Book Review: Wild Honey Bees: An Intimate Portrait Photography by Ingo Arnot and Text by Jürgen Tautz

Book review by FMN Marilyn Schroeder.

 Photography by Ingo Arnot and Text by Jürgen Tautz

Enjoy awesome closeups and riveting scientific findings about wild honey bees in their natural forest habitat.  Wait a minute!  Didn’t we learn in class that honey bees aren’t native?  Maybe not in Fairfax, but this book is about the life of wild honey bees in the forests of Central Europe.

Huge honey bee portraits and views inside their tree cavity hives grace this coffee-table book.  Any art-lover would be captivated by the amazing photography.  But naturalists will also be intrigued by the research into their behavior, social life and ecology.  The author draws a thought-provoking contrast between bee colonies in cavity hives in the forest versus bee keepers’ hives in farm fields.  A chapter describing the techniques and challenges of photographing bees in flight, in a nest cavity 66 feet off the ground and throughout the seasons of their life cycle attest to the photographer’s skill and commitment.  Can you tell I loved the book?  Wild Honey Bees is available in the Fairfax County Public Library.

Tool Under Development for Amateur Naturalists – Created by FMN Margaret E. Fisher

 Article and photo by FMN Margaret E. Fisher

Tool under development for amateur naturalists – created by FMN Margaret E. Fisher


For those of you who enjoy learning the names of the plants and animals that surround us, we are working on a spreadsheet to make it a little easier to identify Northern Virginia organisms. This tool is for people who have enough experience to take a reasonable guess at the identification of a plant, insect, or other organism but not enough to distinguish it from its lookalikes. Using iNaturalist can sometimes help, but only if you photograph the right part. The idea is to create a cheat sheet – one that can be referenced in the field – that highlights one or two features that can readily make the distinction.

 

For example, you might know enough about flowers to identify the two pictured here as Monkeyflower. One is Sharpwing Monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) and the other is Allegheny Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens). At first glance, they look very much alike, but the distinction becomes easy once you know that the former has a short flower stem and long leaf stem, and the latter has a long flower stem and no leaf stem at all. Similarly, you may already know that the terms Painted Lady and American Lady refer to butterflies, but you could use a reminder that the former has a band of small eyespots as opposed to the latter which has two large eyespots on the underside of the hindwing.

 

We are only just getting started on collecting information to fill in the blanks as people submit the results of their research. The spreadsheet will never be complete, but it will be fun to watch it grow as our familiarity with our non-human neighbors increases. To contribute your tips (or corrections, which are welcome and needed), email [email protected].

You can view the Google spreadsheet here.

 

 

Fairfax Master Naturalist Volunteers Help Celebrate Earth Day 2023

Photo: by Susan Martel, FMN Volunteers at Earth Day Fairfax 2023

Article by Fairfax Master Naturalists Jo Doubmia and Susan Martel

The FMN hosted a table at the 2023 Earth Day Fairfax on April 22 at Sully Historic Site.  Attendees were drawn to their table to learn about the FMN training program, invasive plants, native plants, the numerous nature-related volunteer programs available in the county, and bear awareness, among others.  Many expressed appreciations for the FMN volunteer work and several attendees wanted specifically to learn about the application process to the FMN program.

The children had a blast. These budding naturalists were very involved with magnifying glasses examining detailed resin-encased insects. They also enjoyed coloring, talking about insects, and wondering about which insect figure to pick from the treasure chest. Despite the afternoon rain which closed the event earlier than planned, the FMN volunteers had plenty of time and curious visitors to share their interest, experience, and knowledge as nature stewards.  What better way to celebrate Earth Day than enjoying the camaraderie of wonderful FMN volunteers supporting a meaningful outreach event.  For FMN, Earth Day 2023 was a great success!

 

 

 

Ode on a Fish Fossil

Feature photo: Fish Fossil, Green River Formation, Western United States.

Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d,
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone

So goes the second stanza of John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” that I vividly remember from my High School days. These were the same words that flashed in my mind upon viewing a fish fossil my friend gave me a few months ago. Funny thing it is, how the poet sometimes seems to precede the scientist in me.

The famous English poet’s ode appreciates the timeless art on an urn, and so too, the fish fossil in my mind was a presentation of beauty and immortality, having patiently waited millennia to tell its story. And just as in the original poem, we have the conclusion of the poem which can equality apply to the fish fossil:

When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say’st,
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty,”—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

While these herring fish fossils have their origin in the limestone of the Green River Formation, residents of Fairfax County do not need to go that far, or even leave the county, to find fossils.

My exposure to fossils began as a child reading the How and Why Wonder Book of Dinosaurs, which indicated that the first, near complete, skeleton of a dinosaur was discovered in Haddonfield, NJ. Since that was in my home state, I hoped to visit the town one day. Eventually I would indeed visit that town to see the Hadrosaurus statue commemorating the find in 1858 that started the field of dinosaur paleontology.

