Virginia Master Naturalist Program

Historic Rivers Chapter's Kiosk Project Goes Live!

2011-12-02T10:46:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, November 16, marked the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the brand new Interpretive Center at Freedom Park in James City County. The new Interpretive Center is the location for the touch-screen electronic kiosk that Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers from the Historic Rivers Chapter helped to develop. Thirty-three VMN volunteers (including two from the Northern Neck and Peninsula Chapters) plus 16 other volunteers with partnering organizations contributed nearly 2000 hours of service on this project over the last year.

The idea for an educational exhibit that could make use of the amazing photographic talent that exists in the Historic Rivers Chapter had been brewing for years, but finally became a reality when the Superintendent of James City County Parks requested Master Naturalist help with providing information on plants and animals that might be present at Freedom Park. In the last year, the volunteers have provided information on 353 species of animals and plants, including 835 photos and 15 audio recordings. I had the opportunity to browse a beta version of the kiosk information, and it was truly a treasure trove of wonderful images and natural history tidbits. I encourage all Master Naturalists who might be traveling in the James City County region to stop by Freedom Park and spend some time at the kiosk.

In an example of how the kiosk will be used to enhance park visitors' experiences, Les Lawrence, a Historic Rivers Master Naturalist, wrote “I actually had the opportunity to use the kiosk in a demonstration. A man and his two children had just walked the trails and had seen a snake which they thought was a copperhead. It was only about a foot long, so it had to be a juvenile if it were truly a copperhead. I explained about a juvenile's tail and had the young boy (only about 10 but obviously very interested in "nature") find the pics of a copperhead on the kiosk. They agreed it had to be something else but couldn't identify it. Then the boy wanted to identify the caterpillar in one of "our" pictures - he found it was a luna moth. At least one young boy and his dad were impressed with the kiosk! (As was I.)”

Congratulations to the Historic Rivers Master Naturalists and all of the other collaborators who helped bring this project to fruition!

Giving Thanks for Virginia Master Naturalists

2011-11-23T08:54:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. For me, it always involves a hike, some of my favorite foods, family, a 4 1/2 day weekend, and, of course, an opportunity to reflect on the many things for which I am thankful. This year, one of those things is Virginia Master Naturalists!

I am thankful for all of our local volunteer board members, committee members, and other leaders who not only keep this program going at the local level, but continually improve it. Usually you are implementing improvements before I can even think of them! Already this year, VMN volunteers have contributed 10,791 (approximately $227,000 worth) hours on activities that keep the local chapter vibrant, such as recruiting and training new VMN volunteers.

I am also thankful for all of the volunteers who are driven to educate youth about natural resources. You are giving our next generation of natural resource stewards the tools and knowledge to care for our woods, wildlife, and waters. In 2011, you already have made more than 28,000 contacts with youth! Whether you've taught a kid to plant a tree, test water quality in a stream, or just appreciate the outdoors, you've made a difference!

I am thankful that the stewardship activities of Virginia Master Naturalists have helped my state have more trees, more oysters, fewer invasive plants (well, at least in some locations), more nature trails, more Bay grasses, and more wildlife habitat (at least in some places.)

I am thankful that Virginia Master Naturalists are citizen scientists, helping us learn more about and keep track of birds, turtles, frogs, butterflies, aquatic macroinvertebrates, American chestnuts, and more! Most of these studies couldn't happen without volunteer involvement.

Thank you, Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers, for all that you do!

Virginia Master Naturalist from Central Rappahannock Chapter Recognized

2011-11-21T12:50:00.005-05:00

The end of the year is approaching, so it's awards time. Here's another piece of awards news!

Jim Scibek, a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist in the Central Rappahannock Chapter, received the Alvin Staples Leisure Program Volunteer of the Year Award at the recent annual Fredericksburg Recreation Commission Volunteer Banquet. Linda Bailey, Nature Education Coordinator for the Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation Department, nominated him and wrote "I can think of no finer person to win this award. As you all know, he gives selflessly of his time to so many organizations, including the Virginia Master Naturalists, and has been the most prolific volunteer at the Motts Run Nature Center for the past several years, donating approximately 500 hours of his time!" Jim helped get the Central Rappahannock Master Naturalist Chapter started in 2006 and has served in a leadership role since that time. He's continued to be a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist since 2007. Congratulations, Jim!

Fairfax Master Naturalist Chapter Earns Award

2011-11-17T09:49:00.003-05:00

One of our largest (in terms of number of members) chapters, the Fairfax Chapter, has been named the 2011 Cooperator of the Year by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. They were recognized both for their environmental leadership and for their on-the-ground work with stream monitoring, storm-drain stenciling, and education/outreach on watershed topics. Congratulations, Fairfax Chapter, and keep up your fabulous work that makes a positive difference for Virginia's streams, watersheds, and other natural resources.

An Update on Wavyleaf Basketgrass

2011-11-04T09:30:00.003-04:00

Last month, I posted on an invasive disease of walnut trees that was headed our way, and has now been found in Virginia. Another invasive, Wavyleaf Basketgrass, has become more firmly established and threatens to greatly impact biodiversity in Virginia's forests. For an excellent review of this plant's history in Maryland and how it is spreading, check out this recent article in the Baltimore Sun. Then visit www.stopthisplant.org for fact sheets, a Powerpoint presentation, images, and other materials that you can use to teach other Master Naturalists and people in your community about this species and the problems it is causing. We can still slow the spread of it in Virginia, and perhaps eradicate it from some locations where the infestation is not yet extensive.

Thousand Cankers Black Walnut Disease is Coming Our Way

2011-10-17T10:18:00.004-04:00

Adding to the already long list of non-native diseases and insect pests affecting our eastern hardwood forests is a new one in our area, Thousand Cankers Disease, which affects walnuts (Jugus spp.) The disease is caused by a fungus, but it is introduced to new trees by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis). Thousand Cankers Disease is now widespread in the western United States, but has only recently been found to have spread east of the Mississippi. In June 2011, the disease was identified for the first time in Virginia, in two trees in Chesterfield County. As a result, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services instituted a temporary quarantine to help prevent the spread of this disease to other areas of the Commonwealth. Black walnut trees and tree parts (such as mulch, firewood, and wood chips) cannot be moved out of Chesterfield County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Powhatan County, or the cities of Richmond and Colonial Heights.

Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers and other members of the public can help with these efforts by staying on the lookout for walnuts with Thousand Cankers Disease in their areas. Learn to recognize the field signs and symptoms, and if you suspect your black walnut tree may have thousand cankers disease, contact your local county Extension agent for more information on submitting a plant sample to the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic for diagnosis. A You Tube video provides helpful images for identifying suspect trees, and more information is available from Virginia Cooperative Extension and VDACS.

