Eagle Cams

We have posted 2 links to the right of this post under Interesting Links. The links are for local eagle cams.

Unfortunately there has been some disturbance at the nest on the NCTC eagle cam and much discussion in regards to the happenings, of which you can read about here. The eagle chick, which hatched on March 17th, survived only a few days and it is unlikely to see any additional chicks hatch this season. There are high hopes to see the eagles nesting again next season. Stay tuned and you can keep a lookout yourself on the NCTC eagle cam here.

However the Norfolk Botantical Garden has a pair of eagles that began building their nest in 2003 and are being filmed beautifully along with their eaglets. Check out the Norfolk Botantical Garden eagle cam here.

2011 Class dates

For those continuing with the Master Naturalist classes this year, the TENTATIVE list of dates for 2011 is as follows. You can use this to determine when the classes you need to complete the course will be offered.


Core classes are required for you to graduate. Elective hours can be substituted hour for hour with any approved elective, but it is easier for you to plan on the ones offered.

March 19-20 Cacapon Orientation, General Ecology, Names/Classification/Identification and Soils (elective), Nature Interpretation/Teaching and Geology (elective)

April 30 Shepherd University Birds and Wildflowers/Weeds

May 21 NCTC Terrestrial Habitats and Recording/Sharing and Preserving What You Know

June 11 Cool Spring Farm Reptiles/Amphibians, Beavers (elective), Mammals

July 16 Cacapon Aquatic Habitats

August 6 NCTC Slime Molds (elective), Insects/Spiders & Such

Sept 10 Cool Spring Farm Wetland Habitats and Habitat Improvement

Oct 1 Yankauer Trees/Shrubs/Woody Wines, Service Project and Elective (elective)

Nov 5 Cacapon Service Project, Auction, and Casual Picnic

Nov 19 NCTC Annual Meeting and Presentation of Certification

Core classes are required for you to graduate.  Elective hours can be substituted hour for hour with any approved elective, but it is easier for you to plan on the ones offered.

2011 Workshops

Hi All-

 

I have attached information about the 2011 MN Workshops that you can take for MN credit. This information will also be posted on the PVAS website very shortly.

 

The workshops are on a “first come first served” basis and we are advertising them as open to the general public, so if you see one or more that interest you, do not delay in registering.

 

Don’t forget that you can also take classes independently of those offered by PVMN. You can get an hour or maybe more credit by attending the PVAS monthly meetings or special programs presented by Friends of NCTC. The Smithsonian Naturalist Center in Leesburg also has frequent programs.

 

Ellen and Wanda

 

(Your friendly MN Member Services group)
 
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The Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program, under the auspices of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, will offer a series of nature workshops that have both classroom and field segments. All workshops are open to members of the general public on a “first come, first served” basis. These workshops also count as “elective courses” for PVMN certified members and for PVMN members who have been accepted for the 2011 certification program.

 

There is a maximum enrollment of 20 students for each workshop. You may register for one or more workshops on one application. Full payment for all workshops chosen must be included with the application. Checks should be made payable to the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.

• A registration confirmation will be sent by email. Directions will be included.
• Refunds will not be made except when a course is cancelled.
• A fee paid for a cancelled workshop can be transferred to another workshop.

Applications must be received no later than two weeks before the date of the workshop to reserve your space. Late applications can be accepted if space is available, but instructors may not have enough materials for a late applicant.

 

Students must make their own arrangements for snacks, drinks, and lunch. (For workshops at the National Conservation Training Center, the Commons cafeteria might not be available. There are vending machines and a restaurant at Cacapon State Park.)

 

If you have questions, contact Wanda Miller at 304-263-7320 or PVMN54@gmail.com or Ellen Murphy at 304-676-8739 or pvasprograms@comcast.net.

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EMERGING CONTAMINANT ISSUES AND FISH HEALTH


January 15, 2011, 9 a.m.-12 noon

Dr. Vicki Blazer, Fisheries Biologist

USGS National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Kearneysville WV


NATURE PROGRAMS WITH CHILDREN

February 5, 2011, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (including lunch break)

Cacapon State Park (Main Lodge), Berkeley Springs WV

Nancy Little, Ellen Murphy, Wanda Miller


BATS

May 14, 2011, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

(This date and time is tentative and may need to be changed because of instructor availability.)

Cool Spring Farm, Lloyd Rd, Charles Town WV

Kieran O’Malley, WVDNR Biologist


FALL WILDFLOWERS

September 24, 2011, 9 a.m.-12 noon

NCTC

Phil King, NCTC Staff


MONARCH WATCH

August 20, 2011, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Cool Spring Farm, Lloyd Rd, Charles Town WV

Clark Dixon


LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT) TRAINER WORKSHOP

Late April/Early May

Clark Dixon (certified LNT Trainer)

For Love of Children Outdoor Education Center, Mission Road, Charles Town WV

Registration for this program MUST go through the Jefferson County Adult and Community Education Program at http://boe.jeff.k12.wv.us/ . Fees for this program are higher.

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For more information and registration form please visit the Potomac Valley Audubon Society's website.

NCTC Volunteer Opportunity

PVAS to Sponsor Birding Station at NCTC Open House


The National Conservation Training Center will hold its annual open house on October 23.

The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., rain or shine.

The theme of this year's open house will be focused on birds. NCTC's 538-acre campus includes a rich variety of bird habitats, from eastern hardwood forest to edge areas, hedgerows, meadows and Potomac River waterfront. It also includes a Bald Eagle nest which has been active for five seasons now.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hoping visitors will take this opportunity to learn more about our fascinating feathered friends.

PVAS will be sponsoring a "Take a Child (and Adult) Birding" station at the event.

From there, we will be conducting short (10 to 20-minute) bird walks on the NCTC campus throughout the day, providing binoculars for those who do not have their own to see birds up close.

We will also have informational displays, including a "please touch" table, and people on hand to answer questions. We would also like to offer visual bird identification games and bird song quizzes for children.

We will need volunteers willing to help staff this PVAS station and lead birding walks.

If you would like to volunteer and/or have other ideas for activities for our station, please contact Joette Borzik of NCTC at 304-876-7207 or joette_borzik@fws.gov as soon as possible.