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FWS
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
2145 Key Wallace Drive
Cambridge, MD 21613
410-228-2677  TDD/800-735-2258
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12th Annual Blackwater Fall Open House

Saturday, October 6, 2007
8am - 4pm
Entrance fee waived; all programs free

Featuring
Tours of Refuge
Jr. Refuge Ranger Program
Wetlands on Wheels provided by Environmental Concern Education
Horn Point Touch Tank provided by the Univ. of MD Education & Estuarine Center
Kerry Turner Live Reptiles
Jim Turek Live Reptiles
Salisbury Zoo Live Birds of Prey Exhibit
Carrie Murray Nature Center Insect Collection
Master Gardener's Butterfly Exhibit
Children's Smokey Bear Activities
Identify Waterfowl Game
Archery Program
USFWS Endangered Species Confiscated Items Display
Invasive Species Display
Chesapeake Bay Foundation exhibit
Rachel Carson Table Display
Photography Exhibits - Bob Quinn, Chuck Prahl, and Mary Konchar
Eagle's Nest Book Store Sales
Food and Drinks Available


 

Schedule of Events

8am-11am Bird Walk: Visitor Center - Car pool with expert birder Terry Allen observing resident and migratory birds including eagles, Canada geese, ducks, herons, and song birds. Bring binoculars. Meet outside the Visitor Center. Register in advance at the Visitor Center information desk. Limited to 35 participants. About 3 hours long.
9am Refuge Bus Tour: Outside Visitor Center - Deputy Project Leader Larry McGowan will visit areas normally not open to the public. Learn how the Refuge is managed for wildlife and wildlife habitats. Visitors must register at the Visitor Center information desk. Meet at the entrance to the Visitor Center. Approximately 1 1/2 hour tour.
9am Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" Film: Visitor Center conference room - a film about Rachel Carson and the writing of the book that began the modern Environmental movement with Meryl Streep as the voice of Rachel Carson. About 1 hour. This event marks the Refuge System's celebration of Carson's 100th birthday.
10am "Sea Level Rise and What We Can Do About It" Program: Visitor Center conference room - Volunteer Chuck Mock will give a power point presentation on sea level rise and the proposed use of clean dredge material to restore over 8,000 acres of wetlands lost since 1933.
11am Peregrine Falcon Program: Outside Visitor Center - Falconer Andrew Bullen will have a live peregrine falcon and gyrfalcon to observe.
11am Refuge Bus Tour: Outside Visitor Center - Deputy Project Leader Larry McGowan will visit areas normally not open to the public. Learn how the Refuge is managed for wildlife and wildlife habitats. Visitors must register at the Visitor Center desk. Meet at the entrance to the Visitor Center. Approximately 1 1/2 hour tour.
11am Eagle Prowl: Outside Visitor Center - Volunteer Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles on the Refuge. Limited to 35 participants. Register in advance at the Visitor Center information desk. About 1 hour.
12pm "How to Create A Butterfly Garden" Program: Visitor Center conference room - Master Gardener Nancy O'Connor will show you how to create a natural blend of gardening with a touch of home style to attract butterflies to your yard. Learn what butterflies can do for you in return.
1pm Nesting Bird Survey Program: Visitor Center conference room - Biologist Sean Flint will give a PowerPoint program on the nesting bird survey that was conducted at the Refuge and what information it provides for wildlife and fire management.
2pm Eagle Prowl - Outside Visitor Center - Volunteer Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles on the refuge. Limited to 35 participants. Register in advance at the Visitor Center information desk. About 1 hour.
2pm Nutria Project Update: at Observation Point - Steve Kendrot, USDA Wildlife Service - Nutria Project Coordinator, will explain the latest progress of the Nutria Project. Get a close-up view of a nutria and learn what major problems these animals have caused on the Refuge and other wetland areas. Meet at the Observation Point site on the Wildlife Drive.
2pm Refuge Bus Tour: Visitor Center - Fire Control Officer Bill Giese will visit areas normally not open to the public. Learn how the Refuge is managed for wildlife and wildlife habitats. Visitors must register at the Visitor Center information desk. Meet at the entrance to the Visitor Center. Approximately 1 1/2 hour tour.
3pm Harriet Tubman Presentation: Visitor Center conference room - Harriet Tubman (Vernetter Pinder) will show the audience what it was like to live in Dorchester County in the 1800s searching for freedom.
1-4pm Wildland Fire Equipment: Outside Visitor Center - Blackwater fire crew will display fire equipment used in prescribed burning, wildfires, and assisting Dorchester County residents with wildland fire control and prevention. Join Fire Program Assistant Mary Elliott in Smokey Bear activities throughout the day and meet Smokey the Bear at 3:30pm.
All Day FWS & DNR Law Enforcement/Endangered Species Exhibit: Outside Visitor Center - US Fish and Wildlife Inspector J. D. Bolden and Law Enforcement Officer Pat DiDomizio will provide information on endangered species, and state and federal regulations and hunting information. See endangered species skins and confiscated materials.
10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm Spotting Scope On Wildlife Drive: Join experienced birders at observation site to observe birds with a spotting scope.
9am-5pm Eagle's Nest Gift and Book Shop Sale: Come to the newly expanded gift store at the Visitor Center and see our wonderful selection of nature-related clothing, books, and gifts.

 

Children's Events

Youths 6 to 16 can participate in special activities during the day along with the other major activities occurring on the Refuge and earn a Jr. Refuge Ranger certificate and badge. They can earn this certificate and badge by attending and participating in either the special kids' activities or the major Refuge activities or both. Pick up your Jr. Refuge Ranger Program Handbook and Activity Card at a table outside the Visitor Center.

In addition to the displays and exhibits mentioned above, the following scheduled activities will be available for children:

9am Bird Feeder Construction: Make your bird feeder to take home and feed the birds in your own backyard. Materials supplied. Space limited - register by calling 410-228-2677 in advance. Meet outside the Visitor Center at the one of the picnic tables.
10:30am Wooly Bear Caterpillar Races and Caterpillar Program: Learn about caterpillars and enter your own wooly bear caterpillar in the caterpillar race.
11:30am Birds and Beaks Activity: Determine how a bird's beak is used as a tool. See if you can find the right tool to use for different types of food.
12:30pm Kids' Wildlife Crafts - Make your own bee puppet, caterpillar mask, butterfly bookmark, and other great crafts to take home.
1:30pm Construct Paper Puppet - Make a great duck paper puppet to take home. Meet outside the Visitor Center at one of the picnic tables.
2:30pm Invasive Species Puppet Show - Join Mother Canada goose and her young in their trip to Blackwater NWR where they learn about invasive species. Meet at the outdoor theater.
3:30pm Smokey Bear: Join Smokey the Bear and Refuge Fire Crew in an activity about fire safety and fighting fires. Help Smokey put out a fire. Meet at the Fire Equipment display outside the Visitor Center.


Get directions to the Refuge.

Note: Except for the bird walk and tours, programs will run approximately 30 minutes. Food and drinks provided by Hurlock Lions Club (canopy outside Visitor Center). Also bake sale with Cambridge 4-H Club. For information call 410-228-2677 or email maggie_briggs@fws.gov