Another way that everyone can help slow the spread of forest pests and pathogens and help prevent the introduction of new ones is to avoid moving firewood. The Don't Move Firewood campaign has great educational resources for both youth and adults.

Plans and Registrations Building for 2011 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference

2011-07-11T09:41:00.003-04:00

In late September, representatives from (hopefully) all 30 Virginia Master Naturalist chapters will gather at Camp Friendship near Palmyra in Fluvanna County for our third annual volunteer conference and training. The Rivanna Chapter is hosting the event this year, and the conference committee has planned a weekend jam-packed with advanced training, camaraderie, and plenty of time outdoors. There are currently 90 people from 17 chapters registered, although the early bird registration deadline is still more than a week away. All but two workshop sessions still have space, so there are still lots of great choices of activities, including sessions on forest history and management, developing a stream monitoring program, trail design for both interpretive and hiking trails, land navigation for naturalists, and more. See http://www.regonline.com/2011_vmn_conference for a complete conference schedule.

The conference is open to all Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers, whether you are trainee, a member, or certified. It's also open to chapter advisors! Register now to join us September 23-25! Online registrations are available at http://www.regonline.com/2011_vmn_conference.

Recycle Your Garden Containers

2011-06-16T08:31:00.003-04:00

Many Virginia Master Naturalists are involved in native plant gardening in some form or another, either at home or as part of a service project. As I've worked to transform my own little 1/3 acre, formally all lawn, into native plants and better wildlife habitat, I've found that my garden shed is filling up with plastic plant pots and flats. I can't possibly re-use them all and didn't know where to recycle them, but I couldn't bear to send them to the landfill, either.

Master Gardeners to the rescue! Just published in today's Virginia Tech News is an article about how Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Green Industry Council are expanding a garden container recycling program statewide. So far, there are locations in Colonial Heights, Altavista, Gretna, Hampton, Newport News, and Yorktown, and they are looking for more retailers and landscapers to sign up for the program. The great thing about the program is that any revenue generated from the plastics recycling goes to support the Virginia Master Gardeners Association's State Master Gardener Coordinator endowment fund.

Support our "sister" program by recycling your garden containers at one of the locations listed, and talk to your local retail centers and landscapers about participating!

Video of Hummingbird Banding!

2011-06-14T11:00:00.005-04:00

At the recent Advanced Training Rally, some Virginia Master Naturalists were fortunate to not only hear a keynote address by ornithologist Bruce Peterjohn of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, but also to do some hummingbird banding with him. Bruce works on many of the bird population monitoring programs run by the center, but has particular interests in hummingbirds and the appearance of western hummingbird species on the east coast during the winter. He got connected with the Central Virginia Master Naturalists when he came down last winter to catch and band one a Rufous hummingbird that showed up a Master Naturalist's home.

Virginia Master Naturalists who attended Bruce's field session at the Rally got to see how one bands and measures these tiny birds. One volunteer (Melanie Swick) took some great videos so that you can see how it is done, even if you weren't there! Check them out on the Virginia Master Naturalist Smugmug site!

Historic Southside Master Naturalist Launching First Class

2011-06-08T15:05:00.004-04:00

The new Historic Southside Master Naturalist chapter is now accepting applications for its first basic training course, which will begin in August 2011.

The Historic Southside chapter plans to be active in Surry, Isle of Wight, Sussex, and Southampton counties, and the city of Franklin. This area, south of the James River, is full of public lands, including a state forest, a state park, a state wildlife management area, a National Wildlife Refuge, and more. There's also a nearby 4-H center. This chapter has already laid the foundation for some great local service projects, including a trail building project at the Isle of Wight county courthouse and a native plant demonstration garden in Smithfield.

Their first training course will include presenters from DCR, DOF, VCE, and DGIF, as well as The Nature Conservancy and other organizations. They have an amazing line-up of field trips, including a visit to the Great Dismal Swamp, a boat-based tour of the Blackwater River, and a visit to the Big Woods State Forest. I'll be teaching the first class, but I wish I could attend the whole course!

Visit www.vmnhistoricsouthside.org for more information and an application. Submitted applications must be postmarked no later than June 29. This chapter has been more than a year in the making, so we expect that there will be lots of demand for this first class!

Congratulations to the whole Historic Southside chapter coordinating committee for working so hard to get to this milestone!

A Big Weekend for Virginia Master Naturalists

2011-06-06T11:12:00.005-04:00

The first weekend in June was a big one for Virginia Master Naturalists! It was National Trails Day, Clean the Bay Day, the final workshop for the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Leadership Institute, AND the Central Virginia Advanced Training Rally at Sweet Briar College. Master Naturalists from all over the state were outdoors learning more about Virginia's natural resources and putting in volunteer time to benefit them.

Several Rivanna Master Naturalists helped the Rivanna Conservation Society and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at a Clean the Bay event in Albemarle County. Check out a news video of their activities. Virginia Master Naturalists with the Riverine Chapter, the Peninsula Chapter, and other chapters also helped clean up trash spoiling Virginia's waterways at Clean the Bay events.

Ten Master Naturalists from several chapters participated in the capstone event for the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Leadership Institute, a trip to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's learning center at Port Isabel Island. There, they had hands-on experiences to learn about the Bay watershed and, most importantly, to learn how to teach others about the importance of watersheds.

Nearly 100 Virginia Master Naturalists gathered at Sweet Briar College for the Central Virginia Advanced Training Rally. This event, expertly coordinated by the Central Virginia Master Naturalist Chapter, brought VMN volunteers from across the state together to expand their naturalist knowledge and skills. Participants worked with experts to band hummingbirds, trap small mammals, search for freshwater mussels in the Tye River, document locations of wildflowers using GPS units, identify calling frogs, and explore vernal pools. They also learned about the importance of top predators for ecosystem dynamics, the scientific importance of bird banding records, and more. Plus, they listened and danced to old time string band music, swapped ideas with other Master Naturalists, socialized, and enjoyed the beautiful setting and delicious food at Sweet Briar College.

All in all, a successful weekend!

Williamsburg-area Master Naturalist Chapter Now Accepting New Applications!

2011-05-26T11:47:00.001-04:00

The Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is now accepting applications for Cohort VI Basic Training, starting August 30, 2011 in Williamsburg, VA. The application can be downloaded from the Chapter's web site: http://www.historicrivers.org/

People with questions can send inquiries to: hrctraining@cox.net or call Jennifer Trevino at 757-903-8983 or Shirley Devan at 757-813-1322.

