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Summer 2010
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Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
Photo By: Wayne Hathaway
For more of Wayne's photo, please visit his website. |
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Reservations must be made for these walks, workshops, and programs.For information, reservations, and directions to meeting places for any scheduled programming, please contact the South Fork Natural History Museum at (631) 537-9735 email: sofo@hamptons.com
There is no charge for SoFo Members (unless otherwise stated).
Non-Members are charged $7 per adult and $5 per child (ages 3-12).
Children 2 years and Under are free of charge. Fees include a visit to the
museum on the day of the program.
SoFo provides exciting and educational nature experiences through
out-of-doors nature walks and indoor workshops and programs.
Each event is led by an expert naturalist.
Benefits of a Membership
Join as a member and receive all the benefits of a membership, including free admission to programming and museum admission, plus the quarterly newsletter with listings of nature walks, talks and workshops for both children and adults.
Want to learn more about natural history & SoFo's nature programs?Sign-up for our E-mail List
by emailing SoFo at sofo@hamptons.com
Click on the E-mail link above to let us know the subjects that are of particular interest to you. In your E-mail please indicate the natural history areas you would like to know more about so that we can send you a list of programs geared to your special interests.
Birds · Insects · Mammals · Marine Life · Plants & Fungi
Reptiles & Amphibians · Activities for Children · Community Events · All of the Above
Summer 2010 Calendar
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How to Identify our Native Ferns
7/3/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Montauk
Leader: Jim Ash, SoFo Executive Director
On this walk you’ll find just the right places to locate our native ferns and learn how to identify them by their shape, structure, and the character of their leaves, leaflets, subleaflets, lobes, and stalks. You’ll become a pteridologist (someone who studies ferns) when you connect the words pinna, pinnule, pinnulet, rachis, and rhizome to their more common English terms.
This walk is for adults
Photo: Cinnamon Fern
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Birding By Ear
7/4/2010
· 8 am - Sunday
East Hampton
Leader: Eric Salzman
Have you ever wondered why some birders seem to know who is lurking in the neighborhood even when there’s nothing to be seen? One good reason is that they’ve trained themselves to bird by ear, not just by sight. On this unique bird walk East End composer, accomplished birder, and bird song connoisseur Eric Salzman will teach you about the nuances of bird vocalization and share tips on how to train your auditory memory.
This walk is for adults.
Photo: Yellow Warbler
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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The Pond By the Forest: Family Nature Walk
7/10/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Sag Harbor
Leader: Crystal Possehl, SoFo Nature Educator
On this adventure with Crystal you’ll ford some streams and explore lush, secondary growth, forests that surround an unusual pond, one of the few on the South Fork fed by groundwater creeks. This area is rich in wildlife, and you’ll have to keep a sharp eye out for its many resident birds, insects, and turtles. With luck, a large Snapping Turtle may make an appearance. Recommended for children 5 and older.
Photo: Black-capped Chickadee
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Drawing & Painting Flowers & Plants: For Beginners
7/10/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Beverly Deak
This beginning workshop for adults will stress the fun of learning the fundamentals of creating botanical art. Join Beverly Deak, an accomplished and delightful teacher, as she helps you to explore and experiment with a variety of media to create images of the world of flowers and plants. You’ll leave the workshop with your own botanical work of art. There is a $5 materials fee for this workshop.
This program is for adults.
Photo: Ostrich Fern
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Down by the Bay: Who Lives There?
7/13/2010
· 2 pm - Tuesday
East Hampton
Leader: Lindsey Rohrbach, SoFo Nature Educator
Everyone gets their toes wet on this seining adventure with Lindsey! She and a helper will pull a large net through the bay’s shallow water to bring up some small fish, crabs, whelks, snails, and maybe some mystery invertebrates for the children to examine up close.
Children's Nature Adventure
Photo: Long Clawed Hermit Crab
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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South Fork Scuba Diving
7/17/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: PADI Master Divers, Tony Pasquale & Ed Decio
Join us for an exceptional opportunity to learn from PADI Master Divers Tony and Ed about the tropical marine life brought to our waters in the fall by the Gulf Stream. You’ll see fascinating underwater footage taken during dives in the waters surrounding the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, one of Long Island’s premier dive sites. In addition you’ll learn about scuba gear, how to choose the right underwater camera system, and the principles of good underwater photography.
