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November 22, 2024

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

Ecosystem Eco Notes

Pickering Creek welcomes school year seasonal staff

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Pickering Creek’s school year programming with students from Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Wicomico counties kicked off this fall.  Center staff typically see two school groups per day comprising of four classrooms.  In addition to fantastic outdoor experiences at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, staff also lead or co lead programming at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, Tuckahoe State Park, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Pemberton Park, Izaak Walton league Forest as well as at our partner schools. Four full time program staff and three part time program staff are joined this year by two full time seasonal staff.
On field experiences, kids have delightful exploratory experiences in the wetlands, meadows and forests at Pickering and wander widely across the Center’s 450 acres. Each visit is tied to a larger learning experience and to school system science curriculum. Our two seasonal staff play a role in delivery of those programs.
Andrew Niemann joined Pickering Creek this summer as an EcoCamp counselor and has continued as a seasonal school year educator. Before Pickering Creek, he double majored in environmental science and biology at Washington College which gave him experience with working in nature and a familiarity with the environments of the Eastern Shore.
He was drawn to working in environmental education because he has always liked to learn and explore in nature. He wanted to work with kids since their curiosity and enthusiasm is infectious. Andrew hopes continue working with kids in nature after my time at Pickering Creek. Andrew shares, “I have had great experiences at Pickering Creek, starting with camp where I was able to watch kids become more comfortable in nature over the course of the week and get opportunities to freely and safely play in such a cool setting. It’s always great to help a kid catch their first fish or meet their first frog. The opportunity to work with such knowledgeable people, as well as other opportunities for learning like visiting a bird banding station or meeting a herpetologist from the DNR have helped me gain a lot of knowledge on a much wider range of subjects than before. I’m looking forward to all of the things I will continue to experience while living and working here over the next months!”
Hugh Bennett is a self-proclaimed musician, environmentalist, and the newest members of the seasonal staff at Pickering Creek. His background of study is in environmental conservation, so he is excited to be a part of the team and put his education into action. After exploring the country in a van for many months earlier this year, planting roots on the eastern shore has been a delight. As Hugh began searching for somewhere to pursue his career, Pickering Creek’s seasonal opportunity crossed his radar. Hugh says, “From the eastern shore locals, I heard nothing but amazing things about Pickering Creek and what it has to offer as an organization. I applied for the school year educator position and am so happy I did.”
Growing up on a healthy plot of land in piedmont North Carolina, ecocentrism was on the back doorstep. Time spent in nature helped Hugh develop a love and appreciation for the outdoors. “Pickering has the same aura that takes me back to my childhood wonder. Being able to have a job in environmental education is an opportunity in which I am very grateful. Learning occurs EVERYDAY… And that is special”, exclaims Hugh, “The experiences I am having at Pickering are invaluable. Working in the outdoors, learning new skills, and being a environmental educator are building blocks to a future I seek. “
Seasonal staff play an important role as educators at the Center and four of the six full time staff at the Center got their start as seasonal staff. Pickering Creek seasonal staff have graduated to full time positions at the National Aquarium, Delaware Sea Grant, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, PA Dept of Environmental Conservation and Massachusetts Audubon to name a few.  If you are interested in a seasonal position our next application period will begin in February for summer 2025 positions.

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New solar panels power Pickering Creek campus

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Pickering Creek has installed a 45-kW solar system consisting of 89 solar panels in two separate arrays this fall.  The panels were installed by Solar Energy Services of Millersville, MD during September and October of this year.
The first array is visible to all who enter the Center’s main parking lot.  Perched on the roof of the Center’s tractor and hay wagon storage barn are 43 solar panels.  The second array, consisting of 46 panels is adjacent to an agricultural field and is visible from Sharp Rd, but largely hidden behind an emergent meadow near the center’s garden.
These panels will power all the electrical needs of the Center’s six primary buildings as well as electrical needs of the rest of the campus.  The Center recently converted many of its structures to energy efficient heat pumps for both heating and cooling, so the energy generated from these panels will support the use of those new heat pump systems.
“We’ve thought about solar panels for a long time and we are excited to bring them online and share any of our experiences with other nonprofit partners who might benefit from installing solar at their locations,” said Mark Scallion, Director of Pickering Creek.  We are also thankful to Easton Utilities and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation for their assistance in facilitating the process.
The Center will host a tour of the panels for those interested in learning more on November 13th at 9am.  At the tour we’ll connect nonprofit leaders to financial incentives offered by the federal government through the Inflation Reduction Act.  We’ll have an installer on site to answer any technical questions about using solar at non-profit facilities.  We’ll look at both roof and ground mounted systems.
If you are interested in attending the tour, please RSVP to Mark Scallion at [email protected]

