The Shark River area - about one hour away, east on I-195 - allows us to visit a number of interesting habitats (bay, ocean, and fresh water ponds). We can compare the list of birds we saw in November with the birds that decide to stay for the winter.

Directions: Take I-295 to I-195 to Route 35, and meet at the Marina, Route 35 in Belmar. Bring lunch and beverage, and dress for the weather. Call Mary at (609) 586-3185 one or two days prior to the trip date for time and directions.

Celebrate Groundhog Day at the Watershed Reserve. Pennington by visiting several groundhog burrows with one of the Teacher-Naturalists and learning about the natural history of these furry weather forecasters. If the weather allows, we’ll play a game about hibernation. Come dressed for wintry, muddy and possibly snowy walking conditions. This program is co-sponsored by Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SB-MWA); all are welcome, but pre-registration is required with a $5 suggested donation per person. To register or for more information, please call SB-MWA at (609) 737-7592.

This popular recreational reservoir, located in northern Hunterdon County just east of Clinton and south of Route 78, occupies more than 4000 acres. The water is nearly 200 feet deep, making it one of the deepest bodies of water in the state. Round Valley is a popular site for swimming, picnicking and boating in the warmer months, and fishing, hiking, and birding year round. Winter is the best season to search for gulls and waterfowl—including grebes, coots and ducks—visiting raptors, and nesting bald eagles that have made this location home for decades. Over-wintering owls sometimes roost in the conifers, and great horned owls nest here. Depending on the birding and weather conditions, we may combine our field trip to Round Valley with a visit to nearby Spruce Run Recreational Area or the Alpha Grasslands. The field trip will start at 8:30 am by the main boat launch, in the northwest corner of the park (i.e. about 1 mile north of the main entrance). For further information, directions, or notice of trip cancellation due to inclement winter weather, call Mark Witmer at (609) 730-0826.

This reservoir in northern Hunterdon County covers over 4,000 acres, is more than 180 feet deep, and is a popular recreational site year-round. Winter is a good time to search for bald eagles, various waterfowl, and gulls. It is also a prime time to look for owls which frequently roost or nest in the area. Depending on weather conditions, we will combine this with a tour of the adjacent Cushetonk Mountain Nature Preserve or nearby Spruce Run Recreation Area.

Join SBMWA Education Director Jeff Hoagland on this annual search for the harbinger of spring, the woodcock. Near the end of winter, woodcocks return from the south with males performing their highly unusual courtship flight to impress females. We will meet at dusk in the Buttinger Nature Center to learn more about and hopefully observe this fascinating behavior. These programs are co-sponsored by Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SB-MWA); all are welcome, but pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please call SB-MWA at (609) 737-7592. Fee: $5 suggested donation per person.

We plan to walk through these woods looking for wintering birds as well as other things that might turn up in a mature forest.

Directions: From Princeton take Alexander Street toward Route 1. At the bend before the canal turn right on West Drive. Go a short distance on West Drive and park near the entrance to the Rogers Wildlife Refuge. Contact Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 if additional information is needed.

Blooming late in winter, skunk cabbage seems to ignore the cold and welcome the arrival of spring. Join one of the SBMWA Teacher-Naturalists on this hike to meet this most unusual plant as well as search for other signs of emerging spring. These programs are co-sponsored by Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SB-MWA); all are welcome, but pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please call SB-MWA at (609) 737-7592. Fee: $5 suggested donation per person.

This walk will focus on Wintering Ducks. Meet at Spring Lake – Roebling Park (end of Sewell Ave., Hamilton). For information: 609-883-6606 x 112.

Please see the Friends for the Marsh website (www.marsh-friends.org) and D&R Greenway Land Trust (www.drgreenway.org) for listings of additional outings that complement those of WCAS.

This is the time to start looking for migrating waterfowl and other northern-bound birds in this productive local wildlife management area.

Directions: East on I-195 to exit 11, Imlaystown. North on Imlaystown Road 2.6 miles to parking area at Lake Assunpink. Contact Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 if additional information is needed.

We will walk a few of the many trails in the park looking for spring migrants and resident birds in wooded areas and adjacent fields.

Directions: Washington Crossing State Park is located off of Washington Crossing - Pennington Road in Titusville, NJ. Enter the park and follow signs to the Nature Center. Park at the Nature Center parking lot. If additional information is needed, Call Lou Beck at (609) 737-0070.

