Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary

To create a 500-acre natural classroom and research laboratory with an additional 50-acre site for development of a multi-use conference/educational center for the study/education of wetlands, wildlife and environmental conservation.
To date we have accomplished the following:

• Hired an ornithologist/biologist who has inventoried the wildlife and identified 35 species of rare, endangered or of concern species.
• Partnered with Cornell University Agroforestry Program in a 25-year hybrid sugar maple study.
• Set up a MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship Study) site and have completed the first year of bird banding.
• Applied for National Wildlife Federation grant to place three eagle stands in the wetland.
• Placed 40 acres in the Dept. of Agriculture WHIP program.
• Set aside 8 acres for Dept. of Agriculture to reintroduce indigenous warm weather grasses for wildlife habitat.
• Presently developing a plan to rehab a derelict clubhouse into a wildlife rehab and reintroduction site. 
• Presently developing a partnership with another 501 (c) 3 to act as a secondary site for a herd of Pere David deer (extinct in the wild for 800 years) being raised to be reintroduced into China.
• Providing a natural educational facility for local high schools and colleges. 
• Developed a webpage about the center. www.Zaepfel.org

For further information on the James A. Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary and Research Center please visit www.Zaepfel.org

Announcements:

Signs for the Wetland Reserve Program: The James A. Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary and Research Center has recently received descriptive signs designating it as a federal wetland reserve. The signs will be positioned along the perimeter of the sanctuary. Please look for these signs this spring.

James A. Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary and Research Center new WEBPAGE: The Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary recently has been working on a webpage to allow information about the center be given out. Please visit them at www.Zaepfel.org

Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary has Wood duck and Bluebird boxes placed: A successful collaborative effort was made to construct, deliver and place 60 wood duck nest boxes and 16 Eastern Bluebird boxes at the James A Zaepfel Nature Sanctuary and Research Center in Napoli. The cooperators on the project were the Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation (CLDC), The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Ellicottville and Olean BOCES conservation classes and Allegheny Ecological Consulting, Inc.. Art Schaub and Rick White of Allegheny Ecological Consulting initiated and organized the project. The boxes were constructed by BOCES conservation students under the guidance of teachers Dave Thiel and Bill Steinbroner. Timber from student managed wood lots was utilized to create high quality houses for nesting wood ducks and Bluebirds. In addition, the students have presently constructing more blue bird boxes and wood duck boxes which will be placed in early summer. For more info go to Zaepfel's website at www.zaepfel.org