Summer 09

Mason Neck State Park

The Eagle Eye Volume II1, Issue ii

Summer 2009

Points of interest: ♦

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The park is open daily from 8:00 am to dusk. Summer is peak butterfly time. Look for beauties like the Monarch, Zebra Swallowtail, and many others throughout the park.

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Wildflowers blooming in the park include Common Milkweed, Cardinal Flower, and Pickerelweed.

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This year’s bald eagle babies have now fledged and can be seen fishing in Belmont Bay. Look for them and their parents on clear breezy days.

Inside this issue: Wildlife in the Park Citizen Science

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Picky Little Caterpillars

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Campfires at Pohick

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How You Can Help Mason Neck State

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Creature Feature

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Canoe and Kayak Trips

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July Programs

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August Programs

6

Living On The Edge

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Junior & Wee Rangers

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Program Highlight: Pond Probe Who knows what monsters lurk in the slimy depths of the frog pond... We do! Would you like to find out too? At our weekly Pond Probe, you can try your hand at netting mysterious critters. Maybe you’ll catch a transparent grass shrimp, which jumps like popcorn in your net. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to catch a young

turtle, although their speed and agility may surprise you. Every Saturday afternoon in July and August, from 4:00 to about 5:00 pm, join our interpreters at the large pond by our car-top boat launch. Use our nets and buckets to explore all the wonderful life under the surface, from minnows and tadpoles to odd and unusual

critters. Check out that ferocious-looking bug stalking along the muddy bottom. Who would imagine it’s actually a young dragonfly? See you by the pond this summer!

Park Manager’s Notes Well, the summer’s finally arrived and the wet weather seems to have decreased. All our trees are green and as the grass growth slows, we’ve been able to stretch our mowing schedule. We look forward to each day and to our many interpretive programs. We’ve started the Captain John Smith Explorer’s Camp, which teaches children about nature and our environment. Funded by a Chesapeake Bay Gateways grant, it is a five week, ten session camp that will reach over eighty children this summer. We’ve also started our Junior Ranger and Wee Ranger camps, single-day camps that give children hands-on experience exploring the natu-

ral world. Our weekend interpretive programs have been very successful as well, with a great deal of interest in our eagle watching, pond exploration, and birding programs. We’ve also seen an increase in canoe and kayak rentals throughout the week as visitors discover the joys of paddling into Kanes Creek. If you haven’t yet tried this experience, please give it a shot this summer. This summer we will resurface the access road to our wildlife fields. In addition, our Visitor Center expansion project is moving forward and we should meet potential contractors in the near future. This is very exciting for us as the expansion will also mean the

addition of restrooms to our Visitor Center. We’re also looking forward to the Youth Conservation Corps program beginning this month. Fifteen youth will live in the park for three weeks and work on resource management projects. You will see these young adults working hard on our trails and installing erosion control devices around our frog pond, as well as learning about nature. We appreciate your interest in Mason Neck and your support for the park. If you have an interest in helping establish a friends group, please contact the park office. Have a great summer and see you on the trails!

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VOLUM E I I 1, I S S UE II

Wildlife in the Park

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Monarch Butterfly

White-tailed Deer (fawn)

Become a Citizen Scientist! Here are lots of ways to make a difference in nature and have fun at the same time. You can become a citizen scientist and contribute to important studies of birds, flowers, butterflies and more. Some programs are already established here at Mason Neck, some you can do in your own back yard. Try one of the following projects, or check out http:// www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit to discover even more suggestions. 1. Christmas Bird Count (http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/) Join birders across the country tallying bird species on a winter day. The National Audubon Society holds several counts in our area between December 14 and January 5. The CBC is a fun way to meet other birders and discover our winter birds. Novice birders are always teamed up with more experienced folks, so don’t worry if you’ve just started birding. 2. Breeding Bird Survey (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/) This bird count takes place in June and tallies our breeding populations. The information gathered on this count helps ornithologists see how bird populations may be affected by factors such as pesticides and habitat changes.