Virginia Master Naturalist Full 2010 Annual Report Now Available

2011-05-25T14:36:00.005-04:00

The Virginia Master Naturalist program's 2010 annual report is now available online. Check it out to learn about some of the wonderful projects accomplished in 2010, read a profile of an exceptional Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer, see photos of volunteers in action, and review the final summary of program statistics.

As a teaser...
*Can you believe that our number of active volunteers has grown by an order of magnitude in the last five years?
*Did you know we now have 18 people who have achieved the milestone of 1000 hours of service, and one person who has achieved 2500 hours of service?
*Did you know that Virginia Master Naturalists helped save the Virginia Department of Forestry $5000 by helping with pine cone collection at New Kent Forestry Center?
*Virginia Master Naturalists completed more hours of education projects than any other project type!
*Chapters listed 2000 hours of volunteer activities at 18 DCR State Parks and 11 Natural Area Preserves on their 2010 annual reports. Their activities included education (interpretive programs, special events, designing and installing interpretive signs), citizen science (bird and butterfly counts), and stewardship (trail maintenance, habitat restoration, waterway clean-ups.) Volunteers also conducted projects at several VDGIF Wildlife Management Areas, five VDOF State Forests, the VDOF headquarters property, the VDOF New Kent Forestry Center, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

Central Virginia Master Naturalist Advanced Training Rally!

2011-04-22T14:11:00.002-04:00

Now's the time to sign up for the Central Virginia Master Naturalist Chapter's Advanced Training Rally! This is a fun event that brings together Master Naturalists from around the state for a weekend of excellent advanced training and forays into the forests and fields of central Virginia. I am looking forward to being there myself, as I will be presenting a class on identifying Virginia's frogs and toads by ear. Participants can come for one day or multiple, and they can choose to stay on site at Sweet Briar College for a very reasonable fee.

Get more details and download the event registration form at the Central Virginia Chapter's Web page.

Central Piedmont Master Naturalist Chapter Seeking New Volunteers

2011-04-21T15:06:00.002-04:00

The Central Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is now accepting applications for its upcoming training course for new Master Naturalist volunteers. The course includes presentations by experts on topics such as tree identification, aquatic ecology, and birds, as well as hands-on field sessions. The classes meet at Bear Creek Lake State Park in Cumberland County, VA and at the Prince Edward County Cooperative Extension office in Farmville, VA. To register for the course, the first stepping stone for becoming a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer, visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/centralpiedmont.html.

Trapping Efforts for Emerald Ash Borer Expand

2011-04-15T09:04:00.011-04:00

Emerald Ash Borer is one of the most recent of many invasive pests threatening Virginia's forests. This insect reached Virginia only a few years ago, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a major monitoring program to track its movements. Here's the latest update on that from Chris Asaro, Forest Health Specialist with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

"Yes, those large, purple triangle-shaped things that you may have seen hanging in a tree near you are part of the 2011 emerald ash borer survey. Compared to last year, the survey has expanded greatly in terms of number of traps (statewide about 5,500) and area covered. They are still in the process of putting traps up over the next few weeks. Many of you may be seeing these traps for the first time since most of the trapping last year occurred in northern Virginia. This year, a large swath of Virginia from the East to the Southwest will be part of the one trap per 2x2 mile grid area."

"As for who to contact for more information or to report a fallen or damaged trap: this year, all trapping is being handled by a federal contractor called Delta 21 who has been hired by APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). Delta 21 has a toll-free number to call for more information - 877-207-9406 or 865-482-5000."

Remember: you can help stop or slow the spread of EAB and other forest pests by not moving firewood. Don't bring firewood from home into parks, campgrounds, or forests. Instead, use firewood from local sources only.

(click on the map below for a larger version)

Pocahontas Master Naturalists Featured in Chesterfield Observer

2011-04-14T09:27:00.003-04:00

The Pocahontas Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program was featured in an article in the Chesterfield Observer for their work in building a nature trail for students at A.M. Davis Elementary School. The VMN volunteers helped design and build the interpretive trail, provided funding for the project, and help lead nature walks for the students. It was a chapter-wide effort, involving 20 volunteers and 120 hours.

Outdoor classrooms are valuable resources for schools, particularly if designed in collaboration with the teachers so that there's a plan for how to use the trails and space to meet Standards of Learning and accomplish classroom objectives. Research shows that time outdoors improves health and learning in children.

Virginia Master Naturalist Program Receives Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

2011-04-11T11:16:00.009-04:00

Governor Bob McDonnell announced the winners of the 2011 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, which were presented at the Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington on April 6.

The Virginia Master Naturalist program is one of the winners of this prestigious award, earning a gold award in the category of governmental environmental programs.

Of course, it is the wonderful work of our volunteers and the support from our sponsoring agencies and partners that earned the award for the program. It was fitting that Susan Powell (Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer, Historic Rivers Chapter), our first VMN volunteer to complete 2500 hours of service, accepted the award on behalf of the program. Thanks, Susan, and thanks to all of our volunteers, sponsoring agencies, and partners!

The awards recognize the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in three categories: environmental projects, environmental programs and land conservation. They are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and individuals.

Speaking about the awards, Governor McDonnell remarked, “We are very proud of the Virginians in these private, non-profit and government entities who have demonstrated the innovation and dedication to improve our environment and make the lives of their fellow Virginians better.”

Award winners were chosen based on criteria including environmental benefit, stakeholder involvement, public outreach, transferability and innovativeness.

This year’s awards were sponsored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Dominion and Smithfield Foods Inc.

Additional information on the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards is available on the DEQ website at www.deq.virginia.gov/info/geea/2011.

Photo caption:

From left: Doug Domenech (Secretary of Natural Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia), Carol Heiser (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Virginia Master Naturalist program Steering Committee), David Whitehurst (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Virginia Master Naturalist program Executive Committee), Susan Powell (Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer, Historic Rivers Chapter), David Paylor (Director, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality), David Johnson (Director, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)

Virginia Master Naturalists Help the Bay

2011-03-30T13:50:00.004-04:00

The 2010 State of the Bay Report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation wasn't a particularly happy read, considering the Bay was given a health index of 31 out of 100--a D plus. However, as I read the report, I was cheered to recognize that Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers had contributed to improved scores on several of the health indicators. When I read that oyster numbers are increasing, I thought about our Historic Rivers and Tidewater Master Naturalists who contributed more than 200 hours volunteering on oyster restoration projects, from working with schoolchildren to raise the oysters, to building "reef balls" that make artificial habitats for the oysters, to heading out on boats to deposit the new oysters in the Bay, as one VMN volunteer is doing in this photo (contributed by the Tidewater Chapter.) When I read that populations of underwater Bay grasses are improving, I remembered that four Tidewater Master Naturalists spent more than 60 hours growing these native plants and planting them in the James River. Other Virginia Master Naturalists in the Bay watershed planted riparian buffers and built rain gardens, both of which help keep pollutants out of streams and rivers that drain to the Bay.

