Walker Nature Center
BRANCHING OUT
A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Value of Open Space 7 • Holiday Fest 8
Nature Notes By Pam Findley
DECEMBER • • • • •
Groundhogs hibernate. Red Foxes search for mates. Winter waterfowl populations peak. Look for fruit on Striped Wintergreen and Partridgeberry. Dec. 21 – Winter Solstice and Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn
JANUARY • • • • •
White-tailed Deer shed antlers. Sparrows forage for food in flocks. Bald Eagles and Barred Owls begin to nest. Sweetgum trees drop spiky, round seed pods. Jan. 3 and 4 – Quadrantids meteor shower
FEBRUARY • • • • •
Spring Peepers begin to call. First squirrel babies of the year are born. Striped Skunks and Chipmunks begin to breed. Eastern Bluebirds and Wood Ducks start to look for nest sites. Feb. 16 – Full moon known as the Snow Moon or Hunger Moon
Woodland Homes as Habitat By Susan Sims
There are many benefits to good woodland management, no matter the size of your property. Proper tree maintenance not only enhances the habitat value of land and provides many ecological services, but it can raise property values, too. Reston Association’s State of the Environment Report (RASER) identifies woodland management as a key element of healthy ecosystems, and anyone with a wooded or forested lot can do their part. Choosing a lovely native tree as a focal point in a landscaped area helps, too. Reston loves its trees and has been certified as a Tree City USA for 27 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
pose a hazard. Contact your Covenants Advisor with questions and hire an arborist to cut it to a safe height.
What Wood You Do?
Invasive plants such as Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) can host invasive pests, including the devastating Spotted Lanternfly. Monitor your property for invasives and have them removed. RA Design Guidelines permit removal of invasive trees without an application if it doesn’t impact screening for private property or the streetscape. Consult with a certified arborist to identify tree species and maintain your records.
Another way to support habitat is to leave logs or stumps in wooded parts of your property. They provide wildlife shelter and moist spots for seeds to germinate. As they decompose, nutrients return to the soil, creating ideal places for seedlings to grow. You’ll see that forest friendly practices welcome many types of wildlife from salamanders and toads to chipmunks and owls.
Removing Invasive or Damaged Trees
It may be obvious that living trees provide food and shelter for animals, but there’s a lot of life in dead trees, too. Snags, stumps and logs provide important habitat. Snags are standing dead trees often without branches or tops. Over 1,200 North American species of birds, mammals and insects rely on snags for shelter and food, including Reston’s official bird, the Pileated Woodpecker. According to the National Wildlife Federation, removal of dead material in wooded areas can mean the loss of habitat for a fifth of all animals in an ecosystem. How can you safely leave a snag on your property? Ensure the roots are stable, and it is not within striking distance of a house, cars or walkway should it fall. Snags are permitted by Reston Association’s (RA) Design Guidelines in natural, wooded areas if they do not
Occasionally, you may need to remove a native or ornamental tree due to damage, disease or proximity to housing such as a Flowering Dogwood or Japanese Cherry. A DRB application is required for all ornamental tree removals regardless of size as well as native trees with a trunk diameter of more than 4 inches.
Continued on page 2
Winter | 21-22 | Volume Twenty-three
WALKER NATURE CENTER
Woodland Homes as Habitat continued from page 1
11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191
When replacing or adding trees, opt for native species. They are adapted to Virginia’s climate and support other living things like caterpillars and birds. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has asked Northern Virginia to plant 600,000 trees by 2025. To meet this challenge, trees must be planted on private property, not just public lands.
Dawn to dusk, enjoy year-round access to trails, restrooms and free parking.
FEATURES
72 acres of forested land, a picnic pavilion, demonstration gardens, educational signage, a fire ring, two streams, a pond, the entrance to 44-acre Lake Audubon and our education building, known as Nature House.
NATURE HOUSE HOURS
Mon. & Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday 1– 4 p.m.
HOLIDAY CLOSURES: Nov. 11 Nov. 25-26 Dec. 24-25 Jan. 1
Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas New Year’s Day
Tree Care from Top to Bottom
While trees may need to be pruned for safety or proper growth, never “top” a tree. Topping cuts through the main trunk and reduces major branches to stubs that cannot heal or sustain the health of the tree. Topped trees are weak, deformed, susceptible to disease, and have reduced lifespans. Also avoid “limbing up” trees higher than eight feet from the ground. Disreputable “woodchucks”, people who are out to make a quick buck with a chainsaw, may try to sell you on this type of irresponsible tree work.
