Thanks to Our Volunteers! – August 2024 Community Wildlife Chapter Highlights
North Carolina Wildlife Federation staff and Community Wildlife Chapter volunteers came back full force from their annual summer breather. In August, NCWF did a whole lot of webinar hosting, pollinator counting, mothing, and invasive plant species removal. In total, 20 volunteers were engaged, and over 690 people were given the opportunity to connect with nature through one of NCWF’s opportunities this month.
Thanks to partners such as the Duke Energy Foundation, Jandy Ammons Foundation, Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership and Burt’s Bees for helping make these habitat restoration workdays, educational programs and nature outings possible. Explore our Events Calendar to discover where NCWF and our Community Wildlife Chapters are hosting in-person and virtual events near you. Check out a few highlights below from our conservation outreach team.
August 10th, SWC Moth Night: NCWF’s South Wake Conservationists chapter held Moth Night at Crowder County Park in Apex. Chapter member Bonnie Eamick set up UV lights and white sheets and brought small collection jars for kids to study moths and insects up close. Participants learned about a variety of insects and moths and how to identify them.
Aug 13, MARSH Chapter Leader Honored Council Meeting: On Tuesday, August 13th, MARSH Treasurer Bob Nunnenkamp was honored for his service to the Marvin community at the Village Council Meeting. Bob founded the NCWF Marvin Area for the Restoration and Sustainability of Wildlife Habitat (MARSH) Chapter in 2019 and served as the chapter’s first President. He is an active supporter of NCWF, and is committed to protecting, conserving, and restoring wildlife and habitat in the Village of Marvin. Thank you for your service Bob!
August 15, SSS The Story of the Hummingbird: the NCWF Southeastern Swamp Stewards Chapter held a hybrid event with guest speaker MJ Fernandez. Attendees learned about outdoor education programs around the world and the career history that has led MJ to establish her own outdoor education program in the Dominican Republic based on the story of the hummingbird and how each person can make a small difference in their own way.
Aug 17, ecoEXPLORE Moth Night: NCWF, Pocosin Lakes NWR, and Tyrrell County Library partnered for an ecoEXPLORE Moth Night at the library! Youth and adult participants observed species including a Filbertworm moth, Elegant grass-veneer, Oblique-banded leafroller moth, and cicada.
August 17th, Mud Day with SWC: NCWF’s South Wake Conservationists Chapter participated in Mud Day at the Walnut Creek Wetland Center in Raleigh. Chapter volunteers engaged over 50 kids and their parents (over 100 people total!) with interactive activities about frog calls, animal tracks, beavers, and North Carolina wildlife trivia.
August 19th, Invasive plant removal with NRHC: NCWF’s NCWF’s Neuse River Hawks Conservationists Chapter participated in an invasive plant removal at Main Street Park in Rolesville. Volunteers helped remove Japanese stiltgrass, nandina, English ivy, privet, and tree of heaven.
August 20, SSS Science game night: NCWF’s Southeastern Swamp Stewards Chapter met to plan nature outings for the rest of 2024, followed by chapter game night.
Aug 22, CWS Moth Night: Mothing has become very popular in the piedmont! NCWF Charlotte Wildlife Stewards Chapter hosted their second moth night of the season! Nearly 30 folks showed up as the sun went down at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve. Mecklenburg County Natural Resource Staff setup moth sheets and lights and even baited some trees to attract and survey moths. Not only are moths good pollinators, they are a valuable food source for breeding and migrating birds. Highlights of the night included a Pandora sphinx moth, rosy maple moth, widow underwing moth, and a tulip tree beauty!
Aug 23-24, MARSH Great Southeast Pollinator Census: NCWF Marvin Area Chapter participated in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census by hosting a counting event at Marvin Efird Park. Folks showed up to count pollinators on Friday and Satruday with chapter leaders and NCWF Staff. The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a community science project started by the University of Georgia. Participation in the project generates data about pollinators that can be used to inform research and improve conservation efforts. Participants also learned a thing or two about bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and other insects!
Aug 24, Southern Branch Nursery Educational Tour: NCWF Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC Chapter partnered with Southern Branch Nursery in Chesapeake, VA for a tour of their native plant nursery. Participants learned more about the importance of incorporating native species into their properties to benefit wildlife and habitat.
August 24th, SWC Behind-the-Scenes Animal Care Tour: NCWF’s South Wake Conservationists Chapter got a behind the scenes tour of animal care at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. The group learned about animal care and characteristics of the museum’s ring-tailed lemurs, black bears, red wolves, and radiated tortoises from the animal care staff.
Written by:
– Page Turner, Conservation Coordinator
– Laura Frazier, Refuge Conservation Coordinator
– Natalie Bohorquez, VP of Conservation Partnerships
– Alden Picard, Conservation Coordinator
– Kara Solomon, Conservation Coordinator