Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

The month of March signals profound changes in both our flora and fauna here in the North Carolina foothills.  Our area, which has seen an especially hard winter this year, is getting ready to burst into life!  It is exciting to know that the natural world is about to come full circle and begin itself anew–and it is a marvelous time to get out with your family and enjoy the warm sun on your face while strolling through the lush green canopies that our parks provide.  Your ears will be entertained to a full chorus of hawks, warblers, frogs, and toads while your eyes are treated to a wide array of enchanting spring wildflowers and butterflies.  There is so much to explore and see!  Join one of our scheduled walks to have a more “in-depth” experience-or come on your own and spend the day hiking and picnicking with your family, exercising your dog, or challenging yourself to a ride on one of the mountain bike trails at Riverbend Park.

Below, we have put together a few “must see” lists for spring for those of you who are interested in getting out and exploring Catawba County’s natural heritage!  Since there is always a Ranger on duty at each park, stop in and ask what good things have been seen recently and they will be happy to point you in the right direction!

Spring Birds:  Great Egret, Osprey, Broad-winged Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and Baltimore Oriole.

Spring Wildflowers:  Trailing Arbutus (March-May), Bloodroot (March-April), Birdfoot Violet (April-June),  Wild Columbine (March-May), Round-lobed Hepatica (February-May), Yellowroot (April-June), Mayapple (April-May), Halberdleaf Violet (April-May),  Wild Azalea (April-May), Wild Stonecrop (April-May), Foamflower (April-June), Coral Honeysuckle (April-June), Roundleaf Ragwort (April-June), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (April-May), Large-flowered Trillium (April-May), Perfoliate Bellwort (April-May),  and Dwarf Crested Iris (April-May)

Spring Butterflies:  Pipevine Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Falcate Orangetip, Harvester, Brown Elfin, Juniper Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Mourning Cloak, Gemmed Satyr, Northern Cloudywing, Juvenal’s Duskywing, and Common Roadside-Skipper

Other Things To Look For:  Our favorite bird species will begin showing up mid-March!  A great way to see how soon they will arrive is to check the Migration Map at Hummingbirds.net.  It offers an up to the minute picture of where sightings have occurred across the country.  The male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will be the first to arrive and set up territory.  The females should arrive early to mid-April and their babies hatched by late May!  American Toads will be breeding in wet areas, Eastern Box Turtles will be roaming our trails looking for mates, and the rocks in the Catawba River will be covered again with Yellow-bellied Sliders and River Cooters!  Several dragonfly species can also be seen in the early spring:  the Gray Petaltail, Springtime Darner, and Common Baskettail.

We will also resume our songbird banding effort and would love to have you come out to join us!  Because there are many limiting factors involved with the weather though, we cannot schedule any dates too far in advance.  We will be sending out notices of when we will be able to band through the Catawba County Parks Facebook Page so if you are interested-please become a fan and stay up-to-date with all of our park activities.  Moth season will also soon be upon us and the Tuesday Night Moth Club will begin again on Tuesday nights from April thru October.  We will get together to look at moths, beetles, and whatever else shows up at the mercury-vapor light.  Last season we logged over 70 species of moths, a dozen or so beetle species and many other interesting finds-like the Four-spotted Owl-fly that looks somewhat like a mutant cross between a butterfly and a dragonfly!  The fun begins at dusk and goes about an hour past total darkness so the times will vary throughout the season.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

What a winter this has been… Even though this winter has seemed quite harsh; it is actually very close to being normal. This is the first year in a long time that we have not been in a drought. With above normal precipitation and cold temps we have seen snow in the Catawba Valley. There has been a lot of erosion and many days of poor trail conditions. On the positive side we will likely see a very active and lush spring. I believe we will see an excellent year for spring wildflowers. The parks division staff will focus on trail repairs and maintenance that will take full advantage of the good weather. I hope you will take the time to enjoy the full glory of what looks to be like a fantastic spring in the parks.

With the current economy, we are all looking for ways to be thrifty. When you are looking for something to do that does not cost very much - remember your parks. Take advantage of nice weather, bring your family and even the dog and take a walk. Spending time in nature with fresh air and sunshine is a great and healthy simple pleasure. It helps rejuvenate the body and spirit.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me personally.

