Plunging into the World of Freshwater Fishes

A participant demonstrates the “Alligator crawl”

Last Saturday, 8 intrepid explorers joined BRDC staff on a snorkeling program at Straight Branch, a tributary of the South Fork of the Holston. We donned wetsuits to protect us from the 60 degree water and fastened masks and snorkels to plunge into the world of freshwater fishes. While the water in these mountain creeks may seem too shallow for snorkeling (ranging from less than a foot to around 3 feet at the deepest), it is the best way to experience this underwater world. By moving slowly and “alligator crawling” upstream, the fish quickly become accustomed to our presence and swim just inches away from us! Fortunately, we thought to bring an underwater camera this trip to share some of the experience.

A Snubnose Darter tries to blend in with the silt

The aptly named Snubnose Darter (Etheostoma simoterum) stands out from other darters thanks to its very blunt face. While these fish are quite common in our area, they are only found in mid to large side streams in south western Virginia, mostly in tributaries of the Tennessee river system. This male (identified by the row of orange scales above its dark lateral stripe) was curious but cautious, getting close enough to allow everyone to get a good look at him. If his dorsal fins were flared, the striking red would be more visible, but he was likely hiding these colors to help camouflage with the silt below.

The Northern Hog Sucker only swam away when a large group of us got very close

This ~8 inch Northern Hog Sucker (Hypentelium nigricans) was one of the largest fish we got to see, besides a few rainbow and brown trout who sped past us too fast to get a good look. Hog Suckers are mostly benthic feeders, meaning they suck up tiny crustaceans, insects, and algae from the bottoms of stream beds to feed on. They tend to stay close to the stream bed, and only swim quickly when evading predators. With their large size and slow lifestyle, this fish barely minded the gaggle of humans as long as we respected its personal space. 

Large schools of shiners earned their name with shocking colors and mesmerizing iridescence. In this river system, we see several species including Warpaint Shiners (Luxilus coccogenis), named for bold red and black streaks on the males’ faces, Saffron Shiners (Notropis rubricroceus), identified by the males’ gold and scarlet lateral stripes, and Tennessee Shiners (N. leuciodus), who are silver with an olive back and a thin dark lateral stripe. These fish often swim in mixed schools, using bright colors and reflective scales to disorient predators. This defense was certainly effective against our camera- most of our pictures of shiners came out as shiny, unfocused streaks!

Mixed schools of Warpaint Shiners, Saffron Shiners, and Tennessee Shiners were a dazzling sight

Creek Chubs are a common sight, along with their nests if you know what to look for

Creek Chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus) were very abundant today. Almost anywhere we looked, a school of half-foot brown fish lazed along the bottom of the stream. While these fish may look boring compared to some of the flashier fish in this river, they have a fascinating life history. Adults develop large tubercles on their snouts- thick scales that stand out from the face. The males use their tubercles to roll pebbles into nests each spring, providing a place for a courted female to lay her eggs. This streambed was full of these pebble nests, even months after their construction.

Most of the participants were able to catch glimpses of trout, with potential sightings of all three species that occur in southwest Virginia! The beautiful native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) can be identified by the squiggly pattern on its back called vermiculation. This river is stocked with Brook trout and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), who have small speckles and a pink lateral stripe. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) are stocked in connecting rivers, and populations have found their way here as well. All three species are very fast swimmers and voracious predators, so they were very difficult to observe except for quick glimpses as they sped past. We managed to photograph one juvenile trout (possibly a young rainbow), seen below.

A juvenile trout, likely Rainbow finally caught on camera! We also saw Brown Trout and everyone’s favorite- Brook Trout. How many other fish can you count in the background?

The barrier between aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial is the thinnest line possible, yet these two environments are completely alien to one another. It’s easy to forget all the action and excitement going on just on the other side of the water’s surface. Snorkeling is an amazing opportunity to literally immerse yourself in a different world. It’s a great reminder that sometimes, the best experiences come when we take a moment to observe and appreciate everything that’s already around us.

A Journey to the Virginia Museum of Natural History

A fossil cast of the Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis), constructed by VMNH paleontologists Alton Dooley, Raymond Vodden, and their students, that would have inhabited the saline marshes of Saltville during the Pleistocene. Unlike modern beavers that cut trees and construct complex structures, the animal fed peacefully on aquatic plants like a bear-sized muskrat.