When it comes to mulching, less is more. Sadly, "volcano mulching" is applied by many landscape companies and misinformed homeowners. This practice creates a deep, volcanoshaped mound of mulch around the base and trunk of a tree. It breeds bacteria, suffocates tree roots, and traps moisture against the bark, leading to decay. During drought, roots may reach into the mulch to acquire water instead of growing through the soil as they should. Proper tree mulching begins 3 to 6 inches away from the trunk. Allow the root flare, where the trunk meets the soil, to show. Mulch to the outer edge of the tree’s branches, known as the “drip line”. Only a thin layer is needed, about 1 to 2 inches. Think doughnut instead of Bundt cake! Avoid any product that contains dyes or synthetic materials. And remember, sometimes old mulch needs to be removed instead of just piling more on. A natural and low-cost alternative is to simply let the leaves stay where they fall under your trees.
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.
2
If You Could, Wood You?
Humans have managed woodlands for millennia. The Native American Monacans of the Virginia Piedmont worked with the land to support life for animals and people. They cultivated native sunflowers, fruiting shrubs and nut trees. Today’s residents have multiple resources at their fingertips, and organizations like Plant NoVa Natives, the Virginia Department of Forestry and the Nature Center are here to help.
Tree-sources
RA Design Guidelines- Tree Removal https://bit.ly/RADesignGuidelines Plant NoVa Trees www.plantnovatrees.org RASER https://bit.ly/RASER2020 Tree Benefit Calculator www.treebenefits.com/calculator
Thanks to Girl Scout Troop 6006 for planting trees at the Nature Center as part of their Bronze Award project! The scouts researched oak decline and donated trees to add diversity to our forest. They’re doing their part to keep the woods healthy and help curb climate change.
Please and Thank You By Katie Shaw This fall, we continued to rebound as our operation regained more aspects of normalcy. At the top of the list were the re-opening of Nature House to walk-in visitors in September and, to our delight, the return of many in-person school field trips in October. Many thanks to the teachers who walked their classes to the center to take advantage of our 72-acre outdoor classroom. We’ve also been impressed that nearly all of our dedicated Welcome Desk volunteers returned to service. Getting caught up with them has felt like a reunion. We know that the pandemic isn’t over, and everyone’s continued diligence with COVID safety measures is greatly appreciated. Although cases are dropping in our region, wearing masks inside public places is still recommended by the CDC, regardless of vaccination status, except when eating or drinking. By the time this newsletter reaches you, we expect many children 5-11 years old will be vaccinated, too. Staff and volunteers have already started on their boosters.
Bird Backpacks
Free, fun and educational
Learn more about our feathered friends while you hike our trails. Each backpack is filled with cool stuff like binoculars, sound cards, field guides, games and a take-home Bird Sleuth Guide. Backpacks must be signed out by an adult and used on-site.
Funded by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Friends of Reston.
Hats off to the 38 volunteers that made our 24th annual Halloween House and Trick-or-Treat Trail a smashing success, including the Girl Scouts from Troop 3866 who carved many of the festive jack-o-lanterns. As always, it was super fun seeing everyone’s costumes and raised spirits. This year, our resident Barred Owls added some genuine sound effects to the experience both evenings.
Thanks to our donors:
Julie and Charlie Bond, Eagle Scout Camryn Galbraith, Girl Scout Troop 6006, and the Reston Garden Club for the seasonal container gardens on the front porch and the always lovely floral displays at the Welcome Desk.
Thanks to our volunteers: David Alfert, Emre Artuc, Joanne & David Bauer, Matt Bender, Julie & Charlie Bond, Bill Brown, Anne Cannizzaro, Aurie Catt, Assritha & Neha Sai Chikkala, Sansita Chirukuri, Mike Corrigan, Marilyn Dicke, Jody Douglas, Robin Duska, Cameron Elliott, June Ferrara, Martha Furniss, Camryn & Spencer Galbraith, Martha Garcia, Rimon Ghebremeskel, Mia Huybrechts, Vern James, Mikail Kapadia, Eva Recinos Kane, Mikail Kapadia, Diya & Yash Karayi, Haley Kowalski, Tracy Long, Fran & John Lovaas, Ethan Mairs, Arnav & Manjula Majeti, Lily Mannoia, Genesis Martinez, Sharon McHugh, Ilene McNeal, Jon Michienzi, Colin Mills, Carol Nahorniak, Keshav Nair, Lindsay & Minh-Chau Nguyen, William O’Brien, Terri Ostrowski, Barbara Paolucci, Ellen Perrins, Theresia Riesenhuber-Yafi, Victoria Ruano, Jennifer Salerno, Kate Schaub, Emily Serafin, Jim Seret, Elaine Sommer, Anna Tran, Brenda van Doorn, LeRoy & Eve Wallin, Verna Webb, Will Yafi
Stop by to borrow one or reserve one in advance by contacting naturecenter@reston.org or 703-476-9689.
