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SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Tupelo Times News and Events from the Missouri Department of Conservation • June/July/August 2017

Summertime for the Birds Help to Beat the Summer Heat A bird bath can provide your backyard birds with a refreshing place to get a drink or take a bath.

•Change bird bath water daily. This cuts down on pesky mosquitos and keeps it fresh for the birds. •Clean your bath with a scrub brush regularly to help prevent the spread of diseases. •Try adding both elevated and ground-level baths for different types of birds.

Summertime Nesters Not all birds nest in the spring. Several birds start nesting or continue to nest in the summer months.

•American goldfinches do not even start nesting until June or July. They feed their young seeds and have to wait until these seeds develop on plants. •American robins continue to nest through the spring and summer, having up to three broods. •The Mourning dove beats the robin by having up to six broods a year, nesting well into the early fall!

Summer Feeding Try adding some different bird foods to your normal backyard menu during the summer months to accommodate some of our summer visitors.

•Artificial nectar keeps the hummingbirds happy. Mix ¼ cup sugar to 1 cup water and pour into a hummingbird feeder. Change daily to keep fresh. •Oranges and grape jelly are great additions to attract Orioles. •Mealworms are the perfect treat for your neighborhood bluebirds.

Fledgling Frenzy It really can be stressful to see baby birds that haven’t quite figured out how to fly and end up falling out of the nest. All we want to do is help but how should we go about it?

•Try not to draw attention to the young bird. Keep your distance and leave it alone. •Keep pets like cats or dogs inside or away from the baby bird. •Remember, mom or dad bird will be keeping a close watch and will make sure to feed the fledgling but they can’t do their job if you interfere.

Our Big Year- All Year Long! Don’t forget that throughout the year you can join nature center staff and the community here in Southeast Missouri for a big year of birding! Stop by the nature center to pick up your bird list for the year and keep track of what you see or hear. Attend five of our bird related programs and you can enter a drawing for fabulous birding prizes at the end of the year. Check our newsletter for our bird programs; they’ll have OBY listed at the end of the description.

2 Tupelo Times • June/July/August 2017

Volunteer Corner Nature center volunteers have endless stories to tell-stories of the many opportunites to have fun while helping the Missouri Department of Conservation. Just ask Jeanie about Day on the River where almost 3,000 visitors get to learn about the Mississippi and some even take a ride on a boat. Ask Daniel about banding geese. He can tell you how interesting and important it is to record this data. Ask Ome about our pollinator event and what it is like to look through insect glasses. Ask Sindupa about alligator gar and their role in our waters. Ask any of the volunteers that helped with Messy Morning how fun it is to get messy with hundreds of children. Our volunteers are a huge part of the programs and events we hold throughout the year. Ask any of them how much fun it is to be a nature center volunteer. You could be part of our story by volunteering.

Volunteer Milestones Belinda Phillips 100 hours

Karin Pelton 400 hours Susan Reinagel 400 hours

Felicia Fox 750 hours Bev Schiwitz 3,000 hours

Every summ

er has a story

June/July/August 2017 • Tupelo Times 3

Kids’ Club Program Information

Tadpoles (Shared nature experiences for 0-2 year olds and an attending adult.)

June Saturday, June 24-9 AM or 10 AM

Sensesational Nature! Do you hear what I hear? What’s that smell? Exploring the outdoors using our senses is a great way to teach little ones about nature. Ages 0-2. Registration begins June 1.

July Saturday, July 29-9 AM or 10 AM

Miniature Music Makers Grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids provide some summer noises. Explore how and why they make “music” and make a little insect music yourself!! Ages 0-2. Registration begins July 1.

August Saturday, August 26-9 AM or 10 AM

Beautiful Butterflies They flit, flutter, and fly. See how the butterfly grows and where it goes. Ages 0-2. Registration begins August 1.

M u d p u p p i e s (45-minute indoor/outdoor programs for 3-6 year olds and an attending adult.)

June Saturday, June 10-9:30 AM or 11 AM

Warbling WarblersMany warblers come to Missouri in the summer. Find out why these birds travel here, what they do while they’re here, and where they go when they leave. Ages 3-6. Registration begins June 1. OBY

July Saturday, July 8-9:30 AM or 11 AM

Bullfrog’s BestBullfrogs are the biggest frogs in the state. Jump on in to learn more about these amazing leapers. Ages 3-6. Registration begins July 1.

