Walker Nature Center
A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar of Events 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • WebTrac 8
BRANCHING OUT
Nature Notes
Footprints in the Snow
DECEMBER
Crisp winter walks were a family tradition growing up, especially on snowy evenings. We would bundle up with hats, scarves and gloves to shield us from the cold, and Papa would bring down the old red lantern from above the fireplace. Down the road, we would go with the quiet hush of the snow surrounding us and merely the crunch of our boots to break the silence. Our quiet dirt road provided the perfect surface for all manner of tracks to form for discovery and study. On our walks, we would listen for the sounds of animals moving in the night. On occasion, we would see a rabbit or fox dash across the road or a deer out for a late evening browse.
By Sharon Gurtz
• • • •
Look for Bald Eagles over Lake Audubon and Lake Thoreau. White-throated Sparrows can be seen in the winter woods. Look for Brown Creepers spiraling up tree trunks. Spotted Wintergreen and Partridgeberry are evergreen on the forest floor.
JANUARY • • • •
White-tailed Deer shed antlers. Raccoons breed. Robin flocks dine on holly berries. Bald Eagles begin to nest.
FEBRUARY • • • •
First squirrel babies of the year are born. Red Fox are mating. Barred Owls are nesting. Spring Peepers begin to call.
By Idalina Walker
I would run ahead, looking for the autographs of animals who had just passed by. I loved examining the tracks and committing them to memory for future observations. I would note their size and distance apart as well as the gait of the animal.
Then I would proceed to have a great time, making tracks of my own, hopping like a bunny or leaping like a deer. Today I still enjoy a nice walk in the snow. If you would like to start a great snow day tradition, this winter should be a great time to do so. With a reported snowfall of 29.9” inches last year and the Farmer’s Almanac calling for above average snowfall in 2017, I hope you will be able to make use of the following information about common local tracks. Finding animal tracks in Reston is usually as simple as stepping out your door and onto some of the 55 miles of pathways and trails. First, use clues from the surrounding area. Are there any portions of meals, broken branches or scat nearby? Pay attention to broad details such as the space between tracks and the pattern of foot placement. Then, get up close and look at the subtle details. Continued on page 2
Winter 16-17 Volume Nineteen
Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191
Footprints in the Snow Continued from page 1
Enjoy year-round access to trails, free parking and restroom facilities dawn to dusk.
How many toes appear, and what is their shape? Do you see claw marks or wing beats? Keep in mind that deep snow can distort the details. Generally the best time to look for tracks is in shallow, second day snow. Overnight cold temperatures allows the snow to freeze slightly, highlighting some of the track’s details. If you go track trekking throughout the winter, you will soon discover the popular routes of your wild neighbors. Let’s begin with five common tracks.
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
Rabbits vs. Squirrels
Look for the repeating bound patterns. For rabbits, each group of four tracks will form a tall thin rectangle while a squirrel’s bound pattern tends to be blockier. This difference is because rabbits tend to take longer leaps in snow and place their feet close together. Rabbits have fur covered feet with small, round toes. On the other hand (or paw if you will), squirrels have skinny, finger-like toes with long claws. If you follow a squirrel’s tracks long enough, they will eventually lead to a tree or other climbable structure.
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. 23-26 Dec. 31-Jan. 1 Jan. 16 Feb. 20
Christmas New Years MLK Day Presidents’ Day
FOR MORE INFORMATION
703-476-9689 • www.reston.org naturecenter@reston.org www.facebook.com/walkernaturecenter
Gray Squirrel Tracks Front Feet
Did you know squirrels have 5-toes on their hind feet and 4-toes on their front feet?
Hind Feet
Rabbit Tracks
Tracks of the small front paws lay behind tracks of the long back paws because of the way they place their feet while jumping.
@restonnature 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.
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Red Fox vs. Domestic Dog
In a dog loving community like Reston, it can be quite challenging to tell domestic dog tracks from their canine cousin’s tracks. Size is rarely reliable unless the track has been left by a Chihuahua or a Great Pyrenees. However, there are some fairly distinct signs that you’re looking at fox tracks instead of dog tracks. Fox tracks have a dainty oval shape, and the prints almost always follow a straight line for a good distance. Unlike the family pet who has time to sniff every stump, meander from side to side, and often drag their feet, foxes conserve energy by following a more determined path and staying alert to their surroundings. Sometimes you can even find tracks showing a pounce where a fox has caught its last meal. Hint: If the track doesn’t show any claw marks and has a wide heel pad, chances are it’s not a canine at all... it’s a cat.
Please and Thank You By Katie Shaw Red Fox
Domestic Dog
Domestic Cat
Foxes have bar-shaped heel pads–Dog’s are triangular, and cat’s are large and wide.
