Hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer and staying cool!
In this month's issue, we have:
- Upcoming Events
- Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park - Sat, Aug 14, 8:30 am
- September Monthly Meeting - Benefits of Trees - Thurs, Sept 16, 7 pm
- Other News
- Preview of Fall Activities
- Blue Heron Landing Park
- Moth Night Results
- Indian River Park Wildlife Sightings
Date: Saturday, August 14, 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Location: Indian River Park entrance
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.
at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway, i.e. across Military Highway from the Fire Station.
We're starting a new series of hikes, tentatively on the second Saturday of each month, at Indian River Park and other local nature spots.
Join us for our first hike along the nature trail and through the park. Learn about the history of the park, the native trees and plants in this century old forest along the Indian River floodplain, and its value to maintaining the health of local butterfly, bird, and wildlife populations. Note: the forest trail has uneven surfaces and minor elevation changes.
Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/yrrAwibENCB2SiuX8
Location: TBD (we hoping to be back in person)
Our guest speaker will be Meghan Mulroy-Goldman, our local Community Forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry. She'll be discussing the benefits of trees and we'll review the tree planting plans for the public right-of-way next to the Indian River Oaklette Bridge.
We'll also have updates on the latest community news.
Other News
We are still finalizing our fall calendar, but we're planning for a full calendar of volunteer events and hopefully in-person monthly meetings. In addition to Ms. Mulroy-Goldman from the Department of Forestry in September, we looking to discuss Farmers' Markets in October and have Council Member Susan Vitale as our guest in November.
We're looking at an event for the International Coastal Cleanup in September, the tree planting activities - volunteers will be needed - in October by the Indian River Oaklette Bridge, and our on-going gardening efforts at the Native Plant Garden at Indian River Park and the Oaklette Bridge. We also need to do an Adopt-A-Road cleanup along Indian River Road.
We're expecting the Indian River Planning Area Study Plan to go to the Planning Commission in September and then the City Council; this will definitely be a top priority for our group and we may be asking for folks to submit comments. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism will also likely schedule a Public Meeting to discuss improvements for Indian River Park. And we're keeping our eyes open for possibly another zoning application for another used car dealership.
And we're going to be doing more of the Second Saturday Hikes through the fall. Hope to see you at these various events!
Blue Heron Landing Park
The future park along the Indian River, just east of the Indian River Oaklette Bridge, completed one of the first permitting steps with approval by the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board in late July. There is still quite a bit of permitting work to be done and restoration work is not expected to start before 2022, but process is underway. Here is the latest site plan for the future park.
Moth Night
Indian River Wildlife
We've been updating the list of Indian River Park Wildlife Sighting on our website with data from Moth Night, eBird, iNaturalist, the 2019 BioBlitz and other sighting. The list of different species now has 120 bird, 5 mammal 12 amphibian and reptile, 36 butterfly and moth, 9 dragonfly and damselfly, 8 spider and mite, 35 other insect, and 1 crustacean species. See the full list at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/wildlife-in-irp.html
We always encourage you as an individual to pick up any stray litter that you come across along our roads, parking lots, and in our parks. Every piece of trash collected is one less that causes harm to wildlife in our natural areas and waterways. And just as important, reduce your use of single use packaging to not create litter in the first place. Take The Pledge to keep Virginia Litter Free at https://loversnotlitter.org/pledge/
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