Loudoun Wildlife Conservance, VA has Amphbian Monitoring Workshop and many other amphibious events
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Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy lists March 2009 Events
VANISHING VERNAL POOLS ? Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Rust Nature Sanctuary. Registration Required. This Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) program begins with an indoor session on vernal pool ecology. This will be followed by an outdoor exploration of vernal pool habitats at Rust Nature Sanctuary and other nearby locations. Co-sponsored with the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS). ANS & LWC members: $29; nonmembers: $41. To register contact ANS at 301-652-9188, ext.16. For those who plan to become monitors in LWC’s Amphibian Monitoring Program for the 2009 season, please register with Nicole Hamilton (nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org) and the fee will be covered by LWC.
MID-WEEK NATURE WALK WITH MIKE HAYSLETT ? March 11, 3-5 p.m. Registration Required. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and Mike Hayslett-vernal pool expert and head of the Vernal Pool Institute at Sweet Briar College-for an exploration of one of eastern Loudoun’s natural areas where vernal pools thrive with wood frogs, spring peepers and salamanders. During the walk, Mike will discuss this very special wetland area, the lifecycles of the animals that use vernal pools for breeding locations, and the importance of the forests that surround them. Space is limited for this walk in order to minimize the impact of human foot traffic in these sensitive habitats. Please Sign up online or contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.
AMPHIBIANS AFOOT! March 11, 7-8:30 p.m. Event to be held at
Broadlands Nature Center located at 21907 Claiborne Parkway, Broadlands, Va. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) for a family program with Mike Hayslett-vernal pool expert and head of the Vernal Pool Institute at Sweet Briar College-for a discussion about vernal pools and their unique attributes. You’ll learn about the diversity of frogs, toads and salamanders and their interesting habitats. As you learn about them, you may discover that you have these special vernal pools right in your own neighborhood. Learn how your family can engage in monitoring and preserving these special habitats and the forests that are required for amphibian life to thrive. Nicole Hamilton, amphibian monitoring coordinator for LWC, will discuss the Loudoun Amphibian Monitoring Program and handout materials will be available. For questions, contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.
SPRING POOLS INSTITUTE ? March 13, 14, 15. Registration Required. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy welcomes back Mike Hayslett for his popular “crash-course” workshop on vernal pools. Hands-on training begins at 1 p.m. on Friday with background instruction indoors and examination outdoors of the unique wetland at the ANS Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg. Saturday and Sunday will be all-day field explorations, including visits to numerous vernal pools and other isolated wetlands around Leesburg, at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, and other vernal pools around Loudoun County. Optional night forays are also possible, depending on rainfall. Participants will receive take-home materials and spend ample time outdoors experiencing a variety of wetland habitats. The group will likely encounter four or five species of obligate wildlife fauna, including Spotted and Jefferson Salamanders, Wood Frogs and Fairy Shrimp. Cost for this three-day foray is $49 for LWC members, $69 for non-members (meals not included). Registration must be completed by March 10 and is limited to 20 participants. Full details (schedule/itinerary, what-to-bring, background info, etc.) will be provided upon registration with LWC. To register contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.
BIRDING BANSHEE ? Saturday, March 14, 8:00 a.m. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for the monthly bird walk. Because of its rich and varied habitat, this part of the county is a birding hot spot. Please bring binoculars. For more information, contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.
BEGINNING BIRDING WORKSHOP ? Saturday, March 21 & March 28, 9-11 a.m. This two-part workshop sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is for bird-watching beginners ages 7 and older and is led by experienced birder and naturalist, Phil Daley. Children must be accompanied by an adult. A classroom session will include learning about what to look and listen for and getting tips on identification and the best tools for doing so. This will be followed with a walk outside to see how many birds we can identify. Bring binoculars if you have them. For more information, contact Phil Daley at 540-338-6528.
LOUDOUN AMPHIBIAN MONITORING PROGRAM (LAMP) 2009 KICKOFF ? Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m-4 p.m. Registration Required. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship to kick off the 2009 Amphibian Monitoring Program. Learn about site surveys, frog call surveys and migration mapping. All the materials you need to get started will be issued and after the presentation, you’ll head out into the field to practice your identification skills by looking and listening for different frogs, toads and salamanders. No experience is needed to become a monitor, just an interest in learning about local amphibians and their habitats. Advance sign-up is required. To register
for this orientation, sign up online or contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org. Please bring a bag lunch.
SUNDAY IN THE PRESERVE
? Sunday, March 22 1 p.m. Join the Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free informal, family walk around the preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this such a special place. For information, call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.
BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER ? Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Route 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. Meet at the Neersville Volunteer Fire Station on Route 671 at 8 a.m. For more information,
contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.
BLUEBIRD PREDATOR GUARD/MAKE IT-TAKE IT WORKSHOP
? Saturday, March 28. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will teach you how to make your own Stovepipe Bluebird Predator Guards to help protect birds from snakes and other predators. All materials provided. Cost: $15 fee for materials required. Location and time TBD. Registration required. Sign up at http://www.loudounwildlife.org/SignUp.htm.
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is an all-volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the preservation and proliferation of healthy wildlife habitats throughout Loudoun County. Visit www.loudounwildlife.org or call 540-554-2542.
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