Tomato hornworm, larva of a sphinx moth (Terry W. Johnson)

By TERRY W. JOHNSON

Would you believe me if I said you could help preserve and enhance our native plant and animal heritage as well as the environmental health of Georgia without ever leaving your home? Probably not.

If I went on to say you could do this by encouraging caterpillars in your yard, you would probably be convinced I was out of my mind. In truth, however, this isn’t as far-fetched as it may sound.

Research probing the loss of habitat has revealed a critical connection between declining numbers of native plants and the resulting impact on caterpillars, one of if not the most important food source for birds and other animals. ...

For more on this issue and what you can do, read the rest of Terry’s column.

Terry W. Johnson is a retired DNR nongame program manager and executive director of TERN, Nongame Conservation’s friends group. Read more in the Out My Backdoor library, on Terry's Backyard Wildlife Connection blog and in his book “A Journey of Discovery: Monroe County Outdoors.”

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Butterfly Identification at CEWC:

During the fall season, you can spot several species of butterfly coming out to CEWC to find our flowers. Below are some that naturalist have spotted recently.

L to R (Top to Bottom)- Pearl Crescent (P. tharos), Zebra Longwing (H. charithonia), Cloudless Sulphur (P. sennae), American Lady (V. virginiensis) . Photo Credit: CEWC naturalists.

 

Upcoming Family Public Programs:

Family public programs are usually FREE Saturday programs that cover a variety of natural history and outdoor recreation topics. Participants will gain outdoor experience while having fun with our naturalists. You can register for these programs by calling 770-784-3059*.

Tree ID Hike October 21^st   10am-12pm 

As the seasons change, how do you identify trees without using their leaves? On this hike naturalists will show you how to ID trees based on their other key features and also tell you some fun facts such as their medicinal/edible uses and roles within the ecosystem.

Brooke Ager Discovery Room Open House October 21^st 1pm-3pm

Twice a year, the Brooke Ager Discovery Room is opened to public to explore the ecoregions of Georgia and wildlife that can be found there. Our seasonal naturalists will be present along with some of their favorite animal friends to help guide you through the exhibits as well as our interactive stations.

Dutch Oven 101- November 11^th, 2017 10am-12pm

Come join us as we to explore one of America’s most versatile and historically important pieces of equipment – the cast iron Dutch oven! Since revolutionary America, this excellent tool has changed and supported the growth of our nation in ways that people are not commonly familiar with. We will take a look at this history as well as taking time to discuss fire building and safety, a cornerstone of any camping experience. Also, bring a healthy appetite as we will be putting our equipment to use in making a delicious open fire meal!

Youth Christmas Bird Count December 9^th, 2017 8:00am-3:00pm

Teams of kids ages 8-16 will be led by experienced birders as they search the fields and forests of the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. After a lunch, kids will get a chance to present their findings and participate in a birds of prey program. Kids do not have to be experienced birders to participate. Binoculars and field guides will be provided to the kids, and parents are welcome to join the teams.

 

*Public programs are for individual families, not groups or organizations. Space is limited so pre-registration is required for most sessions. As a courtesy to others, only sign up for programs that you know you can attend and be sure to mark those dates on your calendar. If you need to cancel, please let us know at least 3 days in advance so we can offer those vacant spaces to the folks on our waiting list.