Sunday, March 10 turned out to be a beautiful, warm, spring-like day for 14 Headwaters Master Naturalists and five guests who enjoyed a very informative outing to Maple Flats Ponds near Sherando with James Madison University Instructor in Biology Billy Flint. Billy’s hope was that we would see at least 6 to 8 species of…
Last spring on the annual wildflower walk, I encountered a beautiful vernal pool at Reddish Knob, complete with gorgeous masses of eggs belonging to ….someone. No idea what species had left those eggs. This April, Headwaters is kicking off a new project for vernal pool monitoring with a day-long seminar which will empower participants to…
Our growing Chapter was successful in gathering a healthy cross section of our membership on Saturday, January 26 for socializing, eating, meeting, voting, learning, and more. Many thanks to the Blue Ridge Community College for providing perfect, spacious and well-equipped meeting rooms for us on their campus in Weyers Cave. We also owe a debt…
The Headwaters Chapter’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 26 featured HMN Kate Guenther, Cohort I, presenting about her work to connect wildlife in rehabilitation with their natural-state “wild” foods through her website Wildfoods4Wildlife.com. Note from Kate: Thank you all for allowing me to share my passion for animals and plants with you at the annual…
HMN Cohort VI has officially graduated! The ceremony, graciously hosted by class members Pam and Lincoln Gray at their home, took place on Thursday evening, November 29. Present were the members of Cohort VI, the Training Committee, our Bridgewater College liaison Dr. Kim Bolyard, and the Board of Directors, along with family members and guests. The festivities began…
Robert Jennings of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation recently coordinated a six session training for local volunteers taught by various experts in water quality— a thorough introduction to understanding impacts and water management strategies for our local streams and rivers which feed the Chesapeake Bay. These VoiCeS (Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards) classes have been held throughout…
On Saturday, November 10th members of the HMN chapter participated in the Saw-whet Owl banding at Highland Retreat in western Rockingham county. Saw-whet Owls are migrating through our area this time of the year from their northern nesting grounds. Dr. Clair Mellinger, assisted by Charles Ziegenfus and HMN trainee Ben Spory, collected the birds and…
On Saturday, October 20, members of the 2018 HMN Basic Training class explored three sites along the Lost Shoe Loop of the VDGIF Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail. Class member Lisa Klein describes the morning at Lake Shenandoah below. Lunch and a walk followed at Grand Caverns. The trip concluded with a look at Madison…
Recently, Headwaters Master Naturalists joined other volunteers to help the City of Harrisonburg plant over 50 trees. On Wednesday, October 24, Kathy McKenzie, Cohort V, planted trees around Thomas Harrison Middle School, and on Saturday, October 27, trees were planted along a small tributary at Heritage Forest and Gardens. A variety native species were planted,…
The life of our state wildlife veterinarian is varied and full … and full of responsibility. On October 22, at the Augusta County Government Building in Verona, members of our HMN Chapter were treated to a presentation by Dr. Megan Kirchgessner, who has been the Virginia state wildlife veterinarian with the Department of Game and…
Massanetta Springs: Here we come! September 20 – 22, 2019 Have a favorite naturalist-related presenter, topic, place, or activity you’d like to share with other Master Naturalists from around the state? Now is the time to get involved with planning for the 2019 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training! As announced in the August…
October 8 was a cool, foggy and breezy night on Reddish Knob when 10 Headwaters Master Naturalists and friends joined Billy Flint of James Madison University to look for and learn about terrestrial salamanders. The thick fog made driving up the narrow road tricky, but conditions were perfect for salamanders. The Cow Knob Salamander is…
