trailblazer -...

TRAILBLAZERSupporting Oregon Ridge Park and Nature Center for 32 years

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council, 410-887-1815; www.oregonridgenaturecenter.org; TDD/Deaf 410-887-5319

February - March 2016

WHAT’S GOING ON AT OREGON RIDGE?

Working for Forest Health

Written Collaboratively by Ted Martello, Mary Jane Shanks, and Jim Curtis

Council Board Members

Ifyouareonewhoregularlyenjoyshikingthroughthewoods and meadows at Oregon Ridge Park, you may beaskingyourself,“Whattheheckisgoingon?”Therearetreesdisappearing,pipesstackedhigh,newroadwayspoppingup,areasofameadowturningtostone,sometrailsclosing,andnewplantstakingoverinplaceswheretreesoncegrew.JustwhatishappeningatOregonRidge? Theanswerismuch!Youmayknowfromreadingpreviousissues of the Trailblazer that a major project has begunin Oregon Ridge’s forest interior — the expansion of theColumbiaGaspipeline.YoumaynotknowthataCountyledtree-thinningprojecttopromotetheregenerationofoaktreesis also occurring simultaneously with the pipeline activities.TogetherthesetwoprojectshavecreatedaclassicscenarioofThe Good, The Bad and The UglyatOregonRidge. Let’s startwithThe Good. Bothprojectswere launchedwithgoodintentionstohelpeitherhumansorpopulationsofnativespecies,bothplantandanimal.ThepipelineexpansionwillbringbetterservicestomanyMarylandcitizens.Thetreethinningisaresultofa2007forestassessmentthatshowedtheoaktreepopulationdisappearingfromtheforestdueinlargeparttoovercrowdingbyother,lessbeneficialtrees.Thinningwillhopefullyallowoakregeneration. As often happens, two nasty cousins, The Bad and The Ugly, areshadowing The Good.The BadisthatbothprojectshavecreatedproblemsforOregonRidge.Thepipelinecomeswithsomeexpectedproblems,severalofwhicharetemporary:thelossofmanyhealthy,maturetrees,inconveniencetohikers

(continued on page 6)

ORNCC Trailblazer | Feb - March ‘16

MAplE SuGARING WEEkENDSAn Oregon Ridge Spring Tradition

February 20, 21, 27 and 2810 AM - 4 pM It’s FREE

Thetappingofmapletreesisariteofpassagefromwinterintospring.Graydays,snow,wind,iceandfreezingrainarecomingtoanend.Treesarepreparingtobud,thesunisshiningbrighter,andpeoplearecomingoutdoors.HereatOregonRidge,maplesugaringisatime-honoredtradition.Thestaffisanxioustogetoutsidetocollectthatsweetsomethingcalledsapfromourmapletreesandtransformthewaterysubstanceintosticky,sweetsyrup! TwoweekendsinFebruaryarededicatedtotakingpublicgroupsoutonanadventuroushiketothesugarbush,awoodlandareafilledwithMotherNature’smaples.Hikes begin at 10AM, and then subsequently on eachhouruntilthelastleavestheSugarShackat3PM.Eachgrouphikeincludestree identification, tappingdemos, sapcollection,anddemonstrationsonhowsyrupismade.Ifwe’relucky,therewillbedemonstrationsof“sugaronthesnow”(mapletaffy)at12:30and3:45PMattheSugarShack.Otherfestivitiesincludefacepainting,movies,animalencountersandmaplesyrupand candy sales. Bring family and friends to learn about the amazinglysimple,yetprolonged,processofmakingmaplesyrup.Techniquesshowncanbeusedforbackyardtapping!

