Banshee in Brief: A Message from the President
Banshee in Brief…July 2010
On a typical hot summer day my wife and I were strolling along Raspberry Trail, Spring House Loop, Arrowhead Ridge Carter –Luck, Look-out Rock, Raspberry trail, and finally to the lane back to the Visitor center. Though the original target was breeding birds for the Bird Atlas, we quickly lost track of time and immersed ourselves in the preserve, and everything it had to offer. First we sighted an Imperial Moth (plate# 550, the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects & Spiders). This was a “lifer” for both of us and to watch it fly , land , and blend in to the base of the tree trunk made two seniors almost giddy with excitement. Thank heavens for digital photography. Of course the Common Yellowthroats, Song Sparrows, Gray Catbirds, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Towhee, Red-eyed Vireos, and Brown Thrashers were singing all in voice along the way. The focus now shifted from only birds to Cabbage Whites; Yellow, Black, and Zebra Swallowtails; a single Monarch Butterfly: Black Saddlebags Dragonfly; and a abundance of unidentified Damselflies/Dragonflies. Along the Carter-Luck trail a family of Alder Flycatchers and its two-noted call caught our ear. Around the bend, a feeding group of Indigo Buntings caught our eye along with the ever present Gray Catbirds and Mile a Minute Vine (or Tear thumb). As we left Goose Creek and started up Look-out Rock Loop, a family of Ovenbirds ,totally oblivious to us, were feeding in front of us .And then, a couple of small American Toads tried to escape our sight and were trying to look a lot like leaves at edge of the trail. A reasonable two-hour walk in the Preserve to look for birds was magically transformed into a 5 hour adventure.
Every one of us, I hope, has had a similar adventure at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. We all need to do share our experiences and encourage others to support the Preserve. Recently several members of the FOBR Board spoke before the Board of Supervisors in an effort to support an additional staff person. We noted that the new County budget included a naturalist position for the new Bolen Parke………. a park that hasn’t opened yet. The future park will have acres of ball fields along with a100 acres of natural area when completed. Wouldn’t it make sense to re-assign the full time naturalist position to the 725 acres of natural area at Banshee Reeks? That was the question that was presented to the Board of Supervisors. A few days later, at a volunteer picnic sponsored by PRCS (really good barbecue I might add), I had a chance to sit and chat with one of the key members of the Parks and Recreation Open Space Advisory Board regarding a naturalist for Banshee. Since the question is always numbers, which comes first, staff to produce programs or programs to justify staff ? Good question. The bottom line is numbers not only numbers of programs but also number of participants. No numbers, no additional staff. Though we will continue to lobby for the additional staff position, we also need to look out increasing numbers through a combination of means, not the least of which is through programs coordinated by our volunteer base…you and me.
Let’s look at some numbers. FOBR is sponsoring several citizen science projects like the stream monitoring program, the MAPS bird banding program, bat monitoring, frog call surveys, a pollinator baseline study, archaeological digs, and soon the habitat restoration projects…all told maybe 100 participants. Next is stewardship, these projects include the three dedicated 3rd Saturday regulars on maintenance; the Weed Bees , fighting Autumn Olive and other invasives , several Scout and Volunteer Master Naturalist projects…again maybe a couple of hundred altogether. And then there’s education and outreach. This would include the 60 Virginia Master Naturalists, with a new class of 20 expected for the fall; the children enrolled in the LWC/ PEC 2-week summer camp; 2nd Saturday bird walks; 3rd Sunday family walks in the preserve; 3rd weekend Visitor Center Openings which includes a key component, the VIVAs; recent special events such as the celebration of Pollinator week; and visitors to the site, dog walkers, hikers, bird watchers, and general dawdlers like us. Come fall the Preserve offers a great outdoor education opportunity for school groups of all ages The Raptor Centre, when open will help. The numbers are increasing, but nowhere near the thousands of participants in youth sports or community centers. Bottom line, staffing follows the numbers. Not only do we need to generate more programs, with a greater number of participants, but we also need to brag about them.
To that end the FOBR Board will be looking to its current and future membership for program ideas and participation. FOBR has a great resource amongst its members. The discussion with the Parks and Recreation Open Space Advisory Board representative opened my eyes. Its not a question of hire a naturalist, though that’s part of the equation. The question is more to utilize whatever resources we can get from other parks, groups like the Virginia Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, senior citizen groups etc. in an effort to develop new and exciting program opportunities at Banshee Reeks. Can you help? Come out and spend time walking the preserve and discovering your own Imperial Moth, and share it with others, volunteer to help with programs. Shout the virtues of Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve from the chimney tops. Come out and hug a tree with your children and friends, just don’t hug the trees with a hairy vine or Mile a Minute vine.
Updates:
The Woods Road
The Woods Road Alignment Committee met the evening of July 12th to review a draft Request For Proposal (RFP) drawn up by the Department of Construction and Waste Management (DCWM).The intent of the RFP “is to obtain the services of a qualified engineering firm to provide roadway/civil and environmental design services to allow for the realignment of existing The Woods Road (route 771).” It is expected that the RFP, which was slightly modified during the July 12th meeting to be issued soon and that all proposals will be received within 30 days. Once a firm has been selected there will be a meeting held with all stakeholders, one of which is the Friends of Banshee Reeks, during which issues and concerns will be discussed. DCWM expects that the environmental impact study will be the first phase carried out and that could take a year to complete. We will keep members informed as the RFP moves forward.
Visitor Center Planning:
A task group is rapidly moving ahead with a redesign of the visitor center interior. A number of volunteers with input from the VIVAs have been coming up with ideas for the visitor center. Even though the visitor center is open and staffed one weekend a month (3rd) the goal is to make the space, or maybe three spaces, an environmental learning space for interpretive displays and activities. The goal is to make the visitor center the starting point for visits to Banshee Reeks where a VIVA volunteer makes initial contact. The displays, many of which are seasonal, will introduce visitors to the MAPs program (ongoing 10 week breeding bird banding), amphibians and reptiles, birds, bats, trees, wildflowers, archaeology, and even the dreaded ticks of Banshee Reeks. Cabinets filled with animal skulls, some animal pelts, an herbarium , and a view out the picture window to the rehabilitated pollinator garden complete with the occasional Black Rat snake. The visitor center will become more than an indoor information kiosk. It will be the starting point for the visitors for their own adventure. In addition to the interior design, discussions are underway to change the exterior design. Again ,the emphasis will be on creating a starting point for visitors. Over the next several months through the dedication and design skills of many of the volunteers you should begin to see changes at the visitor center. Come watch the progress or more importantly offer to share your ideas and skills.
Questions Department:
Friends of Banshee Reeks is your organization, or could be yours if you become a member. If you have ideas on improving the organization, suggestions for program opportunities, or offer to volunteer please contact us at friendsofbansheereeks.org@yahoo.com
Casey Crichton
President, Friends of Banshee Reeks