3
Register online with WebTrac www.restonwebtrac.org
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 COVID-19 restrictions, severe weather, severe weather warnings or low enrollment. Children must be accompanied by an adult. We encourage you to join the wait list of any full program. We may be able to repeat it if there is enough interest
DECEMBER
WINTER WREATH WORKSHOP
Start your holiday decorating by making a festive wreath for your home. All supplies and workspace for distancing provided. When registering, please indicate the number of people in your party and how many wreaths you would like to make. Register by December 1. 406011012 12/4 Sat 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Or 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm All Ages $25/wreath RA members, $30/wreath Non-members
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 December 10. 406111001 12/13 Mon 10:00 am – 11:00 am OR Tue 12/14 10:00 am – 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member KIDS’ CANDLE-MAKING WORKSHOP
Catch the holiday spirit! Enjoy music, activities and refreshments. See ad on page 8.
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. Keep your candles or give them as gifts. All supplies provided. Register by December 13.
406011303 Sun All Ages
406131012 Thu Ages 5-12
HOLIDAY FEST
12/5 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm $10/RA Member, $15/Non-member
CRITTER CABOODLE WORKSHOP
12/16 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm $12/RA member, $16/Non-member
PUPPET SHOW — WILD WINTER BREAK
Try your hand at making a set of adorable woodland critters out of natural materials. These charming, little animals make delightful decorations and gifts. All materials and space for distancing provided. Register by Dec. 7.
Enjoy a creative puppet show about about how the animals at the Nature Center are enjoying their winter break. Sing songs, feel animal feathers and fur and enjoy one of your last days of winter break. Register by December 27.
406011012 Fri All Ages
406101011 Thu Or Ages 3-8
12/10 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10/RA Member, $12/Non-member
TREE-RIFIC!
Why do some trees keep their leaves through winter and others don’t? Search for evergreen and deciduous trees on the trails. Learn why trees are important. Compare the bark of different trees and make bark rubbings. Make a wintry tree craft. Register by December 8. 406121008 Sat Ages 3-5
4
12/11 10:30 am – 11:30 am $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member
12/30 10:00 am – 10:45 am 11:15 am – 12:00 pm $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member
JANUARY 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 information about our feathered friends. Results will be shared electronically after the count. Register by January 5.
106201205 Sat Adults
1/8 7:00 am – 12:00 pm Free
WINTER WARMTH
How do animals stay warm during the cold winter months? Discover how fur, feathers and fat keep animals protected from the cold air. Bundle up in a coat and go out for a winter walk to see which animals are also about. Register by January 7.
