Monday, February 28, 2011

Spring's First Wildflower

Do you recognize this flower?  This is one of the first signs of spring in our area, appearing before the plant's leaves.  The mottled purple "hood" is called the spathe and the stalk inside, studded with tiny yellow flowers is called the spadix.  This plant is capable of generating its own heat - enough to melt the surrounding snow; the inside of the spathe can reach more than 20 degrees warmer than the surrounding air.  You can find them now in the wet woodlands of Honey Hollow, it is of course the Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus Foetidus).  Its common name comes from the smell that emanates from its damaged leaves, this plant is pollinated by flies that are attracted to the flower's smell and the heat that emanates from it.  Common in most parts of eastern North America, it can be found in wetland areas from Nova Scotia and Quebec west to Minnesota and south to the northern border of South Carolina.  It is endangered in Tennessee.  The leaves emerge rolled up like a scroll later in March and can be as long as 2 feet.  Later in the year, around mid September, you may find its egg-shaped fruit with its convoluted surface looking like an alien brain:

Inside the periphery of this fruit are 10 - 14 globular shaped seeds that can fall into the mud or be carried off by animals to help spread the plant.  Interestingly, skunk cabbage has contractile roots that pull the plant down into the soil after its growing period.  This effectively makes the plant grow down instead of up and makes the oldest plants nearly impossible to dig up.
Photo Credits
Flower picture:
William C. Taylor @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln.
Fruit picture: http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Monday, February 21, 2011

Great Backyard Bird Count - Last Day!

On Saturday we had a great time counting birds, and trying not to fly away ourselves in the 60 mph wind gusts!  On a one hour hike our four participants logged 16 species including some early arrivals like a red-winged blackbird.  Complete tally follows.  Its not too late to count for the birds, the GBBC continues through today.  Go to http://www.birdcount.org/ for all the details!

We also had a unique visitor at the bird blind ... check the photo!



Chickadee sp (3); Canada goose (28); Mourning dove (1); Red-winged blackbird (1); American robin (1); Tufted titmouse (1); Blue jay (1); Goldfinch (1); American crow (1); Eastern bluebird (1); Whitebreasted nuthatch (1); Downy woodpecker (1); Common grackle (1); Dark-eyed junco (1); Turkey vulture (2)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Oscar has gone to tortoise heaven...

Our elder 3-toed southwestern box turtle Oscar has passed on.  We are not really sure how old he was, as he was given to us when his prior owner could no longer keep him.  That was about 10 years ago, so he wasn't really very old as turtles go.  While never the most sociable of turtles he still entranced our young visitors when we would take him out of his terrarium for a walk.  The children delighted in watching him climb over small obstacles on the lawn outside the visitor center on his summer outings.  He and his son Ray could never be housed together as they would fight with each other, being the territorial creatures that they are.  I don't think Ray will miss him, but we will.  RIP Oscar...

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

What's Your Watershed?

Where does your water come from?
Where does it go?

East Branch, Honey Hollow Creek



Life on the Earth is only possible because of its water. Unique among the planets in our solar system, the Earth can sustain life because this precious resource cycles from land to sea to atmosphere replenishing our fresh water supplies
Since frozen and liquid water covers 75% of the planet, it is easy to assume that it represents an infinite commodity. But by taking a closer look at its distribution on the planet, you can see just how precious our fresh water sources are.







Volume
(1000 km3)
Percent of Total Water
Percent of Fresh Water
Oceans, Seas, & Bays
1,338,000
96.5
-
Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent Snow
24,064
1.74
68.7
Groundwater
23,400
1.7
-
        Fresh
(10,530)
(0.76)
30.1
        Saline
(12,870)
(0.94)
-
Soil Moisture
16.5
0.001
0.05
Ground Ice & Permafrost
300
0.022
0.86
Lakes
176.4
0.013
-
        Fresh
(91.0)
(0.007)
.26
        Saline
(85.4)
(0.006)
-
Atmosphere
12.9
0.001
0.04
Swamp Water
11.47
0.0008
0.03
Rivers
2.12
0.0002
0.006
Biological Water contained in organisms
1.12
0.0001
0.003
Total
1,385,984
100.0
100.0

Source: Gleick, P. H., 1996: Water resources. In Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather, ed. by S. H. Schneider, Oxford University Press,
New York, vol. 2, pp.817-823.
As presented at
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Water/ on January 1, 2004
The need to protect this resource becomes obvious when you notice that less than 3% of the water on earth is fresh and that only a small portion of that is used or usable by man at any given time.
You and everyone else in North America depend on a source of safe, fresh water. You trust your water supply whether it comes to you from a reservoir or other municipal water source or from a well, dug deep into the earth of your backyard. Much of the water you use leaves your home and yard goes back into your watershed. A watershed is the land and the waterways above and below ground that flow into another, large body of water or waterway.
Just as you have faith that the water you receive will be high quality, you have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of your watershed in quantity as well as quality. Once you identify and learn about it, you’ll be able to join others in protecting this basic element of life in your part of the world and beyond.
The Honey Hollow Watershed is a National Historic Landmark because in 1939 - 1941 the people living in the watershed banded together to protect their water and land - the first time this was ever done in the United States.
Here are some websites that will help you learn about this vital resource and identify your own watershed.
Environmental Protection Agency
Surf Your Watershed

http://www.epa.gov/surf/
U.S. Geological Survey
Science in Your Watershed

http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/index.html
U.S. Geological Survey
Water Science for Schools – Earth’s Water

http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/mearthall.html

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Rusty Blackbirds Wanted

The Citizen Science movement encourages normal everyday citizens to participate in real scientific studies in conjunction with professional scientists.  Citizen science initiatives tackle problems ranging from global warming to monitoring animal populations. 

This winter, BCAS is encouraging concerned individuals and anyone with cabin fever to participate in several citizen science initiatives related to the health of North American bird populations. 

Third Annual Rusty Blackbird Blitz
January 29 - February 13, 2011 

Scientists are particularly interested in locating the winter haunts of the elusive Rusty Blackbird- a species whose numbers have plummeted by an estimated 85-99% in the last 40 years.  Please report any sightings at www.ebird.org.  (In the Bucks County PA area also please give us a call- we are keeping a record of rare bird sightings in the area.) 
 

National Audubon Society:  Great Backyard Bird Count
February 18 – February 21, 2011

On Saturday February 19, 2011 BCAS will host a Great Backyard Bird Count and winter hike at Honey Hollow.  Participate in this citizen science event under the tutelage of Honey Hollow educators.  Data collected will be submitted to the National Audubon Society and will help the Audubon research bird populations in North America

For more information on Birds and Citizen Science: