Missouri Master Naturalist - Great Rivers

Missouri Master Naturalist October‐November‐December 2020 Volume 10 Number 4

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” —George Bernard Shaw

Great Horned Owl Wild Acres Park, Overland, MO

©2020 Brenda Hente

Great Rivers Gazette page 2

Great Rivers Gazette October‐November‐December 2020, Volume 10 Number 4

Published by the Missouri Master Naturalists ‐ Great Rivers Chapter

Co‐Editor: Bob Virag Co‐Editor: Lori Purk

Contents Page The Presidents Corner Bob Ochs 2 2020 Election Results 3 2020 Volunteer Service Update 4 Citizen Science 5 Stewardship 9 Education and Outreach 15 Great Rivers Photo Contest 16 Advanced Training 17 Member Milestones 19 Member Spotlight 20 Naturalist’s Journal 22 Great Rivers LOGO WEAR ORDER 25 Front Cover Photo Great Horned Owl, Wild Acres Park, Overland, MO ‐ by Brenda Hente Back Cover Photo December reflections in a Forest Park marsh ‐ by Patty Clarke

Great Rivers Chapter Officers President ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Bob Ochs Vice President‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Bob Virag Secretary ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Chris Hull Treasurer ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Brenda Switzer Board Member‐at‐Large ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Carl Davis Board Member‐at‐Large ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Renée Benage Board Member‐at‐Large ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Tara Morton

Chapter Advisors Justin Keay, University of Missouri Extension St. Louis

Committee Chairs Advanced Training‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Michael Meredith Tri‐Chapter Coordination‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Michael Meredith Partners and Projects‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Lisa Picker Communication‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Bob Virag Membership‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Sherri Schmidt Hospitality‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Tessa Wasserman Master Naturalist Logo Apparel‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Kari Pratt

The Missouri Master Naturalist™ program is a community‐based natural resource education and volunteer service program for adults, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the University of Missouri Extension.

The President’s Corner

Dear Chapter Members,

‘Days Gone By’ is a rough

translation of title of the

poem by Scottish poet

Robert Burns sung just

after the old year passes.

It always makes me think

of the times that I have

had with good friends

and reminds me of

friendships where too

much time has passed

since our last adventure.

Please enjoy reading the verses of Auld Lang Syne that

are rarely sung:

We two have run about the hills,

and picked the daisies fine;

But we've wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty friend!

And give me a hand o' thine!

And we'll take a right good‐will draught,

for auld lang syne.

As we toast good‐bye to 2020, let us all remember that with each new year comes new promise and new adventures. As you sing out last year and welcome 2021, remember the words of Auld Lang Syne as they we certainly written in the spirit of each of you as a Missouri Master Naturalist.

Bob Ochs President, Great Rivers Chapter

The Master Naturalist name and dragonfly logo are trademarks of Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, used with permission for the Missouri Master Naturalist program.”

View us on the web at www.greatrivers.org www.facebook.com/MMNGreatRiversChapter and www.facebook.com/groups/150751118803379


2020 Election Results Welcome New and Continuing Officers and Board Members

President, Bob Ochs Class of 2017 Second term to November 2022

Congratulations!

Secretary Chris Hull Class of 2018 Interim term to November 2021

Board Member at Large Renee Benage Class of 2008 First term to November 2022

Board Member at Large Tara Morton Class of 2017 First term to November 2022

contributed by Pam Wilcox


2020 Volunteer Service Safely Prevailed During the COVID-19 Pandemic

It has been a challenging year for volunteers. As our partners and organizations canceled outdoor activities and St. Louis County and St. Louis City closed many schools and attractions, finding a safe way to serve the mission of the MMN program required a lot of creativity on the part of Great Rivers members. It would have been easy for everyone to go into hibernation and wait out the storm, yet the spirit and creativity of chapter came through with many reports of COVID-safe and impactful opportunities. Most activities were performed solo in the open air and those that involved others were comprised of small groups with social distancing and facemasks worn at all times.

• Volunteer service hours are predictably lower in 2020 compared to 2019, but surprisingly only 27% lower. • Advanced training hours were higher in 2020 compared to 2019, again a surprising 14% higher, undoubtedly due to

the increased use of online virtual training tools that grew so rapidly throughout the year.

Here are graphs of the monthly cumulative hours. They display the perseverance and dedication of our Great Rivers volunteers to the mission of the program, even in these troubled times.

On the following pages you will find stories, photos, and lists of accomplishments by several of our volunteers and organizations over the past three months and in some cases over the course of the year. Thank you for all that you do!

80% of the volunteer service time supported the top 19 of 63 organizations. Stewardship projects were the largest volunteer service category, perhaps because they provided safer social distancing.