This is an adult program.
Photo: Tropic Fish Photographed under Ponquogue Bridge
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Let's All Go Beachcombing
7/17/2010
· 9 am - Saturday
East Hampton
Leader: Jim Ash, SoFo Executive Director and Crystal Possehl, SoFo Nature Educator
Share a wonderful adventure with the children in your life – go beach combing with Jim and Crystal. Childhood should be filled with joyous unexpected discoveries that leave lasting memories, like finding that perfect shell, smooth shiny stone, fluffy bird feather, or just making footprints in the sand. Jim and Crystal will share these pleasures with you while introducing you to: who made that perfect shell, what kind of stone glistens in the sun, whose feather is that, and where do sand-footprints go.
Family Beachcombing.
Photo: Spider Crab Shells
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Waves in Motion: The Video Stills of Jane Martin
7/18/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
East Hampton
Leader: Jane Martin
Award-winning video artist Jane Martin combines her experience as a painter and filmmaker to create stunning images that focus on the primal forces of nature. In this studio visit, Jane will share with you how, with the use of a high-end video camera and digital manipulation, she translates her arresting images of breaking ocean waves into spectacular artistic statements about the power and sensuality of water. Limited enrollment.
This is an adult program.
Photo: "Undulate I" By Jane Martin
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735
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Make a Fish Print T-Shirt
7/24/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Sue and Al Daniels
In this very popular and delightful hands-on workshop children and their adult companions will learn about fish anatomy while making their own colorful fish-print T-shirts to take home and wear with pride. There will be a materials charge of $10 per person for each T-shirt and supplies.
Limited enrollment, please reserve now!
Photo: Fish Print
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Secret Life in a Pond
7/25/2010
· 10 am & 1 pm - Sunday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Lindsey Rohrbach, SoFo Nature Educator
10 am - for children ages 2 to 5 years
1 pm - for children ages 6 and older
Which insect swims, which wiggles, which does the backstroke in a pond? And what do they look like up-close? You’ll learn the answers to these questions from Lindsey as you discover the array of creatures—from small microorganisms, to insects, to frogs—that live in the water and on the murky bottom of the pond. And, you’ll use underwater viewers, magnifying glasses, and microscopes to unmask the secrets of these creatures’ secret lives.
Photo: Backswimmer
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735
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You Too Can Grow Oysters! The SPAT Program
7/28/2010
· 10 am - Wednesday
Sag Harbor
Leader: Joe Tremblay, The Sag Harbor Oyster Club President
Oysters, the bay's best natural filters, provide essential habitat for fish and other bay creatures. The oyster population in our bays has diminished greatly. Learn how you can help to increase its numbers by culturing, planting, and monitoring seed oysters in your own shellfish "garden." In this program, Joe will discuss the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County-Southold Project in Aquaculture Training (SPAT), discuss the life cycle of oysters, their environmental benefit and common aquaculture practices, and then take you to visit a community shellfish area to see what oyster "gardening" is all about.
Photo: Oyster Seedling
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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The Walking Dunes - Family Nature Walk
7/31/2010
· 9 am - Saturday
Montauk
Leader: Crystal Possehl, SoFo Nature Educator
Do dunes really “walk”? Yes, they do, well, sort of. Find out how on this approximately one mile walk with Crystal up, down, and around the “walking” dunes, some as high as 60 or 80 feet. Magnificent views, strange configurations of tall trees engulfed by sand, and deep hollows of sandy wetlands all combine to make this adventure unique. You’ll be on the lookout for the Earth Star fungus, wild cranberry plants, resilient Pitch Pine and Post Oak trees, a myriad of hardy low shrubs, flowering plants and, perhaps, a fox den.
Photo: The Walking Dunes, Montauk
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Haiku Workshop
7/31/2010
· 10 am to Noon - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: George Held
George Held, a widely published poet, will teach the philosophy and practice of the haiku, a concise Japanese verse form that focuses on an instant in nature. The SoFo Museum and outdoor surroundings offer many opportunities for a "haiku moment," when the writer has an insight into a natural object that can be expressed in about 12-17 syllables. Only a pen or pencil and a small notepad are needed. For adults and youngsters 16 and older. Limited enrollment.
