By Roberta Katz-Messenger

The very popular butterfly program with Ruth Andre and a forest ecology and fire restoration mangement walk with John Andre was enjoyed by 32 participants. Docents Roberta Katz-Messenger and Steve Messenger were also on hand to help facilitate the day’s activities.

Ruth Andre, trained in environmental education and recently retired from teaching did a captivating presentation of live butterflies, their pupae, larva, eggs and host plants.

We saw the egg of a Red-Spotted Purple butterfly, a glistening mound on a leaf tip under one of the cabin’s microscopes. Ruth released gravid Monarch butterflies onto their host plants and in due time, we watched entrance as they laid eggs on the milkweed plant. One of the children spotted the orange and black wing of a Monarch inside a chrysalis about to release its guest.

The children helped show everyone and then released Variegated Fritillary, Spicebush Swallowtail, Great Spangled Fritillary, Giant Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail and Pipevine Swallowtail. The larva of a Black Swallowtail, rolled discretely in its host plant leaf, entertained with a show of its armament of tiny twin red tentacles and pungent spray.

John Andre, retired from the U.S. Forest Service and an expert in prescribed burns, vegetation, birds and more, led a trail walk through the parched woods. He described the use of fire by Indians to manage their forest and fascinating techniques of examining “catface” burn scars of ancient trees and stumps to assess frequency of fire. “Witness trees” identified and recorded in early surveys assist researchers in understanding the composition of old forest, their current condition and the effects of these changes.

These data helped formulate current prescribed burn frequency. While controlled burning thins the forest to fewer trees per acre, it also creates conditions for healthy understory growth for many species most of which are beneficial to man and wildlife alike. In view of current dangerously dry conditions, John’s presentation was especially of interest.

Among the discoveries: few birds and creatures were out in the dry heat, but a lizard, bluejays and great blue heron were spotted plus lots of dragonflies.

As we returned to the cabin, the children spotted the Monarch chrysalis splitting apart, and as we all watched, it emerged and stretched its wings in their gentle care.

It was a fun and enjoyable day for all!

On Saturday, May 19, 2012, twenty-one hikers arrived at South Fork to be led by Brent Baker in exploring the ecosystems on the peninsula. Gathering and greeting around the old cabin in midmorning, Almeda Riddle’s birthplace, Don Richardson of the Gates Rogers Foundation Board) welcomed the group and spoke about the history of South Fork.

Don Culwell addressed the mission of South fork, to educate the public in providing a greater understanding and love for nature, and noted the many and varied activities that have occurred as docents have lead activities from nature art to walks along trails learning about plants, animals, and their ecosystems.

Brent Baker, a botanist with the AR Natural Heritage commission who led the day’s walk along the trails, had join Theo Witsell way back in 2005, at the request of the Board, for the year-long study of all the plants growing at South Fork, a study that put South Fork “on the map” as being the tract of land in AR with the most intensive plant study anywhere in the state (their study and its findings are recorded in the Proceedings of the AR Academy of Science and are linked to the South Fork web site; www/southforknaturecenter.org).

Lunch at the picnic tables around the cabin provided time to rest with a bottle of cold water and discuss Native Plant Society activities as well as botanical finds of the morning. The day of hiking nearly 2 miles of trail was a fine one with a gentle breeze and temperatures around 80 degrees…it was a time to relax with friends from a week of one’s regular activities, and enjoy nature.

10/6/11 South Side School’s 6^th Grade Class

By Trish Childers

On October 5, 2011, teacher Julie Nelson brought the Southside School’s 6^th grade science class to the South Fork Nature Center. There were 32 students along with six adult helpers.

The students were split up into groups so that each group was able to experience all four sessions. Our goal was to let the students see how their studies in the classroom fit into the organisms and environment of SFNC.

Each of the following Docents held a session:

Larry Bintliff was the coordinator for the day and conducted a walk in the woods along trails. Jim Solomon talked about insect and plant life at South Fork and showed examples from collections.

