WESTMORELAND CONSERVANCY NEWSLETTER

www.westmorelandconservancy.org  

April 2007  Editor: Shelly Tichy  (724) 325-5523 
newsletter@westmorelandconservancy.org

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Wintry Photo Excursions 

January 28th Buttermilk Falls  by Doug Bauman

    On a very cold day at the end of January the Westmoreland Conservancy photo enthusiasts went on a photo excursion to the scenic Buttermilk Falls. Days like this usually make photography difficult with the constant snow and our aversion to getting the cameras wet! The falling snow added to the splendor of the pristine habitat down by the falls, so we decided to hazard a chance.

         The falls are fed by a fast moving stream which we needed to cross in order to get down below the falls. Most of us had waterproof boots, but one member decided to cross the stream in bare-feet. This turned out to be a highlight of the trip, as everyone was enjoying the obvious humor of the situation. 
         To get down the falls we descended a very steep incline. In order to document our downward trek I advanced at breakneck speed so that I was able to capture the descent of the rest. A rope was affixed at the top and the others obviously had fun as they lowered themselves down along the way. At the bottom Shelly decided to get on her hands and knees and crawl around underneath the waterfall, camera in hand, in order to photograph from that perspective. The ice under the falls was not covered with snow and therefore quite slippery. Fortunately the camera and photographer made it out without incident! 
         For the entire story and additional photos, please visit our website and click “news”.

A SPRING outing is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, May 6th. 


Winter Ecology at Pleasant Valley Park, Feb. 4th

by Dick Byers

            Nineteen people braved single digit temperatures and moderate winds to walk the trails of PV Park.  Tom Pearson was the main leader in this annual WBNC winter outing.  Had the weather been warmer we might have had too large a turnout and be forced to split into several groups.  As it was, nineteen people on a narrow trail was still a large group to handle and I missed some of the species Tom discussed because I was too far behind.  When I got Tom’s additions to the list a week later we had over 100 species and a better idea of what this park is like.  Of interest to me were some steep ravine sloops that could be possible wildflower refugia from white-tailed deer over-browsing.  Consequently, I asked the Western Pennsylvania Botanical Society to consider scheduling one of their field trips here in the months to come.

         WC President Mount Fitzpatrick, Vice President Shelly Tichy, board member Richard Wagner and two conservancy members came on the walk.  The other 14 were from the Botanical Society and Nature Club.  It was a nice mix.  Tom Pearson kept us out in the cold for four hours and 15 minutes and never ran out of things to talk about.  A list of species can be found on Ed Straub’s PV Park website:  http://www.pvpark.org/. We warmed up at Hoss’s Restaurant for a late lunch.

      This park is very valuable ecologically because of its size.   Biologists have found that when a wooded area gets smaller than 100 hectares (247 acres) the probability of finding certain species of wildlife drops sharply.   PV Park is over 15 acres larger than the critical point where biodiversity begins to plummet, so it could serve as a valuable refuge for certain species of birds.  For that reason alone, it is worth saving and a valuable asset to the community.  Besides serving as a possible wildflower refugia, it may also be important someday as wildlife corridor.  It is another place to control the deer population and a place for old growth to develop.  Its terrain is particularly scenic, and like Duff Park, when the trees mature it could draw tourists.  It is worth keeping, now and even more so in the future.

 

Phipps Conservatory Outing, March 4th

         Sunday morning, March 4th brought our group of seven to Phipps Conservatory in Oakland at 9:30 am. Tripods are allowed on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 am, and we found that we weren’t the only photography group utilizing this time. Phipps is a favorite destination for many, and you soon find everyone perusing one another’s equipment!

         On this particular morning the staff members were busy taking out remnants of winter displays and replacing them with the fresh flowers for the Spring Flower Show. It was very interesting watching them measure and sort what will go where and considering the size of the blooms so that they are neither cramped nor too widely spaced. (I had occasion to return 2 days later and the changes were unbelievable!)

