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   PVNC BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Peace Valley Nature Center is known for its excellence in hands-on outdoor environmental education. We are now endeavoring to educate our community on how better to utilize our natural resources in our daily lives. We are renovating our solar addition with state of the art solar technology to provide the opportunity for all to become familiar with alternative energy options available and to see first hand how they work. This will enable us to give ourselves and our neighbors the opportunity to make an educated decision on a variety of energy resources available and what best fits our needs and our environmental responsibility. Together, the Bucks County Commissioners and the Friends of PVNC are working to create this new teaching facility. They have selected Re:Vision Architecture, Inc. as architects for the project. In his proposal architect Scott Kelly states, "We envision a building and site that work in tandem to provide a warm and inviting passive solar addition that embodies and outwardly displays the Peace Valley Nature Center's commitment to education, preservation, and environmental responsibility. The addition should provide a seamless transition between the natural and built environment, providing outstanding views and opportunities to connect with outdoor birds and wildlife." The renovation costs will be approximately $200,000 to design, build, and implement the programs and educational displays. The county is paying the architect's fee. The Friends will be working to raise the funds to fulfill this vision.We will keep you up to date with the progress of our fundraising efforts, which will include grant applications, local support, and contributions from you, our members. Contact the Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center at 215-345-7860 with your donation and suggestions of potential local business donors. Be part of helping to create a working solar environment in our own backyard! Cynthia Long Chairman, Fundraising Committee Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center Board NATURALIST WALKS MOONLIGHT WALKS Wednesday, September 10, 7:30 pm and Tuesday, October 7, 7 pm Night is a great time to exercise your senses! Your nose will smell the spicy autumn air! Your fingers will feel the textures and contrasts of natural objects. Various chirps, whistles and trills will serenade your ears. In addition, the naturalist will try to call in an Owl. Walk cancelled if it rains. BIRD WALKS Saturdays, 7 - 9 am Join fellow birders to observe the southward migration of birds. The tough to identify fall warblers wing their way through in September. October brings Raptors overhead at the peak of their migration. A $1donation suggested. SINGLES WALKS Saturdays, 10 am - 12 noon, September 6, October 4, 18 and November 1, 15, 29 December 13 Singles of all ages attend these popular walks. In the fall, colors brighten the trails. The air feels cool and crisp. Late blooming flowers and birds are abundant. No children please. Bring lunch for after the walk. A $1 donation suggested. NEW! BIRD WALKS FOR KIDS!! Saturdays, 9 - 10:30 am, October 11, 18 and 25 In our Summer Newsletter we asked if there was any interest in having bird walks for kids. The response was YES!! These bird walks are for kids age 6 and up, accompanied with a parent or guardian. We'll identify the common birds as well as unusual ones. Hawks, songbirds and waterfowl will be migrating through. Bring binoculars and a bird field guide if you have one. A $1 donation is suggested. SUNDAY FAMILY WALKS -- 2 PM FALL FLOWERS -- September 21 Peace Valley's fields are aflame with color! Goldenrods, Asters, Ironweed and Jewelweed are just a few of the plants showing their pretty plumes. SENSORY EXPERIENCES -- October 5 Experience a "hands-on" sensory walk where you will look for matching colors, have a tea party for your nose, describe an object by touch, and have a special quiet time. CATCH THE COLOR! -- October 19 Red, yellow, orange and brown. Colors of fall that are seen all around! How do the leaves change in this way? Come on this walk to learn this display! HOMES AND HIDEAWAYS -- November 2 Animals have plenty of places at Peace Valley to make a home or hideout. Holes, tunnels, and nests in the ground or a tree are some of the things they build. SEED GROCERY -- November 16 Seeds are not only the beginning of new life for plants, they are also a treasure trove of nutrition for wildlife. The nature center's fields are full of these valuable food sources. Discover the different varieties of seeds and play the maple seed game. BRACING FOR COLD -- November 30 Winter is coming! Plants and animals are now settled in for the cold weather. Discover the physical and behavioral tricks they use to survive this trying season WINTER BIRDS -- December 14 The "snowbirds" are back! We'll sit quietly in our bird blind and look for White-throated Sparrows, Juncos, and Red- breasted Nuthatches. Then we'll check the lake for waterfowl and the trails for other species. Bundle up! FIELD TRIPS HIKE THE FIRELINE/SKYLINE TRAIL -- Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 am - 4 pm Located in Hickory Run State Park, few people know about this trail which features a spectacular overlook of the Lehigh Gorge. We should see some early color on our way. The trail is demanding with many steep hills and tricky hiking surfaces. Because of this, you must be in excellent health for this hike. Not recommended