Walker Nature Center
A look inside • Calendar of Events 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Winter Bird Count Results 7
Nature Notes By Sharon Gurtz
March
• Maple trees have red blooms. • Red-shouldered Hawks are mating. • First squirrel babies of the year are born. • Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs are calling.
April
• Eastern Bluebirds are building nests. • Spicebush and Forsythia shrubs bloom. • Turtles begin sunning on logs at the lakes. • Virginia Bluebells, Trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit bloom.
May
• Barred Owl babies are active. • Wild Geranium, Foamflower and Wild Columbine bloom. • Spring Azure and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are in flight. • Garter Snakes and Copperheads emerge from their winter hideouts.
Branching Out Are Those Frogs Quacking? By Ken Rosenthal
Take a twilight stroll in the forest in early spring, and you may be surprised to hear the sound of ducks. As you get closer, you may be surprised again to find that the quacking is actually coming from frogs. Male Wood Frogs make a quacking sound to attract mates to vernal pools. Their odd call is only one of their interesting attributes.
Frogsicles
Wood Frogs spend most of their time in the forest, hiding under leaf litter during the day and hunting for food at night. Unable to dig very deep, they hibernate during winter months under the leaves on the forest floor. Reston winters produce freezing temperatures, which would be fatal to most frogs, and leaf litter provides little protection from the cold. So how do Wood Frogs survive?
More than 60% of the frog’s body can freeze, with ice crystals forming under the skin, in the bladder and in the body cavity. When frozen, the frog stops breathing and has no heartbeat. A frozen frog appears dead. But once temperatures get above freezing, it will thaw. Within six hours, frogs are ready to return to normal activity. In spring, that means mating.
Thanks to special cryoprotective compounds in their blood, Wood Frogs beat the cold by safely freezing and thawing with their surroundings. Urea and glucose work to limit the amount of ice that forms in their bodies and reduce shrinkage of their cells.
Spring 14 Volume Sixteen
Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 Enjoy year-round access to trails, free parking and restroom facilities dawn to dusk.
Features
72 acres of forested land, a picnic pavilion, demonstration gardens, educational signage, a campfire ring, two streams, a pond, the entrance to 44-acre Lake Audubon and an interpretive green building, known as Nature House.
Nature House Hours
Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays
Saturday 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Sunday 1–4 p.m. Closed May 26 for Memorial Day
For more information
703-476-9689 • www.reston.org naturecenter@reston.org www.facebook.com/walkernaturecenter Groups: Please call ahead to arrange your visit. Branching Out is a quarterly publication of the Walker Nature Center (WNC), owned and operated by Reston Association. The mission of the WNC is to foster an environmental stewardship ethic in the community. It is named after Reston’s first Open Space and Nature Center Director, Vernon J. Walker.
Are Those Frogs Quacking? Continued from page 1
First In, First Out
Vernal pools are temporary bodies of water that dry up annually in the summer months. Fish, which often prey on eggs, tadpoles and even adult frogs, cannot survive in them. Without fish, vernal pools are perfect breeding grounds for many amphibians. Wood Frogs rarely breed elsewhere. Spring is the only time you will find Wood Frogs in water. While they are not the only frogs in the pools, they are the first to arrive. On the first rainy night above 50 degrees, they will move to the ponds from their winter hiding places. Males arrive first, staking out the pools and calling for mates. When ready, females join them. Both stay just long enough to mate and lay eggs. Early mating gives the next generation a head start, as these new Wood Frogs need to hatch, develop legs and lungs, and leave the pool before it dries up. Putting all of the freezing, quacking and quick development together, Wood Frogs are, in short, the most interesting frogs few people ever notice in Reston.
Reston Guitar Raffle
Sponsored by Friends of Reston. All proceeds benefit the nature center.