Deer
Deer tracks are usually easy to identify with their heart shaped hooves. However, their hind feet can tend to step on top of their front tracks leaving confusing marks. In deep snow, even deer tracks can be tough to identify. If that’s the case, maybe a pile of round, pellet like droppings nearby will confirm your identification. Here’s hoping we all get a chance to exercise and expand our tracking skills this winter. Enjoy piecing together the stories left behind as footprints in the snow, and if it doesn’t snow, chances are Mother Nature will leave us some muddy days to go out exploring.
Pileated Woodpecker By Dana Ann Scheurer
Limited Edition Prints (16” x 20”, no text, unframed) $110 Holiday Sale through 12/30/2016 (Regular price $125) Small, Framed Print (4” x 5”, no text) $30 Notecards, Single $3, 6-pack $15 Did you know the Pileated Woodpecker is Reston’s Official Bird? Give the gift of this beautiful bird or hang one proudly in your home this holiday season. On sale exclusively at Nature House where the original watercolor is part of the permanent collection. Scheurer has created many fine pieces of art for Reston. Her work includes a mural at Reston Town Center and the Nature House 5K logo. She is one of the longest attending artists in the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Visit www.danascheurer.com.
What an amazing year of volunteerism and support! All of the nature center staff and patrons appreciate the variety of ways that our volunteers and donors contribute to the nature center. We are especially grateful for the 92 volunteers who put the magic into our annual Halloween House & Trick-or-Treat Trail event. We hope many new folks will catch the spirit in 2017. If you would like to volunteer, contact habrock@reston.org or fill out the volunteer application at www.reston.org. If you would like to donate, tax deductible contributions are gratefully received by our charitable 501c3 organization, Friends of Reston, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 or donate online at www.friendsofreston.org. Include a note that your donation is for the nature center. You will receive a letter for tax purposes. Thank you.
Donors:
Better Said Than Done, Charlie & Julie Bond, Friends of Reston; Michael Donahue in memory of Chris Walker, Robin Duska, Reston Environmental Action, Reston Garden Club
Volunteers:
Sama Al Ani; Ashley Alvarado; Isheitaa Bansal; Joanne & David Bauer; Sue Beffel; Arna & Himanshu Bhardwaj; Julie & Charlie Bond; Kathleen Boyce; Yvette and Rhea Braganza; Bill Burton; Alex, Nina & Samantha Busch; Anne Cannizzaro; Emma Cantwell; Anton Coghlan; Beth & Caitlin Cummings; Namkhang Dao; Freya De Cola; Carolina Delgadillo; Adelle Deriquito; Marilyn Dicke; Mohamed Elnahal; Yasmin Elsoly; Lexi Everitt; June Ferrara; Brenda Frank; Diane & Tony Georges; Melissa & Michael Gildea; Gabe Gladstone; Janine Greenwood; Carol & Jay Hadlock; Brianna & Loi Hang; Artemis Haptonstahl; Todd Harding; Bonnie Haukness; Edward & Everett Hinkley; Richard Holcomb; Katy Holl; Andres Jaimes; Julie Kashmanian; Leanna Kirkland; Padma Kolla; Julia Persing Kolb; Helaine Krob; Alka Latish; Pat Lenz; Robert Levin; Paulette LincolnBaker; Paige Linkins; John & Fran Lovaas; Emily Marik; Sharon McHugh; Hannah McLauchlin; Ilene & Jim McNeal; Mohamed Mohomad; Bob Mowbray; Grace Mun; Amelia & Cristina Naranjo; Becky & Tanja Nelson; Christina & Silvia Nguyen; Caleb Noll; Karim Obaidi; Terri Ostrowski; Barbara Paolucci; Brian Papenheim; Ellen Perrins; Mami & Michael Powers; Hajra Qazi; Rysa Rahman; Greg Reinfeld; Mark Richman; Camille Rodriguez; Carolyn Ryan; Lesley Sanchez; Beatriz Sandoval; Ambika Sankaran; Betty Schwab; Jim Seret; Emma Shahin; Michelle Shea; Jacklyn Shen; Jill, Chris & Mika Showiak; Barbara Small; Susan & Ron Smith; Ashley Son; Rachel Strohecker; Katie Strong; Israel & Roman Suttles; Brenda Van Doorn; Verna Webb; Caroline Weis; Caroline Wenks; Tara Wintermeyer; Anderson Xue; Will & Theresia Yafi; Sean Zhou HOLIDAY WISH LIST: Check out our Amazon.com wish list. Under “Wish List”; select “Find a Wish List or Registry.” Type “Walker Nature Center” into the name field. Purchase an item on the spot and have it shipped directly to us as a gift, so we will know who to thank–unless you’d like us to think it came from Santa.
