Briar Blog

Katie Says: When it comes to wildlife, let it be!

2010-07-23T13:26:00.001-04:00

In most cases, we are told that it is our duty as a part of society to act when we see something wrong. If we see a robbery in progress, we call the police to come and intervene. If we see someone in danger, those that step in are heralded as heroes. But when it comes to wildlife, our first instinct to intervene may not always be the best. Such was the case yesterday when I witnessed a bald-faced hornet kill and devour a red-spotted purple butterfly.

I noticed the butterfly flopping on the ground, and instinctively picked it up to see what was wrong and to put the butterfly on a nearby leaf. It was then that I noticed the bald-faced hornet latched on to its victim, using its jaws and stinger to try to subdue the red-spotted purple. Not wanting to be stung by a rather worked up hornet, I dropped the pair onto the ground. Part of me wanted to intervene; pry the hornet off of the butterfly to save the beautiful insect, but then I realized that the hornet needed to eat too and that I should instead appreciate the incredible opportunity to watch a hornet eat what literally lay before me.

In a gruesome act that seemed to come right out of a mobster movie, the hornet first removed the butterfly’s proboscis (tongue). Next came the head, which ended the butterfly’s suffering. I had predicted that the butterfly’s wings would naturally come next, but instead, the hornet removed the four hind legs of the butterfly, noisily chewing all the while. Finally, the hornet removed the thorax (the middle of the body) from the abdomen and the wings and flew off noisily with its bounty clutched between its legs.

Yes, it may have been a bit unnerving to watch a butterfly being eaten alive by a fierce predator, but what an opportunity, too! To witness the strength and deliberate actions of the hornet was something I will never forget. I may have felt badly for the butterfly who lost its life, but at the same time, I am glad that I did not intervene so that I could share in the hornet’s victory. Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

Katie Says: Did you know…?

2010-07-01T12:57:00.000-04:00

…that some species of flowers only open at night? These flowers were designed to attract moths, bats and other nocturnal animals as their pollinators, which are not active during the day.

…that not all fireflies are nocturnal? There are diurnal (active during the day) species that look just like any other firefly, except they lack the yellow, glowing abdomen. They also have longer, fuzzier antennae, a sign that these daytime fireflies rely on chemical signals from their mates, and not blinking, glowing ones.

…that snakes cannot blink? If you ever see a legless reptile blink at you, you’ll know you’re looking not at a snake, but at a species of legless lizard, found in the southeastern United States.

…that daddy long legs are not spiders? Although they are a kind of arachnid (along with mites, scorpions and ticks), they are not spiders. Daddy long legs cannot produce silk, have only two eyes instead of eight and have only one body segment instead of two. And in case you’re wondering, yes, daddy long legs can bite, but contrary to the myth, their venom is quite weak.

…that the barn owl can eat more mice in one year than ten cats combined? In parts of the country where the barn owl is common, farmers put up owl nest boxes around their crops to attract these magnificent mouse munchers!

…that Briar Bush is starting a brand new series of nighttime programs called “Hot S’more Nights”? It’s true! Each Thursday night in July, Briar Bush educators will lead fun and exciting programs to teach about the nighttime side of the Briar Bush woods. Want to learn more? Call Briar Bush at 215-887-6603 or be on the lookout for the next Briar Flyer!

Katie Says: Babies, babies, everywhere!

2010-06-15T11:47:00.000-04:00

Everywhere you look; there are babies at Briar Bush! Some are obvious, looking different from the adults or those that are still reliant on their parents for food, and some that achieve independence early in life are less apparent.

It doesn’t take long once you’ve arrived at the Briar Bush pond to notice that the water is practically bubbling with tadpoles. Green frogs (which is the true species name and not just a description) of every life stage can be found in the pond, from legless tadpoles to the giant, bullfrog-like adults. What I think is most fascinating about the life cycle of the green frog is that it takes two years for the tadpoles to complete their metamorphosis into their adult form. They spend the winter snuggled beneath a mud blanket at the bottom of the pond, much like their legged elders.

Common grackle fledglings are also taking Briar Bush by storm! Rather than being colored black with beautiful iridescent feathers on the neck and head like the adults, juvenile common grackles are a matte blackish-brown. They are also easy to spot as they mercilessly follow their parents around, constantly squawking to be fed. I had to laugh this week as I saw a young grackle at the bird observatory, begging to be fed while standing atop a pile of sunflower seeds. When not at the bird observatory, the grackles love to flick and throw dried leaves on the ground outside of my office window in the hopes of finding a tasty insect to eat.

If you’ve been to Briar Bush recently and are thinking that there are an unusually high number of chipmunks here in our woods, you’re exactly right; what you’re seeing is a whole forest full of young chipmunks. Young chipmunks don’t emerge from their underground burrow until they are almost fully matured and independent, so by the time we see them above ground, they blend right in with the adults. The next time you’re out on the trails, count how many chipmunks you see or hear and let me know your tally by posting a comment below!

BOA

2010-06-11T15:54:00.002-04:00

It is always sad when we lose one of our resident education animals but many of us had a very strong connection to our red-tailed boa constrictor, who was humanly euthanized last week. ‘Boa’ had been here longer than any of us can accurately remember, but it was at least 18 years. He was a very old snake (we think 25 years at least) who lived a good long life despite respiratory and kidney problems. In his old age, he started to deteriorate and we decided to let him go peacefully when he took a turn for the worse. ‘Boa’ was a favorite among the staff and visitors of all ages – we will miss you big guy.

Kristen Haas, Environmental Educator

Katie Says: Create a backyard oasis!

2010-06-01T09:33:00.000-04:00

How many of us have looked at those big, expensive, elaborate ponds in backyards and businesses and found ourselves uttering a big sigh? We only wish we had enough money for supplies, time for installation and patience for malfunctioning pumps. But did you know you can add a pump-free, wildlife-attracting water feature to your backyard or balcony in less than a day? Try a container pond!

First, you’ll need your container. Purchase a large flower pot; the best shape is one that has a base almost the same size as the top and does not have vertical sides. Imagine the bottom cut off of a whiskey barrel—in fact, some home improvement stores sell fiberglass versions of this exact design! Next, if the pot has a hole in the bottom of it, you’ll need to plug it using a bit of epoxy.

Do you want your pond level with the ground, making it appear more natural and wildlife-accessible, or are you living in an area where your water feature cannot be dug into the ground? If digging your pond into the ground, have the lip of the container be slightly above the rest of the ground. This will prevent most soil from washing in during rainstorms.

Once you have your container in place, add some native aquatic plants, like pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata.), bulrushes (Scirpus sp.) or waterlily (Nymphea sp.). Besides adding beauty and shelter for any pond residents, these plants will act as natural filters and aerators for your pond, thus eliminating the need for a pump or filter. These plants can either be planted into sand or aquatic plant soil (found at home improvement stores) or can be put pot and all directly into your pond. A wonderful resource for learning more about Pennsylvania’s native and invasive aquatic plants can be found at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/agrs110.pdf You may also want to add other features to your pond, such as submerged places for aquatic animals to hide, and a stick leading out of the pond, to assist stranded insects. (My neighborhood robin uses the stick as a perfect bathing perch.) Fill your pond with cool, refreshing water and congratulations! You’ve created your very own backyard oasis.

Finally, if you’re concerned about mosquitoes, there’s a good chance that your pond will attract natural mosquito controls, such as frogs and tadpoles and predaceous aquatic insects and their larvae. Mosquito dunks are also available as a safe method of control that will not harm fish, frogs or other wildlife.

Once you’ve created your own pond, share your experience and wildlife sightings by posting below!

Nature Playscape Grand Opening

2010-05-20T10:18:00.002-04:00

We celebrated the grand opening of the Nature Playscape on Saturday, May 8. The playscape is located on the Pond Overlook Trail and is open during daylight hours.

Take a visit to Lancaster County's Shenks Ferry Wilflower Preserve

2010-05-20T10:05:00.001-04:00

Katie Says: Soar with the swallows

2010-05-11T15:18:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I visited one of our favorite places: Lorimer Park. Lorimer borders Fox Chase Farm, and as one walks the border of the park, you can look onto the rolling green hills of the farm. That day, the hills were being visited by a host of bird species all looking for their dinner: American robins, American bluebirds, European starlings, red-winged blackbirds and three species of swallows.

I love all bird species, but I especially love swallows. I have always said that if ever I were to be reincarnated, it is a swallow that I would want to come back as. I just love the effortless way they swoop, glide and zoom over the landscape, sometimes seeming to enjoy flying for the sheer fun of it. These swallows were flying over one of the highest hills of un-mown grass in order to collect insects that were bravely (or foolishly!) rising from the safety of the grass to land on the canopy of the nearby trees.

For a while, Quentin and I focused our binoculars on individual swallows to watch them fly. There were barn swallows, with their deeply-forked tail; tree swallows, with blue backs and white bellies; and cliff swallows, which look very similar to barn swallows, but lack the forked tail. Let me tell you, focusing your binoculars on an individual swallow is a great way to keep your skills with a pair of binoculars tuned—you constantly have to rock the focus to keep them in your sights! We then decided to try something new, and focused instead on individual insects rising from the grass. It wasn’t long before the insect that I was following would disappear behind the blur of a swooping swallow. Swallows are such good flyers that not only do they feed on the wing, but they drink and bathe as well, swooping to the water’s surface to get a drink or just beneath the surface for a bath, a literal “quick dip.”

Sometimes it’s fun to analyze the “hows” of nature and sometimes we ponder the “whys,” but sometimes…it’s just nice to stop and watch the swallows. Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

Katie Says: What is the Pennsylvania state insect?

2010-05-04T09:34:00.000-04:00

I’ll give you a hint through a song lyric: “You would not believe your eyes if ten million _____ lit up the world as I fell asleep.” Did you guess? This is the first phrase from Owl City’s “Fireflies,” a song that quickly became a sensation after its release in 2009. The song plays on a familiar childhood memory of chasing and catching fireflies in our backyards and maybe even putting a few in a jar to watch their soothing nightlight as we fell asleep. It’s no wonder then, that the firefly (or lightning bug) became the official Pennsylvania state insect in 1974. We may all know the firefly for its greenish-yellow glow, but there’s much more to this insect than blinks the eye!

Despite their name, these insects are actually a species of beetle that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 2,000 species of fireflies worldwide and an astounding 175 species here in the United States alone! Although not all adult fireflies produce light, all species of eggs and larvae glow as a way of warning potential predators that they taste bad. The adults that do produce light do so in order to find not only a mate, but sometimes…dinner! Some fireflies have been known to copy the flashing patterns of other species in order to eat them!

Even the chemistry behind a firefly’s flash is amazing. Unlike bioluminescent animals which simply glow, the firefly’s ability to turn its light on and off (i.e., blink) is a rare find in nature. And the energy used to produce the light? In a normal incandescent light bulb, 10 percent of the energy that goes into the bulb is used to produce light, and the rest is emitted as heat. With fireflies, an astounding 90 percent of the energy goes into producing the light! Talk about the ultimate Energy Star appliance!

I was thrilled last week to have spotted my first firefly of the season in my own backyard! Have you spotted your first yet? Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

Katie Says: What a great find!

2010-04-27T16:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, on a cold and rainy Monday, 40 kindergarteners came to visit Briar Bush for a nature hike. Determined not to submit to the gloomy weather, the junior hikers came prepared in rain jackets, hooded sweatshirts and big smiles. As I began my hike with my small group, we stopped to look at natural wonders along the way: an uprooted tree, new leaves on trees and flowers in bloom. Then we hit the nature hike jackpot: an eastern box turtle!

This little gal wasn’t fazed by the weather at all! Cold or not, she was determined to find something tasty to eat. Much to my amusement, her beak was covered in slimy, gooey mushroom paste. Nearby, a cluster of mushrooms bore signs that looked suspiciously like box turtle bite marks… Besides mushrooms, box turtles love to eat earthworms and other invertebrates and the occasional “salad,” all of which can be found in abundance at Briar Bush.

I carefully picked up the box turtle, explaining to the children that because she was a wild box turtle and not a pet, that we would only look at her for a little bit before letting her go on her way. Understandably nervous, the box turtle hid in her shell, closing up the front using the hinge on her plastron (the bottom of her shell). It’s this ability to close their shells completely like a box that gives the box turtle its name (not because the turtles are known to sparring matches, as most children are disappointed to learn). It’s also the plastron of a turtle that will tell you if you are looking at a male or female; females’ plastrons are flat, while the plastron of a male is concave.

Having given everyone a chance to see this spectacular wildlife find, I carefully placed the box turtle back in her leafy hunting grounds. The children told the box turtle that she need not be afraid of us, and wished her well. The next time you are hiking the trails of Briar Bush, be sure to keep your eyes open for our friend, the eastern box turtle! Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

Whole Foods 5% Day

2010-04-21T23:49:00.003-04:00

Briar Bush educators and volunteers will be at the Jenkintown Whole Foods celebrating Earth Day! Please come support us by shopping - 5% of the total sales from Thursday, April 22 at the Jenkintown Whole Foods will be donated to Briar Bush Nature Center. We will have some of our famous critters outside and lots of information inside. Whole Foods will also be having a cooking demonstration in the evening. The BBNC environmental educators will be having lunch at the cafe from noon to 1 p.m. so if you would like to meet the education team and learn more about our great programs, stop by!

Katie Says: Celebrate with Briar Bush!

2010-04-21T09:21:00.000-04:00

April is a busy month here at Briar Bush! Not only do we see an increase in visitors as the spring weather arrives, but there are two big environmental celebrations in April: Earth Day and Arbor Day. This Thursday, April 22, is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day! In celebration, keep your eyes open for Briar Bush Nature Center to be making appearances all over the area, from the Philadelphia Zoo, to Whole Foods in Jenkintown, and Earth Day and other outdoor festivals all over Montgomery County.

