January 3rd, 2021 By Rachel Floyd One of the most interesting mushrooms that pops up in fall and early winter in the Piedmont is the shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus). It is in a group of mushrooms commonly called inky caps, owing to their habit of dissolving into black piles of goo shortly after pushing their […]
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Above: Part of the CUH landscape restoration crew at Brumfield Elementary School in Northern Virginia. From left to right, field techs Julia, Ashley, Maren, Lance, and Jessie. Image by Rachel Floyd. The 2020 Roundup What a year! 2020 was a year of cultural upheaval, and this presented many challenges. We have emerged the stronger for […]
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Above: Part of the CUH survey crew at a survey site near Montebello, Virginia. Crew members, left to right, Devin, Jessie, Olivia, Emily, Ashley, and Ezra. Image by the client, Anna Lane. What have we been up to in 2020? It’s been a challenging year for all of us, but we are happy to report […]
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Above: A male Evening Grosbeak feeds on boxelder seeds along the James River in southern Albemarle County, VA. Drew Chaney December 4th, 2020 This fall/winter has been bountiful for birders so far, as the east has seen a major irruption of boreal birds, with large numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches, Purple Finches and Pine Siskins reaching […]
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By Devin Floyd 12/3/2020 We are so excited to be featured on the nationally syndicated show, “Untamed”, featuring the wonders of salamanders, and the threats they face. The focal point will be the spotted salamander, and a conservation success story at a salamander migration site in Central Virginia. Here’s the story that will frame the […]
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By Devin Floyd 12/1/2020 The video relays a simple glimpse of the beauty of a Piedmont grassland in the dormant season. The footage was captured recently by one of our volunteers and supporters (Bill Sykes). The view is dominated by the characteristic indicator species of high quality grasslands, including little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and early […]
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By Devin Floyd December 1st, 2020 Frost now decorates Piedmont mornings. The leading edge of winter’s bite is upon us. Tow your summer heart into the coming dark. The intoxicating scent of the native rose in summer is also an expression of the power of winter. Do not confuse dormancy with death, nor conflate wilt […]
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Theo Staengl November 5th, 2020 This fall and winter, we’re expecting many more finches in the area because the pines in the northern states and Canada did not produce as many seeds as usual. Many finches eat pine seeds, so when there isn’t a good crop, they travel further south to look for food. Pine […]
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Also perpetuating the issue of species and habitat loss in the Piedmont is the idea and practice that an individual plant can support wildlife. It cannot, and many well-intentioned people and organizations are falling into a trap. A plant may attract wildlife, and for some reason we assume it is doing something good beyond attraction. […]
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By Theo Staengl August 21, 2020 On Monday, the Center for Urban Habitats survey crew set up plots on and around cliffs of a private property that rises above the Rockfish River in Nelson County, VA. A boulder field leading up to cliffs on two sides created a bowl. Ezra and Devin set up a […]