Late July Events and Outreach

The last weekend of July was packed with BRDC activity. 

On Thursday, the 24th, Scott offered an aquatic survey for nearly 20 kids from the Mount Rogers Youth Services, a collaboration through the Grayson County 4-H led by Erin Farmer, and the Grayson County Recreation Department.  We gathered at the famous falls on Power House Road, just across and down the street from the Rec Park.  For ninety minutes the kids collected various stream critters, with one group of boys especially devoted to finding every crayfish possible. 

We looked at stone and mayflies under the microscopes, while others were catching minnows and several fly larvae species.  All of the critters were arrayed in the ice trays for further study and comparison.  Time allowing, we also discussed the amazing diversity of aquatic life and how that speaks to the relative health of the stream.

On Friday, Sarah Osborne, Brenda Bonk and Debbie Greif held down the BRDC fort at the Independence Farmers Market…offering a hands-on program based on trees and leaves…with fun crafts and lively discussions.

Meanwhile, Scott and Andrea Langston were setting up the BRDC/New River Land Trust booth at the 13th annual Floyd Fest for a commitment of three days on site serving the interests and energy of kids inside the ‘Children’s Universe’ zone.  This zone was unique in being set off from the hustle and bustle of the Floyd Fest, intentionally giving kids and their families a special place for specific kid events and activities.  Central to the zone was a stage set up to offer a variety of presentations, music, open mike, and other crowd pleasers.  Each of the three days, Andrea and I were responsible for a staged workshop oriented to outdoor education.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries booth was adjacent to ours.  JD Kleopfer, state herpetologist, shared his booth with Kimberly Terrell, hellbender specialist from the Smithsonian Institution. They specialized in live salamanders, a model of a hellbender, and a fantastic collection of turtle shells.  This was a nice fit for BRDC/NRLT as we had a live box turtle and a tank of aquatic animals for the kids to view…including a small bull frog.  Our combined booths were a big hit.

For our stage presentation on Friday, Andrea and I offered ‘art in nature’ with a focus on using field guides as inspiring model material for sketching.  We instructed the kids to either draw inside of a small circle for creating take-home buttons, or decorating post cards to be sent from and in celebration of the event. 

On Saturday our presentation centered around our aquatic tank, macro invertebrates, microscope use, and of course, the box turtle.  Kimberly was kind enough to join us on stage with her salamanders, and two of the kids, who had become our constant companions, brought recently caught earthworms for a hungry turtle demonstration.

Sunday’s stage presentation offered both owl pellet dissection and bird parts to handle and compare.  Wings, skulls and talons from a variety of mostly raptors were passed around, while other kids poked through animal remains details found within barn owl pellets.  This was a nice finale to a long weekend, well worth the time and effort.  Andrea and I estimated we served 200 kids over the 3 days, most of them between the ages of 3 and 13.  Many parents took appreciative notice of our work and promised to be ambassadors to our collective cause of connecting kids to their outdoor treasures.

Also on Saturday evening, at the Matthews State Forest, Dr. Robert Perkins conducted a ‘Moth Night’ survey on behalf of BRDC and the Blue Ridge Birders.  Following is his report:

For the 10 participants in Moth Night, the evening began with rain and a slow start. Beetles—lightning beetles of undetermined species, click beetles of undetermined species, at least one carrion beetle (Nicrophorus sp), several rove beetles of undetermined species, and a bunch of Cyclocephala borealis (a species of scarab beetle)—appeared first. Later a mayfly, a medium-sized stonefly, and several caddisflies joined the party. Moths were scarce. The final list included Nais Tiger (Apantesis nais), Tuliptree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera), Skiff Moth (Prolimacodes badia), Bent-line Gray (Iridopsis larvaria), Texas Mocis (Mocis texans), a Pyraustid of undetermined species, and a tiny micro in the Schreckensteinia genus.

Had more people signed up for Roald Kirby’s summer expedition, also on Saturday, BRDC would have led a field trip to the Channels.  Roald is hoping to reschedule. 

