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Rancocas Nature Center will honor founding member and 40-year volunteer naturalist, the late John Courtney, with a Memorial Birding Hike on Sunday, April 30. The birding hike will be BYOB (Bring Your Own Binoculars) from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
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WESTAMPTON -- Friends of Rancocas Nature Center (RNC) will honor founding member and 40-year volunteer naturalist, the late John Courtney, with a Memorial Birding Hike for 2017's spring event, Celebrate the Earth on Sunday, April 30, from noon to 4 p.m., as it also embraces both Arbor Day and Earth Day.
The has added the birding hike because of Courtney's wonderful relationship with children who visited the center and his deep knowledge of the birds and the other RNC critters.
The 86-year-old died suddenly in January. The Nature Center's guinea pig "Carrot," whom John cared for, died two days later. "That's how deeply he's missed," said Sanctuary Director Susan Buffalino.
The John Courtney Memorial Birding Hike will be BYOB (Bring Your Own Binoculars) from 2:30 to 4 p.m. -- late in the day for experienced birders -- but "we wanted to fit this within our usual Sunday afternoon event schedule of noon to 4 p.m. for our first memorial walk," said FRNC Co-chair Rich Chichester.
The day's first activity will be the Hunt for Historical Clues Hike from 12:30 to 2 p.m., to find clues and remnants of past settlements -- highlighting the environmental, historical and cultural significance of Rancocas Nature Center and Rancocas State Park, dating back to the American Revolution. In addition to a new Recycling Relay Race and a Composting Game, there will also be Adult Coloring and Children's Coloring during the afternoon for people who wish to relieve stress and express their love of nature, amidst chirping birds and a peaceful, scenic setting.
Light refreshments will be available for purchase, and donations are always welcome and needed for sustaining the Center. Visitors should wear comfortable hiking shoes and outdoor clothing. Visit www.RancocasNatureCenter.org or call 609-261-2495 or visit at 794 Rancocas Road, Westampton for more information.
Other planned RNC events for 2017 are:
- May 13, the Global Big Day with several bird-related hikes and sessions, in conjunction with Cornell University Ornithology Lab's global birding day.
- Aug. 18, FRNC's third annual Star Watch Party.
- Aug. 27, "Bringing Nature Home" Music & Craft Festival, featuring Douglas W. Tallamy, renowned author, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware.
- Sept. 19, Finding Fungi - Mushroom Foray.
- Oct. 8, the Rancocas Nature Center 40
This item submitted by Lavonne Bebler Johnson for Rancocas Nature Center.