         The new room at the rear is a lovely reproduction of the Rainforests of Thailand. There are interactive educational displays, misty streams, waterfalls and native bird songs. The Orchid and Desert rooms never fail to capture one’s interest as well.

         At 11:30 we re-grouped at the entrance and headed out to lunch. We had an enormous booth at Jo Mama’s at Forbes at Oakland Ave. We had a great time and will be repeating the outing whenever possible!

Mark Your Calendar!

         Many people have expressed interest in becoming more familiar with the Conservancy nature reserves and Murrysville Parks. The Park Chat Walk outings are monthly walks and informal chats in various parks and nature reserves co-sponsored by Murrysville Recreation and Westmoreland Conservancy in response to those requests.  Although the walks will be leisurely, there may be some steep slopes along some of the paths.

FREE - No pre-registration required, but a phone reservation with name, telephone number and number of persons in your group would be helpful (724-327-2100 x 115). Directions to parks at www.murrysvillegov.org or www.westmorelandconservancy.org.  

The schedule follows for these walks, which are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8:30 AM, rain or shine.  

April 18                        Duff Park

May 16                        King Nature Reserve

June 20                        Pleasant Valley Park

July 18                         McGinnis Nature Reserve

August 15                     Bear Hollow Trail (meet in parking lot of Royal Highlands Field)

September 19               Walter Nature Reserve

October 17                  Murrysville Community Park (meet in Athletic Field Parking Lot)

 

Spring Migration Road Trip  

       It’s that time of year again! Anyone interested in going up to Crane Creek May 12th please call Shelly Tichy at 724-325-5523. We’ll decide whether to leave Friday evening or Saturday morning (at 3:30 am) when we see how many will attend. Crane Creek is an important location, as this is where the birds stop to rest and eat before a long, dangerous flight over the Great Lakes on their way North. You’ll be amazed at the variety of birds to be seen here, so bring binoculars & cameras

More Activities for Your Calendar 

Pleasant Valley Park Biodiversity Survey on Earth Day, April 22: amphibian and reptile survey.  That outing will begin at 1 PM to allow time for the temperature to rise to activate the snakes.  Anyone who wants to help Jim Pemberton look under rocks and logs is welcome. 

    On Friday, June 1, there will be a bird walk for resident breeders and late migrants led by Tony Pegnato at 7:30 am.  Whether you bird or not, we can always use the extra eyes to find those species that may not be singing. 

     We could use some local assistance in the next few weeks on two species.  Some time before the end of March, probably for just a few days, the wood frogs will be singing.  The window is very narrow and too far for our herp people to drive just to find this species.  All we need is for someone to hear them.  These are the ones that sound like ducks.  Once they've dumped their eggs they'll disappear into the woods and are very hard to find the rest of the season.  Their eggs and tadpoles can be identified, but with some difficulty because they resemble other species.  Identification by voice is the easiest way to confirm their presence.  They can call at any time of day or night, but not continuously, so they're easy to miss.   If you happen to be driving by, particularly just after a rainy day or warm temperatures just pull into the parking lot and listen.  If they're breeding in that pond near the parking lot, you'll easily be able to hear them (if they're singing at the time you're there.) 

    The other species we need data for is the spotted salamander, a 3.5 inch dark individual with yellow spots.  While you're listening for wood frog songs, if you want to get out and walk around, check that pond along the road for egg masses attached to vegetation BELOW the surface.  You'll see an off-white gelatinous mass with dark spots embedded in it.  Those will be spotted salamander eggs.  I don't know if you're allowed in there at night or not, but after the middle of March and the first few weeks of April you might be able to see the adults with a flashlight.  I am hoping, considering breeding will be a little later this year, that those egg masses will still be there on Earth Day.  Thanks for any assistance you can give us.   

Dick

 

2007 Annual Meeting

       The Annual Meeting of the Westmoreland Conservancy will be held April 25th at 7:30 pm in the Municipal Conference Room adjacent to the Library. It is very important that members be there to participate in the election of 3 new Governors. Following the election of Governors will be the election of Officers, then the monthly meeting. We’re looking for input from our members.

 


A Question From the Editor:

What’s Important to You? 

