Spring MRNR this Weekend!
Check out this American Goldfinch feeding its young!
First, a Spring MRNR poem:
'Twas the week of the rally, when all through the Blue Ridge,
Every creature was stirring, even a Goldfinch;
The Schoolhouse was prepared by the staff with care,
In hopes that the Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally would soon be there.
Karen Powers leading her annual Small Mammals of Mount Rogers program.
Spring Beauties are a popular wildflower to see this time of year in the Blue Ridge. Keep your eye out for them if you are on a wildflower hike!
Happy rally week everyone! We are so excited to share the programs that will be at our Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally. Friday evening will feature our Keynote speaker Dr. Marcella Kelly with a presentation titled “THE VIRGINIA APPALACHIAN CARNIVORE PROJECT: ECOLOGICAL FINDINGS FROM 10 YEARS OF RESEARCH ON BEARS, BOBCATS, AND COYOTES”. Following her presentation, BRDC staff will lead night programs such as Salamander Meander, Owl Prowl, and Star Gazing. The fun continues on Saturday with a morning packed full of programs. These programs are an All-Day Hike to Mount Rogers, MRATC Hike focused on Wildflowers, Stream Ecology, Beginner Birding, Mammals of Mount Rogers, Nature Photography, Fairwood Valley Cultural History, a Salamander Hike, Weather Survival in the Wilderness of the Southern Appalachians, and a Geology walk. Saturday afternoon also has a large variety of programs on topics such as High Elevation Spring Wildflowers, Edible/Medicinal Plants, Mushrooms, Bird Ecology, Caving, Camera Trapping, Butterflies of Southwest VA, Land Snails, Basics of Fly Fishing, Nature Drawing, and a service project with BRDC. The programs continue into Saturday night where BRDC staff will be leading another Salamander Meander and Star Gazing. Sunday morning will be the last session of programs featuring Wandering for Warblers & Other Neotropical Migrants, a Wildflower Walk, and the NABA Spring Butterfly Count.
Naturalist Educators Brendan Murphy and Olivia Jackson leading a stream ecology program.
We will also be leading kids programs on Friday evening and all day Saturday. Friday evening will include Campfire Building along with an Intro to Astronomy (which will be weather permitting). Saturday morning kids programs will include a nature walk, building your own binoculars, and nature crafts. Saturday afternoon will consist of stream ecology and Wild Wonders in your Backyard with Darin Handy. All other programs besides the Wild Wonders program will be lead by NRDC Naturalist Educators.
Nale Sisters & Friends
Saturday night will feature our raffle and a porch jam. Our raffle items include, but aren’t limited to, a Guided Fly Fishing Trip with Matt Reilly, a Signed copy of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, American Chestnut merchandise, a Hand turned bowl by Tom Graham, and a Custom lampshade by Michael Floyd. Our Porch jam will feature the Nale Sisters & Friends!
Haven’t signed up for the rally yet? Don’t worry, there is still time! Check out our rally page and get your tickets today.
See you at the rally!