You are always welcome and we look forward to your visit!

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn

S. Blair Rayfield, Jr.

Catawba County Parks Manager.

828-312-4803

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

This winter presented Catawba County Parks with numerous “mini-disasters”.  In our ten and a half years of operations, we had not experienced back-to-back situations in which the parks had to remain closed for public safety.  January and February 2010 will definitely go down in our record books!  The heavy rains in January melted a good deal of upstream snow that remained on the ground from December causing Duke Energy to have to open two floodgates to their full 16 foot capacities.  The ensuing floodwaters washed out stream crossings, eroded the canoe/kayak parking area, and swamped Riverbend Park in a heap of upstream trash.  The first of February brought more heavy snow to our area with a subsequent ice event a few days later causing the trails at both Riverbend Park and Bakers Mountain Park to remain unsafe.  A few days after that, our area was under a high wind warning which caused substantial damage at all of our parks.  Bakers Mountain was able to clear their limbs and open on a delay while Riverbend had to remain closed until 42 trees were removed from across the trails.  We love winter-and we love snow-but we are ready for spring this year folks!

In much happier news, the 4-H Junior Ranger club has met with great success!  We have enjoyed meeting with families and learning about the wildlife that live in our parks.  Some of our 4-H families even came out to see the release of a red-phase Eastern Screech Owl who had been rehabilitated at the Carolina Raptor Center after being found dehydrated and in shock in an area mailbox.  The club received its charter on February 26, 2010 at the 4-H Awards Ceremony.  We are thrilled at the success of this new venture and look forward to doing much more with our Junior Rangers and their families!

We would also like to congratulate Alexander Central High School senior, Averi Ritchie, for her recent success for her second place finish in the Northwest North Carolina Regional Science Fair.  She helped out with Ruby-throated Hummingbird banding last summer and based her project off of the data that we compiled.  Her project was one of hundreds submitted in the 13 county district.  Her second place finish means that her project will go on to the statewide 2010 North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair to be held in Raleigh on March 26-27, 2010.  We wish her the best of luck!

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Name:   Dwayne Martin

Park Where You Work:   Riverbend Park

Hometown:  Conover, NC

Interests/Hobbies:  Birding, nature watching, and gardening

Certifications:  Certified as a Weather Spotter through the National Weather Service; Licensed songbird and hummingbird bander in North and South Carolina; and current North Carolina Vice President of the Carolina Bird Club

Favorite Season:  Spring and Fall–it is too hard to choose!

Favorite Thing About Your Job:  Sharing my love of nature with patrons

Favorite Place In Your Park:  The mature forest in the back part of the park near map stand 12. There are lots of White Pines, Oaks, and Hickories in this section and the understory is filled with Wild Azaleas and Low-bush Blueberries.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Catawba County Parks will be OPEN for the following Holidays:

Friday, April 2, 2010–Good Friday

Sunday, April 4, 2010-Easter Sunday

Monday, April 5, 2010–Easter Monday

Sunday, May 9, 2010-Mother’s Day

Monday, May 31, 2010-Memorial Day

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Since our last update on the Carolina Thread Trail, three public meetings have been held throughout the county.  Each event had a brief overview presentation.  Then participants broke out into smaller groups, where they were encouraged to draw their trail location wishes on large maps of Catawba County.  The meetings were very successful from a planning perspective.  There were approximately 40 participants at each open house.  Initially, people discussed their wishes and reasoning behind their views, but were reluctant to draw their ideas on the map.  Then one-by-one some “brave” person either came forward to do the drawing or was “volunteered” as the designated drawer by the rest of his/her group.  By this time everyone was comfortable talking about their ideas, and almost everyone eventually grabbed a marker and “constructed” a trail segment that they felt should be added.

CTT consultants have since combined information from all the maps which were drawn on at the open houses (about 18 maps), and through color coding have distinguished most frequent route requests versus less frequent requests.  Meetings with the County Carolina Thread Trail Technical Advisory Team are now being held to further determine route locations.  There will be more public meetings when the draft plan is complete to gain additional input.

