11 Hardscrabble Road
PO Box 693
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
(908) 766-5787
E-mail: scherman-hoffman@njaudubon.org

HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. / Closed Mondays

CLOSURES: Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving.

Scherman-Hoffman Information Page

EVERY DAY AT SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Office is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. Trails are open seven days, dawn to 5:00 p.m. (park in the Scherman Lot if visiting Mondays or before 9:00 a.m. other days).
VISIT the Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education.
SHOP our nature store. We are the area’s best source for binoculars, spotting scopes, bird seed, feeders, field guides, natural history books, and nature gifts.
WATCH our state-of-the-art feeding station.
HIKE our three miles of trails that meander through forest and fields and along the headwaters of the Passaic River. The sanctuary is contiguous to Morristown National Historic Park and the Cross Estate.
LEARN from our educational materials, exhibits, and expert naturalists. In addition to the programs and field trips listed below, we offer group programs and tours for schools, scouts, clubs, and other organizations by reservation at least 2 weeks ahead. We also offer a wide variety of lectures and slide programs for club meetings and special events. Please call for more information and the fee schedule for these programs.

Program Registration Information: Program registration information: Checks should be made payable to NJAS and sent to P.O. Box 693, Bernardsville, NJ 07924, or brought to the Hoffman Nature Center during open hours. Indicate which program(s) you are registering for, and please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number in case we need to contact you. It is also possible to register by phoning us during office hours; please have your credit card ready. Prepaid registration ensures a place and is required for all trips. Walk-ins are possible for in-house programs at the Hoffman Nature Center if not full. No refunds except in case of cancellation by us. No cancellation for bad weather unless specifically stated.

Tips and rules for all field trips: We target the best sites for natural history at this season and invite birders and naturalists at all levels. Trips go in any weather. See the individual trip descriptions for hoped-for highlights. Preregistration is required so that we can notify participants of last-minute changes in time or meeting place. Trips begin at the site promptly at the specified time and normally travel by car caravan to other nearby locations.

For directions Click Here, or directions can be mailed on request. Bring lunch, water, binoculars, sunscreen, extra layers of clothes, and wear shoes that can get a little muddy. Leaders will have scopes; feel free to bring your own. Focused children accompanied by an adult are invited.

Click Here for more tips on how to prepare for and enjoy field trips.

Whether you register for programs by mail or phone, please be sure to provide the following information: Your name, address, phone, and e-mail; dates and titles of program(s) you are registering for; name and phone of an emergency contact; and whether you will get instructions from the Web site or will need them mailed.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT THE HOFFMAN CENTER

BIRDSEED SALE DAYS:
Orders are due by Saturday, September 13, to pick up your birdseed on Saturday, September 27. Orders are due by Saturday, November 22, to pick up your birdseed on Saturday, December 6. Preordered birdseed can be picked up at the Hoffman Building between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The seed order form is on the Web Here.

BEGINNING BIRDING: BACKYARD BIRDFEEDING
Saturday, September 27
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
(drop in anytime)
It is estimated that over seventy-five million people nationwide are feeding birds in their backyards – that’s a lot of happy squirrels! Whether you’re new to this fun and informative activity or just looking to expand your existing feeding station, why not stop by this workshop before or after picking up your seed. Store manager Denis Cleary will demonstrate the latest “squirrel-proof” feeders and answer questions concerning your individual feeding situations. Please leave your squirrels at home.
Cost: free.

SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY RESTORATION TOUR
Saturday, September 27
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
In the fall of 2004 we installed a deer exclosure fence at the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary. Since that time, we have been removing invasive species and planting native species throughout the fifteen-acre area. Join Michael Pollock for a morning walk in the exclosure and the immediately adjacent areas to examine and discuss the progress we have been making in forest and meadow restoration.
With Michael Pollock
Cost: free.