ORNC COuNCIl’S 30TH ANNuAl pANCAkE BREAkFAST

March 5 & 6, lodge, 8 AM – NoonAdults $7, $4 for Children Age 2-8

OregonRidge’sAnnualPancakeBreakfastprovidesmanysupporterswithasweetwaytogivebacktotheirfavoriteparkandnaturecenter,whilefeastingonpancakessmotheredinpuremaplesyrup.ThebreakfastsupportstheOregonRidgeNatureCenterCouncilanditsmissiontosupportallofthosethingsthatyoulovetoseeanddoattheNatureCenter. Thismarksthe30thyeartheCouncilhasservedbreakfasttooursupporters,with nearly 200 volunteers doing so much more than flipping pancakes toguaranteeafestivediningevent.Eachdollarraisedgoestomakingbettertrails,caringforanimals,creatingnewandinteractiveexhibits,maintaininggardens,promotingnewevents,andkeepingcostsloworfreeforyourfavoriteprograms. Noreservationsarerequired;payatthedoor.Pleasebringcashorcheckforallpurchases.Yourplateofpancakeswillincludegrilledsausage(veggieoptionavailable)andachoiceoforangejuice,milk,coffeeortea.Music,facepainting,raffles,maplesyrupsalesandmoreaddtothefestivities. Wehope to seeyou there,but ifyoucan’tattend,considersupportingtheCouncilwitha$30donationfortheir30yearsofprovidingcommunityfellowship.Behindthescenes,theCouncilisbusymakingplanstorenovatethelibraryandconstructafuturepavilionthatwillcometofruitionin2016.And,thereissomuchmoretocome!(Donations by check to ORNCC or via credit card on our web site at oregonridgenaturecenter.org/Donations.html.)

MS. MAplE INVITES YOu TO MAplE SuGARING 2016

Ms. Maple is ready to serve you!

one stack or two? don’t forget seconds

on the sausage!

ORNCC Trailblazer | Feb - Mar ‘16

One of the oldest and best volunteer programs atOregonRidgeisTrailGuiding.OregonRidgewasthefirstto create such a group, and now all other Nature Centershave followed their lead. The program is designed for allthosepeoplewhoarestillkidsatheartandgarnerimmensepleasure from exploring the woods, meadows, fields, andstreams at Oregon Ridge. They perk with enthusiasm andwanttosharethatveryyouthfulfeelingwiththeyoung.TrailGuidesatOregonRidgeleadsmallgroupsofvisitingschoolchildren (alongwith their adult chaperoneswhoenjoy thechance to be kids again) through the habitats at OregonRidgeforahands-onnatureexperiencethatnoschoolroomcanreplicate.

Don Outen, Baltimore County’s Natural ResourceManager for Forest Sustainability, will present the past,presentandfutureeffortstoimprovethesustainabilityoftheforestecosystematOregonRidgePark.Basedonadetailedforesthealthassessmentconductedin2007,amanagementplanwasdevelopedtoassurefutureforesthealth.Donwillsharetheresultsoftheassessmentthatprecipitatedtheneedfor forest management, primarily the dire decline of theoak population throughout the Park.Don will also describe the continuingprogram to manage the OregonRidge forest to protect water quality,providefornativehabitat,andenhancerecreational experiences for citizens inthefaceofnotonlyoakdecline,butofGypsyMoths andother pests, invasiveplants,anddeerherbivory. Don Outen, a Baltimore native,earned his B.S. from TU and M.S.from Johns Hopkins in Geography andPlanning. Don has worked in land useplanningandenvironmentalmanagementinMarylandsince1973.HeisaCharterMember of the American Institute ofCertifiedPlanners.Since1987,Donhashelpeddevelopandmanageenvironmental

RESTORING THE OREGON RIDGE FOREST

By Donald C. Outen, AICp

March 21 at 7:30 pM, Free Admission

TRAIl GuIDES SHARE ENTHuSIASM FOR NATuRETraining Set for February 2 - 4 and/or September 6 - 9, 10 AM to 1 pM

programsforBaltimoreCounty’sDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection and Sustainability, including assessment andprojectmanagementforforesthealthatCountyparks.He’samemberoftheCoreGroupofthenationalSustainableForestsRoundtable, and is a member of the Governor’s SustainableForestryCouncil. Donreceivedthe2015ChesapeakeForestChampion,LifeTimeAchievementAward from theAlliancefortheChesapeakeBayandtheUSForestService.