Not too far behind, April 30 is Arbor Day, a day established to encourage everyone to plant and care for trees. Earth Day may be celebrating its 40^th anniversary, but Arbor Day is celebrating its 138^th! To celebrate Arbor Day, come and take a walk on the trails at Briar Bush. Many trees can now be identified by their fresh, green leaves and some, like the dogwood and redbud, are covered in magnificent flowers. If you’d like to learn more about trees, then be sure to register for my next family program, “Dendrologist for a Day” this Sunday, April 25! As you’ve probably guessed, dendrologists are scientists who study trees and in this Sunday’s program we’ll be getting up close and hands-on with the trees of Briar Bush. We’ll be taking the same kinds of measurements using the same kind of equipment dendrologists do! This is a great program to attend if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at environmental science or if you’d like to learn how to identify some of the common trees of Pennsylvania.

In “It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown!” Sally was asked by her teacher what Arbor Day was. Having not done her homework, Sally replied; “That’s the day that all the ships come into the ‘arbor!” Whether you spend it on a ship in the ‘arbor or on the trails at Briar Bush, be sure to celebrate the outdoors this month! Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

Katie Says: Spring is full of surprises!

2010-04-13T09:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend I decided to install a container pond in my backyard. A container pond is a simple, inexpensive way to add water to your backyard using just a flower pot and some native aquatic vegetation. (For more information on container ponds, be sure to attend my family program “Take the Park Home with You! Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitats” in May!) As I dug the hole for my pond, I discovered the tunnel of a burrowing animal, complete with a store of seeds and birdseed from my neighbor’s yard. I dug a bit further and happened across a nest of leaves and shredded plastic. “I must have found an animal’s old hibernation burrow!” I thought to myself. I began to pull out the leaves and found quite the surprise…six newborns!

Now I admit that although I am a wildlife biologist, I had no idea what mammal species these squirmy pink things were. It was quite possible that they were rats and not the chipmunks I initially thought they were, but all I knew is that charismatic species or not, I rudely unearthed these little guys from their safe home beneath the soil. In the spring, Briar Bush and other nature centers are flooded with all kinds of calls when people find baby wildlife much in the way that I did and do not know what to do. Is it best to put them back and rebuild the nest? Now that I have disturbed the nest, will the mother abandon it and the babies need to go to a wildlife rehabilitator? I called the experts at Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab Clinic and AARK Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center to be sure. They confirmed that in most cases, the best thing to do is to rebuild the nest and let nature take care of the rest.

So, I carefully put the leaves and as much of the stored food as possible back into the nest, and put a piece of cardboard to act as the wall that I had removed before filling in the hole. I then chose a new location for my pond, knowing that someday soon it may serve as a source of water for the young sleeping in their nest just beneath my feet. Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

New critters!

2010-04-08T11:25:00.002-04:00

Over the past couple of weeks, Briar Bush has welcomed two new critters to our family of animals who live in the museum and are used for educational programs. Be sure to stop in (remember, we're FREE!) and say hello to "Bubbles" and "Boo," two adorable little domestic rats. These little critters are happy in their new home and have already made their program debuts!

Katie Says: The eastern carpenter bee is on patrol...

2010-04-08T11:20:00.000-04:00

My boyfriend and I live in a duplex where each floor is smaller than the one beneath it. After we moved in, we decided to take advantage of the large, flat roof space outside our kitchen window and hang various bird feeders. It’s a lot of fun to watch the birds, especially since birds are my favorite animal. This weekend, as I looked out the kitchen window, I saw a black blur zoom past the window and then a few seconds later, it returned and hovered within a couple of feet from my face. I found myself staring face-to-antennae with a male eastern carpenter bee!

If you are one who has always been afraid of anything black, yellow and possessing a stinger, then the eastern carpenter bee has the potential to change your fear into fascination. Not known to be aggressive toward humans, the females are more interested in feeding and tending to her nest, and the males are too busy patrolling their territories to concern themselves with the likes of large, clumsy humans. And oh how territorial the males are! Our eastern carpenter bee, whom my boyfriend named “Buzz” (he said “What else are you going to name an insect that buzzes back and forth all day?”), patrols our roof all day and will chase off any insect that dares come near the flowers of our Norway maple. Not only does he chase everything from other carpenter bees to gnats, but I’ve also watched him chase insect shadows, finches, and to my amusement, sunflower seeds that I throw into the air. When Buzz is not chasing intruders, he slowly flies back and forth over the roof, stopping on occasion to hover inches in front of my face, antennae sticking straight up into the air.

Although some consider the eastern carpenter bee a pest because of the nests females make in wood, the damage caused by the bee is very small, consisting of a T-shaped tunnel in which she lays her eggs. Eastern carpenter bees do not eat wood, and therefore have no motivation to destroy anymore wood than they need to make this small nest. Instead, many consider the carpenter bee a valuable pollinator species, and some farmers have been known to put out blocks of wood around their crops to encourage the bee’s presence. As you enjoy the beautiful weather of the next few days, be sure to keep your eyes open for the eastern carpenter bee on patrol!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Post a comment below; it’s free and you don’t have to create an account!

Katie Says: Meet my favorite denizen of the detritus!

2010-03-30T13:27:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite activities here at Briar Bush Nature Center has got to be log rolling. No, that doesn’t mean that you’ll find me standing on a spinning log in the middle of our pond; I mean rolling over logs on the ground to look for what hides beneath! Rotting logs act as a mulch motel for all kinds of creatures including centipedes, pill bugs (better known as roly polys), earthworms, termites and my personal favorite, the redback salamander.

The redback salamander is the most common salamander here in the northeast and can be found in just about any healthy forested area. Scientists consider the redback salamander an indicator species, meaning that high numbers of the salamanders indicate a healthy forest ecosystem. In a forest that has been clearcut of all of its trees, the salamanders disappear and won’t return for at least another 50 years. Chances are you’ve seen the redback salamander before: the two to four inch peppered amphibian with a reddish-orange stripe down his back. Others, known as “leadbacks,” lack the colorful stripe, betraying their redback name. Like all amphibians, their skin needs to stay wet in order to breathe, which gives the salamander a shiny or “slimy” look, but make no mistake; these guys are soaked in cuteness, not slime! What I find especially amazing about the redback and other woodland salamanders is that unlike other amphibians, they do not depend on water for any part of their life cycle. Instead, eggs are laid in tiny, grape-like clusters beneath logs or in other damp places. There, the young develop completely within the egg and emerge as miniature versions of the adults instead of the familiar tadpole that we associate with frogs and toads. In the winter, salamanders both young and old hibernate through the winter by digging down as much as 15 inches into the soil and leaf litter. Once they emerge in the spring, these tiny hunters will spend their nights, especially rainy ones, prowling the forest floor in search of tasty insects.

The next time you’re out at Briar Bush, try out some log rolling of your very own! Just remember to put the logs back where you found them…that’s a salamander’s home under there! Have a question or a story of your own to share? Leave a comment below! Blogger accounts are not required to leave a comment.

Environmental Justice Information

2010-03-29T09:38:00.005-04:00

Briar Bush educators Mark Fallon and Anne-Marie D'Onofrio participated in Gwynedd-Mercy College's Justice Fair on March 29. Below is a list of documentaries, TV shows and books to gain further insight into the many environmental justice topics:

Movies/TV Series

No Impact Man: The Documentary (2009)
Go Further (2004)
Food, Inc. (2008)
King Corn (2007)
The Beautiful Truth (2008)
Eco Trip Series – Sundance Channel (2009)
The Garden (2008)
The Lazy Environmentalist Series – Sundance Channel (2009)
The Future of Food (2004)
Fast Food Nation (2006)
Super Size Me (2004)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)

Non-fiction Books

Cradle to Cradle – William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Earth Odyssey: Around the World in Search of our Environmental Future – Mark Hertsgaard
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies – Jared Diamond
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed – Jared Diamond
Red Sky at Morning: America and the Crisis of the Global Environment – James Gustav Speth
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals – Michael Pollan
In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto – Michael Pollan
Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser
Food Politics – Marion Nestle
Poisons on our Plates: The Real Food Safety Problem in the United States – Michele Morrone
Troubled Waters: Religion, Ethics and the Global Water Crisis – Dr. Gary L. Chamberlain
Boiling Point: How How Politicians, Big Oil and Coal, Journalists, and Activists Have Fueled a Climate Crisis--And What We Can Do to Avert Disaster – Ross Gelbspan
Diet for a New America – John Robbins
Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating – Jane Goodall
The Ten Trusts: What we must do to Care for the Animals we Love – Jane Goodall and Marc Bekoff
The Environmental Predicament: Four Issues for Critical Analysis – Carol F. Verburg
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver

Classic Non-fiction Books

Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold
Silent Spring – Rachel Carson
The Yosemite – John Muir

Katie Says: Give your yard a spring cleaning!

2010-03-23T15:01:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, I watched many of my neighbors taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Children rode bikes, the smell of barbecue grills was in the air and my next door neighbor spent the morning preparing his garden for planting by pulling out remnants of last year’s flowers and unsightly weeds. Many of us tend to our gardens in this way, yet leave one of the biggest threats to our yard untouched: English ivy.

English ivy is considered an exotic invasive plant. Plants like these are not from Pennsylvania and have a negative impact on native plant and/or animal species. In English ivy’s case, it was brought to the United States from its native Europe, western Asia and northern Africa because it was considered an attractive ornamental plant. However, as English ivy climbs a tree or other plant, it covers the tree’s leaves and prevents it from obtaining the sunlight that it needs for photosynthesis. As a result, any branches covered in ivy eventually die and in the case of smaller trees or shrubs, the entire plant may die. When I removed ivy from the hedges in my yard this fall, I was amazed to find large sections of the hedge had completely rotted beneath its ivy blanket. English ivy also serves as a reservoir for Bacterial Leaf Scorch, a plant disease that is harmful to elms, oaks, maples and other native plants.

What can you do if you want to reclaim your yard from English ivy? To remove ivy from trees, cut the vines near the ground and again at shoulder height. Eventually the vines growing up the tree will die. The base of the vines will continue to re-sprout, so be sure to either pull up the remainder of the vine or keep it trimmed back. If the ivy in your yard has only just begun to spread, try using a deep layer of mulch. This will cover the ivy’s leaves and kill it in the same way it kills other plants! For other ways to control ivy in your yard, visit the Plant Conservation Alliance’s website. Good luck in your battle against the evil English ivy! Your yard will thank you by springing back to life!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Katie Says: Sing a song of spring

2010-03-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

Nothing signals the start of spring to me more than the songs of birds filling the morning air. Melodious male birds sing to attract mates and to stake their claim on their territory. A male who can sing well is showing to females that he is healthy and that his offspring will also be healthy singers who can attract mates of their own and continue to pass along his superb genes.

Each bird has a different song to set it apart from other species, from the cheer-cheer-cheer of the northern cardinal, to the peter-peter-peter-peter of the tufted titmouse, and even the simple chirp of a house sparrow. Woodpeckers prefer the use of percussion instruments and will drum loudly on a hollow limb or trunk of a tree as their song. Mockingbirds, catbirds and European starlings show off by copying as many sounds as they can. Males with the biggest repertoire get the girl! These birds never cease to amaze me with their spot-on impressions of blue jays, American robins and red-tailed hawks. One starling in particular who resides in the “Michaels” lettering by the Willow Grove Mall does such a good imitation of a killdeer that I am often left looking around for the long-legged shorebird.

The next time you find yourself marveling at these spring songsters, try a couple of activities to tune your listening ear:

1) Count how many different kinds of songs you can hear. It may be hard to pick them out at first, but with practice you’ll start hearing all kinds of different songs.

2) Pick out one individual bird and listen for all of the other males responding to his song. It’s amazing how many and from how far away they will respond!

3) Just like people from different areas, some birds have different song dialects! See if you can hear slight variations in songs of a single kind of bird as you travel.

I’d love to hear about your findings! Share your story by emailing me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Katie Says: I’ve got a bone to pick!

2010-03-09T09:29:00.000-05:00

The winter’s record snows have almost completely melted! As the snow retreats, treasures become revealed: new green shoots of spring flowers, stashed acorns forgotten by squirrels, and sometimes…bones.

After the snow melts and before the spring’s new vegetation grows is a great time to practice what I fondly call “skulling.” Skulling is the process of hiking around an area in search of animal bones. Why look for animal bones? Because it’s incredible what you can learn from them! You can learn about the anatomy of the animal itself, how it died, and what animals live where you are, just for starters. During my skulling journeys in many states, I have come across many fascinating finds: an entire deer skeleton perfectly preserved in a wetland, a raccoon skull deep in a forest, propeller-scarred manatee bones on Florida shores, and fish skeletons below an osprey’s nest. It is very important to note that if you choose to embark on your own skulling mission, any piece of animal remains, even feathers, cannot be kept without a permit from the federal and state governments. Better to leave your finds behind for the next skuller anyway!

Once you find your first skull, you may wonder, “How can I tell what animal this is from?” Well this Sunday you can have the chance to find out! March 14, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. is “Nature Detectives: Taking the Sk-ary out of Skulls” at Briar Bush. The program is part of a new family series of programs, geared towards participants from seven to 107. During this month’s program, led by The Nature Geek (that’s me!), we’ll be examining real animal skulls and will figure out the mystery identities of each by looking at where the skull came from, its size and the kind of teeth it has. We’ll even be solving an animal mystery along the way! If you are interested in registering for the program, contact Briar Bush! And as always, if you have a question or a story of your own to share, email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Spring is almost here

2010-03-09T09:24:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed our sun rising earlier in the morning? March 20 marks the first day of spring. On this day our sun will follow the celestial equinox. According to astronomer Jack Horkheimer, “If you go to work/school around sunrise on a due east/west highway notice just how close the Sun rises to the center of the road each day and then as it gets closer to March 20th watch it rise even closer to the yellow line until on Saturday the 20th it will rise directly over the yellow line.” Go ahead and try it yourself and have a happy spring.