Last week, between camps and the busy outreach programs of summer, the BRDC naturalists closed down the Center for a day and embarked on a road trip east across our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, over the New River, and along the sprawling backroads, pinelands, and solar farms of the Southside region on a mission. What better way to inform our exhibit-making process than to learn how the state’s museum of natural history interprets flora, fauna, and fungi? Other earth sciences, included.

Our recreation of Whitetop Mountain, the Blue Ridge Discovery Center, K-Rock and Whitetop Station, including the surrounding watersheds on the VMNH interactive topographic map, a fun example of cartography for children of all ages.

We made it to Martinsville as the Virginia Museum of Natural History opened and spent the day exploring the exhibits. Exhibits varied from cultural and geological, to specific accounts of species found locally and abroad. The museum’s many maps, taxidermized specimens, and interactive exhibits were built for a much larger facility, but we took a plenty of ideas, notes and photos back with us. Each exhibit, from digitized displays for interchangeable insect collections to a paleontology lab complete with a field equipment flatlay, were added to our archive of brainstorming. A wide perspective is important as we begin construction on the new, public Visitor’s Center at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.

A Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) we found beside a gravel road just before dusk.

After visiting the museum, Olivia graciously invited us to stay at her family’s cabin in the Ridge and Valley area along the Roanoke River. Big thanks to fellow naturalist Olivia Jackson and her family for enabling us to effectively make this trek to the museum. We had a cookout that evening and explored some Piedmont nature before returning to the Center the following morning.

Carboniferous fern fossils from the Grundy exhibit (Alethopteris sp.)

Interestingly, Southwest Virginia had a dominant presence throughout the museum. Compared to many other parts of the state, the museum featured the region prominently. The megafauna fossils of Saltville, and the Carboniferous fossils of Grundy coal seams each had their own specific exhibits, named for the towns. Interestingly, there was little to no recent natural history of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwest Virginia, despite the world-class biodiversity present here.

This changing exhibit featured the current and past researchers collaborating with the museum, relevant specimens, and information about their individual work. A version of this exhibit might be displayed at the Blue Ridge Discovery Center.

Not only did we gain ideas about how to share information about the greater Mt. Rogers ecosystem from the style of the museum’s exhibits, we also were able to learn what new and unique opportunities that the Blue Ridge Discovery Center can provide that are not displayed at this museum. Pursuing our mission to remain a world-class facility to teach about local natural history, we have the opportunity to build exhibits with “secrets” from the high-elevation Blue Ridge Mountains that the VMNH and other interpretive institutions have not yet displayed.

A Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata), that made an appearance at a blackberry-picking stop we made before crossing back into the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Wildflower Walk Recap

If you didn’t get a chance to join us on our wildflower walk last Sunday, here’s your chance to live vicariously through pictures! After a bit of back and forth on the best location, we ended up just outside of Fries on the New River Trail. Led by Carol Broderson, our expert on wildflowers, and Amy Boucher, a member of the Friends of New River Trail, we learned some history about the area and then dove right in. 

Group walking on the New River Trail, in an area with many invasive species.

Immediately after starting, Carol pointed out that the predominant species around us were non-natives or invasives that thrive in highly disturbed areas. If you’ve ever walked the Creeper trail in Abingdon, it would look very similar. We saw European honeysuckle, purple deadnettle, garlic mustard, bedstraw, and asiatic bittersweet (to name a few). The best way to manage these species? Stop them from establishing! Removing them is significantly more costly and time consuming than preventing them from showing up! Now that we’ve got that PSA out of the way, here’s what you came for…. the beautiful native wildflowers we did see! 

Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica): One of the earliest wildflowers.

With five white petals covered in delicate pink striping, Virginia spring beauties are very similar to their relative, the Carolina spring beauty (Claytonia caroliniana). Those pink stripes aren’t just pretty, though- they also reflect UV radiation and attract pollinators, like a runway to the stamens! Under the ground they have small, starchy corms, sometimes called fairy spuds, that can be cooked and eaten like potatoes! While we have plenty of Carolina spring beauties around BRDC, this was my first time seeing the Virginias. And I was struck by how tall they were! Another distinguishing feature was their longer, skinnier leaves. Once you’ve seen both in person, it’s much easier to distinguish them.