FREE NATURE WALKS AT SCHERMAN-HOFFMAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Every Friday and Saturday
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Meet at the Hoffman Center. Normally led by Michael Pollock on Fridays and Mike Anderson on Saturdays, these walks on wide, well-maintained trails are slow-paced and informative, and are a great way to introduce friends and family to NJAS – bring a friend!
Cost: free.

BACKYARD HABITAT WORKSHOP – SHRUBS FOR WILDLIFE
Thursday, October 2
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The birds are headed south for the winter, but now is the time to begin planning for their return next summer. Fall is the time to plant shrubs, so in this workshop, we will focus on shrubs that provide fruits and flowers for birds and butterflies. Tips for growing shrubs in the presence of herbivores will also be discussed. Then we will examine each of our own yards for ways that habitat can be improved. Bring a clean scale drawing (a copy of the survey works best). Yard size doesn’t matter, but the size of the drawing should be no larger than 11"x 17". With Michael Pollock
Cost: $8 members, $15 nonmembers.

NOTE: Additional Backyard Habitat workshops will be scheduled, as interest dictates, through the fall and winter. If you are interested in attending, please send an e-mail to Michael Pollack.

HIKE THROUGH HISTORY
at Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary and Adjacent Morristown National Historic Park and the Cross Estate
Sunday, October 19
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Join Gordon Thomas Ward, author of
A Bit of Earth, as he leads you through one billion years of history along 2.5 miles of the Sherman-Hoffman Sanctuary and Morristown National Historical Park trails. Listen to stories of the Wisconsin Glacier, Logtown, sawmills, forges, a Revolutionary War troop encampment, Lenape burial grounds, the Cross Estate, and local folklore while you walk the hills, fields, and brooks of this historic and environmentally significant area. Bring the family and wear sturdy walking shoes for this entertaining hike. Gordon will autograph books after the hike.
Cost: free.

NJAS AGRITOURISM FIELD TRIP INITIATIVE

Half-Day Field Trip for Wildlife Watching at Bobolink Dairy and Bakeyard, Vernon, Sussex County
September 20
8:00 a.m. to noon.
Led by John Parke.
This 200-plus-acre farm located in scenic Sussex County has some of the best grassland bird habitat in this section of the N.J. Highlands, and offers opportunities to view numerous fall migrants, including Bobolink! The farm’s mix of woodland, pasture, fields, and streams also offers opportunities to view Black Bear, Eastern Coyote, Red and Gray Foxes, as well as raptors, warblers, and waterfowl. Bobolink Dairy and Bakeyard will have for sale their hand-made breads baked in an outdoor, wood-fired brick oven; farm-fresh eggs from free-range chickens; and their famous artisanal cheeses made from the raw milk of their grass-fed dairy herd. For more information about the Bobolink Dairy and Bakeyard see http://www.cowsoutside.com/  Parking is limited, so please preregister with NJAS to receive directions to the farm. Limit: 15.
Cost: free.
 
Half-Day Field Trip for Farmland and Ridgeline Wildlife at DanaRay Farm, Frankford, Sussex County
September 27
8:00 a.m. to noon.
Led by John Parke.
Located at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge in Sussex County, the biodynamic DanaRay Farm will be our meeting point for a leisurely half-mile hike on the Appalachain Trail to the Sunrise Mountain overlook. No strollers, please. The area offers excellent woodland bird habitat and opportunities to view resident Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, and Pileated Woodpecker, as well as numerous Neotropical migrants and raptors on their way south. This area provides panoramic views of rural New Jersey and is also home to Black Bear, Bobcat, and Porcupine as well as various reptiles and amphibians. Bring your camera! The farm will have for sale farm-fresh eggs and their locally famous soaps, handcrafted onsite from the milk of their Alpine dairy goats. (You can also purchase DanaRay Goat’s Milk Soap at the Sherman-Hoffman Bookstore.) See http://www.danarayfarm.com for additional information. Parking is limited to seven cars, so please preregister with NJAS to receive directions to the farm. Note: There are no public restrooms at the farm.
Cost: free.
 
