January-february 2009 Newsletter From The Shepherd Of The Hills Fish Hatchery Conservation Center

[Phil Lilley]

January-February 2009 Newsletter from the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery Conservation Center

Hope your winter is going well.

Contents

[1] Wild About Winter – January 24th

[2] Fly Tying Class – February 14th

[3] Vulture Venture – February 21st

[4] Would you like to be a Volunteer? – Open House February 5th

[5] Blue Star Memorial coming to Branson at SOTH

[6] Ask a Naturalist “How Much Wood can a Woodchuck Chuck?”

Making Reservations: Because the Hatchery is open 7 days a week, you may call any day from 9am to 5pm. This includes Saturday and Sunday. We ask that reservations be made by phone, not by email.

1. Wild About Winter

Saturday, January 24th

10am – 12 noon (continuous) No Reservations Required

Come and enjoy winter themed arts and crafts as you learn how Missouri animals prepare and survive the winter. This program will be continues in the morning so that you can participate in as many of the activities as your youngsters want. This program is primarily designed for pre-schoolers, but siblings are welcome. No reservations are required. Call (417) 334-4865 ext ) for more information or directions.

2. Fly Tying Workshop

Saturday, February 14th Ages 12 and up

2- 4pm Reservations Required

Join area fishing guide, Jeremy Hunt, for a wonderful hands-on fly tying workshop. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fly tier, you will learn new techniques to help you make that perfect fly. This program is free, but reservations are required. You don’t need to bring anything, but if you have a fly tying vise, bring it. For more information or reservations call (417) 334-4865 ext 0.

3. Vulture Venture - 13th Annual

Saturday, February 21 Any Age

12noon – 6 pm No Reservations Required

Since 1996, the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson has hosted Missouri’s most unusual wildlife viewing opportunity. The award-winning Vulture Venture will be Saturday, February 21st from noon to 6 p.m. This event focuses on the often misunderstood and highly beneficial birds known as vultures. Indoor attractions include a live vulture from the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield, a video about vultures, vulture games, stickers and crafts. Naturalists will greet visitors outdoors with spotting scopes for viewing one of Missouri's largest vulture wintering roosts. This is a rare opportunity to see both black and turkey vultures in same location. Late in the afternoon, you will be treated to vulture "kettling" as the big birds swoop down above your head to roost for the night. This is a free program and requires no reservations. For more information or directions, call (417) 334‑4865 ext 0.

4. Would You Like To Be A Volunteer Naturalist?

The Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery is now recruiting for new volunteer naturalists to help at the Conservation Center. Volunteers will be helping with a variety of projects including, greeting the public, giving hatchery tours, landscaping, talking to visitors, and giving school/public programs. An informational “Open House” is scheduled for February 5th at 7pm at the Hatchery. You will be able to hear what is involved with this program, talk to current volunteers about what they do, and get answers to any questions about this volunteer program. If you are interested in spending your time to not only help our community, but also our forest, fish, and wildlife, then we have the right opportunity for you. Contact John Miller at (417) 334-4865 ext 0 or john.miller@mdc.mo.gov for more details.

5. Blue Star Memorial Comes to Branson via the Hatchery

Thanks to the Shepherd of the Hills Garden Club, Branson will now have a home for Missouri’s newest Blue Star Memorial…at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery. The SOTH Garden club and the SOTH Hatchery recently got the official word that the memorial has been approved at the Hatchery. While no date has been set for the installation, the public will be invited to the unveiling. It is the hope of the Hatchery and the Garden Club that veterans from across the country will visit this memorial as part of their Branson experience.

Here is a brief description of the Memorial program:

Since 1945 the Blue Star Memorial of the National Garden Clubs began to honor the men and women serving in the Armed Forces. The name was chosen for the star on flags displayed in homes and businesses denoting a family member serving. Garden clubs pictured a ribbon of living memorial plantings traversing every state. The designation of Blue Star Memorials was achieved through petitions and cooperation with the various state agencies. The Blue Star Memorial Program has grown to extend thousands of miles across continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. All men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in the Armed Forces of the United States are included. Markers continue to be dedicated each year on highways, Veterans’ facilities, National Cemeteries, parks, and civic and historic sites, showing our appreciation for those who defend our country. No marker may bear an individual’s name. These markers are designed to pay tribute to the Armed Forces as a whole.

6. Ask a Naturalist “How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck if a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood?”

Jacob from Branson asks, my friend taught me a new tongue twister and I was wondering if it was just a joke of if there really is an answer to “How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck if a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood?”

Jacob, I heard the same tongue twister in school too. Until a few years ago, I had always thought this was just a cute joke. Luckily, the Naturalists at the Hatchery did some research and found that there REALLY IS AN ANSWER. Thanks to the staff at Cornell University, the answer is 700 pounds of wood a year. Here is what we found at their web site: Compared to beavers, groundhogs/woodchucks are not adept at moving timber, although some will chew wood. At Cornell, woodchucks that gnaw their wooden nest boxes are given scraps of 2”-by-4” lumber. A wildlife biologist once measured the inside volume of a typical woodchuck burrow and estimated that -- if wood filled the hole instead of dirt -- the industrious animal would have chucked about 700 pounds' worth. (http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/96/2.1.96/facts.html)

Enjoy Groundhog Day on February 2nd. We hope that it does NOT see its shadow! For a great web site about the groundhog tradition and groundhogs in general, go to www.groundhog.org

If you have a question that you would like to have a Naturalist answer, send your question to John.Miller@mdc.mo.gov . We would love to answer it for you and share this information with other readers in our ‘Ask A Naturalist’ spot.

We hope that you have enjoyed this issue of the Shepherd of the Hills newsletter. Have a great winter and keep learning about the forest, fish, and wildlife resources around us.

Cheers!

John Miller

Naturalist Program Supervisor

Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center

483 Hatchery Road

Branson MO 65616

(417) 334 4865 ext 0

John.Miller@mdc.mo.gov