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum): The apples aren’t ready in May!

Another wildflower that’s hard to mistake for anything else, especially when it forms a large colony. First, one leaf will emerge. Just like a closed umbrella, until it POPS open! Some leaves will grow up to a foot in diameter, with deep lobes. Then some will grow a second leaf, giving them a Y-shaped stalk. Plants with two leaves are capable of  developing a flower right where the two leaves meet. Large and white, with yellow stamens and pistils. Because of its placement, sometimes it can be difficult to see. Later in the season, go back and look for the tasty fruit (if the wildlife left you any)! But be careful- all parts of the mayapple are highly toxic except the ripened fruit!

Eastern Red Columbine ft. a caddisfly from the emergence happening on the New River.

Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): The wildflower of birds.

The long spurs and red color of the columbine flower are perfect for one of its preferred pollinators- the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). With a long, skinny beak, it has no trouble reaching distant nectaries! Lazy insects, when desperate, may take the easy way out and chew through the petals to reach nectar. This plant will easily hybridize with other non-native, ornamental plants of the same genus. Speaking of genus… its genus name, Aquilegia, comes from the Latin word for eagle- because its spurs look like talons!

Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum): A uniquely-shaped wildflower.

This flower can’t be mistaken for any other here in Virginia. A large green spathe with maroon striping hides a short spadix of flowers. The “Jack” inside the “pulpit”. Pollinated by flies, the best color to attract them is as close to rotting meat as you can get. Individuals can live for more than 25 years, and spread by seed and colonization from their underground corm. Wildlife are very fond of the bunch of tomato-like fruits that they bear in the fall. 

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): The spicy wildflower.

Just like the ginger we use today, wild ginger root was once used by Indigenous Americans and settlers as a spice. Nowadays we know that it can contain poisonous compounds, so eat at your own risk! The easiest way to find this wildflower is to look for pairs of heart-shaped leaves. The wild ginger flower has evolved to attract flies emerging after winter. Rusty red and hanging low on the ground, flies think it’s a dead animal and walk right in. The mature seeds are coated in oil, as a tasty bribe for ants. Once underground, the ants get their snack and the seed starts to grow.

Wake Robin or Red Trillium (Trillium erectum): The wildflower that ISN’T Toadshade.

As we learned on our walk, the trilliums wake robin and toadshade (Trillium sessile) are often confused with each other. Understandable, as they both have a whorl of three leaves and maroon flowers. The biggest difference? Wake robins have a stalk between their flower and whorl of leaves, which often has the flower angled down towards the ground. For toadshade, the flower sits directly on top of the leaves and opens up to the sky.

If you couldn’t make it this year, hopefully you can join us next year!

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! 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.

Help Scientists by Collecting Data with the Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count ‘24

For four days each February, birdwatchers of every skill level can participate in a global event for the love and wellbeing of birds. On at least one of the four days, participants will spend 15 minutes or more identifying birds in a location of their choice. The birds identified will be submitted to an online database, alongside data from hundreds of thousands of other birders all around the world. 

This is a way for anyone with an interest in birds and wildlife to engage with the world around them and learn new things while contributing to a larger collective with the ability to make a positive global impact. 

How to Participate

If being a part of this project sounds like a fun way to get outside this February–great! It’s easy:

1. Where/Who/When

This year's bird count runs from Friday, February 16, through Monday, February 19. Pick what spot you’d like to bird, and who you’d like to go with. Local parks, trails, forests, around the neighborhood, and yes, even your own backyard, are all lovely options. You can bird anywhere, as long as you can legally and safely access the property, of course. 

2. Watch/Listen/Identify

For at least 15 minutes, at least one time over the course of that Friday-Monday, get out there and observe! Sight and sound are the most helpful cues for bird identification. Helpful tools for bird ID include binoculars, field guides, Merlin Bird ID, and a more experienced birder friend. Be sure to keep careful track of each bird species you see, so that data can be collected!