During the Triassic Period (201 – 252 Mya), dinosaurs left behind both bones and footprints in Virginia. Fish from local lakes were preserved during the Jurassic (145 – 201 Mya). In the 1920s, dinosaur tracks were discovered at nearby Oak Hill. The Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) offers many one-day one-credit geology excursions in our general area. I completed many of these courses and had the opportunity to see fossils during these excursions.

On June 24, 2017, I attended the geological field study trip for the

Oak Hill Dinosaur Skin Print, June 24, 2017, 1.5 by 2 Foot Scale

Triassic-Jurassic Rifting of North America in the Triassic Lowlands of Northern Virginia. One of the sites on that trip was the Oak Hill Estate (Home of President James Monroe). This site contains dinosaur tracks. The rock type here is the Lower Jurassic Turkey Run Formation (197 Mya). The fossils are of Eubrontes foot tracks and a rare skin print (see my photograph). Also fossilized was a lungfish burrow from the Jurassic, which had estivated to survive through the summer. Ripples, raindrops imprints, and bioturbation were evident in fossils we saw.

Photo:Holmes Run Gorge Fossils, Nov 18, 2017. Shown here are fossils (Skolithos Linearis) in well-cemented quartzite of the early Antietam Formation. These are Virginia’s oldest fossils and date to the Cambrian Period (485 – 539 Mya).

On November 18, 2017, I took another NVCC geology excursion for the Geologic History of Holmes Run Gorge at the Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria. At the main gorge area we discussed the quartz rocks. Quartz is the last mineral in the Bowen reaction series of fractional crystallization.

I find the Bowen reaction series fascinating as it has some correlation to fractional distillation in my field of chemical engineering. I collected a sample of cloudy white milky quartz, which is extremely resistant to weathering. The cloudiness of milky quartz comes from microscopic inclusions of fluids that have been encased in the crystal from the time the crystal first grew. Our professor showed multiple examples of Quartzite with slashes (see my photograph). High-energy waters transported these cobblestone size rocks originating from the Harper’s Ferry Antietam Formation. The formation was largely quartz sandstone with some quartzite and quartz schist. This formation underwent metamorphic changes. This Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone. The sandstone was converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Most noteworthy were the tubeworm line burrows, about a half billion years old. Samples were numerous.

Book Review by FMN Debbie McDonald: Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park, by Marie Winn

Review by FMN Debbie McDonald

Among the wonders of spring, watching the soaring, graceful courtship of red-tail hawks high above the trees has no doubt, brought awe and joy to many of us. Observing love blossom between birds and animals along with the trees and flowers is a ritual and gift that never grows old. Red-Tails in Love by Marie Winn is a true story which follows these rituals in a unique and personal way. It is a beautiful and moving novel that weaves together the lives of Pale Male, a red-tail hawk, and a band of nature loving human friends who watch for him and over him, his mates, nests, and hatchlings through the years.

The author transports the reader to New York City and Central Park where the journeys of the hawks and their human guardians are shared as they pass through many seasons, relationships, and adventures. Activities that resonate with bird watchers and nature lovers, such as the Christmas Bird Count, the spring return of warblers, or spotting a species new to the park add warmth and realism throughout the tale. But Winn’s engaging storytelling is appealing for a wide range of readers and interests.

The story of the hawks, what can be learned about them, their loyalty to each other and their little families is quite compelling and rewarding. The band of bird watchers reminded me how lucky we are to have our Virginia Master Naturalist community. This is a book to read more than once and to pass along. Enjoy!

Red-Tails in Love by Marie Winn, 1999, Vintage Departures, 352 pages.

Farmers Markets Set To Open for 2023 Season

It’s a new season and there is going to be a lot of fresh and healthy foods waiting for you at the famers’ markets. The Fairfax County Park Authority hosts 10 markets at locations throughout Fairfax County, where residents can find a variety of fresh and locally grown produce, delicious baked goods, prepared foods and family-friendly market activities, including live musical performances.

The 2023 season begins April 19 with the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon market. Check out the full market schedule below for the latest times and locations.

WEDNESDAYS

McCutcheon/Mount Vernon

April 19 to Dec. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon
Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane

Oak Marr

May 3 to Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon
Oak Marr Recreation Center, 3200 Jermantown Road

Wakefield

May 3 to Oct. 25, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Wakefield Park, 8100 Braddock Road

THURSDAYS

Annandale

May 4 to Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to noon
Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike

Herndon

May 4 to Nov. 9, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Old Town Herndon, 700 Block of Lynn St., by the Red Caboose

FRIDAYS

McLean

May 5 to Nov. 17, from 8 a.m. to noon
Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road

Kingstowne

May 5 to Oct. 27, from 3 to 7 p.m.
In the Giant parking lot, 5870 Kingstowne Towne Center

SATURDAYS

Burke

April 22 to Dec. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon
VRE parking Lot, 5671 Roberts Parkway

Reston

April 30 to Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon
Lake Anne Village Center, 1609-A Washington Plaza

SUNDAYS

Lorton

May 7 to Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
VRE parking lot, 8990 Lorton Station Blvd.

