Ponders Tract

Visit

• What to Do

  Walk along parts of more than nine miles of trails making up the Ponders Tract Trail System. Pack a lunch and relax at one of the trail side benches to listen to the natural world. Beginning in late April and through early summer, the calls of several frog species can readily be heard across the preserve. Species like spring peeper begin calling in late February while others like gray tree frog can be heard from late May into early June. Nature lovers more in tune to locating plants should search for pond pine, and other plants uncommon in Delaware. 

• What to See: Birds

  Download the Ponders Tract bird list, grab the binoculars and take advantage of excellent bird watching opportunities, especially during April and May when many species of neotropical migrants pass through Delaware. Some of these migrants make their summer homes at Ponders while others are moving north to their breeding grounds.

  When you visit, listen for bobwhites on Piney Fork Lane. On Ingram Branch Way, look for indigo buntings, grey catbirds and ovenbirds.

  If you visit in late spring, you’ll see and hear an abundance of resident Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, American robins, brown thrashers, Carolina wrens, tree swallows and red-bellied woodpeckers. Add to that the songs of migrating yellow-breasted chat and black-and-white warbler—they’re more easily heard than seen.

  Common bird species include indigo bunting, American goldfinch, Eastern bluebird, Northern bobwhite and Northern cardinal. Passing neo-tropical songbirds include gorgeous scarlet tanagers, shy white-eyed vireos and red-eyed vireos, which sing constantly throughout the day.

  You may occasionally see a sharp-shinned hawk or other raptor looking for a meal as it soars overhead or scouts from a high branch, but some of the most rewarding sightings are rare glimpses of migrating neotropical songbirds such as the blue-and-white vireo and blue-winged warbler, as well as the less colorful, but much noisier warbling vireo. The blue-headed vireo is the first neotropical songbird to arrive each spring, and they usually depart in early May, but when you start to see them, you can be sure that other neotropical birds will soon follow.

• What to See: Animals

  The area contains small wetlands and vernal ponds that are home to reptiles and amphibians such as Fowler’s toad, Southern leopard frog and the gray tree frog. New Jersey chorus frogs and spring peepers can usually be heard in March but warm days in February can bring them out, too.

  Hessel’s hairstreak, a rare and threatened butterfly, has been observed in stands of Atlantic white cedar, and the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel has been documented nearby.

  Follow the Frog Pond Trail to find some amazing amphibians. If you walk quietly along the Ingram Branch Way you might see a snake basking on the trail on warm sunny days during the cooler months. Commonly seen snakes at this preserve include Rat snakes, Black Racers, Garter, and Eastern hognose. And everywhere you go, watch for bees, butterflies and other bugs, especially tiger beetles on the trails.

• What to See: Plants

  The return of green to the landscape is always a welcome sight as the various wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees put out their leaves. Starting in February you can see signs of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) as its unique mottled purple flower sprouts up in areas with wet soil. The large green leaves follow soon after but don't be surprised to see the flower growing up through ice and snow. Skunk cabbages are one of the few plants that exhibit thermogenesis, meaning they have the ability to raise their own temperature. Much like a warm-blooded mammal, the wildflower can regulate its temperature well above the outside temperature throughout the day and night.

  In late March you may start to notice little purple flowers growing on 3" to 6" tall plants along the sandy trails. The birds foot violet (Viola pedanta) does not reproduce vegetatively like most other violets; reproduction is by seed only.

  Arguably the most beautiful flower to bloom at Ponders Tract during the year, the pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule), starts blooming in late April. This member of the orchid family will bloom for several weeks, and are commonly found growing under pine trees. 

• Citizen Science: iNaturalist

  We are creating a citizen science database of all kinds of life—from lichens to ants, mushrooms to plants, birds to mammals and everything in between for our preserves in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

  TNC's roots began with local citizens and scientists concerned about special places and species. That legacy continues today. Across our lands, we are utilizing iNaturalist—a digital platform that gives users an opportunity to share and discuss their findings.

  • Join the Ponders Tract iNaturalist group.
  • Watch a video tutorial and learn how to make an observation on iNaturalist using the mobile app.

  Of the 14 preserve projects in iNaturalist, nine have observations recorded; help us increase that number and our understanding of the species—good and bad, native as well as invasive—that can be found on TNC lands across the state. This information can also help guide and inform our conservation staff's management and monitoring decisions.

• Preserve Guidelines

  While on the Ponder’s Tract, please do:

  • Take precautions against ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, and sunburn. We suggest sturdy footwear; tuck pant legs into socks/shoes; insect repellant; sun protection; and drinking water. Watch for poison ivy.
  • Stay on marked trails.
  • Remove all litter from the preserve. This is a “carry-in carry-out” preserve. Trash barrels are not provided.
  • Have fun exploring nature.

  Please Do Not:

  • Feed or disturb wildlife.
  • Hunt, trap, fish, dig, pick or otherwise remove plants, animals or other artifacts from the preserve.
  • Bring motorized vehicles, ATVs, bicycles, horses, onto the preserve, except in the designated parking area.
  • Bring alcohol or firearms on the preserve.
  • Camp, make fires, or smoke while visiting the preserve.