Nature Programs

Birding Programs | Wonder Walks for Families

Duke Farms is pleased to offer a variety of nature programs that feature some of the extraordinary plants and wildlife found on the 2,700-acre property.

Backyard Habitat Design Workshop

Wednesday, February 10, 7 to 9 p.m.

There is no better time than winter to sit back and look at ways to improve your property to enhance the lives of New Jersey’s wildlife. In this workshop, we will look at the essential features of wildlife habitat, including the importance of using native plants in the landscape. We will then examine each of our own yards for ways that habitat can be improved. Bring a scale drawing of your yard no larger than 11”x 17” (a copy of the property survey works best).

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Great Backyard Bird Count at Duke Farms

Guided Bird Walk: Friday, February 12, 10 a.m. to noon
Individual Counts: Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Northern Cardinal

Bird watchers can lend a helping hand to scientists by participating in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this year’s count will take place over Presidents’ Day weekend, February 12–15.

Duke Farms is hosting a special bird walk on Friday, February 12, 10 a.m. to noon. Staff members will lead volunteers along trails on the property to record bird species and numbers. Bird watchers of all levels, including beginners, are invited to attend.

Trails will remain open at Duke Farms on Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bird watchers who wish to participate in the GBBC should pick up checklists at the Visitors Center before heading out to tally birds.

There is no fee and no pre-registration is required for the Friday bird walk or the weekend count.

Click here for more information on the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Crisis in New Jersey’s Forests

Thursday, February 18, 7 to 9 p.m.

The forests of New Jersey are mere ghosts of their former selves. The natural balances of plants and animals that existed for millennia have undergone dramatic changes in a very short period of time, with some species increasing in abundance while others near extinction. Native plants are disappearing while non-native, invasive plants have become dominant. What are these changes, why have they occurred, and how can we help to reduce their impacts? Join New Jersey Audubon Naturalist and Restoration Specialist Michael Pollock as we examine some of the changes, both obvious and subtle, that have occurred in our environment in recent years

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Global Wanderings: Geology and the Tectonic History of New Jersey

Tuesday, March 16, 7 to 9 p.m.

As the first forms of complex life developed on earth, what was to become New Jersey was part of a super-continent located near the South Pole. Join N.J. Audubon Naturalist and Geologist Michael Pollock as we follow New Jersey as it rides tectonic plates north. Continents separate then collide again, mountain ranges build and erode, dinosaurs appear and disappear, glaciers scour the northern parts of the state, and finally our familiar rivers finish forming today’s natural landscapes and ecosystems.

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Birding by Bicycle

Saturday, March 27, 9 a.m. to noon
In the event of inclement weather, this class will be rescheduled.

Join our naturalists on this unique adventure that combines two of our most popular activities—watching birds and bicycling! We will visit several different habitats including forests, meadows and lakes, each of which will provide us with a variety of bird possibilities.

This trip is open to anyone interested in learning about the birds of Duke Farms.

Participants are required to bring their own mountain bikes and protective headgear for this tour. The ride includes both paved and gravel roads and does include some inclines.

Open to birders, age 12 and up.

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Birding by Bicycle

Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m. to noon
In the event of inclement weather, this class will be rescheduled.

White-crowned Sparrow

This trip is open to anyone interested in learning about the birds of Duke Farms.

Participants are required to bring their own mountain bikes and protective headgear for this tour. The ride includes both paved and gravel roads and does include some inclines.

Open to birders, age 12 and up.

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Think Native for Earth Day: An Introduction to Native Plants for the Home Gardener

Saturday, April 24, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Earth Day is this week! The health of our natural landscapes depends on maintaining a diverse population of plants native to the local area. In New Jersey, as well as in most of the developed areas of the world, non-native invasive plants are escaping from cultivation or being accidentally introduced in record numbers and adversely impacting local environments.

At Duke Farms, a substantial effort is underway to remove invasive non-native plants. On this walk through a portion of the property, we will examine the importance of native plants and address ways in which the home gardener can become more aware of this issue and help prevent the adverse impact of invasive plants.

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Oases for Migratory Birds

Wednesday, May 5, 7 to 9 p.m.

Snow Geese

For thousands of years, humans have been awed by the phenomenon of bird migration. No time is better than spring to watch the annual north-bound migration of birds through New Jersey and Duke Farms.

In this illustrated talk, we will discuss bird migration and the lessons we are learning that will help us to ensure that migrating birds always have places to stop and rest on their extraordinary journeys.

Cost: $15 per person; $10 per person for members of N.J. Audubon.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Tree Identification Workshop

Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(rain date: Sunday, May 9)

Join our New Jersey certified tree expert for an exploration of the many specimen trees found at Duke Farms. During a leisurely walk, you will learn how to identify the different varieties of trees, their leaf characteristics and their roles within the ecosystem.

Cost: $15 per person.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.

Wonder Walk for Families: Food Webs of the Forest

Saturday, May 22, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Every day outdoors brings a new experience. Walk with us through a section of the woods at Duke Farms. Examine the tree bark, look for animals in the leaves and listen for the sounds of birds in the trees. Whatever we find, we will explore, but we will focus on what is eating and being eaten in the woods.

This program is designed for children ages 3-8, accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather, including appropriate footwear. This program will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

Cost: $8 per person; $5 per person for members of N.J. Audubon, maximum charge of $20 per family.

Space is limited and advance registration is required.