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center Unveils New Autumn Wetland Trail Guide

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center is excited to announce the debut of its new Autumn Wetland Overlook Trail Guide, available October 1st. This trail guide enhances the visitor experience along the Center’s mile-long wetland trail, which winds through over 90 acres of shallow water wetlands and meadow habitats and features four scenic viewing platforms.
The trail is marked by knee-high, numbered posts that correspond with the newly released interpretive brochure. The guide highlights seasonal attractions such as blooming wildflowers and potential wildlife sightings, making it an ideal tool for families and nature enthusiasts alike. “Using our new guide is the perfect way to introduce kids and adults to our local ecosystems, with fall being one of the best times to enjoy these trails,” says Michele Johnson, Pickering Creek Educator.
Located in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway, Pickering Creek’s wetlands are a vital habitat for birds. These wetlands provide crucial nesting grounds and migratory resting points for millions of birds each year. “Our bird monitoring data shows us that when habitat is improved, the birds eventually show up. This trail is one of the best places on the shore to observe birds throughout the year. The viewing platforms are especially great for seeing wading birds and waterfowl in the fall,” says Mark Scallion, Director of Pickering Creek.
Visitors walking the trail can observe the benefits of the wetland restoration efforts that began in 2002. These efforts, carried out in collaboration with the Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, local students, and volunteers, have focused on restoring and maintaining healthy habitats for the diverse wildlife species that inhabit the wetlands.
“We want visitors to feel that Pickering Creek is a place for everyone and every season, where each visit offers a new adventure. This trail is a testament to community-based conservation and education, which we’ve highlighted along the Wetland Overlook Trail,” says Megan Swadley, Pickering Creek Educator.
Pickering Creek is open daily in October from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, check the Center’s website for November hours. Trail guides are available to pick up at the trailhead and in the Welcome Center.  Visitors are advised to wear boots, as periodic wet spots may occur on the trail, especially later in the fall season.

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Pickering Creek’s Native Plants and Pollinators Mural Underway

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Pickering Creek is nearing the completion of an update to its garden area with a reimagined native plant and pollinator garden which will have its ribbon cutting next spring. As part of the reimagined native plant and pollinator garden, the Native Plants and Pollinators Mural is a captivating artistic project led by talented artist Sue Stockman at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. This mural, measuring 24 feet long by 16 feet tall, depicts colorful pollinators and native plants, representing the surrounding natural environment as a vibrant visual representation.
Situated on the garden shed opposite the new pollinator garden, the mural creates a striking focal point for visitors, drawing them into the beauty of the garden and encouraging appreciation for native flora and fauna. Supported by grant funds and community donations, the project exemplifies the intersection of art, conservation, and education.
The mural project enhances the aesthetic appeal of the center’s garden and contributes to its mission of environmental stewardship. By showcasing the importance of pollinators and native plants through art, Pickering Creek Audubon Center inspires visitors to engage with nature and take action to protect biodiversity.
When the pollinator garden project was conceived last year and received a grant to support interpretive panels, walkways, tree pruning, additional soil, and native plants the Center had not considered the mural as a possibility.  As discussions with partners happened and the plans came together the mural entered the plan as a logical extension of the garden itself, drawing people off the center’s farm lane and into the pollinator garden to enjoy the plants and the painting.  We’ve raised all but $2,000 to support the mural.  If you’d like to support the mural and be included in the ribbon-cutting invite list, visit the Pickering Creek website and click the donate now button on the upper right corner.

