Avian Adventures, Blue Ridge Birders, Community Programs, Event, SWVA
Annabelle Muriano
Help Scientists by Collecting Data with the ...

For four days each February, birdwatchers of every skill level can participate in a global event for the love and wellbeing of birds.

Help Scientists by Collecting Data with the Great Backyard Bird Count
School Programs
Lisa Benish
Science In Nature Program: Session II

Join us October 14th through November 18th (one day per week) for Session II

Science In Nature Program: Session II
Naturalist Gift Guide
BRDC, Admin
A Naturalist's Book List

With all of the wonderful apps available, it is still a good idea to have a shelf of guides to call on.  We love paging through them while planning our next exploration, exploring their beautiful illustrations, and carrying our favorites with us for quick reference.

A Naturalist's Book List
Galax Enrichment Program
BRDC, Admin
Galax Enrichment Week - Primitive Technology

BRDC recently hosted a Primitive Technology course as part of Galax Middle School Enrichment Week. The students were engaged with a variety of hands-on activities that connected them to skills used by early American Indians and materials found in their backyards.

Galax Enrichment Week - Primitive Technology
Book Club
Anonymous
(July 2014) 4. The Sixth Extinction: An ...

"Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs."

(July 2014) 4. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, Elizabeth Kolbert

"Canterellus cibarius"

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Brilliant Yellow!

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The children and I were riding home in the car the other day and there, on the side of the road, was the most brilliant color of yellow I have seen in a long time. I just had to stop and take a picture of it. The closer I got I was able to discover that it was a cluster of mushrooms. Now I had never seen this mushroom before and the people in the house must of thought I was crazy but there I stood taking picture after picture. Once we arrived at home I took out the ole trusty Audubon Field Guide of North American Mushrooms and looked it up. Found out it is an edible mushroom in the Chanterelles family. It is in fact the Canterellus cibarius. How I wish it grew in my yard, I would have loved to try it. They say that they smell like sweet apricots and taste sweet as well. Without being able to get real close to see the underside of the mushroom I didn't dare pick it (not only because it wasn't in my yard but because of the fakers that try to resemble it that are poisonous.) Maybe you can tell if it is in fact the edible species.
-Cindy