Participants will be looking for beavers at Spring Lake, Roebling Park with Mercer County Naturalist Joe Schmeltz. For more information, call 609-895-5420. This trip is co-sponsored by Mercer County Parks, Friends for the Marsh, D&R Greenway Land Trust, and Trenton City Smile. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Directions: Coming from Trenton on South Broad St., turn right onto Sewell Avenue shortly after the Lalor St. intersection. Proceed to the end of Sewell Ave. (watch out for stop signs) and follow the dirt road to the left down the hill to parking area.

See Friends for the Marsh website (www.marsh-friends.org) for listings of additional outings and canoe trips that complement those of WCAS.

This new park was known for years as the AT&T Overseas Transmission Station, or more familiarly as "The Pole Farm." It is adjacent to Rosedale Park, which is now part of the new Northwest Park. Come with us as we walk the paths and compare the flora and fauna to that of Rosedale.

Directions: From the traffic light at Manors Corner shopping center on Pennington-Lawrenceville Road take Keefe Road toward Princeton for 1.1 miles to the bend where it meets Cold Soil Road. At that bend, the entrance is on the left through a chain link gate. There is a white barn on the left inside the gate. Go straight on the macadam road to the parking area. If starting in Princeton, take Cold Soil Road, go 1.1 miles past Blackwell Road to the bend, and look for the entrance on right.

Hike the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve in Pennington with one of the Naturalists. We will examine several natural bird homes and discover some of the truly strange places birds will build their nests. Then build your own Eastern bluebird house with us, take it home and wait for new avian neighbors! Registration is required, call 609-737-7592 for more information. To register or for more information, please call SB-MWA at (609) 737-7592.

We’ll walk the trails in this Bucks County Park looking for waterfowl, raptors, and early migrating warblers.

Directions: Route 202 South toward Doylestown. Right onto Route 313, proceed west for 4 miles. Left on New Galena Road, then first left onto Chapman Road. Go to the parking lot across from the Nature Center.. Contact Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 if more information is needed.

Meet at Bordentown Township’s Northern Community Park on Groveville Road, located between Routes 206 and 130 in Bordentown Township. Call (732) 821-8310 for additional information if needed.

This trip is co-sponsored by Friends for the Marsh and D&R Greenway Land Trust.

Garret Mountain Reservation, a Passaic County Park, located just south of Paterson, NJ, can be an excellent spot in the spring for the songbird migration.

Directions: Take I-287 to I-80. Go east to exit 56A (Squirrelwood Road). Go to the stop sign and turn right on Rifle Camp Road. Go up the hill about 0.5 miles to Mountain Ave., which comes in from the left. Turn left on Mountain Ave. (look for an army tank and the reservoir on the left) and go 0.3 miles to the entrance to Garret Mountain Reservation. Go right up the hill for a short distance to a large parking area.

The distance from Somerville on I-287 and I-80 to exit 56A is about 40 miles. Bring a lunch. We may also visit Rifle Camp Park, which is adjacent to Garret Mountain. If additional information is needed, call Lou Beck at (609) 737 0070.

Join us for a trip to a popular recreational park in Hamilton Township. Veteran’s Park has a nice diversity of habitat including a lake, streams, open fields, and woods; these support a diversity of bird life. In the past few years, wood ducks, tree and barn swallows, red-tailed hawks, cedar waxwings, orchard and Baltimore orioles, red-eyed vireos, scarlet tanagers, and indigo buntings are just some of the birds that have been spring and summer residents of the park. While we won’t see all these birds, we should see many, along with some unexpected migrants, as spring migration season will be in full swing. Call Mark Witmer (609) 730-0826 if you have any questions.

Directions: we will meet at the north entrance to the park, which is along Klockner Road, just east of Hamilton Square-White Horse Road, across the street from Steinert High School. As you enter the park drive to the back of the parking area; we will gather there.

It may seem that winter will be here forever. But soon spring will come, the birds will start migrating and it will be time for the WCAS 2012 Birdathon. Our Birdathon is the bird watching equivalent of a walkathon. People who love birding and the environment convince birders and non-birders alike to pledge money for every species of bird seen by Birdathoners on Birdathon day.

It is easy to participate as a bird finder and/or as a sponsor. More information will be posted soon.

This is the only fund raiser for WCAS. The money collected goes for several of our educational and environmental programs such as:

• Audubon Adventures for 60 inner-city fourth-grade classrooms
• Workshops and field trips for families
• Monthly program meeting with informative speakers
• Hannah Suthers’ bird banding on Featherbed Lane, Hopewell
• and much more.

Our goal for 2011 is to raise $10,000.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 12^th and come join the fun as a participant or as a sponsor. Pledge forms will come in the next Newsletter.