See more detail in the 2020 Great Rivers Annual Report on the Chapter’s website here: www.greatrivers.org/media/site/collections/reports/annual/2020_MMN_Annual_Report-Great_Rivers_Chapter.pdf

http://www.greatrivers.org/media/site/collections/reports/annual/2020_MMN_Annual_Report-Great_Rivers_Chapter.pdf


Citizen Science – Fall 2020

World Bird Sanctuary – Mist Net Repair Brenda and Jim Christ

In January of 2020 we enjoyed repairing mist nets for the World Bird Sanctuary. The mending can be quite challenging

because first the net openings near the tears need to be squared. Then specific kinds of tied knots and connections must be

used. We learned quickly that four hands work better than two for this project and found painter’s tape to be almost

miraculous! Of course, time was also a factor. But more challenging for us, however, was PATIENCE… a true relationship test

for married Master Naturalists.

Like many others we did not venture out much later in

the year so volunteering and advanced training at first

seemed impossible. However, chapter officers and

committees did an absolutely wonderful job of

forwarding opportunities. So, thank you very much! We

especially loved learning about and using iNaturalist

and enjoyed advanced training through the Cornell Bird

Lab. Even though the virtual opportunities were

wonderful we definely missed the human contact

events.

So here’s to looking forward to 2021 events like the this

one at St. Vincent Park in 2019.

Great Rivers Gazette page 6 Citizen Science (continued)

CWD, COVID‐19, and Me Tom Fasl

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a deadly infectious disease in deer. CWD

eventually kills all the deer it infects. The infection is spread from deer to

deer as well as through the environment that deer populate.

November 14 and 15, 2020 CWD sampling took place in thirty counties in

Missouri. CWD sampling has been mandatory until this year because of

COVID‐19 concerns. MDC employees, MDC volunteers and Missouri Master

Naturalists attended virtual training to become familiar with the work

required at each sampling station.

CWD sampling begins with a “Greeter” speaking with the hunter who arrives with a deer to be sampled.

The Greeter explains the sampling process to the hunter and answers any questions before the sampling begins. Next the hunter is met by the “Data Recorder” who is responsible for documenting the hunter’s identity, permit information, the deer sex, and deer age as well as assigning a control number to the tissue sample taken from the deer for testing. The tissue samples are the deer’s lymph nodes which are removed by a “Cutter” while the documentation process is taking place. COVID‐19 protocols where in effect during the sampling process. Hunters remained in their vehicles; volunteers and employees maintained social distance and masks.

2020 is my second year as a Data Recorder at the Grey Summit CWD sampling station. While the days are long, time passes quickly. I always meet amazing people, hunters, MDC employees and MDC volunteers and of course Missouri Master Naturalists.

Deer hunting is a multi‐million‐dollar economic engine in the state of Missouri. CWD if unchecked has the potential to inflict serious harm to our state’s economy. It is a privilege to participate with the Missouri Department of Conservation in the CWD sampling program; I look forward to next year!

Great Rivers Gazette page 7 Citizen Science (continued)

Butterfly Survey of the Lower Meramec Greenway Sean Tracy

From May to November, I walked along a section of the Lower Meramec Greenway in southern St. Louis County to bide my time during the pandemic. The trail traverses bottomland woodlands and some small treeless openings along the Meramec River and abuts a 6‐acre prairie.

Over the course of approximately 110 days, I observed 12,750 individuals from 34 species of butterflies across 5 genera. Five genera were encountered (number of positively identified species in parentheses): brushfoots numbering 7,556 (13), followed by gossamer wings at 3,417 (3), whites and sulphurs at 1,168 (6), skippers at 573 (10) and swallowtails at 36 (2).

The most common species were the Pearl Crescent (5,813), the Eastern Tailed Blue (3,345), and the Hackberry Emperor (1,238). The least seen butterflies were the Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Common Checkered Skipper (1), Crossline Skipper (1), Harvester (2), Northern Pearly‐Eye (2), Horace’s Dusky Wing (2), and the Wild Indigo Dusky Wing (2).

On July 28th, the highest total of 599 butterflies comprising 14 species were observed compared with the day before when 588 butterflies were seen comprising only 6 species. The greatest number of species seen on one day, 17, numbering 187 individuals was witnessed on September 11th.

Of the 34 species observed, 31 species numbering 1,847 individuals were seen on 19 walks in the month of September. On 26 walks in July, I saw the most individuals, 6,275, comprising 23 species. It is likely that a number of these observations may be of the same individuals on different days.

I must give credit to Dennis Bozzay, Yvonne Homeyer, and Scott Marshall,

members of the North American Butterfly Association, for sparking my interest in observing butterflies. Their patience and

help in identifying butterflies and their associated host plants and nectar sources has proven invaluable. I am looking

forward to the spring when the cycle begins anew.

The datasheets are available upon request.

Viceroy

6

18

24 25

30

19

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

Species Observed per Month

34

846

6265

2831

1847

922

50

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000


Individuals Observed per Month

Common Checkered Skipper

Great Rivers Gazette page 8 Bio‐survey of the Lower Meramec Greenway (continued)

Flutter of Eastern Tailed Blues

Flutter of Hackberry Emperors on a hackberry root

Harvester

Pearl Crescent on White Heath Aster

Red‐spotted Purple and Hackberry Emperor on a Hackberry root

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

3 Most Numerous Species by Day

PC

ETB

HE

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500


Most Numerous Species

Pearl Crescent

Eastern Tailed Blue

Hackberry Emperor


Stewardship–Fall 2020

2020 River des Peres Trash Bash

River des Peres Watershed Coalition and Great Rivers Greenway

COVID‐19 did not stop the annual

RdP Trash Bash event this year. In

place of the huge crowds hauling

trash out of the STL County parks and

creeks, RdP teamed up with Great

Rivers Greenway, MSD, and MMN‐

Great Rivers Chapter, among others

to organize a DIY solo trash bash

week. Trash bags and safety

supplies were arranged at drive‐up

depos and individuals and families

were encouraged to pick up trash at

their favorite location by themselves.