Haiku by George Held
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Beach Shapes and Textures
8/1/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
East Hampton
Leader: Heather Abrams, SoFo Nature Educator
The beach is chock-full of interesting shapes to see and surfaces to touch. On this treasure hunt with Heather, young children will be on the lookout for many things; bumpy seaweed, grooved sea shells, smooth rocks and, of course, lots of sandy sand. Once the children have sorted through their finds, be sure to have a pail, bag, or box for them to take their treasures home in. This walk is recommended for children ages 2 through 4.
Photo: Spider Crab Shells
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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The Ospreys of Accabonac Harbor
8/7/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
East Hampton
Leader: Chris Roberts
Join osprey enthusiast and experienced birdwatcher Chris Roberts as he takes you around Accabonac Harbor to see these magnificent birds of prey: adults bringing food to their young, fledglings flapping their wings getting ready to fly. Learn how these birds were brought back from the brink of extinction with help from concerned nature lovers. We’ll count the number of young in each nest and compare these numbers to previous years. Binoculars and/or a spotting scope are recommended.
Photo: Osprey
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735
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Field Foray
8/8/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Lindsey Rohrbach, SoFo Nature Educator
Take a stroll with Lindsey in the field behind the museum to see what plants and animals we can find. Learn about invasive and native plant species, birds that inhabit the field, and insects that live in the grass and under the logs.
Photo: Grasshopper
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Laurel Valley Preserve
8/14/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Noyac
Leader: Crystal Possehl, SoFo Nature Educator
Most people consider Long Island flat, and for the most part it is. Not so Laurel Valley. Join Crystal as she explores the sometimes challenging knob and kettle hole terrain of this preserve, formed about 15,000 years ago by the receding Wisconsin glacier, and now home to an abundance of Mountain Laurel. A walk on the trails may provide you with a glimpse of an American Woodcock or even a Great Horned Owl.
Photo: Mountain Laurel
Reservations are neccesary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Birding Down by the Shore: For All Levels
8/14/2010
· 8 am - Saturday
Shinnecock
Leader: Eric Salzman
Join expert birder Eric Salzman for this program for all birding levels including beginner. You’ll walk the South Shore shoreline and wetland edge to look for and look at the inhabitants of the tidal zone: herons and egrets, shorebirds big and small. These birds lend themselves to easier observation by the beginner because of the open habitat they frequent.
Photo: Great Egret
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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A SoFo Wading Adventure
8/15/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
East Hampton
Leader: Heather Abrams, SoFo Nature Educator
Children love to spend hours wading in the warm shallow waters of the bay. Here’s an opportunity for them to learn about what lives there and what makes it such a good home for so many animals. Join Heather as she introduces children firsthand to the snails, crabs, and other marine creatures that call these shallow waters of the bay home.
Photo: Fiddler Crab
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Shorebird Migration
8/21/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Hugh McGuinness
This is a great opportunity to see and learn about migrating shorebirds with Hugh, as these birds make their way from their summering grounds in the Artic to their wintering grounds in Central and South America. Hugh is an expert birder and is actively engaged in compiling information on rare bird sightings on eastern Long Island.
Photo: Ruddy Turnstone
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Milkweeds: A Monarch's Best Friend
8/22/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Heather Abrams, SoFo Nature Educator
The monarch butterfly is sometimes called the "milkweed butterfly" because its larvae eat the plant. In fact, milkweed is the only thing the larvae can eat! Milkweed is also important for many other insects as they nectar. Heather will take you on a walk in the SoFo field, and through our butterfly garden, so you can learn all about milkweeds and find out why they need our help. For Adults and Children ages 4 and older.
Photo: Monarch on Common Milkweed.
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Bay Seining with Al "Big Time" Daniels
8/28/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Sag Harbor
Leader: Al Daniels
Al "Big Time" Daniels, a very popular figure in Sag Harbor, wears many hats. For one, he is a well-known fisherman and writes the Outdoors column in The Sag Harbor Express. Second, he spends lots of summer hours at the beach with his seining net, catching local marine creatures, and pulling in the net many times to share his catch – which he of course releases – with children and adults who gather ’round excitedly to see what he brings in. Join SoFo and Al for this special opportunity to see him at work.