Tickets: 1 for $10 or 3 for $25 Drawing Date: Saturday, April 5 Buy tickets at Nature House or online at http://restonguitar.eventbrite.com. You do not need to be present to win. Steel strung acoustic guitar with dreadnought body, handcrafted by local luthier Paul Priestley from Reston wood. Retail price approx.
$1,300-$1,800. Includes guitar case.
Branching Out is printed on 100 percent recycled paper using soy ink. It is produced using 100 percent wind power. Please recycle.
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Contact Katie Shaw, kshaw@reston.org or 703-435-6510.
Please & Thank You
Reston’s Arbor Day Calling volunteers of all ages!
By Katie Shaw
The on-going support of the community is essential to the nature center. Many people choose to support the center through volunteer work, others through monetary or in-kind donations. Here are some ways you can help, like your friends and neighbors below.
Please:
Plant 50 Trees for Reston’s 50th Anniversary Monday, April 7 (rain or shine) • 9:30 a.m.–Noon • Locations TBD
Reston is a Tree City USA as certified by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Join us as we learn about and celebrate trees. Volunteers will be treated to a pizza lunch.
Contact Ha Brock at ha@reston.org or 703-435-7986.
reenergizereston.com
Tax deductible donations are gratefully received by our charitable 501c3 organization, Friends of Reston, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Write “Nature Center” in the memo section of your check. You will receive a letter of receipt for tax purposes. If you can donate one of the following items in new or excellent condition, please contact kshaw@reston.org or call 703-435-6510. Friends of Reston will provide you with a letter of receipt for tax purposes. Wish List: adult binoculars, blender, office folding machine, wide format laminator, handheld GPS units, and black oil sunflower seeds or suet cakes for feeders.
Thank You to the Following Donors: Better Said Than Done Productions, Catherine Linberg, The Peterson Companies, Ludy Raber, Reston Garden Club, Reston Farmer’s Market, Ellice Stern, Brian Yoder
Thank You to the Following Volunteers: Smar Abuagla, Anne Barbaro, Joanne & David Bauer, Matt Bender, Diane Blust, Julie & Charlie Bond, Bill & Della Brown, Bill Burton, Anne Cannizzaro, Ian Carmack, Jim & Florence Carson, Freya De Cola, Dale Dunlop, June Ferrara, Carol & Jay Hadlock, Mary LaCreta, John & Heidi Lankau, Doreen & Steve Larson, Pat Lenz, Catherine Linberg, Paige Linkins, Raja & Miguel Mazumder, Sharon McHugh, Jim & Ilene McNeal, Megan Navarre, Alex & Jennifer Nicki, Polly Noble, Casey Noll, Cynthia O’Connell, Terri Ostrowski, Barbara Paolucci, Mireya Pasa, Ellen Perrins, Bryan Peters, Sheryl Pollock, Ambika Sankaran, Andrew Shedlock, Brenda Van Doorn, Jenny Vick
Celebrate the Reinvest in Reston 50 year anniversary by re-energizing your home and your community with a Home Energy Check-up. In honor of Reston’s founding year (1964), the Re-Energize Challenge goal is to help 1,964 homeowners get a low-cost (just $45!) Home Energy Check-up performed by LEAP. You get an evaluation of your home’s energy efficiency potential and installation of energy saving lightbulbs, power strips and more at no additional cost. For every Reston check-up done this year, $10 will be donated to Friends of Reston.
Visit www.reenergizereston.com to schedule your Home Energy Check-up today. leap local energy alliance program
Thanks to the more than 30 volunteers and staff who braved subfreezing temperatures to conduct this year’s Winter Bird Count.
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March
Nature’s Music Monday, March 3 ∙ 10 –11 a.m. OR Tuesday, March 4 ∙ 10 –11 a.m. $7/child RA members ∙ $9/child Non-members Ages 18 months to 35 months
From the gentle hush of leaves in the wind to the beautiful songs of birds, nature is filled with music. Play a sound guessing game and make your own musical instrument. Take a walk through the woods and discover a symphony of nature sounds. Reservations required by February 27. Nature Game Night Friday, March 7 ∙ 7–8:30 p.m. $6/person RA members ∙ $8/person Non-members All ages
Bring the whole family for a game night with a nature spin. Play Forest Bingo, Nature Pictionary and Animal Charades. Make your own mancala game. Have popcorn and homemade snack mix while enjoying an evening full of fun and games. Reservations required by March 4. March Bird Walk: Walker Nature Center and Lower Snakeden Stream Valley Sunday, March 16 ∙ 7:30 –10:30 a.m. Free, Adults, Leader: Bill King Slipping into Spring Sunday, March 16 ∙ 2 - 3 p.m. $5/person RA members ∙ $7/person Non-members All ages
Don’t let spring slip by unnoticed. Walk the trails to look for hawks making their nests, search vernal pools for salamander or frog activity and see if you can recognize the call of the spring peepers or wood frogs. Early spring is an exciting time to test your observation skills. Reservations required by March 13. Return of the Reptiles Thursday, March 20 ∙ 10 –11 a.m. OR 1:30–2:30 p.m. $7/child RA members ∙ $9/child Non-members Ages 3 to 5
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Discover Reston’s cold-blooded reptiles as they are emerging from their winter sleep. Meet and learn about the nature center’s live reptile friends. Make a reptile craft to take home. Reservations required by March 17. Nature Walk: Sunrise Valley Wetlands Saturday, March 22 ∙ 1–3 p.m. Free Sunrise Valley Wetlands - 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive. Park on the left (west) side of the office building. Adults
Sunrise Valley Wetlands is an aquatic jewel on the border of Reston and Herndon, home to birds of prey, waterfowl, aquatic reptiles and amphibians, and a dazzling array of insects including butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies. Enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk and get an up-close look at the diversity of life. Co-sponsored by Reston Historic Trust. Reservations required by March 19.
April
Early April Bird Walk: Sunrise Valley Wetlands and Polo Fields Sunday, April 6 ∙ 7:30 –10:30 a.m. Sunrise Valley Wetlands - 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive. Park on the left (west) side of the office building. Free, Adults, Leader: Bill King Reston’s 50th Nature Party Sunday, April 13 ∙ 2–3 p.m. $7/child RA members ∙ $9/child Non-members Ages 3 to 5
It’s Reston’s 50th birthday weekend. Learn how the nature center helps to make our community special. Go on a hike. Make a tree craft and decorate a cupcake in honor of the occasion. Reservations required by April 10. Earth Day Explorers Monday, April 21 ∙ 10 - 11 a.m. OR Tuesday, April 22 ∙ 10 - 11 a.m. $7/child RA members ∙ $9/child Non-members Ages 18 months to 35 months
Celebrate Earth Day! Enjoy games and activities that teach us new ways to take care of the earth and the creatures that call it home. Make a recycled craft. Reservations required by April 16.
Amphibian Idol Thursday, April 24 ∙ 7–8 p.m. $5/person RA members ∙ $7/person Non-members Sunrise Valley Wetlands - 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive. Park on the left (west) side of the office building. All ages
Frogs and toads sing in the spring hoping to attract mates, providing us with a memorable outdoor experience. Learn which songs belong to which amphibians, and explore Sunrise Valley Wetlands to see which are calling. Reservations required by April 21. Senior Container Gardening Friday, April 25 • 1–2:30 p.m. $10/person RA members - $14/person Non-members
Learn what flowers and herbs grow best in containers and how to arrange them creatively. Listen to a presentation then plant a small container to take home. Contact Ashleigh@reston.org or 703-435-6530 for reservations by April 22. Late April Bird Walk: Upper Snakeden Stream Valley Sunday, April 27- 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Upper Snakeden Stream Valley - Meet in front of the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd. Adults, Leader: Matt Bender Worm Composting Sunday, April 27 ∙ 2 - 3:30 p.m. $35/Bin RA or RCC members ∙ $40/Bin Non-members Adults
Ever thought about composting but just don’t have the space? Worm composting is a natural method of recycling food waste. It’s so simple and odor free that it can be done anywhere. See an established bin and make one to take home. Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps into rich organic soil and compost tea. Co-sponsored by Reston Community Center and Sustainable Reston. Reservations required by April 24.
of Events Organic Gardening Sunday, April 27, 7–8 p.m. $6/ person RA or RCC members ∙ $8/ person Non-members Adults
Organic gardening uses landscape design and the natural environment to improve and maximize the health of plants and soil without the use of commercial pesticides and fertilizers. Learn about this method of sustainable gardening, and bring questions. Co-sponsored by Reston Community Center and Sustainable Reston. Reservations required by April 24.
May
Wild Edibles Sunday, May 4 ∙ 1:30 –4 p.m. $7/person RA members ∙ $9/person Non-members Adults
Wonderful Wetlands Monday, May 12 ∙ 10 –11 a.m. OR Tuesday, May 13 ∙ 10 –11 a.m. $7/child RA members ∙ $9/child Non-members Sunrise Valley Wetlands - 12700 Sunrise Valley Drive. Park on the left (west) side of the office building. Ages 18 months to 35 months
Enjoy a stroll through Sunrise Valley Wetlands to look for wildlife. See dragonflies, turtles, ducks and geese up close. Make a turtle craft to take home. Reservations required by May 7. Nature Walk: Twin Branches Trail Saturday, May 17 ∙ 2 –3:30 p.m. Twin Branches Trail – Park at Twin Branches Road at Glade Drive. Free, Adults
Food does not have to come from the grocery store. Many naturally occurring plants can make a nutritious and tasty addition to your diet. Sample some “wild”dishes and take home recipes. After a presentation that includes the ethics of collecting and how good foraging starts at home, hike the trails in search of edible plants. Harvest some to take home. Guest Speaker: Lori Thomas. Reservations required by May 2.
Join a naturalist for a hike along the renovated Twin Branches Nature Trail to experience its diverse habitats. Discover dragonflies and tiger beetles in a sunny meadow. Find Ebony Jewelwings, water snakes, and other aquatic life along the wooded banks of Snakeden Branch. Look for Mountain Laurel and listen for songbirds under the canopy of the forest. Co-sponsored by Reston Historic Trust. Reservations required by May 14.
Tour the Solar System Friday, May 9 ∙ 7 –8 p.m. $5/child RA members ∙ $7/child Non-members Ages 5 to 12
Rain Barrel Workshop Saturday, May 17 ∙ 10:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m. $55 per barrel (Limit 2 per household.) Adults
Thinking of moving to a new planet? Compare weather conditions, size, and the length of years and days of the planets in the solar system through interactive activities. Get all the information you need to select your new planet without leaving the safety of Earth! Reservations required by May 6.
Rain barrels are a great way to help capture and control stormwater from rooftops, prevent erosion, improve water quality, and conserve water. Here is a quick and inexpensive way to recycle a black pickle barrel into a rain barrel for your home. Register online at www.arlingtonenvironment. org/barrel.php. In partnership with Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and Arlington County. Reservations required by May 14.
