Pennywort, Obolaria virginica, Photo by Jill Adams

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 Southern Illinois Master Naturalists, Vol. 1, No.

!! (1) Kids in the Woods is a Pennywort, Obolaria virginica, Photo by Jill Adams Master Naturalist Training 1 March 17 May

The goal is to help you create a large knowledge base about our natural world and resources on how to find answers to common

Optional field trips on several Saturdays based on group wishes. To register call (618)-687-1727.

Karen Bauman will talk about the ecology of the Cache. SUMMER JUNE 24.

Bob Baer talks about what the Citizen CATE project learned from the 8/21/17 eclipse. Set-Up at 1:00 p.m. Programs will begin at 2:00 p.

Refreshments served. family program developed by for families with children aged 5-10.

1 S P R I N G Southern Illinois Master Naturalists, Vol. 1, No. 1 February 2018 Editors: Lorie Allen, Kelly Barr, Lucy Walker, and Rick Whitecotton. Volunteer!!! (1) Kids in the Woods is a Pennywort, Obolaria virginica, Photo by Jill Adams Master Naturalist Training 1 March 17 May 2018 The Master Naturalist Program contains a plethora of information about a wide variety of subjects. The goal is to help you create a large knowledge base about our natural world and resources on how to find answers to common questions about nature. Classes meet from 8:30-4:00 on Thursdays at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Optional field trips on several Saturdays based on group wishes. To register call (618) QUARTERLY MEETINGS AT CRAB ORCHARD WILDLIFE REFUGE VISITOR CENTER SPRING MARCH 25. Karen Bauman will talk about the ecology of the Cache. SUMMER JUNE 24. Sedonia Sipes will discuss pollinators at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. FALL September 16. Bob Baer talks about what the Citizen CATE project learned from the 8/21/17 eclipse. Set-Up at 1:00 p.m. Programs will begin at 2:00 p.m. General meetings after the program. All presentations are free and open to the public at CONWR, 8588 IL-148 S, Marion, IL. Refreshments served. family program developed by for families with children aged It is held at Giant City State Park the second Saturday of each month (topics vary). Help is always welcome. On the first Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m., the month s facilitators and anyone who would like to help are asked to meet at Giant City State Park Visitor Center to brainstorm. (2) Help with planting, maintaining, and watering the Pollinator Gardens at the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, Giant City State Park, the Cache River Wetlands Center, and the Harrison-Bruce Historic Village at John A. Logan College. (3) Staff a Park Visitor Center answer questions about the area and talk with lots of visitors--learn more about local parks and trails on the job!

Amur Cork Tree Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) is a problematic species brought into the U.S. from Asia as an ornamental.

Amur cork tree often escapes cultivation, and has been listed as invasive in several states (including Illinois). This species can thrive in sun or shade, and has separate male and female trees.

This is definitely not a species you would want on your land. Young amur cork trees have a light tan bark, which becomes gray, furrowed, and corky in mature trees.

In other seasons, both the female and male trees have opposite, pinnately compound leaves. Here are some pictures to help with winter identification.

2 Amur Cork Tree Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) is a problematic species brought into the U.S. from Asia as an ornamental. Research suggests that it may be allelopathic, releasing chemicals from its roots that harm neighboring organisms. Amur cork tree often escapes cultivation, and has been listed as invasive in several states (including Illinois). This species can thrive in sun or shade, and has separate male and female trees. Females may produce 1000s of seeds, allowing cork tree to quickly spread and suppress native species. Ozark Koala has been observing this species with more frequency during forest stand improvement. This is definitely not a species you would want on your land. Young amur cork trees have a light tan bark, which becomes gray, furrowed, and corky in mature trees. All trees have a bright yellow cambium layer beneath the bark. Female trees have dark colored berries that persist into winter. In other seasons, both the female and male trees have opposite, pinnately compound leaves. Here are some pictures to help with winter identification. Amur Cork Tree Berries and Trunk, showing the yellow cambium layer. Information and photos courtesy of Rob Stroh and the Ozark Koala Ecosystem Services. Pollinator Gardening at CONWR by Rick Whitecotton On Tuesday, January 9, 2018 a group of Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners and Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge volunteers hand seeded a 2 acre prairie restoration plot at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Top picture from the left you see the whole group (minus Judy Groskind, the photographer, and Sam Spiller who was out much earlier with Aimee Hemphill and me to lay out the areas) of Friends of Crab Orchard and Crab Orchard Staff who pulled this off. This is a significant point in our pollinator garden/prairie restoration project. It is primarily funded through a U.S Fish and Wildlife Services grant, so we all contribute to that. It is perhaps the fifth step or stage in development and contains within the two acre plot a planned 120 foot by 8 foot nursery bed area where we can coax harder to start species along and also provide a meandering path for viewing. Given 3-4 years to grow and mature, it should be beautiful! I found it hopeful and refreshing to gather a bunch of Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, Friends members, and Staff together on a muddy inclement day to accomplish this task! Pollinator Demonstration Garden near the Harmony Trail at the Refuge. 2

