For the past week there has been a fire burning in eastern North Carolina. What’s the connection between a fire in eastern NC and the Museum of Life + Science here in Durham, why write a post about that fire? Well, besides the smoke drifting in to the Triangle on today’s easterly winds, that fire is burning in Alligator National Wildlife Refuge. Still, what’s the connection to us at the Museum? The Red Wolves we have here at the MuseumRead more
Posts filed in: Spring
Mystery Tree Identified!
Earlier this spring I noticed a small tree or shrub at the bottom of the boardwalk just as you make the turn towards the Black Bear Exhibit, where the boardwalk levels out. I didn’t know what the tree was and I don’t remember seeing it last summer. It was either a very fast growing tree or my observation skills are slipping, maybe both. I was stumped. But there were some clues to its identity. The leaves were somewhat maple shaped.Read more
Bluebirds Doing Well!
Ken Kernodle, one of several people that installed nest boxes for bluebirds here at the Museum last year, stopped by yesterday to inspect the boxes. As we walked up to the nest box in Catch the Wind next to the Flap the Wings exhibit a male bluebird flew in with a juicy worm in its bill. Of the five nest boxes on the Museum campus, four are occupied. Three boxes hold bluebirds with 4-5 nestlings each. One nest box containsRead more
The Evolution of the Rangers
When I first came aboard the Museum some 3 plus years ago there was a Ranger* on duty during the weekends only. The week days were covered by other members of the staff on an hourly basis on the outdoor exhibits loop** (different individuals from various departments would walk the loops for one hour during each of the Museum’s open hours). Since then we have developed into a full time operation. When the Museum is open there’s a Ranger onRead more
Hylidae are Active!
Northern Cricket Frogs, Green Treefrogs, and Cope’s Gray Treefrogs are all active and calling. The daily showers that we’ve been experiencing lately have moved this family of small frogs to think of romance, or at least to mate. So, when you’re hiking around the trails listen for the “click-click-click” of the cricket frog, the “quonck-quonck-quonck” of the green treefrog, and the bird-like “berrrrrrilll, berrrrrilll” of the gray treefrog. Have fun!Read more
All in a Day’s Work
When not giving directions to Museum guests, checking on the status of the outdoor exhibits, or interpreting the natural history of the flora and fauna at the Museum, a Museum of Life + Science Ranger has also to do small clean-ups around the outdoor areas. This clean-up often involves retrieving sippy cups, water bottles and various other articles that find their way into the Wetlands. Veteran Ranger Kristin and Ranger Recruit Erin show how it’s done. In this case it’sRead more
A New Tent Caterpillar
Within the past few weeks there have been many an Eastern Caterpillar rescued from “certain death” by some of the hundreds of children visiting the Museum on field trips from various schools throughout the state (out of state too). The caterpillars were coming down out of the trees to search for safe places to pupate, whether under a log, rock, or other protected and out of the way location. Hundreds of them were seen crossing the paths in both Catch theRead more
Battling Behemoths
It’s spring and the snapping turtles are feeling the urge. I’m not sure if these two snappers ever connected, whether they actually got together and mated, but one of them was seen hauled out on a rock later the same day. For a somewhat blow-by-blow description of what mating snapping turtles go through to reproduce, click here.Read more
Viceroys and a Cruiser
Two Viceroy Caterpillars were seen crossing the path on 19 April. One was in Explore the Wild and the other, Catch the Wind. Viceroy butterflies lay their eggs on willow, poplar, cottonwood and cherry. However, willows are favored. Where there are willows, there are Viceroys. They overwinter as larvae, rolled up in a silk covered leaf among the leaf liter on the ground. Viceroy larvae bear a resemblance to bird droppings, the better to be passed over as food. ARead more