Branching Out Winter 2019 by Reston Association

Walker Nature Center

A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Happy Birthday NH 7 • Holiday Open House 8

BRANCHING OUT

Nature Notes DECEMBER Duck, Duck, Dabble and Dive By Pam Findley

• • • • •

Wintering waterfowl populations peak. Red Foxes search for mates. December 21 – Winter Solstice – Shortest day & longest night of the year. Look for evergreen groundcovers such as Partridgeberry and Spotted Wintergreen. American Hollies have bright red berries.

JANUARY • • • •

White-throated Sparrows forage in flocks. American Robin flocks dine on holly berries. White-tailed deer shed antlers. Sweetgum trees are dropping seed pods.

FEBRUARY •

Running Cedar and Woodfern are evergreen on the forest floor. • Look for animal tracks in the snow. • Chipmunks emerge from winter dens and breed. • American Robins, grackles, and Red-winged Blackbirds migrate.

By Susan Sims

Winter brings cooling temperatures, icy weather and shorter days, so what could be so wrong with taking a chilling dip in one of Reston’s lakes? Ducks don’t mind. Winter is an ideal time to observe migrating ducks as they make their way south to warmer temperatures. Reston’s four lakes and the Sunrise Valley Wetland Park are perfect for observing our winter, web-footed visitors. The five most common ones are the Hooded Merganser, Buffleheads, Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck. Of course, we can always count on our duck mainstay, the Mallard, to be here year-round. With a few tips and tricks, you’ll be able to tell these species apart and amaze your friends with your ducky knowledge.

A Dab Will Do Ya

Ducks are separated into two categories: dabbling ducks and diving ducks. They have specialized behavior to help them acquire food and generally have a preferred food type.

Their feet sit far back on their bodies, making them look rather awkward on land. But those awkward looking feet are adept at propelling them through the water while searching for prey, like fish and mollusks. To identify a dabbling duck, just look for a duck rump poking out of the water. Dabbling ducks rarely dive, if at all. Instead, they siphon plant material out of the water while upside down. The ubiquitous Mallard is a dabbling duck and known for its rump to the sky feeding behavior. These adaptations help to spread out food across different species. It also provides the ducks more habitable space when sharing waterways.

Continued on page 2

Most of the ducks visiting Reston in winter are diving ducks. Diving ducks fully submerge under the water to eat.

Winter | 19-20 | Volume Twenty Two

WALKER NATURE CENTER

Duck, Duck, Dabble and Dive continued from page 1

11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 Enjoy year-round access to trails, free parking and restroom facilities dawn to dusk.

Meet the Visitors

Here are some identification tips and fun facts about Reston’s winter duck company. When observing migratory waterfowl, one species stands out above the rest - the Hooded Merganser. Both the male and female have an impressive crest that rises above their head, but the males have all the bravado. When the male extends his crest, a striking white patch is displayed with the shape of a ginkgo leaf.

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 Dec. 24-26 Christmas Dec. 31-Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Jan. 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 17 Presidents’ Day

This species has a long thin bill and cinnamon colored flanks. The females are a warm, buttery brown color with a lighter, puffy head crest. Males can also be identified by their wolf-like yellow eyes. The better to see fish with, my dear. A similar species sometimes confused with the Hooded Merganser is the Bufflehead. They often travel in small groups and are rarely seen in large flocks. Males have a puffy head shape with a large white patch, a dark-colored back and a white chest. If the light hits the Bufflehead just right, one is able to see beautiful purple and green iridescent head feathers. They have dark eyes not to be confused with Hooded Mergansers. Females are brown and have a discernible white patch on their cheeks. Buffleheads are the smallest of the four diving ducks commonly seen in Reston, around the size of a small American Crow. The Lesser Scaup is the most abundant diving duck in North America with 3.8 million ducks represented, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They have black heads and necks with gray, mottled backs and white sides. Females are a rich chocolate brown with a white patch next to their bill. They are larger than Buffleheads clocking in at up to 18 inches in length. The Lesser Scaup is also easily identified by its behavior. A diving duck and an acrobat, they’re often seen doing somersaults and upside-down maneuvers as they pick bugs off their feathers. They will dive deep underwater to eat and are often spotted in large groups numbering in the hundreds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

703-476-9689 • www.reston.org naturecenter@reston.org www.facebook.com/walkernaturecenter @restonnature @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.