Ehren Gross, Environmental Educator

February ACEd

2010-03-03T12:09:00.003-05:00

The Association of Conservation Executives (ACE) is a group made up of employees of PA/NJ nature centers, land preserves, arboretums and other similar organizations. Related, ACEd is a group for all the educators within the ACE group.

The ACEd group met at the Buttinger Nature Center, part of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association on February 5 to discuss summer camp, and then was treated to a walk around the property led by Jeff Hoagland, the education director. During the walk, the group looked for voles and moles, fox and deer scat, praying mantis egg cases and other signs of wildlife on the chilly winter day.

Katie Says: That’s a lot of animals!

2010-03-01T10:51:00.000-05:00

This week's blog is all about groups of animals. Animals that like to hang out in groups are called gregarious...they're social butterflies! (or birds, or mammals, or fish, or whatever!) Some animals hang out in groups all the time and some only at certain times of the year, like migration or during the winter months. What has always been one of my favorite bits of animal trivia is the names given to various groups of animals. Check out these fun animal group names:

Murder: a group of crows
Unkindness: a group of ravens
Intrusion: a group of cockroaches (I'll say!)
Band: a group of coyotes
Memory (or herd): a group of elephants
Army: a group of frogs or ants
Charm: a group of goldfinches or hummingbirds
Knot: a group of toads
Mischief: a group of mice
Prickle: a group of porcupines
Parliment: a group of owls
Smack: a group of jellyfish

And some groups are even given different names depending on what they're doing. For example, a group of hawks is called a cast. But when they're flying, they're a kettle and when they're circling on air currents they're called a boil! Whew! That's a lot to keep track of!

So remember, the next time you strike up a converstation about jellyfish you really can say you're talking smack!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

February Full Moon

2010-02-26T09:06:00.000-05:00

Did you ever hear of a Harvest Moon, or “once in a Blue Moon”? Naming moons is a tradition that goes far back before Europeans settled in

America

. Various American Indian tribes of the Northeast would name Full Moons according to seasonal events.

February is known as the Full Snow Moon. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, usually the heaviest snows fall in February. This is true for Philadelphia this year. We have had the most snow ever on record for the month of February. Animals hide and stay in their homes making hunting very difficult. To some American Indian tribes, this was also called the Hunger Moon.

The next full moon is scheduled for February 28^th, 2010. This is Educator Ehren giving you the heads-up and asking you to keep your “heads up” to the night sky.

Katie Says: Branch out and try something new!

2010-02-22T15:27:00.000-05:00

Everywhere I go recently, I am amazed at the number and size of tree tops, branches and even whole trees that have fallen as a result of the heavy snow we received earlier this month. If you have limbs down in your yard, what are you to do with them? How about using them to attract wildlife to your backyard?

There are all sorts of ways that we can welcome wildlife into our backyards. Most people know they can attract birds by adding bird feeders and baths, and many people plant native vegetation in their yards to attract birds, butterflies and maybe even a mammal or two. Another way to attract wildlife is to build a brush pile. By taking some of those fallen limbs and piling them up in a corner of your yard, you are creating a safe hiding place for all sorts of animals, including birds, chipmunks, rabbits, lizards and snakes. If you’re a little uneasy at the thought of snakes in your yard, just remember that snakes are a great form of pest control. Much cheaper than hiring the Orkin man to protect your property from rodents! If you really want to turn your brush pile into The Ritz, add a nice big log. As the log decomposes through the aid of insects, it turns into a feast for insect-eating animals. A hollow log is also a choice hibernation spot for small mammals, reptiles and even some butterflies that hibernate beneath bark.

Adding a brush pile to your backyard is not only a great benefit to wildlife, but also a benefit to yourself; you have the opportunity to watch wildlife, find a use for those fallen branches, and it’s less of your yard you have to mow come spring!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Katie Says: Taxidermy is stuffed full of fun!

2010-02-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

Everyone has some sort of hobby or activity that they love to do. For my Dad, it’s woodworking. For my Mom, it’s making cards. Me, I get all tingly with excitement playing with dead things. I get a thrill when I come across the skeleton of an animal in the woods and star in my own episode of “CSI: Philadelphia” to figure out what the animal is and maybe even how it might have died. At Briar Bush, I lovingly tend to a colony of dermestid beetles, a native species of beetle that can take a dead animal and clean it down to the bone in less than a week. I have also taken on a new hobby of study skin preparation.

Study skins are a kind of taxidermy, but instead of stuffing an animal and then arranging it into a life-like pose, the animal is laid flat, in order to be stored and displayed inside of a drawer. Biologists and other scientists use study skins to study anatomical features of a species when a life specimen is not available. At Briar Bush, these study skins will not only be used for display, but will provide an up-close and hands-on experience for visitors, something that the “Please do not touch” full taxidermy specimens cannot provide. The process of preparing a study skin can be meticulous and difficult, but it is always fun and educational! The animals that I prepare are ones that were found dead and were donated to Briar Bush by visitors, volunteers or staff members, who know that we possess all the required permits to keep these animals. If you come across a dead (but not decomposing) animal that you would like to donate to Briar Bush, be sure to let me know…you just may see it on display or in a program some day!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Katie Says: Track down some fun in the snow!

2010-02-09T11:34:00.002-05:00

We certainly have been receiving a lot of snow here at Briar Bush! But before you think the only fun thing to do after a heavy snow is to cozy up on the couch with a Snuggie and a cup of hot cocoa, instead consider strapping on your winter jacket and snow boots and heading out to Briar Bush! Snow provides the unique opportunity for winter animal tracking. A hike through the snow-covered woods can reveal countless stories and give you clues to animals you rarely get to see.

On Sunday, following the latest heavy snow, I headed out to a local park to do some tracking of my own. It wasn’t long after I had set out on my adventure that I found some mystery tracks. Fluffy snow makes telling what precisely made the trail a bit more difficult, but following the tracks might lead to more clues. I followed my mystery tracks up the hill and there, in the shelter of a large oak tree and a couple of logs, I found three bowl-like depressions in the snow where deer had spent the snowy night, the snow slightly melted by their body heat. I hiked a bit further and found the tiny, bounding tracks of a white-footed mouse. Every so often, the tracks would end at a perfectly spherical hole as the mouse dove under the snow, only to emerge a few inches later. Perhaps the mouse heard a predator? Certainly there are many predators in the park as my next discovery was the tracks of a red fox on a fallen log. I couldn’t make out the tracks very well, but the musky, skunk-like smell of the “yellow snow” on the log made it perfectly clear whose tracks I was looking at!

If you would like to have your own wildlife tracking adventure, be sure to stop by Briar Bush this week. You’ll be amazed at the stories told in the snow!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Katie Says: Allow me to introduce myself!

2010-02-03T13:32:00.003-05:00

Hello! And welcome to a new feature here on the Briar Blog, “Katie Says:” This will be a weekly feature where I will write about wonders of the natural world, answer commonly asked questions at Briar Bush, or share other personal nature-related experiences.

I thought that since this was my first entry, that it would only be polite to introduce myself. I am Katie Fisk, a new environmental educator who started with Briar Bush back in September of 2009. I moved here from Florida, but before you start feeling bad for me “Oh! A Floridian stuck in a Pennsylvania winter!” I will tell you that I spent the first 18 years of my life in North Dakota. Yup, winters here are far milder by comparison! Amongst my other job responsibilities, writing and teaching on and off-site programs with my colleagues, I am also launching a new program series, “Family Programs with The Nature Geek!” This monthly series features fun, interactive programs that will entertain and educate both child and adult alike. I hope to see all of you at a program sometime!

Before I sign off for this week’s entry, of course I must include a nature story! Although Punxsutawney Phil predicted yesterday that we will have six more weeks of winter, I have begun to see signs of spring! Just this weekend I noticed a group of European starlings whose beaks had changed from their dark winter coloration to the bright yellow of the breeding season. It seems these marvelous mimics are making all the preparations to strut their stuff in hopes of attracting the perfect mate. And why not? Valentine’s Day is only 11 days away!

Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!

Naturalist News: Urban raptors soaring over city and suburbs

2010-02-02T10:31:00.002-05:00

Did you know October is Raptor Month? Since 2006, Briar Bush has celebrated with “RaptorFest.” The open house event features family fun and learning, including amazing, up-close encounters with live birds of prey from local organizations and falconers alike. Sponsored by Marsha Pearson of The Avian Promise and FOBB Board Member, these live animal presentations have taught us all a great deal about these amazing birds.

Watching wild raptors doesn’t have to wait until next October! For many reasons, hawks, falcons, owls and other raptors have been showing up in the urban and suburban landscape in ever greater numbers since the 1970s. While some of the increase has been attributed to loss of previous habitat, many positive factors are involved: the banning of DDT and other pesticides in the early ‘70s was a major step along with federal protection and re-introduction projects in cities and wildlands alike.

There can be a high concentration of food for the predators where we humans abound: feeding birds is becoming one of the most popular past-times in the country and many raptors feed on smaller birds. Though some may not appreciate the feeder birds being “picked-off,” it is important to remember that hawks have to eat, too! Besides, how often do we get to see a predator in action right in our backyard?

Raptors also provide a major benefit as they prey heavily on rodent pests. Unfortunately, this can often lead to their downfall: many birds of prey are poisoned when they eat tainted rats or mice. Most rodenticides on the market contain poisons which do not kill pest animals immediately. The poisoned rodents often go outside and are eaten by hawks or other raptors, killing them. At Briar Bush we have been upgrading buildings to try to exclude rodents and we are moving to non-toxic methods of pest control in order to better protect the birds and other wildlife here.

For more information on raptors in our area, check out the websites listed, or contact our education staff and keep watching the skies in your neighborhoods!

Militia Hill Hawk Watch: http://www.wyncoteaudubon.org/mhhw.htm

Webcam (and lots of info) of Peregrine falcons in Harrisburg: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/falcon/

Webcam of Red-tailed hawks nesting at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia:
http://www2.fi.edu/hawknest.php

Article written by Briar Bush Nature Center Senior Naturalist, Mark Fallon

Bookkeeper Lily Abel retires

2009-12-18T10:47:00.000-05:00

After 19 years with the Friends of Briar Bush, bookkeeper Lily Abel is retiring at the end of December. Her retirement was celebrated at the annual Holiday Recognition Party on Dec. 8, during which she was presented with an engraved Swiss watch as a gift from the Friends of Briar Bush Board of Directors.

In addition to her duties as bookkeeper, Lily has been instrumental in the success of many Friends of Briar Bush special events, whether it is planning the menu, arranging the catering or organizing supplies. Her lively spirit is a presence that will be missed around the Center, but we know she will enjoy her abundance of free time as she jets off to sunny Florida!

Thank you, Lily, for your dedication and cheer and we wish you health and happiness on your new adventures.

Meet the Board of Directors: Katy Abbott

2009-12-16T16:16:00.002-05:00

Katy Abbott - Katy and her family moved to Abington from Cleveland, OH in 2006 and had the good fortune of buying a house within walking distance of BBNC. She is an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Philadelphia where she spends her time writing grants and overseeing research projects. Katy has been volunteering at BBNC for the past year teaching American Sign Language to families with infants and children. Having just completed a 5-year term on a board of an International Non-profit organization as the Director of Education, Katy is eager to join the board of an organization located in her neighborhood.

Meet the Board of Directors: Janice Park

2009-12-15T15:00:00.002-05:00

Janice Park, a social entrepreneur

Janice Park is the founder of Urban Park Consulting. As an independent consultant, Janice provides consulting services to businesses, the community and educators, using entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage ventures to make positive social change.

Janice started her career on Wall Street as a Marketing Associate for Shearson Lehman Brothers, in 1993. Within 4 years, she earned her title as Assistant Vice President for Greenwich Street Advisors, a fixed-income portfolio management division of Smith Barney Shearson. Janice had the opportunity to join a group of young portfolio managers who ran one of the most progressive socially responsible funds on the street at that time.

In 1996, Janice decided to redirect her career to join a software development start-up company in New York City. Within 3 years, Janice became the Director of Marketing, managing the largest partnership contract, the College Board. As a consultant to the College Board, Logicat, Inc. was responsible for developing educational software programs for secondary schools and developed progressive test preparation software, career and college preparation software, and data tools for school administrators to drive instruction.

In August of 2000, Janice’s passion for education inspired her to join the College Board as the Director of Business Development for collegeboard.com. In 2001, the College Board created the for-profit division of the College Board. As the Director of Business Development, Janice created innovative strategies and programs to effectively use the Internet as an education vehicle.

Janice continued her passion for education advocacy and learned to successfully integrate effective business practices to support education. In 2002, Janice became an education lobbyist for the state of New York and New Jersey for the College Board. She collaborated with school districts and state departments of education improve teaching to increase student achievement, with the focus on supporting underrepresented and low-income students.

One of Janice’s most memorable and meaningful developments with the College Board, was securing a partnership with the NYC Department of Education. The partnership assisted NYC Department of Education secure a $2.4mm federal grant to increase the number of students having access to a rigorous curriculum. This grant initiative opened the door to provide college preparation programs for more students in NYC, giving access to more programs and opportunities for more students, especially those from low-income families. By 2007, this program reached out to every 10^th and 11^th grade student in the NYC public school system, and still expanding.