Early May Bird Walk: Bright Pond Sunday, May 11 ∙ 7:30 –10:30 a.m. Bright Pond - Bright Pond Lane, park at the end of the cul-de-sac. Free, Adults, Leaders: Jay and Carol Hadlock
Eggs-traordinary Sunday, May 18 ∙ 2 –3 p.m. $5/person RA members ∙ $7/person Non-members All ages
Eggs are the beginning of life for many animals. See examples of different types of eggs, and try to guess what hatches from them. Touch real birds’ eggs, big and small. Find out how squishy frog eggs can be. Learn how animals hide their eggs to protect them. Reservations required by May 15. Terrific Turtles Tuesday, May 20 ∙ 10 –11 a.m. OR 1:30 –2:30 p.m. $7/child RA members ∙ $9/child Non-members Ages 3 to 5
Learn about the many turtles of Reston. Meet our resident box turtle, touch real turtle shells, and make a turtle craft to take home. Go on a short hike to look for turtles in the forest and at Lake Audubon. Reservations required by May 16. Patriotic Campfire Friday, May 23 ∙ 7 - 8:30 p.m. $7/person RA members ∙ $9/person Non-members WNC Campfire Ring - On Soapstone Drive, between Glade Drive and Lawyers Road. All ages
Celebrate Memorial Day by singing patriotic songs around a campfire. Roast a hot dog on a stick and make a yummy marshmallow treat. Play oldfashioned games and get a fun start to your holiday weekend. Reservations required by May 20. Late May Bird Walk: Lower Glade Stream Valley Sunday, May 25 ∙ 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Free Glade Stream Valley, park on Glade Drive at Twin Branches Road. Adults, Leaders: Joanne & David Bauer
All programs will be held at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, unless otherwise noted.
Call 703-476-9689 and press 5 or e-mail naturecenter@reston.org for reservations and information. Advanced reservations are required for all fee-based programs. Programs may be canceled in the event of severe weather, severe weather warnings or low enrollment. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
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See for yourself!
Eastern Tent Caterpillar webs are pretty easy to find. Look for them in your yard, or take a walk at the nature center. See if you can spot them. Look along the branches to see if you can find egg masses, too. Organization: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/ detail.cfm?imgnum=1540458#sthash. SI3hiJKx.dpuf
WEBBY CATERPILLARS By Earl the Squirrel with help from Abby Stocking
Since I’m always climbing trees and hopping along the ground, I notice lots of changes when spring comes. The air gets warmer, flowers bloom and leaves begin to grow on branches. Every spring I also notice strange webby things appearing in the trees. While you may think of spiders when you hear of a web, these sticky shelters are actually made by an insect called the Eastern Tent Caterpillar. These caterpillars are black and fuzzy, with yellow and white stripes and blue dots down their bodies. They hatch out of eggs laid along the branches of some trees. The caterpillars build a large web, or tent, to help protect themselves from wind, rain and predators. Just how human children may like grapes and strawberries over broccoli and brussel sprouts, Eastern Tent Caterpillars like some tree leaves better than others. Cherry, apple and hawthorn tree leaves are their favorites. Even though the caterpillars eat lots of leaves on a tree, the trees are usually able to grow more once the caterpillars are done munching. So they don’t really hurt the tree.
Life Cycle Line Up
Label the photos of the caterpillar’s life cycle. Answers at bottom of page.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Organization: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive http://www.forestryimages.org
Photo by: Lacy L. Hyche Organization: Auburn University http: //www.forestryimages.org
Photo by: Robert L. Anderson Photo by: Ronald S. Kelley In six weeks the caterpillars are full grown. They crawl Organization: USDA Forest Service Organization: Vermont Department http: //www.forestryimages.org of Forests, Parks and Recreation away from their tents to a safe place where they can http://www.forestryimages.org wrap themselves in a cocoon. After another three weeks, they come out Egg Mass Cocoon as brown moths with two white stripes on each wing. The adults Caterpillars & Tent Adult moth lay new egg masses along the branches of their favorite trees. There can be 100 – 350 eggs in one of these masses. The masses will stay there until next spring, when the tent caterpillar life cycle begins again.