Although a 31 out of 100 is a pretty dismal score, it is the highest score the Bay has gotten in decades, and is 3 points higher than last year's score. Of course there are many larger factors, such as new government regulations, contributing to this improvement, but the daily actions of each and every one of us in the watershed make a difference too. Thanks, Virginia Master Naturalists, for helping to make the Bay better!

Virginia Master Naturalists Put Their Artistic Talents to Work

2011-03-07T09:27:00.004-05:00

Documenting nature through images that are both accurate and eye-catching has long been a naturalist talent. Naturalists such as Mark Catesby, William Bartram, and John Banister augmented their written nature observations with illustrations. Among our Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers too are many photographers and artists who enjoy capturing images of the natural world around them. Fortunately, many of these individuals have found ways to apply their artistic skills to their Master Naturalist work, and also use their Master Naturalist experiences as inspiration for their art and photography.

In recognition of this synergy, the Historic Rivers Master Naturalists now have an art show at the Williamsburg Regional Library. Included are many winners from their chapter-wide photo contest as well as other forms of art, including watercolor, drawings, sculpture, and even sewing/embroidery. You can visit the exhibit during regular library hours.

Artist and Master Naturalist volunteer Mike Steele (Northern Neck Chapter) recently applied his watercolor talents to benefit the Virginia Department of Forestry. Mike illustrated four "Forest Facts" publications for the agency that are currently being printed for use by the VDOF Conservation Education program. They are also available online. My personal favorite is "Why We Need Trees" on which Mike has a beautiful watercolor of hikers (perhaps Master Naturalists) walking through the autumn colors of a forest.

VMN volunteers, including Carol Hammer and John Stanley, contributed photos for our current program brochure. These and other photos from our Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers can be found on our photo sharing site.

A few batty news bits

2011-03-02T13:39:00.007-05:00

Our Virginia Master Naturalists regularly receive local recognition and occasionally receive state recognition, but it isn't often that we see their great work recognized in national publications. Bonnie Miles, a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist with the Central Virginia Chapter, was featured in the winter edition of BATS, Bat Conservation International's news magazine, for her outstanding volunteer work that has raised awareness about the importance of bats. Bonnie traveled to Arizona last summer to get specialized training in bat conservation and management. Since then, she has given several presentations on bats for events on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a Rotary Club, her own Master Naturalist chapter, and other community groups.
"Ironically, Bonnie says she initially feared that BCI would consider it a 'waste of resources to educate someone not directly employed in conservation.' Clearly, those resources were invested well. The welfare of bats everywhere would be greatly improved if there were more Bonnies in the world," writes the article's author, Chris Woodruff. Hear hear!

In other batty news, Virginia Master Naturalists who recertified for 2011 are now sporting their own Virginia Big-eared Bats. Starting with 2010, VMN volunteers who recertify for the next calendar year by completing 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training earn a special limited edition lapel pin featuring a Virginia species with artwork by a Virginia artist. This year's pin features Virginia's state bat (with artwork by Carl "Spike" Knuth provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries), in hopes of drawing attention to these important creatures.

And, lastly for today's bat news (and apologies for ending on a real downer), here's an update on the progression of the White-nose Syndrome in Virginia, published last month in the Richmond Times: Strange disease is killing Virginia's bats | Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Virginia Master Naturalist Program 2010 Annual Report: A Preview

2011-02-10T20:42:00.002-05:00

As the Virginia Master Naturalist Program Coordinator, I am busy at this time of year combing through the annual reports that our chapters submit in mid-January. These reports contain both statistics (number of volunteers, number of hours) and more qualitative data, including descriptions of significant projects completed during the year. My full report on the program will be ready in March, but as I read the reports, I will post some of the noteworthy statistics and stories here.
I'll kick things off with a few statistics. In 2010, we had more than 1000 active volunteers. Not bad for a program that only started training volunteers 4.5 years ago! Even more exciting to me is the fact that the program reaches many, many more Virginians through the educational programs that our volunteers do. In 2010, Virginia Master Naturalists had more than 55,000 "contacts"--face-to-face interactions in which they shared educational information about Virginia's natural resources. At least half of all the service hours the volunteers complete are on education projects, including booths at special events, nature programs in schools, interpretive walks in local parks, 4H Junior Naturalist clubs, talks for community groups, and more. It's great to know that so many of our volunteers are interested in sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for the environment with others in their communities!

Virginia Master Naturalist Trainings Filling Up!

2011-01-27T09:27:00.003-05:00

This is the time of year when many of our Virginia Master Naturalist chapters begin their annual basic training courses. The 40 hour course is essentially the gateway to becoming a chapter member and a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist. I am excited to report that demand for the program still seems to be high! In the last couple of weeks, I taught the first night of class for the Riverine and Pocahontas Chapters, both of which were full with 25+ new trainees. Last night I was snowed out of teaching the Intro class for the Peninsula Chapter, but I understand that they were also full with 20-25 trainees. The Rivanna Chapter has received 20 applications for their training that starts in February. Other chapters starting their training courses in February include the Alleghany Highlands Chapter, the Rockbridge Chapter, the Roanoke Valley Chapter, and the Holston Rivers Chapter.
The Arlington Regional, Fairfax, Shenandoah, and Tidewater Chapters are starting their training courses in March and are accepting applications now.

Day of Service at Virginia State Parks

2011-01-13T09:34:00.004-05:00

For Virginia Master Naturalists and other community members interested in helping Virginia's wonderful state parks, January 17 is a great time to learn about opportunities near you. January 17 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and also a nationally recognized Day of Service. State parks across Virginia are holding volunteer events, many of which are designed to engage new volunteers in the parks. Visit the Virginia State Parks blog site to see what is happening in a park near you. As one example, Virginia Master Naturalist (Central Piedmont Chapter) and park ranger (Bear Creek Lake State Park) Tom Kneipp will be offering a community presentation in Powhatan on the roles that state park volunteers play in conservation.

Holston Rivers Chapter Featured on WCYBDT News 5

2011-01-07T09:45:00.002-05:00

The Holston Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is now taking applications for their basic training course, which begins on February 17. A great story on the program that included interviews with the chapter president, Steve Lindeman, and the enrollment chair, Christi Ackerson Edwards, was aired on WCYBDT News 5 this week. Check out the video on You Tube.