August Saturday, August 5-9:30 AM or 11 AM Tuesday, August 8-9 AM or 10:30 AM

Growing Up BearDid you know there are black bears in Missouri? We’ll hear a story about what it’s like to be a bear cub in our state. Ages 3-6. Registration begins July 15.

September Saturday, September 9-9:30 AM or 11 AM Tuesday, September 12-9 AM or 10:30 AM

How the River Runs Who lives in the river? Come discover what goes on under that rushing water. Ages 3-6. Registration begins August 15.

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July Saturday, July 8 10–11 AM Birds of PreyMissouri’s raptors are an important part of our food chains! They come in a variety of shapes and sizes but all are specially equipped to hunt prey. Witness firsthand, the amazing adaptations of these birds of prey Ages 7–11. Registration begins June 15. OBY

August Saturday, August 5 10–11:30 AM Nature’s Toxin…Venom! Several of Missouri’s venomous animals have unrightfully gained a bad reputation. So what is venom and why do some animals have it? Join us to learn the answer to these questions and more. We will discover the different types of venomous animals, how to treat their bites and stings, and how to avoid a venomous encounter. We will be going on a hike so please dress accordingly. Ages 7–11. Registration begins July 15.

4 Tupelo Times • June/July/August 2017

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center 2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 • mdc.mo.gov/capenaturecenter

TO REGISTER FOR A PROGRAM: JUNE

Programs are free. Call 573-290-5218 to sign up for a program requiring

registration. If you are unable to attend a program, please call and cancel as a courtesy to those on the waiting list.

Canoeing Fun: Paddle at the Pond June 2 • Friday • 4-7 PM No registration required (all ages) Get a paddle wet and enjoy the summer evening from a canoe! Our Kids Fishing Pond is a great place for beginners to try their skills and practice their strokes. Families are on their own after brief instructions on canoeing safety and techniques.

Fishing Spots Near Cape June 3 • Saturday • 9 AM– 2 PM Registration begins May 16 (ages 12+) Hop in the van and join us for a driving tour of fishing spots near Cape Girardeau to learn about new places to fish this season.

Trail Trivia June 3 • Saturday • 9 AM-4 PM No registration required (all ages) Spend a couple of hours hiking and testing your nature knowledge to celebrate National Trails Day! Trek our trails and answer nature-related questions along the way. Stop by the nature center between 9-4 to pick up your question sheet and then return to check your answers and claim your prize. Youth and adult groups welcome. OBY

Youth Pond Catfishing June 10 • Saturday • 10 AM - NOON Registration begins June 1 (ages 7-15) Join us in discovering nature at our Youth Pond Catfishing Clinic! Learn about the life cycle, habitat, and preferred diets of the native catfish species in Missouri. Basic tackle, equipment, and fishing techniques for catfishing will be discussed with fishing at the Kids’ Fishing Pond after instruction. All participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Art Gallery-June Visit the nature center’s gallery in June to view

“Missouri’s Natural Beauty,” a photography exhibit by Aaron & Alyssa Chapman.

Free Fishing Weekend -June 10 -11 This is your chance to try fishing without

purchasing a permit first.

Try the fishing app -MO Fishing

https://mdc.mo.gov/contact -engage/mobile -apps

Outdoor Adventure Camp June 13–14, June 15–16, June 27-28, June 29-30, or July 11–12 9 AM–4 PM Registration begins May 16 (ages 7-11) Your outdoor adventure awaits! Join us to practice outdoor skills like hiking, canoeing, and fishing. We will also visit local conservation areas to discover the unique habitats of southeast Missouri. Participants are required to register for and attend both days of camp. Please provide a non-perishable lunch for both days. Each family must register separately.

What’s the Buzz? June 17 • Saturday • 1–3 PM No registration required (all ages) Birds, bees, butterflies, and even bats help the flowers out with pollination. Discover how pollinators play an important role in a plant’s life cycle. Learn ways we can help out as they do their important work. Youth and adult groups welcome. OBY

Missourians care about conserving forests, fish and wildlife.