Branching Out is printed on 100 percent recycled paper using soy ink. It is produced using 100 percent wind power. Please recycle.

Another diving duck found in Reston in winter is the Ring-necked Duck. It is around the same size as a Lesser Scaup. It has a black head with a notable feathery peak. Both males and females have a gray bill with a white band, and a black tip at the end. This is a great way to identify the Ring-necked Duck. Males have gray feathers along their sides with white peaks on their shoulders like epaulets. While they’re named for a ring around their neck, it is rarely visible. They are smaller than a Mallard. The Mallard Duck is easily identified by its condition of “duck butt,” because it is a dabbling duck. This bird is often seen with its head underwater and its rump in the air filtering plant material out of ponds and lakes in Reston. It almost never dives. It is a large duck between 19 and 25 inches long, and its tail sits high on its rump. The males have a dashing green iridescent head, and both males and females have a noticeable blue stripe along the wing. While the Mallard is the ancestor of almost all domesticated duck species, there’s no mistaking this gregarious species for any of our other wild winter visitors.

Duck Detection

Don’t let the gray, cold weather get you down this winter. Grab a coat, hat and binoculars and head to one of Reston’s lakes or wetlands to spot some of our migratory visitors before they leave for spring vacation. Using these key identifiers, you’ll be able to increase your flock of knowledge. If you do see these ducky visitors or other less common ones, we’d love to hear your duck tales at naturecenter@reston.org.

Please and Thank You By Katie Shaw Volunteers and donors play essential roles in Nature Center operations and environmental stewardship in Reston. Many thanks to all of the volunteers who helped with fall activities, including our big Halloween event. If you’d like to get involved, contact Volunteer Reston Manager habrock@reston.org or fill out the volunteer application at www.reston.org. Charitable donations are gratefully received by our 501c3 supporting organization, Friends of Reston, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 or donate online at www.friendsofreston.org. Add a note that your donation is for the Nature Center. You will receive a letter for tax purposes.

2019

Donors & Sponsors

AUDUBON PHOTOGRAPHY AWA R D S

WHEN

February 5-26 Monday & Wednesday-Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE

Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive Reston, VA Bringing the joy of birds to us, this traveling exhibition features 12 large-scale photographic prints. Nine are the award-winning and runner up photos. Three are selected from the gallery of top 100 photos. The photos cover a range of species and geographic locations.

Elizabeth Bolton, Friends of Reston, Frying Pan Farm Park, Mayflowers at Reston Town Center, Reston Farm Market, Reston Garden Club

Audubon Photography Awards Open House Sunday, Feb. 9, 1-3 p.m. Free for All Ages There will be light refreshments, short bird walks and bird activities. Special remarks at 1 p.m.

Birds of Film- A Collection of Shorts Friday, Feb. 21, 7-9 p.m. Free, $5 suggested donation Adults Only

CONTACT

naturecenter@reston.org, 703-476-9689

In association with Nature’s Best Photography Sponsored by

Volunteers:

Rimsha Abbasi; Candy Albano; Kevin Alegre; Akil Alexander; Milka Asgedom; Oliver Astor; Caroline Ayres; McKenna Bates; Joanne Bauer; Sebastian Bendigo; Elizabeth Bigham; Julie & Charlie Bond; Doug Britt; Daisya Brown; Hannah Campbell; Anne Cannizzaro; Andreas Celaya; Emily Cobb; Nicole Conord; Don Coram; Freya De Cola; Marilyn Dicke; Jody Douglas; Rayan Elmisurati; Darius Essandoh; Yasmine Fatima; Joanna Faust; June Ferrara; Patrick Finch; Martha Furniss; Martha Garcia; George Mason University SAIL Students; Randall Gray; Cam Green; Janine Greenwood; Sharon & Marty Gurtz; Anthony Guzman; Carol & Jay Hadlock; Iman Hadji; Connie Hartke; Ed Hass; George Kane; Leanna Kirkland; Pat Lenz; Alexandra & Ryan Liercke; Kyungshin Lim; Paulette Lincoln-Baker; Sherry Liu; Harshal & Sonia Lobana; Tracy Long; Fran & John Lovaas; Sabrina Lyn; Emily Madden; Dani Martino; Karen Mattern; Sharon McHugh; Aubrey McMahan; James McNierney; Alexandra Medina; Jon Michienzi; Jessica Molnar; Demi Moore; Bob Mowbray; Melissa Murphy; Megan Myers; Carol Nahorniak; Theo Neal; Ally Ng; Walter Oehler; Nathan Olson; Terri Ostrowski; Jayson Padilla; Barbara Paolucci; Daylon Pearson; Ellen Perrins; Julia Persing; Naomi Petty; Sheryl Pollock; Steven & Jessica Reese; Greg Reinfeld; Theresia Riesenhuber-Yafi; Maggie Roach; Erin Rodgers; Alaina Ruffin; Richa Saud; Aidan & Timothy Savage; Dana Scheibe; Jim Seret; Zara Sheikh; Amanda Sinues; Paige Smith; Chris Soares, Elaine Somers; Callie Spencer; Christian Suero; Cordelia Tran; Julia Ulziitugs; Brenda Van Doorn; Genesis Villanueva; Glenn Walker; Verna Webb; Jill Wechter; Janae Wideman; William Williams; Clarisa Wright and Will Yafi