2 1 The Great Backyard Bird Count February 16-19, 2018 Great fun! Mark your calendar! I try to find a kid and count birds from our kitchen table.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to

Now, more than 160,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the fourday count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.

You can count from any location, anywhere in the world, for as long as you wish! http://gbbc.birdcount.

3 2 1 The Great Backyard Bird Count February 16-19, 2018 Great fun! Mark your calendar! I try to find a kid and count birds from our kitchen table. When you enter your data you`ll see flashing on a world map as thousands of observers log info. Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Now, more than 160,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the fourday count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. For at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 16-19, 2018, simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see. You can count from any location, anywhere in the world, for as long as you wish! Pictured above are (from Left to Right), a Pine Sisken, Goldfinch at the feeder, and a Lady Red-Winged Blackbird (the smaller bird on the left is a sparrow for size comparison). The birds are fluffy to help them keep warm. Photos by Master Naturalist Lucy Walker. How many different kinds of birds can you spot in your backyard? Elects 2018 Officers Congratulations to the newly-elected 2018 Officers of the Southern Illinois Master Naturalist Association: President, Jon McClurken; Vice President, Ruie Whitecotton; Secretary, Rick Whitecotton; and Treasurer, Debbie Czarnopys-White. Special thanks to our past President (who served part of our first President's term, and then a full-three year term of her own), Kathleen Gaare-Wiese. Pictured are Rick Whitecotton, Alicia Kallal, Jon McClurken, Kathleen Gaare-Wiese, Lorie Allen. 3

ENTICE Professional Workshops Coming Up in Southern Illinois Register soon at https://www.enticeworkshops.

ENTICE workshops provide background information, networking opportunities, hands-on lessons, supplemental resources on the topic and the opportunity to work with resources professionals

Correlations to relevant Next Generation Science Standards and/or Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards are provided.

Spring is Coming Wildlife Basics for Early Childhood Educators, Giant City State Park, Makanda, March 16, 2018 Introducing Early Childhood Students to the Nature of Spring.

, Giant City State Park, Makanda, May 12, 2018 Turtles will soon be basking!

4 ENTICE Professional Workshops Coming Up in Southern Illinois Register soon at for ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) professional development workshops for educators sponsored by the IDNR. ENTICE workshops provide background information, networking opportunities, hands-on lessons, supplemental resources on the topic and the opportunity to work with resources professionals on a variety of topics. Professional Development Hours are available. Correlations to relevant Next Generation Science Standards and/or Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards are provided. Shown below are upcoming workshops for winter, spring and summer Visit for the complete list of workshops. Experience ENTICE! Spring is Coming Wildlife Basics for Early Childhood Educators, Giant City State Park, Makanda, March 16, 2018 Introducing Early Childhood Students to the Nature of Spring. Giant City State Park, Makanda, April 13, 2018 Illinois Frogs and Toads, Cache River Visitors Center, Cypress, April 23, 2018 Monarch Mania!, Giant City State Park, Makanda, May 12, 2018 Turtles will soon be basking!! Ducklings on SIUC Campus Lake by Lorie Allen There is a global turtle crisis and the entire group is threatened. They have low reproductive potential because 80% die within a month of hatching and turtles are slow to mature box turtles cannot reproduce until they are at least 18 years of age. The Home Range of a box turtle is just ONE Mile! Red Eared Slider photo by Gus Kayak. Fungi are they good to eat??? There are 770,000 known species (of what is thought to be more than 1 million species) of fungi!!! Fungi and Plants are NOT closely related. Morels may be popping out soon! Will you share your favorite spot to find them? Oyster Mushrooms photo by Josh Smith. 4