2. Virginia Bluebird Society’s nest box trails (http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/) Here’s a way to get handson involvement in providing habitat for the eastern bluebird and other small songbirds. The VBS volunteers maintain nesting boxes and tally eggs and chicks each week during the birds’ breeding season. The local bluebird population has greatly increased thanks to bluebird box programs. 3. Project Feederwatch (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/ ) Feederwatch can actually be done from the comfort of your own home. All winter long, participants count birds in an area they’ve chosen, often at feeders in their back yards. Their data is used to compare trends in bird population and distribution. This winter, local feeder watchers were treated to a massive irruption (sporadic migration) of pine siskins, who normally stay far to the north and west of our area. 4. Project Budburst (http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ citizen_science/budburst/) If you enjoy flowers and plants, this is a good project for you. You’ll track the dates that different trees and wildflowers bloom in your area, and can com-

pare them with observations from other regions. Data collected can help indicate the effect of possible climate change. 5. Frogwatch USA (www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA ) Want to help monitor frog and toad populations? Join this project and check out ponds and streams near your house each spring. You can learn different frogs’ calls and discover when each species completes hibernation and begins breeding. 6. NABA Butterfly Count (http://www.naba.org/ ) The North American Butterfly Association’s summertime count is a great reason to get outside and hunt these colorful insects. Observations gathered during the count help determine geographic ranges for different species, and add to our growing knowledge about monarchs, fritillaries, and their many relatives. Contact NABA to learn where and when this summer’s counts are in our area. Have fun!

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Picky Little Caterpillars

We may think our kids are picky eaters, but did you know that some caterpillars are even choosier about what they will eat? Many species eat only a single kind of plant. That’s like eating nothing but cheese your whole childhood! Of course, while we couldn’t get all the necessary nutrients from cheese alone, the caterpillars’ limited diet does contain everything they need to grow into bright and beautiful butterflies. One caterpillar whose picky eating habits are familiar to many people is the monarch butterfly. Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed plants. Other picky eaters include the spiny caterpillars of the great spangled fritillary, which eat violet plants, and caterpillars of the dramatically striped zebra swallowtail, which dine exclusively on leaves of the paw paw tree. The extensive groves of paw paws here in Mason Neck State Park explain

why zebra swallowtails are so abundant in the park, although you might never have seen them in your own back yard. Of course, not all caterpillars are quite so picky. Caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly love to eat plants in the cabbage and mustard families, while caterpillars of black swallowtails are fond of anything in the parsley family, which includes carrots and Queen Anne’s Lace as well as the parsley herb.

What does all this mean for you? If you want to find a certain butterfly’s caterpillar, you should start by looking for the caterpillar’s favorite food, also known as that butterfly’s host plant. Or if you want to find a particular butterfly, know that if its host plant doesn’t grow locally, the butterfly isn’t likely to be around either. Butterflies whose caterpillars are extremely picky can be severely hurt by habitat loss, especially if what replaces it is a shopping center or housing development barren of the needed host plant.

So if you’re growing a butterfly garden this summer, do make sure to include the proper host plants, as well as flowering plants to provide nectar. Good references include butterfly field guides, such as Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman’s Butterflies of North America, and web sites dedicated to wildlife or butterfly gardening, such as http:// www.thebutterflysite.com/ gardening.shtml. Also consider growing a few plants to feed caterpillars even if your garden isn’t specifically designed for butterflies. Whether it’s wild plants like the milkweed and Queen Anne’s Lace mentioned above, or specialty plants that you order from a nursery, your butterfly population will love you for it. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to watch a butterfly grow from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult right in your own back yard. Good luck raising your picky little caterpillars!

Campfire Program at Pohick Bay Regional Park Did you know MNSP has a program partnership with Pohick Bay Regional Park? Every Saturday night in July and August (weather permitting), one of our interpreters leads a campfire from 7pm to 8pm. We generally alternate themes of nocturnal animals or storytelling. Both are always followed by tasty s’mores. What a great way to enjoy the summer!

After the nocturnal animals campfires, Pohick’s naturalist often leads a night hike for participants. If you’ve been thinking of camping this summer, why not try Pohick and come to one of our campfires as well? We hold the campfire in the field that’s right in the middle of the campsite loop. Come join us!

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How YOU Can Help Mason Neck State Park 1. Leave no trace.

• Discard your trash in proper receptacles. • Take home everything that you brought into the park.

• Prevent your pet from getting in a dangerous fight with another family’s pet. • Carry a plastic bag so your pet leaves no trace as well.

• Keep your pet safe from wildlife, and wildlife safe from your pet. • Make sure your pet stays away from steep drop-offs and restricted areas.

4. Become a volunteer.

• Lead our canoe and kayak trips.

• Leave the park cleaner than when you arrived! 2. Control your pet on a leash at all times.

• Observe wildlife while letting it remain wild and undisturbed.

3. Refrain from picking fruit, flowers or other plants, and from harassing wildlife.

• Make sure everyone that visits after you can enjoy the same things you did. • Leave the flowers to turn into seeds, which will feed birds and other animals.