for people with heart and or lung conditions. Bring lunch and wear a sturdy pair of hiking boots. Fee $10 (members $8). BAKE OVEN KNOB -- Sunday, October 19, 7 am - 3 pm Bake Oven Knob is one of the best sites in our region to see migrating raptors. Close up views of these beautiful birds are likely. Located on the Kittatinny Ridge in northern Lehigh County, Bake Oven will be ablaze with fall color providing a nice backdrop for watching raptors. Bring lunch. Dress for cold windy weather. Restroom facilities are not available on site (we make stops before and after going to the mountain). Fee $10 (members $8). NEW JERSEY WATERFOWL AND SHOREBIRDS -- Sunday, November 23, 7 am - 4 pm Visit White's Bog, Great Bay Boulevard and points south in search of sea ducks, diving ducks, dabbling ducks, sandpipers and Tundra Swans. We may find some late migrating raptors and some surprises. Bring lunch and a spotting scope if you have one. Fee $10 (members $8). PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN Advanced registration and payment is required. To pre-register, send your name, phone number, and the fee to Peace Valley Nature Center, 170 Chapman Rd., Doylestown, PA 18901. The fee is not refundable one week before the program. Make checks payable to Friends of PVNC. Your money will reserve your place. Class sizes are limited, so register early! KIT CREW Nature awareness classes for 2 & 3 year old children and their parent. Class size is 5 children (kits)! Have a snack while listening to a story read by our teacher/naturalist. Walk the trails and discover the magic of nature. Return to the building to make a craft based on the theme of the story and walk. Fee: $45 (Member $35) for four classes. Accompanying siblings: Under 2, no charge. Age four to kindergarten, $10. Kit Crew 1 - Tuesdays: 9:30-11 am, September 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7 (Rain Date Oct. 14) Kit Crew 2 - Wednesdays: 9:30-11 am, September 17, 24 and Oct. 1, 8 (Rain Date Oct. 15) Kit Crew 3 - Tuesdays: 9:30-11 am, October 21, 28 and November 4, 11 (Rain Date Nov. 18) Kit Crew 4 - Wednesdays: 9:30-11 am, October 22, 29 and November 5, 12 (Rain Date November 19) Winter Sessions: Tuesdays: 9:30 - 11 am, Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27 (Rain Date Feb. 3) Fridays: 9:30 - 11 am, Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30 (Rain Date Feb. 6) PARENT & PRESCHOOLERS Our Parent & Preschooler program is designed to be a one on one shared experience for children ages 4 to 6 with their mom, dad, or a grandparent. Programs will include Walk Like The Animals, Birds and Their Nests, Touch and Tell, and Seed Packages. Fee $40 (members $30) includes one adult and one child; $10 for an additional child age 4 - 6 (limit two children per adult). No additional younger siblings permitted. Class size is six children. Pre-register by sending us the child's name and age, parent's name, telephone number, and fee. Please indicate session number. P&P 1- Tuesdays: 9:30 - 11 am, September 16; 23; 30 and Oct. 7 (Rain Date Oct. 14) P&P 2- Wednesdays: 1 - 2:30 pm, September 17; 24 and Oct. 1; 8 (Rain Date Oct. 15) P&P 3- Tuesdays: 9:30 - 11 am, October 21; 28 and November 4; 11 (Rain Date Nov. 18) P&P 4- Wednesdays: 1 - 2:30 pm, October 22; 29 and November 5; 12 (Rain Date Nov. 19) Winter Sessions: Tuesdays, 9:30 - 11 am, Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27 (Rain Date Feb. 3) Thursdays, 1 - 2:30 pm, Jan. 8,15, 22, 29 (Rain Date Feb. 5) AMERICAN BEAVER AT PEACE VALLEY NATURE CENTER! Beavers are found all through North American streams, ponds, and lakes. Recently two beavers have shown their first signs here at Peace Valley Nature Center (PVNC). Walking down "swamp trail" you can see that they have left signs of gnawing on the black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) along the stream. If the beavers take residence at PVNC, it would be the first time since it's opening in 1975. Visitors who come to PVNC may see these magnificent architects swimming around the bridge area and on Cormorant Island, around dusk. A person who observes a beaver from the shoreline will probably first see a brown streamlined animal. Once the observer sees the large paddle like tail, one can be confident that they are viewing an American Beaver. They sometimes can be mistaken with a muskrat. Beavers are the largest rodents in North America, in the family Castoridae. Their tails are broad, flat, and scaly. The beaver's hind feet are webbed and the pelage (its coat) consists of long brown hairs that have shiny guard hairs. They weigh between 30 - 70 lbs and their length on average is between 3 - 4 ft. Beavers have specialized teeth for felling trees, to construct many different types of habitats. These specialized teeth help out in yielding construction material and important food sources. Beavers will eat the inner bark of different trees; the willows (Salix), and aspens (Populus) are a favorite of these magnificent creatures. Beavers practice monogamy, meaning that they will only mate with one partner throughout their lives. A typical breeding colony is composed of a breeding pair of beavers with one or two litters of young born. Breeding normally takes place in January and February with a gestation period of 106 days. The newborns are called kits and are born from late April through June; this is dependent on latitude. The average beaver litter is around 3-4 kits. As of now at PVNC there are no signs of breeding colonies. There is excitement though at the prospect of breeding taking place