Missouri Conservation by Liz

MISSOURI

Conservationist Volume 78 issue 2, April 2019

â&#x20AC;¢ Serving Nature And You

FINDING PLACES TO DISCOVER NATURE IN MISSOURI IS EASY WITH THE NEW,FREE MOBILE APP---- MO OUTDOORS. USERS CAN QUICKLY FIND MCD PLACES CLOSE TO HOME FOR BIRWATCHING, FISHING,HIKING,CAMPING, OR HUNTING, AND STILL HAVE TIME TO GET HOME TO MAKE A WARM AND HEARTY MEAL.

BLACKBERRY-PECAN SQUARES

MICHAEL L. PARSON CHAIR MARILYNN J. BRADFORD VICE CHAIR DAVID W. MURPHY SECRETARY DON C. BEDELL DIRECTOR : SARA PARKER PAULEY DEPUTY DICTECTORS : HUBBARD, AARON JEFFRIES, JENNIFER BATTSON WARREN

•½ cup butter (salted), softened •1 cup flour •1 teaspoon baking soda •½ teaspoon salt •1 cup dark brown sugar •2 eggs •1 teaspoon vanilla •1 cup pecans, toasted •2 cups blackberries Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter and set aside. Stir together flour, soda and salt, and set aside.Cream butter and sugar with mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat. Continue to beat slowly, adding in flour mixture until combined. Gradually add ¾ cup pecans and mix. Spread batter in pan with spatula. Sprinkle berries on top, then scatter on remaining nuts.Bake at 325F for 50 to 55 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve. Makes 16 bars.

MAGAZINE STAFF

BUTTERFLIES AND YOUR GARDEN WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO ATTARCT BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN

BEE’S ARE BENEFICIAL MISSOURI POGRAM TO PROTECT BEES AND HOW TO IDENTIFY THOSE BEES

NATIVE PRARIES MISSOURI PRAIRE FOUNDATION HELPING THE ANIMALS AND THE EARTH

EDITOR : ANGIE DALY MORFELD ASSOCIATE EDITOR : LARRY ARCHER STAFF WRITES : BONNIE CHASTEEN, HEATHER FEELER, KRISTIE HILGEDICK, JOE JEREK CREATIVE DICRECTOR STEPHANIE THURBER, ART DIRECTOR CLIFF WHITE DESIGNERS LES FORTENBERRY, MARCI PORTER PHOTOGRAPHERS NOPPADOL PAOTHONG, DAVID STONNER CIRCULATION MANAGER LAURA SCHEULER

BLACKBERRY-PECAN SQUARES

MICHAEL L. PARSON CHAIR MARILYNN J. BRADFORD VICE CHAIR DAVID W. MURPHY SECRETARY DON C. BEDELL DIRECTOR : SARA PARKER PAULEY DEPUTY DICTECTORS : HUBBARD, AARON JEFFRIES, JENNIFER BATTSON WARREN

MAGAZINE STAFF

BUTTERFLIES AND YOUR GARDEN WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO ATTARCT BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN

BEE’S ARE BENEFICIAL MISSOURI POGRAM TO PROTECT BEES AND HOW TO IDENTIFY THOSE BEES

NATIVE PRARIES MISSOURI PRAIRE FOUNDATION HELPING THE ANIMALS AND THE EARTH

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity. Email Magazine@mdc.mo.gov or write to us: Missouri Conservationist P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102

MO to Wyoming Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your magazine. After reading it, I send it to my grandson in Wyoming so he can keep in touch with home. -Barb Balota, Arnold Conservation Headquarters 573-751-4115 | PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 Regional Offices Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730 Central/Columbia: 573-815-7900 Kansas City: 816-622-0900 Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 St. Louis: 636-441-4554 Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161

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Journey with Schoolcraft From the beautiful cover photo to the outdoor calendar, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire February 2019 issue of the Missouri Conservationist. After 35 years away from Missouri, I moved back in late 2014, resubscribing to the magazine as soon as I got settled. I did so not only to update my knowledge regarding conserving or restoring natural areas in my neighborhood, but also to learn about conservation areas and parks I can visit or short (or longer) hikes — my way of getting frequent doses of outdoor medicine. How I wish I had the stamina to take on the Schoolcraft trail [Schoolcraft: A Journey Through Southern Missouri, Page 10], but I am certainly going to look up some of thefeatured points of his trek the next time I am near portions of the trail and will move visiting SmallinsCave up several positions on my to-do list. We will be trying the venison fajitas and looking for Ozark witch-hazel soon. -Mary Jones via email I thoroughly enjoyed Brian Flowers’ and Francis Skalicky’s article on Henry Schoolcraft’s journey through the interior of Missouri and Arkansas. Fascinating information. I realize now why Hwy. 65, which runs north and south on the eastern side of Springfield, is also known as Schoolcraft Freeway. A wonderful and thoroughly delightful article, in keeping with the extraordinary professionalism of this publication. Four generations of our family have enjoyed this magazine. Brenda Wrather Springfield Thank you for the informative article about Schoolcraft. I had been searching for a map of Schoolcraft’s journey, and it was in the Missouri Conservationist! Keep up the great work about our great state. -Bonnie Carter Bucyrus

Just finished reading the February issue. I thought it was the best one yet. Really enjoyed the article on Henry Schoolcraft and the precious picture of the squirrel on the cover. Leslee Jacobson via email How lucky we are in the state of Missouri to have such a wonderful Conservation Department. The Conservationist is so well-done and the pictures are unbelievable. I look forward to receiving it and then passing it on to others. As a lifelong fisherman, the winter trout program has been a blessing. The need to travel hours has been greatly reduced and to be able to fish during cold weather months has reduced the “itch” tremendously. Sonny Brady via email Thanks for the Memories Your article [Up Front, February] reminded me of my younger days when I would purposely not overindulge on New Year’s Eve, so I could go out the first day of the new year to enjoy the first sunrise with my bird dog. Sitting down at the base of a tree, I would feed my dog a breakfast sandwich and revel in the glow of the first sunrise and the promise that it provided. Hearing ducks and geese in the distance as they prepared for their morning mission to neighboring fields. I was always asked how successful my hunting was and my response was always the same — mission accomplished. My dogs are passed now, and I only get to enjoy the warmth of their memories. I occasionally get to go out with my son and his children. Most important is being out there with my children, occasionally finding game, getting a shot or two, and maybe harvesting a bird or two. But mostly being out there. -Mickey Cruse via email

want to see your photo in the missouri conservationist? share your photo on Flickr at flickr.com/groups/mdcreaderphotos-2019, e,ail Readerphoto@mdc.mo.gov, or include the hashtag #mdcdiscovernature on your instagram photos.