• Help out in the Visitor Center. • Lead or help with interpretive programs, such as hikes. • Assist at our spring and fall festivals.

Let’s keep our park beautiful!

Creature Feature: Saddleback Caterpillar Did you know that some caterpillars can actually sting? Certain kinds of caterpillars have stinging spines along their bodies. The saddleback caterpillar is one of these stinging caterpillars. As you can see from the picture below, it has spines at both ends as well as along its sides. If you touch a saddleback caterpillar, you will feel a painful burning sensation that can last for a couple hours. Ow! The saddleback is a slug caterpillar, which means it has little sucker-like feet. This caterpillar can crawl straight up the walls of a glass container, so if you want to keep one captive for observation, make sure you have the top securely fastened! Its adult form is a fuzzy-bodied brown moth. The moth no longer has stinging spines; those are shed when the caterpillar pupates. The saddleback is very easy to recognize in the wild—its brown ends, abdomen with a bright green saddle, and of course the spiny lobes. It isn’t too picky about

what it eats. The photo here shows one on a cattail leaf; it also likes to eat oak and maple leaves, grass, blueberry leaves, cabbage and many other plants. It grows to about three centimeters long. Its sting is very potent and painful. This is definitely a “look but don’t touch” animal!

You tend to see saddleback caterpillars from August through October, in fields, forests, gardens and also at the edge of wetlands. The one in the photo was found in the marsh along Bay View Trail. Keep an eye out for them in your back yard as well as here at the park!

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Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Expeditions Guided Canoe & Kayak Expeditions

Holiday Trips (morning only)

Canoe & Kayak Rentals

May 10- Mother’s Day Mothers free with paying child! June 21- Father’s Day Fathers free with paying child!

Rent a canoe or kayak and explore Weather Information

Kanes Creek on your own. Canoes,

Trips will be held rain or shine. You may reschedule due to weather conditions; however, refunds will not be made at short notice unless the guide cancels the trip. Guides will assess the weather at the time of the tour. If it is unsafe, the trip will be canceled and your money will be refunded.

solo kayaks, and tandem kayaks are

All participants must pre-register at the Park Environmental Center, either in person or by phone (703339-2380). Payment must be made at the time the reservation is made. Cancellations must be made 7 days prior to the trip, otherwise refunds will not be granted. Morning Trips

Expedition Guides

Registration

available first-come, first-served. Rentals begin as early as 10 am, and must be returned by 5 pm. Rates Canoes

Kayaks

Tandem Kayaks

9-11:30 a.m. This 2.5 hour kayak or canoe trip is offered on Saturdays and Sundays from April through October. Max of 10 persons per trip. Evening Trips 6-8:30 p.m. This 2.5 hour kayak or canoe trip is offered on Saturdays from May through October. Max of 10 persons per trip. Twilight Trips Dusk (see below) This twilight kayak or canoe trip is offered one Friday evening each month. You must be 18 years or older to participate in this trip. Max of 10 persons per trip. Dates:

All trips are led by a certified canoe and kayak guide. The guides will provide safety information and some paddling demonstrations before the tour. Remember, you are responsible for paddling your canoe or kayak. All trips are provided as staffing permits.

$12/hr

$10/hr

$15/hr

$35/4hrs

$35/4hrs

$45/4hr

$50/4+hr

$50/4+hr

$60/4+hr

Age Requirements

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with a drivers license or other picture ID to rent a canoe or

Prices Morning Trips

$15 per person

Afternoon Trips

$15 per person

Twilight Trips Group rate

kayak.

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Children 13—17 years old must be accompanied by a legal adult

$20 per person** $9 per person*

Must be at least 18 years old

18 years or older.

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Children under 13 are not al-

*Group rates are for parties of 5 or

lowed in a solo kayak, and must

more on morning or afternoon trips.

be accompanied by a legal adult

**No group rate on twilight trips.

in a canoe or tandem kayak.

Age Requirements Children 14 to 17 years old may paddle solo in a canoe or kayak, but

April 10

6:30—9 p.m.

an adult must accompany the trip.

May 8

7—9:30 p.m.

Children 13 and under must paddle

June 5

7:30—10 pm

July 3

7:30—10 pm

August 7

7—9:30 p.m.

allowed in canoes or kayaks.

September 4

6—8:30 p.m.

Twilight tours are for ages 18 and

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Children under age 6 are not allowed in canoes or kayaks.

with an adult in each canoe or tandem kayak.

October 2

5:30—8 p.m.