Janice has continued to actively support inner-city students and families. In 1996, Janice was the Founder and Director of NYC Student Outreach. This outreach program mentored many inner-city students, bringing exciting learning activities for students through after-school mentoring programs. The program successfully partnered with the IBM Enrichment Program and formed a strategic partnership with high schools in the Bronx.

In 2008, Janice was ready to start a new chapter in her life and decided to find a way to use her entrepreneurial skills towards social good. Her passion for children, the environment, education, desire to have a voice in the community, and engaging in socially responsible advocacy, inspired her to create her own consulting practice.

Urban Park Consulting continues to support the field of social justice, health, and human services. Janice engages in projects to support: education, youth development, socially responsible advocacy, and sustainable living projects.

Meet the Board of Directors: Diana K. Weiner

2009-12-15T14:46:00.004-05:00

DIANA K. WEINER is a horticulture consultant and lectures to groups around the country. She recently joined the staff of the Friends of High School Park as the Restoration and Volunteer Manger for this 11-acre native plant sanctuary in Elkins Park, PA. She also coordinates the volunteer program for and lives at Meadowbrook Farm, the historic estate of philanthropist J. Liddon Pennock, in Abington Township, PA. It is an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Before coming to Pennsylvania and Meadowbrook Farm in 2006 she was the Superintendent of Parks and Grounds for the Historic Hotel of America, Mohonk Mountain House, whose 2200 acres include trails and carriage roads, 15-plus acres of show gardens, 300 acres of grounds, greenhouses, a garden gift shop, flower shop and a 9-hole Scottish-design golf course.

For 16 years she served as the Community Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator through Cornell University for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County, NY.

Diana is a Certified Nursery Professional, judges for the national beautification program America in Bloom, the Dutchess County Fair, Sullivan Renaissance, and other national contests. She is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America, The International Plant Propagators Society, the Perennial Plant Association and the American Horticultural Society. She currently sits on the board of Briar Bush Nature Center and the Meadowbrook Bird Sanctuary. She enjoys writing, cooking, antiques and shade gardening. She has a degree in Agronomy from the State University of New York at Cobleskill.

Friends celebrate Doris Dale Volunteer of the Year

2009-12-15T10:42:00.001-05:00

The annual Volunteer of the Year award, given to an outstanding Briar Bush Nature Center volunteer, was given a new name in time for the 2009 presentation. The Doris Dale Volunteer of the Year award was so named for one of the original Friends of Briar Bush board members and long-time BBNC volunteer. Among other valuable contributions, Doris Dale spent many years keeping Friends memberships up-to-date, sending each member handwritten notes.

The 2009 Doris Dale Volunteer of the Year award was presented at the annual Volunteer and Donor Recognition Party on Dec. 8. Recipients were Jay Viola, an adult volunteer who works with Montgomery County youth, and Ani Schug, a youth volunteer who has spent the past two summers doing grounds work and assisting with summer camps as a Camp Aide.

The Briar Bush staff was very excited to choose these two well-deserving volunteers who have put in countless hours.

For the first time, the 2009 Doris Dale Volunteer of the Year award was given to two recipients: an adult and a youth volunteer. Executive Director Dede Long (left) presents the newly renamed award to Jay Viola (center) and Ani Schug (right).

Staff and Volunteer Grounds Days

2009-11-20T16:07:00.001-05:00

Briar Bush has had a great run of the monthly staff and volunteer grounds days. Beginning in October, the education staff worked outdoors with volunteers and Friends of Briar Bush board members to accomplish several goals. These included moving an enormous pile of wood chips, getting lots of native plants in-ground before the cold weather arrived, completing more sections of the Nature Playscape and much more. The final one of these grounds days for the year will be on December 3rd from 1-4 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join for as much time as they can committ. Please dress for the weather since we'll be working outdoors.

Thanks so much to all those who have helped! We'd also like to thank the Huntingdon Valley Garden Club, which donated $500 in native plants and even put them in the ground for us!

Thank you for feathering out nest!

2009-11-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all of those who supported the Friends of Briar Bush with the 19th annual Feather Our Nest silent auction and gala. The event was successful in raising funds to support the programs and projects at Briar Bush and in the community.

A new feature during this year’s auction was “Fund the Need.” Guests were asked to make pledges toward specific projects: the butterfly house and the nature playscape. There will be continual costs of plants and butterflies for the house, and a few large items remaining to complete the playscape.

Despite questions regarding the state of the economy, many donations were received for the auction, ranging from small price items to beautiful jewelry and even an entire Thanksgiving dinner from Whole Foods for the live auction.

The staff and board members are incredibly thankful to all those who donated, supported or were involved in the success of the auction in any way. Without members, volunteers and supporters, we could not accomplish all that we do!

Great Escape: Cranberries!

2009-10-16T13:52:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, educator Anne-Marie led a curious group of Great Escapers to Double Trouble State Park in Bayville, NJ. The park is home to Double Trouble Historic Village, once a small cranberry growing and packing village. The group was met by Andrew, a historian for the park. With his guidance, the group was given a glimpse of past lives from the intense labor of working the bogs, to the sorting and packing process, as well as life in general in the village. Several of the buildings have been preserved, including living quarters, a school house, the saw mill (cedar was also harvested here) and the packing plant. Inside the packing plant are all the tools and machinery that were used when the village was active. There are still bogs on site which produce cranberries that are used for sauce or dried cranberry products.

After the village tour and the education of how cranberry bogs were worked in the past was a trip a few miles away to active, modern cranberry bogs. The harvest at Double Trouble Historic Village was finished on Tuesday, but the harvest was at its peak in the modern bogs. All stages of the harvest were seen - a bog that had berries but wasn't harvested yet, a bog that was just being flood, a bog that was partially flooding with the machines working to knock the berries off the vines, and a bog that was fully flood with berries knocked off the vines, rounded up and being pumped into a processing truck.

A common question of cranberry harvest is "Do cranberries really grow under water?" Cranberries grow on vines and produce delicate flowers that turn into the berries. All fo the vines are planted to grow in the same director for easier harvesting. Once the berries are ready, the bog, a large square depression in the ground, must be flooded. It is first flood with 1-2 feet of water so that the "knockers" or "beater" machines can begin knocking the berries off the vines. These are tractors with rotating metal loops on the front of the tractor. After the knockers have gone through the bog, it is fully flooded and the berries are gathered. Cranberry harvests can happen in a matter of days, so there was very fortunate timing with this trip!

Successful September Workday!

2009-10-02T12:35:00.000-04:00

Check out the progress the BBNC staff, board of directors and volunteers made on the playscape and other areas during our September Grounds Day!

RaptorFest 2009

2009-10-02T10:28:00.004-04:00

It's October! It's RAPTOR MONTH!

Join us this Sunday, October 4 from 1-4 p.m. to celebrate raptor month at our annual RaptorFest event. It's FREE, it's fun and it's for the whole family. Enjoy raptor-themed crafts, learn all about raptors and birds of prey, discover what owls eat and everyone's favorite - the live raptor program

This year's presentation features Victor Collazo of Skyking Raptor Rescue, a Maple Glen, PA organization. Victor will be at BBNC from 2-3 p.m. with several of his feathered friends. This program is generously sponsored by The Avian Promise.

Photo by Anne-Marie D'Onofrio - 2008 RaptorFest presenter, Falconer Mike DuPuy

The Friends of Briar Bush welcomes new board members

2009-09-10T11:06:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, Sept. 9 was the annual meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush. Prior to the meeting was a potluck dinner with lots of delicious side dishes, main courses and desserts brought by our friends. During dessert, guests enjoyed the guitar playing and singing of local folk musicians Ken Yavit and Donna Ryder.

Finally, the evening ended with the business meeting, during which our newest board members were elected. The following is a list of the current FOBB Board of Directors:

Henry Geyer (President)
Stan Lexow (Vice President)
Kathy Moore (Treasurer)
Lois Reuther (Secretary)
Joe Schlupp (Secretary)

Katy Abbott (term begins in January 2010)
Dr. Leigh Altadonna
Pat Eager
Michele Kaczalek
Brooke Leonard
Norman Marcus
Mary Lynn Monaghan
Janice Park
Marsha Pearson
Henrietta Roberts
Ethan Simon
Rita Stevens
Shiloh Theberge
Marianne Tyson
Diana K. Weiner

Painted Lady Eggs!

2009-09-09T17:09:00.002-04:00

While checking on the butterfly house on Tuesday, I saw one of our Painted Lady butterflies resting on the leaf of a Thistle plant. Since Thistle does not have flowers, it is not a nectar plant for adults, but instead a host plant for the caterpillars. Painted Ladies lay their eggs on the Thistle so that as soon as the caterpillar hatches from the egg, it can start eating right away.
-Anne-Marie

Check out these awesome pictures!

Fall Children's Series programs just around the corner!

2009-08-25T16:32:00.002-04:00

Bring your little ones to Briar Bush for fun, friends and the outdoors!

Remember that if you are an Abington Township resident, you receive 10% off listed prices and if you are a Friends of Briar Bush member, you receive 20% off the listed price.

Nature Sign Language
all ages, with adult
Sundays, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
$10 per family

People everywhere are discovering the benefits of using AMerican Sign Language to communicate with infants. Join guest educator Katy Abbott to learn signs for words and concepts in nature as you explore the museum and trails at Briar Bush. This relaxed and informal program is a great bonding experience for parents and infants.

September 13
October 18
November 8
December 6

Magic Mornings
2-3 year olds with adult
Wed/Thurs/Fri, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
$10/class; $5 per additional child enrolled

Toddlers and adults discover nature together through stories, crafts, games, trail hikes and live animal encounters. Snacks provided. Adjacent classes duplicate curriculum.

September 9, 10 or 11
September 23, 24 or 25
October 7, 8 or 9
October 21, 22, or 23
November 5 or 6
November 19 or 20
December 3 or 4
December 17 or 18

Preschool Pioneers
4-5 year olds
Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m.
$32/4-day series; $24/3-day series

Preschoolers are invited to join us for a month-long series of "back to nature" fun. Programs may include nature hikes, hands-on activities, crafts and animal encounters.

September 8, 15, 22 and 29
October 6, 13, 20 and 27
November 10, 17 and 24
December 1, 8, 15 and 22

Junior Birders Club
All Grades
Thursdays, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
*field trip 3:45-5:15 p.m.
$8/class; $12/field trip

Do you enjoy watching our feathered friends? Join us for a hike through BBNC trails or another local birding site to search for birds and their habitats. Bring binoculars and a field guide if possible, though we can provide them if needed. This program is best suited for children who can read.

September 17*
October 15
November 19*
December 17

No School? Cool!
2009-2010 school year
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

A program designed to help parents on days when school is closed but work is not! Pack a lunch; snack will be provided. Individual trips described below.

Animal Keeper for a Day
Monday, September 28
$45
Children will work together with our Animal Care Supervisor to provide daily care for all of Briar Bush's resident animals. In the afternoon, we will visit a local zoo to learn about exotic animal care.

That's Creepy!
Tuesday, November 3
$65
A kitchen full of cockroaches! A wall covered in human skulls! We will visit two of the creepiest places in Philadelphia - The Insectarium and the Mutter Museum.

Winter in the Woods
Monday, December 28-Thursday, December 31
$45/day or $150/4 days
Children will have a (snow)ball spending thier winter break at Briar Bush. Each day will include the best of camp activities including indoor and outdoor activities, animal encounters, games and crafts. Parents, you can register for each day individually to fit your schedule.

Additional No School? Cool! Trips:
Monday, March 1
Monday, April 5
Tuesday, May 18

Don't miss out on these benefits!

2009-08-25T16:22:00.002-04:00

Are you a Friends of Briar Bush member yet? If not, join today, for as little as $25.

With this membership you will receive:

20% discount on all public program fees (i.e. Great Escapes, Summer Camp, etc.)
10% discount on all nature shop purchases
10% discount at Wild Bird Center of Willow Grove
Free admission and discounts at other ANCA nature centers
Subscription to our quarterly newsletter
Invitations to all special events

Visit our website at www.briarbush.org to sign up today!

Are you a fan of The Grid?

2009-08-24T11:23:00.002-04:00

Good news! Starting in September, Briar Bush will be carrying FREE copies of Philly's The Grid.

From The Grid's website: The Grid inspires the people of Philadelphia to create a more just, livable and sustainable city.

Inside The Grid, you will find articles with an environmental and sustainable focus, ways to get involved, fun activities and much more.

We can't wait to be able to share it with you!

If you haven't seen The Grid yet, check out the August issue online!

Earth Trekking

2009-08-24T10:26:00.002-04:00

The 4th-6th grade Earth Trekkers had a blast this summer exploring the greater Philadelphia area and Bucks County hide-aways.

Creepy Crawlers

2009-08-24T10:03:00.005-04:00

Late in the summer, there is still a lot of new life emerging at Briar Bush. Take a look at these recent photos of life at the pond and in our butterfly house. Click on the photos in the slide show to view them full size and read the captions.

It's almost back-to-school time!

2009-08-09T21:28:00.002-04:00

Only a few more weeks and kids will be out of camp and into the classroom. What are you doing to prepare your kids to go back to school? There are many eco-friendly choices you can make, so take note!