1| Missouri

Opossum

2| shooting star Grow Native! 3| Turkey in the Woods Spring Turkey Season in Missouri

Last year at a national conference, I heard an impressive young man from Harlem share his story about how he first fell in love with the outdoors. It wasn’t what I was expecting. He said it all began in Central Park in the heart of New York City. Here he first learned how to fish with the help of several older men planted on a nearby park bench who would call out advice to the novice anglers. His love of the outdoors was born in that busy place. Memories of the first catch are powerful. In this photo of my first fishing memory at age 3, I’m looking pretty smug at the camera because my brothers, who had “hogged” the only extra rod for what seemed like a lifetime that day, finally had to share with their kid sister. It was my turn now. And on Swan Creek in southwest Missouri, my thrill of fishing first took hold and still runs strong today. One doesn’t have to travel to the heart of the Ozarks for a great fishing experience in Missouri. MDC offers bountiful fishing opportunities in our urban areas and has been doing so for half a century (see 50 Years of Urban Fishing in St. Louis on Page 10). This past February, it made me smile to see the story of two friends fishing in Forest Park in the heart of St. Louis when one hooked a 26-inch rainbow trout, stocked through MDC’s urban winter trout program. It was only his second time fishing. My guess is he will be hooked for life.

Sara Parker Pauley, Director Sara.Pauley@mdc.mo.gov (link sends e-mail) Pg 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity. Email Magazine@mdc.mo.gov or write to us: Missouri Conservationist P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City, MO 65102

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1| Missouri

Opossum

2| shooting star Grow Native! 3| Turkey in the Woods Spring Turkey Season in Missouri

Sara Parker Pauley, Director Sara.Pauley@mdc.mo.gov (link sends e-mail) Pg 3

Each month, we highlight research MDC uses to improve fish, forest, and wildlife management.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Paddlefish Tagging Project

Justin Penrod snags for paddlefish in Table Rock Lake, Harry S. Truman Reservoir, and Lake of the Ozarks. “They can move fast,” he said. Penrod is one of many anglers who has caught and reported tagged paddlefish during MDC’s five-year statewide paddlefish tagging project. MDC’s Big Rivers and Wetlands Field Station in Cape Girardeau leads the effort and collaborates with fisheries management biologists and Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) graduate students. Their goal is to look at paddlefish harvest and movement, while interacting with recreational and commercial anglers. Project partners are amazed to learn how far and fast paddlefish can travel. “Some of the fish we tagged in the reservoirs are caught in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries, some as far as 1,000 miles away,” MDC Fisheries Technician and SEMO graduate student Dustin Broaddus said.

Recreational and commercial fishermen in many other states have caught and reported paddlefish that were tagged in Missouri. “We were surprised to see the amount of recreational harvest on the rivers, too,” SEMO grad student Thomas Devine said.Partners found that both recreational and commercial anglers are interested in where the fish come from and move. Most anglers were just as happy to get the information about the fish they caught as they were to get a reward for reporting their tags, partners said.The project’s information will help partners throughout the paddlefish’s range improve management, ensuring anglers will have plenty of snagging opportunities for generations to come.

Partners

Number of Paddlefish Tagged

MDC Southeast Missouri State University Recreational and commercial anglers Many state and federal agencies and universities outside Missouri Pg 4

A little over 1,600 on the rivers and almost 6,000 on the reservoirs Number Reported Tagged Around 60 harvested on the river and just over 1,000 harvested on the reservoirs Longest Migration Detected 1,466 miles

Spring Turkey Hunting Includes Nontoxic-Shot Requirements Additional 16 Conservation Areas Require Nontoxic Shot for Hunting with ShotgunsSpring turkey hunting youth weekend will be April 6 and 7, with the regular spring season running April 15 through May 5. Detailed information on spring turkey hunting is available in MDC’s 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold. Learn more about turkey hunting in Missouri at short. mdc.mo.gov/ZZy. The Missouri Conservation Commission added 16 new areas to the list of places where nontoxic shot is required for all hunting with a shotgun – including turkey hunting. These additions bring the total number of areas requiring nontoxic shot to 37. The commission also approved regulations that require the use of nontoxic shot for hunting doves on 20 new conservation areas that have heavy, concentrated dove hunting. The new regulations became effective March 1. The 16 conservation areas that require nontoxic shot for all hunting are: Aspinwall Bend, Church Farm, Corning, Deroin Bend, Diana Bend, Franklin Island, Frost Island, Lower Hamburg Bend, Nishnabotna, Perry (Ralph and Martha), Platte Falls, Plowboy Bend, Thurnau (H. F.), Rose Pond, Rush Bottom, and Wolf Creek. The 16 areas have been added to these 21 conservation areas that already require nontoxic shot for hunting with shotguns: B. K. Leach, Bob Brown, Black Island, Columbia Bottom, Cooley Lake, Coon Island, Duck Creek, Eagle Bluffs, Fountain Grove, Four Rivers, Grand Pass, Little Bean Marsh, Little River, Marais Temps Clair, Montrose, Nodaway Valley, Otter Slough, SchellOsage, Settle’s Ford, Ted Shanks, and Ten Mile Pond.

The 20 conservation areas that now require nontoxic shot for dove hunting are: Bilby Ranch Lake, Bois D’Arc, Busch (August A.), Crowley’s Ridge, Davisdale, Harmony Mission Lake, Lamine River, Logan (William R.), Maintz Wildlife Preserve, Pacific Palisades, Park (Guy B.), Peabody, Pony Express Lake, Reed (James A.) Memorial Wildlife Area, Reform, Talbot (Robert E.), Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Bethlehem), Weldon Spring, Whetstone Creek, and White (William G. and Erma Parke) Memorial Wildlife Area. Lead is a well-known toxin that hurts the health of both people and wildlife. Research shows that doves, waterfowl, and many other species of birds can suffer from lead poisoning after consuming lead pellets from spent shotgun shells. Lead poisoning can be fatal to birds and other wildlife, including bald eagles that feed on waterfowl with lead shot in the carcasses.Waterfowl hunters have been required by federal law to use nontoxic shot since 1991 and must use nontoxic shot for all duck, goose, and coot hunting in Missouri regardless of where they are hunting. Requiring the use of nontoxic shot has reduced the incidences of lead poisoning from lead-shot ingestion by birds and other wildlife. Pg 5

Each month, we highlight research MDC uses to improve fish, forest, and wildlife management.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Paddlefish Tagging Project

Partners

Number of Paddlefish Tagged

MDC Southeast Missouri State University Recreational and commercial anglers Many state and federal agencies and universities outside Missouri Pg 4

Celebrate Missouri Trees During Arbor Days in April Celebrate the value of Missouri trees and forests by planting native trees and practicing proper tree care during Arbor Days in April. Missouri Arbor Day is Friday, April 5. Missouri has been observing the state’s official Arbor Day on the first Friday in April since 1886 when the General Assembly declared that day be set aside for the appreciation and planting of trees. National Arbor Day is recognized on the last Friday of April, which is April 26 for 2019.