Virginia Master Naturalist Program Featured on Virginia Outdoors

2011-01-03T12:57:00.004-05:00

The Virginia Master Naturalist program was featured at VirginiaOutdoors.com, a site promoting and connecting visitors with Virginia's state parks. Check out the audio podcast interview of Michelle Prysby, Virginia Master Naturalist program coordinator, by Joe Elton, Virginia State Parks Director. We discuss how the Virginia Master Naturalist program got started, what it is accomplishing today, and how our volunteers are benefiting Virginia's state parks and other public lands. We also talk a little about monarch butterflies, one of Michelle's other areas of expertise. You can download the podcast and also subscribe to future Virginia Outdoors podcasts so that they are delivered directly to your email inbox.

A Froggy Night, Part II

2010-07-22T10:02:00.004-04:00

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program blog has been on summer vacation, but it is back now!

In March, I wrote about how I and several Rivanna Master Naturalists are volunteering for the Virginia Frog and Toad Calling Survey, a wildlife study coordinated nationally by the USGS and in our state by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (see A Froggy Night). This month, we conducted our final survey of the season for our route in Louisa County. In total for our three surveys this season, we heard frogs at 9 of our 10 sites, and we heard a total of 8 species, including spring peepers, upland chorus frogs, American toads, northern cricket frogs, gray tree frogs, green frogs, American bullfrogs, and a green tree frog, plus we saw a pickerel frog. The green tree frog was a bit of a surprise, because the site was on the eastern edge of its listed range. Our best sites, diversity-wise, were a pasture pond with 4 species, a small man-made lake with 4 species, and the South Anna River with 5 species. We observed the temporal trends we would expect: spring peepers, chorus frogs, and American toads early on, transitioning to cricket frogs, green frogs, American bullfrogs, and gray treefrogs later in the season. We also observed the habitat trends we would expect, with the bullfrogs and cricket frogs in ponds, lakes, and other still waters, and the chorus frogs in forested streams. It’s nice when the frogs have taken the time to read the field guides.

Tick, tick, tick...It's That Time Again

2010-05-28T13:29:00.006-04:00

The ticks are back out in full force. These little eight-legged critters have a positive role in our Virginia ecosystems as food for birds and other invertebrates. As humans, however, we're generally focused on the negative aspect of ticks: they are vectors for several serious diseases, such as Lyme disease. Tick borne-disease is one of the most common safety hazards our Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers face, given all the time they spend outdoors and often off-trail doing activities such as surveying wildlife and clearing invasive plants.

Virginia's governor has declared May 2010 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. So, if you spend time outside yourself and especially if you lead other people in outdoor activities, take a moment to learn about the ticks that carry disease, how to identify them, and what the symptoms of tick-borne diseases are. A brochure from the Virginia Department of Health is a good start for information on the subject. Two different Virginia Cooperative Extension publications have some excellent images and drawings to help you learn to tell the differences among the tick species.

These publications all emphasize the importance of protecting yourself from tick bites using preventative measures such as applying insect repellent. One of the most important things our volunteers and program participants can do is to check themselves thoroughly for ticks and immediately remove any they find (and the publications discuss the proper methods for removal). It's a good idea to search one's clothes as well as one's self and put field clothes directly into the washing machine. I was reminded of this just a couple of weeks ago when I returned after midnight from a nighttime frog survey with some Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers. Exhausted, I left my field clothes on the bathroom floor, checked myself for ticks (and removed one), and headed to bed. The next morning, I found three more ticks crawling around in the bathroom. I'll be more careful next time! I don't think the other members of my household would have appreciated getting bitten by a tick without even getting to enjoy the fun of being out in the field.

Forestry in Fairfax, not an oxymoron

2010-04-27T12:50:00.003-04:00

In honor of Arbor Day, coming up this Friday, and the Virginia Invasive Plant Removal Day, coming up this Saturday, we have a guest article written by Jim McGlone, Urban Forest Conservationist with the Virginia Department of Forestry, and Chapter Advisor of the Fairfax Master Naturalist chapter. It is reprinted with permission from the TREE Cookies Etc. newsletter, volume 5(1), published by Adam Downing, Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent for the Northern VA region. To read the whole newsletter, or to subscribe yourself, visit http://offices.ext.vt.edu/madison/programs/anr/tree_cookies_newsletter/treecookies-7.pdf.

I work in Fairfax County. For most people in the forestry trade that means concrete and congestion. There is plenty of that, but there is also 40,000 acres of forest. There are also plenty of deer and invasive plant species. The deer and invasives are threats to the forest and to good forest management.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has estimated deer densities in Fairfax county range between 100 per square mile in more developed areas to 400 per square mile in less developed areas. In a fall 2006 three day public hunt on 3,000 acres of Mason Neck State Park and the adjoining Fish and Wildlife Refuge 172 deer were taken. The county reports 4,000 to 5,000 deer vehicle collisions in 1998. Impressive statistics, but what do they mean?
Some time ago I visited an 80 acre property in the Potomac Palisades region of the county. Except for the home site the entire property was forested with beautiful stands of oak and poplar, some measuring over 30 inches. There is a nice riparian stand of mixed hardwoods including black walnut and ash. The forest floor was carpeted with new sprouts showing 2 or 3 leaves and identifying them as oaks or maple. But there were no shrubs other than paw-paw. Aside from the sprouts, there were no trees less than 10 inches DBH. The laurel and holly were completely browsed up to 4 feet and the only herbaceous plants were garlic mustard and stiltgrass. After 3 years, there was literally nothing growing in a wind throw gap from hurricane Isabel. I told the land owner she had a regeneration problem; she said “send me men with guns.”
This is the norm for Fairfax forests: beautiful healthy mature trees with nothing growing underneath, forests that look like they have been mowed, unexploited gaps in the canopy, failing stands of Virginia pine and eastern red cedar with no hardwoods succeeding them. Where there are shrubs and herbs in the forest they are usually invasive plants that deer won’t eat. Park managers have told me that paw-paw and spicebush (apparently two truly deer resistant species) are expanding within the parks where invasive plants have yet to become a significant problem.

Invasive plants have moved into the deer browsed forests and occupied the space they have left behind. While the invasive shrubs and herbs seem to out-compete native tress and other vegetation, the vines – kudzu, bittersweet and porcelain berry – attack and kill the mature trees. It is difficult to separate the effects of these two pressures. Do the invasives suppress native flora or do the deer eat the native flora and leave behind the invasives?
Ironically, the deer browse and invasives have awakened land managers in Fairfax to the need to actively manage the forest rather than let nature take its course. I have used this awakening to guide their thinking about forest management by explaining about succession and the silvics of tree species and how to use these concepts to achieve desired outcomes. I have also explained about tree time; if your management goal is a mature oak stand and you don’t have an oak component, then it will take you 50 years to get there. When these discussions get to the need to cut trees as part of some management practices, I run into the problem of deer browse and invasive plants.