3. Enter Data

The most crucial step - adding to the international database - can be done in any of three ways:

• Enter data through the Merlin Bird ID App

• Enter data through a checklist on the eBird App

• Enter data on eBird through a compute

If you’re already familiar with eBird and/or Merlin, that’s good news, birder! Any lists added to either over the days of the Great Backyard Bird Count will automatically be a part of the count. So, keep up the good work, and make a point to get outside and do some birding the weekend of the count. 

Project Goals

With everyone’s help, we can better understand bird populations. Data on species diversity, population numbers, and location can help ornithologists and land managers to make informed decisions on how to best protect birds and the environment as a whole. 

Project History 

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a partnership between CornellLab, Audubon, and Birds Canada. Originally founded in 1998 by CornellLab and Audubon, the Great Backyard Bird Count is the first ever community science project launched online, with the purpose of collecting data on wild birds and publicly displaying results. Birds Canada became a part of the collaboration in 2009 to expand the scope of the project in Canada (it was limited to the US when created). In 2013, the Great Backyard Bird Count joined with eBird, the world’s largest ongoing biodiversity related community science project, and became global. 

Resources 

Visit the Great Backyard Bird Count website to learn more about the project, see photos and data from past years, and for anything else Great Backyard Bird Count related!  

Visit eBird to expand your bird knowledge and download a list of target potential species for your area, that you can familiarize yourself with ahead of time.

Data from past counts

We are all in this together.

Migratory birds are a lovely reminder that, across oceans and borders, our planet is one whole. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a testament to our force as a collective. It reassures us with proof that individuals who care to engage and participate in the world around them can come together to make a positive global difference. It reminds us to go outside and be in our world. It encourages us to notice and care for the others we share our planet with. And last but not at all least, it gives us that little extra push to go delight in watching a fluffy little bird hopping around. So get out there and look at some birds! 

Happenings at BRDC!

Blue Ridge Discovery Center has been a very exciting place the last couple of weeks! We have had the opportunity to inspire curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge and the use of our Schoolhouse. While we have been able to host many residential education programs since the opening of our Schoolhouse in May of last year, BRDC can host other types of events as well.

Most recently, events have included a birthday party for an Alumna of the Konnarock Training School, a wedding reception, Radford University Student Exchange program, and the Virginia Herpetological Society Spring Conference.

Our Schoolhouse contains 16 beautifully restored rooms with the ability to sleep 70 individuals, has a commercial kitchen, dining room, classroom, library, chapel/auditorium and gathering spaces. The second floor rooms have twin XL bunk beds while the third floor has king and queen suites and a studio apartment. All rooms have private baths.

We want to share our amazing facility and grounds with you, your family and friends, or your group or organization. Programs can also be provided as part of your experience at BRDC. Inquire now for availability and how we can best serve your needs.

Dr. Marcella Kelly to Speak at Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally

Dr. Marcella Kelly is the Associate Department Head For Graduate Affairs & Graduate Program Director for the Virginia Tech Department of Fish & Wildlife Conservation. Her research focuses primarily on carnivore population ecology, management, and conservation using emerging and evolving techniques such as camera trapping combined with advances in population modeling to estimate population sizes and densities for elusive, hard-to-track, carnivores; non-invasive genetic sampling and molecular scatology to determine carnivore abundance, growth rates, genetic diversity, and gene flow across fragmented landscapes; Global Positioning System (GPS) collaring combined with landscape modeling to investigate carnivore habitat selection and fine scale movement across multi-use landscapes; and finally conservation physiology of captive black bears to better understand hibernation/torpor ecology and its potential link to human-wildlife conflict.

This May, attendees of the Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally will have a chance to meet Marcella during her presentation, THE VIRGINIA APPALACHIAN CARNIVORE PROJECT: ECOLOGICAL FINDINGS FROM 10 YEARS OF RESEARCH ON BEARS, BOBCATS, AND COYOTES. The Virginia Appalachian Carnivore Project (VACS) began 2011, primarily in response to a perception of increased coyote populations and potential impacts of coyotes on white-tailed deer in the region. Due to initial findings, the VACS project was expanded in 2016 to include bobcats and bears. Come find out what we have learned about these 3 carnivores and whose eating bambi.

