Waterfowl of John Heinz NWR
The spectacular beauty of the breeding plumage of waterfowl is a sight to behold. It is at its brightest and most beautiful during the winter months when males use their colorful plumage to attract females and pair bonds are formed. Join leader and waterfowl aficionado Dorothy Bedford as she guides us through Heinz NWR, a celebrated winter waterfowl destination adjacent to the Delaware River, where we have the chance to see over 20 species of ducks, geese, and swans.
This outing will be at a relaxed pace on fully accessible flat trails and will last about 2 hours, although you may leave at any time. We will begin at the parking area and travel to the observation tower, a distance of about 1 mile. Back-tracking to the parking lot from there will be at your own pace.
For those interested in completing the entire Wetland Loop trail, please bring a lunch or snacks – we will eat at the observation tower (a restroom is available there) before meandering the final 2.5 miles along the loop and back to the parking lot. This part of the trail will take us through completely different habitats as well as past a Bald Eagle nest and the heronry where Great Blue Herons should already be nesting, and should take another 2-3 hours to complete.
All experience levels and those who require ADA-accessibility are welcome to join us, as are all ages (although children must be accompanied by an adult.) Bring binoculars if you have them; the leaders will carry spotting scopes to share.
Restrooms are available near the trailhead and at the observation tower.
Meet on the right side of the main parking lot as you first drive in.
More refuge information can be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/
