|
|
Presidents
Message
|
Looking Up!
Today was Wetlands Awareness Day!
Suzanne Lepple and I spent the afternoon in waders alongside
the boardwalk demonstrating to visitors how there is a
lot of clay under the silt in the wetland. We used a soil
auger to pull up columns of clay which then were handed
out to kids of all ages, who learned how clay holds water
and therefore is a great base for our freshwater wetland.
You can imagine that as we stood in the muck, we spent
a lot of time looking up at our audience. It was a “
hands on” experience for many- one they will not
likely forget!
At the moment I’m feeling
a bit optimistic about the survival of the natural areas
in Fairfax County like Huntley Meadows Park. It has been
an interesting and challenging year that has found us
with a County budget for FY11 that did not cut the staffing
at our nature centers and has maintained much of the funds
for maintenance of these sites. I’ve heard that the
Federation of Friends, which includes Friends of Huntley
Meadows Park, was listened to by the Park Authority Board
and the County Board of Supervisors. We were also able
to get the citizens of Fairfax County to voice their support
for parks and natural areas. We should all pat ourselves
on the back, relax, enjoy the parks and refresh ourselves
for next year as I think there will be many of the same
issues.
The FOHMP Annual Meeting
on April 24 was a great success! We recognized new lifetime
members, shared our successes for the past year, including
the support of two internships and park seasonal positions
and our very successful Appeal in December. We also had
our annual election of Board members. Please join me in
welcoming Karla Jamir as our newest Board member. Karla
has been actively involved in the identification, collection
and preservation of the plant species at HMP since 1994.
Once the business meeting was finished, we went for a
walk and were treated to an "amphibian symphony"
out on the boardwalk.
In my “HMP world”
things are looking up! This spring I’ve been able
to teach school groups on a regular basis and participate
in some outreach programs in the community. I’m checking
my bluebird nest boxes (only tree swallows so far) and
am looking forward to leading Hayrides in May and an early
morning walk (see below) in June. I look forward to seeing
you here in the park and sharing the peace, delight, and
excitement
in the wonders of the natural world!
Kathi McNeil
FOHMP President
|
|
Upcoming
Programs
|
Saturday, July
10
Summer Birds and Bagels
(Adults), 8-11am. Explore the woodland and wetland to
observe summer bird life. Following the walk, cool off
and enjoy juice and bagels at the Visitor Center. Meet
at the Visitor Center parking lot. Binoculars and field
guides recommended. Sponsored by FOHMP. Canceled if rain.
$8
Sunday, July
11
Birding for Beginners
(12 yrs. and up), 8-11am. Interested in birding? We can
get you started! Learn about the birds in the park and
some basic identification skills. Program begins with
an indoor discussion. Children ages 12 to 16 must be accompanied
by an adult. $6
Saturday, July
17
Bat Watching
(Families), 8-9:30pm. The only mammals with true flight
can find insect prey in complete darkness. Learn about
the diversity and adaptations of these fascinating animals
at a slide illustrated lecture. Then search twilight skies
for bats on the wing. $6
Saturday, July
24 and Sunday,
July 25
Buglover's Paradise
(Families with children 4 yrs. and up), 10am-noon. The
park is buzzing with insect activity - grasshoppers, butterflies,
ladybugs and leafhoppers. Stop by our classroom for self-guided
activities, a craft and videos. Children must be accompanied
by an adult. Sponsored by FOHMP. $4/child
|
|
Birdathon
2010
|
|
The other day I was listening to a pair of Red-shouldered
Hawks calling and reflected that, although it’s winter, raptors
were deep into their courtship rituals. It dawned on me
that spring nesting time was just around the corner. Cardinals,
chickadees, and house finches will soon be heard singing
in the morning. Before you know it, there will be reports
of warblers appearing in trees...
~continue
reading for more info on the 2010 birdathon~
|
|
|
|
|
Who We Are
|
Founded in 1985, Friends
of Huntley Meadows Park is a nonprofit organization of individuals
dedicated to the protection of Fairfax County's premier wetland
wildlife sanctuary. The more than 400 members represent an active
influential voice for the Park and for open space throughout the county.
