August 2010SIMNA
Minutes from August 16, 2010, Oaklyn Library, Oak Hill Road, Evansville, IN
Program “Herpetology” by Eleanor Zitek Savage
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Herpe means “to creep”. Amphibian means “double life”. Amphibians have water permeable skin, reptiles have covered skin.
Natasha is WNS black rat snake. Uses Jacobsen organ to “smell” by flicking tongue in and out across top of mouth. (Editor’s note – while checking spelling, learned that all vertebrates have this organ. Only a few mammals actually use it – lion and deer.) Can’t hear – no external ears. No eye lids. Arboreal (moves among trees).
Boris is WNS bull snake. Dislocates jaw to swallow mice.
There are four main species of poisonous snakes in Indiana. They include the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, the Cottonmouth, the Northern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnakes. The very good news is that most of these snakes live in very specific areas of the state, none noted in Vanderburgh County.
WNS Tiger Salamander – has gills and no feet in larval stage. Eats live insects and bugs. 22 species of salamanders in IN.
Darth Invader is WNS Cane Toad – invasive from Central and South America. Introduced to Australia and Hawaii to eradicate sugar cane beetles (which they really don’t eat). Grow up to 30 pounds – eat our native frogs and toads. Produce neuro-toxins on shoulders – DON’T KEEP AS PETS.
Treasurer’s report $1,470.93. We received another $250 for the KEB litter survey.
Thanks to the litter crew once again!
By-laws recommendations next meeting.
Survey results next meeting.
Lauren Preske requested help with Pioneer Days.
Harvest Festival to be discussed next meeting.
The WNS Nature Action Team has been selected to attend the World Nature Action Forum – one of only 60 teams from 30 nations – quite an honor!
Thanks to Carol and Dennis Slow for refreshments.
July 2010Southwestern Indiana Master Naturalists Association met on July 19th, 2010 at the Oaklyn Library in Evansville IN for our first meeting of the new club year, with Kathy Eicher presiding. Last month’s minutes were approved. Please consider this your reminder that dues for the new club year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011) were reduced to $10 per person per year.
There was discussion on the club year, the bylaws, and the blog site, with good ideas presented. A micro-committee of Eleanor and Pat Savage was formed to study the by-laws. A survey was proposed for August or September, to learn about member preferences for meeting day, time, place and ideas for program topics and leaders. Treasurer Joan Andersen reported a balance of $1,420.93.
Our program presenters were Pat and Eleanor Savage and their topic was Nature Centers Visited. Pat showed great slides from 5 of the different Nature Centers that they had visited.
Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, KS
www.gpnc.org: 282 acres, including the Koch Habitat Hall, the Coleman Auditorium, a wildlife observatory, the Owl's Nest Gift Shop, a classroom and an office wing. Slides included some great exhibits, informative maps and displays in a beautiful plains setting. Great gift shop ideas.
Wolf Park in Battle Ground, IN
www.wolfpark.org: 7 acres devoted to the study of wolf packs, including coyotes, foxes, and a bison herd. Interpretive programs including wolf/bison demonstrations and Howl Night (guaranteed hair-raising).
Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, IL
www.cityoflakeforest.com: 800 acres total with large variety of herps, especially snakes, especially venomous snakes. Also free flying raptor programs. Log on to listen to the Kookaburras laugh.
North Park Village Nature Center in Chicago
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com: 46 acres with trails and discovery room including a bee hive and Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park, IL
www.chias.org: 6 acres affiliated with the Chicago Academy of Science, certified green roof, butterfly haven, and great interactive bird id stations. They have a staff of 75 and 200,000 visitors a year.
Further business included the hole on the boardwalk trail at Howell Wetlands, which has been filled and seems to be holding. Keep Evansville Beautiful is conducting their annual litter survey – please contact Kathy or Eleanor or Pat if you are willing to help.
Upcoming events:Friday July 23, Moonlight Paddle on Bluegrass FWA at 6pm –
contact Neil 479-0771
Saturday July 24, Wildflower Walk at Howell Wetlands at 8 am
Flutterby Hike at Howell Wetlands at 10am
Night Hike at Howell Wetlands 7 to 9pm
Sunday July 25, Moonlight Paddle on Hovey Lake at 6pm –
contact Neil at 479-0771
Saturday August 7, Recycle Saturday at Old Walmart West 8 to noon
Saturday August 28, Certified Backyard Habitat Seminar –
contact Susan at 479-0771
Saturday October 16, Wandering Owl Wine Trail at Wesselman Woods –
contact Stephanie at 479-0771
Friday Oct 22 & Sat Oct 23, Harvest Festival and Hay Rides –
contact Susan at 479-0771
Snackers for August – Eleanor and Pat Savage
Snacker for September – Jane Magary
June 2010 Southwestern Indiana Master Naturalists Association met for our summer picnic on June 21 at 6pm at the Howell Wetlands Conservation Station. The soaring temperature did not deter 20 members from good camaraderie and great food! Many thanks to everyone for providing a meal fit for royalty! Pot luck is really lucky when you are a part of this group of gourmets! We also enjoyed a green tree frog expedition – heard ‘em, didn’t get to see ‘em.