Trash drop locations were flagged

and noted on maps and volunteers

were encouraged to share their

photographs of their bounty.

Great Rivers Greenway said, “Thank you 2020 River des Peres Trash Bash Volunteers & Partners! Working

together, we removed 3+tons of trash & 50+ tires from area parks, greenways, and creeks! There were also

more than 300 storm drain inlets marked to remind neighbors that these inlets drain to area creeks and streams.

Right now, we are planning to move forward with Confluence Trash Bash (March 2021) in the same way, a multi‐

day cleanup with individuals or members of the same household. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.

Use the following link: greatriversgreenway.org/trash‐bash “

One day's haul at Mallard Lake in Creve Coeur Park left by over 30 individual volunteers throughout the day. 3‐4 cubic yards of trash were removed by all of us ‐ 20 red bags, 9 green bags, misc. trash including one empty 60‐inch CO2 tank.

Also picked up: one cuddly plastic mole, incredibly happy to be rescued!

Bob and Val Virag got a much needed work out. They filled and lugged their two allotted trash bags two‐miles to the central pick up spot at Mallard Lake in Creve Coeur Park.


Stewardship (continued)

Spanish Lake Park

Restoration Project

By Larry Conant October 31, 2020, seven GRMMNs: Diane Goulis, Bob Ochs, Bob Virag, Jeanne Kobbe, Al Koebbe, Barbara Stephenson, and gimpy Larry Conant and two friends of GRMMNs: Pat Behle and Ike Jacobs, braved the perfect weather to clear a large area of honeysuckle from a needy length of shore along the lake at Spanish Lake County Park. Nary a harder-working team of environmentalists has, as of this writing, been observed, let alone photographed, in their natural habitat. Appropriate COVID-19 precautions were kept by all in attendance. With the perfect weather, it was unquestionably quite a lot of fun.



Babler State Park Tree Planting

by Kimberly Bousquet

November 5, 2020 Great River member Kimberly Bousquet joined up with volunteers from Confluence and Miramiguoa

Chapters to plant 140 trees in Babler State Park. Way to go team!!!!

Forest Park Forever by Bob Ochs

November 12, 2020

Bob Ochs (center) with Theo

Smith and Catherine Hu of FPF.

Great day. We cleared 3 big

areas. Catherine said we saved

them 2 weeks of work. They

hoped to do a prescribed burn

the following week.



Forest Park Forever by Cindy Lueder

I find volunteering in the Nature Reserve of Forest Park fulfilling, especially in 2020!!

It’s all about encouraging native trees and plants. Seeing people out enjoying the park is another plus. Sometimes they ask what we’re doing, and it becomes an opportunity to let them know that we are volunteers, and that native species make a difference.

This year I had 65.5 hours of park work, divided between removing invasives, planting trees and planting plugs for 2‐3 days (but this went quickly because FPF staff made holes with an auger beforehand).

So my score for the year was:

~600 invasives removed,

~ 160 native trees planted,

~432 plugs planted

I am grateful to be a part of the Great Rivers team!

Cindy Lueder recently received her 1,000‐hour milestone service award. The Great Rivers Chapter is very grateful for her dedicated service.

Cindy is an inspiration to us all!

1,000 hour

Milestone Award

Winner!



Forest Park Forever by Patty Clarke

In 1972 I moved into the Gibson Heights neighborhood; it borders the east side of Forest Park. That is when my love affair for Forest Park began and has continued ever since. Trees have always brought me solace, from climbing them when a child to communing with them as an adult. I especially love how trees appear in winter; I can see the structural shape and strength, the trials it has endured throughout its lifetime and personality. Forest Park has provided me ample opportunity to do so with its varied species of trees. Another refuge within the park are the many prairies which I so enjoy visiting year‐round. Each season within them has a message to convey with colors, shapes, and varied species of prairie plants. I love the quiet I experience walking through them at sunset, especially in winter. Forest Park is truly a treasure for all those who visit, me included.

Photos by Patty Clarke, all taken in Forest Park, December 15, 2020

Majestic tree in Forest Park Thin ice glaze in pond surrounded by dormant prairie in Forest Park

Forest park marsh

Water flowing over rocks in Forest Park Ice formation found around a lake in Forest Park



Forest Park Forever Drama

by Debra Maurer

December 17, 2020

While taking pictures around the Hatchery in Forest

Park where I help clear honeysuckle, I stumbled

upon a bird with a strange looking tail. The bird did

not fly off and it started to look like a hawk. It let me

sneak around and get a few more pictures. Then I

realized she was sitting on top of a captured

squirrel, pecking at it and leery of me. I felt so

blessed and awed. After staring for a few minutes,

the hawk continued to peck at the squirrel.

