THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED.  IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “PARKER RIVER WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT. Please include the best phone # we can use to reach you.

Registration:  This trip will be limited to 5 cars for ease of movement while on the preserve. Attendance will be on a first come, first serve basis. To register, please click on this event under Calendar/What’s Coming Up on the right-hand side of this page, then scroll down and fill in the form. When registering below, please select “1” space per car.  Then please use the comments box to state the number of people you expect to have in your car. Once your reservation has been approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

Join us as we head to Newburyport, Massachusetts to explore Plum Island/ Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Feb 5 from 12-4pm. The sanctuary offers many habitats for native birds, from beaches and sand dunes to salt marshes and maritime forests. In the wintertime, you can expect to see a variety of ducks, cormorants, grebes, and  raptors including our target birds: Snowy and Short-Eared Owls. Check out some of the recent sightings: http://www.bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/guide/plumislandstatus2021.html.

LOGISTICS: Plum Island is about 8 miles long and we’ll be driving from one end to the other, making several stops to bird different habitats along the way. Due to ongoing COVID concerns, you’ll be driving in your own car from location to location. Dress in WARM layers and wear comfortable WARM/WATERPROOF walking shoes. It can get very windy and there will likely be snow or ice on the ground. Be sure to bring a hat, gloves, and toe/hand warmers if necessary. Don’t forget your binoculars, camera, spotting scope, notebook and/or field guide. There are restrooms throughout the refuge, but no food or water available for purchase, so bring a thermos or water bottle and some snacks. Masks/face coverings will be required for the entirety of the outing.

MEET UP DETAILS: We will meet inside the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Lot #1, the first parking lot on the left after the entrance gate. Enter the lot and turn left, look for us near the rest rooms. See map here:  https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/North_Zone/Parker_River_Complex/Parker_River/ParkerRiverMap.pdf

SNOW DATE: In the event of inclement weather, or if PRNWR limits access due to unsafe road conditions, we will inform all attendees the morning of the event by 9am. The snow date for this event is Sunday Feb 13.

COST: While there is no cost to attend the outing, PRNWR does charge an entrance fee of $5 for motor vehicles. Entry is free for annual pass holders, holders of a Federal Duck Stamp, or any of three Department of Interior passes (America the Beautiful, Senior, and Access passes).

DIRECTIONS FROM MAINE: Route 95 South to MA-113 E/Storey Ave in Newburyport (Exit 86). Continue on Rt 113 for approximately 7 miles. Along the way you will pass the Parker River NWR Visitor Center on your right and the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education center on your left, both of which are ~2.4 miles before the refuge. Keep going past these two centers and turn right onto Sunset Drive (just before the Plum Island Grille). Continue straight through the entrance gate and turn left into Lot #1.

For GPS navigation, please use Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Road, Newbury MA or navigate to the Visitor Center at 6 Plum Island Turnpike and continue 2.4 miles past it to Sunset Drive as described above.

GPS coordinates: 42.79080, -70.80996