What all of this clearly exemplifies is the breadth of Blue Ridge Discovery Center’s educational outreach, and our currency within the Blue Ridge communities.  Please stay tuned as we move into the fall season and resume our work with school age kids and their sponsors.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Dismal Falls, Bland County, VA

The 4.3 mile hike on July 19th had gloomy, rainy weather, but the four cheerful participants made the hike to the Falls full of fun and frolic. Guide Amy Roberts and Master Naturalist volunteer Linda Gette led local and out of state participants through the Appalachian hickory-oak forest to the lovely 400 million year old falls.  We found some unidentified fossils in one of the boulder fields, two chicken of the woods fungi, an eastern red-spotted newt, and some American chestnut coppice trying to survive. Some of the rhododendron was still in bloom, and we had a lesson on distinguishing American Chestnut, Chestnut Oak, and Chinquapin.  

Blue Ridge Expeditions: August 23rd, Hike on Garden Mountain

This easy 4.9 mile section of the Appalachian Trail runs across the top of Garden Mountain, from Route #623 to Walker’s Gap (at end of Route #727 in Burke’s Garden). 

On this hike you will see beautiful moss- and fern-covered trees and top of the ridgeline views into Burke’s Garden, and hear calling ravens. There is a 3.7 mile stretch of sandstone cliffs that drops off abruptly in some places.  Bring water, as none is available on this hike. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Kangaroo Gas Station/Dairy Queen at the Bland I-77 exit and will carpool to the drop off and pick up sites from there. Please contact BRDC trip leader Amy Roberts at 276-688-3793 or aarobert@vt.edu for more information and to sign up for the hike. A limit of 20 participants will help to protect the trail. 

Blue Ridge Expeditions: The Channels, Clinch Mountain

Leaders: Roald Kirby and Fred Newcomb

One of southwest Virginia’s most spectacular and unusual natural preserves will be explored on this Blue Ridge Expeditions (BRE) hike which is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Discovery Center (BRDC). The part of Clinch Mountain known as The Channels is an area of huge sandstone rock outcroppings where ancient forces have created a maze of giant fissures, some of which now serve as passageways somewhat similar to slot canyons of the western states. 

The hike will be a 5 mile round trip of moderate difficulty and will take place on Sunday, July 27. Geology expert Fred Newcomb and Roald Kirby will lead the group. Participants should call (276) 579-4011 to register and for more information. 

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Hike to Dismal Falls, Bland County, VA

On July 19th, Blue Ridge Expeditions (BRE), a flagship program of the Blue Ridge Discovery Center, will host a hike on the Appalachian Trail in Bland County. This 4.3 mile hike to Dismal Falls, on the Bland-Giles border, is the first of four hikes led by BRE program director, Amy Roberts, a Bland resident. This is a moderate hike from Route #606 to Dismal Falls and back. A portion of the trail passes through a boulder field, where fossil imprints of worms and shelled brachiopods can be found. The Falls of Dismal is a 15-foot, multi-tiered waterfall on Dismal Creek. It is part of a sandstone formation that is over 400 million years old.

The three other hikes will occur on August 23rd on Garden Mountain, September 13th on Brushy mountain north of Crandon, and on October 18th on Brushy Mountain between Bastian and Bland. All hikes are on the famed Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 mile footpath from Georgia to Maine, completed in 1937. For information about any of these free and fun hiking events, please contact Amy Roberts at 276-688-3793 or aarobert@vt.edu. 

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Sullivan Swamp

On June 7th, a small group of us met at the Massie Gap parking area of Grayson Highlands State Park for our second local Blue Ridge Expeditions hike of the year. Roald Kirby led a 4 mile walk around the edges of Sullivan Swamp, sometimes taking us off the trail for a while.  Bushwhacking, he said, can bring surprises.

Out in the open fields, grazed by the the park's famous (or infamous) ponies the Catawbas grow to shrub height and no taller.  But in the woods, competing for the precious light source, they become more the size of small trees.

These observations and many others were shared by Roald with our inquisitive group.  Roald worked as interpreter at this state park for a number of years, and has a strong historical perspective he willingly ties into the natural.  The combination makes for a most informative and fun expedition.  Stay tuned for upcoming BRE hikes.

The Summer Season Begins: Independence Farmer's Market

BRDC's commitment to the community extends to frequent participation in local events, such as the Independence Farmers Market.  Passing through town on Fridays during the garden months, one cannot miss the festive array of multicolored tents and throngs of vendors and shoppers milling about.  When the IFM asked BRDC to share a kids event tent on site, we willingly accepted. 