Lunch - Instead of picking up a package of brown paper bags, buy your child a reusable lunch box. To go inside that lunch box, pick up an ice pack to keep food cold; inexpensive plastic cuttlery (try a discount store) that can be washed and reused; some small plastic containers to store food; a plastic sandwich container; and a thermos or reusable water bottle.
What does this reduce? - By using plastic containers, you do not have to use foil, wax paper or plastic bags. The heavier weight, reusable plastic cutlery eliminates the need to buy boxes and boxes of one-use plastic cutlery that ends up in trashcans. With a reusable lunch bag, you can pack a lunch that will stay cold and can spare a few trees.
Food - Foods like applesauce, yogurt, Goldfish crackers, pretzels and pudding are common in children's lunches. Buy the large jar of applesauce or large container of yogurt. Make the pudding yourself from a box of powdered pudding mix and milk you already have at home. Choose the bulk size box of crackers or pretzels instead of the small bags. Pick up the large bottles of juice and use that reusable water bottle or thermos everyday.
What does this reduce? - When you buy a larger container, you're eliminating the waste of those single-use plastic containers which often can't be recycled. In Abington, only #1 and #2 plastics are recycled. Many pudding, applesauce and yogurt containers are #5 plastic. The large yogurt containers can be used for storage at home once empty. One large box of crackers or pretzels eliminates the waste of many small bags, and one large bottle of juice reduces the juice box/pouch and straw waste that is created every single day.
Supplies - Choose recycled options when possible - looseleaf paper, notebooks and binders. Pick up a package of mechanical pencils and refillable lead, or regular pencils that are made from reycled wood. If your child still has school supplies left over from last year, use them! A new school year doesn't mean you have to purchase a new box of crayons. If it's time for a new backpack, purchase one from a company that offers a lifetime warranty. That way, when the bottom starts to wear out, a zipper breaks or the straps start to detach, all you have to do is mail it back to the company and wait for your repaired bag to be returned to you. Kids also like to pick out products with their favorite TV or movie characters, but the love of that character only lasts so long. Instead, direct your child toward something that has a fun, colored pattern on it that will appeal to him or her for more than one season or school year.
What does this reduce? - Where do all those old school supplies eventually end up? Sometimes the trashcan, sometimes in a massive collection in your home. Teach your child the importance of using something until it is gone - only then is it necessary to replace it with something new. When a backpack wears out, it probably ends up in the trash. But if you purchase a brand such as L.L. Bean or Eastpack, you've just bought that bag for life and almost all of the regular wear-and-tear problems will be fixed for free - all you pay is the postage to send it back to the company! Not only will you be reducing waste by not purchasing excess supplies, you'll also be saving money, which makes everyone happy. Set aside the money that would have been used to purchase a new backpack or lunchbox and use it toward a fun day with the family.

Teaching your child the value of reducing waste, reusing what you already have and recycling what you can will last forever. Habits begin early - good or bad. If you teach your child the good habits, there will be less room for the bad.

Are you signed up for summer camp yet?

2009-06-25T09:30:00.005-04:00

The clock is ticking to get a spot in our summer camps! More than half are already full, and others only have a couple of spots left. Don't miss out on the best day camp in the Philadelphia area, as voted by YOU (see previous post)!

Here's where we still have availability, as of Thursday, June 25:

Saplings: K-1st grade
1-3 p.m.
June 29-July 3
*2 spots left*

It's a Girl Thing: 4th-6th grade
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
July 27-31

Stone-Age Survival: 4th-6th grade
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
July 20-24
*1 spot left*

Earth Trekkers: 4th-6th grade
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
July 6-10

Earth Trekkers: 2nd-3rd grade
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
August 10-14
*3 spots left*

Details for all of these camps can be found by visiting our Summer Camp website or by calling Briar Bush at 215.887.6603

Don't forget that Abington Township residents receive a 10% discount off our advertised camp price, and Friends of Briar Bush members receive a 20% discount. Memberships - either a family level at $40 or an individual level (in child's name) at $25 - pays for itself when you sign up for camp!

Are you voting?!

2009-06-25T09:25:00.004-04:00

Last year, Briar Bush won the Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Award for "Best Day Camp for Little Kids" in the entire Philadelphia area!

We are in the running again! Only a couple weeks left to vote, so visit the voting site and let the Philadelphia area know who's best!

2009 Lenape Village Powwow

2009-06-25T09:10:00.003-04:00

Join the Native Americans for a day of fun. There will be Native American crafters, storytelling, face painting, food and dancers from around the country. Also included in the event will be a 1500s era Lenape Village with fire-making, cooking and family life.

Date: Saturday, July 25 and 26
Time: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (on 25th); 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (on 26th)
Location: Core Creek State Park - 901 E. Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne, PA 19047
Phone: (215) 757-0571
Cost: $6 adults, $4 students and seniors, $3 children 4-12, free for children under 4

The Butterfly House is Open!

2009-06-10T10:24:00.003-04:00

Celebrate the Sun on June 7 served not only as the time to honor Doug Wendell, Director of Abington Township Parks & Recreation, with the esteemed Griscom Award, but it also was the date of the official opening of our new butterfly house!

The house has been constructed with generous support from the Asplundh Foundation, Abington Township and the Friends of Briar Bush, and was constructed by ThinkGreen LLC. It is stocked with native host and nectar plants to support Painted Lady and Monarch butterflies, and their caterpillars. The butterflies in the house have all been released by Abington School District second-graders, who spend part of their spring raising butterflies in the classroom and witnessing the process of metamorphosis. Later in the season, we hope to have Monarch butterflies as well. Because butterflies that are bred and raised in captivity should not be released into the wild, Briar Bush will accept butterflies not only from the school, but also from families that may raise butterflies at home, but not have a release location. All butterflies will be provided with a safe habitat including a water source, flowers for nectar, a fruit feeding station and host plants for caterpillars.

The house will be open to visitors Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12-2 p.m. A staff member will be at the house to assist you.

Hunt for wild foods with "Wildman" Steve Brill

2009-05-19T14:11:00.006-04:00

Naturalist-Author "Wildman" Steve Brill has been leading foraging tours in parks throughout the Northeast since 1982. Kids & grown-ups alike are invited to sign up for the hike that will take place at Pennypack Farm (Horsham) on Tuesday, August 18. The walk starts at 1 p.m. and will last approximately 2 hours. Cost is $20/adult and $10/child.

Email Mike Hobbs at education@pennypackfarm.org or call (215) 646-3943 to register. All registrations must be received by Saturday, July 18.

Come learn with the best about native, edible foods that are growing in your own backyard!

What more info?

Volunteer opportunity in the community

2009-05-07T15:58:00.002-04:00

The Friends of High School Park, High School Road, Elkins Park, is seeking volunteers to contribute to the ongoing native plant restoration at High School Park: May 16, 10 a.m. to noon; May 17, 1 to 3 p.m.; May 30, 10 a.m. to noon; May 31, 1 to 3 p.m. All work parties begin at the shed, located near Montgomery Avenue. Wear long pants and long sleeves, and bring work gloves if you have them, otherwise they will be provided. Groups welcome, call Gina at 215-782-8082 for details.

BBNC Butterfly House

2009-04-28T09:58:00.002-04:00

Spring has sprung! How can you tell? At Briar Bush, we can tell because our ferns are growing taller each day, butterflies are fluttering through the meadow, bees are buzzing and the sun is shining warmly upon us.

All of this means we're also getting closer to the opening of our new butterfly house! Construction has been completed and the next step is to plant all of the plants that will help our butterflies and caterpillars grow, and installing the new exhibits.

Abington School District second graders grow butterflies in their classrooms every year to learn about the life cycle and observe the the process of metamorphosis. Once the plants are in and the caterpillars have become butterflies, the second graders will be coming to release their Pink Lady butterflies into our house. We are so excited to be able to provide a safe place for these butterflies to live and for all of you to come visit them.

The official ribbon-cutting for the house will be during Celebrate the Sun, the annual fund-raising event when we present a special individual with our Griscom Award. That event will be Sunday, June 7. For more information about Celebrate the Sun, call the Center at 215-887-6603.

If you raise butterflies at home and are interested in more information about releasing them into our butterfly house, please call us for details. Because many butterflies each species-specific plants, we are only able to sustain certain types of butterflies.

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

2009-04-28T09:54:00.002-04:00

Briar Bush Nature Center had a GREAT turn-out for our free Earth Day celebration on April 19 - over 200 visitors!!! Thank you so much to all those who came to participate in our activities and appreciate the world of wonders we work so hard to preserve for your enjoyment. The weather was perfect for spending the day outside and everyone enjoyed the free, environmentally-friendly gifts they received after participating in all of the activities.

Even though Earth Day is over, don't stop celebrating! Be sure you are caring for our Earth every day and in every way :)

Pictures to come soon...!

Get outside and get dirty!

2009-04-16T10:53:00.002-04:00

The Abington Environmental Advisory Council and Shade Tree Commission is celebrating Earth Day during the entire month of April. Join them during one of the many volunteer opportunities for the "Great Abington Clean-up." Volunteer hours will be reported to the "Great PA Clean-up."

Sat. April 18, 9:00 : STC Rubicam Park Cleanup

Sat. April 18, 9:00 : Keswick Ave. Train Underpass Cleanup

Sat. April 18, 10:00 : EAC Grove Park Cleanup

Sat. April 18, 10:30 : Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary Cleanup

Thurs. April 23, 11:30: McKinley Elementary School Cleanup

Sat. April 25, 9:30 : Jackson Park Arbor Day & Tree City USA Celebration

Sat. April 25, 9:00 : Baederwood Park Cleanup

Sun. April 26, 12:00 : Edge Hill Rotary Cleanup of Limekiln Pike

Weds. April 29, 3:30 : Copper Beech Elementary Cleanup

And don't forget about Arbor Day!

Arbor Day 2009 Celebration

Saturday April 25, 2009

9:30-11:00 am

Jackson Park

(meet by sign near 1600 Amity Road and Sherwood Road)

Events: Tree planting, Tree City USA award, park cleanup, flower garden planting, invasive plant removal

Celebrate one of Abington's newest parks: Jackson Park in Meadowbrook.

The EAC and Shade Tree Commission celebrate Arbor Day each year with a tree planting in April. The trees are planted in a public open space that needs beautification or greening. The celebration includes planting trees and flowers, a brief dedication, and light refreshments. The public is invited to join in the free celebration and learn more about trees. If you are interested in volunteering for Arbor Day, please contact us at eac.abington@gmail.com

Find out more about all the great EAC/STC events at http://www.eac-abington.org/

Earth Week Wine and Cheese

2009-04-02T14:19:00.002-04:00

"Birds of Paradise - East meets West"

Thursday, April 23, 2009
5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Griscom Bird Observatory

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Jenkintown,
with Event Co-Chairs Iris Innes and BJ Bronstein

Friends - $25 Patrons - $35

Kindly RSVP by Wednesday, April 15

Musical Mark's Batsong Show

2009-04-02T14:03:00.003-04:00

If you love bats, visit our friends at Pennypack Trust for this program!

Saturday, June 27, 2009
1 – 2:30 p.m.

$5 members; $10 non-members
(Group rates available)

Bats have an image problem and Musical Mark is out to change that! Musical Mark is a children’s singer-songwriter who has built a multi-media show around his recently completed CD of bat songs. Come see his program that both entertains and educates children about bats. The one-hour show, best for children in grades one through six, will feature special lighting effects, fog machines, costumes and theatrics. After the show, Musical Mark will be available for autographs, photos, etc.

The show will be held in the Visitors’ Center at Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust: 2955 Edge Hill Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Pre-register by calling the Trust at 215-657-0830 during business hours or by emailing lsteele@pennypacktrust.org.

Recycle your old electronics!

2009-03-19T09:30:00.002-04:00

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, with its mission of enhancing the health of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Creek and its 29 miles of drainage land, is holding a two-day ethical electronics recycling event.

Recycle your items for $1/pound at Cedarbrook Middle School (300 Longfellow Road in Wyncote) on March 28 and 29 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Accepted electronics include: TVs, computers, monitors, keyboards, drives, cables, cords, peripherals, copiers, printers, cartridges, fax machines, scanners, laptops, stereo equipment, speakers, CD and DVD players, telephones, remote controls, VCRs, projectors, digital cameras, PDAs, speakers, radios, answering machines, camcorders, electric typewriters, video game systems, pagers, microwaves, toasters, ink cartidges, USB media and media like zip disks, audio tapes and floppy diskettes.

It's time to think about SUMMER CAMP!

2009-03-17T11:47:00.003-04:00

Not sure what the kids are going to do this summer? Sign up for a BBNC summer camp! Our camps are designed for appropriate age groupings with activities to be fun, challenging and educational for each group. We offer half-day camps for the little ones, full-day camps for the older kids and new this year, BEFORE and AFTER care!

As with all public programs, Abington Township residents receive a 10% discount off listed price, and Friends of Briar Bush (members) receive a 20% discount off listed price.

Camp descriptions can be found in your newsletter or on our website.

We will have an information session for parents on Thursday, May 14 at BBNC at 5 p.m.

Our camps fill up fast, so check out this year's options (new camp themes!) and sign up today! Each age group has several options to choose from!

Older kids: If your teen needs service hours or wants to work with younger kids this summer, consider being a Camp Aide. Training sessions are June 22-24 and June 29-July 1. All responsible rising 7th graders and above are welcome to apply!

Spring Hike Training

2009-03-17T11:42:00.002-04:00

Any volunteers who are interested in leading seasonal hikes, please come to a training at BBNC on Monday, March 23 from 1-2:30 p.m. The training will be led by senior educator Jeff Moore.

Great Escape Correction

2009-03-17T11:36:00.003-04:00

The Great Escape trip to Laurel Hills Cemetery will take place WEDNESDAY, April 29.

Philadelphia's Underground Museum: Laurel Hill Cemetery (Program #69)
Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday, April 29 ~ 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
$55 (Abington Twp. residents receive 10% discount; FOBB receive 20% discount)

One of the few cemeteries designated as a National Historical Landmark, Laurel Hill is the final resting place of war veterans, Titanic passengers and hundreds of the famous (and not-so-famous) people who helped shape the creation of Philadelphia and the world. We will enjoy a personalized tour through this unique historical resource. Buy lunch.