Route locations, destination connections, and other major decisions, such as determining the material surface of the trails have not been decided.  So, if you haven’t done so, please give us your views by filling out a survey.  It’s actually an easy survey to fill out, so it won’t take much of your time.  Your input is greatly appreciated!  You are also encouraged to watch the short video Carolina Thread Trail LInking Catawba County to 14 Other Counties to learn more about this exciting new effort.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Below is a complete list of the programming that our parks will be offering this spring.  Each walk will be limited to 20 participants and is weather dependent.  Please feel free to contact the Ranger leading the walk if you have any questions!

March:

Tuesday, March 9, 2010-4-H Junior Ranger Club on Foxes-6:30 pm

Saturday, March 13, 2010-Birdwalk at Riverbend Park-9 am

Saturday, March 27, 2010-Early Spring Wildflowers at Bakers Mountain Park-2 pm

April:

Saturday, April 3, 2010-Easter Egg Hunt at St. Stephens Park-2 pm

Saturday, April 10, 2010-Birdwalk at Riverbend Park-9 am

Tuesday, April 13, 2010-4-H Junior Ranger Club on Songbirds-6:30 pm

Saturday, April 17, 2010-Earth Day/Arbor Day Festival at the Salt Block-10 am-2 pm

Saturday, April 24, 2010-Birdwalk at Bakers Mountain Park-8 am

May:

Saturday, May 8, 2010-International Migratory Bird Day Birdwalk at Riverbend Park-9 am

Saturday, May 8, 2010-Rabies Clinic at Riverbend Park-10 am-2 pm

Tuesday, May 11, 2010-4-H Junior Ranger Club on Wildflowers-6:30 pm

Saturday, May 22, 2010-Wildflower Walk at Riverbend Park-10 am

Saturday, May 29, 2010-Late Spring Wildflowers at Bakers Mountain Park-10 am

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Tuesday, March 9, 2010–6:30 pm

Join the Rangers in the education building at Riverbend Park for an informative look into the life of both the Red and Gray Fox.  Ranger Alisha Hayes will present a short power point presentation about both of these species including interesting facts and trivia about their life histories.  You will definitely know more about this species after this session!  We will also have several other learning opportunities about the food chain and predator vs. prey scenarios to better understand how the fox fits into them.  All kids and their parents are welcome and it is free to attend.  Contact Ranger Lori Owenby at lowenby@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 256-9157 for more information.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Second Saturday of each month- 9 am

March 13, 2010; April 10, 2010; & May 8, 2010 (International Migratory Bird Day)

Join Ranger Lori Owenby at Riverbend Park as she explores the shoreline of the Catawba River in search of spring migrants and water birds.  May 8, 2010 just happens to be International Migratory Bird Day-so we will put a little extra effort into finding migratory species and send our data in to be included in this special event.  The stretch of river viewable from Riverbend Park is a great place to see Osprey, Great Egret, and Spotted Sandpiper.  On a good day all six of the expected swallow species found in North Carolina can be seen from the observation platform!  Other spring migrants also arrive in numbers and can be found/heard singing along the River Trail including Yellow-throated Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and Blue Grosbeak.  With 196 species now on the official park list, you are sure to find something exciting and different every time you bird in the park.  The walk will be two and one half to three miles but will be over easy terrain.  Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars and a field guide.  Contact Ranger Lori Owenby at lowenby@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 256-9157 to register or if you have any questions.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Saturday, March 27, 2010-2 pm and Saturday, May 29, 2010-10 am

Join Ranger John Sutton at Bakers Mountain Park on a casual stroll through the Chestnut Oak forest and learn how this mountainous ecosystem is unique for Catawba County.  There are lots of species of early spring wildflowers here that are not common in the foothills and piedmont including Halberdleaf Violet, Fraser’s Sedge, Trailing Arbutus, Dwarf Crested Iris,  and several species of Trillium.  The flora changes dramatically from late March to late May when the Mountain Laurel blooms and brightens up the understory with its candy-like blossoms and Wild Azaleas burst open in various shades of hot pink.   The walk will be two and a half to three miles and will be over easy to moderate terrain.  Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a field guide.  Contact Ranger John Sutton at jsutton@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 324-8461 to register or if you have any questions.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Saturday, April 3, 2010-2 pm

