July 30 – I went to the Arkansas Has It All program at the beautiful 4-H center in Ferndale. I joined teachers from all over the state and PMSP interpreters Sarah and Kristina to listen to the programs offered by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. I attended Progect Wild first and learned about black bears in Arkansas. The fun story/exercise had us imitating bears searching for food while some of us had special needs. From what we were able bring back to our den, we graphed our intact of food and water. Some of us didn’t survive. Next I went to the Stream Team. There we were introduced to macroinvertebrates and how they showed the health of a stream running through the camp. Our group determined the stream was in good shape by the ones we were able to log. We found a water penny which is one of the sensitive species. Since it was so hot, we certainly didn’t mind standing in the stream for an hour. Then it was off to Project Wild which was combined with Project Learning Tree. Our exercise there was a clues game which was entertaining and educational. I guessed two of the animals and missed two. Then we were introduced to Project Learning Tree. We pretended to be trees and were able to graph the things we received from the environment to determine how big the rings in the wood might be during a certain time frame. I was touched by a diseased tree so my chances of survival were limited. The AGFC, ADEQ and American Forest Foundation did a superior job of organizing and presenting the information. I hope that CAMN will be able to schedule a time with enough people interested to host a class. The benefits to CAMN would be numerous. First it would help those of us who are hesitant to present a program to children because we don’t feel we have enough information about a certain subject. Second it will help us be aware of the wonderful job these agencies are doing to bring awareness of wildlife and the environment to children and adults all over Arkansas.
Nestling named Lollipop Sunday, July 27, 2008
This hummingbird nestling was found at Pinnacle Mountain State Park by somebody and left were she could be found. After a couple of days of care at PMSP she was transported to a wildlife rescue expert, Janine.
She was named Lollipop by a few of us that briefly took care of her and transported her to Janine. As of Sunday afternoon, Janine reported that she is doing great. She is eating her “bug juice protein drink” on her own at times, trying to fly more and alert. She was constipated yesterday and the warm bath last night helped relieve her.
This next week she should be strong enough to be released into an aviary with some fruit flies to try to catch and in two to three weeks have enough “training” to be able to be released.
Only experts trained in Wildlife rehab should take on the care of a wild bird. No one should ever try to provide care without their guidance.
UPDATE on August 22 From Janine, the wonderful wildlife rescuer: I just wanted to let you know that the bird is out of the aviary and on her way. Her feathers had grown in beautifully…. Her flight skills were excellent, and her bill was adult length. I’d been planning to wait until she was a little fatter because she wasn’t quite as roly-poly as some of the HY birds I see, but her weight was high and she was exhibiting migratory restlessness that made me think that sooner was better than later. So, with intermittently sunny skies, off she went—to what we hope is a long, happy and fruitful life.
Thank you, Janine, from all of us.
Hummingbirds get jewelry Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 26, 2008 Pinnacle Mountain State Park
A crowd of 70 people got to watch as Larry, one of 150 bird banders in the US, showed us how to trap a hummingbird, safely remove the bird from the trap, and band at beautiful Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas. Children got to release the hummingbirds after they were banded, weighed and measured. We banded around 14 birds. One bird that was caught had been banded last year. The last bird to trap was the first one we had banded that day. Most were young birds just off the nest and very hungry and the majority were females. We are hoping to band again in September to see which ones are still around and check them out. This information is complied with other others to help us learn about their voyages.
Is it Smokey the Bear or Smokey Bear? Only YOU can prevent forest fires. Monday, July 14, 2008
Just had the advanced training on starting fires…and now here I go with information reminding you how to prevent wildfires. But wait, back to his name question, is it Smokey the Bear or Smokey Bear? When I wrote about Trails Day on the CAMN website, I just copied what I was seeing in other emails. Then, I got a email correcting me. I was confused. I sang the song in my head…
Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear.
Prowlin’ and a growlin’ and a sniffin’ the air.
He can find a fire before it starts to flame.