If you are a nature enthusiast and enjoy sharing withchildren,joinoneofourTrailGuideTrainingsessions.Learnhow to leadmaple sugaringhikes andhikes tofind snakes,turtles,birds,reptilesandamphibians,allsortsofplants,andmore.Mostdayswillincludeoutdoor,hands-onlearning. Firsttimevolunteersdonate$20whenregistering,whichisrefundedafterleadingasolofieldtrip.Weencouragenewvolunteers toobserve seasonedTrailGuides and staffbeforeleading ahikeon theirown.AllTrailGuides are invited tojoinusonourmonthlyTrail Guide Field Triptoothernaturecentersandparkstolearnmoreaboutnature. Formoreinfoortoregister,contactORNC9AM–3PMweekdays:(410)887-1815,[email protected].

ORNC COUNCIL SPEAKER SERIES


WHAT’S COMING up THIS SpRING?

FOllOW THE pIED pIpER -- MuSIC IN THE WOODS IS MOVING!

New Date: June 4, 2016 New Time: 2 to 8 pM

Music in the Woods and our Annual Picnic are now one.We’ve decided to combine two fun programs to make onefantasticdayofmusicalmerriment.Thebestofbothwilltakeplace throughout the day onSaturday, June 4th, beginningwith music, animal encounters,crafts, and tasty treats at 2 PMandendingat8PMwithroastedmarshmallows’moresaroundthecampfire.Admissionisstillfree. Watch for the upcomingApril-June newsletter for moreinformationaboutMusicintheWood2016.

Forquitesometimenow,longenoughtosafelyproclaimitsoverwhelmingsuccess,theMaster Naturalist programhasbeenconductedinvariousnature facilities in Marylandand throughout the UnitedStates.Itisactuallyquitean

ingeniousprogramthathaselevatedvolunteerismandstewardshipinthefortunateareasittouches.Theprogramisappealingonsomanylevelsofthehumanpsyche—egoandall.First,iteducates.Peoplefromallwalksoflife,whoshareacommoninterestinnatureandtheenvironment,haveachancetocometogetherandlearnaboutsomethingforwhichtheyarepassionate.Attheendofthetraining,danglingoutthereliketheproverbialcarrot, is a title — MASTER NATURALIST. How cool isthat! It’salmostakintoearningadegree. Pictureoneselfata party, talking to unfamiliar faces, and when the inevitablequestion is asked,answering,“I’maMaster Naturalist.” Theconversation suddenly shifts from small talk to somethingmuchmoreinteresting. But,thereisacatch.Togetthetitle,youmustearnit.Inadditiontothe60hoursoftraining,youhavetocommitto40hoursofdoingsomethingsubstantialthatisgoodforyourcommunity and nature. Once that goal is achieved, you areaMasterNaturalist. So, is that it? No.To remain aMasterNaturalist, the 40 hour commitment continues yearly, butby then you’re hooked! The title comes with new friends,a sense of belonging to a special group, a feeling of realachievement,recognition,andallthatfeelsGOOD.ItleavesmostparticipantswithanI must have more of that!incentivetocontinuedoingwhatfeelsgoodandisgood.Ingeniousidea! ThespringMasterNaturalisttrainingiscomingup,April4th toMay23rd, from9:00AMto3:30PM. Trainingcosts$250.DropbytheNatureCenterforanapplication,orvisittheMasterNaturalistwebsite:

www.masternaturalist.umd.edu.

BECOME A MASTER NATuRAlIST AND START FEElING GOOD

Training Set for April 4 - May 23

BIRDS AND FuNGI ARE TOpICS FOR SpRING SpEAkER SERIES

The2015/16SpeakerSeries,hostedbytheOregonRidgeNatureCenterCouncil,endswithtwodiversetopics:

OnApril18,CarolynMathur,aretiredYorkCollegebiologyprofessorturnedphotographer,willgiveastunningpresentationtitled Through the Looking Glass. She will describe herjourneyintotheworldofbirdingandshareherexpertiseinbirdphotography.

This year’s Speaker SeriesendsMay16,with a lookat the fascinatingworldoffungipresentedbybiologistToviLehmann.ItissimplytitledFungus.