106111001 1/10 Mon 10:00 am – 11:00 am OR Tue 1/11 10:00 am – 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member 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. Register by January 11. 106011008 1/14 Fri 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Adults and Ages 5+ $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member RAPTORS UP CLOSE
Learn about our native birds of prey- where they live, what they eat, where they nest and how they raise their young. Meet live raptors up close, including an owl and a hawk. How do they adapt to our cold, wet winters and prepare for spring? Co-presented by Secret Garden Birds and Bees. Register by January 20. 106011008 Sun All Ages
1/23 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm $9/RA members, $11/Non-members
STEAM WORKSHOP- SNOWY SCIENCE
Learn the science behind snow and create a snowstorm in a jar. Make an expanding snowman, then play a melting snowman game with homemade Oobleck. Design your own snowflake and go on a snowflake treasure hunt in the woods. Register by January 21. 106131012 Mon Ages 6-12
1/24 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $9/RA members, $11/Non-members
ENV. FILM-FANTASTIC FUNGI
See the consciousness-shifting film about the mycelium network. Take a cinematic journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet. Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists, become aware of the beauty, complexity and solutions that fungi offers in response to pressing environmental and health challenges. Register by January 27. by January 27. 106201051 Fri Adults
1/28 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Free, $5 suggested donation
ARCTIC ANIMALS
How do animals survive in such a cold climate? Compare arctic animals to those found in Reston. Touch real animal fur. Do a blubber and ice experiment. Make an animal shelter out of clay and search for critters hidden on the trails. Register by January 26. 106121008 Sat Ages 3-5
1/29 10:30 am – 11:30 am $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member
FEBRUARY
VIRTUAL NATURE CLASS: BIRD NEST BOXES
106011060 Wed All Ages
2/2 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm $5/RA Member, $7/Non-member
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
Some animals are awake while we are sleeping cozily in our beds. Discover the exciting world of these nighttime wanderers. Make an owl craft, use your ears like a bat and tiptoe down the trails like a fox. Register by Feb. 4. 106111001 2/7 Mon 10:00 am – 11:00 am OR Tue 2/8 10:00 am – 11:00 am Ages 18-35 months $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member TRACK LAB
Animals are all around us, but we don’t always see them. Discover the clues that animals leave behind. Learn how to tell the footprint of a fox from that of a raccoon. Make a track bandanna, and go on a hike to look for signs of wildlife. Register by Feb. 9. 106011008 Sat All Ages
2/12 10:30 am – 11:30 am $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member
MICROTREK
Dive into the details seen with microscopic vision! Focus on the amazing details of feathers, insects and lichens. Use a magnifying glass to explore the bark and leaves of a tree. Discover a mini-zoo of tiny creatures that live in streams and ponds. Record your observations in a nature journal. Register by Feb. 14. 106131008 Thu Ages 6-12
ENV. FILM- KISS THE GROUND
Farmers, scientists, activists and artists band together in a global movement of “Regenerative Agriculture”. See how this approach to farming could replenish water supplies, feed the world and be the climate solution right under our feet. Register by February 24. 106201051 Fri Adults Free,
2/25 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm $5 suggested donation
SNOW AND ICE
Enjoy the last days of winter by making snowy creations. Make your own snow dough and design a snowman. Create a snow globe to take home. Search the trails for snow and ice. Register by Feb. 23. 106121008 Sat 2/26 OR Mon Ages 3-5
10:30 am – 11:30 am 2/28 10:00 am – 11:00 am $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member
BIRD WALK: WALKER NATURE CENTER & LAKE AUDUBON
Meet at the Nature Center and then walk to the lake to look for waterfowl and other birds. 106201002 Sun Adults
2/27 8:00 am – 11:00 am Free
2/17 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member
Have you seen bird boxes and wondered what goes on inside of them? Discover the types of birds that nest in boxes such as bluebirds and chickadees, and learn about their life cycles. Find out how to help cavitynesting birds and how to install and maintain a box in your yard. Held via Zoom. Register by Jan. 31.
5
Marshmallow Snowflakes Materials Toothpicks
Regular & mini marshmallows
Instructions: 1) Choose a large marshmallow to be the center of the snowflake. 2) Place 6 toothpicks around the center marshmallow. 3) Add mini marshmallows to the toothpicks to create your own design.
Hot chocolate (optional) 4) Make your snowflake bigger by adding toothpicks and marshmallows. 5) Enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate!
Winter is for the Birds By Earl the Squirrel (with help from Kelly Michienzi)
I love the forest when it snows. It becomes so quiet and peaceful. Sure, it may be cold, but I’ve got my fur coat and bushy tail to keep me warm. Have you ever noticed how beautiful snowflakes are when they land on your jacket? They are like works of art. Try looking at some under a magnifying glass, and you will see what I mean. Do you know how a snowflake is made? A snowflake begins its journey when a very cold water droplet freezes onto a tiny piece of dust or pollen high in the sky. When this happens, an ice crystal forms. As it falls to the ground, new crystals attach as water vapor freezes onto the original crystal. Temperature affects the shape of each snowflake. Flat platelike crystals form at colder temperatures and long, needle-like crystals form when it’s slightly warmer. Individual snow crystals usually have six sides, but each snowflake is unique-- kind of like squirrels or kids. Believe it or not, snowflakes are not white. They are colorless, but snow appears white when light reflects off the many sides of each flake. Sometimes dust, pollution or algae changes the color of snow to pink, brown or orange! Freezing rain and sleet are other forms of winter precipitation. Freezing rain happens when snowflakes fall into a layer of warmer air and melt. Then these water droplets fall through a layer of freezing air just above the ground. The droplets are extra cold, so they freeze as soon as they hit the ground, trees, and other objects. Sleet occurs when snowflakes only partially melt as they move through a warmer layer of air. When they refreeze, they hit the ground as bouncing, frozen raindrops. If there is a long period of sleet, balls of ice can accumulate on the ground like snow. Thinking about ice and snow reminds me--I better finish my nest so I can stay warm this winter.
