BRDC News: Upcoming Events
The world is thawing out, fauna is getting more active, and here at BRDC we are excited to get back out there and discover more with you! Read for info on our Winter Naturalist Rally, Woodcock Display Walk, Family Weekend, and Spring Break Camp.
The world is thawing out, fauna is getting more active, and here at BRDC we are excited to get back out there and discover more with you! Here’s what’s in store for upcoming events:
Mount Rogers Winter Naturalist Rally
February 17, 2024
Embark on a journey of discovery with us at the Mount Rogers Winter Naturalist Rally! Our upcoming seasonal rally is just around the corner. The Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally is a celebration of the region's diverse ecosystems. Learn about Appalachia’s unique landscape, meet fellow nature lovers in your community, and engage in interactive lessons taught by naturalist professionals.
This event is open to anyone. To learn more, visit the event page below.
Join local artist, Suzanne Stryk, for her talk, “Taking the Pulse of Place: Connecting to the Natural World through the Arts" as she discusses how art offers ways of better connecting us to the natural world.
Woodcock Display: Members Event
Tentatively march 1
The American Woodcock is an anomaly, a plump little shorebird that makes its home in young forests and shrubby fields instead of coastal shores. The woodcock’s long bill and short, and rounded body make this bird a cartoonishly endearing sight - if you can spot them! Their mottled brown plumage, which camouflages them perfectly in their preferred habitats, and elusive behavior means that these birds can be difficult to spot. Except for in spring evenings, when breeding season takes over, and male woodcocks engage in marvelous flight displays. Cornell Lab of Ornithology refers to this mating display as “one of the magical natural sights of springtime in the East.” The males cry a loud, distinctively buzzy peent call and spiral in flight 200, 300 feet into the air, before plummeting in a zig zag back to Earth to do it again.
We invite members to join us as we watch this mesmerizing sky dance - we will meet at the Blue Ridge Discovery Center office and travel by van to the area where woodcocks are currently active. The exact date of this event is determined by woodcock activity as spring approaches, but is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 1st. Stay tuned to our events page for any changes, and sign up for the event below to stay in the loop.
Family Weekend
March 16 through 17
Come spend the weekend with BRDC and surround your family with the magic of the mountains as you explore, discover, and share endless natural treasures together. This weekend is designed for families that are ready for adventure and fun. With our expert guides, your family will hone their observation skills while exploring seasonally interesting topics, such as beaver ecology, birds, tracks and signs, dendrology, nighttime creatures, and fire building. This package includes lodging in our facility, as well as meals. More information coming soon!
Spring Break Kids Camp
March 25 through 28
Looking for something to keep your young naturalist engaged during spring break? BRDC is now offering Spring Break Camp from March 25-28, 2024! This is a perfect opportunity for any young naturalist between the ages of 6 and 13 to explore, discover, and share the wonders of the Blue Ridge during the springtime!
Programming topics will include tree study, nature journaling, birding, hiking, pollinators, orienteering, native plants, and more! Activities will take place both indoors and outdoors.
Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally
All in all, the 49th annual Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally was an inspiring weekend of sharing through exploration and discovery of the wonders of the Blue Ridge.
The weather held out! As with most Rallies, rain or snow can happen (and usually does) and although it was predicted…it stayed away allowing for a beautiful weekend outdoors. The 49th annual Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally drew a large crowd of enthusiastic participants last weekend reaching the highest attendance yet and included a full house in residence. BRDC provided high quality food throughout the weekend using locally sourced ingredients and prepared with love by Chef Micah.
Our keynote speaker Dr. Marcella Kelly, Virginia Tech Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, shared her Virginia Appalachian Carnivore Project. Her research focused on the perception of increased coyote populations and its impact on white-tailed deer. The data provided powerful insight into the predation on white-tailed deer and opens up questions for further study…we can’t wait to find out more!
Dr. Marcella Kelly
Field trips on Saturday included several new opportunities such as Weather Survival in the Wilderness, Camera Trapping and Land Snails. Birding, Geology, Mushrooms, Butterflies, Nature Drawing, and the tried and true trips from the past, also remained popular.
Special thanks to all of the volunteers and Board (baking desserts and providing greens) who worked to make the event a success! The wonderful support of our volunteer guides was greatly appreciated as they lead 25 different field trips during the weekend. There were full day kids programs, night programs, and 6 walk and talk programs as well. Last but certainly not least was the wonderful porch pickin’ provided by the Nale sisters and their family: Lindsey Nale, Ashley and Gary Hultman, and Dave and Christine Hultman.
Additional thanks go out to all the donations provided for our Raffle: Matt Reilly, Vortex Optics, Barbara Kingsolver, Dark Hollow Roasters, Marion Outdoors, VADWR, GHSP, Karen Doyle, American Chestnut Foundation, Marceia Holland and many others. Thank you all so much for your generosity.
All in all, the 49th annual Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally was an inspirational weekend of sharing through exploration and discovery in the wonders of the Blue Ridge.