Children under the age of 6 are not

up only.

Explore Kanes Creek like never before!

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July Programs SATURDAYS 10:30-11:30 am Majestic Eagles Look for bald eagles, osprey and red-tailed hawks with us, and discover their fascinating lives. Meet at the Visitor Center. 12:00-1:00 pm Makin’ Tracks Identify tracks from animals native to Mason Neck, and then make some of your own. Meet in the Picnic Area. 1:30-3:30 pm Lost and Found GPS Adventures Ever use a Global Positioning System? Come and learn how to navigate using these small hand-held electronic devices, and then find hidden caches around the park. Meet at the Visitor Center.

4:00-5:00 pm Pond Probe Join our scientific investigation. We’ll have dip nets and buckets available for you to catch minnows, crayfish and more as we check for life in our pond. Meet at the large pond by the car-top boat launch.

might have enjoyed. Meet at the Picnic Area. 1:00-2:00 pm Birding by the Bay Join this walk to look for songbirds, waterfowl and of course the bald eagle. Meet at the trailhead for the Bay View Trail.

5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles Look for bald eagles, osprey and red-tailed hawks with us, and discover their fascinating lives. Meet at the Visitor Center.

3:00-4:00 pm Buggin’ Out Help us identify some of the creepy-crawly insects that are living in Mason Neck State Park. Then use pipe cleaners and other supplies to create your own bugs. Meet in the Picnic Area.

SUNDAYS 12:00-12:30 pm Got Butter? Come make and eat delicious fresh butter with us. You’ll love the pure creamy taste, just like George Mason’s family

5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles Look for bald eagles, osprey and red-tailed hawks with us, and discover their fascinating lives. Meet at the Visitor Center.

August Programs SATURDAYS

around the park. Meet at the Visitor Center.

10:30-11:30 am Frog of the Wild Come join us on this hike as we listen and look for frogs and toads. How many species can you identify? Meet at the Picnic Area.

4:00-4:45 pm Pond Patrol Join our scientific investigation. We’ll have dip nets and buckets available for you to catch minnows, crayfish and more as we check for life in our pond. Meet at the large pond by the car-top boat launch.

12:00-12:45 pm Makin’ Tracks Identify tracks from animals native to Mason Neck, and then make some of your own. Meet in the Picnic Area. 1:00-1:30 pm Skins and Skulls Check out real furs, skulls and bones of animals that live in the park. Do you know what a fox skull looks like? Meet in the Picnic Area. 2:00-3:30 pm Lost and Found GPS Adventures Ever use a Global Positioning System? Come and learn how to navigate using these small hand-held electronic devices, and then find hidden caches

5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles Look for bald eagles, osprey and red-tailed hawks with us, and discover their fascinating lives. Meet at the Visitor Center.

SUNDAYS 12:00-12:30 pm Got Butter? Come make and eat delicious fresh butter with us. You’ll love the pure creamy taste, just like George Mason’s family might have enjoyed. Meet at the Picnic Area.

12:45-1:45 pm Buggin’ Out Help us identify some of the creepy-crawly insects that live in Mason Neck State Park. Then use pipe cleaners and other supplies to create your own bugs. Meet in the Picnic Area. 2:00-3:00 pm Barkin’ Up a Tree Do you know how to identify the most common trees at Mason Neck? Come make crayon rubbings of bark and leaves with us to help you remember. Meet in the Picnic Area. 3:30-4:30 pm Hey, What’s That? There are so many exciting things to see at Mason Neck State Park. Bring your sense of wonder as we explore what is found growing and living here. Meet in the Picnic Area. 5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles Look for bald eagles, osprey and red-tailed hawks with us, and discover their fascinating lives. Meet at the Visitor Center.

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Living on the Edge: Creating Wildlife Habitat Did you know that the area between two different ecosystems, such as a marsh and a forest, is very important to many creatures? Edge habitat, as the transitional area is often named, allows animals to take advantage of both ecosystems: the deep cover of the forest, and the lush plants of the marsh, in this case. Although not all animals will benefit from increased edge habitat, you can generally increase the wildlife in your yard by encouraging edge habitat.

The biggest benefit in edge habitat is the diversity of plants. When creating edge, you’re aiming for a gradual transition, not just a sudden change from meadow to forest. Instead of having the typical suburban lawn going straight to tall trees at the edge of your property, mitigate the change by planting low shrubbery, banks of wildflowers, and so forth. Songbirds and many other small critters will love it—and of course so will their predators such as foxes and snakes. The kinds of animals that benefit from edge habitat are generalists, who will take advantage of the varied habitat. Deer, turkeys, squirrels, and many insect-eating birds will enjoy the opportunity to use two adjacent habitats plus the transition zone in between.