To attend Marcella’s presentation at the Mount Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally on May 12, 2023, please register online!

BRDC takes on Burkes Garden!

Red-headed Woodpecker

This past Saturday, BRDC staff and friends set off on an expedition to see the superb bird species of Burke’s Garden in Tazewell, VA. Burke's Garden is a rare valley bowl with a floor that rests at 3,000' while the encircling ridge rises to around 4,000'. It is located in Tazewell County, VA, where the Appalachian Trail skirts its southern rim. The 8.5 mile long and 4-mile wide valley is often referred to as "God's Thumbprint" for its distinctive shape.

Eastern Screech Owl

American Kestrel

Golden Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

The bowl is a beautiful pastoral landscape during the summer but in the winter it is equally impressive. During February it plays host to the rare wintering birds from the far north including the Golden Eagle and Rough-legged Hawk. Once in the valley, we slowly worked our way around the bowl in a large loop by vehicle, searching for birds along the way. During this expedition, we were able to see 35 different bird species. Species observed were: Eastern Meadowlark, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Common Raven, American Crow, Blue Jay, Eastern Phoebe, American Kestrel, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Screech-Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Black Vulture, Great Blue Heron, Wilson’s Snipe, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, American Black Duck, and Mallard. Seeing the Golden Eagles, the Red-headed Woodpecker, and the vast amount of Red-tailed hawks, 36, truly made this years trip special. This is one of our annual trips, so if you are interested in seeing any of these magnificent birds, we will continue to host this amazing expedition for the years to come.

Wilson’s Snipe

Nature's Little Elf Workshop is Almost Here!

It’s crafts and cocoa galore at our Nature’s Little Elf Workshop! After picking an elf name, children will have the opportunity to get hands-on with a variety of seasonal crafts. All programs will be led by BRDC staff, board members, and hand-picked volunteers. Elf costumes welcome! Activities will take place both indoors and out, so please dress warmly. Hot cocoa, cookies, a toasty fire, and marshmallows will be provided.

This is for children ages 3-15 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2022. This event will be inside and outside of our Schoolhouse. The address is 6402 Whitetop Road Troutdale, VA 24378.

If you’re interested in attending this annual Holiday event, please register with the link below!

Rally, Rally, Rally!

The Fall Naturalist Rally is quickly approaching and we are so excited to share some of the programs! Friday starts with a great dinner will consisting of locally sourced ingredients, so be sure to sign up for that before October 11th on our website. Our a keynote speaker, Michael St. Germain will talk about bats. Perfect subject for the month of October! Saturday will consist of Mt Rogers hike led by Phil Shelton (full day), a Bird Ecology and Migration program led by Dr. Ashley Peele and Shawn Kurtzman, a Salamander Hike led by Neil Fredericksen, a Mushroom hike led by Lee Diggs, a Birding Acoustics program led by Dr. Steven Hopp, and a Campus Tour led by Linda Hylander and Judy Greear. Sunday will consist of a Salamander Hike led by Dr. Kevin Hamed, Flint knapping with Doug Meyer, and a Nature Photography program led by Joshua Ward. If you are interested in reading more about each of the programs and their leaders, check out our rally page.

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!

A Year in Review

As we close 2021, a year of stress and uncertainty due to the continued pandemic, social distancing, mask mandates, travel restrictions, and construction projects, the myriad of photos taken throughout the year shows another story. You, our community and participants, coming together to help us meet our mission to inspire curiosity, discovery, and stewardship through the wonders of the Blue Ridge. From naturalist rallies, to summer camps and construction projects, you’ve supported us all year long by sharing, guiding, and giving. Look at what you helped us achieve in 2021 and join us in ringing in the New Year!

Programs

Through the support of local foundations and public schools, we have been able to get youth outside and engaged in nature both on and off campus.

Summer Camps

From June through August, we provided day camps for youth 6-11 years old and overnight camps for youth 11-17 years old. Day camps were held at Matthews State Forest and the BRDC Campus while our overnight camps traveled along the New River, hiked the wilderness areas of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, fished the Blue Ridge, and explored the 12+ acres of the Center and the adjacent lands.