Photo: Green Crab
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Learning about Backyard Birds
8/29/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
Noyac
Leader: Lindsey Rohrbach, SoFo Nature Educator
To people, bird songs are very pleasant, but for birds they are important to establish territory and to find a mate. Songs are specific to the type of bird, and birds can sing more than one song. Join Lindsey as she takes young naturalists out on a trail to experience the variety of birds and bird songs. We’ll listen to several songs that common backyard birds sing, and have a chance to feed some of the birds we see. This program is for children ages 3 to 7.
Photo: Carolina Wren
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Snapping Turtles: Prehistoric Monster Hunt
9/4/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Andy Sabin, SoFo Board President
Of ancient lineage, the Snapping Turtle, which can grow to a length of 3 feet from head to tail and weigh as much as 70 pounds, will be the main subject of this adventure with Andy. You’ll also get to know the Painted Turtle, and perhaps meet up with the aptly named Stinkpot Turtle. Children love this walk.
Photo: Snapping Turtle
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Go Bugs?
9/11/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Bridgehampton
Leader: Chris Roberts
Everyone seems to be fascinated with insects, especially kids, and rightly so. Bug-watcher Chris Roberts will take a group outside to hunt for insects on the grounds of the SoFo museum. We’ll look at our local insects: caterpillars, butterflies, beetles, ants, and bees to name a few ¯ and we’ll also find out for whom insects are a delicious meal. This walk is for children ages 5 and up and for adults.
Photo: Ladybug
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Fall Bird Migration at Montauk
9/11/2010
· 7:45 am - Saturday
Montauk
Leader: Hugh McGuinness
Montauk is one of Long Island’s best known migration “traps," areas where migrating birds congregate. When cold fronts are driven through by strong northwest winds the migrants, flying at night, drift over the ocean. At dawn with their energy reserves running low they seek the nearest land, and fly north to Long Island's south shore beaches. Join Hugh in Montauk to observe the land and shorebirds that migrate through this Atlantic Flyway “trap.”
Photo: Indigo Bunting
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Shellfish Hatchery Boat Trip
9/12/2010
· 10 am - Sunday
Napeague
Leader: Frank Quevedo, Bay Management Specialist 1
Due to a declining population of bivalves - clams, scallops, and oysters - the Town of East Hampton raises some of these bivalves to the age of one year and then seeds them in harbors and bays throughout the Town. This is a unique opportunity to see the Enhancement Program in action as you board a flat-bottom boat and ride to the inlet of Napeague Harbor to see where and how the Town “grows-out” these clams, scallops, and oysters for later seeding. This program is for adults. Please wear appropriate footwear as your feet will get wet.
Photo: Seedling cage
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the musuem at 631-537-9735.
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Munn Point: A Salt Marsh Exploration
9/18/2010
· 10 am - Saturday
Southampton
Leader: Crystal Possehl, SoFo Nature Educator
Exploring salt marshes can be a messy and boot-sucking experience, but Munn Point boasts a boardwalk over the marsh from where you can see tidal streams and meadows of Salt Marsh Cord Grass. Once across the boardwalk there are miles of bay beach to explore. Join Crystal on this walk to study the marsh and then do some shell collecting on the beach. Children must be 5 and older for this walk.
Photo: Salt Marsh
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 931-537-9735.
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Passerine Fall Migration
9/19/2010
· 8 am - Sunday
Sag Harbor
Leader: Joe Giunta
The first cold weather Canadian fronts come through our area at this time of year bringing with them waves of migrating passerines (perching birds). Most of these birds migrate at night but during the day they alight to feed and rest. Join Joe, expert birder and delightful instructor, on this, one of his most popular walks.
Photo: Magnolia Warbler
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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Life of the Dune, Swale, and Ocean Beach
9/25/2010
· 9 am - Saturday
Napeague
Leader: Jim Ash, SoFo Executive Director
Join Jim, SoFo’s Executive Director, for a walk in the secondary dune swale, through the primary dune, and out onto the ocean beach. On the way we’ll look for the specialized plants and animals that are adapted to live in this xeric, salty environment. We’ll also search for shells on the ocean beach, which are distinctly different from the species one finds on the bay beach.
Photo: Swale
Reservations are necessary for all events. Please call the museum at 631-537-9735.
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