on the premises. These engineers were once considered a fortune to Europeans. During the exploration of North America, Europeans were seeking a new supply of fur for the fur trading industry. Due to the trapping and over harvesting of the beaver population their numbers were nearly exhausted by the early 1900s. In 1920 there were strict laws and restrictions placed on the techniques and harvesting methods for beavers. Soon an increase in the beaver population could be seen due to these laws and regulations. Today, the population is stable but some critics tend to disagree, citing that they are only a nuisance. Through regulated trapping methods, beavers are kept in check to have a stable and healthy population in North America. Peace Valley Nature Center is doing its part for its beaver population by creating a safe haven with a no hunting and trapping policy. The center also provides a variety of trees to meet the beaver's dietary needs and an ample amount of water, which provides a dynamic habitat for years to come. Summer Intern, Faron Moser will be a Senior at Frostburg State University of Maryland and is studying Wildlife and Forestry management. He hopes to go on to graduate work and pursue a career in the ornithological related field of wildlife management. ACTIVITIES Advanced registration and payment is required except where noted. To pre-register for an activity, send your name, phone number, and the fee to Peace Valley Nature Center, 170 Chapman Rd., Doylestown, PA 18901. The fee is not refundable one week before the program. Make checks payable to Friends of PVNC. Your money will reserve your place. Class sizes are limited, so register early! FASCINATING FUNGI Saturday, October 4, 1 - 3 pm Fungi expert Bob Hosh returns for another informative walk about the mushrooms and other fungi that live in our region. These unique living organisms can sometimes cover thousands of acres of land!! This program is free of charge and advanced registration is not necessary. SINGLES NIGHT WALK AND CAMPFIRE Friday, October 10, 8 - 10:30 pm Join naturalist Craig Olsen for a unique nighttime excursion on Peace Valley's trails. Familiar daytime objects will look very different at night. Smells and sounds will be more noticeable. After the walk we will sit by the campfire and tell stories. Bring something to sit on, marshmallows or other goodies to cook, a roasting fork, and a non-alcoholic drink. Fee $4 (members $3). STAR WATCHES Wednesday, September 24, 8 pm and Tuesday, November 25, 7 pm If you gaze at the night sky with wonder, come to a star watch! The Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association will spot a host of celestial objects and share their knowledge. There is always something interesting to see! These programs are free of charge and advanced registration is not necessary. COMPOSTING WORKSHOP Thursday, October 23, 7 - 9 pm The Dept. of Environmental Protection, Penn State Cooperative Extension and Peace Valley Nature Center are offering a free composting workshop at the nature center for Bucks County residents. Each person who pre-registers and attends the entire program will receive a composting bin (limit one per household). To register, please call the Bucks County Cooperative Extension at 215-345-3283. APPALACHIAN TRAIL ADVENTURE Thursday, November 6th, 7:30 pm The Appalachian Trail has been an inspiration to hikers for years. Many have hiked a portion of this famous trail, but relatively few have hiked the entire length. In 1997 David Smith and Bethann Morgan hiked the trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mt. Katahdan in Maine. They took five and a half months to cover the 2,160 miles, walking north with the spring. During their sojourn, the couple passed through 14 states that had varied scenery and foliage. They had many adventures as you can imagine! Their slide show will feature the highlights of the trip, and details of how they planned and made it. This exciting show is free of charge! REPTILE DAY!! Saturday, October 18, 1 - 3 pm Fee: $3 per person (members $2) PRESENTATION: At 1 pm Leonard Knapp will give a presentation on reptiles. Live specimens from our region and beyond will be part of this exciting program. You'll gain a wealth of knowledge!! BRING YOUR OWN REPTILE: At 2 pm you are invited to share information about your pet reptile, or ask Leonard any questions you may have. Please bring a container to secure your pet until it is shown. CHUCK'S TALLY FROM THE VALLEY This past spring was excellent for songbird migration, despite and because of the wet weather. Some of the better birds recorded here included Whip-poor-will, Alder Flycatcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Blue Grosbeak. But let's jump forward and mention some birds likely to be seen this season. Migration is already underway for some species. Shorebirds have been moving through all August. There should be sightings of Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and maybe even Dunlin. Warblers have begun to drift back south, and will peak in September. You can see up to 20 species on a good day after a cold front. The more common should be American Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Prairie Warbler and Nashville Warbler. If you're lucky, you can Spot the secretive Connecticut Warbler. Sparrows will start arriving by early October. Savannah, Fox, Lincoln's, White-crowned and Swamp Sparrows either pass through or begin to set up their wintering grounds here. Search carefully for the Clay-colored Sparrow. Waterfowl generally