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December
WINTER WREATHS Saturday, Dec. 3 • 10:30 – Noon Or 1–2:30 p.m. $20/wreath RA members $25/wreath Non-members Adults Get started on your holiday decorating by making festive wreaths for your home. Listen to seasonal music and enjoy mulled cider and cookies. All supplies provided. When making reservations, please include the number of people in your party and how many wreaths you would like to make. Reservations required by Nov. 25. HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Sunday, Dec. 4 • 1–3 p.m. Free, All Ages See back page for details. EVERGREEN EXPLORATION Monday, Dec. 5 • 10–11 a.m. Or Tuesday, Dec. 6 • 10–11 a.m. $7/child RA members $9/child Non-members Ages 18 months to 35 months Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year long. Go on a walk looking for evergreens and learn why these trees are important to animals. Smell the scent of pine and make an evergreen snow globe. Reservations required by Nov. 30. WONDERFUL WORLD OF WOODPECKERS Wednesday, Dec. 14 • 10–11 a.m. Or 1:30–2:30 p.m. $6/child RA members $8/child Non-members Ages 3 to 5 These busy birds use their beaks to build their homes and find food. Meet puppet friends, listen to calls and learn about Reston’s official bird and his friends. See if you can spot a woodpecker hole on a short walk and make a woodpecker craft to take home. Meet the nature center mascot, Walker the Woodpecker, as he makes a special guest appearance. Reservations required by Dec. 9.
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KIDS’ CANDLE MAKING Friday, Dec. 16 • 6:30–7:30 p.m. $12/child RA members $16/child Non-members Ages 5 to 12 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 for yourself or give them away as gifts. There will be music and refreshments while we work. All supplies provided. Reservations required by Dec. 9. CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP Saturday, Dec. 17 • 10:30 a.m.–Noon $15 RA members $20 Non-members Adults and children 12+ years Bee creative and explore the many uses of beeswax. Craft your own soothing candles with beeswax, soy flakes and high-quality fragrance oils. Set includes: 3 scented tin candles and 2 beeswax rolled candles (a $40 value). Holiday themed refreshments and music while you work. All supplies included. Reservations required by Dec. 10.
January
WINTER BIRD COUNT Saturday, Jan. 7 • 7 a.m.–Noon Free Adults 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. Volunteers are invited to enjoy a free lunch, tally results and swap stories back at Nature House following the count from Noon - 12:30 p.m. Reservations required by Jan. 4.
SNOW TIME Monday, Jan. 9 • 10–11 a.m. Or Tuesday, Jan. 10 • 10–11 a.m. $7/child RA members $9/child Non-members Ages 18 months to 35 months Take an up-close look at snow. Make our own snowflakes then build edible snowmen and snowflake treats using marshmallows. Reservations required by Jan. 4. WINTER SKY Friday, Jan. 13 • 7–8:30 p.m. $6/person RA members $8/person Non-members All ages Winter is a great time for viewing the moon, planets, stars and galaxies. Learn about the stars and folklore associated with these celestial objects. Stay warm with a hot beverage on this “cool” night. Cloud date: Jan. 14. Reservations required by Jan. 9. WINTER NATURE SLEUTHS Saturday, Jan. 14 • 10:30–11:30 a.m. $6/child RA members $8/child Non-members Ages 3 to 5 Winter is the perfect time to investigate the animals that are active year-round. Tracks let us know when animals are nearby, even if we don’t see them. Take a short hike to see what activity we can observe. Test your tracking skills, listen to a story and make a tracking craft to take home. Reservations required by Jan. 11. WINGSPAN WINNERS Friday, Jan. 20 • 10:30–11:30 a.m. $5/child RA members $7/child Non-members Ages 5 to 12 Compare your wingspan to some of Reston’s largest birds. How do you measure up? Turkey, hawks, owls, heron, eagles and osprey have all been seen in Reston. Examine an owl skull, stand next to a great blue heron and see a turkey wing as you explore Reston’s big birds. Reservations required by Jan. 16.