Ask MDC Got a Question for Ask MDC?

Send it to AskMDC@mdc.mo.gov (link sends e-mail) or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.

Q: What sort of insect creates these tunnels, and why is there a large central corridor? The “legs” look almost symmetrical. A: These galleries were made by tiny bark beetles, most likely in the genus Scolytus.

Get information on backyard tree care, including types of trees for urban and other landscapes, selecting the right tree for the right place, planting tips, watering and pruning info, and more, at mdc.mo.gov/treehealth. The George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking offers residents a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife food and cover. Orders are accepted from Nov. 1 to April 15 every year. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/seedlings.

A bark beetle gallery is formed when a female beetle bores into a tree, Sarah Kendrick.“After the excavates a wide central gallery, and breeding season and raising their young, orioles may not lays eggs along the edge. When be as desperate for feeder the eggs hatch, the larvae begin feeding, creating their own galleries foods that we put out for them. opposite the central gallery. The excavations get wider as the larvae There is an abundance of travel farther and grow larger. Some natural autumn food sourcgalleries are quite short, presum- es, like ripened berries, that weren’t necessarily available ably because the larvae in those died or were eaten. When the larvae when they first arrived in The nursery is hosting an open house and tours on finish their feeding, they pupate and the spring,” Kendrick noted. Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by to see become adult beetles, chewing their It’s also important to note how nursery staff grows, stores, and ships more than 3 way through the bark and leaving many birds on their spring million seedlings each year. Tours are by appointment. small exit holes. In an infested tree, journeys north have just Call 573-674-3229 to make a reservation. you can see many tiny holes. As the traversed the Gulf of Mexico, bark falls away, these neat galleries the Caribbean, or other land masses. After making these are revealed. Q: In the spring, we feed exhausting, nonstop flights, it’s common for flocks of Baltimore orioles for several weeks. Why hungry birds to show up Missouri forests cover about one-third of the state and provide outdoor recredon’t they return in the at feeders in large groups. Look for Baltimore orioles in ation, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and watersheds for streams and rivers. fall on their return mid-April. Spending time in Missouri forests can provide natural health benefits, too. home ? Exposure to nature contributes to your physical well-being, reducing your A: We likely don’t see as blood pressure and heart rate, relieving stress, and boosting your energy many Baltimore orioles, There is much we don’t level. or other migrant birds, know about many species’ migratory routes, particuGet more information at mdc.mo.gov/forest. in autumn for a few reasons, according to larly small songbirds, due to their size and difficulty in State Ornithologist attaching long-term tracking technology. Researchers Discover and explore Missouri’s worldclass natural diversity. Our new 24-page, do know some species take full-color booklet showcases the beauty and value of Missouri’s natural communities. Maps help you know where to find them and tips help you do more to conserve them. different routes in the spring Free to Missouri residents. To order, email Show-Me Natural Communities and your and fall, likely due to weathmailing address to pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov (link sends e-mail). er and food availability. Pg 6

Did you know?

Q: This butterfly is rather friendly. It flies up to me and sits on the nearby flowers as I am watering. Is this a great spangled fritillary? A: Yes. A common breeding resident of Missouri, great spangled fritillaries (Speyeria cybele) like moist, open areas like fields, prairies, and woodlands. They often visit city yards in search of gardens and flowers. As caterpillars, they feast on various violet (Viola) species at night and hide during the day. As adults, they sip nectar from many species of flowers, including milkweeds, thistles, ironweed, bergamot, and purple coneflower.

To obtain the nutrients and moisture they need, these butterflies also visit carrion, animal droppings, and mud puddles. Males patrol open areas for females. This species lays eggs in late summer on or near host violets, but the newly hatched caterpillars do not feed on the plants. Instead, they overwinter until spring and then eat new leaves that grow as the weather warms. Great spangled fritillaries have a single generation each year, with adults flying from mid-May to early September.

Can you guess this month’s natural wonder? the answer is on page 9

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Ask MDC Got a Question for Ask MDC?

Send it to AskMDC@mdc.mo.gov (link sends e-mail) or call 573-522-4115, ext. 3848.

Did you know?

Can you guess this month’s natural wonder? the answer is on page 9

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Partnerships Pay Off for Quail Management Good habitat remains a key component in building quail numbers. Good partnerships among landowners and conservation agencies are key to creating that habitat. For more than a decade, private landowners in Carroll and Knox counties, MDC, and Quail Forever have partnered to rebuild habitat for this iconic bird, resulting in some of the highest known quail densities in Missouri in nearly 40 years.

Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels Invasive nonnative species destroy habitat and compete with native wildlife. Do what you can to control invasive species when you landscape, farm, hunt,fish, camp, or explore nature. What Is It? Introduced in North American waterways through international shipping, zebra mussels were discovered in Lake St. Clair near Detroit. Since then, they have spread rapidly throughout the Great Lakes and connected waterways of the Mississippi River. Zebra mussels were first reported in Missouri in 1991. Where Is It? Zebra mussel’s range is spreading. Currently, they are found in Missouri reservoirs, including Lake of the Ozarks, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Taneycomo, Lake Lotawana, and Smithville Lake. They are also in several rivers, including the Osage (below Bagnell Dam), Missouri, Mississippi, and lower Meramec. Why It’s Bad Zebra mussels have tremendous reproductive capabilities, producing as many as 1 million eggs per year. They gather in densities of 30,000–40,000 per square meter and cover any surface available. They starve and suffocate native mussels by attaching to their shells and surrounding habitat, decimating native species in many areas. Pg8

Zebramussels filter plankton from the water, reducing this basic food source for aquatic life. They can clog power plants and public drinking water systems, foul boat hulls, and impact fisheries. Economic impacts of zebra mussels in North America during the next decade are expected to be in the billions of dollars. How to Control It No one has found a way to rid infested waters of zebra mussels, but by following these “clean boating” tips, you can help prevent further spread: Inspect — Thoroughly inspect your boat before leaving the water and remove any weeds, mussels, or debris. Drain — Drain any water from your vessel. Dump — Trash leftover bait on land, away from water, before leaving any water body. Rinse — Thoroughly rinse and dry your boat either by hand or at a do-it-yourself carwash. Dry — Boats, motors, and trailers should be allowed to dry thoroughly in the sun for at five days before boating again. In the Slip — In infested waters, the best way to keep a hull mussel-free is to run the boat frequently. Leave outboards or outdrives in the up position. Periodically inspect hulls and drive units.

