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National Public Lands Day at New Beginnings

Success! That is one word to describe the National Public Lands Day (NPLD) events held at New Beginnings on September 29, 2007. The day started with a short lesson on monarch butterfly biology, where community members learned about the fascinating life of this magnificent insect. Participants learned about the monarch butterfly life cycle, how to tell males from females, and about their migration to Mexico each year. Then the group took to the fields for some active monarch observation.

Adults and children alike gathered up their nets and set off to catch monarchs among the beautiful fields and meadows at New Beginnings. Unfortunately, the monarchs did not cooperate, and only one was seen gliding in the wind. However, we caught many other species of butterflies including buckeyes, orange sulfurs, red admirals and fritillaries.

Parke John, of the Cecil County Bird Club, demonstrates bird calls during the NPLD Nature Walk.

After some well deserved refreshments, community members participated in an invasive plant pulling contest focused on Japanese stilt-grass. In less than 45 minutes, about 10 people gathered over 140 pounds of stilt grass. The bags were weighed, and prizes were given to the people who gathered the three largest amounts of grass.

Amazingly, one local Girl Scout pulled close to 30 pounds all by herself, winning the contest and receiving a nature adventure pack for her efforts. We cleared about 300 square-feet of forest floor of the invasive grass. As the leaves fall they should cover the ground, and prevent much of the stilt grass seed from sprouting again in the spring.

At the end of the day, Cecil County Bird Club member Parke John, Jr. led us on a nature hike through the winding trails at New Beginnings. We spotted many species, including some warblers that stopped for a snack during their fall migration. We also observed cat birds, grass hopper sparrows, turkey vultures, white throated sparrows, woodpeckers, chickadees, an American toad and a praying mantis laying her eggs.

Parke brought his iPod, complete with calls of the screech owl. He played this while we explored the forest and witnessed a flock of blue jays gather around to investigate the sound. It was a great day and everyone went home with the official National Public Lands Day poster.

Another Girl Scout Shout Out

On September 26, 2007, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Troop 496 ventured out to help prepare for National Public Lands Day events, and to meet some other environmental requirements. In the morning, the girls spent time cutting back multiflora rose and other plants that had grown into the nature trail. They also removed large sections of Japanese stilt grass along the wooded part the trail near the pavilion.

Monarch butterfly #JJR150 tagged by Girl Scout Troop 496 ready for release. Photo by Billy Heinbuch, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.

Scientist measure the population of monarchs and the migration by studying how many tagged individuals make it to the historical over-wintering grounds. If the tagged butterfly is discovered there, the data is entered into a database that contains information about the tagger, tagging location, and where the tag or tagged butterfly was found. Two butterflies were captured, tagged and released by the girls of Troop 496; tag numbers JJR150 and JJR151. Check Monarch Watch to see if they made it to Mexico!

Less then a month later, a larger group of girls from Girl Scouts of Central Maryland troop 2499 traveled to New Beginnings to work on earning their forestry badge. After tagging a migrating monarch butterfly, Girl Scout troop 2499 set off to build a series of brush piles along the forest trail to provide shelter and habitat for birds and other small animals. The goal for the day was set to ten brush piles along the trails.

Girl Scout troop 2499 in front of a large brush pile they recently constructed at New Beginnings.

As soon as the girls collected sticks, branches, leaves and other material, small to medium teepee like structures began to align the trails. Many sizes and shapes were used when designing the piles to accommodate the various animals that might use them. Songbirds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects have all been documented using brush piles as habitat. 

While taking a break for lunch, the girls stumbled upon an old box turtle (Terrapene carolina) who wandered underneath the pavilion. After a few pictures, and learning why it is important not to take turtles from the wild, the box turtle was released back to the edge of the forest.

While gathering materials for brush pile number 8, the clouds opened up, and it began to rain. Tired and exhausted from a day of cutting, pulling, lifting and moving logs and branches, the team decided to make brush pile number 8 the last one, but also the largest one! Once complete two eastern garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) rescued from a local parking lot were released in one of the brush piles. Great job to both troops for their hard work to improve the habitat at the New Beginnings!