I alerted Gunner, a member of the Forest Park

Horticultural team, and he was also able to witness

the event. I do not know how much longer the hawk

remained, but it didn't look as though any passers‐

by were going to scare it away from its lunch.

I volunteer with an awesome team of folks from

Forest Park Forever, including Nancy, Jeff and

Gunner and another volunteer, Bill, every Tuesday.

We serve the Northeast corner of the park doing

various chores like weeding and occasional planting.

Even though I have not been there every day to

remove honeysuckle, Jeff reported removing at

least 22 truckloads of honeysuckle from the

Hatchery area and still more needs to be removed.

The area is gorgeous with all that honeysuckle gone.

If you know the area well, you should look for

yourself. The habitat is so much more visible now

from the path that surrounds it. It is a favorite of

mine when I take my dog Callie for walks at the Park.

I am looking forward to continue to serve as a

volunteer at the park.

Eastern Gray Squirrel held firmly in claw by a hungry Red‐tailed Hawk.


Education and Outreach – Fall 2020

Mississippi River Water Trail Association by Mary Mierkowski

MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATER TRAIL ASSOCIATION December 2020

MEMBER NEWSLETTER – YEAR‐END REPORT

Because you are important to the water trail organization, we want to keep you updated

on our activities from this past year. Attached is the yearly summary written by our long

time President. We accomplished quite a lot in spite of the unusually trying year that

included both COVID‐19 and flooding. Below is a summary of some major achievements

which were possible with the support of your membership:

Purchased 5 Perception Expression kayaks suitable for big river paddling~ at a bargain

price.

Acquired a large kayak trailer at a great price (donated to us for FREE!).

Formed a partnership with the Audubon Center who purchased an additional 4

kayaks and granted us sharing rights.

Supported numerous small group‐distanced, non‐shuttled paddles on Ellis Bay and

the water trail. These included trail site maintenance and inspection trips, networking

paddles with key local decision makers. and a very successful series of wellness

paddles in conjunction with the Audubon Center, supported by our major partner the

US Army Corps of Engineers.

Trained new Level II kayak instructors, re‐certified current instructors, and trained

trip leaders for a total of 20 individuals. This was done at little or no cost via grants

obtained by our board members.

The board is making plans for next year so you can expect to receive an update about that

later. Visit us at https://mississippiriverwatertrail.org/ .

Hang in there, stay safe and Happy Holidays.


Great Rivers Photo Contest Once again, with the change of every season, Great Rivers chapter members have the opportunity to present their prized photos for display on the home page of the chapter website.

Two photos were selected for the front and back cover pages of this issue of the Gazette.

Six additional photographs were selected for the website Home Page Slideshow. These can be viewed at www.greatrivers.org and are also shown below.

Please congratulate our Great Rivers photographers. Their work helps to further the program’s mission to improve public understanding of natural resource ecology and management by enhancing natural resource Outreach and Education activities.

Website Banner Photographs

Great Horned Owl, Wild Acres Park, Overland, MO ©2020 Brenda Hente

American Goldfinches, McDonnell Park, Overland, MO ©2020 Brenda Hente

American Goldfinch, Saint Ann, MO ©2020 Brenda Hente

Downy Woodpecker Saint Ann, MO ©2020 Brenda Hente

May all your persimmons be ripe. Persimmon ‐ Diospyros virginiana ©2020 Renée Benage

New Ice on Pond, Forest Park, St. Louis MO ©2020 Barb Cerutti


Advanced Training‐Fall 2020

October 20, 2020 Fossils of Missouri Peter Asa Kaplan, Eastern Missouri Society for Paleontology Peter Asa Kaplan provided an engaging tour of geo‐paleontology in our midwest region. With energy and wit, he proved to be a bit of a polymath with deep understanding of wide ranging interests that helped in the interpretation of some very complex topics. In one short hour, Asa guided us through a billion years of the Missouri paleontology record and opened our eyes to the amazing diversity of our natural history. While he focussed on Paleozoic invertebrates (pre‐dinosaur), in particular trilobites and brachiopods, it was clear that his true passion was on education and community building around fossils, including those found in urban settings.

Asa hails from Chicago where he discovered fossils while shuffling past the walls of the downtown buildings, skyscrapers, bridges, and monuments. He discovered much more than how local flora and fauna changes. He found a record of global evolutionary change, shifts in dominant groups, and wholesale upheavals in the prevalence of predation and community disturbance.

One of his most interesting discussions was the intricate woven network of how the characteristics of the geomorphology of the rocks and the study of their origins and hydrologic features can lead to a better understanding of the paleoenviroment of the fossil you are trying to identify.

Most surprising was learning of the effects of the ebb and flow of a long sequence of rising seas over this area, beginning half‐a billion years ago with the Sauk Sea and their St. Francios Islands with diverse trilobites, weird molluscs, algal heads, and first cephalopods. The Tippecanoe Sea then followed 473‐398 million years ago, and then the Kaskaskia and Absaroka seas rose and fell afterwards, ending with the Zuni Sea in SW Missouri 176‐60 million years ago. It is no wonder that we are now a region of Great Rivers.