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Something of the Marvelous Challenge features tour of Wye House

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The Orangery, which predates the Wye House is the most complete surviving structure of its kind in the United States.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s Something of the Marvelous spring fundraiser for 2024 is a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge with every dollar being matched up to $50,000.

These funds support Pickering Creek’s science and nature education programs in Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, and Wicomico counties for students from at least one grade level in each school system, ensuring that every student in the grade level, regardless of background, has great outdoor learning experiences with Pickering’s talented staff of educators and scientists.

In addition to supporting school programming, these matching gifts help connect adults and families with the habitats and wildlife that also call the midshore home, and support summer EcoCamp scholarships.  Finally, generous gifts provided by the community to this matching challenge ensure that Pickering is open to the public for free every day to enjoy the center’s beautiful trails!

Two marvelous donors have stepped forward to collectively offer this year’s dollar-for-dollar match.  Both are long-term supporters of the Center’s work to connect people to nature.  Each supporter who contributes over $100 before June 6 will be eligible to explore several historic buildings at Richard and Beverly Tilghman’s Wye House as well as the magnificent grounds.

Wye House is one of Maryland’s most historic homes. It is located along the Wye River on land acquired by Edward Lloyd in 1659.  The current house was constructed between 1784 and 1790 by Edward Lloyd IV and is currently occupied by the 12th generation of the Lloyd family to live on the property.  The house is in the Palladian style and is often referred to as the finest example of late 18th-century Palladian architecture in the United States.  Many of the original furnishings and other objects remain in the house. The Orangery, a garden structure, predates the house and is the most complete surviving structure of its kind in the United States.  The property contains numerous early 19th-century outbuildings. The Lloyd family cemetery’s earliest grave is dated 1684.

The evening begins with a leisurely drive down a long, beautiful tree-lined drive. Upon arrival, guests tour four first-floor rooms where guests of the house are traditionally greeted and received. The rooms feature significant original woodwork and other detail features as well as artwork that have remained with the house over the course of several generations.  Two generations of the family will be on hand to share the history of the house as well as how it got to its present state of perfection.

After the house tour, guests will stroll through the home’s tree-lined garden alleyway having a chance to experience live birds with ornithology expert Michael Callahan and view the family cemetery.   At the end of the alleyway sits the exquisite Orangery used to maintain citrus fruit trees throughout the winter.  Outside the Orangery guests may enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling water and accompanying nibbles.  Your self-guided outdoor tour then affords views of Lloyd Creek and the impressive living shoreline that is part of the Wye House estate.  The final treat of the tour is a visit inside the Captain’s House.  The Captain’s House is the oldest structure on the property, with a magnificent hearth highlighting the building’s previous use as a kitchen for the estate.

Timed entrances scheduled from 3:30-6 on June 8th will include complimentary beverages, time to explore, and a special thank you gift.

Unlike Pickering Creek’s pre-Covid era Tour Toast and Taste, Something of the Marvelous has no tent, no auction, and no dinners for sale.  It is all outdoors- just soaking in the marvelous blooms and scenery of the amazing Wye House!

For over 30 years, Pickering Creek Audubon Center has provided environmental education opportunities to students of the Eastern Shore, moving them from awareness of their watershed to conservation action in their communities.  Since establishing a well-reputed elementary education program in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools 25 years ago, Pickering has added meaningful watershed experiences for middle and high school students to our continuum of education along with community outreach education about our region’s unique ecosystems. Pickering Creek reaches the people of the Eastern Shore throughout their academic careers and outdoor learning experiences that encourage them to continue interacting with the outdoors frequently.

School groups, families, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers from far and wide visit Pickering Creek Audubon Center throughout the year to participate in hands-on outdoor learning, and volunteer experiences and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore.