Half-Day Field Trip for Skylands Wildlife  at Howling Wolf Farm, Hope, Warren County
October 25
9:00 a.m. to noon.
Led by John Parke.
This 200-plus-acre farm located in Warren County has it all: grasslands, wetlands, woodland, and farm fields. This patchwork of diverse habitat offers opportunities to view Black Bear, Eastern Coyote, Red Fox, and Mink. Numerous resident bird species such as Wild Turkey, Eastern Bluebird, Barred Owl, and Pileated Woodpecker are regulars here. Bring the kids – a great day for a family outing in the countryside. Howling Wolf Farm will have for sale an array of their freshly picked produce, farm-fresh meats, cut flowers, and it’s the time of year to harvest pumpkins! See: http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M5169  for additional details. Parking is limited so please preregister to receive directions to the farm. Note: There are no public restrooms at the farm. Limit: 15 people.
Cost: free.
Call John Parke at 908.766.5787 x 18 to preregister for these trips.

CLASSIC FIELD TRIPS

The best destinations, the best leaders. Collectively, our Classic Field Trips sample all N.J. birding has to offer, not to mention botany, butterflies, and other aspects of natural history. These all-day trips go to midafternoon or later (you can opt to leave early if you need or want to) unless otherwise indicated. Bird checklists will be provided; results from past Classic Field Trips are posted on our Web site.

OLD MINE ROAD: WALPACK BEND
Sunday, September 14
8:00 a.m. to midafternoon
Join associate naturalist Dennis Briede to search for fall migrants in the Walpack Bend area of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This area is very good for warblers, thrushes, vireos, Bald Eagles, and other passerines.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

BEGINNING BIRDING FIELD TRIPS: GREAT SWAMP
Saturday, September 20
Saturday, November 15
9:00 a.m. until noon
We’ll start by observing the birds at the bird feeders outside the bookstore window at the Hoffman Center and then migrate to the Great Swamp, always a great destination. Led by Rich Borzelli.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers. (can be applied to membership).

PINE BARRENS
Sunday, October 5
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
An all-day trip in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the first national Biosphere Reserve. The group will study Pine Barrens ecology, botany, geology and soils, the ecosystem’s adaptations to forest fires, some local specialties (including pine barrens gentian), and other facets of natural history in this unique region of New Jersey. With naturalist Rick Radis and possibly another leader. Bring rubber boots if you have them.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Lucille’s Restaurant on Route 539 in Warren Grove.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

COLD BROOK PARK FOR MIGRANTS
Saturday, October 11
8:00 a.m. to midafternoon
Cold Brook Park has a reputation for good numbers of migrants at this time of year. Led by NJAS associate naturalist Dave Harrison.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers.

SPARROWS AT WARREN GREEN ACRES
NEW DATE: Sunday, October 5
Sunday, November 2
8:00 a.m. to noon
Warren Green Acres site is a magnet for migrant sparrows in the fall, and no one knows the site better than leader Mike Newlon.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers.

WALLKILL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Saturday, October 25
Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Visit the Wallkill River NWR with local expert and associate naturalist Ken Witkowski for short-distance migrants and raptors.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.
Saturday, November 8
Meet at 9:00 a.m.
Join Lloyd Shaw for a day in Ocean County visiting Double Trouble State Park, the Crossley Preserve, and NJAS’s Hovnanian Preserve.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

FREE NATURE WALKS

HIKE THROUGH HISTORY at Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary and Adjacent Morristown National Historic Park and Cross Estate
Sunday, October 19
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Join Gordon Thomas Ward, author of A Bit of Earth, as he leads you through one billion years of history along 2½ miles of the Sherman-Hoffman Sanctuary and Morristown National Historical Park trails. Listen to stories of the Wisconsin Glacier, Logtown, sawmills, forges, a Revolutionary War troop encampment, Lenape burial grounds, the Cross Estate, and local folklore while you walk the hills, fields and brooks of this historic and environmentally significant area. Bring the family and wear sturdy walking shoes for this entertaining hike. Gordon will autograph books after the hike.
Cost: free.