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of Easter egg hunting at St. Stephens Park!  We will have eggs hidden for kids up to 12 years of age with a special section roped off for the younger children.  Kids aged 5 and up will be able to hunt eggs all around the 1/3 mile loop trail and around the park office.  Some eggs will also have small prizes associated with them!  For more information contact Catawba County Parks Manager Blair Rayfield at blair@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 312-4803.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Tuesday, April 13, 2010-6:30 pm

Join the Rangers in the education building at Riverbend Park for an informative look into the lives of songbirds.  Ranger Lori Owenby will present a short power point presentation about common songbird species including interesting facts and trivia about their life histories.  You will definitely know more about songbirds after this session!  We will also have a short bird walk and do some songbird artwork.  All kids and their parents are welcome and it is free to attend.  Contact Ranger Lori Owenby at lowenby@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 256-9157 for more information.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Saturday, April 17, 2010-10 am thru 2 pm

Don’t miss this second annual combined celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day.  Last year’s event was filled with informative booths, great food, and everyone’s favorite-free trees!  It will be held again on the grassy lawn of the SALT Block in Hickory between the Catawba Science Center and the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library.  The theme for this year’s event is “Growing a Green Future Forty Years of Earth Day” and is sponsored by the City of Hickory, Republic/GDS, Catawba County, Go Green Hickory, The Reese Institute of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Catawba Science Center, Hickory Museum of Art and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments.  Plan to attend-and don’t miss the Catawba County Parks booth!

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010-8 am

Bakers Mountain is, hands down, THE place to be to see the true rainbow of spring migrating songbirds on their way to nesting grounds far to the north!  Warblers, Vireos, Tanagers, and Grosbeaks fill the woods with a chorus of melodious song-and you don’t even have to leave the one fourth mile loop trail around the office and picnic areas to see them.  Some visit the feeders like the Indigo Bunting and Rose-breasted Grosbeak while other species are drawn to the lure of the ornamental pond like Gray Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.  Hooded Warblers and Scarlet Tanagers also make their presence known by flitting from limb to limb in search of insects from both out of the air and from the trees themselves.  Bring binoculars and a field guide and join Ranger John Sutton for a morning you won’t soon forget!  Contact Ranger John Sutton at jsutton@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 324-8461 to register or if you have any questions.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Saturday, May 8, 2010—10 am thru 2 pm

The staff of Catawba County Animal Services will host a Rabies Vaccination and Adoption Clinic at Riverbend Park on Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10 am through 2 pm. They will be set up in the picnic shelter in the lower parking area and will provide rabies vaccinations and microchipping for a modest fee. They will also have dogs available for adoption. Catawba County Parks and Catawba County Animal services have recently entered into an exciting new partnership where if you adopt a dog from the Animal Shelter, you will receive a complimentary one-year pass to our Dog Parks*. *The dog must be up to date on its Bordetella vaccine and the pass cannot be redeemed for cash value if unused.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Tuesday, May 11, 2010–6:30 pm

Join the Rangers in the education building at Riverbend Park to learn about the wildflowers that grow in our area.  We will go on a short interpretive wildflower walk before crafting our own wildflower bookmark.  You will definitely know more about wildflowers after this session!    All kids and their parents are welcome and it is free to attend.  Contact Ranger Lori Owenby at lowenby@catawbacountync.gov or call (828) 256-9157 for more information.

Posted By lowenby on February 27, 2010

Saturday, May 22, 2010–10 am

Join Ranger Lori Owenby for a casual stroll at Riverbend Park to admire the many species of wildflowers that grow along the Catawba River.  Black Cohosh should be in full bloom with a carpet of Rue Anemone, Foam Flower, and Round-leaf Ragwort underneath.  The lush creekside trail near map stand 14 also has several different species of fern and lichens that we will look for.  This will be a three mile walk over easy to moderate terrain.  Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a field guide.  Contact Ranger Lori Owenby at lowenby@catawbacountync.gov or call (828)256-9157 to register or for more information.