5 Volunteering as a Master Naturalist by Lorie Allen Master Naturalists volunteer in numerous capacities at several locations including: Cypress Creek Wildlife Refuge, the Cache River Wetlands Center, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Giant City State Park, Shawnee National Forest, U of I extension programs, Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation, the Illinois Native Plant Society, the Southern IL Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, Keep Carbondale Beautiful, and many more. In order to count as volunteer hours, anything out of the ordinary, or not with a partner organization (we are working on a comprehensive list), requires preapproval from our Unit Director, Alicia Kallal. ( ). Volunteers: 1. Present (or help present) a monthly family program at Giant City State Park. Topics vary each month and 5-10 master naturalist helpers participate in topics of interest. 2. Staff the information desk at the Cache River, Giant City State Park, or Crab Orchard. Duties include answering the telephone, making copies, answering questions, providing directions etc. Most of these offices have a Volunteer guidebook and provide training before leaving you on your own! 3. Help set up programs at various locations. Set up tables and chairs. Help sign people in. Help set up audio/visual materials. Help distribute handouts. Other related things based on the presenter s needs. This usually involves an hour before an event and a half hour or so after it. Travel time counts as volunteer hours. Attending the program counts as Continuing Education. 4. Create your own program for one of these agencies and present it. Once created it can be presented at more than one place hour programs are needed. Attending a program counts as Continuing Education. Hours spent developing a program are volunteer hours. 5. Facilitate an organization s program. For example, the U.S. Forest Service offers several programs at area schools. Materials are provided. Classes are usually minutes and training is provided in advance as well as practice with a staff member or experienced volunteer. These programs are best done with 2 or more people and that makes it easier and more fun as well. 6. Help at the IL Native Plant Society s 2-day spring meeting or help with their native plant sales OR Keep Carbondale Beautiful s tree sales. 7. Lead a hike OR help with a guided hike. Sometimes a site interpreter just needs someone to follow at the end of a group to keep people together and notice if there are questions. This is an easy way to help and a great way to learn more about things like wild flowers or edible plants, for example. 8. Help with the Master Naturalist class in various capacities. 9. Serve on Master Naturalist committees OR as an Officer OR mentor other members. 10. Plan, Plant, Weed, Water, Interpret Pollinator Gardens at several area locations. 11. Enjoy the DuQuoin State Fair? Earn free parking in exchange for staffing the U of I Extension Booth to talk to anyone passing by about the Master Naturalist and Master Gardener programs. 12. Create your own volunteer niche! 5

Master Naturalists With the help of the University of Illinois Extension

Illinois Master Naturalist Association s members feel they are providing

office, as well as having more fun than anyone should ever have working for

Bluebird photo by Jim Martin; Swallowtail on Buttonbush by Gus Kayak U of I

6 Master Naturalists With the help of the University of Illinois Extension staff, the support and encouragement from our partners, the Southern Illinois Master Naturalist Association s members feel they are providing valuable services to their communities, our partners, and the Extension office, as well as having more fun than anyone should ever have working for no reward other than the thanks of Nature or a child s smile. Bluebird photo by Jim Martin; Swallowtail on Buttonbush by Gus Kayak U of I Extension 402 Ava Road Murphysboro, IL (618) Interested? Love the photos? Need more information? Join us on Facebook by searching for Southern Illinois Master Naturalists or go to University of Illinois Extension - Master Naturalists University of Illinois U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Extension Councils Cooperating University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to attend, call your local extension office.

Marion Audubon Society The Scrub Jay November 2018

Marion Audubon Society The Scrub Jay November 2018 Photos by Holly Yocum November Issue: The Scrub Jay by Marty Schwartz, Editor The Scrub Jay will be published monthly including upcoming events, news