of Events REPTILES UP CLOSE Sunday, Jan. 22 • 2–3 p.m. $5/person RA members $7/Person Non-members All ages Meet the nature center’s resident reptiles, including a box turtle and a corn snake. Get up close to some interesting reptilian artifacts and learn about Reston’s reptiles. Reservations required by Jan. 25. ENVIRONMENTAL FILM: JOHN JAMES AUDUBON & THE BIRDS OF AMERICA Friday, Jan. 27 • 7–9 p.m. $5 suggested donation Adults A visionary in frontier America, Audubon is the godfather of today’s conservation movement. This is the story of a rare man and his obsession with the wild creatures he loved. His work influenced generations of nature lovers, including Thoreau and Teddy Roosevelt. Following the film, there will be a sneak peek at the Audubon Photography Awards Show exhibit. Co-sponsored by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Friends of Reston. Reservations required by Jan. 24. AUDUBON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS SHOW OPEN HOUSE Sunday, Jan. 29 • 1–3 p.m. Free All Ages Bringing the joy of birds to us, this traveling exhibit features 12 large-scale photographic prints. Nine are the awardwinning and runner-up photos. Three have been selected from the gallery of top 100 photos. The photos cover a range of species and geographic locations. There will be light refreshments, short bird walks and hands-on bird activities. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 14. Co-sponsored by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia.
February
SHADOW PLAY Monday, Feb. 6 • 10–11 a.m. Or Tuesday, Feb. 7 • 10 –11 a.m. $7/child RA members $9/child Non-members Ages 18 months to 35 months Have you seen your shadow lately? Play with light and shadow. See how shadow hand puppets can form your favorite animals. Can a groundhog really predict the coming of spring by looking for his shadow? Make a shadow craft and enjoy a snack that might be served for Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog of all. HOMEGROWN VALENTINES Tuesday, Feb. 14 • 10–11 a.m. or 1:30–2:30 p.m. $7/child RA members $9/child Non-members Ages 3 to 5 Make one of a kind Valentine’s Day cards using natural objects. Simple items from the garden or the kitchen can create surprising shapes and patterns. Play an animal matching game, enjoy a special red treat, and sing a festive song to celebrate the holiday. WINTER POETRY Friday, Feb. 17 • 7–8 p.m. $6/person RA members $8/person Non-members Adults and children 10 + years Enjoy an evening of poetry sharing and writing around the Nature House hearth. Feel the warmth of the fire, sip a hot beverage and let your inner writer embrace the season. Participants are encouraged to bring a poem to share, listen to some nature center favorites and write a simple poem to take home. Inspiration provided.
FEBRUARY BIRD WALK: RESTON’S LAKES & WATERFOWL TOUR Sunday, February 19 8–11 a.m. Lake Newport - Park near the tennis courts, 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue (located off Brown’s Chapel Rd.)
Meet at Lake Newport and then caravan to the other Reston lakes.
GOURMET TREATS FOR BIRDS Tuesday, Feb. 25 • 11 a.m.–Noon $7/child RA members $9/child Non-members Ages 5–12 Cook up some creative treats for the feathered friends in your neighborhood. The Nature House confectioner shop is open. Put on your hairnet and gloves and prepare to dive into the gooey, gritty world of bird food. Learn to how to recognize your hungry diners by their colors and calls. ENVIRONMENTAL FILM: TRUE COST Friday, Feb. 24 • 7–9 p.m. FREE. $5 suggested donation Adults This groundbreaking investigation of fast fashion reveals that while the price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, and featuring interviews with the world’s leading influencers. Who really pays the price for our clothing?
All programs will be held at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, unless otherwise noted.
Call 703-476-9689 and press 5 or email 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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How would you do as a beaver? Build your own mini-dam. 1. Find a rectangular plastic tub or kitchen baking pan. 2. Gather sticks from around your home. Look for other items you can use. 3. Build a dam across the width of the container. 4. Place your container in a bathtub or shower. 5. Prop up one side with some folded towels so that it is tilted. 6. Pour water from a cup or pitcher onto the raised side. Watch the flow. Did your dam hold back the water? If not, what could you add to make it work better?
Busy Builders By Earl the Squirrel (with help from Abby Stocking) Word in the trees is that there is a new animal in town. They’ve been around before but they’re back and making quite a splash. These animals are known for how they stay busy and for how they shape their habitat. The animals I’m talking about are beavers. They are living in The Glade Stream Valley and creating some pretty cool habitat. Beavers chew down trees to build dams and lodges. Dams block the water from flowing downstream, causing ponds to form. Did you know humans built even bigger dams in the stream valleys to make all four of Reston’s lakes? Beavers like waterfront property, too. They build their homes, called lodges, in deep water areas. Beaver lodges are large mounds of sticks and mud with different rooms inside. The “doors” to their homes are under water. Beavers reach them by swimming up into them. In cold weather, it’s very helpful for them to have their doors underwater. If ice forms on top, they can still swim in and out to find food. Underwater doors also help to keep them safe from predators.