show up by November. Variety can be impressive. Green-wing Teal, Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Bufflehead are usually the easiest to find. Hawks and Eagles pass by throughout the fall. Broad-wing Hawks pick mid-September to soar gracefully through by the hundreds. Merlins speed by in late September. Red-shouldered Hawks prefer late October. Bald Eagles can be spotted at any time. Come out to Peace Valley this fall and forget for a moment the hectic pace of everyday life and enjoy the natural world around us, especially the birds. Chuck Crunkleton shares our Saturday Morning Bird Walk duties with August Mirabella. FROM THE FRIENDS PRESIDENT BIODIVERSITY: A GOOD THING FOR ALL CREATURES BIG AND SMALL Diversity: d-vurs-t, d-Variety or multiformity. We learn from nature that diversity is a good thing. Better to have a garden full of various plants and insects that keep things in a healthy balance. Wild prairies have been found to be much more resilient to drought or insects and to be much more productive than a monoculture of cultivated wheat. Peace Valley Nature Center is a wonderful example of all aspects of diversity. We are one of the best places in the state to see a variety of birds because of a multitude of natural habitats. We are also one of the best places to see a variety of people: families exploring nature with their young children, singles out on walks and retired folks enjoying the community of friends found at the nature center. People from all corners of the world visit the Nature Center to enjoy its richness. I think of the many volunteers we have who are a tremendous benefit to Peace Valley Nature Center through their diverse abilities. Augie Mirabella, is a fine example; being one of the best and most active birders we have, while also lending his hand to clean out and organize the entire barn. We are thankful for the Board of the Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center: a treasured balance of skilled people. The Board carries out their duties to family and work while also contributing their various skills to assist Peace Valley Nature Center in fulfilling its mission. I personally wish to acknowledge each of you for your contributions to Peace Valley Nature Center: be they financial, physical, scientific, educational or even being a caring, long-term member. Combined, all of you have created a diverse Nature Center which has become a place for wildlife and human visitors to celebrate the diversity of life. Thank you for sharing your personal qualities to create such a wonderful, healthy and treasured piece of the earth's ecosystem. Phil Getty  Help Bring Back the American Elm! Remember the Elms which lined our streets for over a hundred years? Remember the American Liberty Elms which are guaranteed against loss by Dutch Elm Disease? Remember Peace Valley Nature Center's Nursery which is selling these special 6' trees for $150 apiece to be planted along your street, as a memorial, or in a public place such as a park, school, church, etc.? This has been a very special project; not only a great fundraiser for PVNC but also an excellent environmental endeavor. Help Bring Back the Elms...Click [HERE] for further information. Trees will be available for fall planting in September and October. Reserve them now. GAGGLES OF GHOULS, GOBLINS AND GAMES! Friday, October 24, 7 - 8:30 pm Our animal guides will lead you on an eerie walk on Peace Valley Nature Center's Haunted Trails!! You will have interactive encounters with hairy spiders, slimy snakes, rabid bats, moaning ghosts and other creepy things. After each encounter you'll discover that many of the "facts" about these animals and natural occurrences are myths. Our spooky characters will teach you the real facts!! Games and stories will also be a part of this fun filled night!! Enjoy cider and roasted marshmallows after your chilly walk!! Not recommended for children under 7 years old. Advanced Registration Required. No organized groups please. Fee $6 per person (members $4) BLUEBIRD UPDATE Due to the exceptional cold and wet weather in winter, many adult bluebirds were in their territory later than usual. In the spring, during the critical period of egg laying and the first ten day of feeding young, the excessive cold weather prevented the adults from providing enough protein rich food to keep the chicks strong. Unfortunately this resulted in a 100% mortality rate for the first brood of chicks. I quickly cleaned out the boxes hoping to get the adults to start over. Keep your fingers crossed! I will keep you posted. Ray Hendrick Preserve Advisory Management Committee PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW AT NATURE CENTER Saturday, September 27, 3 - 5 pm Join us for the opening reception of "Photos From Peace Valley Park", a nature photography show by Valley Viewfinders, a local camera club. The reception is open to the public and is free of charge. Come and meet the photographers and see their vision of Peace Valley Park; landscapes, wildlife, closeups, flowers and winter abstracts. Most of the photos on display will be for sale, and some club members will offer handcrafted notecards as well. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the Friends of Peace Valley Nature Center. The photographs will be on display in the Nature Center for several weeks. Click [HERE] to view back issues of our newsletter. |
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Design & Maintenance by Russ Risko | © 2002-2007 Peace Valley Nature Center |
The First Signs Of Spring