Peter Asa Kaplan very graciously shared his PowerPoint presentation slides which can be found on the chapter’s website www.greatrivers.org/chapter/presentations . The slides provide much more information and many helpful references.

‐‐‐ contributed by Bob Virag

November 17, 2020 Mosses of Missouri Adam Rembert, Litzsinger Road Ecology Center

Adam Rembert is a restoration ecology assistant at the Litzsinger Road Ecology Center. While not a primary focus of his work, Adam has developed a keen interest in mosses.

Adam first distinguished between Hornworts, Liverworts, and Mosses which together form the Kingdom Bryophytes. He next explained several characteristics of mosses, including that they are not vascular, do not have true roots, and they reproduce with spores.

We learned that mosses have a key role in “Ecological Succession”, in that they begin the process of creating soil on surfaces such as rock. Mosses provide a home for invertebrates. They reduce water runoff, sequester pollutants, and have antibacterial properties.

Moss Identification benefits from magnification and focuses on growth type, characteristics of the reproductive ‘Sporophyte’ stage, leaf shape, margins, and even cellular construction. Mosses are quite diverse, in that some thrive in a woodland habitat whereas others thrive in prairie ecosystems. Missouri has 323 known species of mosses, but probably more. In general, the Ozark region with its diversity of

micro‐habitats has many more species of mosses than regions which are primarily plains and agriculture.

Adam suggested many helpful resources for mosses, including www.ohiomosslichen.org , www.illinoiswildflowers.info/mosses , and the field guide Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians by McKnight, Rohrer and Ward. The citizen science app iNaturalist now includes a project “MOSSouri, the Bryophytes of Missouri” at www.inaturalist.org/projects/mossouri .

See the video recording of Adam’s lecture and his complete list of references in the chapter’s website at www.greatrivers.org/chapter/presentations. ‐‐‐contributed by Chris Hull

Videos and presentation slides of these interactive presentations are now available for viewing as qualified Advanced Training hours at www.greatrivers.org/chapter/presentations (Login required)


Advanced Training (continued)

“Virtual” Advanced Training Opportunities

Watch your email Inbox for announcements from the Advanced Training Committee on upcoming online webinars. More are popping up every day that qualify for our annual recertification requirements.

1/21/2020 Dark Skies Don Ficken

2/18/2020 Purple Martins in Forest Park John Miller

3/17/2020 MEETING CANCELLED AS A COVID‐19 PRECAUTION

4/21/2020 ZOOM ‐ Business Meeting online iNaturalist orientation

5/19/2020 ZOOM ‐ Caterpillars of Missouri Chris Hartley

6/16/2020 ZOOM ‐ PICNIC online 7/21/2020 ZOOM ‐ Bats of Missouri Shelly Colatskie, MDC

8/18/2020

ZOOM ‐ Endangered Plants of the Midwest

Matthew Albrecht, Ph.D., Conservation Scientist

9/15/2020

ZOOM ‐ How Road Salt Affects The St. Louis Environment

Danelle Haake, Ph.D. Director Illinois River Watch

10/20/2020

ZOOM Fossils of Missouri Asa Kaplan, Eastern Missouri Society for Paleontology

11/17/2020

ZOOM Mosses of Missouri and Chapter Elections

Adam Rembert, Litzsinger Road Ecology Center

12/15/2020 ZOOM Virtual Holiday Gathering

1/19/2021 Black Bears in Missouri Laura Conlee, MDC Furbearer Biologist, Resource Scientist,

2/16/2021 Naturalist’s Notebook Tara Morton

3/16/2021 Conservation Communications MDC Staff Stephanie Thurber, Jill Pritchard, Karen Hudson

4/20/2021 The Bees of St. Louis: The Shutterbee Project

Nicole Miller‐Struttmann Ph.D.,

Webster University

5/18/2021 Storm Water Pollution Control Sarah Wright, Missouri DNR Storm Water MS4 Permitting Coordinator

6/15/2021 Chapter Picnic

Advanced Training Speaker Series

2020 Calendar

Advanced Training Speaker Series

2021 Calendar


Great Rivers Member Milestones 2020 Awards and Recognition.

Fourth Quarter Results as of December 31, 2020

The Great Rivers chapter appreciates the hard work and consistent dedication to our mission of the following members.

