FEBRUARY, 2012
Beginning Bird Watching Tours
Take a driving tour of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge with a trained U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer to learn how to identify the many birds that frequent the Refuge. One tour per day leaves the Refuge Visitor Center at 9 am and last for approximately three to four hours. Suggested items to bring include binoculars, camera, field guides, bug repellant, water and a snack. Loaner binoculars are available.
There is a $3.00 fee per person, children ages 16 and under are free.
Tour Dates:
- JANUARY, 2012 -- Tuesday: 1/31
- Tuesdays: 2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 2/8
- Thursdays: 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23
- Saturday: 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25
- Sundays: 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26
Space is limited. Please call 321-861-5601 to make reservations.
Eagle Watch at Merritt Island NWR
Join a Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer to get close views of adult American Bald Eagles and young on their nest through a spotting scope. No need to make reservations, just drive your own vehicle to the site. Weather permitting; a volunteer will be stationed along the Black Point Wildlife Drive between Stops 11 and 12 on the following days:
- Mondays – 1 pm to 3 pm
- Tuesdays – 2 pm to 4 pm
- Wednesdays - 2 pm to 4 pm
- Thursdays – 9 am to 11:30 AM
- Fridays – 1 pm to 3 pm
- Saturdays - 2 pm to 4 pm
Call 321-861- 5601 for information.
Eagle Presentation and Eagle Watch at Merritt Island NWR
Join a Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer for a presentation at the refuge visitor center on the natural history of the American Bald Eagle at 1 pm on Tuesdays: 2/14, 2/21, and 2/28 and on Wednesdays, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22 and 2/29. After the program, weather permitting, a volunteer will be stationed along the Black Point Wildlife Drive between Stops 11 and 12 with a spotting scope. Stop by to get close views of adult American Bald Eagles on their nest from 2 pm to 4 pm. Call 321-861-5601 for information. The Black Point Wildlife Drive is located along State Road 406, approximately 5 miles east of U.S. 1 in Titusville.
The Stunning Roseate Spoonbill
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a photo presentation about the Roseate Spoonbill. Learn about the spoonbill's natural history while enjoying beautiful images of this stunning bird. The program is scheduled for Thursday, February 2 at 2 pm at the Refuge Visitor Center. Take a drive in your own vehicle on Black Point Wildlife Drive to find this unusual bird in the wild. Please call 321-861-6501 to make reservations.
Nature Hike at the Refuge
Join Merritt Island National Wildlife volunteers for an easy guided walking tour along the 1/4-mile Visitor Center Boardwalk loop scheduled for Saturdays, February 4 and 25 at 11 am. Learn about the plants and animals that live in the fresh water pond and hammock habitats. The Visitor Center's 1/4 mile boardwalk trail is wheelchair accessible.
To make reservations call at 321-861-5601.
Duck Identification Presentation & Tour
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge volunteer, Al Brayton, will present a 3-4 hour program about the ducks of the Refuge on Sunday, February 5 at 1 pm. He will cover identification tips and natural history of the commonly seen ducks. The program will start with a photo presentation at the Visitor Center, followed by driving tour of Black Point Wildlife Drive in the Refuge shuttle bus. Loaner binoculars and field guides will be available.
All About Alligators
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a program about the American alligator. View a photo presentation, handle gator artifacts, learn some fun facts and find out where the "big boys" hang out. The presentations will be held at the Visitor Center Auditorium on Thursdays, February 9 and February 23 at 2 pm and on Saturday, February 25 at 1 pm.
Space is limited. Please call 321-861-5601 to make reservations.
Adopt An Area at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge's litter control program was rolled out in April 2009. Individuals, families, civic groups, clubs, school groups and businesses have participated in the program. Over 690 bags of litter have been removed from the refuge. The initiative is patterned after the national Adopt a Road program. Many areas are still open for adoption including interior roads, shorelines, trails, and spots such as boat launches and the north refuge entrance. Participating members of the program will commit to 3 litter clean ups per year in their adopted area. Please call 321-861-0668 for more information.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge's Litter Campaign
Adopt a Trail...Shore...Spot...Road Program
Volunteers
An exciting program has just been rolled out to the general public. Adopt an Area is underway. Adopt an Area is patterned after the national Adopt a Road program. The objectives of the program are to reduce and control litter on the Refuge through public involvement, improve Refuge habitats, improve the overall appearance of the Refuge to enhance visitor experiences, and increase stewardship from the local community.
Organizations including families, businesses, professional associations, clubs, civic clubs, and school groups will be encouraged to participate. Each organization will agree to a one or two year commitment and will conduct clean ups in their Adopted Area at least three times per year for at least three hours each time.
Interior roadways such as Biolab Road and Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, shorelines inside the Refuge and along roadways and dikes, trails, and spots such as the Refuge entrance and the Manatee Deck are available for adoption. Designations will be Adopt a Shore, Adopt a Road, Adopt a Trail, and Adopt a Spot.
Recognition for actively participating organizations will include a Certificate of Adoption suitable for framing and display, a permanent sign at the adopted area, listing in the Habichat, and an annual event such as a hot dog roast.
One press release has resulted in 3 agreements with 3 more pending.
During the summer we will evaluate the program and make changes as needed. Next fall, a campaign will be launched to recruit organizations and develop the program. If you know anyone who might be interested, please recruit them. Nancy is the first point of contact for interested organizations.
Optimism is high for success of Adopt an Area. The more aware and involved we all are in the program the greater our chances to succeed and make a real difference for the Refuge.
Kathy Eichinger
Refuge Volunteer
Please call Ranger Nancy Corona at 321-861-0668 for more information.
Please call 321-861-5601 for information. The Visitor Center is located on SR 402, 5 miles east of U.S. 1 in Titusville.
For more information, please contact us at:
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Refuge Ranger, Nancy Corona
P.O. Box 2683
Titusville, Florida 32781
321-861-0668
Email: Nancy_Corona@fws.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order creating Pelican Island as the country's first national wildlife refuge. Roosevelt went on to establish an additional 54 national wildlife refuges during his two terms and set historic conservation values for America. These values have grown into a system, which today, consists of 546 National Wildlife Refuges on more than 95 million acres of America's most important wildlife habitat.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 546 national wildlife refuges and over 3000 "mini-refuges" called Waterfowl Production Areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological Services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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Please contact Refuge Ranger Nancy Corona by phone at 321-861-0668
