The Daytripper: James Farm preserving what we were

By Paul W. Ross
Special to the Coastal Point

	Coastal Point • PAUL W. ROSS Nature is the guiding force at the James Farm Ecological Preserve.

A very nice local jaunt is to the James Farm Ecological Preserve. I bet I’ve driven by the James Farm Ecological Preserve sign on Route 26 at least a dozen times or more in my travels here in Delaware but never took the time to stop by and see what it has to offer.

The James Farm Ecological Preserve is another one of these well-kept secrets that keep turning up around the Bethany Beach area. The James Farm Ecological Preserve is a short drive from downtown Bethany Beach. Just follow the instructions in “How to Get There.” The James Farm Ecological Preserve has over 150 acres of woodlands, pasture and marshlands, as well of at least 2 miles of well-maintained and level trails.

You are likely to see deer, fox, raccoons, opossums and squirrels, with any luck — or at least their footprints.

The James Farm Ecological Preserve is the focal point of the Center for the Inland Bays’ educational efforts. As well as being a great place to visit, the James Farm Ecological Preserve provides educational programs for schoolchildren, including wetlands activities, estuarine ecology and watershed studies, as well as guided nature walks.

One of the major objectives undertaken at the James Farm Ecological Preserve is an attempt to extend the mature forest that exists there. They are in the midst of a massive reforestation project to provide additional habitats for migratory songbirds and other animals.

As we walked along, we saw a great variety of birds and plant life in the preserve. Particularly pretty were the honeysuckle and pink morning glories. This is a good place to bring along your camera and binoculars.

On our hike, we didn’t encounter any wildlife other than lots of birds. This was probably due to the time of day. We did see a few interesting footprints in the sand, of various creatures that had come by at one time or another.

There is an amazing variety of plant life in the preserve. On your way through the woods, look for specimens of southern red oak, American holly, sassafras, pignut hickory and black cherry trees. Many of the trees and plants are marked with well-written signs so that they are easy to identify.

Our hike took us down a well-marked and level trail through a meadow and into the woods, with two or three species of colorful butterflies flitting past us, sampling the flowers in the vegetation.

As we walked through the woods, we came out on the beach of the Indian River Bay. Along the way to the beach is a great lookout platform that gives a superb view of the bay. Do make it a point to go up on it. Here is where your binoculars and camera can really pay off.

The beach on the Indian River Bay is a critical spawning habitat for horseshoe crabs.

If you go there in June, you will likely see them – an amazing denizen from the ancient past, the size of a soup plate. June is the mating season, but they can be found in the bay at other times of year. The eggs (and they lay millions) form a substantial part of the food supply for some of the sea birds.

The crabs are quite fearsome looking but utterly harmless. However, they can be a bit of a surprise if you step on one when wading through the water.

A pair of sneakers will suffice for walking, as all of the trails are in excellent condition and on level ground. I suspect that during the right part of the summer, a good insect repellent might not be out of order. By all means, take your camera and plenty of film, or an empty memory card for your digital camera. The scenery is outstanding.

The Preserve is “dog-friendly,” so you can bring your four-footed friend along. Do remember to bring water and check the dog for ticks when you get home, especially if you have one of those low-to-the-ground fluffy ones, like I do.

The dog needs to be on a leash, and don’t forget to clean up after them. The preserve is a carry-in, carryout facility, so if you bring your lunch (there are some pleasant picnic spots, and tables), take your trash back with you.

How do we get there?

Start from Bethany Beach and go west on Route 26 (Garfield Parkway). This leads us to the town of Ocean View. At the second stoplight, turn north (right) on Central Avenue. This becomes Cedar Neck Road after you cross the canal. Proceed about 2.3 miles north from the stoplight. The James Farm Ecological Preserve is on the left. Pull into the parking lot, as the other roads in the preserve are closed to vehicular traffic. The signs indicate the trails.