Nature Art: Draw a Darter June 22 • Thursday • 6–8 PM Registration begins June 1 (ages 16+) Learn how to draw a brilliantly colored fish, known as a darter, from start to finish using colored pencils, and an ink pen. Participants can bring their own preferred paper and colored pencils or these items can be provided.

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

Many of us have had an unfortunate experience with one of nature’s prettiest plants, Poison ivy. For many people they don’t realize they’ve been in poison ivy until they develop a rash later. Poison ivy has an organic allergen called urushiol in its sap. In high humidity locations and in fall, the sap rises to the surface of the plant. When this allergen comes in contact with our skin it can trigger an immune response in our bodies which causes our body to develop a rash. Even so, poison ivy does have a purpose; it provides food, shelter, and oxygen. Many birds eat the waxy greenish-white berries and deer and turtles eat the foliage. Take precautions to avoid poison ivy, learn to identify the plant, and wear long pants when walking in the woods. Poison ivy can grow as a small shrub, or vine; it may also appear to be a single plant. Look for shiny green leaves grouped in threes. If you do come into contact with poison ivy, take a shower with soap and wash your clothes thoroughly, the sooner the better.

Thank You for donations of Time, Material,

and Service Natural History Book: John Schwegman

Those purchasing paving stones for the Conservation Nature Center walkway:

Felicia Fox in memory of Donald Fox Cherri Hudson-Brown in honor of Ira Hudson III

June/July/August 2017 • Tupelo Times 5

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center

TO REGISTER FOR A PROGRAM: Programs are free. Call 573-290-5218

to sign up for a program requiring registration. If you are unable to attend a program, please call and cancel as a courtesy to those on the waiting list.

2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 • mdc.mo.gov/capenaturecenter

JULY

Meet the Artist July 8 • Saturday • 1–3 PM No registration required (all ages) Stop by to visit with Dave Carter as he creates insects and flowers with oil paints using photographs as a reference. Having spent most of his life in northern Missouri, Dave is accustomed to very different fauna and finds southeast Missouri “critters” fascinating.

Teen Outdoor Adventure Camp July 13 • Thursday • 9 AM – 4 PM July 14 • Friday • 9 AM - July 15 • Saturday • 1 PM Registration begins June 15 (ages 12-15) Your outdoor adventure awaits! Join us to practice outdoor skills like hiking, canoeing, and fishing. We will also visit local conservation areas to discover the unique habitats of southeast Missouri. We’ll have a regular camp day on Thursday and then a float trip and overnight on Friday. Please provide a non-perishable lunch for Thursday and Friday. Each family must register separately.

Feeding Frenzy July 20 • Thursday • 1–2 PM No registration required (all ages) Ever wonder what it takes to keep all of the nature center reptiles, amphibians, and fish happy? Thanks to some amazing animal care volunteers, they are fed a delicious smorgasbord of crickets, worms, minnows, and more! Drop by to visit with the volunteers and staff as they feed the hungry critters. Youth and adult groups welcome.

Watering Wildlife: Concrete Birdbaths July 22 • Saturday • 1-3 PM Registration begins July 1 (ages 12+) Don’t let the summer heat get to you! Instead, refresh your backyard wildlife by making a nature-inspired bird bath to take home. By doing so, you will discover the many types of inhabitants that will be drawn to your backyard oasis! Adult supervision is required for ages 12-17. OBY

Art Gallery-July Take time this month to view, “Out For a Walk:

A Visual Diary of Bugs & Flowers,” a collection of oil paintings by Dave Carter.

Chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis)

Perfectly camouflaged, the Chuck-will’s­widow is a larger bird that is able to hide on a branch or on the forest floor. The most conspicuous thing about them is their nocturnal call which is similar to the call of the whip-poor-will, a related bird. Their song starts with a soft “chuck” and continues on to say their name. They start singing at dusk and stop near dawn. A member of the nightjar family of birds, they are nocturnal and have surprisingly large mouths which they use to catch insects as they fly. Special feathers around their beaks give them a whiskered appearance; those feathers help them sense and scoop insects as they near their mouths.

GENERAL INFORMATION Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is located in North Cape Girardeau County Park off Kingshighway just east of Interstate 55 at exit 99. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is operated through hunting and fishing license revenues and through the 1/8% “Design for Conservation” sales tax. There is no admission charge.

BUILDING HOURS Tuesday–Saturday: 8 AM–5 PM

Closed Sundays, Mondays, and all state holidays.