Many traditional forestry practices do not achieve the desired results under the deer browse and invasive species pressures here in Fairfax county. Opening up the canopy to allow more sunlight on the forest floor just produces more food for deer or encourages the growth of invasive species.

--By Jim McGlone, Urban Forest Conservationist with the Virginia Department of Forestry, and Chapter Advisor of the Fairfax Master Naturalist chapter.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T11:19:00.003-04:00

Happy Earth Day! Isn't it great to have a day dedicated to inspiring appreciation for our planet's environment? If only it were a work holiday, too, so that more people could have the time to get outside. That's my number 1 suggestion for what to do on Earth Day--go outdoors! Hike, garden, picnic, go birdwatching or fishing...whatever it takes to spend some enjoyable time outside.
Of course, many of our Virginia Master Naturalist chapters are busy with Earth Day festivals this week. Thank you for all the educating you do at these events!

Happy Birthday, John Muir!

2010-04-21T09:31:00.003-04:00

Here's one of my favorite nature quotes to share with you in honor of the 172nd birthday of John Muir, one of our most well-known conservationists, often known as the Father of our National Parks.

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail."
--John Muir, Our National Parks, 1901

For more on John Muir, check out the museum collections at the John Muir National Historic Site.

Virginia Cave Week

2010-04-19T13:27:00.002-04:00

Caving is probably my all-time favorite outdoor recreational activity. There's just nothing like worming your way through narrow holes underground, getting covered in mud head-to-toe, and finding yourself in a truly dark place with no light at all. This week is designated as Virginia Cave Week, a time for educators to incorporate cave-related topics and activities into their teaching. Virginia has more than 4,000 known caves, and maybe some unknown ones within all the karst geology in the Shenandoah Valley, Southwest, and Alleghany Highlands parts of the state. The Virginia Cave Week Web site has lesson plans for cave-oriented activities, more information on the White Nose Syndrome killing our bats, and even some virtual cave tours.

Virginia Master Naturalists give more than $1.9 million in service to the Commonwealth

2010-04-14T13:38:00.004-04:00

In just 4 years, our program has grown to more than 800 active volunteers who have completed more than 94,000 hours of service benefiting natural resource education, citizen science, and stewardship in the Commonwealth. Their service is valued at more than $1.9 million (see Independent Sector report on the value of volunteer time).

Take a moment to read about the wonderful accomplishments of our volunteers in our 2009 annual report and newsletter, now available on the Web!

Spring Showers Bring Spring Runoff--Calculate Yours!

2010-04-09T16:20:00.004-04:00

With the spring showers we have been having recently, it is a good time to think about stormwater runoff. Runoff isn't generally an issue in natural ecosystems, but becomes a problem in our human-dominated urban and suburban systems where permeable surfaces have been replaced with impermeable surfaces such as driveways and buildings. In this situation, runoff contributes to water pollution in our streams, as it tends to have higher levels of nutrients, sediment, and contaminants.

New from the James River Association is a runoff calculator. You plug in information about your property (acreage, size of your home, amount of asphalt/concrete, amount of lawn, amount of natural area, etc.) and the system tells you how much runoff is produced from your land. It also compares the figure to the average and to more desirable levels, and offers suggestions for reducing runoff on your property. Many of our Master Naturalists are involved in teaching about techniques for managing runoff, such as rain barrels and rain gardens.
For more information on Virginia's stormwater management program, visit http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_and_water/stormwat.shtml. To learn more about how to build a rain garden, check out this very in-depth publication from the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Spring Wildflowers, FINALLY!

2010-03-29T13:20:00.008-04:00

For a few weeks, I have been enviously reading Virginia Native Plant Society member Phillip Merritt's How It Grows blog, in which he lists some of the plants (native and non-native) that can be seen blooming in his area of Williamsburg. We're a bit behind here in the Charlottesville area. Yeah, the daffodils are blooming, as are the red maples, but I was getting impatient to see the native spring ephemerals up in the mountains. They're like old friends that I only get to see once a year, and I've been missing them! Isn't it time yet?

I took some time over the weekend for a hike at White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park, near the stomping grounds of our Old Rag Master Naturalist chapter. Lo and behold, my old friends are finally back for a visit! I was rewarded with some of my favorites, including:
spring beauty, Dutchman's breetches, cut-leaved toothwort, star chickweed, bloodroot, and round-lobed hepatica. Lots of trout lily leaves were up, too, though no blooms that I saw. Most of these species were just getting started, so the show is just going to get better and better over the next few weeks. Plus, in the mountains, often you can just go up in elevation and catch the second showing.

What beautiful native plants are blooming by you? Get out there to see them, especially the ephemerals that will be gone for another year before you know it.

Update on the Devastating White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

2010-03-25T14:22:00.004-04:00

I usually try to keep this blog upbeat, but it is hard to see any silver lining in white-nose syndrome (WNS), a catastrophic condition first discovered in 2006 and now affecting bat populations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States.

The Bat Conservation International Web Site says "WNS has caused the most precipitous wildlife decline in the past century in North America." Over 1 million bats in six different species have died so far, and scientists still don't know exactly what is causing it. The bats are using up their fat reserves that would normally carry them through their winter hibernation and dying of starvation. The syndrome is named for the white fungus that often grows on bats affected by WNS (as in the picture at right). The Virginia big-eared bat (Virginia's state bat!) is in imminent danger of extinction due to this mysterious syndrome. Given the critical ecosystem services that bats provide by eating insects (including mosquitoes and many agricultural pests), this crisis should alarm all of us.

Here's a recent update from Carol Zokaites, Education Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and a member of the Virginia Master Naturalist Steering Committee. Carol coordinates the Project Underground program in Virginia, an environmental education program focused on karst and caves. An avid caver herself, she's been keeping environmental educators informed about WNS and its impacts in Virginia and beyond.

Carol writes "It has been a year since WNS was found on bats in a Virginia cave so I wanted to update you on White-Nose Syndrome in Virginia and surrounding states. Basically it is not good. We now have 8 counties in Virginia where the bats have the WNS fungus. WNS has been confirmed in a Tennessee cave, just over the state line from Bristol, Va. WNS was also found in the biggest bat hibernaculum in the Virginia's, Hell Hole, in West Virginia."

In early March, Carol visited caves in Bland County. "The temperature was in the 50's but there was still about 6 inches of snow cover on the ground and ice in the cave entrances. We saw many bats flying out of the cave in the middle of the day and we found about 1000 bats in the entrance room to a cave where there is usually only one or two. These are the type of behaviors displayed by bats with WNS."