Fall quail numbers in portions of the partnership effort at Bee Ridge Quail Restoration Landscape (QRL) in Knox county reached one bird per 2 acres in both 2017 and 2018 while populations in the 2C QRL in Carroll County reached one bird per acre during the same time. This equates to about five and 10 coveys per 100 acres, respectively. Most other managed areas in the state average one bird per 3 acres or less. This equates to about three or fewer coveys per 100 acres. For help with managing land for quail and other wildlife, contact your local MDC office or private land conservationist.

FALSE MOREL

caps resemble a brain — they have lobes, folds, flaps, or wrinkles. They may be black, gray, white, brown, or reddish. Their caps bulge outward instead of being pitted inward like a true morel. False morel stalks are stuffed with a cottony white tissue. True morels are completely hollow. True morels are only found in spring, while false morels are found in spring, summer, and fall. Most importantly, false morels are poisonous.

New Regulation Booklets MDC has updated information available for hunters, trappers, and anglers. The 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information, Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations, and Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations booklets are available for free at regional offices, nature centers, and locations where permits are sold. They are also available online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZf and short.mdc.mo.gov/Zq3. You can also pick up the Wildlife Code of Missouri at these same locations or view it online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJ8. These handy booklets have information on permits, seasons, species, regulations, limits

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FALSE MOREL

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Feed butterfly caterpillars - If you don’t “grow” caterpillars, there will be no adults. Bringing caterpillar foods into your garden can greatly increase your chances of attracting unusual and uncommon butterflies, while giving you yet another reason to plant an increasing variety of native plants. In many cases, caterpillars of a species feed on only a very limited variety of plants. Most butterfly caterpillars never cause the leaf damage we associate with some moth caterpillars such as bagworms, tent caterpillars, or gypsy moths. Provide a place for butterflies to rest - Butterflies need sun for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. Place flat stones in your garden to provide space for butterflies to rest and bask in the sun. Give them a place for puddling - Butterflies often congregate on wet sand and mud to partake in “puddling,” drinking water and extracting minerals from damp puddles. Place coarse sand in a shallow pan and then insert the pan in the soil of your habitat. Make sure to keep the sand moist.

Brightly colored butterflies can be a welcome addition to your wildlife garden, not only because of their beauty, but also because of their usefulness in pollinating flowers. Attracting butterflies involves incorporating plants that serve the needs of all life stages of the butterfly. The insects need places to lay eggs, food plants for their larvae (caterpillars), places to form chrysalides and nectar sources for adults. When you create a pollinator garden and certify it with National Wildlife Federation, it also counts towards the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. Plant native flowering plants - Because many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved over time and depend on each other for survival and reproduction, it is particularly important to install native flowering plants local to your geographic area. Native plants provide butterflies with the nectar or foliage they need as adults and caterpillars. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has lists of recommended native plants by region and state. Plant type and color is important - Adult butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flattopped or clustered and have short flower tubes. Plant good nectar sources in the sun - Your key butterfly nectar source plants should receive full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Butterfly adults generally feed only in the sun. If sun is limited in your landscape, try adding butterfly nectar sources to the vegetable garden. Plant for continuous bloom - Butterflies need nectar throughout the adult phase of their life span. Try to plant so that when one plant stops blooming, another begins. Say no to insecticides - Insecticides such as malathion, Sevin, and diazinon are marketed to kill insects. Don’t use these materials in or near the butterfly garden or better, anywhere on your property. Even “benign” insecticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, are lethal to butterflies (while caterpillars).

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Once fully grown, the caterpillar forms itself into a “pupa” (or chrysalis) – a kind of vessel in which the caterpillar changes into a butterfly. They usually do this on twigs or safe, hidden areas around the host plant. The “pupa” stage may last a few weeks to several months depending on the species. During this time, a hardened case forms around the pupa to protect it from predators and extreme weather conditions. And inside, the tissue, limbs and organs of the caterpillar transform. The result? A wonderful winged butterfly! Once the butterfly is ready to emerge, the case around the pupa splits open. But it’s not time for take off just yet, as the wings are at first wet, soft and wrinkled against its body. The butterfly waits for its wings to dry, and pumps a liquid called hemolymph into them so that they become big and strong. Once fit for flight, this brilliant bug then takes to the air in search for flowers to feed on and for other butterflies to mate with. And that’s the cycle complete – and ready to start all over again!

Does your garden have all the elements to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat®? Certify today!

https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify

Stage 4: the butterfly

It all starts when a female butterfly lays her eggs, usually on leaves or stems of plants. Inside these tiny eggs, caterpillars grow. Depending on the species, the eggs can vary in shape and texture – they can be round, oval or cylindrical, and smooth, bumpy or wrinkled. The time it takes for the eggs to hatch can also vary – in some species, they will hatch within a few weeks and in others they will only hatch once the weather is warm enough Once ready, the caterpillar leaves its egg home and enters the big outside world! And these little critters have one serious appetite – they actually eat their way out of the egg and immediately start chomping on the leaves of the host plant. During this stage, they shed their skin four or five times – as the caterpillar grows, its skin becomes too tight and splits open, revealing a new, larger skin underneath. A fully grown caterpillar can be over 100 times larger than when it emerged from its egg. Wow!

Stage 3: the pupa

Stage 2: the caterpillar Stage 1: the egg

butterflies grows inside the egg for about 4 days. It then munches milkweed and grows as a monarch caterpillar (larvae) for about 2 more weeks. The caterpillar’s life inside the chrysalis (pupa) lasts about 10 days and its wonderful life as an adult butterfly lasts from 2 – 6 weeks.