On both May 30th and June 6th, BRDC set up shop and waited for the kids...who did not disappoint.  Kids love critters, so at our first display, we brought an assortment of herps:  two turtles, a salamander, one frog, and a snake.  Heartmoss Farm considered our menagerie lacking so loaned out a silkie chicken for the morning.  This assortment gave the kids choices for our sketching program, which is often a part of our demos and field excursions. 

With the younger crowd, questions are non-stop, so it is our main job to keep up as best we can, and tie the questions to the natural history of the Blue Ridge whenever possible.  For instance, we had one box turtle and one snapping turtle, obviously very different species with habitat preferences exhibited by contrasting shells, shape, color, feet and so on.  This gave us plenty to discuss with a captive audience.

At our second market day, BRDC brought three cages of moths caught around the porch light.  With nearly fifty different moths, kids were able to grasp the idea of diversity...shape, size, coloration, gaudy and cryptic were all represented.  Many kids wanted to see moths under the microscope, which elicited the expected 'wow's.  Meanwhile, a name the snake contest was in play...no official results in yet.

Recent BRDC activities: Farm Days and the Carolina Raptor Center

On the 22nd and 23rd of May, busloads of grade-school kids flowed through a variety of activities at the Matthews Living History Farm Museum. They were treated to live music, story-telling, farm animals, historical farm equipment, a real vegetable garden and insect explorations. Blue Ridge Discovery Center provided kids with bug nets, capture boxes and magnifying lenses for closer viewing.

We fanned out across a couple of open fields, swept the nets willy-nilly and then inspected our catch.

A variety of spiders, true bugs, beetles, small wasps and bees, grasshoppers, moths and other catches kept us all quite busy.

On hand were a few field guides and one expert, Dr. Robert Perkins.

Without a doubt, the kids enjoyed this exploration…if screams and squeals are any indication of excitement.

We would like to thank the Farm Museum for the invite to share in this event, and a special thanks goes to our able assistants Deborah Shell, Isaac and Dalton Edwards along with their friend Dylan…who helped us keep the nets inspected and the captured bugs contained.

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As a grand finale to BRDC’s Avian Adventures Bird Sleuth program, most of the students who participated were treated to a field trip to the Carolina Raptor Center on May 27

th

.

Sarah Osborne, Carol Broderson, William Roberts and myself were extras in the mix, along with the teachers and the illustrious Ken Ogle, bus driver.

It was a great pleasure to see so many of our AA participants get the chance to view the variety of raptors on the center’s grounds.

The CRC combines education and rehabilitation.

Most of the birds that end up at the CRC are eventually released, and those whose injuries prevent their return to the wild, (but are not terminal), remain on site in habitat cages for the public to see and learn about.

Significant to the educational component is an emphasis on how humans impact the raptor world.

Injuries are mostly either directly or indirectly the result of habitat alteration by people (think cars and power lines).

Owls are well represented as are many hawks and falcons.

We saw vultures, crows and ravens (not raptors)…Northern harrier, osprey, golden and bald eagles, peregrine falcon (the fastest animal in the world), and many more species.

This was a nice wind-up to our winter bird study.

After the initial presentation and before we took our walk about the grounds, many of the students asked questions…always a good sign that someone is paying attention!

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Spring Foray, April 12, 2014

BRDC's first local Blue Ridge Expeditions field hike of 2014 was great; warm, sunny weather for the 16 eager hikers on the New River Trail below Fries. Guides Roald Kirby, Carol Broderson and Harrol Blevins led the participants, some of whom were from the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club and most others regulars. 

"The east facing wooded slopes adjacent to the trail were carpeted with some of the best displays of spring wildflowers that I have ever seen--- blood root,  Dutchman's Britches and Spring Beauty were the most spectacular. We also saw some uncommon ones:  wild bleeding heart and round leafed hepatica. The flowers had just opened; Carol said there was hardly anything a few days earlier. Birds were fewer but Harrol helped us spot a number, including yellow-throated warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher and mallards, wood ducks and geese. Everyone felt that we were out on the first truly spring day!"  (From Roald)

"It was still early spring on the New River Trail and the purple trillium that blanket the hillsides was not quite ready to open. The combination of a below zero winter and a cold March made trillium blooms three weeks later than the last year. We saw plenty of the earlier Dutchmans breeches and decided to extend our walk across the bridge to see another family member BLEEDING HEART.

EARLY SAXIFRAGE (saxigfrage means rock breaker) colonized all the rocky places.