Here are some resources for learning more about WNS. Educate yourself, and share the information with others.
The VDCR karst program Web site has a WNS toolbox with materials that can be used in classrooms and at outreach events.
Bat Conservation International has a useful fact sheet on their web site.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife WNS web page has information on the Virginia Big-eared Bat project at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Front Royal, Virginia along with other information.
The National Speleological Society has a current range map for WNS and lots of national information and links.

A Froggy Night

2010-03-15T13:11:00.006-04:00

I spent a rainy Thursday night last week driving on dark country roads listening for frogs. That probably sounds like fun to the type of folks reading this blog, though it elicited some questioning looks from my family and friends! I and several Rivanna Master Naturalists are volunteering for the Virginia Frog and Toad Calling Survey, a wildlife study coordinated nationally by the USGS and in our state by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Our survey route is in Louisa County, in an area with lots of farmland and forest.

I was telling a new Central Blue Ridge Master Naturalist about our survey a couple of days later, and he asked "With all the different kinds of animals out there, why pick frogs to survey?" Amphibians are often considered biological indicators because, due to their permeable skin and their dependence on aquatic habitats, they are very sensitive to factors such as water and air pollution, UV radiation, and disease. Thus, they are one of the earlier groups of organisms to be affected if a habitat becomes degraded. There is a worldwide decline in amphibian populations and diversity, and tracking amphibian populations is important so that we can better understand and, hopefully, reverse or stabilize this trend. Like birds, frogs and toads call and their calls vary among species. So, surveying frogs is simply a matter of going out to froggy habitat (wetlands, ponds, streams, etc.) and listening for their calls at the right time of year.

So, what did we hear last week? The weather was perfectly froggy--the warmest night in months (staying in the upper 50s F) and light drizzle during most of the night. Rivanna Master Naturalist Becky Minor and I were excited to hear frogs calling at 8 out of our 10 survey stops. There were also frogs hopping all over the roads! The most numerous frogs were the Spring Peepers...tiny frogs with huge voices. We also heard Upland Chorus Frogs at several sites. Their call sounds like running your finger up a plastic comb. And, at just one site, we heard the long, beautiful trill of the American Toad.

Driving on all those country roads at night, we had hopes of some other wildlife sightings, but we were limited to one Canada goose and a Virginia opossum.

Our next survey will be sometime between mid-April and mid-May, when we can expect to hear different species, such as Fowler's Toad.

Many of our Master Naturalists are doing their own frog survey routes in other parts of the state, and many more just keep personal notes on the frogs they hear as they are exploring the outdoors. Please post a comment and tell us what frogs *you've* been hearing in your part of Virginia!

Giving Wildlife A Helping Hand in a Changing Climate

2010-02-25T13:17:00.003-05:00

I don't think I can recall a time since I've lived in Virginia when people have talked about the weather more than this winter. Here in Charlottesville, we've gotten more than 55" of snow this season (and personally, as a lover of winter sports, I'm game for one more big snowstorm). Weather, though, is not the same as climate, and fortunately many people and organizations in Virginia are talking about climate too. Many are hard at work planning strategies for dealing with sea level rise, warmer air and water temperatures, and other changes expected to happen due to global climate change.

Humans certainly aren't the only ones affected by climate change. Virginia has more than 900 wildlife species that are imperiled due to habitat loss and other factors, and climate change is likely to exacerbate the situation for many, if not all, of these species. The National Wildlife Federation, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Virginia Conservation Network have worked together to develop a plan to help protect Virginia's wildlife in a changing climate. The plan includes strategies such as improving wildlife habitat and connecting habitats with wildlife corridors so that species can migrate more easily. Raising public awareness is a key element of the plan as well, and hopefully Master Naturalists will play an important role in that.

Linking Birds and People of Color in February

2010-02-12T13:49:00.004-05:00

I reported last week that February is National Bird Feeding Month. When I think about February, however, I usually think of it as African American History Month. This month-long celebration of African Americans has been happening in the United States since 1976 (and its predecessor, Negro History Week, started way back in 1926). I remember it being a big part of our curriculum when I was in elementary school. Thanks to African American History Month, I had my first taste of peanut soup as a 4th grader when our school cafeteria made it in honor of George Washington Carver.

Thinking about February as National Bird Feeding Month and African American History Month reminded me of an intriguing book I read last year, Birding for Everyone: Encouraging People of Color to Become Birdwatchers by John C. Robinson. Robinson's research showed a very disproportionate nonparticipation of African Americans in birdwatching activities. One of the big reasons for this pattern he found was what he called a "don't loop": if you don't meet others who are involved in birdwatching (or any other activity), it is not likely that you will take interest yourself. Being introduced to birding by a friend or family member is what usually gets people involved in birdwatching. He found that few African Americans hold membership in birding clubs and conservation organizations.

I am proud to say that we have a couple of Master Naturalist chapters making headway on reaching people of color with their nature education programs. For example, the Riverine Chapter partners with the Richmond Audubon Society on the RAS Kids program, designed to give inner-city youth outdoor experiences. The Arlington Regional Chapter is partnering with a local nature center on a roving naturalist program that takes nature exhibits to soccer games and other locations in the parks where minority populations gather on the weekends. They have recruited bilingual Master Naturalist volunteers to translate materials and serve as roving naturalists in an effort to reach Spanish-speaking populations.

Even more powerful, though, would be making personal connections. With both of these month-long celebrations, what better time than February to invite someone new to birdwatching to join you at a bird club meeting, a Master Naturalist event, a Great Backyard Bird Count, or just on a bird walk around your neighborhood? Read Birding for Everyone, and pass along your copy to a person of color who might like to get involved in birdwatching. The first half of the book is an introductory birding manual, with information on bird ID, binoculars, and Robinson's own personal story on how he became a birder. If this topic interests you, I also recommend Black and Brown Faces in America's Wild Places by Dudley Edmondson.

February is For the Birds

2010-02-02T10:36:00.006-05:00

Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? If you are interested in backyard habitat, this is a great month to assess your own property to determine how well you are feeding our feathered friends. Do you have native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants that provide seed or berries for birds? Check out this article on landscaping for birds by Donna Cottingham, Riverine Master Naturalist.

Bird feeders are an acceptable way to supplement food for birds, and they are a great tool for backyard bird watching. The National Audubon Society's Bird Feeding Basics page has many recommendations for safely attracting and feeding birds.

Another bird highlight in February is the Great Backyard Bird Count. This count is a wonderful project for new citizen scientists, because the protocols are simple and you can do it at any site of your choosing, including your own backyard. The count goes from February 12-15, and all you need to do is plan on counting birds for at least 15 minutes in at least one location during that time frame. Bring a child, a neighbor, or a friend along with you and introduce them to the wonderful world of birds.