Beavers: True or False 1. Beavers are North America’s largest rodents. 2. Beavers have white teeth. 3. Beavers can weigh up to 60 pounds. 4. Beavers have furry tails. 5. Beavers are most active at dusk and dawn. Answers at bottom of page
To stay warm in the winter, beavers have layers of fur. The part of their fur closest to their skin is extra thick. They also have a layer of longer hairs, called guard hairs, which help prevent water from soaking in. Beavers also have a special oil that they spread on their fur to repel water. Beavers are incredible animals whose love of trees is up there with my own. They eat soft wood and use the hard parts for building. This winter, take a walk along The Glade Stream Valley and see if you spot any signs of my beaver friends. Look for short, pointy tree stumps near the water’s edge.
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Kids’ Corner
Answers: 1. True 2. False, they are orange. 3. True 4. False, beavers have scaly tales. 5. True
Announcing Online Registration for Nature Activities
Native Spotlight: CHRISTMAS FERN
Starting Jan. 9, 2017, you are encouraged to register for Walker Nature Center activities on WebTrac, Reston Association’s new online registration system. Activities will include all of our programs, events and nature camps. No need to email or call. No need to bring cash or checks to programs. Sign up and pay quickly and conveniently with a credit card. Refunds available with two weeks’ notice or if we cancel for any reason. Be ready by creating your household WebTrac account now. 1. Go to www.reston.org and click on the WebTrac link at the top of the screen. 2. Under Member Login, click “Need an Account.” 3. Create a username and password. Feel free to use the same login credentials as your www.reston.org account. 4. Enter your contact information in the “Household Primary Person Information” section. 5. Under “Household Questions,” select your Owner/ Renter status. 6. Click “Add New Members” if you have additional household members to add to your account. Enter his/her information and repeat as needed.
(Polystichum acrostichoides) By Sharon Gurtz A Fern Fit for the Holidays There are several theories on how this plant got Photo by: Rob Routledge Country: United States its name but once you look closely at the leaflets and Organization: Sault College http://www.forestryimages.org note the shape of a boot, stocking or winter sleigh, you might agree this plant is well named. It is one of the ferns that stays green through the winter and has been used as Christmas decorations dating back to Lewis and Clark’s journals of the early 1800s. Although tempting, please do not pick native plants from Reston’s nature center or natural areas. Ferns are very slow to spread and not as plentiful as they once were. Christmas Fern is a member of the wood fern family (Dryopteridaceae) and is a common evergreen fern native to the Eastern United States. It is a tough, leathery fern growing in a variety of conditions and soil types often found on shady hillsides and wooded stream banks. It is a clump former growing to 2 feet tall. Although not spreading to form a carpet on the forest floor, it does form a dense covering on the surface and small groups can help hold the soil in erosion-prone areas. In winter, the green fronds will lay on the surface offering a protective ground cover. If you are someone who likes to sample nature’s bounty you may know that some fern fiddleheads can be eaten and enjoyed when they first appear in the spring. Because of the chemical composition of the Christmas Fern fiddlehead, it is not one you will want on your dinner plate. This complex chemical composition of is also what puts Christmas Fern near the top on the deer resistant plant list.
7. Click “Save.” Within two business days, you will receive an email notifying you that your WebTrac account has been activated. If you do not have access to a computer or prefer not to register online, contact the nature center for assistance at naturecenter@reston.org or 703-476-9689 (ext. 5). Questions and comments are welcome as we launch and learn about our new system.
Photo by: David Stephens Country: United States Organization: Bugwood - UGA http://www.forestryimages.org
Perfect for Your Backyard Whether you are looking for an evergreen edge or filling in gaps under your trees, this plant can add a splash of color to your winter landscape. In addition, it provides shelter and nesting materials for wrens, thrushes, chickadees and woodland warblers. One newly discovered moth species, Herpetogramma sphingealis, feeds on this plant and uses its silk to form a “fern ball” structure at the end of the frond.
Look for this fern when out on your crisp winter walks and see if you can find the “Christmas stocking” hiding on the forest floor.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID RESTON, VA PERMIT NO. 21
www.reston.org Walker Nature Center 11450 Glade Drive Reston, Virginia 20191
Holiday Open House Sunday, Dec. 4, 1-3 p.m.
Bring your family, bring a friend for…
Free refreshments
Live music provided by MSE Productions
Ornament making with natural materials
On sale items in the Nature Center’s gift area
Handmade, reusable shopping bags from the Virginia Green Baggers
Photo ops with mascots, Walker the Woodpecker and Myrtle the Turtle
Book signing with Kristina Alcorn, author of In His Own Words: Stories From the Extraordinary Life of Robert E. Simon Jr.
Winter 16-17 Volume Nineteen