“Thanks to the 83 volunteers who made the 22nd Halloween House & Trick-or-Treat Trail possible. Pictured GMU SAIL”

All programs will be held at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, unless otherwise noted. Refunds are available with two weeks’ notice or if we cancel for any reason. Activities may be canceled due to severe weather, severe weather warnings or low enrollment. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

DECEMBER

EVERLASTING EVERGREENS

Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year long. Go on a walk to look for evergreens and learn why they are important to animals. Smell the scent of pine and use evergreen needles to create a masterpiece. Register by November 27. 406111001 Mon 12/2 10:00 am - 11:00 am OR Tue 12/3 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member DESIGN WORKSHOP WITH MAYFLOWERS

Join this exclusive opportunity to participate in a hands-on workshop with professional floral designer, May Bernhardt of Mayflowers at Reston Town Center. Using natural materials, create a stunning arrangement for your home with her expert guidance. All materials provided. Register by November 27. 406201012 12/4 Wed 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Adults $50/RA Member, $65/Non-member WINTER WREATH WORKSHOP

Start your holiday decorating by making a festive wreath for your home. Listen to seasonal music and enjoy mulled cider and cookies. All supplies provided. Please indicate the number of people in your party and how many wreaths you would like to make. Register by December 4. 406011012 12/7 Sat 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Or 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm All Ages $25/wreath RA members, $30/wreath Non-members

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AND 10-YEAR CELEBRATION

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nature House. Special remarks and cake cutting at 1:15 p.m. Holiday sing-along with surprise guest at 3:00 p.m. See ad on page 7. 406011303 12/8 Sun 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm All Ages Free THE MITTEN

Where do animals stay on a cold and snowy day? Snuggle in for story time and listen to Jan Brett’s classic book. Make a mitten craft. Weather permitting, bundle up and take a walk to search for animal homes. Reservations required by December 7. 406121008 12/10 Tue 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ages 3-5 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member KIDS’ CANDLE-MAKING WORKSHOP

Bring a little glow to your winter. Learn where wax comes from and discover how candles are made. Dip a pair of candles and decorate a pillar candle with natural materials. Music and refreshments while we work. All supplies provided. Register by December 10. 406131012 12/13 Fri 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Ages 5-12 $12/RA member, $16/Non-member

106101011 1/2 Thu 10:00 am - 10:45 am Or 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Ages 3-8 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member WINTER BIRD COUNT

Join us for a half-day annual bird count throughout Reston’s natural areas. Meet local bird experts, learn tips on identification and have fun while helping obtain important information about our feathered friends. Enjoy a free lunch while we tally results and swap stories after the count. Register by January 2. 106201205 1/4 Sat 7:00 am - 12:00 pm Adults Free ANIMAL PJ PARTY

Did you know that some animals are just waking up when you’re going to bed? Wear your pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal from home. Learn which animals roam at night and how they find their way in the dark. Enjoy a snack and listen to a bedtime story. Make a nocturnal animal craft. Register by January 8. 106121008 Sat Ages 3-5

1/11 10:30 am - 11:30 am $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

WINTER WOODPECKERS

JANUARY

Woodpeckers search the trees for food, even during winter. Learn about woodpeckers and other birds that peck on trees. Take a short hike to look for their homes and make a fun craft. Register by January 10.