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Does your garden have all the elements to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat®? Certify today!

https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify

Stage 4: the butterfly

Stage 3: the pupa

Stage 2: the caterpillar Stage 1: the egg

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The monarch butterfly population in North America has plummeted by over 90% in just the last 20 years. Destruction of America’s grasslands ecosystems, commercial agricultural practices and even conventional gardening have all contributed to the precipitous decline of this iconic species. National Wildlife Federation has launched a comprehensive campaign to help save the monarch, and there are many ways you can get involved. One of the biggest factors in monarch decline is the increasing scarcity of its only caterpillar host plant: milkweed. Without milkweed, monarchs can’t successfully reproduce and the species declines. By planting milkweed in your own garden, landscape and throughout your community, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects. Meet twelve of the most ornamental milkweeds native to different parts of the country. Make it a goal to include a few plants of at least one native milkweed type to help the monarchs

http://grownative.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Monarch-fact-sheet-Sept.pdf

The good news is that planting milkweed is one of the easiest ways that each of us can make a difference for monarchs. There are several dozen species of this wildflower native to North America, so no matter where you live, there is at least one milkweed species naturally found in your area. Planting local milkweed species is always best. You can collect your own seed or purchase seed or plants to add to your garden, or any landscape in your community. Three species have particularly wide ranges and are good choices in most regions: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterflyweed (A. tuberosa). The latter two are highly ornamental and widely available via the nursery trade. Pg 14

Monarch butterflies are heading south for the winter, and the National Park Service and the City of St. Louis are celebrating their journey with the Great MonArch Migration Event. At this festive event, pollinator experts from across the region, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Zoo and the Missouri Department of Conservation, will lead monarch-themed activities, such as offering pollinator crafts and games, making milkweed seed balls and insect hotels, and sharing monarch butterfly gardening tips. Activities will take place in front of the new west entrance to the Gateway Arch, as well as inside the Arch Visitor Center on the mezzanine. Free refreshments, native plants and seed packets are available while supplies last. Note: Tropical milkweed available at many retail nurseries is not native to the U.S. However it has naturalized in the Southeastern U.S. Science is discovering that its long bloom time may have some detrimental effects on monarch migration and possibly be a source to spread disease within monarch populations. If you do have tropical milkweed in your garden, it is recommended to cut the plant back in the winter months to encourage monarchs to move on to their natural overwintering sites.

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http://grownative.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Monarch-fact-sheet-Sept.pdf

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Globally there are more honey bees than other types of bee and pollinating insects, so it is the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. It is estimated that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees, but also by other insects, birds and bats. Many domestic and imported fruits and vegetables require pollination. Examples include avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, and sunflowers for oil, cucumbers, citrus fruit, peaches, kiwis, cherries, cranberries and melons. For crops such as blueberries and almonds, the honey bee plays an essential role in pollination of commercial crops, with around 80% of the US crop said to be dependent on honey bees. Honey bees can also pollinate clover and alfalfa, which are fed to cattle, so there are implications for the meat and dairy industry too. And that is not to mention the huge range of manufactured food products made from all these ingredients. In addition, honey bees play a significant role in the pollination of other important crops such as cotton and flax. And there are also a number of valuable non-food products produced by the honey bee, such as beeswax used in cleaning and beauty products . Pg 18

I think we should get ourselves some honey bee facts, after all so many healing and health-promoting opportunities for the humans begin with this little busy creature. As you read the following 20 honey bee facts, you will be so intrigued just like me by this teensy-weensy fellow’s extraordinary abilities. The honey bee has been around for millions of years. Honey bees, scientifically also known as Apis mellifera, which mean “honey-carrying bee”, are environmentally friendly and are vital as pollinators. It is the only insect that produces food eaten by man. Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water; and it’s the only food that contains “pinocembrin”, an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning. Honey bees have 6 legs, 2 compound eyes made up of thousands of tiny lenses (one on each side of the head), 3 simple eyes on the top of the head, 2 pairs of wings, a nectar pouch, and a stomach. See image for: honeybee body parts. Honey bees have 170 odorant receptors, compared with only 62 in fruit flies and 79 in mosquitoes. Their exceptional olfactory abilities include kin recognition signals, social communication within the hive, and odor recognition for finding food. Their sense of smell is so precise that it could differentiate hundreds of different floral varieties and tell whether a flower carried pollen or nectar from metres away. The honey bee’s wings stroke incredibly fast, about 200 beats per second, thus making their famous, distinctive buzz. A honey bee can fly for up to six miles, and as fast as 15 miles per hour. The average worker bee produces only about 1/12th teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. Doesn’t this fact make you love every drop of honey? Read and you will understand why it makes so much sense to say: “as busy as a bee”. .A hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles, the equivalent of three orbits around the earth to collect 1 kg of honey. 10. It takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bee’s flight around the world (National Honey Board). A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip. The bee’s brain is oval in shape and only about the size of a sesame seed (iflscience.com), yet it has remarkable capacity to learn and remember things and is able to make complex calculations on distance travelled and foraging efficiency. A colony of bees consists of 20,000-60,000 honeybees and one queen. Worker honey bees are female, live for about 6 weeks and do all the work. The queen bee can live up to 5 years and it’s role is to fill the hive with eggs. She is the busiest in the summer months, when the hive needs to be at its maximum strength, she lays up to 2500 eggs per day. The queen bee has control over whether she lays male or female eggs. If she uses stored sperm to fertilize the egg, the larva that hatches is female. If the egg is left unfertilized, the larva that hatches is male. In other words, female bees inherit genes from their mothers and their fathers while male bees inherit only genes from their mothers. Click here to learn more about the Honey Bee Life Cycle

Larger than the worker bees, the male honey bees (also called drones), have no stinger and do no work at all. All they do is mating. In fact, before winter or when food becomes scarce, female honeybees usually force surviving males out of the nest. Each honey bee colony has a unique odour for members’ identification. Only worker bees sting, and only if they feel threatened and they die once they sting. Queens have a stinger, but they don’t leave the hive to help defend it. It is estimated that 1100 honey bee stings are required to be fatal. The worker bees produce honeycomb which comprises hexagon shaped cells through the consumption of honey produced from the collected flower nectar. To produce one pound of beeswax, six to eight pounds of honey are ingested Honey bees communicate with one another by dancing. More on their awesome sense of time, communication of distance and direction in “The Awesome Honeybee Dance”. During winter, honey bees feed on the honey they collected during the warmer months. They form a tight cluster in their hive to keep the queen and themselves warm. The more I learnt about honey bee facts; honey’s great creator -the honey bee itself, its highly organized society, how it acts with such intricate cooperation, and the various bee products, the more I admire and respect this amazing creature. It is no wonder why sometimes the colony is called a superorganism.

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Human interaction with honeybees dates back to the end of the last ice age. Early honey hunters gradually became beekeepers as they learned to remove honeycomb from the nest without destroying the colony. This allowed honey collection from the same hive year after year. People eventually learned to induce wild bees to inhabit hollow tree trunks or artificial hives made of mud and straw. Bees and honey have been revered throughout civilization. The Ancient Greeks and Romans were avid beekeepers since honey was their primary sweetener. Beekeeping flourished in the Medieval British Isles, where honey was used to make mead, a rather powerful liquor. The word honeymoon comes from an ancient custom of giving newlyweds enough mead to drink for the first month of marriage.