Having birder Harrol Blevins along was a special treat for all the wildflower enthusiasts. He pointed out the masses of yellow warblers (more than he had seen in one place) and the double-crested cormorants on river rocks.

A partial list of wildflowers:

MUSTARDS creasy, toothwort, (early) bittercresses, garlic mustard

MINTS ground ivy, dead nettle

bluets

ASTERS golden ragwort, dandelion

SAXAFRAGE early

RANUNCULUS buttercups, COLUMBINE

hepatica

trailing arbutus

mayapple

FUMATORY Dutchmen's breeches, bleeding heart

chickweed

violets

bloodroot

spring beauty

blue cohosh

fire pink"  (from Carol)

Below are two pictures taken by Harrol:  

Bloodroot: 

Dutchman's Britches:

Stay tuned for more announcements of future expeditions.  Take a look at our Ridge and Valley Blogpost from the same day, for a review of our Radford edition of BRE:  http://ridgeandvalley.blogspot.com/2014/04/shutterbug-explorations.html

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Fisher Peak

Fisher Peak Hike

November 23, 2013

Text is Roald Kirby's account, and he is pictured above.

"The hike went well, despite cool,brisk conditions. We had a total of 11, counting Aubrey [Arrington] and me. Lana and Don [Call], Susan and Claire [Gleason], Tom and Melissa,Carol [Broderson], Ellie Kirby and Gary Wilson from Galax.

We began a gradual climb on the trail through woodland cove popular-pine forest and soon picked up the Fisher Peak road which we followed the rest of the way. According to Aubrey,it was originally built by the City of Galax in the 1930's so people attending the Rhododendron Festival could drive to the mountain.It is now used to access the WBRF radio towers.

Pileated Woodpecker evidence was observed, as were the evergreen leaves of Rattlesnake Plantain. The flowers of Witch Hazel brought on  discussions of function and folklore. As we progressed, the forest became mixed hardwood(oaks predominating) with an understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron(both rosebay and catawba)which continued to the top.We found ourselves on the windy brink of a large gneiss outcrop with a couple of small Table Mountain pines where we looked down on soaring ravens with Pilot Mtn and the Saurtowns in the distance.I had been told that there were magnetite crystals here and

sure enough, we found a bunch(with the aid of magnets, of course!).The whole ones were eight-sided and about 1/16" in size.

  After a quick and cool lunch everyone was ready to head back down.The hike(which was supposedly 8 miles but felt more like six to me) took 4.3 hours.Had the temperatures been warmer, we would have spent more time.Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Gary,a boy scout leader,said that he couldn't wait to get out and show people what he had learned!"

A special thanks goes to Aubrey for sharing his expertise on the walk, and Lana Call for all the photos.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Listening and Stories: Sharing our World

A Day at the Farm: Stories On Saturday, October 19th, folks gathered at the Matthews Living Historic Farm Museum for its annual Apple Harvest Day. Though slightly on the chilly side, with a bit of sprinkles thrown in, we hosted a steady stream of people of all ages from infants to geezers coming and going throughout the day. Musicians positioned themselves on the porch of the log cabin, and played traditional mountain tunes while people visited and caught up on neighborly news and gossip.

Among the attractions, stirring the apple butter kettle and cranking the cider press was an all-day affair, with people taking turns at each station. Several tents were set up, representing fiber art, folk painting, cheese-making demonstrations, Independence Farmers Market, and Blue Ridge Discovery Center.

The Farm Museum’s tent offered some home-made chili and sweets along with shirts and caps for sale.

 For me (as one of the founders of BRDC and a huge fan of the Matthews State Forest and its cousin, the Farm Museum) I relish the opportunity to share in community events, making connections, joining in the fun, and meeting new people.

BRDC's displays always include critters and/or critter parts, found objects such as nests, bones, feathers, Native American artifacts, interesting rocks; and a plethora of field guides for the inquisitive.

We attempt to answer questions, but of equal value, we enjoy the stories people bring with them.

On Saturday I listened to one tale about coyotes’ behavioral attitudes toward the domestic dog...and the other way around…and the resultant, and not always pleasant conflicts.

A young man stopped by to talk about his hunting issues with chattering squirrels alerting the entire forest of his coordinates.

I responded by telling him about my recent studies of the skill of becoming familiar with or faithful to a place in the woods, (such as a hunter would in his blind or tree stand), to the degree that the squirrels and birds would also become familiar with the hunter.

Patience of this order produces results for both the hunter and the nature observer.