There is a summer hiatus before the Speaker Series for2016/17beginsinSeptember.Ifyouwouldliketobeconsideredasaspeaker,orifyouknowofsomeoneyouwouldliketohearatOregonRidge,pleasecontactMicheleSteinitzthroughtheNatureCenter.WatchforthenewscheduleinthefallissuesoftheTRAILBLAZER .

GET IN ON THIS GREAT pROGRAM AND

DO SOME GOOD!

TRAIlBlAZER STAFFEditor/Design/Layout: Mary Jane Shanks

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Writers: Jim Curtis, Jessica Jeannetta, Ted Martello, Kristin Panousa, MJ Shanks, Winny Tan Photographers: Jim Curtis, ORNC staff

OREGON RIDGE NATURE CENTER13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville 21030

410-887-1815 [email protected]; www.oregonridgenaturecenter.org

Articles/graphics for April - June issue due Feb. 29Color versions of the Trailblazer are on our web site.


EACH TEEN RIDGE RuNNER AT ORNC IS uNIQuE

MADDIE ROZICS: A Versatile Ridge Runner

MaddieRozicswas looking foravolunteeropportunity thatconnectedwithherlifelonginterestinanimalsandnature.ShehadattendedsomeoftheOregonRidgecampsasakid,soit’snotsurprisingthatshecameheretofindjustsuchanopportunityasamemberoftheteenRidgeRunnerprogram. Maddiehasputherpastexperiencetoworkbyhelpingoutatsummercamps,whichhasbecomeherfavoriteRidgiejobsinceitmeansbeingoutsideallday.Shesaysshelovesworkingwiththekidsbecause“…theyreallylookuptoyouandcanalwaysfindawaytomakeyoulaugh.”ShealsolovesthatbeingaRidgieallowshertohavea“…hugegroupofpeoplesurroundingyouthathavethesameinterestinnatureasyoudo.” Among her indoor chores, Maddie especially enjoys caring for the gray treefrogs.“Iloveputtingthemonmyfingersandfeelingtheirwebbedtoes.Ihonestlywishtherewasagiantroomfilledwiththemwhereyoucouldjustwalkinsideandthey’djuststickalloveryou.”Maddie’sloveforanimalsbeganathome.ShehastwominiaturepinchersnamedTysonandChocolate,aferretnamedSlinky,andanalbinocornsnakenamedCasperettathatreallybelongstohersister.Therearealsofivepaintedturtleslivinginherpond. Maddie is a versatile individual, with diverse interests. She is most movedby music and easily picks up on new instruments, including guitar, piano, andukulele.SheisagoodstudentatHerefordHigh,wheresheisajuniorwitha3.95GPA.Shedoesn’thavemuchtimetoread,butwhenshedoes,sheenjoysmurder/crimemysteriesandnon-fictionbooksabouttheworkingsofthemind.Infact,herfavoritesubjectispsychology,andshehopestoonedayearnherMBAinCriminalPsychology.Beforebeginningcollege,however,Maddiewantstogobackpackingoutwest.Shesaysherfavoritepastimeisbeingoutsideandphotographingnature. Maddiehasa funnyoutdoor,RidgeRunnerstorytoshare. It shouldbetitled‘RoosterRuckus.’Her account:Recently I brought my sister and her friend into the Nature Center, since they are interested in becoming Ridge Runners once they’re old enough.

We were taking care of the rooster, and he ended up escaping and rummaging through the woods. It ended up taking me, another ridge runner, and two other staff members to catch him! I never thought it’d take so much energy to outsmart a rooster! Maddie thinks being a Ridge Runner is “…a greatopportunity to get a hands-on experience working withanimals, to socialize andmake friendswitha lotofpeopleyouworkwith,andalsotomeetnewpeoplewhocometothe nature center, events, or camps.” If you or someoneyou know loves animals and nature, call Naturalist JessicaJeannettaduringweekdaystosetupaninterview.

Become a Member of a Great Team of Teens!

Become an ORNC Ridge Runner!