Steve Smith discussed the scientific names of plants and trees and covered leaf identification. Karen Smith and Marguerite Dory encouraged the students to write and keep a journal for their observations and experience in the out-of-doors.

Dan Smith discussed bird habitats, shelter, and predators. He also talked about the comparison of the fall changes in the trees and the changes in the birds at South Fork. Ed Wood and Janet Hill also helped during the sessions.

Students, teachers and Docents alike all had a great time, shared lunch together and enjoyed the warmth from the potbelly stove in the cabin. Many stated they couldn’t wait for the next program.

A note from Julie Nelson Southside Bee Branch Elementary School:

Thank you so much for the wonderful day at SFNC. My science classes had fun AND learned much in the process! From the nature walks to the bird talks, from the bug man to the journal ladies, the day was a great success. Being able to extend the learning of chemical and physical reactions outside the classroom helps my students realize that what they learn isn’t just found in the books we use, but all around them! A trip such as the one you planned helps my students realize that there IS a reason for what we are learning.

Again, thanks for all the help. Our trip was a pleasure and we look forward to returning, perhaps in the spring.

Julie` Nelson

6th Grade

Southside Bee Branch Elementary School

501-654-2200

Birding 101 at South Fork Nature Center

Trish Childers

On September 17th Docent Dan Smith gave a PowerPoint presentation on the fundamentals of bird watching, or birding as it’s commonly called. He also mentioned that a more advanced birding class is in the works, so stay tuned. Smith shared pictures of some of the most common Arkansas birds and talked about their songs, color recognition and other identification markers. Did you know that the fastest and easiest way to identify a bird is by the shape of its beak?

Smith also shared several reference books and the group was given the “Arkansas Backyard Birds” guidebook to start them on their birding experience. He also shared how to use and adjust binoculars for best results.

The weather was perfect for the docent tour, with only a few clouds in the sky and a light breeze. The gravel paths were dry, in spite of all the rain a few days before. The group took full advantage of the many benches along the trail to sit, listen and capture the image of a bird in flight.

In just about an hour the group was able to identify the following birds either by sight or sound: Common Crow, Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron, Chickadee, Pine Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker and Cooper’s Hawk. Several large nests were also spotted along the trail, but no one appeared to be home.

Docent Bob Hartmann was also along for the walk and helped answer questions that were raised about specific plants along the trail from several of the first-time guests.

South Fork has an ever-changing landscape; so mark your calendars for the next event – October 15th.

Docents Roberta and Steve Messenger introduced Ruth & John Andre to a diverse group of guests at the South Fork Nature Center on July 18th. Ruth, a butterfly expert and a retired teacher for environmental education, shared live examples of butterflies and their lifecycle and brought eggs, larvae, host plants, chrysalis, and adult butterflies such as the zebra & giant swallowtails, monarchs, fritillaries and others. We all delighted in the jewel-like beauty of the Monarch chrysalis! The live butterflies were kept cool and calm in little envelopes in an iced bag. They emerged to obligingly sit on a hand or finger for inspection, identification and admiration, before warming up and taking wing.

We all delighted in the jewel-like beauty of the Monarch chrysalis! The live butterflies were kept cool and calm in little envelopes in an iced bag. They emerged to obligingly sit on a hand or finger for inspection, identification and admiration, before warming up and taking wing.

John Andre is retired from the US Forest Service and an expert in proscribed burns, vegetation, birds and more. He led the group off on the walking trail and described the use of fire by Indians to manage their forest to create a savanna like forest. The partially open canopy allowed sunlight to encourage grasses and other herbaceous plants as food sources for deer, elk, bison, turkey and other browsers. During the walk several animals were discovered including a female box turtle and they were able to identify the songs of several birds such as summer tanager and pine warbler.

The Docents reminded everyone that part of the mission of Gates Rodger’s Foundation is to return much of the South Fork Nature Center to its state some 100 years ago.