Initial Dragonfly Certification Pin

Earned in 2020

Jeanne Bauer Connie Break

Deborah Coleman Ann Dettmer Mary Miller Karyn Ries Craig Speidel

Gold Dragonfly 1000 Hour Milestone Pin

Jack Hambene Cindy Lueder Claire Meyners

Pewter Dragonfly 500 Hour Milestone Pin

Barbara Cerutti Sue Forquer Chris Garhart Mary Kreppel Debra Maurer Brenda Switzer

Bronze Dragonfly 250 Hour Milestone Pin

Deborah Grupe Sharon Baldassare Barbara Brain Carl Davis Sherri Turner

2020

Missouri Master Naturalist Recertification Pin

Northern Long‐eared Bat

Sharon Baldassare Rachel Becknell

Renee Benage

Barbara Brain

Connie Break

Jan Castanis

Barbara Cerutti

Brenda Christ

James Christ

Patty Clarke

Larry Conant

Linda Cook

Barb Davidson

Carl Davis

Denise Davis

Carolyn DeVaney

Mary Dueren

Ann Earley

Ann Eggebrecht

Marypat Ehlmann

Kathleen Kapayou

Tom Fasl

Sue Forquer

Pamela Fournier

Chris Garhart

Deborah Grupe

Diane Goulis

Jack Hambene

Brenda Hente

Dennis Honkomp

William Hoss

Chris Hull

Don Knobbe

Al Koebbe

Jeanne Koebbe

Mary Kreppel

Melissa Leech

Cynthia Lueder

Debra Maurer

Vaughn Meister

Michael Meredith

Claire Meyners

Mary Mierkowski

Diana Miller

Peggy Morrison

Tara Morton

Bob Ochs

Kathy ONeill

Susan Orr

Joan Park

Peggy Parr

Lisa Picker

Kari Pratt

Lori Purk

Ann Russell

Sherri Schmidt

Donna Scott

Michael Smith

Cindy Steinbruegge

Barbra Stephenson

Geoff Stillwell

Brenda Switzer

SeanTracy

Sherri Turner

Bob Virag

Tessa Wasserman

Pam Wilcox

John Willmann

Michael Wohlstadter

Karen Zelle


1000‐Hour Milestone Award Claire Meyners

I guess I would be called one of the “Old Timers” in the Missouri Master Naturalist

Program. I received my training in the second year the program was offered, 2006.

At that point there was only one chapter, the Confluence one, and everyone was

supposed to participate in a single Capstone Project after the training was finished.

Already in my year there was some resistance to making everyone do the same

thing, regardless of talents and interests—and with about 100 people trained by

then, a growing realization that a growing organization soon could not

accommodate everyone at a single meeting. Thus, the Great Rivers Chapter was

formed in 2007.

Living in the Eureka area, both groups had meeting sites equally inconvenient for me. (Great Rivers met half

the time at Forest Park at that time). Therefore, I bounced back and forth between the two groups and

became the proud possessor of membership tags from both groups! Eventually forced to commit to just one

of the chapters, I chose Confluence because their projects were nearer to me and closer to my interests.

For years I had been (and still was at the time) the “Bluebird Lady” at Shaw Nature Reserve, where I resituated,

repaired, and monitored twice weekly 85 bluebird boxes and sent the data to Cornell University. Thus, after

doing a presentation on bluebirds for the Chapter, I next found myself helping to situate and install bluebird

boxes in Quail Park and Spring Bend—as well as training the chapters first monitors. However, living almost

next door to Rockwood Reservation, I also found myself doing various projects there. For the popular Maple

Syrup Weekend, I washed every kettle in preparation for the event, helped build the sugar shack, and one

year made 700 pancakes ahead of time to make sure there was always an ample supply on hand when people

came to sample the final product. I also spent one year helping to interview visitors on their use of, and wishes

for, Rockwoods Reservation. I remember Pam Wilcox was often my partner in this endeavor.

In 2015 I downsized and moved into a condo by Forest Park. Now it was clear that Great Rivers was my most

convenient chapter, and with some encouragement from some old friends in this chapter, I switched my

membership. Since Forest Park is now my backyard, I was pleased to find that Great Rivers had Forest Park

Forever as one of their partners, and restoration work in the park has been one of my favorites, and most

rewarding, activities. In returning to Great Rivers, I was also greatly impressed with the number of

organizations the chapter had partnered with, and the great variety of volunteer projects offered. It is a

pleasure to be connected with such a vibrant organization.

Member Spotlight Sharing members accomplishments


1000‐Hour Milestone Award Jack Hambene

1000 Hour Checkup

According to Malcolm Gladwell in his bestselling book, Outliers, it takes 10,000 hours

of practice to become an expert. Having logged a little over 1000 hours of Master

Naturalist volunteer service and almost 300 hours of advanced education, I am far

from expert status. Despite my protests to the obvious, one of the more persistent

editors of this publication insisted I reflect on my service since joining our Chapter in

2017.

So, for what it is worth (and it’s not much) here are a few of the lessons learned over

the past three plus years.

First, having a diversity of volunteer activities allows one to remain active when circumstances change. The

shutdown of volunteer opportunities with Covid‐19 has resulted in most of us recording fewer hours in 2020.

This, of course, excludes Bob Virag who I believe must record his time dreaming about volunteering.

All the MOBOT related work facilities such Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, Shaw Nature Reserve, and the Garden

itself, have been shut down since March. Having a diversity of both regular stewardship and citizen science

opportunities has allowed me to keep busy, however. Forest Park restarted safe distance stewardship in the

Reserve in July, and I have participated in several weekly or seasonal citizen science activities such as Shutterbee

(backyard bee monitoring), FrogWatch, CoCoRaHS (daily rain gage reporting) and the many birding related events

through Audubon or the Cornell Lab such as the Christmas Bird and Backyard Feeder counts as well as the winter

Trumpeter Swan counts at Riverlands. All at a socially safe distance. The smoke inhaled from my one prescribed

burn this year at Don Robinson SP insured that the COVID‐19 virus would not have a chance.

