Bird Migration in Full Swing, Join us for Give Local Piedmont tomorrow

It is that wonderful time of year when the sounds and sights of the migrating passerines enlighten the spring!   Students of nature awareness are overwhelmed with the new set of vocalizations, and those with a long time nature kinship anticipate the arrival of friends who departed in the fall.   For the last several years, my journal heralds the arrival of rose breasted grossbeaks at the feeder.  Yesterday a lone male arrived again, just to stay a while.   I wanted to have a conversation about his winter journey, but he seemed too exhausted to reveal much.  Today he is off again, to the mountains, to the north...  There is something settling about this birds stopover on our feeder.   Another year is complete....

Join us tomorrow for AM birding at 7:00 and again late in the afternoon.   As part of our fundraising efforts with Give Local Piedmont, we will be out looking and listening to many of the arrivals.   Orchard orioles arrived this past week, and the regulars are here.  We will likely get 40 species by the house without having to walk too far.   Be sure to check out the website for all of our events on the field station tomorrow and don't forget to make a donation!  There is a $100,000 cost share that can potentially double your donations made tomorrow!   www.envstudies.org

Spring has Sprung!

The George Mason students are wrapping up the semester with end of the year projects.  Dr. Nord's soils class (Geol 306) was out doing surveys on the field station, and we really appreciate their efforts.  For the students,  it is so much more meaningful to collect data that can help with the planning of new projects.  They analyzed soils in areas where we may have future projects in vegetable crop production, for new vernal pools, for improved habitat for turkeys and to help find old wetlands.  Good practical stuff all around.  Kind of reminds me of days at UC Davis when we fixed tractors with bailing wire to keep things going.   Good job everyone!   And a new group of members for our field station family.

 Last weekend, we had a wonderful public night out with the amphibians.  The American toad eggs were still breeding and laying eggs, although some have already hatched in the wetlands.  The Jefferson salamanders were just starting to hatch in the vernal pools.  Once again, it looks like the springtime success of the ridgetop vernal pool is very high, with well over 1000 amphibians using it this year (calculated from wood frog and salamander egg masses).    It is still a good time of the year to listen for frogs and toads.   To learn more check out http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/index.html

After a cold evening in the field observing amphibians, we had a spontaneous tea tasting with oolongs from China.   We are going to do this more often!

To wrap up the emergence of spring, the migratory birds are in their peak right now!  I am listening to an orchard oriole that just arrived today, and watching two newly arrived ruby throated hummingbirds on the feeder (time to get them up if you have not done so!).   And flying ants are emerging for a new generation!