Supermoon makes for Super Fun at Neabsco Regional Park Full Moon Hike

Bonny Gray and Chris Eckart, Specialty Program Instructors for the Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, along with four Science in the Park instructors, hosted a guided evening hike of the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, on Tuesday, April 27th.  With face masks, water bottles and cameras in hand, 41 attendees were gathered into four separate groups to begin their 2-mile-long evening trek across the wetlands.  The groups set off in intervals, rotating from north landing to south landing, with scheduled stops at the Observation Tower (the half-way point) and north landing for a special treat of traditional campfire s’mores, prepared by the program staff. 

Science in the Park Instructors Candice Lowther (avid birder), Alex Craine (biology/ecology), Diane Metelac and Chrissy Losmicki (naturalists) discussed the history of Neabsco Creek, the ecology of the wetlands and how the boardwalk was constructed.  Hikers were delighted by visits from beavers at their lodges, muskrats, Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Red-winged blackbirds and white-tailed deer.  Birder Candace identified over twenty species of birds joining the wetland frogs in their evening serenade.

 
The clear evening sky made easy recognition of the planet Mars and seasonal constellations.  The star of the evening was undoubtedly the Pink Super Moon, which rose from the horizon at 8:30pm.  According to the Farmer’s Almanac, “Supermoons are on average, 7% bigger and about 15% brighter than a typical full Moon.”  The names of full moons come from various sources, including Native American, Colonial American and European sources.  Although the Pink Moon is not pink in color (more of a bright golden tone), the name corresponds to the early spring blooming of the wildflower – Plox subulata, or moss pink – native to eastern North America.

 
Science in the Park will host their next Full Moon Hike on the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, on Wednesday, May 26, 8:00pm to 10:00pm. This supermoon, known as the Blood Moon – a colloquial term for a total lunar eclipse, promises to be the biggest and brightest of all the 2021 Supermoons.  If you would like to join the next Full Moon Hike, consider packing a picnic dinner to enjoy at Neabsco Regional Park before the hike.  Don’t forget to Sign Up early!