Most importantly, we all have stories.

Through membership within the community, be it our church, school, benevolence club, the local grange, hunting club, farmers market; as well as these great seasonal events such as this harvest day, we have multiple opportunities to get together, share our time, resources and stories.

We find common ground, create and extend our neighborhood, become closer and more familiar…familiar in the sense of belonging to one another in lasting, significant ways.

Listening to one another is the key to nurturing our bit of heaven here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

President, BRDC

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Mt. Rogers Hike

Saturday was the perfect day for a hike, with a Carolina blue sky, a few puffy clouds and a slight breeze. Ten participants met at Massie Gap for a guided hike to the summit of Mt. Rogers, led by Dr. Phil Shelton and Roald Kirby, program director for Blue Ridge Expeditions. The group was treated to an amazing breadth of knowledge about Mt. Rogers by both Roald and Dr. Shelton. Stops were made frequently to observe such species as Spruce and Fir trees, Mountain Ash with its beautiful red berries, and the following birds:

Turkey Vulture

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

American Robin

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Blue Jay

Common Raven

American Crow

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

[Possible] Sharp-shinned Hawk

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Shelton for taking the time to share in our passion for the Blue Ridge mountains.

Please visit blueridgediscoverycenter.org for information on other upcoming Blue Ridge Expedition events.

BRDC's Blue Ridge Expeditions Launches its First Foray

Blue Ridge Discovery Center is proud to welcome Roald Kirby to our team of naturalist explorers and guides.  As program director of our new Blue Ridge Expeditions, Roald brings years of outdoor experience and love of our Blue Ridge to the public through a series of walks, guided hikes and nature lore.

Today we met at Matthews State Forest ostensibly for a bird walk, but general inquiries were (and always will be) welcome.  The sky was overcast with the threat of impending rain, so the birds were generally more quiet than would be if the sun had made an appearance, yet we were able to either hear and/or see the following (in no special order):

• Indigo bunting

• House finch

• Catbird

• American robin

• Blue jay

• Black-throated green warbler

• Tennessee warbler

• Northern cardinal

• Wood duck

• Pileated woodpecker

• Red-bellied woodpecker

• Red-tailed hawk

• Turkey vulture

• Eastern phoebe

• Eastern wood-pewee

• American Goldfinch

• Eastern bluebird

• mocking bird

• Song Sparrow

• Carolina wren

• White-breasted nuthatch

• American crow

• Eastern towhee

• Cedar waxwing

Comparisons were made between oak and maple tree species.  The Alleghany Chinkapin was notable along some of the paths.  Evidence of heavy hickory nut foraging by squirrels littered the woods along with their harvest of yellow buckeye.  Several species of mushrooms were observed along the trail.  Many varieties of apples were available for taste comparisons and thirst quenching.  Discussions ranging from why birds sing to the American Chestnut program being conducted on the state forest grounds were driven by questions...always a good way to engage the learning process.

It is our intention to offer more of these programs throughout the year.  Please pay attention to the local newspapers for notices of upcoming events.  (The Galax Gazette and The Declaration.)  On October 5th, we will be meeting at Grayson Highlands State Park at the Massie Gap parking area, 8:30am, for an all day hike to Mount Rogers.  Roald has secured Dr. Phil Shelton to assist BRDC.  Phil has led this walk at the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally for years. 

If you are not in the picture below, well, you missed out.  Join us next time! 

Again, we wish to thank the Matthews Foundation for their generous support!

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Joy Ranch field trip

Today, BRDC brought six young people, one mom and one staff member to the Music Center, and/or Fisher's Peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a walk in the park.  Through our Avian Adventures Program we aimed to hear and find birds, who are winding down their typical territorial and breeding behavior, yet we managed to find indigo buntings, red-eyed vireo, field sparrows, a broad winged hawk and hooded warbler. 

Along the trail, which passed through the woods but also clung to the edges of a field, we paid attention to details of our wet summer.  Along with birds, we found several other interesting features, including this snail.

The evidence of birds and their actions on the landscape were illustrated by the combination of our continuing loss of the hemlocks through the wooly adelgid's impact, (http://pacificgateworks.com/details.asp?ProdID=24132&gclid=CPmZq8TaqrgCFciY4AodbzsAcA), and our fungal and local woodpeckers' natural response through their exploitation of vegetable matter and insects that colonize a dying and dead tree.