When Europeans immigrated to the New World in the 17th century, they introduced true honeybees to the Americas. Honeybee swarms soon moved out into natural nesting sites. The pioneers carried beehives with them as they moved west, and today the bee is a major pollinator of food crops in the U.S. Modern beekeeping began in 1851 when the Reverend L.L. Langstroth, an amateur beekeeper in Philadelphia, solved the problem of cutting the comb from artificial hives. He discovered that bees would not deposit propolis, a sticky building material, in any space that was 3/8” or narrower. He called this width bee space, and created a box-shaped hive with removable, wooden frames that were separated from each other and from the hive walls by bee space. The Langstroth hive is still used by most commercial and hobby beekeepers. Honeybees There are four recognized species of honeybees in the world. Apis mellifera is the common, domesticated honeybee. There are several races within Apis mellifera, including: A.m. ligustica (Spinola-Italian), A.m.caucasica (Pollman-Caucasians), A. m. carnica (Pollman-Carniolians), A.m. mellifera (Latrielle-German Dark Bees) and A.m. adansonii (Latrielle-West African Bees). Italians, Latrielle, Carniolians, and Caucasians are found in the U.S. Italian honeybees are preferred by many beekeepers because they are easy to handle and slow to swarm. In 1956, some queens of the African species were transported to Brazil. Their progeny escaped, increased and spread rapidly. Referred to as ‘killer bees,’ they are very aggressive and quick to swarm. They may become less ferocious as their generations breed with gentler domesticated bees. The Colony A colony of honeybees consists of several thousand workers, up to a few hundred drones, and a single queen. The survival of the colony depends on the labor of individual bees. The queen’s sole purpose in life is to lay eggs. When the queen is young, she takes a mating flight and receives enough sperm to fertilize eggs for the rest of her life.

A queen will lay an average of 1,500 eggs per day during the summer, and from 175,000-200,000 per year. Queens lay two types of eggs. Fertilized eggs become workers or queens, and unfertilized eggs become drones. Drones are the males, and they are maintained in a hive for mating with the queen. Drones die after mating, so only the unsuccessful ones return from mating flights. They are usually allowed to live until food begins to become scarce, and then they are driven from the hive. Worker bees have a job as soon as they emerge. Their body covering takes a day or two to harden, so during this time, they will stay in the hive and clean cells. Older bees feed the new workers, who develop glands in their heads when they are about three days old. These glands are the source of a very rich food known as royal jelly. The young bees feed royal jelly to the larva. Worker and drone larva receive royal jelly for two or three days. When worker larvae are selected to become queens, they are fed royal jelly until they pupate. Young worker bees also develop wax glands used for sealing cells and building comb. There are two types of cells in the comb; larger ones for the drone larvae and smaller ones for worker larvae and food storage. After two to three weeks of secreting wax; the young worker bees begin to receive pollen and nectar from foraging bees. The nectar, stored in their honey-stomachs, is passed from bee to bee. During this process, the bees expose thin films of nectar on their tongues, reducing its water content. An enzyme is added to the condensed nectar, converting it to honey. A good colony should produce 50-100 pounds of surplus honey for the beekeeper. The colony should also produce about 60 pounds for itself to overwinter. When the worker bees are about three weeks old, they will begin to forage. Bees forage for pollen, nectar, water, and plant resins used to make propolis. Propolis is used to plug or reduce openings in the hive. Water is used to cool the hive and dilute the honey consumed by bees. Pollen is mostly used to feed brood, the immature stages of bees. Nectar is stored as honey for the winter months when other food is unavailable. Bees have evolved a body perfectly suited for collecting pollen. They have tiny hairs all over which traps the pollen. When a bee gets ready to leave a flower, or while in flight, she combs her body hair with special bristles on her hind legs. She then kneads this pollen together with the nectar she has gathered, and glues the sticky pollen ball onto special stiff hairs called “pollen baskets.” When the baskets are full, she returns to the hive and pries off the pollen with a hook on her legs. It takes about 38,000 collecting trips to gather one pound of pollen. An average hive needs about 50-75 pounds of pollen per year.

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When European settlers arrived in Missouri, native tallgrass prairie covered one-third of the state. Amounting to about 15 million acres, this vast, nearly treeless landscape spread as far as the eye could see. Rich prairies included hundreds of kinds of grasses and wildflowers that dominated northern and western Missouri.

Reconnecting the Pieces In general, the lack of connected and spacious grassland habitat forces wildlife into small, isolated populations, putting them at risk of disappearing altogether. Grassland birds, in particular, are the most rapidly declining bird group in the country. These birds, like the upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, and eastern meadowlark, continue to decline because most modern grasslands lack the nesting and brood-rearing cover they need. For example, tall fescue, a type of nonnative grass widely planted for cattle forage, creates an area thick with one kind of plant. These areas are generally managed in ways that don’t provide wildlife habitat. In contrast, restored grasslands produce many kinds of grasses and wildflowers that provide turkey nesting cover and places for deer to bed down, but the real winners are rabbits, quail, and songbirds, which thrive in well-managed grasslands.

Today, Missouri has about 17 million grassland acres, but only 0.5 percent of that is native prairie. The rest have been converted to crop production or were seeded to nonnative forage grasses to support a growing cattle industry. Although economically important, the majority of modern-day grasslands lack the natural diversity that prairie wildlife, from insects to birds, needs to survive. Grasslands are not only a beautiful, rare natural community — they also provide many benefits for wildlife and people that may go unnoticed. Healthy native grasslands provide essential habitat for plants and animals that don’t occur anywhere else, so efforts to restore them are especially important. Grasslands further help wildlife and human communities by providing livestock forage, reducing erosion, helping filter groundwater, and storing carbon from the atmosphere. Pg 24

In addition, invasive trees and human development have fragmented Missouri’s native prairie remnants, making them evermore precious and rare. This rarity unfortunately means that many kinds of grassland wildlife, including Henslow’s sparrows, Mead’s milkweed, and northern crawfish frogs, are in real trouble. To safeguard Missouri’s native grasslands and the wildlife that need them to survive, the Conservation Department started exciting renovation projects at three sites in the western half of the state. These projects promise to benefit native plants and both game and nongame wildlife that depend on diverse, well-managed grasslands.