Please visit the Farmers Market website for a complete list of market times and locations. If you have any questions, please contact the Community Horticulture Office at 702-642-0128.

Volunteer Opportunity at River Farm, April and May Dates

Photo: Courtesy of River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society

River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, is hosting several volunteer days to remove invasives from its 25-acre property. They did a huge clearing in late February, and now they need help with routine maintenance.

River Farm – 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308

When: Saturday, April 22, 9:00am – 12:00pm
When: Saturday, May 6, 9:00 am – 12:00pm
When: Saturday, May 20, 9:00am – 12:00pm

River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society, requires routine maintenance and removal of invasives on its 25-acre property along the Potomac. For those interested, please email Jack Greenfield at [email protected].

FMN Volunteers record service hours:      S256: Invasive Plant Maintenance Projects — Fairfax County
Purpose: Service projects related to the removal of invasive plants and maintenance or restoration of nature areas around facilities, buildings, libraries, or public open grounds in Fairfax County, that are not under the jurisdiction of the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Come to the Eagle Festival, May 13th

Photo: by FMN Ana Ka’ahanui

Saturday, May13, 2023
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Mason Neck State Park
7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA 22079

Come to Mason Neck State Park on Saturday May 13 for the Eagle Festival — a day filled with special presentations, shows, and interactive exhibits by environmental organizations. Parking and admission are free!

Secret Garden Birds and Bees, a long-time park favorite, will have two programs with live raptors. There will also be puppet shows for young and old, and programs on reptiles and amphibians. You’ll be entertained by two live bands, and costumed characters will roam the festival grounds. And if you get hungry, the Lions Club will have food and drinks for sale and the Scoops2U food truck will be there with ice cream and sweets.

Be sure to mark the festival on your calendar!

For FMN volunteers please record service hours under E240: Mason Neck State Park Eagle Festival-Friends of Mason Neck State Park (FOMNSP).

Fairfax County Park Authority Earth Day Event, April 22nd

Image: Courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority

Saturday, April 22, 2023
10:00 AM –  4:00 PM
Sully Historic Site
3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, VA 20151

Celebrate “Healthy People – Healthy Planet” with a fun day packed with entertainment, activities, food vendors, Touch-A-Truck and prizes and more! Come to Earth Day Fairfax 2023 and learn about what Fairfax County is doing to support environmental sustainability and what you can do to help!

Down load informational flyer here.

If you are an FMN volunteering at the FMN table:   Record service hours under E161: Earth Day/Arbor Day Outreach and education.

 

Stream Monitoring Citizen Science & Training Opportunities, April and May

Photo: by FMN J. Quinn, Pohick Creek

Below is a list of the stream monitoring workshops and training opportunities located throughout the county:

Cub Run Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: April 9, 1:00-3:30pm
Where: Cub Run Stream Valley Park, Centreville

This spot is known for the beautiful Virginia bluebells that bloom at our stream site each spring. Participants often see a lot of mayflies too! Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

Sugarland Run Monitoring Workshop

When: Saturday, April 15, 9:30am-12:00pm
Where: Sugarland Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon

This stream site is known for the large number of Great Blue Herons that visit the site as well as a large number of crayfish found in our collection nets. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

Difficult Run Monitoring Workshop

When: Thursday, May 4, 4:00-6:30pm
Where: Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, Great Falls

This long-standing stream site has changed greatly in width, depth, and streambed composition since NVSWCD first began monitoring the site. You never quite know what you’ll find! Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

Horsepen Run Stream Monitoring Workshop

When: Wednesday, May 17, 4:00-6:30pm
Where: Horsepen Run Stream Valley Park, Herndon

This site has faced challenges in recent years including erosion and invasive bamboo. Join the NVSWCD as participants monitor Horsepen Run to assess stream health and learn about the environmental impacts on this stream. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here Resceduled from the original workshop date in March.

Wolftrap Creek Monitoring Workshop

When: Saturday, May 20, 9:30am-12:00pm
Where: Wolftrap Creek Stream Valley Park, Vienna

This stream site is one of NVSWCD’s newer sites, with easy stream access and often used as a site for VASOS field certification workshops. Learn more and register for this workshop and others here.

More Training and Stream Monitoring Opportunities

PocketMacros App – macroinvertebrate ID on Android and Apple

Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) is very excited to contribute their stream data to state and national datasets. If you’d like to see data from all the NVSWCD regional stream monitoring team’s active sites, you can find NVSWCD organization on the Clean Water Hub.