(Continued from front page)

due to trail closure, unsightly staging areas for equipment, andsomeconcernovertheeffectsonthePark’spristinestreams.Thetree thinning has created an unintended and more challengingproblem,whichisThe Ugly.Theaforementionedforestassessmentdid not predict or account for the growth of very ugly JapaneseStiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum). Increased sunlight in thefirstthinned area produced fertile ground for these tough, invasivegrasses. The stiltgrass is not easily eliminated and is smotheringnewoakandothernativeplants.Itmaytakeyearstoeliminatethestiltgrassinthisarea,butthereisstilltimetopreventthisinvasivefromtakingholdintherecentlythinnedareas. Alittlehistoryandeducationwillbehelpfultounderstandingwhat is happening in regards to forest management. OregonRidgeforestisBaltimoreCounty’spremierpublicforest.Backin2007,theBaltimoreCountyDepartmentofEnvironmenthiredWestminsterbasedMar-LenEnvironmentaltoperformaforesthealthassessmentandtodrawupamanagementplanforOregonRidge’s 895 forested acres. This plan was guided by the mainobjectivesofconservationofforesthealthandregeneration,andstructuralandbiologicaldiversity.Statedintheplan,it“providesrecommendations for silvicultural (forest growing) operationsthat may be implemented to sustain natural oak regenerationwithoutdiminishingthefunctionalvalueoftheforestforwaterquality, wildlife habitat, passive recreation or forest health.”Further, the plan states the following: “In order to sustain anoak dominated forest, environmental threats currently presentsuch as pests and diseases (e.g. Gypsy Moth), invasive plants,andthehighdeerpopulationmustbecontrolled.Foresthealthand vitality will also be improved by reducing environmentalstresscausedbyovercrowding.” Sowhatwas learnedabout thehealthof theOregonRidgeforest?Whileahealthyoakforestiscomprisedofadiverseageandcanopystructureaswellasafloorcoveredinsproutingacorns,theyfoundinadequateregenerationinallrandomsampleplotsselectedwithin22foreststandsinOregonRidge.Duetoanevenedged,closedcanopyforest,verylowlightlevelsarereachingtheforestfloor,retardingseedgermination.Additionally,theplanreportedthatasaresultofdeerbrowsing,54%ofthefieldplotssampledlackedoakgeneration,aswellasregenerationofanyothernativespecies.HaveyounoticedwhilehikingOregonRidge’strailsthatyou can often see quite far when peering through the woods?Evidenthereisavisiblebrowselinefromthegrounduptoabout5feet—atelltalesignofwhitetaildeer. The County has taken a multi-step approach to improvetheforesthealth.TocontrolthedeerpopulationtheCountyhasimplemented three deer culls in the last four years. There hasalsobeensomelimitedpestandinvasiveplantcontrol.However,the most extensive and observable effort has been in the forestthinning operation. The thinning of the forest canopy hasoccurred indifferentportionsof theforestreferredtoasStands1, 2, 3, 4 and 12 at Oregon Ridge (see map). The thinning of37 acres comprising Stand 1 was completed in 2013, resulting

These photos chronicle what has been happening in the forest at Oregon Ridge.

• The top photo shows a fenced area that has prevented deer from browsing. Notice the striking difference in understory/ground growth from one side to the other.

• The middle photo shows Stand 1 after thinning took place in 2013.

• The bottom photo shows the rapid spread of Japanese Stilt Grass in the same stand since 2013.

These grayscale photos are not the best. Please visit our web site to see more clearly in the color version of this article.


http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Environment/forestandtrees/

orpplanmain130308.pdf

intheunexpectedgrowthandspreadoftheuglyJapanesestiltgrass. Stands2,3,4werethinnedin2015,andStand12isscheduledforSpring2016. Youmaywonderwhywe are so infavorofoakspecies inourforests. Theoak species are considered the mostecologically important species in theChesapeake Bay Region’s forests. Theyareknownasakeystone species.Withoutkeystone species, the ecosystem wouldbe dramatically different or cease toexist altogether. Oaks are critical formaintaining high stream water quality.Inadditiontofunctionalbenefitsrelatedtowaterquality and the soil foodweb,nearly100speciesofmammalsandbirdsdepend on acorns as an essential high-energyfoodsource,especiallyduringthescarcityofwinter.Inthespring,youngoak foliage is consumed by more than530 species of moth caterpillars, whichinturnarefedtothehatchlingsofover150 species of resident birds and neo-tropicalmigratorybirds.Thisfarexceedsthe number of species supported bymaplesandothertrees. Recently an independent groupcommissionedBrianKnox,Presidentof