This year’s Tour, Toast & Taste is generously sponsored by Richard and Beverly Tilghman,  Bill and Mary Griffin, Ron Ketter and Janet Mackey, Steve and Julie Burleson, Linda and Pete Yungbluth, Robert Roach and Nancy Reid, Anne and Ron Walker, Donald and Margaret Engvall, Catherine Liebl, Bruce Wiltsie and Bill Davenport, the Dock Street Foundation, Richard and Ellen Bodorff, James Olds and Robin Buckley, Rodger and Priscilla Waldman, Kimberly and Glenn Baker, Matthew Miller, and Beth Wehrle.

For more information, please visit www.pickeringcreek.org

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Pickering Debuts New Trail at New Woods

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At the Center’s annual donor Pig Roast this autumn Pickering debuted the first trail loop in the new woods they acquired in fall of 2022. Thanks to the generosity of many community members the Center was able to purchase 63 acres of woods adjacent to the Center’s main campus in September of 2022. Over the course of the past year staff and stakeholders have enjoyed free form walks in the new woods as they considered potential trails and highlights along those trails. The first result of that effort is the New Woods Loop. The loop begins at the conclusion of one of the Center’s wetlands boardwalks, following a path along the wooded shoreline overlooking the head of Pickering Creek.

After a short walk you enter the new woods, dominated by mature oaks, tulip poplar, beech and hickory. The first stop along the walk is Barred Owl Circle, a delightful set of benches built by the Center’s volunteer crew that are set up in a natural clearing in the woods that provide a wonderful place to rest and contemplate the quiet around you. Aptly named for the regularity that you hear Barred Owls calling Who cooks for you, who cooks for y’all at this location, summer EcoCamp groups enjoyed this location all summer as one of their starting points for exploration of the new woods. Camp groups began exploring the new woods with their group leaders during the second week of our seven-week camp. It quickly became the most popular place that campers wanted to go. They have adopted their own name for it, Echo Woods Circle, because of the interesting echo of voices that occurs as sound bounce across the creek and back. The circle is slightly short of the halfway point of the walk.

The trail continues and casually meanders amongst big trees and runs alongside a wooded wetland. A small bridge crosses a seasonal stream as the trail curls left beneath towering tulip poplars. From here you enter a grove of American Holly before exiting the woods into the Center’s meadow. The trail links up with the center’s next newest trail, the meadow loop. You can turn right and continue on for further adventure through the meadow and onto the meadow viewing platform or turn right and head towards the farm pond and back to the parking lot.

“I’ve seen something new every time I taken this walk,” says Pickering Board President Tom Sanders. This is the first of several trails that will enable community members to explore the woods over the next few years. Debut of the next section of trail is planned for mid 2024.

The trail is three quarters of a mile long from the parking lot, through the woods and back along the meadow trail to the parking lot. Allow 40 minutes for the walk depending on how much time you want to spend enjoy marveling at the big trees or relaxing along the trail at one of the benches. During the winter months Pickering is open daily from 7AM -5PM. Check the website if you would like to sign up for a guided walk in the new woods, www.pickeringcreek.org

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Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail at Pickering 

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center will debut its Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail on Saturday November 18th.  The trail circles the Pickering Creek pond and features eleven stops that encourage kids and families to explore nature through short fun activities.  The trail is self guided and starts at the Center’s main parking lot. At the stops it asks kids to do interactive activities like: “Hop like a rabbit down the trail, if you see a Hawk or Eagle overhead freeze until it passes.”  Each location asks students to engage a different sense as they explore nature around them.  

“This is a great way to explore the fall season as a family while engaging kids and giving adults a chance to stretch their legs a walk off some of the Thanksgiving Feast,” says Pickering Creek Director Mark Scallion.  The trail will be in place from Saturday November 18th through Sunday December 3rd.  Keep an eye on the weather and remember boots if it has been rainy!

After enjoying the Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail, further explorations lie beyond, with over four miles of trails and several beautiful vistas over Pickering Creek and the Center’s expansive wetlands, Pickering Creek has miles of trails for exploration and enjoyment.

Pickering Creek’s Trails are open daily from 7am to 5pm during the winter months.   

