What moths do at night
Because we see moths at lights or resting quietly somewhere during the day, it's easy to forget that many of them sip nectar just like their butterfly cousins. Here are two that visited my butterfly bushes on August 31.
Orange-striped Oakworms
This is the wandering season for oakworms. They come down from the trees and look, sometimes at considerable distances from the trees, for places to pupate in the ground. My wife found one and later I found two more on the back porch. Here's the caterpillar.
In Memory of Gale Kuebler
Gale Kuebler was an avid butterflier and, to say the least, a wonderful person. All of us who knew her will miss her. Here's an American Lady, a way to remember a real lady.
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.
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.
Birding at Grayson Highlands State Park
Birding with campers at Grayson Highlands State Park 6/29/13 Julie Slater, intern at GHSP, and Blue Ridge Discovery Center have joined forces for a series of on-site programs this summer and fall. (See previous blogs regarding the currency of this association through BRDC’s Fish Bugs program.) Our choice of study for this program was Sullivan Swamp (defined as an Appalachian shrub bog), with a strong focus on birds.
Birding at Joy Ranch
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.