FEBRUARY NATURE EVENTS
➤ VNPS PLANT WALK (Saturday, Feb. 9, 1 p.m.): This walk, hosted by the Virginia Native Plant Society’s Piedmont Chapter, focuses on winter plant adaptations and identification, with a stop for hot cocoa. Led by botanist and chapter board member Dr. Emily (Russell) Southgate, the walk is at the Virginia State Arboretum at Blandy, in Clarke County. Her major research interest is the historical ecology of the Eastern United States. While the walk is easy, the chapter encourages attendees to wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather and to RSVP topiedmontvnps@gmail.com. The walk is free and the public is invited.
➤ YHIKES! YOUTH NATURE HIKE (Saturday, Feb. 9, 10—noon): Children ages 5 and older are invited to join the monthly “YHikes! (Youth Hikes)” at the Clifton Institute, north of Warrenton. The kids will be guided in an exploration of property to see animals, fungi and plants that live here. The walk does not go far and is punctuated with frequent stops to look at and learn about all the different the species that live there. Parents are welcome to join their children, or drop them off. Closed-toe shoes or boots (preferably waterproof ), hats and water bottles are recommended. RSVP to Alison Zak (azak@cliftoninstitute.org) or register online at cliftoninstitute.org/events.
➤ BIRD WALK (Feb. 13, 8-10 a.m.): Join the Clifton Institute for its monthly Wednesday bird walk. Both novice and experienced birders are welcome to come on this guided hike, which is one to two miles, to look for the many species of birds that can be found on the field station in its successional fields, meadows, lake edges and forest. RSVP to Alison Zak (azak@cliftoninstitute.org) or register online at cliftoninstitute.org/events.
➤ WOODS AND WILDLIFE CONFERENCE (Feb. 23, 8:30-4:30): Register now for this popular conference, now in its 15th year, at the Daniel Technical Center, at Germanna College, in Culpeper. Primarily aimed at large and small landowners, the conference is a one-stop (or first-stop) venue for owners and managers of woodland properties who want to learn more about woodland ecology and management from experts in a variety of related fields. The conference, which is organized and supported by a host of conservation agencies and nonprofit organizations, regularly fills up. This year’s conference kicks of with “History and Literacy of Your Woods,” followed by talks and break-out sessions on tending hardwood-dominated forests, conserving soil during timber harvests, brook trout and stream habitat, the loggerhead shrike, gardening for pollinators, assessing tree failure risk, oak identification, tapping trees for syrup, frogging by ear and the state of Virginia’s deer populations. To register or for more information, go to forestupdate.frec.vt.edu and click on “Events,” or contact Downing at adowning@vt.edu or 540948-6881.