Expressing Gratitude

This time of year is all about gratitude, and here at the Blue Ridge Discovery Center, we have a lot to be thankful for.

During all your grateful musings this holiday season, take a moment to appreciate the Appalachian Mountains themselves. They are unique on this earth. We are eternally in awe of these mountains, standing old and wise in our rapidly changing world. They are our home, providing an abundance of resources and an endless supply of lessons to be learned. Each and every organism, big and small, maintains balance in complex ecosystems just by being as they are. We are thankful for the role they play, and the endless intrigue they provide. The Blue Ridge shows us that beauty and wonder can be found everywhere, if you take the time to look.

To our donors, members, volunteers, Board of Directors, and community — we are so grateful for your continued support. You help make our work possible, and we couldn’t do this without you.

To the naturalist professionals who have worked alongside us this past year to explore, discover, and share the beauty and biodiversity of the Blue Ridge — we appreciate the work you do, and your eagerness to spread knowledge and passion.

To our community, who guides our mission, and has given so much to us: THANK YOU. You are the reason we are here, always.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Join us in December at our Little Elf Workshop for some crafty family fun, or later on in December at the New River Christmas Bird Count for a day full of birding as part of an annual community science effort.

It's Hummingbird Migration Season!

We are about one week away from the official start of Fall, which means it is time for hummingbird migration! In Virginia, the most common hummingbird is the Ruby-throated hummingbird. These hummingbirds can be identified by their distinct color patterns. The female ruby-throated hummingbirds have an emerald crown and back with a white throat, and the males have an emerald back and crown with an iridescent red throat. The iridescent red throat can only be seen in bright daylight, however, due to their structural coloration and  lack of pigmentation. The red color that is seen on these hummingbirds is actually reflected light off of thin layers of air bubbles found between the feathers of the bird, meaning that the iridescent red color can only be witnessed in broad daylight. This is a useful thing for hummingbirds that don’t want to draw too much attention to themselves in forested areas because it allows them to camouflage more into their surroundings. On the flip side, the red throat in the light is useful in attracting a mate. 

Hummingbirds in Virginia, and all over North America, begin their migration in the fall due to the decrease in temperatures. During this period in time they will travel all the way to various locations in Central America. Then in the spring, the hummingbirds come back to their previous locations in North America. Hummingbirds do this because they encounter less competition in North America during the summertime for food in comparison to the heavily populated tropics. 

Nectar is the biggest food source for these hummingbirds. They tend to feed from red and yellow flowers or hummingbird feeders left outside by generous hummingbird lovers. Hummingbird feeders are a great way to provide sustenance to your local hummingbird species if the sugar solution is prepared in the correct way. These feeders are especially crucial during this migration time. It is more healthy for the hummingbirds to sip from a homemade sugar water solution rather than a store-bought red sugar solution. The best way to make the nectar is to boil four cups of water, which allows any impurities in the water to be alleviated, and mix that with one cup of pure cane sugar. Placing this mixture in a red hummingbird feeder will attract the hummingbirds without needing to add the artificial red dye to the actual sugar solution. Hummingbirds tend to feed from feeders more regularly as they make their way down to Central America, so set out your feeders and say goodbye to the last of the hummingbirds until Spring! 

Residential Overnight Programs at BRDC

Blue Ridge Discovery Center is thrilled to welcome Carroll County Middle School next week for the start of a three weekend residential overnight program with 150 of their rising 6th graders. With the renovation of schoolhouse, BRDC will host residential programs throughout all four seasons.

The 6th graders will stay overnight at the Center for an exciting immersive outdoor experience where they will discover the diversity of our native ecosystems. Students will learn about the flora and fauna that call this region home, how it changes over time, and it’s cultural history. Along with exploring the flora and fauna of the Blue Ridge on our campus, the students will participate in journaling, conduct experiments, and work together to problem solve. We are so excited to have these students on our campus, and foster the next generation of stewards! If you have a group interested in residential immersive outdoor education such as this, please email info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org for more information!

(January 2015) 9. Hunting from Home: A Year Afield in the Blue Ridge Mountains

January's book is Hunting from Home: A Year Afield in the Blue Ridge Mountains by Christopher Camuto (author of A Fly Fisherman's Blue Ridge).

From the publisher: "Come along with Christopher Camuto for a year of transforming experiences in the shadows of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains: hunting grouse with his setter through snowbound forests in winter; wading trout streams in spring; closely observing birds and wildlife through summer; exploring the backcountry, cutting wood, and hunting deer in autumn."