Bat Slideshow

2009-02-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

It's posted! Check original blog entry date of Feb. 12. Enjoy!

Vote for BBNC!

2009-02-13T16:38:00.003-05:00

Hi Friends!

The Montgomery Newspapers group is doing its annual Reader's Choice survey and there are a couple categories in which Briar Bush is eligible. Please take a minute to check it out and vote!

Go to the Reader's Choice website by Feb. 17 to submit your votes for:

Education: Day Camps
Kids: Kid's Birthday Party
Leisure & Sports: Bus/Motorcoach Tour (for our adult Great Escape trips)

Thanks so much and as always, we appreciate your support!

All about bats!

2009-02-12T11:48:00.003-05:00

It's a blustery day at Briar Bush, but clinging to the branch of a small tree we found a tiny bat! The hibernating visitor was most likely an Eastern Pipistrelle, a widespread small bat in Pennsylvania. Bats hibernate for the entire winter, eating nothing at all and occasionally moving to find a stable temperature just above freezing. With the strong winds that we recently had, a large, dead tree fell on the side of the Briar Bush property and it's possible that this small bat had been hibernating in a crevice of the tree. Thanks to Craig, our Naturalist Assistant, the bat is now safely inside a bat box to spend the rest of the winter.

Grounds Days

2009-02-11T15:41:00.003-05:00

BBNC Senior Naturalist Mark Fallon hosts volunteer Grounds Days for you to help with plantings, weeding, trail maintenance and any other outdoor work to be done at BBNC.

Here are the upcoming dates for this spring:
Thursday, February 19 ~ 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 ~ 10 a.m.-noon
Thursday, March 5 ~ 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31 ~ 10 a.m.-noon
Thursday, April 2 ~ 3-5 p.m.
Monday, April 6 ~ 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7 ~ 10 a.m.-noon
Friday, April 17 ~ 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5 ~ 10 a.m.-noon
Thursday, May 7 ~ 3-5 p.m.

Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and bring your water bottle.
For more information or to RSVP, please call the Center at 215.588.5077

2009 Lecture Series

2009-02-09T11:13:00.001-05:00

Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators presents:

Connecting Today's Kids with Nature - A Policy Plan
Eliza Russell - National Wildlife Federation Director of Education Programming

Tuesday, March 10 @ 7 p.m.
Linderman Library Room 200 @ Lehigh University - Bethlehem, PA
Light Refreshments & Free Admission

"The phrase 'go outside and play' sums up the summer experiences that many adult Americans fondly remember. But today's kids rarely hear these four words. The sad reality is that American childhood has moved indoors. Meanwhile, our kids face an epidemic of childhood obesity and a troubling disconnect with nature."

Eliza Russell will share solution to connect our children to nature, and ourselves at the same time. She will offer encouragement for parents to take action within our communities, at the state level, and at the national Level. - Kevin Coyle, Vice President for Education at NWF

Information: Gail Hill at ghill@co.bucks.pa.us or 215.345.7860

Snow Day Activities

2009-02-04T16:40:00.002-05:00

With all this snow outside, don't think nature is hiding! Winter is still an exciting time outdoors, and there is plenty to do and see.

Take a walk through your yard or a local park to look for animal tracks in the snow. Draw a picture of them. Can you identify what animal left the tracks? What direction was in going? What does that animal eat? Was it chasing another animal?
To attract birds, make your own feeder. Tie a string to the top of a pine cone, and roll smear the cone with Crisco or peanut butter. Then roll the pine cone in bird seed. Hang it from a tree in your yard and watch the birds as they come to feed!
From outdoors or indoors, do a little bird watching. Even though it's chilly, the birds are still out, especially if you have feeders to attract them in your yard (like the pine cone feeder!). How many different types of birds did you see? What sizes were they? What color feathers did they have? Can you identify them?
With all that snow on the ground, there is plenty of building materials! Forget about the traditional snowman - make some imaginary creates! Create your own world in the snow.
Take a nature walk to look for animal habitats. Without leaves in the trees, it is much easier to see nests. Did you know birds aren't the only animals to makes nests in trees? Squirrels do too! How many nests did you see? How big were they? Were they up high or low in the tree branches? Do you know what kind of trees the nests were in?
Play a game of explorer outside! What are some really cold places? What do people do in those places? What kinds of animals live there? Pretend you are exploring one of these cold places.
Whatever you decide to do on these cold days, have fun!

Come birding at Briar Bush!

2009-01-21T16:03:00.003-05:00

On the second Wednesday of every month, Briar Bush Nature Center volunteers gather at noon for the Brown Bag Lunch, a quick business meeting and a nature-oriented presentation by a staff member or volunteer.

Jennifer Sherwood, a BBNC volunteer and avid birder, will be hosting a birding hour beginning at 11 a.m. on the days of the Brown Bag Lunch. Walk the trails or get comfy on a rocking chair in the warm bird observatory, and bring your camera or binoculars. Some recent guests have included the cardinal, tufted titmouse, chickadee and red-tailed hawk. No RSVP is necessary - just meet in the museum at 11 a.m.

Remaining Brown Bag Lunch dates include: Feb. 11, March 11, April 8 and May 13. Drinks and some snacks are provided - just bring your lunch! Anyone interested in becoming more involved at Briar Bush is welcome to attend!

Energy conservation workshop scheduled

2009-01-14T14:59:00.002-05:00

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, D-13, will host several energy conservation workshops in Montgomery County this January, where experts from Montgomery County Weatherization Works will offer tips and strategies on how people can lower their overall energy use and save money on heating costs this winter.

Workshops will be held Jan. 16, 10:30 a.m., at the Abington Township Public Library, 1030 Old York Road, Abington.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Schwartz's Jenkintown office at 215-517-6572. These workshops are free and open to the general public. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required.

Thanks for a wonderful Centennial year!

2008-12-31T10:22:00.002-05:00

As the year is coming to a close, the Briar Bush Nature Center staff would like to thank everyone for helping us celebrate our Centennial and making it such a great year! We had many volunteers help with events throughout the year, as well as all the regular day-to-day operations they help with. To mark the Centennial, the year was filled with special events to keep the celebration going. We'd like to extend a big thank you to all those who hosted our Centennial events, helped plan them and supported them with donations. We could not have had such a great year without everyone's participation and support.

Best wishes for the new year to all of our Friends!

Bird Seed Sale Price Misprint

2008-12-24T09:36:00.002-05:00

Attention!

In the Winter 2009 newsletter there has been a misprint in the bird seed prices. The correct prices are as follows:

Fruit & Berry Buffet (20 lbs.) is $32.40 (members) and $36.00 (non-members)

Peanut Splits (25 lbs.) is $31.95 (members) and $35.50 (non-members)

Safflower (20 lbs.) is $22.05 (members) and $24.50 (non-members)

The Giving Tree

2008-12-03T13:49:00.007-05:00

As a non-profit organization, we often look to Friends to support some of our needs. During the holiday season, a "giving tree" is on display in our museum with wish-list items for the coming year posted on ornaments. There are several types of ornaments on the tree, each representing a different cost category for the items. Please look through the list below, and if you are able to provide any of these items (used are okay, as long as in good condition!) the BBNC staff would be greatly appreciative! If you are in the Center, be sure to take a peek! All gift-givers will have their name displayed on a "helping hand" for the rest of the holiday season.

You Choose the Amount (dark blue ornament)

Grocery store gift cards for summer camp snacks
Petco gift cards for animal food and supplies
Michael's gift cards for craft supplies

$1-10 (red stocking ornament)

Butterfly/insect nets
Children's nature-themed storybooks
Large bottles of spray adhesive
Plastic storage tubs with lids
Frying pan
Velcro tabs or roll of Velcro

$11-25 (light blue ornament)

Associated Press Style Book
Two new coffee makers
Black cardstock for exhibits

$26-50 (indigo ornament)

Indoor umbrella stand for front entrance

$51-100 (tree-shaped ornament)

75 pounds potting soil WITHOUT fertilizer

$100+ (star ornament)

Koala baby changing table

It's Time to Feather Our Nest!

2008-11-06T10:33:00.003-05:00

Have a unique holiday shopping experience or buy some special gifts for yourself at Feather Our Nest, Briar Bush Nature Center's annual gala and silent auction. This year's auction features a great assortment of items for any interest or budget. A live auction will end the night with bidding on items such as a Fuji bicycle, a week at golf resort in Georgia and more! During the event, enjoy heavy hors d'oeurves, desserts, drinks and music. Purchase tickets online at www.briarbush.org or call the Center at 215.887.6603.

Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cairnwood Estate
3032 Huntingdon Pike
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
*valet parking*

Evening Program

5:30 p.m. ~ Gala and silent auction bidding begins
8:00 p.m. ~ Live auction
8:15 p.m. ~ Checkout begins

Don't forget to bring cash or checks for our Pick-a-Prize raffle! Purchase an arm's length of tickets for $20 and try your luck for many items! Look for the red bags in each room and drop in your tickets!

Saw-whet Owl Banding Eco-trip

2008-10-30T09:43:00.003-04:00

A group of five owl enthusiasts traveled to the Hidden Valley Banding Station outside Pottsville, PA to participate in the Saw-whet Owl banding program. These tiny owls migrate the most actively on cool, clear nights. Conditions were perfect and we caught 12 owls in five hours! The head of the banding program, Scott Widensaul, chatted the entire time while he went through the techniques used to band, measure and track the owls. Everyone in our group learned so much from Scott and fell completely in love with the little balls of feathers! The following day, we visited Hawk Mountain in hopes of spotting some larger birds of prey as they made the migration south. Unfortunately, the weather was too perfect and the hawks were flying too high in the sky. We did get some excellent views of Turkey Vultures and a quick close-up glimpse of a Sharp-shinned Hawk while sunning ourselves on the rocks at the South Lookout. We will definitely run this trip in the future so I hope to see you there!
~Kristen Facente, Public Programs Coordinator/Environmental Educator

For more background information on owls, a full recount of the trip and explanation of banding procedures, please feel free to come to our Brown Bag Lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at noon. Some snacks and drinks provided; bring lunch. If you can, please RSVP to 215-887-6603.

Good Search for Briar Bush!

2008-10-21T16:31:00.002-04:00

Online searches can help us find what we need to know, but they can also help Briar Bush earn money! When you do your next online search, try using Good Search. This is a legitimate webpage that uses the Yahoo search feature (so it's just like going directly to Yahoo and using their web search) but one bonus - it gives us money! On the main page, type Briar Bush Nature Center into the space that asks who you are "good searching" for and then click verify. Our name will be logged and you can begin searching. We get a penny per search, but with everything people look up every day, we could start racking up a few bucks. If you have kids, encourage them to use Good Search when doing research online for school projects too! If you want, you can install Good Search into your current toolbar, but it's not necessary. You can bookmark the website or make it your homepage so that every time you want to search for something online, you can earn BBNC a penny or two. Thanks for the support - we greatly appreciate it!

Great Escape: American Indian Arts Festival

2008-10-15T12:46:00.004-04:00

A full van of Great Escapers visited the Rankokus Indian Reservation for its 42nd Semi-Annual American Indian Arts Festival. Representatives from tribes throughout North and South America were present to share their music, crafts, food and culture. Everyone enjoyed perusing the incredible hand-made jewelry, pottery, clothing and other traditional wares. All the while, performers sang, danced, chanted and drummed on the main stage, creating a wonderful and authentic atmosphere. A highlight for most of us was the falconry demonstration in which a Harris hawk chased and caught a lure dragged by a young volunteer. The traditional food was different yet delicious, particularly the three sisters soup, buffalo burgers and fry bread. It was a trip worth repeating!

~Kristen Facente, Public Programs Coordinator/Environmental Educator

Green Hour

2008-10-15T11:02:00.002-04:00

Need a great resource when it comes to getting the kids (or yourself!) outdoors for some quality time in nature each day? Try Green Hour. The website focuses on ways of giving kids a "Green Hour" of unstructured play each day for their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

RaptorFest '08

2008-10-06T11:25:00.003-04:00

RaptorFest was a hit! Visitors came to Briar Bush on Saturday, Oct. 4 to enjoy raptor-related crafts, dissect owl pellets (balls of feathers/fur/bones that owls regurgitate), see a live presentation of "The Lorax," and the highlight of the day, a live raptor presentation by falconer Mike Dupuy. Check out the slideshow to see Mike and his Harris Hawk (dark brown), Northern Goshawk (white stripe above eyes) and Saker Falcon (brown and white speckled chest).

Come see our new exhibits!

2008-09-22T10:38:00.002-04:00

Don't forget that you can visit Briar Bush even on rainy days! Our museum contains over 30 animals and several exhibits and hands-on displays. This month the museum has welcomed two new exhibits:

Find out more about our reptilian friends with our all-new REPTILES exhibit. The exhibit describes what exactly a "reptile" is and some of the unique characteristics of these amazing animals. Visuals include a full shed from ne of Briar Bush's snakes, along with some eggs laid just this year by Ms. Tortellini (Leopard Tortoise) and Colonel Corn (Corn Snake).

Think twice about what you put in your garbage can with the help of our "WHAT'S IN OUR TRASH?" exhibit. The hands-on display breaks down the make-up of what Americans throw away each year, while allowing visitors to practice the art of recycling. Children can also compare their daily lunch to that of the average consumer, and find out about techniques to improve their every day trash output.

Calling all juice drinkers and cookie eaters!

2008-09-19T12:49:00.002-04:00

Terracycle, a NJ-based company that makes usable products from items that would otherwise be trash, is teaming up with Nabisco, Kool-Aid, Capri Sun and Honest Kids to offer a recycling fundraiser to non-profit organizations.