In The Field

Staff continued to pursue their passion as naturalist on day trips and research projects. Through citizen science and data collection, we learn from nature and each other to better share our stewardship of the place we call home.

Volunteers

We had so many wonderful volunteers join us for a variety of projects. Not everything was for everyone but we managed to find something for all. Many hands make for light work. Hundreds of hours were donated by the volunteers who painted, dug, built, hauled, moved, and lifted all kinds of things to help us build our Center!

Construction

A lot of changes have taken place this year on our schoolhouse! The restoration is nearly complete. The building has had major restoration from floor to ceiling. We also restored a wetland, built trails and a brand new pavilion!

Here’s to 2022!

Come HIKE with US!

Get Outside Hikes

Blue Ridge Discovery Center’s Get Outside Program connects families of Grayson and Carroll Counties and the City of Galax to nature through hands-on, active, outdoor natural history activities. The components of this program include observational hiking, outdoor activity, and natural history education. Participants will get outside with their families to explore, discover, and share their experiences during a short hike in local areas. Activities include a scavenger hunt and the chance to earn a BRDC patch!

Our first hike is THIS SATURDAY (9/11/2021) at Dannelly Park in Galax (Carroll County).

Activity Highlights:

• Explore the biodiversity of the region

• Activate observational skills

• Participate in natural history activities

• Earn a patch

Schedule:

• Saturday, September 11 @ Dannelly Park, from 10AM-12PM

• Saturday, September 25 @ Whitetop Mountain, from 10AM-12PM

• Saturday, October 2 @ Matthew’s State Forest, from 10AM-12PM

• Saturday, October 9 @ Beaver Dam Creek Trail, from 10AM-12PM

• Saturday, October 16 @ Stamper’s Branch Trail, GHSP, from 2-4PM

• Saturday, October 23 @ New River Trail - Gambetta, from 10AM-12PM

• Saturday, October 30 @ Elk Garden Trail, from 2-4PM

FAQ:

Who can come?

Everyone of all ages! This program is intended for families.

How much does it cost?

FREE, but registration is required.

What do I bring?

Please bring a reusable water bottle. All instruction, materials, and supplies are included.

How do I sign up?

Please sign up using the button below. Just choose which hike you would like to join. You may sign up multiple times. There is no limit to how many hikes you can attend!

We hope to see you out there!

Email lisa@blueridgediscoverycenter.org for more information.

A Lotta Help from Our Friends

As disappointing as it was to cancel the Mt. Rogers Summer Naturalist Rally, we couldn’t be more thankful or appreciative of all the help the multitude of volunteers did to support our Center last weekend! In lieu of our Naturalist Rally, we solicited the help of our friends, members, partners, board, and families to help us create the Discovery Center through various projects.

Friday Friends

Beginning Friday morning at 9:00 am and ending at 5:00 pm on Sunday these dedicated volunteers accomplished a tremendous amount! They painted 10 picnic tables and 5 custom made exterior doors, polished and constructed nearly 80 brass light fixtures, built three large bee houses and filled them with cut wood and bamboo (all drilled with various sized holes for our solitary bees), and constructed and stained six “rocket box” bat houses - all with repurposed, hand hammered copper roofs.

Then there was the planting! Hundreds of small trees, shrubs and native plants were put in the ground throughout the BRDC Campus. A small orchard was planted with apple trees (4 species) grafted by staff back in February. They protected them with fencing along with some prior planted American chestnut trees. Brush was cleared and burned, cuttings were potted, weeds were pulled, and gardens were mulched…it was magnificent!

On Saturday evening, we broke bread, shared stories, and in the tradition of a naturalist rally, took an evening hike to watch a maternal colony of big brown bats leave the roost on their nightly hunt…all 224 of them! We listened to crickets, katydids, and screech owls and ended the night with a view of Jupiter and its moons alongside our own beautiful full moon.

This would not be possible without the help of so many of you…our friends, our community, our support. We thank you for all you did and do for and with us last weekend and always!

Volunteer Weekend (In Lieu of Summer MRNR)

Dear Rally goers,

We are very disappointed to announce that we have decided to cancel the Summer Naturalist Rally in order to focus our capacity on the construction of the Center. With the center completion date set for the Spring of 2022, we are planning a Grand Opening event during the 48th annual Spring Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally!