Second, choose volunteer programs about which you are passionate and have qualified leaders who enjoy

teaching others. To paraphrase my grandfather’s saying about money, it is not how much you work but what you

learn. The sometimes‐hard work of ecological restoration is made easier when you feel part of a long‐term

objective, one clearly communicated by staff who also take time to teach you what they know about nature.

Continuous learning keeps work from becoming stale.

Third, regular gigs allow one to make volunteering part of your life. In considering retirement, I made becoming

a Master Naturalist part of my plan. After all, playing golf everyday would get old (eventually, so I am told).

Weekly morning workdays at Shaw Nature Reserve, Litzsinger Road Ecology Center and Forest Park,

supplemented by some of the seasonal/annual or one‐off opportunities mentioned above, keeps it interesting.

It also allows you to develop camaraderie with fellow volunteers and staff and helps replace the work

relationships you start to lose the day you retire. You become committed once you realize you will be missed if

you do not show up. Even if you are not retired and can only work an occasional weekend, there is something to

be said about working with your friends.

Hopefully, you find these reflections helpful. Now, I need to get started on those 9000 hours needed to become

expert. Does MDC have a pin for that?

Member Spotlight Sharing members accomplishments


Naturalist’s Journal

Propagating Native Plants

by Susan Pang

Several years ago, Missouri Master Naturalists from the Great Rivers Chapter gathered to propagate natives at the Forest Park greenhouse. A large variety of indigenous plants grew in abundance so when infant seedlings became toddlers, we asked for more space. In April, the young plants were collected by Missourians for Monarchs and distributed to nearly 30 locations in Missouri.

I enjoyed getting to know the Great Rivers volunteers and collaborating as a team doing meaningful work. We witnessed the birth and growth of unique individuals formed from seed that awed us each week with all the different shapes and sizes of the miracles popping out of unique seed coat coverings.

Master Naturalists in other states have also scaled up native plant propagation for their restoration projects. For example, in Northwest Arkansas, the Master Naturalists propagate natives and sell them to use the funds for various projects. In the newly established Wild Ones in Northwest Arkansas, they plan on doing the same.

In anticipation of warmer days, below are four indigenous plant species with suggested ways to propagate like we did at Forest Park. Perhaps in the future, we can grow plants together again and enjoy the weekly miracles of witnessing life unfold in all its forms. But in the meantime, let’s have some fun this winter of 2021 in preparation for more opportunities in the future!

1. Rose Mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos) likes moist soil. Rain gardens and boggy areas are

ideal places to put them to work. I’ve had success with them in sun, shade or a mixture of light conditions. They are a working plant, like a border collie, that wants to fulfill the role they were meant to fulfill.

Instruction:

Collect seed and open the seed heads so the little brown beads tumble out. They are usually quite prolific seeders.

Photos: A repurposed hinged lid plastic container and 1/2 gallon paperboard container (adapted by cutting one side) will be the incubator for about 20 to 30 individuals.

Place clean garden mix, sand, coconut fiber, peat moss, or a combination, in the plastic container that has been moistened very well and placed inside the recycled milk carton. The carton or whatever you use, needs enough water to consistently cover the bottom of the plastic container that has holes on the bottom sides.

Tip: Save plastic containers from the produce you buy at the supermarket (or ask your friends to).

Put the hinged lid over the incubator and place somewhere sunny in your house where you will remember to keep the paperboard or other container filled with water. Within a month, the seeds may germinate and sometimes you must look through a magnifying glass to really see the beginnings of new life. The food storage tissue inside each seed contains nutrients to support initial growth.

Rose Mallow in a repurposed hinged lid plastic container that serves as an incubator.

Susan Pang (third from left) and her team in the Forest Park greenhouse, November 2016.

Great Rivers Gazette page 23 Naturalist’s Journal ‐ Propagating Native Plants (continued)

2. Palm Sedge (Carex muskingumensis) prefers moist soil and can do well in sun or shade. I have grown them in slightly

drier areas, and they performed well too.

Instruction:

Collect seed (in late fall or early winter) and separate them by sliding your hand across the stem to loosen them.

In a repurposed Ziploc bag, place seeds into sand (playground sand works) that’s been moistened. Place the Ziploc bag inside the fridge, or outside, where it's consistently 35‐40 degrees or lower range.

After 6 to 8 weeks, the seeds can be placed in outdoor containers in clean soil. Leave them in the container for garden accent container gardening. You also can mix in other complementary seeds like purple poppy mallow or black‐eyed Susan’s.

Some folks prefer to control the growth of their plant offspring by using the same process they would have in nature. Plants will germinate faster if the seedling growing trays with the moist sand‐seed mix is kept in a cold‐moist stratification process for 6 to 8 weeks. (Plants naturally ready the next generation to become viable after dropping heavy stems to the earth where the former flowers are steeped in cold moisture for several months).