Briar Bush has joined the Cookie Wrapper Brigade and the Drink Pouch Brigade to collect and recycle these items. For each drink pouch and cookie wrapper collected, Briar Bush will receive $.02. While it is a small amount alone, it is amazing how many of these items end up in trash cans! Rather than throw them away (especially after lunch or snacks), save them for Briar Bush!

We will have collection bags in the center for cookie wrappers (Oreo, Chips Ahoy, 100 Calorie Packs, etc.) and juice drink pouches (Kool-Aid, Capri Sun, etc.) This does not include candy bar wrappers or juice boxes.

In order to send our collection bags in for a donation, we must collect a minimum of 200 cookie wrappers and 100 drink pouches, so start saving!! This is an easy way to help Briar Bush earn extra funds to support our great community programs.

Please empty any crumbs from cookie wrappers, as well as remove the straw from drink pouches. Terracycle is asking that drink pouches be cut across the bottom (not bottom of front or back panel, but the section between them) and rinsed.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Join us for RaptorFest!

2008-09-17T12:20:00.002-04:00

October is Raptor Month! Join in the fun and sign up for a great FREE adventure!

Saturday, October 4 ~ 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

9 a.m.-9:45 a.m. "Backyard Birding" Bring your binoculars and take a birding walk through BBNC trails with Wild Bird Center's Marsha Pearson. Light morning refreshments available. Please register in advance.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. "All About Raptors" Enjoy crafts, exhibits and other activities, all reptor-related. Some of the fun will include dissecting owl pellets, making puppets, measuring wingspans and much more!

11 a.m.-12 p.m. "Live Animal Presentation" The highlight of the day will be a live bird presentation by the Academy of Natural Sciences. See raptors up close and get answers to all your raptor questions!

12:15-12:45 p.m. "The Lorax" Participate in a living version of "The Lorax," the famous Dr. Seuss tale about the importance of protecting habitats.

***Registration is required for "Backyard Birding" and recommended for the other activities. Call BBNC at 215.887.6603.***

BBNC in the community

2008-09-17T09:59:00.002-04:00

It's the season for festivals and Briar Bush will have PR tables at many of them! Our PR tables are always a hit with all the need-to-know information for parents and activities for the kids - sometimes one of the famous Briar Bush critters even makes an appearance. Knowledgable volunteers and staff are available to answer and programming or general information questions you might have.

This fall, look for us at the following events:
*Saturday, September 20 @ Macy's
*Friday, September 26 @ Upper Moreland Primary School
*Saturday, September 27 @ Glenside Street Fair (11-3)
*Saturday, September 27 @ Sisters of Holy Redeemer Children's Fair (12-5)
*Saturday, September 27 @ Roslyn Car Show (3:30-8)
*Sunday, September 28 @ Sisters of Holy Redeemer Children's Fair (12-5)

Help make our wishes come true!

2008-09-16T16:31:00.002-04:00

As a non-profit organization, "luxury items" often fall to the bottom of our purchasing list, and it is through the help of our Friends and other supporters that we are able to get some of the items we want or need. Here is the most recent "wish list" of items that could help our programs and daily operations at Briar Bush:

75 lbs of potting soil without fertilizer
Habba Mist reptile cage misting system
Umbrella stand
Baby changing table for the restroom
Most recent version of Quickbooks software
Large plastic exercise wheel for the chinchilla
Butterfly/insect nets
Toddler-sized tables with chairs (2-3 sets)
Toddler-sized step stool
Collapsible stool with railing (for getting into BBNC van)
Camera tripod
A level for building exhibits

Looking Back: 100 Years Potluck and Annual Meeting

2008-09-10T10:11:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, September 9 was the annual meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush. Prior to the business meeting portion of the evening, friends old and new shared a potluck dinner together at Briar Bush. To help celebrate our one hundred years of history, David Rowland of the Old York Road Historical Society presented a brief history of the Abington Township area back to when it was mostly farmland, and brought photos. Dr. Leigh Altadonna, Assistant Superintendant of Abington Schools and FOBB Board Member, grew up visiting Florence Griscom with his sister and recounted the days spent learning about birds, nature and life from Mrs. Griscom. He gave the audience insight of what was happening from the 1950s through 1975. Dede Long, Executive Director of BBNC, picked up from there and carried us into today and even a peek at the future. Next year, Briar Bush will be creating another 5-year strategic plan, which will be an important guiding tool in our future, as Long is retiring in 2010 after 30+ years with the Center. The evening ended with the business meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush. This year, four members will be leaving the Board of Directors after fulfilling their terms, and a fifth has resigned after being called into active duty in the United States Army. Members who have completed six years of Board service must remain off the Board for one year before returning. All staff members gave a brief summary of the activities that have been filling their days since last year's meeting.

Great Escape - Buildings of Fairmount Park

2008-09-10T10:04:00.002-04:00

It is amazing how a person can live his or her entire life in the same area and not discover all the wonderful places hidden just off the beaten path or, in the case of the buildings of Fairmount Park, and Fairmount Park Water Works Interpretive Center, standing in plain sight! A small but interested group of our members toured Strawberry Mansion and Woodford, two of the seven historic homes in Fairmount Park that are now maintained by different public and private groups. Extremely knowledgeable docents led us through the very different homes, detailing the history of the structures, their builders and various owners, current furnishings and so much more. We enjoyed lunch at Rembrandt's Restuarant near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, then dropped by the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center. Beneath the beautiful building that houses the historic water works is an informative and interactive museum suitable for kids and adults. Truly, all Philadelphians should spend an hour visiting this fascinating (and free!) museum.

2008-09-09T10:03:00.002-04:00

Summer camp already seems like a distant memory at Briar Bush and the focus has moved to our school-year programs. Our Children's Series programs and Home School have already started and ACORN is soon to follow, with BBNC educators visiting Abington schools to teach nature-based lessons. This year's programs have been restructured around various nature themes to give kids an excellent on-going experience for this year and beyond. New to our Children's Series is an infant sign language class for 0-2 year olds with an adult. Infants will learn signs for words and concepts in nature from guest educator Katy Abbott as they explore the museum and trails. "No School? Cool!" has also made a return this year, with exciting field trips during days when school is closed but work is not. Please be sure to check the program schedules on our website at www.briarbush.org or in your newsletter.

Tonight is the annual meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush (7:15 p.m.) following a potluck dinner (5:30 p.m.) and a historical presentation (6:30 p.m.).

Great Escape: Leaming's Run Gardens

2008-08-09T09:16:00.003-04:00

Kristen Facente accompanied seven garden and hummingbird enthusiasts to Leaming’s Run Gardens in Avalon, NJ for a guided tour and lunch. Our guide, Greg, was not only the entire gardening staff but also the son of the gardens’ owners. He knew each garden inside and out and shared his gardening secrets with us. During the walk, he also explained the history of the land and its original owners, and how it came to be in his family’s possession. While we sat in the shade and enjoyed his stories, hummingbirds darted around Cardinal Flowers not 10 feet in front of us. We learned that hummingbird feeders are actually very detrimental to the ‘hummers’ (for a number of reasons) and several of our group vowed to take their feeders down immediately! The gardens are also home to a wide variety of chickens and other fowl, which Greg breeds and cares for. After the tour, the group wandered on their own through the rest of the gardens. We enjoyed the gardens so much, by the time we sat down at Chef Ted’s Off-Shore Grill for lunch, everyone was starving! Lunch was very good, though, and worth the wait.

If you missed out on Leaming's Run Gardens, be sure to check the Briar Flyer or the schedule of events on www.briarbush.org for upcoming Great Escapes!

BBNC digs Philly!

2008-08-09T09:14:00.001-04:00

BBNC has been featured on the website digphilly.com! The article features upcoming events, a little history and why BBNC is such a special place in the area.

Enjoy! (<-- That link will take you directly to our article.)

Earth Skills: July 28 - August 1

2008-08-08T10:54:00.001-04:00

Monday: Water Day

Today we got to explore the aquatic world. Mark Fallon, Senior Naturalist, and Camp Aide Oceana led campers for a Briar Bush pond study in the morning, then traveled to nearby Baederwood Park to discover what lives in the headwaters of Tookany Creek. Finally, campers imitated the frogs, fish and other creatures they found by swimming and jumping in Crestmont Pool.

Some of the highlights: We caught and released frogs, tadpoles, backswimmers, a diving beetle, water striders, leeches, mayfly nymphs and daphnia at the pond. Campers used a key to identify organisms. In the creek, we found more (and bigger) water striders, which camper Robert nicknamed “skimmers.” We caught some small fish, and a large and small crayfish. We also found some natural clay deposits and learned that people can make bowls from natural materials. Campers played Nature Expedition in the creek and got points for finding creatures, helping each other and picking up trash. They lost points for going too far ahead or throwing rocks. The final score: 1,600 points!!!

Along the way, campers learned to identify Poison Ivy (and stay away from it!) and Jewelweed, a medicinal plant that can help stop the itching of bug bites and Poison Ivy. Mark also taught them about another risk of summer in the woods: yellow-jackets. These wasps nest in the ground and old logs. Campers learned that if anyone got stung, they should all run toward the nearest building or vehicle. This was a lesson that came in handy on Tuesday…

Tuesday: Shelter, Tools and Fire

Educator Jeff Moore used his extensive knowledge of Stone Age technology to show campers how to build a shelter out of woodland materials today. While in the woods at Briar Bush, camper Sammy found another shelter- a yellow-jacket nest! Because everyone had learned what to do, Sammy only got one sting and no one else was hurt – except maybe some of the ears of the other Briar Bush visitors when all the campers were yelling, “Bees! Run!”

Campers also got to see where many Stone Age people found shelter: in caves. Jeff led them through the Briar Bush replica cave and talked about why a cave makes such a great shelter and the earliest known art form: cave paintings. Campers did some of their own arts & crafts today, too: they made necklaces with slate pendants. Jake decided he would try to replace his tooth with his new slate pendant.

Things really heated up when Jeff showed campers how some Stone Age people made friction fires. The tinder was a bit too moist to get a flame, but Juan really got the knack of that fire bow! Charlie, John and Grant worked as a team to try to get their fire tools working. Elizabeth and Victoria found a cicada and told everyone all about them – those two know a lot about nature!

Wednesday: Wissahickon wandering and bugs galore!

Campers set out in the van with Mark to explore the Andorra section of Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park. We started with a bug hunt and found only two kinds of bugs in the ball field, but eight in the meadow thicket nearby. From the old burn area that had become a meadow, we could see the other side of the valley and all the campers knew that to find the creek, all we had to do was hike downhill.

Mark knew about another interesting Nature Center right nearby: Fairmount Park Commission’s Andorra Environmental Education Center, fondly known as “The Tree House.” Back when it was the home of the family that ran a large tree and shrub nursery on the grounds, the back porch actually had a huge chestnut growing right through the roof! The staff at the Tree House was very friendly and let all our campers look at the historic photos of the house when the tree still stood in the back porch.

Mark had one last trick up his sleeve, and drove the 20 minutes back toward Abington to Lorimer Park, where there was a big butterfly garden and a great creek to explore! Campers discover Yellow-Lined Salamanders, lots of Crane Fly Larvae, and Robert even spotted our first and only snake. No one believed him at first, and we went upstream for a bit to build dams and catch salamanders, but, sure enough, when we came back to the same spot, other campers started screaming! Mark identified the little snake as a baby Northern Water Snake, a non-venomous snake often killed because people think it is a Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin or other poisonous species. We finished the day with a dip in a deep poll of Pennypack creek. What an adventure!

Thursday: Clam Shell Knives and Animal Tracking

Campers got into the groove first thing in the morning by cutting grooves into clam shells. Making clam shell serrated knives was the order of the day. Jeff made three examples of prehistoric ulu knives still used by Eskimo and Inuit peoples today. After lunch, campers got their feet (and hands) dirty, learning about tracks that animals leave behind.

The absolute highlight of camp however, was roasting marshmallows over open flames. Campers selected their own sticks while taking a short foray around the center. For some strange reason, Grant’s marshmallows kept bursting into flames! Everyone seemed to love the sticky goo, except for Jeff, who had to clean up the bottoms of his sneakers after the campers left for the day.

Friday: Nature’s Shopping Trip and Stone Knapping

Stream crossings gone badly should have been the theme for this day’s activity. Campers took a trip to Peace Valley Nature Center and walked the outer trail loop. While taking White Oak Crossing, campers had to forge the stream, which had swelled due to a previous storm. Even though Jeff and Oceana helped campers “rock hop” across the stream, one at a time, and everyone got across safely, there were still two casualties.

Grant’s shoe became a raft and floated a hundred feet downstream before marooning itself on a sandbar. Charlie’s water bottle also jumped ship and is probably somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean by now. Too bad you didn’t put a note in the bottle, Charlie!

After lunch, Jeff showed how to use pressure flakers to shape and sharpen the edge of stones and campers practiced on small slate stones. Just before the end of camp, Jeff handed out pieces of obsidian glass and campers flaked the edges to make a Stone Age knife before going home.

Picture this!

