Burlington County is home to scenic landscapes and numerous species of plants, insects and animals, and the Burlington County Division of Parks continues to help residents and visitors understand and appreciate these natural wonders.
In 2021 alone, Parks held more than 120 in-person events with nearly 1,500 people and 44 virtual programs that garnered over 8,000 attendees, all dedicated to nature and wildlife in Burlington County.
“Whether it’s going on a hike through a county park with one of our naturalists, participating in a park cleanup or viewing a virtual presentation about groundhogs, waterfowl, owls or box turtles, our Parks’ team does a great job teaching residents about our county’s natural history and its diverse wildlife,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell.
“Our naturalists have an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience to share about the environment and wildlife in the county, providing our residents with a deeper appreciation and instilling the importance of making sure these creatures and resources are protected and preserved.”
Burlington County is home to more than 1,000 acres of developed parkland and 50-plus miles of interconnecting hiking, biking and running trails, plus additional pathways still in development. These parks and trails provide ample opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors while looking for wildlife all year round.
Among the upcoming nature programs are migratory bird watches at Laurel Run Park in Delran on Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. and Feb. 18 at 12:30 p.m. and a Moonlit Walk centered on nocturnal animals on Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Amico Island Park in Delran.
Registration for all in-person events is required and can be done online within two weeks of an event. No walk-ins are permitted and attendance limits are strictly enforced. To register, visit the parks event registration page at https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/burlington-county-nj-/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTE4MDE4MzM=
For those interested in learning more at home, the Parks Division continues to hold its Species Spotlight series every other Wednesday on YouTube. Upcoming spotlights feature skunk cabbage on Feb. 9 and racoons on Feb. 23. The presentations can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvTLyd5b1qhad70NIZifPsdz-6Wdb4Rbi
There are also dozens of additional virtual presentations on the county’s nature programs page at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/1345/Nature-Programs.
County Naturalist Jen Bulava will share the latest research and information about how different species of insects and animals communicate during an in-person lecture on Feb. 22 at the Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences in Mount Holly, beginning at 1 p.m. The lecture will also be available to watch on Zoom.
The Lyceum is located at 307 High Street in Mount Holly and is now open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
“Age doesn’t matter in Burlington County Parks. There’s an assortment of programs and events that can help deepen your knowledge of our natural world and plenty of parks and trails to explore,” O’Connell said. “We’re incredibly lucky to have these resources available and we want to encourage our residents to take advantage of them.”
