On Saturday, August 28th, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, is offering a family ecology cruise aboard the Yankee Clipper.

Lisa Hutchings of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Harbor Tour’s Yankee Clipper will host this exploratory cruise of the ecosystem of the lower Merrimack River that runs through Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury.

You’ll conduct hands-on science as we collect water samples, live specimens, and plankton. We’ll also look for wading birds, seals, and waterfowl on every trip. Your family will have a wonderful time exploring and learning about this vital part of the area’s natural history.

The tour is being offered from 8:45 am to 10:45 am. This is a nice way to see and learn about the ecology of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem.

Preregistration is required for this program. To register, please call 978-462-9998.

Where To Meet:

Meet at the Newburyport boardwalk (on the Merrimack River in downtown Newburyport)

Cost:

Adults: $20 for Mass Audubon members; $27 for nonmembers
Children: $16 for Mass Audubon members; $19 for nonmembers

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and on Monday holidays, 8:30 to 4:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. Harbor Seal Cruise Aboard The Yankee Clipper, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, June 19th When: Sunday, June 19th 2010, from 8:45 am to 10:45 am...
2. Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Saturday, August 6th When: Saturday, August 6th 2011, from 9:30 to 11:30 am...
3. Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Saturday, August 27th When: Saturday, August 27th 2011, from 9:30 to 11:30 am...

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When

On Sunday, June 6th, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, is offering a family ecology cruise aboard the Yankee Clipper.

This is a nice way to see and learn about the ecology of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem.

Lisa Hutchings of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Harbor Tour’s Yankee Clipper will host this exploratory cruise of the ecosystem of the lower Merrimack River that runs through Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury.

The tour is being offered from 8:45 am to 10:45 am

Preregistration is required for this program. To register, please call 978-462-9998.

Where To Meet:

Meet at the Newburyport boardwalk (on the Merrimack River in downtown Newburyport)

Cost:

Adults: $20 for Mass Audubon members; $27 for nonmembers
Children: $16 for Mass Audubon members; $19 for nonmembers

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and on Monday holidays, 8:30 to 4:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. Harbor Seal Cruise Aboard The Yankee Clipper, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, June 19th When: Sunday, June 19th 2010, from 8:45 am to 10:45 am...
2. Bald Eagles of the Merrimack River, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, February 5th, 2012 When: Sunday, February 5th, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12:00...
3. Wednesday Evening Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, June 8th When: Wednesday, June 8th 2011, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm...

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When

If you ever wanted to kayak and explore the waters around Plum Island looking for horseshoe crabs, check out the five-hour kayaking adventure being offered by Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport on Sunday and Monday, May 30th and 31st.

Go for a kayaking excursion in the calm waters around Plum Island to secluded areas where horseshoe crabs are visible during the springtime mating season.

This event is co-sponsored by Plum Island Kayak, Newburyport.

Choose one of two sessions.

• Sunday, May 30, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Monday, May 31, 11:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This event is for families with children ages 7 and up.

Location:

Meet at Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, One Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA.

Fee: $60. Price breaks for double kayaks and personal kayak use.

Registration: Preregistration is required. You can preregister by calling 978-462-9998 or drop in at the Center

Related posts:

1. Isles of Shoals Adventure by Kayak, Joppa Flats Education Center and Plum Island Kayak, Newburyport, Sunday, August 21st When: Sunday, August 21st 2011, from 7:00 am to 5:00...
2. Isles of Shoals Adventure by Kayak, Joppa Flats Education Center and Plum Island Kayak, Newburyport, Sunday, July 10th When: Sunday, July 10th 2011, from 7:00 am to 5:00...
3. Exploring the Merrimack River by Kayak, Joppa Flats Education Center and Plum Island Kayak, Newburyport, Wednesday, July 27th When: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 10:00 am to 4:30...

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A recent press release issued by the New Zealand-based National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) reports that a New Zealand great white shark that they had tagged has set a world record for the deepest ever known dive of 1200 meters (3,937 feet).

“A big shark called ‘Shack’, the biggest shark we have tagged, at 4.8 metres (15.75-ft), has set the world’s deepest great white shark dive record,” says NIWA Principal Scientist, Malcolm Francis. “And he made several other very deep dive records between 1000 and 1200 metres while crossing the ocean. Prior to this, we had recorded several at around 1000 metres, so it’s quite a substantial extension.”

Migratory Sharks

New Zealand scientists tagged Shack and 24 other great white sharks with electronic “pop-up” tags at Stewart and Chatham Islands, over a five year period. The high-tech tag records location, depth and temperature, and releases itself after a pre-determined time, usually 6–9 months, to transmit its data via satellite.