Almost Zero Garbage

2010-01-19T14:00:00.005-05:00

The Virginia Master Naturalist program typically doesn't focus much on solid waste, recycling, and compost issues, but these topics are certainly relevant to conservation of natural resources. Rose Brown (at right), Rivanna Master Naturalist, challenged herself to make 2009 a zero garbage year. She produced only 1/2 pound of garbage (not including recyclables and compostables) for the whole year. It all fits in a bag about the size of a bathroom trash can. In the spirit of learning and sharing, Rose blogged about her experience at http://zerogarbagechallenge.info/, and she's also running a workshop relating to her zero garbage experience on February 6 in Charlottesville. Check out her blog to register for the workshop, to see her 1/2 pound of garbage, and to get ideas on how to reduce your own garbage.

Virginia Master Naturalists in Yellowstone

2010-01-05T12:43:00.002-05:00

Central Blue Ridge Master Naturalists Bette Dzamba and David Sellers are spending the winter living and volunteering in Yellowstone National Park. They will be assisting the Yellowstone Association with educational programs, doing everything from cleaning to bus driving to helping out with interpretive hikes. I'm sure they'll find some ways to apply their Master Naturalist skills!
Follow their blog at http://yellowstonewinter.blogspot.com/.

Burroughs Medal Nature Writing Awardees

2010-01-04T10:38:00.003-05:00

Happy 2010! After testing out a Virginia Master Naturalist blog in 2009, I am going to make it a more permanent and regular fixture in 2010. Amazingly, we already have a bunch of followers despite the fact that I hardly posted anything in 2009, so I think it will be a big success!

As my first 2010 post, I want to share something I received from Ruth Douglas, Rivanna Master Naturalist. Perhaps like me, you have a 2010 resolution of doing more reading. Why not read some excellent nature writing, and improve your Master Naturalist knowledge along the way?

Ruth recently read a book by Theodora Stanwell-Fletcher, who was a Burroughs Medal winner. John Burroughs was a pioneering nature writer, and, in his honor, the Burroughs Medal is awarded each year to the author of a distinguished natural history book. Ruth found a link to the list of all past Burroughs Medal winners, which seems like a great place to start if you are looking for good nature books.

The Burroughs Association also annual recognizes an outstanding natural history essay. The winners are listed at http://research.amnh.org/burroughs/essay_award_list.html.

Finally, the Burroughs Association also recognizes nature writing for youth. If you are looking for a good nature book for a young person in your life or for your Junior Naturalist club, check out their list of award winners for young readers.

Loudoun County Recognizes Volunteer Efforts

2009-05-05T13:48:00.004-04:00

Speaking of invasives, I am excited to note that the Weed Batallion at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, aka "the Wee Bees" was awarded the "Outstanding Volunteer Project" award from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. This team of Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers has contributed over 1500 hours to managing invasive plants at the nature preserve and educating other people about invasive species issues. Great job, team!

A New Virginia Invader: Wavyleaf Basketgrass

2009-05-05T13:15:00.003-04:00

As if Virginia's list of invasive plants that can harm native communities and ecosystems were not long enough, we have a new species of concern. Wavyleaf basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius) was first found in North America in Maryland and, as of 2008, has spread to Virginia. Unlike some invasive plant species, this species seems to be able to invade healthy, intact forests, not just disturbed areas. Like Japanese stilt-grass (Microstegium vimineum), wavyleaf basketgrass creates a green "carpet" on the forest floor, outcompeting native plants. This plant has been documented in Shenandoah National Park, The Nature Conservancy's Fraser Preserve, and another nature preserve in Fauquier County.

On a positive note, this is an early detection, so there is hope that we can prevent this species from becoming widespread and detrimental in Virginia. There has been some success at eradication at certain sites in Maryland.

Virginia Master Naturalists are asked to familiarize themselves with this species and report any new observations of it in the state. Check out the fact sheet posted at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/downloads/wlbg_fact_sheet.pdf. Note that it is a subspecies and that there are native species of basketgrass that are not similarly invasive.

Great moth sighting

2009-04-17T16:04:00.006-04:00

Carol, one of our Rivanna Master Naturalists, just sent me this image and an inquiry: "What is this critter? I've never seen anything like it!"

What Carol found is a luna moth (Actias luna).

They are common in our area, but still thrilling to see (in my personal opinion). They are in the family of Giant Silkworm Moths. The adult moths in this family have very reduced mouthparts and do not feed at all, so they only live for a few days. Their only "job" is to mate and lay some eggs; all the eating gets done at the caterpillar stage. The caterpillars are not host specific—in other words, they will feed on a variety of woody species (hickory trees, cherry trees, willows, etc.) Unless you are outside at night with a light, it is most common (in my experience) to find them flopping around looking close to death. I always want to rescue them from the parking lot, but it is pretty futile given their lifespan.

If you get a chance to see one, look at its face up close. They have one of the cutest insect faces you'll ever see. Seriously!

Annual Report available

2009-04-03T10:00:00.002-04:00

I’ve just posted our 2008 annual program report and newsletter. You can download it at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/documents.html (look under publicity). It’s a lengthy document, but worth a read to learn about all the great things you all accomplished in 2008. I’ve also posted there a 1-page report for 2008 that might be handy if you need to give something short and sweet to one of your partner organizations.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and chapter coordinators for all of the hard work that you put into your chapter annual reports for 2008. I was extremely impressed by all that your volunteers have accomplished.

Old Rag Master Naturalists Receive Award

2009-03-20T14:21:00.003-04:00

Jack Price, president of the Old Rag Master Naturalist Chapter in the Madison/Rappahannock area of Virginia wrote to let me know that the Old Rag Chapter is the recipient of a President's Volunteer Award for contributing 2,279 volunteer hours to their local community. They won the gold award, and the chapter will get a certificate pins for each member. Congratulations on your achievement!

Welcome!

2009-03-20T14:14:00.004-04:00

Welcome to the Virginia Master Naturalist blog. As the state program coordinator, I have the opportunity to visit our chapters all over Virginia and hear about their activities and accomplishments. I also have the opportunity to network with the state agencies that sponsor the program and with many other local, state, and federal partners. I thought a blog might be a good way to share news about the program, our chapters, and Virginia natural resources with our 600+ volunteers...and anyone else who wants to read it. Important information, such as announcements about advanced training opportunities, will still be distributed via our Chapter Coordinators' Listserv. I welcome feedback from our volunteers on how to make this blog more useful for them. Enjoy!