The Virginia Master Naturalist Conference - Volunteering

The Virginia Master Naturalist Annual Conference is being hosted by our very own Central Rappahannock Chapter this year at the Fredericksburg Expo Center, September 7-9, 2018.  The state sent our chapter a preview of the program as we need to volunteer for various sessions.  Unfortunately we have been sworn to secrecy and cannot yet disclose the really cool opportunities such as:  all of the local areas,  that are so fascinating, from a naturalist's point of view, and the education opportunities.......and so much more.  Sigh, I really do hate having to redact things......but this will be a great conference.  But the conference will not happen without lots of volunteers.  

The enjoyment I have received from becoming a Master Naturalist is immense.  Not only from an educational perspective but meeting fascinating people who continue to amaze me through the volunteer work they accomplish.  We all have to meet our 40 volunteer hours as part of the Master Naturalist Program, what easier way then to dedicate some time for the conference.  I figured it is the least I can do to repay the enjoyment I have received through the organization.  Sign ups have started and mine was submitted this morning.

Join me and many of the other Central Rappahannock Master Naturalists to make this a Annual Conference to remember!!!

Mott's Nature Center

Volunteering is one of the single most important aspects of the Virginia Master Naturalist organization.  Our chapter does quite a bit of volunteering at Mott's Reservoir and the Nature Center located there.

I try to volunteer at the Nature Center once a month.  In May I had over 53 visitors and was just amazed at the number of children that came in and then begged to stay longer.  We had quite a few participate in the scavenger hunt, where they had to find facts within the center.  Pocket, the center's resident corn snake, put on quite a show by eating a mouse.  The most interesting thing was about three families whose children came back after hiking and wanted to learn more about what they observed on their hike.  Definitely future naturalists in the making!!

This past weekend was quiet at the nature center.  After a week of rain the sun finally came out on Sunday but people were still drying out.  Three young women came into the center inquiring about the orienteering course.  While I provided a compass, map and instructions I could not answer any of their questions using the compass with the map.  I hate not being of assistance, needless to say I will be watching some videos on orienteering. 

While human activity was low, nature was quite busy.  A pair of mallard ducks decided to sun themselves on a log that jutted out into the reservoir near the center.  I watched them jump into the water, wade, swim, splash, bottoms up - you name it.  They were quite an entertaining pair.  But then I also had three various visitors come directly into the center to sun themselves on the nice wood floor in the sun.  

First was an American Toad, who was a bit of an escape artist and difficult to catch.  Luckily there was no one around as I am fairly certain my actions would have been fabulous video fodder.  Eventually he was caught and taken downstairs to freedom.

My next two visitors where lightning fast.  The first was a broadhead skink.  A very good size one, that allowed some photos.  Obviously not his first visit as he knew where the front door was.  The second was a five lined skink.  He zipped into the center in a flash, then zoomed around the edge and hid behind a chair.  He was a bit of a challenge to "herd" back out but once he found the door made a fast exit.

My final visitor was a large black snake who had just eaten dinner.  He was down in the parking area and some human visitors spotted him and asked me to come out and identify what type of snake he was.  With a full belly, he was not moving fast so the visitors had a great time identifying him.  I showed them how his pupil was round and the head was rounded and not diamond shaped, an easy way to tell if a snake was not poisonous.  After posing for pictures and a video he slowly slithered off.

So I closed up the center and smiled on my way out as the visitors were discussing the snake, what he might have eaten and simply excited they had seen one.  Another wonderful day at Mott's Nature Center.

The Morning Cacophony

I love walking in my neighborhood early in the morning, right before dawn.  As spring is upon us, so is the cacophony of bird songs.  Our neighborhood is heavily wooded and the two mile jaunt is serenaded by hundreds of birds.  However, most of these birds are high in the tree canopy and can be heard but not seen.  This morning was was exceptionally noisy, but in a very pleasant way. 

So this brings the challenge, I cannot see them but hear them.  How on earth does one tell them apart?  Well to be honest, having gone on a few birding adventures with my fellow naturalists and having them point out different songs, the realization dawned on how importing songs and bird calls were.  Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a fantastic website with bird calls and personally it is the site I have used to learn songs.   The site offers up some valuable tips for beginners, my goal is one new song every week.  Once the song is learned, then a field test is in order, can I hear the bird along my walk?  Now as I walk, I am starting to recognize the songs.  Such as the tufted titmouse, cardinal, Carolina wren, crow, etc. so when now I can hear a bird and think – hmmm………I haven’t heard that song before, then try to visually see the bird to go home and learn the song. 

Through this process other sounds have been learned as well, such as the scolding grey squirrel and the chattering chipmunks.  It is amazing what you hear, when you take off the headphones and simply listen.  Nature has a lot to say.