Officers:
President: Kathi McNeil
Vice President: Sarah Stromayer
Secretary: Glen Curtis
Treasurer: Suzanne Lepple
Newsletter Editor: Marianne
Mooney |
|
Park
Manager Walk & Talk
|
Park
Manager Walk & Talk
and Wetland Project Update
- One Saturday each month -
Meet in the Huntley Meadows Park visitor center
(off Lockhead Blvd.)
July 10, 5-7 pm
Aug. 14, 5-7 pm
Join park manager Kevin Munroe on a walk. Share questions
and concerns about the park, find out about the wetlands
restoration project and look for the wildlife for which
the park is well known.
Reservations required.
FREE
Visit the county website,
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/restorationproject.htm
to view the following information:
Arial Photography, Topography Map, Site
Succession Time-line, May 30th Public Forum: Power Points
and Public Comments, Project Guidelines and Components,
Conceptual Drawing, Site Plan Rough Draft - viewing info.
& discussion meetings, Program Dates and Descriptions
For more information,
please call Huntley Meadows Park at 703-768-2525, email
the park manager at
kevin.munroe@fairfaxcounty.gov or stop by and visit
us.
|
|
Nestbox
Monitoring Program
Wood
Ducks
and
Hooded Mergansers
|
|
Updated July 3, 2010
HM=Hooded Merganser
WD=Wood Ducks
2010
Final Report
A couple of late-starting second broods
in #67 and #68 unfortunately did not pan out, and we cleaned
those boxes. This was a boom-bust year for Wood Duck: lots
of eggs laid, but two nests completely failed, including
the 31-egg dump in #67. Final summary numbers: 61 hatched/68
laid Hooded Merganser (5 nests), 53 hatched/113 laid Wood
Duck (10 nests, plus 2 eggs in a HM nest).
(May 4)
Over the past two weeks, we had 6 boxes hatch out (2
HM, 4 WD). Yay! Unfortunately, we also had two nests that
we determined to be abandoned, and we cleaned them out.
One of these, box #67, was incubating a normal-sized clutch
on 21 March, but then it became a dump nest. We removed
31 eggs from it.
3 boxes are still incubating, all on the main pond #2 (12
WD eggs), #6 (ditto), and #84 (8 HM eggs, due to hatch shortly).
This Sunday, I think we can take one more pass through all
the boxes, to see whether we get any late starters, and
then we can spot-check thereafter.
(April 4)
A fast start to the season!
As of our third trip out, we have nesting activity in six
boxes. Three boxes are Hooded Merganser, two are Wood Duck,
and one has 5 HM eggs and 2 WD eggs.
We cleaned out the squirrel drey from box #9 (and woke up
a cranky squirrel, who promptly exited). We've been pulling
trash from the run flowing into the main pond, but I think
there is more to be found on the west bank. On the 14th,
we spotted a Wood Duck pair standing on the boardwalk just
beyond the observation tower.
~2009
final report~.
For more information on the monitoring program and historical records
at Huntley Meadows, please visit nouveau.home.
|
|
|
|
|
The Park
|
3701 Lockheed Blvd.
Alexandria, Va. 22306
703-768-2525
Nestled in Fairfax County's Hybla
Valley, Huntley Meadows Park is a rich, natural island in the vast
suburban sea of Northern Virginia. Its 1,424 acres harbor majestic
mature forests, wildflower speckled meadows and acres of wetlands
bursting with life. It is ideal wildlife habitat for beaver, otter,
heron, ducks, deer, many songbird and butterfly varieties, as well as a
host of other animals.
Operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority ,
Huntley Meadows is forever preserved in a natural state for hiking,
biking, wildlife watching, relaxing and discovering.
Facilities include a Visitor Center with exhibits
and auditorium, a 1/2 mile boardwalk wetland trail, 2-mile interpretive
trail system and wildlife observation tower
Click Here for
Visitor Center Hours and Directions to the Park .
|
|
|
