Greenwood Jaunt

[bobpbx]

You and I were very close today Guy, but I was in the woods in the afternoon. The attached files show my tracks from my Jaunt into the football field area. It was a great hike. I tried to follow the Chamberlin Branch all the way to the end without using my GPS, and as you can see, I got pretty close, and even though there is no blue line on the topo where I was, I am certain the water flows down toward the Chamberlin. There is noting like hiking in this area, you really get close to the land, and can feel the lay of the pines really nice. Plus, there is a lot of variety in the fields.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10011/Greenwood_Jaunt.JPG

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10011/Greenwood_Jaunt2.JPG

I found an interesting sign in the fields. It is about 3 feet by 2 feet. It describes an initiative called the Greenwood Restoration Project. They cleared 25 acres and have made one giant field, and they plan to have it sparesly treed and keep it that way. They are trying to bring back certain endangered species such as the red-headed woodpecker and grasshopper sparrow. The are taking another 16 acres and thinning out the trees for other species. They even show large before and after depictions (photos).

 

[Teegate]

Did you get photo's of the sign?

I was in that water area a few weeks back. There are a bunch of stones near 1f and 1e but I ran out of time. I walked in from the gated parking are on 539 and crossed the rye field to the other side of the water area above 1f.

A very nice area but on the side I was on there has been some disturbances of the border of the property.

Thankf for the report Bob. We have to go together one day there.

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Did you get photo's of the sign?

No, I have no camera yet.

 

[woodjin]

I found an interesting sign in the fields. It is about 3 feet by 2 feet. It describes an initiative called the Greenwood Restoration Project. They cleared 25 acres and have made one giant field, and they plan to have it sparesly treed and keep it that way. They are trying to bring back certain endangered species such as the red-headed woodpecker and grasshopper sparrow. The are taking another 16 acres and thinning out the trees for other species. They even show large before and after depictions (photos).

I think I posted a picture of that sign a few months ago. But I could be mistaken. I know I took a picture of it but I can't find it now. I might have deleted it 'cause it was not legible.

Anyway. I remember thinking the sign was out of place out there, especially because it is in an area that is mostly blocked off to vehicular traffic. It is odd to come across this big sign in such a remote area. But I guess it is a highly disturbed area anyway. What was strange, as I recall, was that it depicted the area as being home to the endangered pine and rattlesnakes in the "before" and in the "after" had these birds. It seems odd that they would destroy the habitat of a threatened snake. But it is a man made environment to begin with. It was a few months ago that I saw this...did I recall that correctly Bob?

Jeff

 

[woodjin]

Bob, those ponds near 539...very cool huh? That is where I saw all those newborn toads that time. I recall that you and I had a discussion concerning the origins of those ponds. I suspect they were natural but where damed up to serve as a reservior for the bogs on the other side of 539.

Jeff

 

[bobpbx]

I think I posted a picture of that sign a few months ago. But I could be mistaken. I know I took a picture of it but I can't find it now. I might have deleted it 'cause it was not legible.

Anyway. I remember thinking the sign was out of place out there, especially because it is in an area that is mostly blocked off to vehicular traffic. It is odd to come across this big sign in such a remote area. But I guess it is a highly disturbed area anyway. What was strange, as I recall, was that it depicted the area as being home to the endangered pine and rattlesnakes in the "before" and in the "after" had these birds. It seems odd that they would destroy the habitat of a threatened snake. But it is a man made environment to begin with. It was a few months ago that I saw this...did I recall that correctly Bob?

Jeff

Yes, it does seem out of place. I'm betting the company that designed the habitat did not know it was inaccessible to most when they made it. I hope they keep the area closed off to vehicles. That is something I really like about it. I did not remember seeing the word rattlesnake and there were no before/after pictures of birds "in" the habitat photo, though they did have a photo of the woodpecker.

 

[bobpbx]

Bob, those ponds near 539...very cool huh? That is where I saw all those newborn toads that time. I recall that you and I had a discussion concerning the origins of those ponds. I suspect they were natural but where damed up to serve as a reservior for the bogs on the other side of 539.

Jeff

Jeff, I think the powerline road was a necessary dam for the one side. But, who knows, it may have been a natural little pond even before that. The hill on the south side rises to 174 feet, making for a lot of collection in one spot.