However, some birds might be at increased risk of nest predation and parasitism in edge habi-

tats. Predators like blue jays, crows, and raccoons may find small birds’ nests more easily in low shrubby cover like an edge habitat offers. Nest parasites, too, like the brownheaded cowbird, can find nests more easily in an edge area and sneak in their own eggs to take advantage of the resident birds’ work.

When you’re considering whether and how to take advantage of edge habitat in your yard, first decide what animals you’d like to encourage. Specialist animals prefer one ecosystem, where they find plenty of cover and diversity without the need for a second adjacent ecosystem. Bobwhites are happiest in bushy meadow, for example. Some songbirds need deep forest for their nesting habitat and wouldn’t be much helped by an expanded transition zone between forest and meadow. But if you want the greatest diversity of wildlife possible, creating edge habitat might be the way to go.

Also consider the size of your property when you ponder edge habitat. Most folks’ back yards, especially when they’re surrounded only by other back yards, aren’t large enough for two different eco-

systems plus a transition zone. You still could create an edge-like diversity of plants, though, by creating open sunny areas as well as groups of mixed shrubs and taller trees.

If you’re lucky enough to own several acres of land, however, or your small yard happens to abut an expansive forest, you could indeed create true edge habitat. You may already have found it difficult to maintain an ordinary lawn close to the forest—not enough sun at the edge, or too many branches and leaves dropping frequently. Creating a mantle or transition zone would be perfect for you in this case.

Plant some native shrubs like mountain laurel, witch hazel, or spicebush, along with wildflowers that transition out from the shady area into your sunny lawn. See the Virginia Department of Natural Resources’ lists of native plants and tips for growing them: http:// www.dcr.virginia.gov/ natural_heritage/ nativeplants.shtml. Also keep in mind that an irregular line or border creates more edge in a given area than a straight line or even a simple arc. You could feather your border in and out, keeping some tall trees next to the cleared area, but fading the edge of the forest back here and there with shorter shrubs. Have fun discovering new kinds of plants and watching the wildlife in your edge habitat!

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Junior Rangers and Wee Rangers Looking for a special chance to get your kids out into nature this summer? Sign up for our Junior Rangers or Wee Rangers programs! Call the Visitor Center (703339-2380) to register.

Junior Rangers (ages 7-10) $50.00 fee per child, per session, includes all materials, instruction, a midmorning snack, and the Junior Rangers tee shirt, patch and certificate of completion. Parents should drop off their children at 9:00 am, and return at 4:00 pm for family campfire. Campfire concludes at 5:00 pm.

July 8th - Wet and Wiggly: Have you ever looked through a microscope at the tiny creatures living in pond water? We’ll start with these smallest of animals, then climb the aquatic food chain as we explore how everything in the natural world is connected. We’ll play games, make crafts, hike and even catch fish and other critters from the pond. July 15th – Buggin’ Out: There are hundreds of different types of insects at Mason Neck State Park. We

will find and identify many of these creepy crawlers and discover their fascinating lives through games, crafts, hikes, and more!

July 22nd – Mammal Safari: Camouflaged, cautious, and under cover—let’s discover some elusive mammals on Mason Neck. As we follow their fascinating signs, how many mammals can we find? We’ll also enjoy mammal-themed activities, games and crafts.

June 30th - Frogs and Friends. How many reptiles and amphibians are there hiding all around us? We’ll take a look at some of our captive creatures and then search for more. Through hikes, games, and crafts, we’ll discover the frogs, turtles, snakes and more that call Mason Neck home. July 9th - Butterfly buddies. Have you ever met a butterfly? Come explore the secret world of these dazzling creatures. We’ll enjoy hikes, games, and crafts about butterflies’ lives.

Wee Rangers (ages 4-6) Adult must attend with each child. $10.00 fee per child, per session, includes all materials, instruction and certificate of achievement. Children who complete all three sessions may attend the free graduation campfire, and will receive a Wee Rangers t-shirt and patch. Each session starts at 11:00 and ends at 12:30 pm.

July 28th - Fuzzy and Furry. Their fur may be soft, but their teeth are sharp. Discover with us the incredible lives of mammals on Mason Neck. You’ll love themed hikes, fun games, and crafts to take home. August 5th - Graduation Campfire. Children who complete all three sessions may bring their families to make s’mores around our campfire. Free!