Do you ever wish you could leave town for the winter and go some place warm? Enjoy a fun puppet show adapted from a Sioux legend about how turtle tried to do just that. After the show, learn about turtles and meet a real one up close. Register by December 30.

406111001 Mon 1/13 10:00 am - 11:00 am OR Tue 1/14 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

PUPPET SHOW — HOW TURTLE TRIED TO FLY SOUTH

WINTER NIGHT HIKE

Crisp nights can be the perfect time to enjoy a woodland hike. Look and listen for nocturnal animals. Gaze at stars and look at the moon through binoculars. Then warm up with some hot chocolate. Register by January 14. 106011008 1/17 Fri 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Adults and Ages 5+ $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member ENV. FILM: YASUNI MAN

FEBRUARY GROUNDHOG’S SHADOW

In honor of Groundhog Day, learn about this fascinating animal. Groundhogs have many names, and can do more than just dig holes. Learn where they live, and why people think they can predict the weather. Make a groundhog puppet to take home. 106121008 Sat Ages 3-5

2/1 10:30 am - 11:30 am $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

RAPTORS UP CLOSE

Meet live raptors up close, including an owl and a hawk. Learn about where they live, what they eat, and how they raise their young. How do they adapt to our cold, wet winters and prepare for the spring nesting season? Guest wildlife rehabilitators from Secret Garden Birds and Bees. Register by Feb. 12.

106011008 2/15 Sat 11:00 am - 12:00 pm All Ages $7/RA members, $9/Non-members

Conflict rages deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon reserve of Yasuni. See an expedition into the most biodiverse forest on Earth where native people battle industry and government for survival. Witness what may be lost as biodiversity and human rights are pitted against oil and commercialization. Registration recommended by Jan. 23.

Join bird enthusiasts for light refreshments, short bird walks and hands-on bird activities. Remarks by Steve Freligh, contest judge and Editor-in-Chief of Nature’s Best Photography at 1:00 pm. No reservations necessary. See ad on page 3.

Celebrate birds by viewing a collection of short films and documentaries that shine new perspectives on avian species and efforts to conserve them. After the films, view the collection of the 2019 Audubon Photography Awards prints on display. Registration recommended by Feb. 20.

106201051 Fri Adults

106011300 2/09 Sun 1:00 pm -3:00 pm All Ages Free

106201051 2/21 Fri 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Adults Free, $5 suggested donation BIRD WALK: RESTON’S LAKES & WATERFOWL TOUR

1/24 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Free, $5 suggested donation

BIRDS ON FILM AUDUBON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS OPEN HOUSE

STEAM WORKSHOP- ANIMAL SURVIVAL SKILLS

FEATHERY FUN

Discover how animals survive the winter. Test how fur and feathers keep critters warm, and measure the difference that blubber makes. Build an animal hideout and see if you can make a replica of a squirrel’s nest. Register by Jan. 25.

Birds are the only animals that have feathers. Feel soft feathers and see how many shapes, colors and sizes they can be. Paint with feathers and look for birds near the feeders. Enjoy photos from the Audubon Photography Awards Show. Register by Feb. 7.

106131012 1/28 Tue 10:00 am - 11:30 am Ages 5-12 $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

106111001 Mon 2/10 10:00 am - 11:00 am OR Tue 2/11 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

Meet at Lake Newport and then caravan to the other Reston lakes.

2/23 Sun 8:00 am - 11:00 am Lake Newport - Park near the tennis courts, 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue Adults Free

Chipmunk Puppet Materials

Paper lunch bag Brown, black, white or tan construction paper Googly Eyes (optional) Black & brown crayons Scissors Glue

Instructions: 1. Cut out a tail, paws and ears from brown paper. 2. Cut out a face using tan or white paper. Draw or glue on black whiskers, a nose and mouth. 3. Use a brown crayon to color a triangle at the top of the head. 4. Glue on googly eyes or make eyes with white and black paper. 5. Glue the ears and tail to the back of the bag. Glue the face on the front of the bag. 6. Cut out two long strips of white paper and glue on the back of the bag to make stripes. 7. Now your puppet is ready for play.

