The 2014 summer trail/land stewards crew has been hard at work maintaining and upgrading the trails in the EcoPreserve this summer. Highlights include improvement of the boardwalk on the Green Trail, trail bed filling/chipping, and the construction of a new bridge on the Blue Trail. The crew has also assisted in the construction of the new trailhead kiosk off of the Livingston Campus Avenue E/Rockafeller Road roundabout.
In the fall of 2013, Principles of Natural Resource Management students Sara Morris-Marano, Danielle Podmayersky, Brittney Chrans and Noha Haggag built and installed 6 tree swallow boxes around the newly constructed stormwater detention basin/wetlands adjacent to Avenue E on Livingston Campus. Four of the 6 boxes are now occupied with the swallows swooping back and forth across the wetlands snatching up insects to feed their young. Tree swallows have a violet-green back, white underside with a slightly forked tail.
Run for Woods! 5k run will be held on Saturday May 10 at 9am. This event is organized by the RU Ecology & Evolution Graduate Students Association. Proceeds go to the Livingston Eco Preserve for trail maintenance and habitat restoration. All are welcome and please invite your friends and family for a fun day! Snacks will be provided for all runners/walkers afterwards before the award ceremony. Prizes will be available for winners of each age group (male and female). Preregister…
Out Enjoying the Winter Woods in EcoPreserve This winter’s heavy snows brought with it a great opportunity to enjoy the EcoPreserve’s trails on cross-country skis or by snowshoe. With its varied terrain and many trails, the EcoPreserve is one of the better places to cross-country ski in Central New Jersey. One memorable ski this winter had a pair of great-horned owls hooting a duet while a near full moon rose in the east.