From time to time, we paused to listen to the few birds that were still singing, and Eric Harrold (program director) offered informed descriptions of our surroundings and ecological connections.  He pointed out the

categories based upon public land use, from one extreme of 'look but don't touch' to the other of hunting and fishing.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is under the domain of our National Park Service, and differs from the State Parks and the Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, which employs Eric.   

As we began our return trek to the parking area, our view offered a comparison of wetlands easily distinguished from the drier field grasses surrounding them.

These ecologically important systems offer a special abundance of a different variety of species both plant and animal.  We marveled at the difference water makes, within such a relatively small area.

Here are two pictures of insects encountered along the way:

 The dragon-fly is the common white-tail, not sure about the beetles. 

And, finally, here is the crew!  Thanks to the Matthews Foundation and Joy Ranch for another fun morning of discovery.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

President, BRDC

July 4th, Independence, VA

As has been our habit now for at least 4 years running, BRDC set up on the lawn of the Historic 1908 Courthouse to help celebrate the holiday and community spirit.  This year, Eric Harrold and William Roberts joined me for 5 hours of kid-oriented activities, with special attention given to sharing our prized raptor bird parts gifted to us by the Carolina Raptor Center.

These specimens generated quite a bit of conversation, grabbing the attention of young and old alike.  Of special interest was the comparison made between hawk and owl wings.  The owls have specialized barbs on the leading edge of their wings to muffle the sound of flight.  Given that most owls hunt at night, the element of surprise needs this extra help.  The hawks do not have this feature.

We also provided nests, seeds and seed pods, a small variety of mammal skulls and other found objects for the kids to draw.  Laid out on that table were all types of art tools, including pads...for this activity.  Not many kids chose to draw from our models, but many did draw and had a bunch of fun.

BRDC considers the value of being in the public eye to be well worth the effort.  It is good to stay connected with the community and show others what and who we are.  But, mostly, it is just fun to spend time with the kids, many of whom are here only in the summer visiting grandparents, and have become repeat 'customers'.  We wouldn't want to let them down, now would we?

Off and on we were joined by Deb Greif, Rick Cavey, Aaron Floyd, Sarah Osborne, Joyce Rouse and David Haushlohner, all associated with BRDC on a committed level.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Birding at Joy Ranch

Joy Ranch 6/28/13

Joy Ranch is “a Christian multi-service child care agency in Virginia providing homes for children who cannot or should not be in their own homes”. Eric Harrold, program director for Avian Adventures, offered the educational services of Blue Ridge Discovery Center to the Executive Director of Joy Ranch, Tim Lewis, and their program director Mary Hutchins through a series of conversations and visits. Our offer was well received. To see more on the ongoing work of Joy Ranch, please refer to: joyranch.org Much like the approach we took at Camp Dickenson, the kids were given brief instructions on identification strategies, and off we went on a hike. Birds were located, described in journals, and discussed in the field. We began by listening and watching birds close to the chapel where we gave our orientation. Then, some of those who knew the campus, took us to a barn swallow nest.

From there we skirted the open areas around the buildings, finding a few species in trees, on the ground and way up in the sky. Occasionally, Eric played call back songs to draw some birds closer. When we took a trail into the surrounding woods, this effort brought the kids close up looks at an oven bird and later, a Carolina wren.

One resident family, who had first met Eric at one of his library presentations, drew us behind their house where multiple feeders were arrayed. Hummingbirds and house finches were added to our list at that spot. The day was growing warmer and quieter, and many of the kids were getting tired. The ages ranged from approximately 4 to 16, so we had quite a spread of attention span requirements. We hurried back to the chapel for our follow-up identification, pulling out the Sibley’s field guides and reviewing our notes.

Many of the kids really perked up during this session, and worked diligently to find the birds that matched their memory and notes.

Our list is in order of discovery and as follows:

• Song sparrow

• Northern mockingbird

• American crow

• Eastern bluebird

• Turkey vulture

• Northern cardinal

• Ovenbird

• Carolina wren

• Blue jay

• Ruby-throated hummingbird

• House finch

• Barn swallow

• Helmeted guineafowl

• Domestic chicken

• Field sparrow

During the identification process, we addressed several questions, including what kinds of employment are available for the avid bird-watcher/ornithologist, and some discussion on why male songbirds, especially, have such intense plumage.

