ERF 2005 - Getting Out Into the Field

Pre-registration is required if you plan to participate in a field trip/tour. Please sign up for only one field trip per day. Cost includes roundtrip transportation from the Waterside Marriott, lunches as noted in individual field trip write-ups. The prices associated with each field trip are based on a group of 10-person minimum, with the exception of the Bird Watching field trip, which requires a 14-person minimum. If you are unable to attend the field trip and cancel after September 23, 2005, fees will not be refundable.

Wetlands of North Carolina
Date: Saturday, October 15 through Sunday, October 16 (Two Full Days)
Depart: Saturday, October 15 at 7:00 a.m.
Return: Sunday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $310 per person

Join us on a 2-day field trip. We will depart from the Norfolk Waterside Marriott at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15 and return at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16. We will visit a variety of wetlands in eastern North Carolina and go to riverine bottomland hardwoods, pocosin peatlands, sea-level controlled non-tidal swamp forests and brackish marshes, and tidal marshes. During our trip, we will discuss the historical development, current functioning, and human-induced alterations of these wetlands. Field Trip Fee includes overnight accommodations at the Comfort Inn, Kill Devils Hill. It is recommended that you bring the following items: knee boots, outdoor gear, and binoculars. Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and Sunday lunch will be on your own.

Coastal Geology, Lynnhaven Inlet to Sandbridge Beach
Date: Saturday, October 15 (Full Day)
Depart: 8:00 a.m.
Return: 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $100 per person

This all day field trip will consist of 7-9 stops beginning at Lynnhaven Inlet on the southern-most shore of the Chesapeake Bay and ending approximately 26 km east and south at Sandbridge Beach. Along the way, we examine natural and unnatural beach morphology, historical shoreline change trends and various attempts by public and private entities to combat long-term erosion – including the $103 million Beach Erosion and Hurricane Protection Project at the Virginia Beach resort area and the “controversial” bulkheads and beach nourishment project at Sandbridge. We will see evidence of some of the rich American history in the region, including the site of the first landing at Cape Henry (named after the 13 year old popular Prince of Wales), monuments to Revolutionary War sea battles, and the oldest government-built lighthouse in America. While at Cape Henry, we unfold the geologic history of the regressive ridge and swale complex at Seashore State Park and enjoy its ecologic features (the northern-most extent of Spanish Moss on bald cypress trees). One of the stops on this field trip is Fort Story. In order to gain entrance to this facility, it is necessary to have a state or federal issued photo identification. (e.g. US citizens must have a driver's license or passport and non-US citizens must have a passport). Lunch will be on your own.

Lower Chesapeake Bay Tour
Date: Saturday, October 15 (Full Day)
Depart: 8:00 a.m.
Return: 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $100 per person

Take a tour on a research vessel on this one-day field trip cruising the Chesapeake Bay. We will start at the mouth of the Bay near Fisherman’s Island, one of the many barrier islands on the Delmarva Peninsula, and then cruise up the bay past the 20 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (designated as “one of the 7 engineering wonders of the modern world”) towards the York River. You will learn about the biological resources of the bay, and discuss how circulation patterns, nutrient cycling and low dissolved oxygen phenomena influence them. Lunch will be provided.

Sea Kayaking on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
Cost: ½ Day Tour: $115.00 per person and Full Day Tour: $165.00 per person

Date: Saturday, October 15
Half-Day: Depart at 7:30 a.m.; Return at 2:30 p.m.
Full Day: Depart at 7:30 a.m.; Return at 5:30 p.m.

Date: Sunday, October 16
Half-Day: Depart at 7:30 a.m.; Return at 2:30 p.m.

Explore the many marsh creeks and beaches on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in a sea kayak with SouthEast Expeditions. On half-day or full-day tours you can explore the maze of tidal creeks that meander through extensive mainland marshes and interior barrier islands or ride the tide as it runs out a tidal river into a coastal lagoon. Local guides will inform you of the natural history of the area as well as the unique history of the old settlements of this once thriving shell fishing region. Lunch will be included on both the ½ day and full day tour.

Cherrystone Aqua-Farm
Date: Saturday, October 15 (1/2 Day Only)
Depart: 9:00 a.m.
Return: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $45.00 per person

Visit the largest clam grower in the country, located in Cheriton on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where 1 million clams are sent to market each week. The Cherrystone Aqua-Farm started as an idea to sell 5 million clams per year and now sells approximately 63 million per year, with a staff of 75. Tour the Aqua-Farm and see where the brood stock are kept, the indoor and outdoor facilities for growing out the clams, the barges and equipment for planting out, and the grading and packaging facilities for preparing the clams for market distribution. Lunch will be on your own.

Bird Watching in the Virginia Maritime Region
Date: Sunday, October 16 (Full Day)
Depart: 8:00 a.m.
Return: 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $65.00 per person

Fall is an excellent to time view birds in the maritime region of Virginia. This one-day field trip will visit several locations where a variety of pelagic birds, songbirds, and raptors will be seen. We will stop on the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel where pelagic birds can be seen at the freshwater ponds of the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge and at Kiptopeke State Park where there is a songbird banding station. In the raptor research area at Kiptopeke, we will have a demonstration of the banding of hawks, kestrels, osprey and other birds of prey. Kiptopeke’s hawk observatory is among the top 15 nationwide. It is recommended that you bring the following items on this field trip: binoculars, hiking boots, and windbreaker. Lunch will be provided.

Exploring the Coastal Lagoons and Barrier Islands of the Virginia Coast Reserve
Date: Sunday, October 16 (Full Day)
Depart: 8:00 a.m.
Return: 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $105.00 per person

The Virginia Coast Reserve is a coastal wilderness on the Delmarva Peninsula that includes salt marshes, beaches, coastal lagoons and barrier islands. The barrier islands run more than 60 miles south from the Maryland border to the Chesapeake Bay, and the Nature Conservancy owns all or part of 14 of the 18 Virginia barrier islands. Your guides for this one-day field trip will be the directors of the two field stations on the eastern shore. You will explore the dynamic barrier islands and lagoons by outboard boats, and will learn of the work being done on coastal ecology in the area. It is recommended that you bring the following items while attending this field trip: Outdoor gear, binoculars and change of clothes and shoes because you will get wet and muddy. Lunch will be provided.

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