Kids’ Corner Answers: A. Adult moth, B. Cocoon, C. Caterpillars & Tent, D. Egg Mass
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Winter Bird Count Results By Abby Stocking
Despite snow covered ground and temperatures below freezing, over 30 staff and volunteers conducted the annual Winter Bird Count on Saturday, January 4. The purpose of the counts is to take inventory of local wildlife and monitor changes over time. This year’s count yielded over 2,100 individual birds from 45 species. Since the count was started in the 1990’s the average number of birds has been around 2,200 individuals and 50 species. The numbers were slightly down this year due to the cold conditions and ice-covered lakes and ponds. The most common bird recorded was the Canada Goose with a 700 individuals. The next most numerous birds were the Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal and Dark-eyed Junco. Two Barred Owls were spotted in north Reston in the early morning hours. One Common Raven was seen for the first time on a Reston Winter Bird Count. Two Eastern Phoebes, which are usually found here in the warmer months, were seen for only the second time on the winter count.
Native Spotlight:
Photo by: Sheryl Pollock
Wild Bleeding Heart
(Dicentra eximia) By Sharon Gurtz
Wild Bleeding Heart is a native perennial plant popular in shade gardens of the Eastern United States. It grows 1 -1.5’ tall and 1 – 3’ wide. It can be recognized by its deeply-cut fernlike foliage, persisting throughout the growing season. The heart-shaped flowers are pink to purplish red, occurring on long leafless stems from spring through summer and in some conditions into fall. It may stop blooming in hot, dry summers. The protruding inner petals of the flower, which appear to form a drop of blood at the bottom of the flower, give this plant its common name. Bleeding Heart is easily grown in moist, well-drained acidic soil in part shade. It is intolerant of dry soils in summer and wet soils in winter. It will naturalize by self-sowing and can be increased rapidly by division in fall or early spring. Wild Bleeding Heart is deer resistant. It provides good cover for small wildlife and is an excellent nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies. Its delicate flowers and evergreen foliage are sure to add some interest to your shade garden.
The next count will be the Summer Bird Count on Saturday, June 7. For the full results or more information, contact naturecenter@reston.org.
Native Plant Sale
INTO THE WOODS
Stories of camping, hiking and the wild life
Place orders by Friday, April 4. Pick up on Saturday, April 19. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Species to include sun and shade loving wildflowers and ferns that do well in a variety of growing conditions and enhance your backyard habitat. See the plant list and prices on the order form available online at www.reston.org and at Nature House. Contact naturecenter@reston.org or 703-476-9689 for more information.
Come out for a fun evening of personal storytelling as told by Virginia’s premiere storytelling troupe Better Said Than Done. The show is intended for an adult audience. Refreshments (beer, wine, coffee, sodas and snacks) available for purchase.
Contact Katie Shaw at kshaw@reston.org or 703-435-6510.
Saturday, March 29 8 p.m.
Fee: $15 on sale at https://intothewoodsstories.eventbrite.com or at the door. Advance tickets are recommended due to limited seating.
Sponsored by Friends of Reston. All proceeds benefit the nature center.
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www.reston.org Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive Reston, Virginia 20191
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID RESTON, VA PERMIT NO. 21
Spring Festival Saturday, May 3 (rain or shine) Walker Nature Center 1–5 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 8 A.M. WALKER NATURE CENTER 11450 GLADE DRIVE TO BENEFIT NATURE HOUSE Adult Fee: $25 (prior to April 1), $30 regular
Entertainment Live Animals Fishing Activities Craft Making for Kids Displays and Information from Environmental Groups Canoe and Kayak Rentals on Lake Audubon ($3)
Children’s Fee: $15 (prior to April 1), $20 regular (Ages 12 and under) Register at www.active.com or in person starting at 7 a.m. on race day. There will be a medal ceremony, door prizes and refreshments after the race. Funds raised go to Friends of Reston to support new green building enhancements, and educational displays and exhibits.
Celebrate the second annual Garlic Mustard Challenge in Reston. Learn about this invasive plant through fun activities, including a drop-off station for bags of pulled garlic mustard. Volunteers needed. Contact habrock@reston.org or call 703-435-7986. Entertainment Sponsor: Reston Community Center See www.reston.org for event updates.
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Spring 14 Volume Sixteen