Eric played the songs and calls of a variety of birds, both seen and heard during our walk and those closely related…giving perspective to comparisons. This seems to always capture the attention of an audience. Winding up, outside the chapel Eric discovered a house finch nest in a hanging plant under the portico. Pulling it down, those of us who were still present, got to see four house finch eggs and one larger egg, clearly not of the same species.

Cowbird was the consensus.

Cowbirds, native to North America, were so named because of their nomadic life-style, following bison herds in pre-Columbian days, seeking the insect bounty stirred up by large roaming beasts. Because they were always on the move, they developed the strategy of laying their eggs in other birds’ nests to be foster reared. Now that there are no longer roaming herds of anything, they have become a much more serious parasite on a wider range of nesting songbirds due to their more sedentary lifestyle. The newly hatched cowbirds are typically larger, and outcompete the host’s offspring, sometimes even to the degree of kicking the other eggs and nestlings to the ground and certain death. What is even more interesting in this instance is that house finches are not native to Eastern North America, but from our western states. They were sold as cage birds, and as usual, it only took a few escapees to establish a new population in a relatively predator free zone.

For a while, at least.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Second Annual Matthews Living Historic Farm Museum Event

Above are a few pictures from the museum event. Guides included Zach Olinger from the Matthews State Forest, Bob Perkins, Eric Harrold, Terry Gleason, Susan Gleason, Claire Gleason and Scott Jackson-Ricketts from BRDC, and Kelly Servick from Grayson Highlands State Park. Thanks to the museum staff and Chestnut Creek School of the Arts for collaborating, to Mica Paluzzi for watching the concessions table, and to our illustrious musicians.

Whitetop Wildflower Walk

Wildflower Walk on the New River Trail

Wildflower Walk on New River Trail

Join us on April 16!

See below for details.

Join us on the New River Trail on Saturday, April 16 at 9 A.M., sponsored by Blue Ridge Discovery Center.

Carol

Broderson

and Cecelia Mathis will lead the very easy, flat, five-mile walk. Carol is a Mt. Rogers Appalachian Trail Club volunteer, and she also works with the Trails to Every Classroom program. "What one of us doesn't know about wildflowers, the other one does," Carol says. Cecelia's passion is wildflower photography. She is currently working with two others on a project to identify and photograph the flora and fauna of the Matthews Historical Farm, and she is also a volunteer for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 57-mile New River Trail, the state's most narrow park, is a showcase of early spring wildflowers: spring beauty, violets, trillium,

Dutchmen's

breeches, saxifrage and many others.

Email carol@ls.net or call 276 773-3513 before 7 P.M. to join this spring celebration. Bring lunch, water, raincoat.

Independence Day Weekend Event

July 3rd 2010

Historic 1908 Courthouse

Independence, Va.

Devin Floyd, who had driven down from Charlottesville the night before, and I met and set up on the courthouse lawn between 8 and 9AM. Soon joining us for the day’s activities were volunteers Cecelia Mathis, and Claire and Susan Gleason.

The main program, agreed upon by the Executive Committee, was designed around arrowheads found in Grayson County by the Floyd family over a period of years. The arrowheads were displayed for general inquiry as well as used for sketching models. Those who were willing, sketched a chosen artifact, and then used the sketch to match it to a chart, provided by Devin. From the chart one could determine the age and possible use of that particular arrowhead, while discussing and comparing the different examples on hand.

Claire Gleason brought her pet corn snake, the gentlest snake in the world. This attraction brought people to our table in droves, while Claire answered hundreds of snake questions and allowed any willing soul to hold and handle her snake. Claire’s mom, Susan, helped describe BRDC to folks, and tirelessly collected names and contact information. Cecelia shared her experience from the BRDC sponsored Spring wildflower walks, and enthusiastically drew curious people closer to the table and our arrowhead demonstration.

It becomes increasingly apparent that wherever one goes, parents, kids, grandparents and the rest of us all become enriched by the discoveries inherent to outdoor related activities. Many adults were fascinated by our small arrowhead display, and spoke of their own private collections or ones they knew about. Some of that information is contained in the contact list, and hopefully BRDC can return to those conversations in the near future.

As Grayson County’s BRDC initiative grows, so do the possibilities, endless and rich. It is great fun to see three or four generations gathered around such shared interests, and the curiosity displayed most edifying.

Big hugs to Cecelia, Claire and Susan!

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Photographs by Scott Jackson-Ricketts and Devin Floyd