April Walks

Field Work With A Naturalist

These walks will focus primarily on the Preserve uplands, although a few beach walks are scheduled, and include areas not frequently visited, both inside and outside the gate.

Bring a sense of adventure and exploration as we visit locations seldom seen but always interesting, you never know what will turn up on any given day. We’ll find ourselves off the trail in the woods and meadows, but that’s the nature of exploration.

The walks will last approximately two hours and binoculars will be helpful.We will do a bit of crosscountry bushwhacking through the old fairways, woods and meadow areas so wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately. Please check the app for weather cancellations and/or changes in meeting location.

Full Moon Walks

Explore the Preserve after hours with Naturalist Joe Fehrer, as we cede the night back to our nocturnal neighbors. We’ll view the setting sun as it drops from view across the lower Bay with the moon rising over our shoulder and across Plantation Creek, creating a landscape dappled in black and white.

Walking along the Preserve golf cart trail after dark helps to add a bit of mystery and can distort your perception of distance and place, providing a unique sensory experience. This is a great way to see, and hear, the Preserve in a completely different and unique way. Plan to join us for this leisurely 90-minute walk, you won’t be disappointed.

Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately. A flashlight is recommended as well as a hiking stick for the walk. Please check the app for weather-related cancellations and/or changes in meeting times.

History Walks

Delve into the region’s rich history, starting in the late Eocene Epoch and the spectacular geological event that defined the region. Then, we’ll move into the geology of the Eastern Shore and the “tug” between water and land, resulting from the last glaciation.

Learn about the early peoples of the peninsula, their cultures and adaptation to the ever-changing landscape; then, the arrival of the Europeans and into the colonial period. We’ll cover the Civil War’s impact on the lower shore, and how the railroad, the great depression and two world wars shaped the region. Then we follow the development of Cape Charles, ending in modern times, here, at Bay Creek.

Please dress appropriately. Check the app for weather-related cancellations and/or changes in meeting locations.

WATERFOWL & WADING BIRDS

Join us as we visit the ponds and beach in search of waterfowl and wading birds. We’ll also see the last of the winter shore and songbirds as well as raptors, depending on our location. These walks allow residents and guests to explore the property and its living resources with Naturalist Joe Fehrer.

These are slow-paced walks, allowing ample time for observation and conversation about the living resources and other phenomena we’re observing. The walks will last about two hours.

We’ll be on the beach or the Preserve uplands so wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately (binoculars are recommended). Weather permitting, we may also hold a few marsh walks which will require waterproof footwear. An update and reminder will be posted on the app. Please check the app frequently for weather-related cancellations and/or changes in meeting locations.