News from Friends of Lower Haw River State Natural Area
February 2020
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Ways to Love Nature in February!
All events are free and open to the public.
Not Quite Full Moon Hike - February 7th from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
During the winter, when the moon is almost full, it's fun to take a nighttime hike. With the trees bare, there is plenty of light. You don't even need a flashlight! This is a great opportunity to enjoy the winter woods by the light of the moon. Join us for a Not Quite Full Moon Hike along the Haw River in Bynum to Pokeberry Creek and back, about 1.5 miles round trip. Dress warmly in layers. Please, no flashlights or dogs on this hike. Meet at 8:00 pm at the entrance to the lower Bynum Mill parking lot off Bynum Church Road. Hike depends on weather and river conditions and may be canceled if conditions are not suitable. Pre-registration not required, but if you want to be notified of cancellation then please email your RSVP to lowerhawevents@gmail.com.
Family Nature Heart Adventure - February 16th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Does your family love nature? Come enjoy the winter woods in the Lower Haw River State Natural Area. Our family adventure will begin with a short scavenger hunt, searching for hearts that nature has created along the Haw River. These may be found in leaves, rocks or lichens. Who knows what we will find! After our hike we will create some Valentine nature art in the shape of hearts made from materials found in the woods. Enjoy a walk by the river and make a Valentine nature art project. All ages welcome! Meet in the lower Bynum Mill parking lot off Bynum Church Road. No pre-registration required.
Directions to Lower Bynum Mill Parking Lot:
The Bynum Mill Access parking lot is located at the Haw River between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. From US 15-501, turn on Durham-Eubanks Road and follow it to the stop sign. At the stop sign, cross over Bynum Road and continue uphill on Bynum Church Road. After passing the church, continue downhill on Bynum Church Road and the large State Parks parking lot will be on the right. Please, drive slowly in the Bynum community!
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Whack-Attack Workday on February 15th from 9:00 to 11:30 am
Friends of Lower Haw is holding another Whack-Attack workday to remove invasive plant species in the Bynum Mill area of the Lower Haw River State Natural Area. Sign up by contacting lowerhawevents@gmail.com with "Invasives" in the subject line.
State Parks biologists will once again supervise the workday. Invasive species workdays typically involve identifying and removing non-native plant species using clippers, pruners, saws, or any other non-motorized hand tool. Park staff will be able to use motorized equipment like chainsaws and brush saws for larger plants. Learn about invasive plant species and removal techniques. All tools will be provided. Bring work gloves, insect repellent and water. Wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and long sleeve shirt.
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Now Recruiting Spring Bird House Monitors
With spring not as far away as it might seem, it's time for another season of bird box monitoring along the Lower Haw. We have 15 bird nest boxes ready for volunteers to adopt and monitor throughout the spring and summer. Feel free to volunteer to monitor a single box, or more than one box especially if multiple boxes are nearby. See this map with locations of all the boxes. Adoption is a commitment for the entire breeding season. There are different date ranges for each of the boxes, roughly corresponding with possible breeding seasons for the specific bird species the box is designed to attract. Ideally, volunteers would check their box(es) weekly throughout the season to see if there is any activity. Use this link to add your name next to the box or boxes that you would like to adopt. For more information or questions, contact lowerhawevents@gmail.com with "Bird Box Monitoring" in the subject line.
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River Clean-Up on March 21st
Friends of Lower Haw will once again have teams participating in Haw River Assembly's annual Haw River Clean-Up-A-Thon on the morning of March 21st. Our teams work in sites along the Lower Haw River State Natural Area. If you would like to volunteer for a Friends of Lower Haw team, please contact lowerhawevents@gmail.com with "Clean-Up" in the subject line to sign up or for more information.
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Hearts in Nature
Our cover photo was taken by Patrick Mueller, who also volunteers as our website administrator! Patrick captured this heart shape in nature.
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Follow Us on Instagram and Twitter!
We've expanded our social media presence! In addition to Facebook you can now follow us on Instagram (@lowerhawfriends) and Twitter (@LowerHawFriends). Post your favorite photos of the Lower Haw River State Natural Area on Instagram or send us a Tweet letting us know what you love about this special place.
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2019 Annual Report Now Available!
Friends of Lower Haw 2019 Annual Report is now available online at our website on our Publications page. Read about what we've been doing in 2019! Annual Reports for prior years are also available on our website.
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Watch 60-second Video About the Lower Haw River SNA!
See spectacular scenery in our 60-second video about the Lower Haw River State Natural Area and the Lower Haw Trails Plan. Produced by Destination by Design, it was funded by a grant from Triangle Community Foundations' Support for Places Awareness Program. Want to see more? We also have a 5-minute video with interviews! Watch both videos at www.lowerhaw.org
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