That’s why they call him Smokey,
That was how he got his name.
…I was right, Smokey the Bear was his name. THEN…
I went to the internet and looked up information about it. Actually, smokey is not even a word from the word smoke. It is smoky like Smoky Mountains. But it is Smokey Bear, not Smokey the Bear. The word “the” was just added to make the song. You can read it all at www.smokeybear.com. But, I would like to highlight a few of my history finds from that website. Bambi was on loan from Walt Disney for only one year so the US Forestry Service had to find another animal since using animals proved to be a successful campaign. Smokey the cartoon character was a real bear cub who was rescued from a New Mexico fire in 1950 and lived out his life in a zoo after he healed from his burns. I hope you all will run to that website and find out more facts about wildfires, review the history of the ad campaign during the war and after, and take the pledge. I copied the Wildfire pledge from the website in case you just don’t have the time. Remember, only you can prevent a forest fire.
I pledge: BE SMART WHENEVER I GO OUTDOORS
- To use caution and common sense before lighting any fire.
- To understand that any fire I or my friends create could become a wildfire.
- To understand and practice proper guidelines whenever I or my friends create a fire outdoors.
- To never, ever leave any fire unattended.
- To make sure any fire that I or my friends create is properly and completely extinguish before moving on.
- To properly extinguish and discard of smoking materials.
- To be aware of my surroundings and careful when operating equipment during periods of dry or hot weather.
- To speak up and step in when I see someone in danger of starting a wildfire.
Can YOU survive, part 2 Dynamics of Fire Building Sunday, July 13, 2008
Survival training, part 2. We studied the dynamics of fire starting – friction, percussion, optical, electrical and chemical. I will have time to relate only a few of the things I found interesting. First, do you dig a hole and disturb the land or place rocks around. Watch the type of rocks you might use because sedementary stone can explode. Wouldn’t that be a surprise. Do you really need to build a fire right now? Do you need to stay warm or boil some water to drink? Collecting the material for a fire expends energy. If everything is wet, dry it by using the forked limbs propped up on branches, anything to get it off the ground. Tinder is the first thing to look for. Watch using dryer lint that you have brought because of the synthetic fibers and don’t use hair or bird’s nests. Jute makes great tinder along with some plants and trees and their bark. Something not to use is poisen ivy although the hairy vine looks like it might burn well. One item that burned really well from Mike Thennes survival pack was cotton balls saturated in vaseline. We also saw how a battery and steel wool would spark. I tried the steel wool with a striker and hack saw blade and was amazed how quick it took off. Rich pine worked good as did the polyspore mushrooms. Ever wonder how the Native Americans carried fire with them? Oops, guess that will remain a secret unless you were there to see it. We used the magnifying glass until the sun went under some huge dark clouds and it started to rain. Yesterday, lessons were learned, friendships were strengthened, and many thanks expressed to Mike Thennes and PMSP’s Sarah Jones for everything they taught us.
Finding your way Sunday, July 13, 2008
Being a Master Naturalist is easy. You take some courses and volunteer at a few booths to let other know about the organization. But, what do you do from there? Finding your way is as hard as you want to make it. One might think, forty volunteer hours….just what am I going to do? Others just join in an already determined volunteer project and follow the leader. A few have their own ideas and work to make them fit. Look at your interests first. What do you enjoy doing? Also look at how far you want to travel with the hours you have available. Do you want to do it with others or it is something you want to do by yourself. Wander around the blogsphere and see what others are doing. Usually something is right beside you, knocking at your door.
Prehistoric Rock Art Found by Naturalist Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Master Naturalist Discovers Prehistoric Rock Art
Master Naturalist Don Higgins, who donates the majority of his volunteer hours to Petit Jean State Park, made an amazing discovery while working in the field on a project he created for himself. Don stumbled upon this previously undiscovered treasure at an undisclosed location within the parks boundaries. Congratulations Don!