Of the 25 tagged sharks, four tags came off within the first two weeks. Movement tracks could be determined for nineteen sharks, and only one of those stayed near the tagging site the whole time; ‘Kara’, a big female shark, stayed near Stewart Island to Fiordland. The other 18 headed towards warmer tropical waters.

“Before we started this work, five years ago, it was thought that great white sharks were cold water animals. But it seems the great white sharks are taking tropical winter holidays, departing New Zealand between April and September, for somewhere warmer. The maximum distance migrated was 3300 km,” says Francis. One shark returned to its Chatham Islands tagging site after spending 6 months at Norfolk Island.

“Our sharks don’t cross the equator; so far our tagged animals have only gone as far north as 17 degrees south, north of New Caledonia,” says Francis.

They take long migratory trips making deep dives as they go. They can travel 150 km a day and it takes them just three weeks to get to Australia.

Great white sharks experience a huge range of water temperatures between 3 and 27 degrees Celsius.

Pop-up Tags

Tagging a shark is not an easy process.

“We have to attract them to the boat, with a berley of tuna oil and minced tuna. Then we use a long pole that has a needle tip on it. The tag has a monofilament nylon leader with a barbed plastic anchor on it. The anchor slides over the needle tip, which is injected under the skin of the shark with the pole,” says Department of Conservation (DOC) scientist Clinton Duffy.

“When the shark is close enough and at (hopefully) the right angle, we use the pole to stab the anchor into the muscle below the dorsal fin as it swims by,” says Duffy. “Lots of patience is needed because usually the shark is moving around, its back is exposed only for a short amount of time and the dorsal fin is out of reach.”

After nearly a year, the tag releases itself from the tether, floats to the ocean surface and starts sending the data via satellite, to France. “If the tag itself is recovered after washing ashore, we are able to extract much more high resolution data from it. So far, we have recovered 6 of our tags from the Pacific Ocean. These “pop-up” tags cost $5000 each, and they have a return to sender message on them.

“The tag leaders have a small guillotine on them, which can cut through the monofilament nylon, and release the tag if it goes too deep,” Says Duffy.

For more information about this great white shark program, read the entire article on the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) website.

Related posts:

1. Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, May 2, 2012 When: Wednesday, May 2nd 2012, from 9:30 am to 12:30...
2. Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, January 4th 2012 When: Wednesday, January 4th 2012, from 9:30 am to 12:30...
3. Wednesday Evening Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, May 16th, 2012 When: Wednesday, May 16th 2012, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm...

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When

The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is offering a free presentation, North Atlantic Salmon and their Merrimack Migration, on Saturday, April 10th at its Visitor Center in Newburyport.

You may have seen the aquarium in the Refuge’s Visitor Center and wanted to know more about the eggs inside. Come learn about these amazing fish as refuge staff teach about the life cycle and natural history of these travelers of the Merrimack.

No registration required for this presentation which will take place in the Refuge Visitor Center Auditorium. Space will be limited to its capacity.

Where To Meet:

Meet at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA

For more information, visit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge website.

Related posts:

1. Feathers, Wings & Flight, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Saturday, September 24th When: Saturday, September 24th 2011, from 5:30 pm to Sunset...
2. Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, April 11th 2012 When: Wednesday, April 11th 2012, from 9:30 am to 12:30...
3. Wednesday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, April 25th 2012 When: Wednesday, April 25th 2012, from 9:30 am to 12:30...

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Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center is offering a Marine Science Safari for children ages 7 to 12 on Saturday, October 17th at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island.

Participants will learn about the ecology, natural history, and environmental status of this Parker River National Wildlife Refuge ecosystem.

Parents are welcome but not required to stay.

Location: Meet at parking lot #1 at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island.

Fee: $11 for Mass Audubon members; $15 for non-members.

Pre-registration is required. You must register to attend this event.

How To Register: To register, please call the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center at 978-462-9998.

Related posts:

1. Shorebirds 101 For Adults, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Saturday, August 20th When: Saturday, August 20th 2011, from 9:00 am to 11:30...
2. Saturday Morning Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, March 17th 2012 When: Saturday, March 17th 2012, from 9:30 to 11:30 am...
3. Wednesday Evening Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, May 16th, 2012 When: Wednesday, May 16th 2012, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm...

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HOMESCHOOL FIELD TRIP: FISHING ABOARD THE ERICA LEE

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, is offering a homeschool field trip onboard the Erica Lee as part of this month’s focus on the euphotic zone.

