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We're Still Nerding Out!
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Nature Nerds
Tuesday
December 3 and January 21
9-10 a.m.
Despite the cold weather, we will still be venturing out for our monthly Nature Nerds program! Bundle up and join park staff as we "nerd out" over our local and visiting winter wildlife and whatever else we happen to see.
Expand your knowledge of our local flora and fauna by exploring a different area of the park each month and help collect data for the Natural Resource Inventory Database. Ages 9 and up. Preregistration is required.
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January 2020
Preview
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Eagle Count
Wednesday, January 15
7:00-9:00 a.m.
Join park staff in collecting data for the state and national count of Bald Eagles. Participants will be staged at various locations around Lake Crabtree. No prior birding experience is required. Beginners will be stationed with staff members, while experienced birders may get their own locations. Enjoy a light breakfast after the count.
Squirrel Spotters
Monday, January 20
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Help us celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day! Head out to Lake Crabtree to learn all about our most commonly seen mammal. We'll spy on the always entertaining gray squirrels that abound at the park. Park staff will answer all your gnawing questions about squirrel habits, habitats, and the perils they face.
These programs require preregistration. Visit our
website
to register online.
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Recycle your holiday tree to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Drop off your natural holiday trees (no artificial trees and no decorations, please) at designated locations from December 26, 2019 until January 26, 2020. For drop off locations and hours, please click here.
Remember to recycle your holiday waste! Check the website for all the materials that you can recycle at Convenience Centers and
Multi-material Recycling Facilities.
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H
oliday Closings
Please note that Lake Crabtree County Park
will be closed on:
Tuesday, December 24th,
Wednesday
, December 25th
and
Wednesday, January 1st
(for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day,
and New Year's Day)
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Park Operating Hours
The park will be closing at
5:30 p.m
. in
December
. You can call the main park line,
at:
919-460-3390
, for current operating hours, as well as
trail status and other important information.
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Sign up now for December Programs!
- Nature Nerds
- Ages 9 and up
- Tuesday, December 3, 9-10 a.m.
- Birding With Vernon
- All ages
- Saturday, December 7, 8:30-10:00 a.m.
- No preregistration required
*All programs offered at Lake Crabtree are free and require preregistration unless otherwise stated. All family programs require an adult to register and attend with children under 18. Age restrictions may apply. Visit our website to register online.
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The Wild Side:
Winter Waterfowl
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| Female and Male Hooded Mergansers |
Did you know the best time for waterfowl watching is in the fall and winter? Many species of waterfowl migrate to the southern United States. Lake Crabtree is a great place for winter waterfowl watching! Hooded Mergansers are one of the common winter visitors to Lake Crabtree.
Hooded Mergansers are small diving ducks, ranging from 15 to just over 19 inches in length. In comparison, mallard ducks are 19 to over 25 inches long.
Both males and females have a distinguishing crest, but their overall coloring is quite different.
Males have a black head with a white patch, which is even more noticeable when their crest is raised to attract females. They have black coloring at the top of their backs and chestnut coloring below. The black and white striped pattern, on the sides of their breast, also stands out.
Females, and immature males, are gray and brown with a cinnamon colored crest.
Why not come out to Lake Crabtree to see if you can catch a glimpse of these beautiful ducks, as well as our other visiting and resident waterfowl species. You can also join our bird enthusiast, Vernon, on the first Saturday of each month, from
8:30-10:00 am,
for
Birding with Vernon,
to learn more about waterfowl as well as other birds around the park.
Birding with Vernon
requires no preregistration. Just meet at the Waterwise Garden
(first parking lot on right).
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Contact us:
Lake Crabtree County Park
1400 Aviation Parkway
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-460-3390
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