Walker Nature Center
BRANCHING OUT
A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Bird Walks 7 • Spring Events 8
Nature Notes MARCH An Interview with Claudia Thompson-Deahl By Pam Findley • • • • •
Red Fox, Eastern Cottontail and Eastern Gray Squirrel babies are born. Hepatica, Spring Beauty and Violets bloom. March 20 – Spring Equinox - First day of spring. Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs begin to call. Spicebush and maple trees bloom.
APRIL • • • • •
American Toads lay eggs in ponds and streams. Bloodroot, Trillium and Virginia Bluebells bloom. April 21-22 - Lyrid meteor shower peaks. Spring migration begins for hawks and warblers. Redbud, Flowering Dogwood and Serviceberry trees bloom.
MAY • • • • •
May 8 - International Migratory Bird Day. Wild Columbine, Wood Poppy and Mayapple bloom. May 26 – Full Flower Moon is closest “supermoon” of the year. Great Eastern Brood (Brood X) 17-year Cicadas emerge. Oak and pine pollens are in the air.
By Katie Shaw
At the end of December, one of Reston Association’s (RA) longest running employees and local legend, Claudia Thompson-Deahl retired from her position as Senior Environmental Resources Advisor. Claudia was a true champion for the conservation of Reston’s natural resources. She educated countless residents on creating habitat, protecting trees and sharing our community with wildlife.
When you started at RA in 1982, did you ever think that you would still be working there 38 years later?
Absolutely not! I had no idea, but the time just flew by. I could see I was making a difference. I would drive by a once bare hillside where I had planted seedlings and watch them grow. One wonderful thing about RA was the opportunity to go to conferences and speak about Reston to groups like the Society for Ecological Restoration, America in Bloom and the Natural Areas Association. People would ask, “Who are you with?” because they were with state and federal agencies. When they found out I worked for a Homeowners Association, they were fascinated. You gotta celebrate nature where you live, not just in National Parks. I’ve had a lot of great co-workers over the years. Plus, I had a lot of freedom to do what I thought was important. I could do what needed to be done to make our woods as healthy as could be.
Tell me about your first job at RA. How did you find it, and what did you do?
In college, I made friends with Nancy Herwig from Reston. After graduation, we worked at a summer camp in Maryland, doing nature programs for the kids. When that ended, Nancy began work at RA. She called me when RA was hiring for Quest. Quest was like Outward Bound.
We spent one week in town and one week away camping. We went caving, rock climbing, and canoeing. It was very fun but absolutely exhausting. I also worked with RA’s Environmental Youth Maintenance program and Jr. Trailblazers. Removing invasives wasn’t a thing yet, so we were planting and watering. Some things we planted became known as invasives like Autumn Olive. Back then, it was recommended by the Soil and Water Conservation District. Who would have known that 30 years later we’d be removing it like crazy? We’ve all learned a lot.
What kind of work did you do before RA?
All my life I knew I wanted to do something related to nature—it was my passion. Ever since 4th grade science class, I wanted to have a career that was connected to the Earth. I became the first woman firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management based out of Lame Deer, Montana.
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Spring | 21 | Volume Twenty Three