2008-08-08T09:44:00.003-04:00

BBNC photos are now available online! Follow the link below to find photos from 2008 summer camps.

summer camp pictures

Regal Moth Caterpillar

2008-08-06T10:29:00.007-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, a neighbor stopped by with a fascinating creature - a regal moth caterpillar, also known as the hickory horned devil. These caterpillars are 12.5 - 14 cm in length, and as an adult moth have a wingspan of 9.5 - 15.5 cm. The caterpillar burrows for pupation, so it was a rare treat to see this since its size indicated that it was ready for that stage. *scroll down for pictures!*

*Please remember that Briar Bush is not licensed to accept injured or abandoned wildlife. If you find an animal that needs help, please contact one of the following centers:

AARK Wildlife Rehab. & Education Center, Inc.
107 Twining Bridge Road
Newtown, PA 18940
215-968-4963

Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab Center
304 Port Royal Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-482-8217

A look back at 100 years: FOBB annual meeting and potluck

2008-08-04T10:58:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, September 9, gather with “Friends” to share a traditional potluck dinner and look back at the history of the Abington area. Members of the Old York Road Historical Society will provide photos, stories and more. Learn about Quaker couple, Everett and Florence Griscom, who moved to Abington in 1908 and shared their knowledge and love of nature with children and adults for over 50 years. See what Abington looked like when Willow Grove was a park with trees instead of a shopping mall. Following the presentation, you may choose to stay for the Annual Meeting of the Friends of Briar Bush and election of new board members. Please RSVP by August 26. Potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. at Briar Bush. The cost is $5/adult and $3/child under 10 – please bring a dish that serves 10 people. In order to accurately plan for the evening, please contact us to determine what type of dish to bring.

Watery Worlds - July 7-11

2008-08-04T09:40:00.000-04:00

Nature was definitely in on the deal as Watery Worlds debuted at Briar Bush with a…splash…as campers completed experiments and craft projects learning about the water cycle. Nature did some teaching of its own, while dousing the campers with a thick coat of rain! The rest of the week was just as wet as campers explored the watershed of Baederwood Creek. The highlights of the day included catching salamanders and crayfish, and crawling through some adventurous tunnels. I could see the light bulbs pop on as students explored the concepts of watersheds, while getting a little wet of course. The exploration continued as Wednesday brought “Froggin’,” a definite camp favorite! Fauna big and small could not escape from our master “froggers.” On Thursday, the campers chased “Drippy” the raindrop on his path out to sea. Along the way, we visited Wissahickon Creek, the Schuylkill River and finally the Delaware River. Campers spent the whole day exploring a tidal habitat and all the incredible things it leaves behind. Finally, we ended the week by “searching for Drippy” at the Adventure Aquarium. The sharks were amazing and I even faced my fears and touched a jellyfish! The campers had an amazing and adventurous week filled with informative fun. I had a great time with all my water-loving campers and hope to be even wetter next year!

~Stephanie Sadlon, Curriculum Specialist/Environmental Educator

Help make our wishes come true!

2008-08-01T14:16:00.004-04:00

Umbrella stand
Baby changing table for the restroom
Most recent version of Quickbooks software
Large plastic exercise wheel for the chinchilla
Butterfly/insect nets
Super glue
Toddler-sized tables with chairs (2-3 sets)
Toddler-sized step stool
Collapsible stool with railing (for getting into BBNC van)
Camera tripod
A level for building exhibits

Remember that as a 501(c)(3) organization, your donation to us will be tax-deductible.

Critter Care - June 23-27

2008-08-01T11:50:00.001-04:00

I don’t know who had more fun this week – the campers or myself and the Camp Aides! Animals are my first love, so I was very excited to spend an entire week with 12 3^rd-6^th graders who shared my passion. Over the week, I hoped to show the campers how much fun “working” with animals can be, drive home the difference between pets and wild animals and, of course, give them a great nature-based summer camp experience.

On the first day, the campers, Camp Aides Phil and Sophia, and I introduced ourselves and shared stories about our pets. Some of the campers told of their desire to work with animals “when they grow up.” We also met all of the Briar Bush animals and learned about their histories. A guest speaker from the Schuykill Wildlife Rehabilitation Center spoke with the children about the difficult but rewarding job of rehabilitating injured or abandoned wild animals. He brought four non-releasable birds of prey, including an Eastern Screech Owl and a Black Vulture, which we were able to view up close. The campers impressed me with their previous knowledge and deep interest as they asked appropriate questions and remained calm around the excited wild birds. After lunch, we visited the Perkiomenville SPCA, which houses unwanted or confiscated dogs, cats, small mammals and large animals such as horses and sheep. Many of the campers had brought donations of towels, canned food, newspapers and toys for the animals and it was obvious that the SPCA staff was grateful. Even though some of the animals’ stories were very sad, the campers remained upbeat and excited because they understood that the hard work of the SPCA staff helps pets have a second chance. Our tour guide impressed upon the children the fact that they should always do the research before getting a pet – something that we advocate at Briar Bush as well.

Tuesday was spent at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. We began with a behind-the-scenes tour of their Live Animal Center, home to over 100 animals. The campers saw volunteers feeding, cleaning and providing enrichment for the animals and asked how old they had to be to volunteer there! Again, our tour guide was impressed by the campers’ knowledge and interest. During lunch we chatted about why so many unwanted pets end up in places like the Academy and which ones were our favorites. Then, we toured the rest of the museum – the campers sifted for shark teeth at “Outside In,” crawled and walked like dinosaurs, and watched butterflies hatch and land on them in the Butterfly House.

n Wednesday, campers met a zookeeper and learned how to care for exotic species at the Elmwood Park Zoo. Our speaker asked the campers to act out animal injuries and then think like a veterinarian to diagnose ailments. She gave everyone a list of which animals make the “best” and “worst” pets – they got a kick out of the fact that many of their campers pets were listed under the “proceed with caution” heading. I allowed the campers to explore the zoo at their own pace (as long as they could see one of the three adults) and they really took their time, read the posted information and asked pointed questions about many of the animals. The favorite exhibit by far was the prairie dogs and the campers were fascinated to learn that wild ferrets feed almost exclusively on the little rodents. Our afternoon visit to the pool was refreshing and fun for everyone.

After three days of structured programs, we spent our entire visit to the Adventure Aquarium exploring on our own. If you have never been to the Adventure Aquarium, I highly recommend it – it is a darn cool place! Campers touched sharks, rays and jellyfish, talked with scuba divers through a foot of glass, and learned that hippos are graceful swimmers. The campers impressed me again with their ability to see the sights while staying together as a group. Back at Briar Bush, we got our hands and feet very dirty as we completed a pond study. Based on the insects that the campers found living in the pond, they decided that it is a healthy ecosystem with good water quality. They were as interested in the insects and snails they caught as the frogs and tadpoles.

On the last day, campers put into practice everything they had learned over the week as they took care of Briar Bush’s resident animals. We divided into groups for a little competition – which group could work together as a team to first decide what each of their animals needed in terms of daily care and then provide it for them? In the end, it was a three way tie – each group went above and beyond anything I had imagined and I told them any one of them could help with animal care any time they wanted! They truly had fun and took pride in providing excellent care for their favorite Briar Bush critters. In the afternoon, we built stick forts in the woods for animals to use as temporary shelters and talked about other ways to help local wild animals. We ended the week with a trip to the pool, lots of hugs and promises to come visit the Briar Bush animals again.

~Kristen Facente, Summer Camp Coordinator/Environmental Educator

Itty Bitty Briars (June 3-6)

2008-07-30T15:41:00.002-04:00

Since the Briar Blog didn't make its debut until after BBNC summer camps had already started, we will be posting highlights of camps that took place earlier this summer. If your child was in a camp that isn't on the Briar Blog yet, please check back soon!

Itty Bitty Briars – June 3-6

The first camp of the 2008 season was Itty Bitty Briars (IBB), a 1.5 hour camp for 11 two to three-year-olds and their favorite adult. Parents were not just observing – they got down in the dirt too, connecting with their kids and learning alongside them. Each day, campers visited a different part of their local environment, using their entire bodies to explore and experience.

We began the week by warming up our body part that we needed to explore nature – eyes, ears, nose, mouth and fingers. The little ones were very brave and reached into mystery bags where the discovered snake skins, feathers, antlers, mushrooms and much more. Outside we played “Eye Spy,” listened for bird sounds to imitate and smelled all the brightly colored flowers. We snacked on things from nature (fruit, veggies and water) and chatted about our favorite things to do in nature. After snack we met the Corn Snake and learned that snakes smell with their tongue, feel with their belly and can’t taste their food.

During “Creepy Crawly” day, campers and parents met our resident millipedes, tarantula and hissing cockroaches. Everyone enjoyed counting the animals’ legs (although we didn’t get much past 10 legs on the millipede), eyes and antenna. Next, we tried an experiment – campers painted a “sugaring” mixture on trees along the trail in hopes of attracting hungry insects. We rolled over logs and found lots of crawling critters that the campers timidly picked up (and sometimes immediately dropped). While we let our “sugaring” solution sit, we snacked on ladybug English Muffins with raisin spots and read “The Very Quiet Cricket.” Campers and parents worked together to create butterfly puppets which we took along as we examined our “sugared” trees. Even though we hadn’t attracted much, a tiny green inch-worm kept the campers fascinated for at least five minutes!

Rain threatened to keep us inside on Wednesday, but it held out long enough for us to explore some different types of shelter around Briar Bush. We read a story about a bear playing hide and seek and then campers went off the trails to play themselves. Everyone chose an animal to act out and had to hide in an appropriate place. We worked together to create a sick and leaf shelter for animals to hide in during the impending rain. When it started to drizzle, we headed back inside for a snack of pretzels, Chex and animal crackers, which many of the campers turned into miniature versions of the shelter they had just created. After snack, we met the box turtle, who brings his home with him, and the rabbit, who has to find or make a shelter. By the end of the day, campers knew that “Everyone Needs a Home” and could distinguish between different types of animal homes.

No Briar Bush camp is complete without a visit to the pond, so that is where we went on Friday. As small as they were, campers used nets to scoop up pond insects, worms, snails and frogs. They did not want to get their hands dirty but loved looking at their critters in magnifying viewers! Everyone learned that frogs really are slimy when they touched a giant green frog caught by one of the parents. After clean up, we snacked on blue jell-o and gummy fish while chatting about our favorite activities from camp. Parents and campers worked together to create “peek-a-boo” pond pictures with turtles, frogs, snails and fish hiding all around. Finally, just because everyone had been asking all week, we took a look at the indoor beehive and felt how warm the bees made the hive. I’d say that the first week of Summer Camp 2008 was a total success!

~Kristen Facente, Summer Camp Coordinator/Environmental Educator

Earth Trekkers!

2008-07-28T10:33:00.004-04:00

Last week was a week of adventure with the Earth Trekkers camp (3rd - 6th grade), led by Anne-Marie. This camp brought out the wanderer in all of us, as we visited a new natural location every day. The kids were great sports through all the hiking and hot days, and always found something to inspire excitement and laughter.

Monday: A hike through the BBNC trails, a pond study and birding started the week. In the afternoon we cooled off at the pool.
Tuesday: A trip to Pennypack Farm in Horsham was a great experience for all the kids. At this organic farm, the kids had a great time trying to catch chickens and holding chicks. They made a great snack of fresh, organic salsa after picking all of the ingredients during the farm tour, and collected eggs from the hen house. After a picnic lunch, we planted sprouts and had a little more time to see the chicks again. After a hot day at the farm, the kids were all excited to spend the afternoon at the pool.
Wednesday: A trip to Camden, NJ brought us to Adventure Aquarium to explore the deep, blue sea and other water habitats. The campers loved touching baby sharks and jellyfish, and watching all of the rays, sea turtle and tropical fish swim through the 760,000 gallon tank. The campers were fascinated to see two scuba divers drop into one of the smaller tanks and start cleaning it while swimming around with the fish. A picnic lunch overlooking the waterfront gave us a perfect view of the Philadelphia skyline and a great way to end our trip.
Thursday: A trip to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum and Cusano Environmental Education Center was an unexpected treasure for all of the campers. After spending time looking at all of the cool exhibits at the Center (which is designed to conserve energy and water!) we hit the trails in search of some exciting wildlife. Only a few steps down the trail and we'd already encountered a woodchuck and a family of wild turkeys! During the hike we kept a log of all the wildlife we saw, which included osprey, egrets, a red winged black bird (which only nests in wetlands), a snake, turtles, a rabbit and lots more. We also saw deer tracks and encountered about a dozen crayfish crawling across a field and down trails. The kids had a great time picking up the crayfish and there were a lot of laughs.
Friday: A two-hour hike from Cresheim Valley Drive to the Valley Green Inn gave the kids a great view of Fairmount Park, the Cresheim Creek, Devil's Pool and the Wissahickon Creek. They were troopers as we hiked up and down hills, over logs and across the creek several times. Our guide from the Wissahickon Environmental Center shared knowledge of native plants and natural history along the way, and even showed us where to find wineberries - a nice treat during the hike! A picnic lunch at the Valley Green Inn was a great way to end the week.

Check back soon for fun photos of the week's adventures!

Centennial Accomplishments

2008-07-22T09:02:00.002-04:00

It has been an exciting Centennial year so far for the Briar Bush crew!

Here is a look at a few of our accomplishments:

Our Centennial events have been well-attended and we are getting great feedback. There are still several more events for the remainder of the year, so join us soon! If you have not received a Centennial Celebrations book, be sure to stop by the Center to pick one up - they are free and feature our calendar of events, complimented by works from local artists.

Welcome to our "World of Wonders"...online!

2008-07-18T10:23:00.004-04:00

It's official - the new "Briar Blog" is here! As some of you have recently learned, this is a new extension of information to fill the gaps between the publication of our seasonal newsletter, the "Briar Flyer," and to highlight some of the great activities and events involving Briar Bush Nature Center.

Here is a preview of what you will see in the blog:

Preview and reviews of BBNC events
Great Escape/Eco-Trip information
Photos, photos and more photos
Links to related sites with BBNC articles, etc.
BBNC projects
Program updates
And much, much more!

It is very exciting to be able to bring everyone together through this site, which will also enable readers to leave comments or questions and further share information. It has become very common for businesses and organizations to develop blogs as another way of reaching their audiences, and Briar Bush certainly wants to be a part of the crowd!

So welcome, enjoy and be sure to visit often for all of the most up-to-date BBNC news!