Keeping Warm in Winter By Earl the Squirrel (with help from Kelly Michienzi)

Winter Crossword

Do you ever wonder how animals survive the winter months? We can’t sit by a fire and sip hot chocolate like our human friends. Some of us tough out the cold weather and stay active all winter. I’ve got a nice coat of fur and a bushy tail that I can wrap around my nose to warm up. If you see me shivering, don’t worry. It’s just one way that I raise my body temperature. I fattened up on yummy acorns all autumn long. I also buried plenty in the ground so that I have food saved up for winter. I see lots of foxes running around in the winter thanks to their thick coat of fur. They like to wrap their bushy tails around their noses like a scarf. I wouldn’t mind if they did hibernate. They like to eat squirrels.

1 2 3 4

I used to wonder why I don’t see as many chipmunks in the winter. Then I learned that they spend most of the winter in a deep sleep. Chipmunks build underground burrows where they stay cozy and warm. They wake up every few days to feed on some yummy nuts and seeds they have stored inside their burrows. Other animals like bats enter a long period of deep sleep, called hibernation, that lasts all winter. Bats look for a cave or tree hollow to hibernate in. They hang upside down and wrap their wings around their bodies. Some animals, like hummingbirds, don’t stick around to see what winter has in store. These tiny birds fly all the way to Central America to escape the cold weather and to feast on bugs and sweet nectar from flowers. Then they return to Virginia in the spring. This is called migration. Other birds, like the bluebirds, stick around Virginia for the winter. Have you ever noticed how they look extra fluffy when it’s cold? They stay warm by puffing up their feathers and trapping warm air against their bodies. They have a built-in down jacket. As you can see, animals have different ways of making it through the cold temperatures of winter. What do you like to do to stay warm?

Across

Down

2. A bat’s home in winter.

1. Sugary liquid in flowers that hummingbirds eat.

5. Underground home for a chipmunk. 7. The act of moving south for the winter. 8. Favorite food of squirrels. 9. Birds have _____ to stay warm.

3. A bird that stays in Virginia all winter. 4. The act of sleeping all winter long. 6. Birds and bats have these to fly. 10. The part of a fox with thick, bushy fur.

Kids’ Corner

Happy Birthday Nature House By Abby Stocking

Most children would agree that hitting the age of “double digits” has significance. In November, our building, Nature House, turned that notable age of ten. While the Walker Nature Center was established in the 1960s, getting a year-round, education building in 2009 was a major turning point in our history. This beautiful building, which is LEED Gold certified as a model of sustainable design, was gifted to Reston Association by Friends of Reston after an eight-year campaign that raised over 1.5 million dollars. It truly is one of the best gifts our community could have received. Having had the privilege of working at the Nature Center for over 12 years, I have personally seen how Nature House has allowed us to branch out in the types and numbers of programs that we offer. It has also increased the staff’s availability to serve as a resource to community members. Nature House has become the home base of our efforts to achieve our mission to foster an environmental stewardship ethic in the community. And it is a wonderful gathering place for families, individuals, school groups, community organizations, volunteers and more. The list is long for what this building has provided over these first 10 years. In honor of its anniversary, we hope that you will join us in singing a round of “Happy Birthday” to Nature House at our upcoming Open House on December 8, 1-4 p.m. And please sing extra loud on the line that says, “And many more.” These photos show some of our favorite Nature House memories. Do you have a favorite nature center photo from the last decade to share? Please bring a copy to Nature House or email it to naturecenter@reston.org. We’d love to include it on our memory wall.

www.reston.org Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive Reston, Virginia 20191

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID RESTON, VA PERMIT NO. 21

Holiday Open House 10-Year Celebration Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 - 4 p.m. Walker Nature Center FREE Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of Nature House. Bring a favorite Nature Center photo from the last decade to add to our memory wall. Photos can also be emailed to naturecenter@reston.org. Festivities include: • Live music by MSE Productions • Photos with mascots Walker the Woodpecker and Myrtle the Turtle • Ornament making with natural materials • Sale items in the Nature Center gift area • Handmade, reusable shopping bags from the Virginia Green Baggers

a arks and cial rem 5 p.m. e p s r fo Gather cutting at 1:1 cake

Enjoy the refr eshments

Volume Twenty WinterWinter | 19-20 18/19 | Volume Twenty Two