SustainableResourceManagement,Inc.,toassessthetreethinningthathastakenplacetodate.Amongotherobservations,thereportconfirmswhatonlookershaveseen,andstatesthatinStand1Japanesestiltgrassnowcoversnearly100%ofthearea,deerbrowsingcontinuestosuppresssuccessful regeneration, and the canopywas not opened enough for successfuloak regeneration. The report containsrecommendations to kill the invasivegrass,whichrequires theuseofmanualandchemical suppressionovermultipleyears. Fortunately, the people involvedwith these projects are now aware ofThe Bad and The Ugly. The Good willhopefully reign with the County’sresponse to the invasive grass anddeer problems, as well as correctivemeasuresbeingtakenbyOregonRidgevolunteers, especially those workingwith the Trailblazer Team and theHabitat Team. The Trailblazer teamis already making plans to introducebeneficial trees to affected areas andhelp the County attack the Japanesestiltgrass.You,too,canhelpbyjoiningoneoftheseteams.ContacttheNature

Centerandaskforacalendarofupcomingevents.You can alsohelpbyprovidingfeedbackandobservationstoourpublicland management agency: BaltimoreCounty Department of EnvironmentalProtectionandSustainability. For a chance to learn more andask questions, please attend the March21 Speaker Series to hear Don Outen’spresentationRestoring The Oregon Ridge Forest (seearticleonpage2). DonOutenisBaltimoreCounty’sNaturalResourceManager for Forest Sustainability. Youcan obtain more detailed informationabouttheBaltimoreCountyDepartmentof Environmental Protection andSustainability-ForestHealthAssessmentandForestManagementPlanforOregonRidgeParkbyvisitingthefollowinglink:

(Photos for this article by Jim Curtis. The front page photo is one of the beautiful oaks in Stand 3.)


Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all? is thevocalizationthatwedescribeforthehootingsoundfromthebarredowl.TheNatureCenterjustacquiredabarredowlfromaVirginiawildliferehabilitatorinlatesummerof2015.Thisowlwashitbyacarandnolongerhasthevision that it once had, making it difficult for the owlto hunt. Thus, it was deemed non-releasable and theNatureCenterstaffwillnowcareforitwhileusingitforeducationalprograms.Thenewbarredowl isbecomingone of our most popular live animal ambassadors, aspeopleareconnectingeducationalfactswithconservationvalueofthesemagnificentbirdsofprey. Aschildren,welearnthatanowlhoots.Differentowlspecieshootdifferently,andnotallowlsgiveoutahoot.Eachbird specieshas aunique language tofindone another in the immense tree landscape, but mostnecessarilysointhevastnessofthedarknight.Eachowlusesdifferentvocalizationstocommunicate.Owlshoot,butalsowhistle,bark,snore,buzz,screech,cough,hissand snapbeaks to relaymessages, such as fear, and todisplayaggression,defendaterritory,findamate,andcalltoparentsforfood.Ascreechowluttersawhinnyingsound,whilethebarnowlletsoutaraspingscreechthatsounds like terrible screaming. The great horned owlstakesoutitsterritorywithalow,syncopatedhooting.BiologistscomparethevarioushootingsoundstoMorsecode-therepeatedsongphrasesrangefromsimpleandshorttolonganddrawnoutsothateachspeciesofowlcandistinguishtheirownkindeasily. The majority of owls in Maryland are nocturnal,though some are more crepuscular (active during theearly hours of dawn and dusk). Since these raptorscannotseeinabsolutedarkness,theymustadapttobeskilled hunters and are well equipped to use whateverlightisavailable.Abarnowlhasvisualsensitivityatleast35 andpossiblyup to100 timesbetter thanhumans,helping it avoid trivialbranches andobstructionsas itflies.Owlsalsohavebig,forwardfacingeyes,thoughnottrue “eyeballs.” Their tube-shaped eyes are completelyimmobile,providingbinocularvisionthatfullyfocusesontheirpreywithwell-developeddepthperception.Tomakeup for the lackof eyemovement,owlswillbobandpivottheheadtotakeinseveralviewpoints.Owlscan rotate their necks 270 degrees and have a blood-pooling system that allows brain and eye functions tooccurwhentheneckmovementcutsoffcirculation. To augment thedifficulty of seeing atnight, owlshaveacutehearing.Manyowlspecieshaveasymmetricalears to pinpoint the location of sounds in multiple