Aside from providing structural diversity above ground, deep-rooted prairie plants also improve the ability of the soil to capture and hold moisture. Streams in healthy grassland landscapes are less flood-prone because the sponge-like soil allows more water to soak in during a storm and releases it slowly and steadily. Well-managed grasslands help trap sediment that might otherwise choke streams with fast-moving runoff water from poorly managed pasture or cropland. How Restoration Works When native prairie parcels and grassland go unmanaged, trees and shrubs quickly take over and choke out native grasses and wildflowers. Grassland restoration is the collective term for a set of steps necessary to recreate functional grassland ecosystems. Restoration usually begins with tree removal to reduce fragmentation and to reconnect existing grasslands. Priority goes to removing trees taller than 15 feet,

which provide sheltered travel pathways for predators like raccoons and perches for hawks to strike from. Managers leave patches of beneficial, low-growing native shrubs as escape cover for small game and shrub-nesting birds. Next, it is often necessary to control invasive exotic plants, such as sericea lespedeza or tall fescue, which can creep into grasslands over time. Managers use approved herbicides with care to remove targeted plants. After removing invading trees and other undesirable plants, managers may need to reseed the sites. Each year, Conservation Department staff and partners harvest nearly 20,000 pounds of grass and wildflower seed from native prairies! They use the resulting seed mix, which includes as many as 200 species, to plant about 800 acres of diverse grassland each year. Before European settlement, fire and grazing maintained a shifting mosaic of patchy habitat across Missouri grasslands. Today, wildlife managers use a combination of prescribed fire, rest, and cattle grazing to simulate these natural cycles to provide patchy natural cover with a diverse mix of grasses, wildflowers, and low-growing shrubs. The result is ample feeding, nesting, and escape cover for grassland-dependent wildlife, including bobwhite quail and cottontail rabbits. Managers also plant their harvested seed mix next to small, remnant native prairies — patches that have never been plowed — to encourage the insects, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals that need prairie to expand their ranges into the newly planted adjoining parcels. Pg 25

Together, the Schell-Osage and Linscomb grassland renovations will add more than 1,400 acres of beneficial grassland habitat to the region. This will help reconnect the grassland landscape between the large tracts of Wah’Kon-Tah and Taberville prairies and privately owned grasslands. Over time, these restorations may also help stabilize greater prairie chickens within this landscape and benefit other species of conservation concern like crayfish frogs, regal fritillary butterflies, and Mead’s milkweed. The Wayne Helton Memorial Wildlife Area This 2,560-acre area in Harrison County was historically 70 percent tallgrass prairie with woodlands along Cat Creek. Now, nonnative grasses and undesirable woody vegetation like cedar, autumn olive, and honey locust dominate these once-open natural communities. The 30-acre Helton Prairie Natural Area and several small remnants that escaped cultivation are all that remain of these prairies. Aggressive management over the next four years will renovate nearly 700 acres of old fields, nonnative grasses, and a portion of the cropland to native prairie plants. These habitat improvements will provide much-needed habitat for grassland songbirds, native pollinators, and bobwhite quail. Turning Back the Clock to Better Hunting Quail populations have steadily declined throughout the bird’s range since the 1960s. Hunters once enjoyed large quail populations, which were a result of how we used the land rather than any management that may have favored them. In the past, a patchwork of small farm fields planted to a broad array of annual crops and forages occurred across much of Missouri, creating ideal conditions for bobwhites. In those days, the presence of both crops and livestock on most farms also provided a nearly ideal level of habitat disturbance for quail and cottontails. Burning was also more common and the landscapewas less manicured. Ongoing quail monitoring shows that grasslands managed with fire and grazing have the potential to produce more quail than nearby areas managed in a more modern manner, where habitat is more intensively managed. Quail and small game management remains a high priority for the Conservation Department and, in time, these projects will yield better hunting opportunities. Grassland renovations work to turn back the clock, erasing decades of encroachment by plants that are not part of our native grassland ecosystems and rebuilding connectivity among small, remnant native prairies within the larger landscape. In addition

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to these efforts on public land, the Conservation Department also works to help its neighbors improve the value of their grasslands for livestock and wildlife. Private land conservationists and wildlife biologists are available in every county to develop grassland management plans that fit landowner objectives and economic realities. In the end, these efforts will help to ensure a secure future for the wildlife and people that depend on healthy grasslands. Pollinators help put food on our tables Pollen travels between flowers of the same kinds of plants on the bodies of bees, bats, butterflies, moths, birds, beetles, or by the wind. This pollen exchange results in fertilization — and in fruits and vegetables that we all eat. In the United States, pollination by many kinds of bees and other insects produces $40 billion worth of products annually. More wildlife, better hunting, and prettier views coming soon!Conservation area visitors sometimes find grassland restoration projects confusing. The sites often aren’t very pretty at first, leaving some to wonder how cutting trees and disturbing the ground advances conservation. But wildlife that thrive in diverse grasslands need open areas with a variety of native plants and wildflowers, and even some patches of bare ground. Managers have to open up overgrown areas, rescue remnant prairies, and replace cropland and old fields with grasslands that native plants and animals need. Helping our planet stay cool Growing concern over rising carbon levels in our atmosphere has focused interest on the ability of plants to capture and store carbon dioxide in their roots, stems, and leaves. This ability is known as carbon sequestration. Many native prairie plants have extensive root systems — some penetrate as deep as 15 feet into the soil! As a result, well-managed native grasslands have a tremendous potential to trap carbon deep below ground and reduce overall atmospheric carbon dioxide. Supporting our native pollinators The plight of pollinators has been well publicized, and for good reason — they play a key role in producing many of our favorite foods. You may have read about the devastating impact of colony collapse disorder on the honeybee. This semi-domesticated insect is largely responsible for pollinating nearly all of our fruit and vegetable crops. Unfortunately, many less-familiar native pollinators — including other kinds of bees, butterflies, moths, and insects — are declining as well. Restored grasslands can support over one hundred species of flowering plants and don’t require insecticides to remain productive. Because of their natural productivity, restored native grasslands may prove important to the long-term survival of pollinators like the once-common monarch butterfly. Pollinators help put food on our tables Pollen travels between flowers of the same kinds of plants on the bodies of bees, bats, butterflies, moths, birds, beetles, or by the wind. This pollen exchange results in fertilization — and fruits and vegetables that we all eat in the United States, pollination by many kinds of bees and other insects produce $40 billion worth of products annually.

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ID What You See Online Field Guide: A–Z Our mobile-friendly field guide is packed with information, images, and links to help you identify more than 1,000 Missouri animals, plants, and mushrooms. Find out what to look for right now, or search species to identify your latest finds. Compare similar species, find great places to see Missouri wildlife, and even share photos. Browse with any digital device at mdc.mo.gov/field-guide. Find more events in your mo.gov/events Browse with any digital device at mdc.mo.gov/field-guide.