AREA HOURS Daily: Sunrise–10 PM in accordance with the Cape Girardeau County Park

RULES AND REGULATIONS Nature center grounds and trails are closed to pets, horses, hunting, collecting, littering, fires, and alcoholic beverages. The trails are also closed to bicycles, jogging, in-line skates, skateboards, scooters, and motorized vehicles.

Phone: 573-290-5218 Fax: 573-290-5566

Enjoy a guided audio tour from your smart/cell phone. Come by the front desk and scan the QR code or enter http://bycell.co/cufx. Touch “Welcome” to listen. From a cell phone, dial

573-321-5595. Look for signs on railings, benches, and wooden posts.

Hunter Education (Ages 11 and up)

Step 1: Knowledge Session--complete one of three. •Self-Study Guide – (Free) Pick up a manual at one of our offices. Study, answer the review questions, and present it at the skills session. •Classroom Session – (Free) Register at http://register-ed.com/programs/10 and attend a four-hour session of lecture. •Hunter Education Online – ($15 Fee) Visit http://mdc.mo.gov/node/9173 for an online course.

Step 2: Skills Session--Register for a skills session at http://www.register-ed.com/programs/missouri.

6 Tupelo Times • June/July/August 2017

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center 2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 • mdc.mo.gov/capenaturecenter

TO REGISTER FOR A PROGRAM: AUGUST

Programs are free. Call 573-290-5218 to sign up for a program requiring

registration. If you are unable to attend a program, please call and cancel as a courtesy to those on the waiting list.

Feeding Frenzy August 10 • Thursday • 1–2 PM No registration required (all ages) Ever wonder what it takes to keep all of the nature center reptiles, amphibians, and fish happy? Thanks to some amazing animal care volunteers, they are fed a delicious smorgasbord of crickets, worms, minnows, and more! Drop by to visit with the volunteers and staff as they feed the hungry critters. Youth and adult groups welcome.

Women’s Trek August 12 • Saturday • 9 AM–NOON Registration begins August 1 (ages 12+) We will be exploring a really unique habitat at Ball Mill Resurgence in Perry County. We will hike to this stunning sinkhole in the middle of a forest and learn about karst topography. Afterward, we will go on to Blue Spring Branch and explore a glade habitat. All along the way we will observe native plant communities and compare the two different habitats.

Conservation pays by enriching our economy and quality of life.

Homeschool Special: Incredible Insects August 16 • Wednesday • 1–2:30 PM Registration begins August 1 (ages 10-15) Without insects, life as we know it would not exist. Learn the vital roles these animals play in their environment and practice identifying them. We will be making a small insect collection to take home.

Homeschool Special: Incredible Insects August 17 • Thursday • 10-11:30 AM or 1–2:30 PM Registration begins August 1 (ages 6-10) Without insects, life as we know it would not exist. Learn the characteristics of these oh so important animals through interactive play and hands-on insect collecting.

Insect-o-rama August 19 • Saturday • 1-4 PM No registration required (all ages) Ever wondered about the different insects and why they look so strange? From the stag beetle’s antler-like jaws to the ant lion’s body, insects come in all shapes and sizes. Come on out to see live insects in our insect zoo, take an insect hike, and make buggy crafts. Youth and adult groups welcome.

We help people discover nature.

Floatin’ on the River August 25 • Friday • 6-7:30 PM and August 26 • Saturday • 7:30 AM-2:30 PM Registration begins August 1 (ages 16+) Enjoy a float from Trail of Tears State Park to Red Star Access on North America’s largest river—the mighty Mississippi! Eat lunch on a sandbar and explore the river with expert guides. This is for experienced paddlers only and participants must attend the Friday night session about navigation, river flows, hazards, and other important information in order to participate in the float. *Ages 12-15 may only participate as passengers.

Nature Art: Upscaled Owls August 26 • Saturday • 1–4 PM Registration begins August 1 (ages 16+) Join us as we turn old kitchen items into owl garden art. As we work, we will discuss owl biology. OBY

Meet the Artist August 26 • Saturday • 2-4 PM No registration required (all ages) Stop by our lobby to visit with Sikeston photographer and artist Anne Berbling. Anne has drawn for as long as she can remember and has always been fascinated with insects and nature! She started doing watercolor about 35 years ago and has taught lots of classes over the years. Photography is a “newer” obsession, but she finds it just as fascinating. Anne is currently doing the illustrations for a children’s book about a family of squirrels.

