July/August Newsletter Published

The latest edition of the Fermilab Natural Areas newsletter is online! With the next two months packed full of events and activities to get involved with -- butterfly walks, sunset on the prairie walks, habitat restoration volunteer days and more, now is the time to get outside!  Venture into the prairie, hike the trails and see what is blooming.

Please note:  for those of you who receive the newsletter via email, the butterfly walk on at noon August 26 was omitted.  The August 12 walk begins at 4:30 p.m.

If you'd like to be added to the FNA email list, please contact us at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

photo courtesy:  Fermilab Roads & Grounds

On Two Wheels

While it may be difficult to fully appreciate Fermilab's natural areas in the wee hours of the morning, participants in The Conservation Foundation's Chase the Moon bicycle ride will have a wonderful opportunity to try!  After a pre-party starting at 10 p.m. on July 31 at Marmion Academy, riders will begin riding at 12:01 a.m. August 1 and head toward Fermilab.  The 25-mile route will offer early-out options for more recreational riders.  Following a ride through Fermilab, bicyclists will return to Marmion for breakfast.

All proceeds benefit The Conservation Foundation, a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving open space and cleaning up rivers and streams in northeastern Illinois.

For registration and additional information, go to http://www.chasethemoon.com/.

Photo courtesy:  Ryan Campbell

Butterfly Walks

Tom Peterson, Fermilab's butterfly expert, is planning to host a number of butterfly walks this summer, including one on Thursday, June 24, beginning at noon.  All walks will begin at the trailhead to the Interpretive trail at outbound Pine Street at Fermilab.  Check the "Upcoming Events" section of the blog for future dates & times.  Remember to be prepared for heat, mud, and/or mosquitoes. Walks will last about 45 minutes.

photo courtesy:  Tom Peterson, Red Admiral

Summer Plans for the Betz intern

FNA's 2010 Robert F. Betz intern Jessica Meyers started working in late May and many tasks await, including a large variety of scientific and "on the ground" ecological restoration work. Several small studies will be implemented with Fermilab's consulting ecologist, Ryan Campbell, including determining best control of non-native brome grass in the bison savanna restoration, baseline tree density and herbaceous species composition in the Site 29 woodland, and collecting seed for the seed rate study.

Jessica's own research ideas are also be considered. Collection of native plant seed, learning to identify invasive, non-native plants, working with Fermilab's bird and butterfly monitors, and helping volunteers with aquatic surveys and other projects are part of the experience. We'll post blog updates from our 2010 Robert F. Betz intern in early summer.

Photo courtesy:  Fermilab Visual Media Services, August 2009,
Baltimore Checkerspot release at Fermilab

The Plan for Fighting Invasives

from Ryan Campbell, Consulting Restoration Ecologist, Fermilab:

This summer at Fermilab, we are anxious to start a new summer weed management program. Two interns are helping to control invasive species in the natural areas of Fermilab. In the past, we have been able to control some invasive plants (Teasel, Purple Loosestrife, Giant Reed Grass) but have never had the resources for others (White and Yellow Sweet Clover, Spotted Knapweed, Crown Vetch, Reed Canary Grass). The internships were specifically funded to target the control of these nasty exotics which outcompete native plants and lower plant and ecosystem diversity.

FNA has a grant application in process to help fund this work.

photo courtesy:  http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info

New plants found at Fermilab

In this day and age, it is likely that any new plant found in a given area would be unwanted. Usually, new plants means aggressive, exotic (not native to northern Illinois or even North America) and it should be controlled by whatever means necessary before spreading all over. However, in the first week of work, Fermilab's consulting restoration ecologist, Ryan Campbell, found two desirable, rare, native species.

The first, Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris) has never been documented in the years of woodland surveys. Two reasons are possible. Either Dr. Betz and others overlooked this inconspicuous Poa, or it was established more recently through seed trades with local forest preserve ecologists. Either way, we are glad to have it with us in the woodlands of Fermilab.

The second plant is an exciting one! It is known for its blue fruits. These fruits are actually the ripe seed coat itself that burst through the plant ovary during development. It is blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides). We know that seeds of this species were traded to us from a local forest preserve some years ago.

The plants found (one mature and one young) are a testament to the successes of the restoration work here at Fermilab. Again, blue cohosh, we welcome you to your new home at Fermilab, in a woodland that continues to be restored and managed with the right ecological principles in mind.

Photo courtesy:  Ryan Campbell