The study session will be held on Tuesday, October 6th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  The program is for children ages 7 to 12. Parents are welcome but not required to stay.

Location: Meet at the Newburyport waterfront.

Fee: $35 for Mass Audubon members; $45 for non-members.

Pre-registration is required. You must register to attend this event.

How To Register: To register, please call the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center at 978-462-9998.

Related posts:

1. Seabirds and Whale Watching Trip, Onboard The Prince Of Whales, Joppa Flats Education Center and Newburyport Whale Watch, Saturday, July 23rd When: Saturday, July 23, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Where:...
2. Introduction to Butterflying, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Tuesday, July 26th When: Tuesday, July 26 th 2010, from 10:00 am to...
3. Introduction to Butterflying, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Tuesday, August 9th When: Tuesday, August 9th 2011, from 10:00 am to Noon Where:...

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When

On Sunday, October 4th, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, is offering a family ecology cruise aboard the Yankee Clipper.

This is a nice way to see and learn about the ecology of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem.

Lisa Hutchings of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Harbor Tour’s Yankee Clipperwill host this exploratory cruise of the ecosystem of the lower Merrimack River that runs through Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury.

The tour is being offered from 8:45 am to 10:45 am

Preregistration is required for this program. To register, please call 978-462-9998.

Where To Meet:

Meet at the Newburyport boardwalk (on the Merrimack River in downtown Newburyport)

Cost:

Adults: $20 for Mass Audubon members; $27 for nonmembers
Children: $16 for Mass Audubon members; $19 for nonmembers

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and on Monday holidays, 8:30 to 4:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. Harbor Seal Cruise Aboard The Yankee Clipper, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, June 19th When: Sunday, June 19th 2010, from 8:45 am to 10:45 am...
2. Bald Eagles of the Merrimack River, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, February 5th, 2012 When: Sunday, February 5th, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12:00...
3. Family Day at Joppa Flats Bird Banding Station, Plum Island, Newburyport, Sunday, October 9th When: Sunday, October 9th. Two sessions: from 9:30 to 11:30...

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When

On Sunday, September 27th, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, is offering a family ecology cruise aboard the Yankee Clipper.

If you’ve ever wanted to see and/or learn more about the ecology of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem, here is your chance!

Lisa Hutchings of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Harbor Tour’s Yankee Clipper will host this exploratory cruise of the ecosystem of the lower Merrimack River that runs through Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury.

The tour is being offered from 8:45 am to 10:45 am

Preregistration is required for this program. To register, please call 978-462-9998.

Where To Meet:

Meet at the Newburyport boardwalk (on the Merrimack River in downtown Newburyport)

Cost:

Adults: $20 for Mass Audubon members; $27 for nonmembers
Children: $16 for Mass Audubon members; $19 for nonmembers

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and on Monday holidays, 8:30 to 4:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. Harbor Seal Cruise Aboard The Yankee Clipper, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, June 19th When: Sunday, June 19th 2010, from 8:45 am to 10:45 am...
2. Introduction To Birdwatching, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, September 4th When: Sunday, September 4th 2011; from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00...
3. Bald Eagles of the Merrimack River, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, February 5th, 2012 When: Sunday, February 5th, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12:00...

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When

On Sunday, September 6th, Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, is offering a family ecology cruise aboard the Yankee Clipper.

If you’ve ever wanted to see and/or learn more about the ecology of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem, here is your chance!

Lisa Hutchings of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Harbor Tour’s Yankee Clipper will host this exploratory cruise of the ecosystem of the lower Merrimack River that runs through Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury.

The tour is being offered from 8:45 am to 10:45 am

Preregistration is required for this program. To register, please call 978-462-9998.

Where To Meet:

Meet at the Newburyport boardwalk (on the Merrimack River in downtown Newburyport)

Cost:

Adults: $20 for Mass Audubon members; $27 for nonmembers
Children: $16 for Mass Audubon members; $19 for nonmembers

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, located at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport, is a natural history education center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and on Monday holidays, 8:30 to 4:00 pm.

Related posts:

1. Harbor Seal Cruise Aboard The Yankee Clipper, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, June 19th When: Sunday, June 19th 2010, from 8:45 am to 10:45 am...
2. Wednesday Evening Birding, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, June 8th When: Wednesday, June 8th 2011, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm...
3. Bald Eagles of the Merrimack River, Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, Sunday, February 5th, 2012 When: Sunday, February 5th, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12:00...

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