OWlS GIVE A HOOTBy Naturalist Winny Tan, ORNC Director

dimensions.Theearopenings,calledapertures,arehiddenbythearrayoffeathersbehindtheeyes.Thefacialfeathersarearrangedlikearadardish,collectingsoundwavesandfunnelingthesoundintotheears.Anowl’sbraincreatesamentalimageofthespacewherethesoundsourceislocated.Oncetheowlhasdeterminedthedirectionofitsprey,itfliestowardit,keepingitsheadinlinewiththedirectionofthelastsoundthepreymade.Ifthepreymoves,theowlisabletomakecorrectionsmid-flight. I am lucky to be able to enjoy many owl moments as part ofmy workday. I am grateful to be in a profession that provides somany opportunities to enjoy nature while learning and working.Duringcampoutprograms,Ihaveheardthebarredowlcalloverandover,alwaysaround1AM.Itisamazingtoexperiencethissuccincttimingoneachcampout.Isawsnowyowlswhileattendingabirdingworkshopaspartofmyyearlycontinuingeducation.ThesightwasbreathtakingandworththetriptoAssateague.ThefirsttimeIsawabarnowlwaswhiledrivingintoworkasthemorningsunwasstartingtocomeup.Ialsorescuedababygreathornedowlthatfelloutofits nest, and watched it perform its head bobbing and fanned-outwingdisplaytointimidateme.Itwasapreciousmoment.Eveninmypersonallife,awakingtoagreathornedowl’sdistanthootsdriftingthroughmyopenbedroomwindowexcitesmeenoughtorousemykidssotheycanhearit,too! Workingwithanowl is amazing.Theirpowerful, sharp talonscan seize prey, killing it instantaneously; nevertheless, they cangently grasp my gloved arm as a perch. When peering into thoseimmenseeyes,whichseemtoseeandunderstandeverything,onecancomprehendthemythsandsuperstitionsthathavesurroundedowlsforcenturies. Seeinganowlinthewildisevenmorebreathtakingand never fails to astound the lucky onlooker graced to be in thepresenceof thesekingsandqueensthatrulethe forestatnightfall.Owlsaresohighlyadaptedtonightthatnootherpredatorisaworthyopponent.Owlsaredefinitelysomethingtohootabout!


COME AND SEE OuR NEW AND IMpROVED EXHIBITS!

thenativeflora and fauna that canbe seen aroundourPark.Thismuralprovidesacomplimentarybackdroptothereptiles,amphibiansandinsectsthatlivewithinthatspace. TheNatureCenterhas also renovated theWoodpecker Display.Realisticcolor illustrationsofnativewoodpeckersareaccompaniedwith audio species identification and authentic sample sounds,tappingandcalls.NexttotheWoodpecker Display,nearthewindowsoverlooking the deck, is a new Lift and Learn Bird Exhibit. Thisbeautifully rendered panel invites you to explore and discover thebirds that are indigenous to the Piedmont region. It depicts thenaturalhabitatinwhichthesebirdsarefound.Thisexhibitwillalsochangeperiodically,sobesuretocheckitouteachtimeyouvisit. FutureplansincludeahabitatdisplaythatwillvisuallyexplainthePiedmontregionanditsimportancetotheecosystem.Effortsarealsobeingmadetoimprovethedisplayofhistoricalartifactsfoundintheregion,whichshowsvisitorshowthepasthasaffectedtheland.TheExhibitCommitteestrivestoprovidebothvisuallypleasingandeducational exhibits tobeenjoyedbyallwhovisit theCenter.WearecontinuouslyworkingtoenhanceyourexperiencesattheNatureCenterandPark.