Art Gallery-August Visit the nature center’s gallery during the month of August to view“Ready for Her Close-Up; Southeast

Missouri’s Flora & Fauna” by Anne Berbling. This fascinating artwork and photography captures the tiny details found in our state’s plants and animals.

Ask the Naturalist

Q. I’ve heard that hummingbirds like red things but that I shouldn’t buy colored hummingbird food. Why?

A. It is true that Ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to the color red but it’s unnecessary to dye the sugar water that you feed them. Hummingbirds have very little sense of smell; instead they rely on their sight and memory to find food. They are attracted to red, orange, and pink flowers although they will visit flowers of all colors. If you want to attract the birds to your feeder, you can attach pink, red, or orange flowers. The liquid itself does not need to be colored. You can also attract hummingbirds to your home by planting flowers they get nectar from. Some excellent flowers for hummingbirds include: Cardinal flower, Fire pink, Columbine, Royal catchfly, Jewelweed (Touch-me-not, native honeysuckles (be sure to plant natives, as others become invasive).

COMING IN SEPTEMBER

International Vulture Awareness Day September 2 • Saturday • 1-3 PM No registration required (all ages) Join us in celebrating vultures! Often overlooked or misunderstood, the vulture is an important player in human health! Stop by to enjoy our display and make a craft as you learn more about these helpful birds. Youth and adult groups welcome. OBY

June/July/August 2017 • Tupelo Times 7

Educators’ Niche Discover Nature Schools

The Secret Life of Birds Workshop This course will demonstrate and describe some of Missouri’s birds and the habitats in which they live. It will provide field experience and hands-on activities that can be used in classroom curriculum strategies. The instructors will guide participants through activities at various grade levels and subject areas to illustrate connections to curriculum, assessment, and citizen science opportunities. This class will be held at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center and nearby conservation areas on June 6-8.

River Ecology Workshop Water is life! This course will dive into one of the most dynamic water systems: rivers. We will look at how river systems impact life, how conservationists manage river systems, and the history of river life in Missouri. The workshop will also include a canoe trip on the Mighty Mississippi. The instructors will guide participants through activities at various grade levels and subject areas to illustrate connections to curriculum, assessment, and citizen science opportunities. This course will be held at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center on July 18-20.

Art in Nature Educator Workshop Artistic expression allows educators to experience the connection between art, science, and nature. Art can be utilized with other subjects as well. This course will promote art as a way to connect education with nature, focus on inquiry skills, and familiarize educators with visual and tactile art techniques. This course will be held at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center on July 25-27.

For information about any of the educator workshops listed below, or the Discover Nature Schools Program, please contact Bridget Jackson at 573-290-5858 ext. 4464 or bridget.jackson@mdc.mo.gov.

Nature Deficit Tidbit Do you have a child struggling with body image issues? A recent study found that time spent outside can help. Dr. Viren Swami and colleagues at Anglia Ruskin University asked 400 Americans to complete an online questionnaire about their exposure to nature and attitudes toward self-esteem and “body appreciation.” They found that the more time people spent in nature, the more positive they felt about their bodies. Swami stated that, “A sense of connectedness to nature may shift our focus away from more superficial aspects related to our appearance onto more rounded aspects of well-being, such as living a full and contented life.” He also believes being active and outside makes us focus on what our bodies can do rather than how they look.

(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144516300717)

WE DO

PROGRAMS

To arrange a naturalist-guided program, call (573) 290-5218 at least two weeks in advance. Field trips in the spring may require advanced reservation of up to six months. Programs may be scheduled Tuesday through Friday for groups of ten or more participants. Groups are limited to one program topic per visit and two naturalist-guided programs per year. Registration for the following calendar year begins September 15.

For information on scheduling a program go to https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/downloads/CapeInterpGuide2017.pdf.

Floatin’ on the River Friday, August 25 (6 - 7:30 pm)

Saturday, August 26 (7:30 am - 2:30 pm) Float from Trail of Tears State Park to Red Star Access on the Mississippi

Experienced paddlers only

Participants must attend the Friday night session

Look for more information in the newsletter