        I have often invited members to participate in the making of this newsletter by submitting either stories or photos. I am extending that invitation again because we want to know what is important to you. Remember that the Westmoreland Conservancy exists because we share interests. Let us know if you know of a property available for consideration. Likewise, we enjoy sharing experiences and photos. Contact me by any means convenient: website, email, smoke signal or phone.                                 –  Shelly Tichy

      2006 Board of Governors/Officers

Officers: President – Mount Fitzpatrick

                 Vice President – Shelly Tichy

                  Secretary – Doug Bauman

                  Treasurer -  Bjoerg Granger

The meetings are open, and we look forward to seeing you there. Meetings are held the 4th Wednesday of each month at the Murrysville Library at 7:30 pm.

                                   April 25th

                                   May 23rd 

                                   June 27th

Westmoreland Conservancy 

An all volunteer, non-profit, 501c-3 Corporation dedicated to acquiring and preserving rural and rustic lands for the public good.

Westmoreland Conservancy

P.O. Box 446

Murrysville, PA  15668

contact@westmorelandconservancy.org

Schedule of Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 18th, 8:30 AM Park Chat Walk, Duff Park, rain or shine

Sunday, April 22nd: 1 PM, amphibian and reptile survey, Pleasant Valley Park

Wednesday, April 25th: 7:30 PM Annual Elections/ Monthly meeting Municipal Conference Room adjacent to the Library.

Saturday, May 12th: Spring Migration Outing: Crane Creek/McGee Marshes, Ohio. Contact Shelly Tichy for additional information

Wednesday, May 16th, 8:30 AM Park Chat Walk, King Reserve, rain or shine

Wednesday, May 23rd: 7:30 PM Monthly Meeting

Friday, June 1st: 7:30 am bird walk for resident breeders and late migrants led by Tony Pegnato, Pleasant Valley Park

Wednesday, June 20th: 2 PM: Park Chat Walk, Pleasant Valley Park, rain or shine

Wednesday, June 27th: 7:30 PM Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, July 18th: 2 PM: Park Chat Walk, McGinnis reserve walk, rain or shine

Westmoreland Conservancy

Membership Application

P.O. Box 446

Murrysville, PA  15668 

Membership Levels 

Individual...................………..$15.00

Family..........................………..20.00

Business membership...………..40.00

Additional Donation…….$_________ 

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For your convenience, you may also renew your membership or give donations through our website at www.westmorelandconservancy.org  

The next Newsletter is scheduled for July 2007. 

 

Making Your Own Wind Chimes

You can make your own wind chimes for a creative addition to your patio or garden.

You will need:

Small terra cotta pots in assorted sizes (1" - 3")
One large 4 or 6-inch terra-cotta dish (usually about 1" deep)
Wooden balls larger than hole in bottom of pots, with holes
19-gauge steel wire
20-lb. test line
pencil

Step 1: Cut the wire to measure three times the top diameter of the dish. Using the wire, you'll be making small loops from which the small pots will hang.

Step 2: Wrap the wire around a pencil to make a curl. This is loop number one; move the pencil half inch down the wire and make the second loop. Continue this process until the wire is full of loops.

Step 3: Turn the dish upside-down. Wrap the wire around the pot to rest firmly on the lip, twist the ends together and cut off the extra.

Step 4: Thread one end of the test line through a loop on the big pot. Bring the two ends together and thread them through the bottom of a tiny terra-cotta pot. Then tie a ball onto the ends of the string; making sure the knot is tight. Then slide it into the pot. The first chime is now on.

Step 5: Begin tying on more tiny pots. Hang them at varying lengths. Add as many small pots as you like, depending on what sounds and looks good to you.

Step 6: Thread the last terra-cotta pot through the center of the big pot. A wooden ball tied near the top of the string will hold the middle chime in place.

You can add more pots, or just leave it like this. Hang it in a windy spot and enjoy the sounds.

If you want to paint the pots, do so at least a day ahead of time so the paint has time to dry before handling. You can paint bugs, flowers or leaves to make your garden complete!