We have planned a volunteer weekend in place of the Rally, August 20-22. If you are interested, we have a variety of projects including trail building, bridge building, boardwalk construction, painting and staining, and habitat development. The BRDC staff will be working all weekend, and we will be providing a group dinner on Saturday night to support the efforts. If you are interested in assisting, please email info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org or give us a call at 276-388-3155.

Again, we apologize for this change in plans and we are already missing our usual MRNR group, but we are looking forward to having the Rally in grand fashion in 2022!

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Spring Naturalist Rally Begins this WEEKEND!

Its not too late to get in on the fun! This Saturday, May 1st begins the Mt Rogers Spring Naturalist Rally: Scavenger Hunt Edition.

The Mt Rogers Naturalist Rally: “Scavenger Hunt” Edition is a self-guided, hands-on exploration of the biodiversity within a 7.5 mile radius of the Blue Ridge Discovery Center and within the MRNRA suitable for all ages. Participants will be provided clues to locate and explore unique and special locations, complete challenges, detours, and roadblocks, earn chances to win great prizes, and share findings!

From May 1st through the 9th, you may participate as many days as you like, start anytime you like, and travel at your own pace and convenience. You will:

• Utilize a map and clues

• Complete challenges.

• Contribute to citizen science

• Earn chances to win great prizes

• and, Learn about the natural history of the Mt Rogers area

If you can’t get over this way for the event, raffle tickets are available for purchase to support the Rally with daily chances to win great prizes including a guided fly fishing trip with Matt Reilly, a weekend getaway for two in coastal SC, Vortex binoculars, a MagicScope, loaded naturalist pack, local swag, and more!

Get Outside Hike at New River Trail - Gambetta

Join BRDC guides for a hike along the New River Trail! This hike will depart from the Gambetta parking area and travel towards Fries. Families welcome. Activities include a scavenger hunt and the chance to earn a BRDC patch!

Blue Ridge Discovery Center’s Get Outside Program connects families of Grayson and Carroll Counties and the City of Galax to nature through hands-on, active, outdoor natural history activities. The components of this program include observational hiking, outdoor activity, and natural history education. Participants will get outside with their families to explore, discover, and share their experiences during a short hike in local areas.

Budding Botanist Program

Let your Budding Botanist explore nature in a program designed specifically for preschool aged children. They will spend time exploring Della’s Branch Nature Trail with Blue Ridge Discovery Center guides and participate in sensory nature activities. Adult accompaniment is required for this program. Masks will be required for all attendees. There will be two identical sessions of this program. Limit 15 participants per event.

Ages: 3-5

Dates: Saturday, March 20th, 10:00 AM–11:30 AM - OR - Saturday, April 17th, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM

Location: Blue Ridge Discovery Center, 6402 Whitetop Rd, Troutdale, VA 24378

Cost: FREE! Registration preferred

Get Outside along the Henley Hollow Trail

Blue Ridge Discovery Center’s Get Outside Program connects families to nature through hands-on, active, outdoor natural history activities. This program includes observational hiking, an outdoor activity, and natural history education. Participants will get outside with their families to explore, discover, and share their experiences during a short hike along Henley Hollow Trail on Hwy 21 towards Speedwell.

This Saturday’s (February 27th), hike begins at 2:00 pm. Activities include a scavenger hunt and the chance to earn a BRDC patch. This program is FREE, but registration is required. (Includes all instruction, materials, and supplies.) Space is limited. Participants are responsible for face masks and reusable water bottles. Email lisa@blueridgediscoverycenter.org to be notified of future event dates or questions.

Supported by Twin County Community Foundation grant.

2021 Great Backyard Bird Count

Hang out on the porch or peer out the windows of the cottage as we participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count! Staff will be at the BRDC Cottage Saturday, February 13th from 10-2 to participate in documenting the birds found at the Center, and submitting these data on eBird.

Anyone can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from the beginning bird watcher to the expert. Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share.

Stop in and share 15 minutes of your time in this worldwide citizen-science project with us. Or bring a sack lunch and hang out longer. We want to explore, discover, and share our backyard with you! Please come equipped with a face covering.