It's Almost Time to Go Back to School

Now I know this is usually the last thing that you child would want to hear, but it is almost time to go back to school. However, this does not mean that there is no longer any time for fun. By taking a trip to visit Government Island, your child can have fun, and perhaps not even realizing that they are learning.

Government Island has a wealth of various animals and plants, making it an excellent place to demonstrate how the ecological cycle works, what a habitat is, and plant and animal life cycles. And that's only to name just a few topics that are often covered on in both the classroom material and the SOLs. The island is also a wonderful place to connect to topics in history, such as the birth of the nation, slavery, changes in technology over time, and Virginia history.

I'm hoping that eventually we will have various lesson plans and materials in subjects such as science and history for at least the K-5 levels, which we will make available on the blog so that parents and teachers can use it.

Come and visit Government Island before the school year begins (don't worry it will still be open after that) and help your child to learn and explore...without ever having to mention that you're preparing them for their classes!

If you want, come join Maria C. on Saturday, August 18 at 4:00 for a free guided nature hike.

Free family fun, blue crab sighting, barred owl

If you haven't discovered Government Island yet...What's holding you up?  It is the best deal in the county for free family fun...and it gets the kids outside.  I recently had some of my many grandchildren visiting and we trekked over to the Island to take care of some.  The stroller friendly wooden boardwalk is safe for all ages.  It is shaded most of the time, making it comfortable even on the hottest summer days.  The only thing to watch out for is the occasional poison ivy vine that hangs close.  Just remember...leaves of three, leave it be.

I didn't get a photo, but I have it from a reliable eye-witness that blue crabs have moved into the waters at Government Island.  Most likely the salinity level is up due to the drought.  Please don't catch them.  Fishing isn't really allowed at GI.

While on the boardwalk, keep your eyes open.  Just a partial list of what can be seen includes:  deer, beaver, muskrat, turtles, snakes, osprey, bald eagles, woodpeckers (at least 5 kinds!), dragonflies, butterflies...I could go on and on.  And just last evening, my husband spotted the resident barred owl.  He flies on silent wings, but if you have ever heard a bared owl, you won't forget that sound.  Think of a scary movie around Halloween time when the unseen monster is about to attack.  Early evening is the best time to spot the owl.  After a nice sleep somewhere in his favorite tree, he comes out for some serious night time hunting.

So grab your shoes and a bottle of water and get outside with the family for a free, fun, healthy experience.

And join us on Saturday, August 18 at 4:00 for a free guided nature hike.

Maria C., naturalist

Drought in the wetlands, blue gill trout,

Have been out of town, but stopped by the Island this afternoon for a very quick peek.  We need rain, and lots of it.  Things are really drying up at the old beaver pond close to the parking lot.  The water level has dropped significantly since I was there not a week ago.  The turtles are still lazing in the water, but that same water is starting to smell in a stagnant sort of way.  You can easily see how much the water level has dropped by how much bare shoreline is exposed.

However, there were several young boys having summertime fun fishing off the bridge.  Austin Run was actually teeming with lots of little fish. Not sure where the big ones have swum off to!  One young man proudly showed off his small blue gill bass, just prior to releasing it back into the creek.

When you go to the Island over the next few weeks, take note of what is happening to the wild berries.  You should start to see a noticeable change in color in preparation for the fall bird migration season.  More about that in a future entry.
 
Watch for the upcoming announcement of the next guided walk conducted by the Central Rappahannock Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists.

Seen anything interesting lately at Government Island?  Have any questions about what you have seen?  Let us know.

Maria C., naturalist

Wildflowers, swamp rose mallow, Turk's cap lily

Hello, another naturalist update, of the floral type this time.

Wildflowers at Government Island change almost daily,  not just seasonally.  If you would like to see some colorful examples of swamp rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, now is the time to stroll along to the last part of the wooden walkway at Government Island. 

You can look left or right of the walkway to view some lovely examples of this summer flower.  There are even a few of the less common pink variety.  Be advised, these are a sun loving flower, so don't go too early in the morning, and don't expect to see them after the sun has disappeared behind the trees.

And if you look closely, at the far end, on the right hand side, you may still see the remnants of the only Turk's cap lily, Lilium superbum, that I have seen at GI this year.  If you see another example, let me know.

Thanks, Maria C., naturalist, Virginia Master Naturalist Program

Government Island/naturalist observation/beaver sighting

Welcome to the Government Island Blog.  My name is Maria C, and I am a volunteer with the Central Rappahannock Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program.  I am part of a team that conducts nature walks at Government Island. The Island is a fascinating little chunk of nature that amazes me every time I go.  Through this blog I hope to open up a world of nature that many of you may not have known existed in your backyard.  I also hope to see you at one of our monthly nature walks. 

Today's entry should be titled "Beaver Love." On Monday (July 23) evening, along the creek, Austin Run, I was drawn to some ripples in the water.  Investigating from the creek bank, I observed not one, but two adult beavers.  They were most likely a mated pair by the way they gently nuzzled and appeared to be grooming each other. 

These beavers are local residents of the creek and unfazed by humans in relative close proximity. (Here I must add that you should always remember no matter how calm and cute they appear, wild animals are WILD animals.  Respect their personal space and never approach any closer than a minimum of 10 feet.  Never approach at all if they are potentially dangerous, like a bear).  The love-beavers eventually swam up creek towards the bridge, where one of them crawled onto the bank, gathered a mouthful of vegetation, dragged it back into the water, and disappeared under the bank. Incidentally, they disappeared into the same spot into which I have seen the muskrat disappear.  (A tale for a later blog!).  For over 15 minutes I enjoyed the beavers of GI.  I  feel privileged to have observed what appeared to be affection shared between two wild animals. Next time you go to GI, keep your eyes open for ripples in the water...who knows what you may see.

Maria C., naturalist