If you are not a regularvisitor to the Nature Center,therearesomesurprisesinstoreforyournextvisit.TheExhibitCommitteeandtheORNCstaffhavebeenverybusyin2015. Upon entering the NatureCenter exhibit hall, the firstnew exhibit you’ll see is theConservation Kiosk. This iPaddisplayincludesnumeroustopicson conservation and ecologicalissues.Theexhibitofferspersonaland practical solutions towardsmeaningfulimprovementsintheenvironment, reminding us thateveryonecanmakeadifferencebytheactionstheychoose.Thekioskwill be changed and updatedto keep it current with ongoingexplorationinconservation. In the animal room, you’llfindabeautifulmuraldepicting

Visit Often to See What’s New and Improved in 2016!


HElp SAVE THE BAY AT TAX TIME: Check line 35

IfyouarelikemostMarylanders,youloveyourbluecrabsandyoulove theChesapeakeBay. So itshould be an easy decision foryou to check Line 35 on your502 tax form to help save theBayby voluntarily contributing

totheChesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund. (IfyouarefilingoutofState,checkline38onForm505.)

The proceeds from this check-off are split evenly betweenBayrestorationgrantsprovidedbytheChesapeakeBayTrustandrarespeciesprogramsrunbytheWildlifeandHeritageDivisionoftheMarylandDepartmentofNaturalResources.With fully 90% of the Trust’s expenditures directed toChesapeake Bay restoration and education programs,Marylandresidentscanbeconfidentthattheirdonationsareleveragedappropriately. Whateveramountyoudonatethisyearistaxdeductiblenextyear.

Donor’snameswillbepublished.Ifyouwouldliketomakeagift inanother’sname,pleasespecify thenameas it shouldappearonthelist.

If you know a high school senior who may be eligible for ascholarship,informationandapplicationformsareavailableonourwebsite:www.oregonridgenaturecenter.org.

Applications should be postmarked no later than Friday, April 1, 2016.

Thank You for Helping Us Put Our Future Environmental Leaders

on the Path to Success.

College bound high school seniors from Baltimore CountyandCity,whoarecommittedtothehealthoftheenvironmentandplantoearndegreesinenvironmentalscienceandnatureeducation,canstartonthepathtosuccesswithascholarshipawardedbytheORNCCouncil.

This year we will support at least two scholarships

up to $3000 each.

YOU can help by giving generously to the 2016 Scholarship Fund.

Yourtax-deductibledonationsshouldbemadepayabletotheORNC Council, Inc. (specifyScholarship Fund on thenoteline)andsentto:

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council13555 Beaver Dam RoadCockeysville, MD 21030

plEASE DONATE TO OREGON RIDGE NATuRE CENTER COuNCIl’S SCHOlARSHIp FuND


Party Animals!

Birthday Partiesat Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Booking now Open!

For more information, contact the nature center at: 410-887-1815 www.oregonridgenaturecenter.org • [email protected]

Celebrate your birthday like a party animal!

Engaging activities, games, and

live encounters with animals!

Parties are 2-hours long with 1-hour of fun and exciting indoor/

outdoor naturalist led activities and 1-hour of self-led celebration

and cake.

Cost:Members: $225

Non-members: $250

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council13555 Beaver Dam RoadCockeysville, MD 21030

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTIMONIUM, MD

PERMIT NO. 296

Email______________________________________________ Phone _______________________

Address _____________________________________________ State ____ Zip ______________

___ $ 15 Individual ___ $ 250 Sustaining ___ $ 30 Family ___ $ 500 Lifetime ___ $ 75 Supporting ___ $ Extra Donation

Checks payable to ORNC Council, Inc., 13555 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville, MD 21030

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