Who’s Coming to Dinner? With many birds — including phoebes, Baltimore orioles, Ruby-throated humming birds, house wrens, and chimney swifts, to name a few making their return flights to Missouri, you could have some hungry flocks on your hands. Get your bird feeders ready!

A Southeast Earth Day Saturday, April 20 • 1–4 p.m., Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center 2289 County Park Drive Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 No registration required. Call 573-290-5218 for more information. All ages come celebrate Earth Day as we focus on the amazing plants, animals, and habitats Missouri’s Southeast region has to offer. Walk the trail to answer trivia questions or to just enjoy a nice spring day. Stop by the classroom to make and take a fish-related craft. Enjoy a nature film in the auditorium, or sit and watch the birds at our birdviewing area. There’s something for everyone at the nature center.

Natural Events to See This Month Pg 28

Give Turtles a Brake Three-toed box turtles, ornate box turtles, and common snapping turtles are on the move! These species can often be seen crossing roads in Missouri this time of year in search of food, a mate, or a warm place to bask on cool spring days. If it is safe to do so, try to avoid them ormove them to the side of the road in which they are traveling.

American White pelicans are migrating through Missouri

Plant a Tree

In honor of Arbor Day, why not plant a tree? You have two opportunities to celebrate the day in Missouri — Missouri State Arbor Day on April 5 and National Arbor Day on April 26. To learn more about planting tree seedlings, native trees, and more, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/ZNZ.

St. Louis Region: Family Fishing

Saturday, April 27 • 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Three Locations: O’Fallon Park Lake, Jefferson Lake — Forest Park, and Carondelet Park — Boathouse Lake No registration required. Call 636-441-4554 for more information. All ages

Sounds of a Spring Night

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program, the oldest and one of the largest in the USA. This family fishing event is open to the public. Events include special stockings, fishing instruction, and much more.

Nature comes alive in the springtime, even at night. The eastern whip-poor-will, whose call sounds just like its name, can call hundreds of times a night. Though considered common summer residents, they are often heard but rarely seen.

Spring Turkey season begins

It’s time to hunt morel mushrooms

Wild black cherry begins blooming

Crappie Are spawning Pg 29

Natural Events to See This Month Pg 28

American White pelicans are migrating through Missouri

Plant a Tree

St. Louis Region: Family Fishing

Sounds of a Spring Night

Spring Turkey season begins

It’s time to hunt morel mushrooms

Wild black cherry begins blooming

Crappie Are spawning Pg 29

Southwest Region: Huckleberry Ridge Conservation Area Eponymous berries replaced by native nuts. By Larry Archer

When it comes to huckleberries, people are more likely to find Huckleberry Finn or Huckleberry Hound as they are an honest-to goodness huckleberry at Huckleberry Ridge Conservation Area (CA). “I have not found any,” said Cody Bailey, resource forester and Huckleberry Ridge CA manager, of the blueberry-like plant once thought to have existed in the area. “What I have found are Ozark chinquapin, a pretty rare species now.” A native Missouri chestnut species, the Ozark chinquapin was devastated by blight throughout the state, but specimens can still be found on the 2,106acre Huckleberry Ridge CA in McDonald County. The area’s network of multi-use trails cutting through its primarily wooded landscape provides visitors plenty of opportunity to find the rare tree, but its geography can make it a demanding search, Bailey said. “There are a lot of steep hills that go up and down, so you’re going to either need to be in good shape yourself or make sure your horse is in good shape,” he said. “The terrain is really steep, but it’s well worth it when you’re getting a variety of hardwoods and a mixture of shortleaf pine habitat as you travel throughout the trails.”

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“I think the area as a whole is probably overlooked a bit. They don’t realize how deep into nature you can get just going on the trails and being out in McDonald County in general. It’s a lot of really great terrain, and most people don’t realize how nice it is out there until they’ve been there for the first time, and then it quickly becomes one of their favorite places.” —Huckleberry Ridge CA Manager Cody Bailey Huckleberry Ridge Conservation Area consists of 2,106 acres in McDonald County. From Pineville, take Route K east 4 miles.

What to do When You Visit Bird-Watching The eBird list of birds recorded at Huckleberry Ridge CA is available at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZGY. Camping Primitive camping (no facilities provided) is allowed in designated areas. Hiking Multi-use (biking, equestrian, and hiking) trails throughout the area. Hunting Deer and turkey Deer and turkey regulations are subject to annual changes. Please refer to the Spring Turkey or Fall Deer and Turkey booklets for current regulations.

What to Look for When You Visit Black bears, Red-eyed vireos ,Ozark chinquapins.

Southwest Region: Huckleberry Ridge Conservation Area Eponymous berries replaced by native nuts. By Larry Archer

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What to Look for When You Visit Black bears, Red-eyed vireos ,Ozark chinquapins.

Did You Know? This game fish was previously recognized as a single species known as rock bass. But two very close relatives — the shadow bass (Ambloplites ariommus) and Ozark bass (Ambloplites constellatus) — were recognized in Missouri. Although nearly identical in behavior, habitat, and life histories, shadow bass and Ozark bass differ from northern rock bass, and from each other, primarily by where they are found.

Goggle-Eye | Ambloplites rupestris Status Game fish also known as northern rock bass Size Length: 11–17 incheWeight: 1–2 pounds, 12 ounces Distribution Northern and southwestern Ozarks Pg 32

Goggle-eye are thicker-bodied than most other sunfish with a large mouth and very large eyes. They have a spiny dorsal fin with 12 spines broadly connected to a soft dorsal fin. Their color varies, but generally is dark brown to bronze above and often blotched along the sides. Goggle-eye’s distinct pattern of dark spots arranged in parallel lines along its sides differentiates it from its closest relatives, the Ozark bass and shadow bass.Life Cycle

Goggle-eye can live seven to nine years in streams of northern Ozarks, tributaries of the middle Mississippi River, and portions of southwestern Ozarks. As they grow, they congregate around boulders, logs, and vegetation beds in deep pools. Goggle-eye are most active at dawn, dusk, and at night. Foods Goggle-eye prey on crayfish and aquatic insects. Terrestrial insects and small fish are also occasional

Goggle-Eye | Ambloplites rupestris Status Game fish also known as northern rock bass Size Length: 11–17 incheWeight: 1–2 pounds, 12 ounces Distribution Northern and southwestern Ozarks Pg 32

MISSOURI

Conservationist Volume 78 issue 2, April 2019

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