6
Winter Scavenger Hunt How many items can you find? Evergreen tree
Cardinal
Red berries
Acorn
Tree with bare branches
Icy pond, stream or lake
Squirrel nest
Squirrel
Pinecone
Leaf covered in ice or snow
Animal tracks in mud or snow
Snowflake
From the Vault: The Value of Open Space By Abby Stocking
People often assign value to land based on what can be built on it, but there are so many other types of value to be derived from green spaces--ecological, health, recreational, and aesthetic. If we only define the land’s value based on economics, we risk missing out on the dividends to be received by these other measures. Vernon J. Walker was the first Nature Center Director. He was a driving force of environmental preservation in Reston from 1964-1982. He diligently worked to protect natural open spaces where humans, wildlife and plants could co-exist. Why were these open spaces so important to Walker, and why should they continue to be important to us? We’re diving into the archives so you can hear from him in his own words. This excerpt is taken from a memo he wrote in 1970. With its 1,300 acres of open space, Reston continues to be a unique place to live, work and play. In 2018, Reston joined the prestigious Biophilic Cities network. One can imagine that if Walker were with us today, he would find many synchronicities with this modern trend of designing and protecting urban environments that connect people with green spaces. If we want to continue to enjoy the “vastly different character” of this community, we must continue to assign value to our open spaces and be good stewards of nature for future generations.
Take the Biophilic Pledge at https://bit.ly/RestonBiophilicPledge.
XIMITY TO THE VALUE OF OPEN SPACE IN CLOSE PRO DWELLING UNITS By Vernon J. Walker, Director
aps difficult to justify in I wish to make two points which are perh easy to justify, in my very terms of short-term economic gains, but life for those people of ity opinion, in terms of the effect on the qual long-range economic the of s who are and will be involved and in term wooded area too steep a is e valu gains for the total community. Of what e together with a spac open or too low to build on? By preserving such 1 g flora, we ortin supp its non-consumptive wildlife population and le living peop e thos of lives immediately add a new dimension to the is an area This by. ing pass le nearby, or even to the lives of those peop old. and g youn of t men enjoy permanently set aside for the use and ort a wide variety Even a 20-foot wooded buffer strip can supp al buffer and an visu a as of non-consumptive wildlife and serve ts’ ability to plan n absorber of noise, not to mention the gree absorb pollutants! areas, then, creates a Green space in close proximity to living r. It changes the lifestyle. It community of a vastly different characte , to respect the land. This tends to make people feel close to the land h the initial investment wort kind of total environment is, I submit, g environment increases. livin and will grow in value as emphasis on the Written by Vern Walker ded without being killed, such 1. Wildlife that is watched, studied or recor photographing for recreation, or hing sketc ng, atchi as while hiking, birdw education or research.
7
Rent Space at the Walker Nature Center
11450 Glade Drive, Reston Nature House Fire Ring A great place for comradery and Multipurpose Room
Capacity 60 people standing, 44 people seated. Equipped with tables and chairs. Fully accessible with trails and pond for guests to enjoy.
Pavilion
s’mores! 4 picnic tables, bench seating and small shelter.
Contact
naturecenter@reston.org or 703-476-9689 ext. 3.
576 sq. ft. in a woodland setting. Equipped with 4 picnic tables, bench seating, bathroom access, electricity and water fountain.
Holiday Fest Sunday, December 5 Walker Nature Center 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
#406011303 $10/RA Member, $15/Non-member Catch the holiday spirit and enjoy: • • • •
Live holiday music and hot cocoa A Gingerbread Creations Contest Ornament making with natural materials A Winter Storybook Trail and Woodland Tomte Trail • Take home goody bags • Nature Center gift items for sale • Photos with our mascots Earl the Squirrel and Myrtle the Turtle
Winter | 18/19 21-22 | Volume Twenty-three Winter Volume Twenty