Pictograph near Petit Jean Mountain. Picture taken by Don Higgins.
After meeting Don and hearing about his findings, I realize how important it is for us all to find our own path. Don discovered, like most of us, that he didn’t know or understand the nature that surrounded him. He took the CAMN training and by using the resources CAMN gave him, has strengthened his own mission statement. His hard work in the field has led to many discoveries of prehistoric rock art, rockshelters and unique plants growing around Petit Jean Mountain. We hope to be hearing more from him.
Typical rock shelter
Can You Survive? Part 1 Water and Shelter Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Sunday, July 5th See pictures in CAMN’s Flickr photos
Advanced training on Survival training was held at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Park Interpreter Sarah Jones and a very knowledgeable Mike Thennes lead the group about the priorities of shelter and water. These are just a few of my notes to give you an idea of what was covered in the class. We all appreciated the time they donated to this training event.
Many people become disoriented and confused when lost in the woods. Trying to find your way home can make it hard for people to locate where you are. Stay put, build a shelter, get drinking water, and make lots of noise to let people know where you are.
WHEN and HOW: When we are thirsty, we are already 3% dehydrated because our brain signals us when it is too late. Drink 8 oz every 15 minutes because the body can’t store water. Instead of gulping your water, drink like a wine taster. It will help hydrate the sinuses. We lose water by conduction, convection, radiation, respiration, and perspiration. You can lose up to a liter of water a day by breathing through your mouth. Protein and fat need a lot of water to digest, so while hiking, bring carbohydrates. When you hear water sloshing in your stomach it means you need salt (Replenish at Walmart). Shivering burns up to 500 calories a minute (I was thinking that this weight loss program is not recommended while trying to survive).
FIND IT: Watch the wildlife and looks for tracks. Animals will daily go for water. Use a handkerchief to collect dew by wiping it on grass or leaves of non-poisonous trees then squeezing it in something to purify. Water can come from trees. The ones to look for are maple, birch, hickory, sweet gum and sycamore. A grapevine also contains water. If you are desperate, try the eye of a fish.
FILTERS: Boiling is best but if you can’t there are a lot of types of filters and methods. Many were described and it was suggested we practice at home before we actually need to use them. Eating snow can lower your body temperature and increase the risk of hypothermia. Melt the snow first, and purify the water before drinking.
SHELTER: We saw a survival tent constructed with just a stick, tarp and ropes. Watch for where you put the tent. Observe overhead (lose branches to fall in a storm), drainage, and plants (poison ivy) around you. If you build by a stream, animals follow the bank and you could put yourself in danger. Then we hiked to a previously built A-frame bough shelter. The reality of a survival situation increased my need for knowledge as I attempted to get in the small shelter and visualized myself in the woods alone, hoping to survive the night until help arrived.
KNOTS: Something I had forgotten since Girl Scouts many years ago. Need a refresher on that.
FURTHER READING: Books suggested that interested me were the Tom Brown Jr books in particular the Field Guide for Suburban and City Survival.
Graduation at the BioBlitz Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Our May 3 BioBlitz and Graduation was a great success at Gillam Park. Sixty-five people attended, including 10 high school students and 36 Master Naturalists. The BioBliz was an opportunity for us to help inventory the new Little Rock Nature Center at Gillam Park while celebrating the graduation of 24 new members and recognizing people who have done outstanding service. One BioBlitz team found a rare black-billed cuckoo and Master Naturalist Lavada Pierce was able to snap a picture for us.
Black-Billed Cuckoo
Master Naturalist Bill Toland and Bert Turner were this year’s recipients of the Founder’s Award. President George Lauster awarded the plaques. Both Bill and Bert have created volunteer projects that have benefited Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Master Naturalist Bill Toland worked on the interpretation of the trails. Master Naturalist Burt Turner worked to develop a core of trail builders. Both men have made outstanding contributions of time and energy to teach people about nature and how to protect Arkansas with its beautiful resources.
Founder Award