For all our guidelines please check:  https://pickeringcreek.org/visit/planning-a-visit/

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Pickering Creek Annual Birdseed Sale and Third Annual Seed Social 

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With summer behind us, our local birds have finished their breeding season, and the fledglings are striking out on their own. Many species are switching their diets from insects to high fat seeds and suets to help them get ready for wintering here or migrating south.  That means it’s time to get your bird feeders cleaned up and back out in the yard. To prepare feeders for the season, you can run them through the dishwasher, or wash with boiling water and soap to get them ready. Regularly cleaning them this way throughout the season will help your birds stay healthy and avoid your feeder being a source for disease transmission.

Bird feeding helps sustain birds through the harshest winter days as well as provides exciting interactions with birds as you get to see beautiful cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinch, titmice, finches and more bouncing around your feeding station every time you peek out your window. You’ll have hours of endless entertainment as you watch your favorite cardinals and goldfinches come to the feeder as well as see surprises like white-breasted nuthatches and fox sparrows.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s annual birdseed sale will be held from Oct 16th to the Nov 6th. Friends of the birds can order seed from Pickering during this time period. A large variety of seeds including black oil sunflower and thistle will be available as well as a variety of seed mixes and suet cakes.  Different seeds and feeder types attract different types of birds.  Our carefully selected seed provider provides a high quality seed, typically with less chaff and other debris than what you will find in seed purchased at big box retailers.  This program is primarily designed to help people get interested in bird feeding, have a source for high quality seed and interact with fellow bird lovers at the birdseed social. Purchasers are welcome to make an additional donation to support the Center’s many programs.  This year all payments will be made by credit card online. The largest order wins a free birdfeeder!

Order forms will be available beginning October 16th at https://pickeringcreek.org

Orders must be placed by November 6.

Seed pick up will be at our Third Annual Birdseed Social on Tuesday Nov 14th from 3:30 to 5:30pm at Pickering Creek.   Come have a drink and snack on us, meet fellow bird lovers, and pick up your seed! We will have Pickering Creek staff onsite to answer any bird questions you might have.

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Autumn 2023 Programs at Pickering Creek

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The weather at this time of year is delightful for outdoor activities.   Join the staff at Pickering Creek for enjoyable outdoor explorations this fall. Registration in advance is required and can be made at https://pickeringcreek.org/programs/upcoming-programs/

Monday Paddle on Pickering
Monday, October 16, 2023
5:00-6:30 PM
$10 per person Finish out a Monday with a leisurely canoe paddle along the shores of Pickering Creek. Soak in the sights and sounds of the creek by canoe with a friend or family member as the early evening light dances on the waters of Pickering Creek.  Families welcome! Canoes & Lifejackets provided. 

Nature Walk with the Director at Pickering Creek’s New Forest
Thursday, October 19, 2023
5:00-6:30 PM
$5 per personJoin Director, Mark Scallion, for an exploration of the Center’s newly acquired woods.  We’ll start by walking Pickering’s meadow trail and then duck into the adjacent woods for a ramble across open woodland.  Highlights could include woodpeckers, owls, turkeys, foxes and more.  Walks are a great introduction to the Center’s campus and programs and an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Center has to offer and for us to learn about your interests.

A Little Bird Told Me
Monday, October 30, 2023
8:00-10:00 AM
$5 per person

Join Pickering Creek naturalist to observe and enjoy birds in a whole new way.  Learn how to “listen” to what birds say through their vocalizations and behaviors in this guided field experience. Activity will be light with some time spend sitting or standing quietly.  Participants will sharpen their observations skills and walk away understanding some basic bird behaviors that will offer a peek at what is going on in the landscape around them in real time.

 

Bird Walk with e-Bird Monitoring
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
8:00-10:00AM


Have fun bird watching for science at Pickering Creek. Bird watchers of all skill levels are encouraged to assist volunteer leaders with bird monitoring along the Center’s trails during this monthly bird survey. Help us collect data that allow us to track long-term trends on how birds use the Center. Currently we have spotted and identified over 230 species at Pickering Creek!