Photo: Sand and seed mixture requires not too much, or too little, water. Separate the seeds from each other giving each space to be in contact with the moist sand.

After the first leaf emerges on the tiny plant, called a cotyledon, a few weeks or month after that, plants can be transplanted into individual pots with richer soil to thrive for a bit longer before placing in the earth.

3. False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) prefers reasonable moist soil and is a member of the legume family. Its roots provide benefits to the soil around which other plants grow. They are a nitrogen fixer like most members of the pea family.

Instruction:

Collect seed in the fall after they turn brown and slide easily off the stalk.

Pour medium hot water over seeds for 24 hours so they plump up. This process can be repeated.

Then place them outside where you want them to grow giving them space and just a light dusting of sand or soil over the seed. I have grown them also by cold‐moist stratification in a Ziploc bag like the Palm Sedge above. This worked with good results. It’s best to have bare soil when throwing seeds into the wild and in areas where it’s known that they will have enough sun and space to thrive in the longer run. That can be hard to judge in the off seasons.

4. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a lovely spring flowering plant that usually produces a generous seed supply. It prefers medium moist soil and full to partial sun.

Instruction:

Collect seed in fall, or early winter, and crush the seed heads so the fine powder, that’s actually many seeds, present themselves. A spoon, a glass bottom, or a mortar and pestle set works.

These seeds can be cold‐moist stratified in a Ziploc bag, (6‐8 weeks) and are also successful in containers. They are loved by pollinators in the spring and are stunning in a colony on their own or mixed with columbine that hummingbirds depend on in early spring.

To grow a colony, collect and break seed heads and sow the seed on clean bare soil on the perimeter of your colony or in new spaces, and watch what happens.

5. Interested in other plant species? Check out the information in the following link: www.prairienursery.com/resources‐guides/seed‐stratification/

False Indigo seeds soaking in water

Palm Sedge seeds, separated

Old blinds make great plant tags


Naturalist’s Journal

Wild Edibles ‐‐ by Tara Morton

Persimmon Bread This contribution is a fall recipe, not winter, but I hope that you all will appreciate it nevertheless! Persimmons are one of my favorite fall snacks to look for on a hike along a forest edge. It is easily identified year‐round, as its tree bark is a dark gray, made up of deep fissures formed into rectangle‐like shapes. In mid‐ to late‐fall, it is even easier to recognize by its brilliant orange golf‐ball sized fruit, the American Persimmon.

I have found that late September is the best time to gather fruit, as you will find many are ripe, and the animals will not yet have eaten them all! I typically gather what has fallen to the ground, or those that fall easily. An unripe persimmon is astringent and will dry out your mouth and make you pucker, whereas a ripe persimmon is sweet and creamy, and so delicious! Look for skin that is a bit wrinkly and soft and has a purple‐ish hue to the orange and has not been disturbed by insects. Taste test a few before gathering!

While persimmons can be enjoyed as‐is, they are also great to cook with, so long as you have the patience to pulp them to remove the seeds. Below is a recipe for a persimmon bread that I recently made, adapted from a James Beard recipe. Enjoy!

Persimmon Bread Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup persimmon pulp 1 3/4 cup flour 3/4 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 1/4 cup sugar 1 stick (1/2 cup) cooled melted butter 2 large lightly beaten eggs 1/3 cup bourbon 1/8 tsp vanilla sprinkling of orange zest 1 cup pecans or walnuts (you can forage these, too!), roughly chop 1 cup golden raisins

Instructions: 1. To pulp the persimmons, you can use a food mill (I used a vintage Foley food mill), or you can simply use a mesh

colander, and mash the persimmons with the back of the spoon and scrape the pulp off the other side. I tried this method, too ‐ and both work, but they do take time. Patience is key, here! To get 1 cup of pulp, you'll need about 2 cups+ of persimmons, but over gather just in case!

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 3. Prepare your loaf pan using parchment paper or dusting with flour. 4. Mix dry ingredients together: flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, sugar. 5. Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir well. 6. Spread mix into loaf pan and bake in the center of the oven for 45 minutes‐1 hour, or whenever a toothpick comes out

clean when placed in the middle. 7. Remove from oven and let cool. Enjoy plain, with butter, or with any preferred topping!


Logo Wear Order Form

Fall 2020

50/50 fleece

microfleece no hood

bright green tee

khaki/hunter ball cap

(kelly green) (aqua green) women $17

men or women women $15 $33 $35

kiwi short sleeve tee military green hoodie tan long sleeve tee $14.00 $23.00 $16.00

We can also bring in our own items to be embroidered for $8.50 each item.

Member’s Name: Phone Number:

Name of item size (s/m/l/xl) quantity total

SAVE, then EMAIL and ATTACH COMPLETED FORM TO:

Kari S. Pratt [email protected] 636‐391‐2901

December reflections in a Forest Park marsh ©2020 Patty Clarke

“In a way winter is the real spring, the time when the inner things happen, the resurge of nature.” --- Edna O'Brien

Documents

Missouri Master Naturalist - Great Rivers