Treasurer Joan Andersen reported a balance in our account of $1,305.93. This is possible primarily because of the folks who have volunteered their time and energy to participate in the Keep Evansville Beautiful litter survey. Each year this effort has added $250 to our treasury. Thanks again to those volunteers.
President Kathy Eicher discussed the new State program for IMN’s:
Certified Advanced IMN - $10 annually to IMN, plus 30 hours of volunteer time and 8 hours of training annually. The $10 is an administrative fee to offset the cost of pins, certificates, newsletters, Annual Gathering costs, etc., and will be set aside for use only by the IMN program. You are requested to record and submit your hours to IMN as well as our sponsor WNS.
Certified Active IMN - $10 annually to IMN, plus staying connected without turning in your hours (we request that you report your hours to WNS regardless).
Certified Inactive IMN – one-time $10 to IMN. You will not receive newsletter.
This State program starts this year. Any questions may be directed to Jody Heaston, IMN Coordinator, jheaston@dnr.in.gov
In recognition of this new program at the State level, motion was made, seconded, and carried that SIMNA reduce our annual dues to $10 per person. *That’s right – in order to belong to our association you merely have to complete the Master Naturalist course through Wesselman Nature Society and pay annual dues of $10. The pot luck picnic alone is worth that price!* (And this offer is good past midnight, you don’t have to call now!)
Just a reminder that our year runs from July 1 to June 30, so this year’s dues are now due. We don’t send out any other reminder, and you will stay on our e-mail list until you actually request to be removed. We truly hope you will be an active member - the real benefit will be yours.
Mail check to SIMNA for $10 to Joan Andersen, 2221 Adams Ave., Evansville IN 47714.
Lauren Preske asked for Master Naturalists’ help with upcoming ECO Academy July 12 to 16, volcoord@wesselmannaturesociety.org
Eric Reek sends a big THANKS to the outstanding folks who have helped with Recycle Saturdays (that is, outstanding in the heat and hustle), and he requests the pleasure of your presence Saturday July 17 at Old Walmart West from 8 to noon. Please drop by and lend a hand, as student help is much more difficult to arrange during summer vacation.
Various Upcoming events:>> Wildflower Walk at Howell Wetlands Saturday July 10 at 8am led by Kate Lynch
>> Moonlight Paddle at Blue Grass FWA Friday July 23 at 6pm $15 preregister at 479-0771
>> Wildflower Walk at Howell Wetlands Saturday July 24 at 8am led by Kate Lynch
>> Flutterby Hike at Howell Wetlands Saturday July 24 at 10am
>> Moonlight Paddle at Hovey Lake Saturday July 24 at 6pm $15 preregister at 479-0771
>> Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat Seminar at Oaklyn Library Saturday August 28 from 9 to noon and 1 to 4pm $10 WNS members; Preregister at 479-0771
>> Wandering Owl Wine and Bourbon Trail at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Saturday October 16 watch WNS for more details
>> Harvest Festival and Hayrides at WWNP October 23 and 24 from 5 to 9pm watch WNS for more details
>> “The Art of Science: Exploring and Documenting the Natural World” exhibit at Scholle House in New Harmony through Dec. 30, with companion lectures
August 7 Lois Gray “Trekking the Trail the Thomas Say Way”
September 11 Sally Roth “The Backyard Naturalist”
October 28 Eric McCloud “What Would Thomas Say?”
See
www.newharmony.org under Events and Programs
We also had several members in attendance at the Native and Invasive Plant Conference at UE on June 19. The program included an excellent pictorial of Goose Pond by Sharon Sorenson and a keynote “Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants” by Dr. Douglas Tallamy, author of an eye-opening book of the same topic.
Our next meeting is scheduled for July 19 at 6pm at Oaklyn Library on Oak Hill Road. According to Vice Presidents Eleanor and Pat Savage, the program promises to be worthwhile!
May 20102009 Minutes2008 Meeting Minutes2007 Meeting Minutes