 

Nature Walk with the Director at Pickering Creek’s New Forest
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
3:30-5:00 PM
$5 per person

Join Director, Mark Scallion, for an exploration of the Center’s newly acquired woods.  We’ll start by walking Pickering’s meadow trail and then duck into the adjacent woods for a ramble across open woodland.  Highlights could include woodpeckers, owls, turkeys, foxes and more.  Walks are a great introduction to the Center’s campus and programs and an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Center has to offer and for us to learn about your interest.

Bird Walk with e-Bird Monitoring
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
8:00-10:00AM

Have fun bird watching for science at Pickering Creek. Bird watchers of all skill levels are encouraged to assist volunteer leaders with bird monitoring along the Center’s trails during this monthly bird survey. Help us collect data that allow us to track long-term trends on how birds use the Center. Currently we have spotted and identified over 230 species at Pickering Creek! 

 

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New Interpretive Panels Connect Visitors to Habitats at Pickering Creek

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center is a 450-acre nature center in Talbot County, which is open to the public daily with no admission for exploring on our trails.  The Center is a primary provider of outdoor science experiences for school systems on the Eastern Shore. Visitors to the Center on a daily basis use Pickering Creek’s Farm to Bay Trail, which is 2.5 miles in length.  The Farm to Bay Trail winds its way through cool season grass meadows, warm season grass meadows, brackish wetlands, freshwater wetlands, pine forest, emergent hardwood forest, mature hardwood forest and gives up close views of agriculture on Delmarva on a working farm.  While exploring the habitats, about half of the trail borders agriculture fields while the other half borders brackish Pickering Creek.  The trail affords a rare opportunity to experience most of the rural, coastal plain’s habitats in one place coexisting with agriculture successfully.  Interpretive panels along the Farm to Bay Trail tell the story of Delmarva’s key ecosystems and species. 

In the fall of 2022, Pickering Creek received a grant from the Rural Maryland Council to support creation of new messaging and new artwork for nine interpretive panels. People visit places like Pickering Creek Audubon Center to learn, explore, find adventure, relax and exercise.  Interpretive panels help give meaning to the visitors experience by telling the story of the land: past, present and future.  Interpretive panels help draw connections between habitats, plants, wildlife and people. 

The panels highlight the key habitats along the Center’s Farm to Bay Trail, which include forest, wetland, meadow, agriculture and brackish water creek. Through the panels we tell the story of key habitat features, flora and fauna through both concise written messages and compelling visuals.  Panels help the visitor understand the interconnected nature of land and water on Delmarva.  

The panels replace aging panels that have been weathered by the sun and rain.  None of the existing panels were replicated, so each of the nine panels shares a brand new story about the Center, its wildlife and habitats.  In addition to replacing existing panels, the new panels fill in spots along the trails that have not been previously highlighted. 

Over the course of the past year, Center staff researched, designed, contracted fabrication and installed nine interpretive panels. At the Center’s entrance parking area you will now be greeted by a timeline history of the Center that explains its donation and evolution over time. New panels along the Farm to Bay Trail highlight songbirds in the woods, no till agriculture, the importance of forested buffers between land and water, fungi of the woods, and birds seen on the creek. New panels along the Wetland and Meadow Trails highlight which amphibians you are likely to see and hear, the importance of milkweed in meadow communities, and bluebird boxes and their benefits.

“Pickering Creek is unique as a nature center in that we are also agricultural landowners.  As the Olds Family who donated the Center’s core property wished we continued to highlight agriculture as part of the landscape on Delmarva while also sharing how conservation practices coexist with great habitat for wildlife.” said Center Director Mark Scallion.

Pickering Creek is open to the public daily during daylight hours.  Check the Center website for exact open times as evening daylight gets shorter this fall.  There are several viewing platforms and blinds along the way for you to enjoy scenery and wildlife.  Benches for resting are spread throughout the trails.  The new panels join seven existing panels that have been installed in the last five years in both wetland and meadow habitats.  Together they share the story of outdoor habitats and ecosystems and the creatures we share them with on Delmarva.

 

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