NATURE WALKS at Kittatinny Valley SP, Andover, Sussex County
Sundays, September 7 and 14, October 5 and 12, November 2 and 9
(First and second Sundays of September, October, and November)
Meeting times: 8:00 a.m. in September; 8:30 a.m. in October and November.
Trips last through late morning.
Led by Tom Halliwell, Joe Burgiel, or other NJAS naturalists. Cosponsored by NJAS and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee. Meet in the parking lot on the left at the south end of Twin Lakes on Goodale Road, Andover. This is about 0.5 miles east of Route 206. (DeLorme 24, G-2; Boyle p. 44). Bring binoculars.

HAWK WATCHING

BEGINNER HAWK WATCH AT WASHINGTON VALLEY PARK/CHIMNEY ROCK
Saturdays, September 13 and 20
Sundays, September 14 and 21
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The only county park-owned hawk watch in New Jersey is located in the Somerset County Park Commission’s Washington Valley Park. The watch is located on the southern edge of the Watchung Ridge, and is a good location to witness southbound migrant hawks in the fall. Mid-September to early October is the best time to see the greatest number and diversity of hawk species. NJAS and the Somerset County Park Commission will have seasoned hawk watchers at “The Rock” to help find and identify southbound hawks.
DIRECTIONS: The Chimney Rock Hawk Watch is located on the First Watchung Ridge in Martinsville. It is most easily accessible from Interstate 287. From the north or south, take
I-287 to the exit for Route 22 east.
Follow Route 22 east for approximately one mile. Turn right onto the jughandle at Vosseler Avenue. Turn left onto Vosseler Avenue and cross Route 22. Proceed uphill until you reach the top (about 0.6 miles). Look for Miller Lane on your left. Turn left onto Miller Lane. Drive about 0.5 miles down Miller Lane to the parking lot for the hawk watch. NOTE: Miller Lane is narrow and mostly gravel, with a number of private residences along it. Please drive slowly and yield to oncoming cars. The trail to the hawk watch begins at the far end of the parking lot.
No preregistration. Just come and stay as long as you want.
Cost: free.

MONTCLAIR HAWK LOOKOUT: FIFTY-SECOND ANNIVERSERY OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, September 14
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Montclair Hawk Lookout remains the best place, and this is the best time, to see thousands of Broad-winged Hawks migrate over the Lookout. The window for peak Broad-winged Hawk migration is September 14 to September 25. The high count was over 17,000 hawks on September 16, 1988, at the dedication of the lookout in memory of Andy Bihune. Big Flights are weather-dependent. We can only hope for a big one during our annual open house on September 14. (You can’t see them if you’re not there….)
Bring water, binoculars, visor or hat and wear a smile on your heart. We will have some loaner binoculars available.
Cost: Free.

SCOTTS MOUNTAIN HAWK WATCH
Saturday, October 11
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Located on the edge of Merrill Creek Reservoir, this site is handicapped-accessible and offers views of waterfowl and gulls along with the larger late-season hawks.
No preregistration. Just come, and stay as long as you’d like.
Cost: Free.
DIRECTIONS: To reach the Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch: Take I-78 west to Exit 3, the last exit in New Jersey. Go 1.1 miles to the traffic light at Route 519 and turn right (north). Go 2.2 miles north on 519, crossing Route 57, and turn right onto Fox Farm Road, at the small sign for Merrill Creek Reservoir. Go 2.6 miles – bearing right at the fork after one mile – to the entrance to the parking lot, on the right.

Members receive discounts on program fees. If you are not a member and would like to become one, consider Joining New Jersey Audubon Society.