animal films” that were specifically selected for kids and families. This special lineup, which includes the wildly popular “Flight of the Butterflies,” will be screened on Saturday morning and then again on Sunday morning. As an added enticement, our monarch educator, Katie Hone, will be “in the house” on Saturday morning to facilitate monarch-related, hands-on activities for the younger kids. All film screenings are FREE and will take place in the refuge visitor center’s comfortable, 85 seat auditorium (filled on a first come, first served basis). NO preregistration for this event. Check the refuge’s homepage for the complete festival schedule: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker_river/

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge - Behind the Scenes Tour!
Held on the following days: Saturday, April 2^ndat 9:30 am; Sunday, April 3rd at 1:00 pm; Friday, April 8th at 1:00 pm; Saturday, April 9th at 9:30 am; Sunday, April 10th at 1:00 pm; Saturday, April 16th at 9:30 am; Sunday, April 17th at 1:00 pm; Friday, April 22^nd at 9:30am, Saturday, April 23^rd at 9:30 am, Sunday, April 24^th at 1:00 pm and Saturday, April 30^th at 9:30 am
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 cancelation. *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.

Kids’ Story Hour
Monday, April 4th at 10:00 am and Monday, April 11th 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. Please call (978) 465-5753; to register.

Digital Photography 101 for Beginners!
Saturday, April 9^th, 9:00 – 11:00 am
This free presentation is for the person who owns a digital camera (of any variety), but either doesn’t know how to use it, or has been frustrated with their results. The presentation will provide a broad overview of the entire “digital workflow” – from taking the picture to editing images on a computer. Practical tips for achieving compelling images of nature and wildlife will be shared during the session. The presentation will occur in the refuge’s visitor center auditorium. Pre-registration is NOT required.

Special Free Photographic Presentation:
“Kodak Moments” from the Summit of Mount Washington
Saturday, April 9^th @ 1:30 pm
Staff meteorologist Ryan Knapp works in one of the coolest (and windiest!) places on the face of the earth – at the weather observatory on top of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington. Because he is also an accomplished photographer, Ryan is able to capture and share the amazing mountain vistas he encounters across the year. Come to the refuge visitor center on April 9^th and see these amazing images for yourself, and hear what it’s like to take pictures from New England’s tallest summit, irrespective of weather!

This free public program will occur during the regular monthly meeting of the Photographic Society of Parker River NWR. The 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. The program will take place in the refuge visitor center’s auditorium. Capacity is limited to 85 attendees (first-come, first-served). Admission is free and pre-registration is NOT required.

Woodcock Walk at Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Friday, April 15th @ 7:15 pm
Each spring American woodcocks engage in one of nature’s most fascinating courtship displays. Here’s your chance to witness this “sky dance” up close and in-person! This program is appropriate for ages 8 and older. Meet the ranger in front of the Great Bay office, just opposite the parking lot, 15 minutes prior to start time. Bring binoculars and a flashlight. Program is limited to 15 participants. Preregistration required. (Directions: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Bay/visit/plan_your_visit.html)

Woodcock Walk at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, April 16th @7:00 pm AND Friday, April 29th @7:15 pm
Each spring American woodcocks engage in one of nature’s most fascinating courtship displays. Here’s your chance to witness this “sky dance” up close and in-person! This program is appropriate for ages 8 and older. Meet the ranger on the deck of the visitor contact station at parking lot 1. Bring binoculars and a flashlight. Program is limited to 15 participants. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the program start time. Pre-registration required.

Monthly Book Club
April’s Book Selection: “Braiding Sweetgrass: by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Thursday, April 21st from 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Discussion groups will meet on Thursday, April 21st from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Discussions are limited to 15 participants and will take place at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Pre-registration IS required for all meetings. 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.

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Behind the Scenes Tour!
Held on the following days: Monday, April 18^th, Wednesday, April 20^th and Thursday, April 28th –all programs are held from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
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 14 participants; no more than 4 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.) Preregistration is required for this program, as enrollment is limited. Be advised that individual tours may be subject to cancelation. *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. Pre-registration required. For directions to the refuge, click on this link: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Bay/visit/plan_your_visit.html

Nelson Island Tour
Held on the following days: Monday, April 11^th at 10:00 am and Sunday, April 17th at 10:00 am
Explore another part of the refuge – this time, on the mainland. Join a ranger for a tour of a beautiful spot that few people visit: Nelson Island. If we’re lucky, we might catch a glimpse of a nesting osprey. Learn about the history of this little known refuge jewel. If weather and tide permits, we’ll take a very short walk along the marsh. (Muddy, wet areas are possible so rubber boots are recommended.) Consider bringing binoculars and/or a camera.  *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.