Bluebirds at Booker T!

 

A group of BRFAL members and trainees recently gathered at Booker T. Washington National Monument for a Bluebird Monitoring training led by project lead Dick.

Dick provided step-by-step instruction on how to monitor the site’s 16 bluebird houses. Participants took turns opening boxes, checking for nests, and observing activity while learning proper monitoring techniques.

Several boxes contained active nests, and one revealed five eggs. The group took a moment to appreciate the find and the role of ongoing monitoring in supporting bluebird populations.

The chapter has also strengthened its partnership with park staff, who have welcomed the research and expressed appreciation for the role BRFAL plays in supporting bluebird conservation.

Members are encouraged to learn the monitoring process and sign up for shifts during the spring monitoring season.

Virginia’s CCC Parks

At a recent chapter meeting, Ethan Seaver, Assistant Park Manager of Fairy Stone State Park, shared a fascinating look at the history of Virginia’s early state parks. Ethan highlighted the six original parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and how they helped shape the foundation of our state park system. He also brought out some vintage tools, including a family heirloom axe.

The CCC was an important program that put young men to work building parks, restoring forests, and improving public lands. Virginia was an early leader in this effort, and the parks developed during that time still reflect the thoughtful design and craftsmanship of CCC crews today.

Today, Virginia Master Naturalists, including our chapter, are proud to partner with state parks to support conservation and education, continuing the work that began nearly a century ago.

Thank you, Ethan, for coming out to inspire us!

TRAINING STARTS FEB 2026

 

Back to Bald Knob!

 Ten hardy BRFAL members returned to work at Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve in Rocky Mount on two beautiful days in late October. They removed 5 bags of trash, 250 yards of barbed wire fencing, lots of intermingled trees and shrubs, and various invasive plants consisting mostly of Chinese Privet.

Bald Knob is a 1350 foot knob in an area of lower elevation land that has unique thin mafic barren soil (formed from 500 million year old exposed ferromagnesium rock).  That soil is home to some very unusual and endangered plants that are found only in a few spots in Virginia and North Carolina – including the Piedmont Fame Flower and Keever’s Bristle Moss.  The preserve now encompasses about 120 acres.

Since 2017, BRFAL has worked with DCR employees Ryan Klopf and James Francis to improve the site by removing many decades of old cattle fencing, invasive plants, tires, discarded appliances, and other trash.  We have done some work to improve the creek bed and buffer, as well as remove some of the invasive plants that have decided to call Bald Knob home.  Someday, more stream restoration will be done and many of the non-native plants may also be removed, but that is perhaps far in the future.

DCR plans to install a parking area and begin some trails this winter.  Perhaps we will be able to help with some of that effort. 

Enjoy these pictures of the awesome crew that came out to volunteer and the pile we were left with at the end of the day!

For more information on Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve, visit:

Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve (virginia.gov)

For more information on the damaging effects of privet on natural areas, visit:

fslisi.pdf (virginia.gov)