The Nickajack Naturalist

Why Hummers Are Scarce in May

By Terry W. Johnson - Georgia DNR

Female ruby-throated hummingbird.  (Photo: Terry W. Johnson)

I’ve been receiving emails from Georgians wondering why they haven’t been seeing many hummingbirds this month. The hummingbird “drought” follows on the heels of March and April, when many said the beloved birds were also scarce.

Ever since I began watching hummingbirds decades ago, I have noticed that these winged jewels seemingly vanish from our backyards in May. Here are what I consider the main reasons why.

Read more

Cost Share Available To Forest Landowners And Industry

The Chattanoogan

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Multiple cost share opportunities are currently open for application and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry can help. During the month of May, forest landowners can apply for financial assistance to help establish or enhance their woodlands, and loggers can apply to improve harvesting capacity.

Read more.

Volunteer Opportunities at South Cumberland State Park

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South Cumberland State Park needs your help this summer with several trail work opportunities. Learn about this and more by reading Friends of South Cumberland's June Trail Tracker newsletter.

The Naturalist Afield - 5-16-2021

A weekly roundup of nature-related odds and ends from the region and beyond.

• Thrive Submits Public Comment to USDA on Climate Change   Thrive Regional Partnership

Thrive Regional Partnership appreciated the opportunity to submit a public comment on behalf of the region to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.”

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                                            (Photo: Dogwood Alliance) 

• May is American Wetlands Month   Dogwood Alliance

May is American Wetlands Month. It’s the time to celebrate and reflect on the critical role that our beautiful and diverse Southern wetlands play for our planet. Dogwood Alliance has collected an assortment of stories and resources to help you learn more.

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• Interior Department Takes Steps to Revoke Final Rule on Migratory Bird Treaty Act Incidental Take   U.S. DOI news release

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a proposed rule to revoke the January 7, 2021, final regulation that limited the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Significant concerns about the interpretation of the MBTA have been raised by the public, legal challenges in court and from the international treaty partners.

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The Conservation Community Looks at Biden's 1st 100 Days

Here are perspectives from three conservation organizations on the Biden Administration's first 100 days in office:

• Sierra Club 
• Defenders of Wildlife
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership 

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• Building Back Better Starts Right Now   Michael Brune - Sierra Club

It’s not enough to aim to return to a pre-pandemic normal that was unjust, unhealthy, and unstable for so many.

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• TRCP Releases Report on Restoration Economy   Marnee Banks - Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership 

Conservation creates good-paying jobs all across the country. But how does it all add up? Well, TRCP has released a report that puts it all in perspective: with 17.4 jobs created for every million dollars, conservation investments put more Americans back to work per dollar than those in the healthcare, energy development, transportation, or defense sectors. 

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Compiled by Bob Butters

Tennessee Aquarium Produces New Educational Video Series - Available Free to Teachers

Tennessee Aquarium news release

• A Southern Flying Squirrel peers down from an artificial tree used during training sessions at the Tennessee Aquarium. An animal ambassador, the squirrel is one of many animals featured in Science Streams, a new series of videos produced as an educational resource for teachers.  (Photo: TN Aquarium/Casey Phillips)

For nearly three decades, the Tennessee Aquarium’s world-class living collection has sparked the curiosity and wonder of millions of visiting school children. Even as the global pandemic slowly recedes, however, many schools have placed field trips in indefinite timeout.

At the moment, many students are unable to see the Aquarium firsthand and experience the wonder and connection it offers with the natural world, but nothing says the Aquarium can’t come to them.

For almost a year, the Aquarium has sought a way to leverage its award-winning education department to augment the efforts of classroom-bound teachers. Soon, that effort will bear new fruit with Science Streams, a professionally produced, free series of eight videos crafted to meet national science standards for students in kindergarten through 12^th grade.

Read more.

Tips for Summer State Park Visits - Plus, 5K Run for the Bees

Tennessee State Parks

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We're excited about the adventures that you'll have at our parks this summer! Our rangers have a few tips to help you enjoy a safe and responsible visit.

Watch video.

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                                                (Image: TN State Parks)

5K Run for the Bees

Want to help honey bees while meeting your running goals?

Join Tennessee State Parks as we celebrate World Bee Day on May 20th by doing a virtual 5K! A portion of the proceeds from this virtual 5K will benefit our Tennessee State Parks Honey Project, which helps establish honey bee hives in state parks across the state. Register for the virtual 5k today and log your miles from anywhere!

 

Register.

Velo View Bike Tours

Day Fire Podcast

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This episode of Day Fire Podcast features Shannon Burke. Shannon is the founder and director of Velo View Bike Tours and attributes his love for cycling to his wife, Celeste, who not only introduced him to the sport but also took him on his first bike vacation. Soon after taking that first bike tour, Shannon was planning private bike vacations. As a professional municipal planner, the organization came naturally, and it wasn’t long before he made the shift to the bike tour business full-time.

Read more or listen to the podcast.

Celebrate National Bike Month with Outdoor Chattanooga

Outdoor Chattanooga

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May is National Bike Month and Outdoor Chattanooga has created a family-friendly bike route along the Tennessee Riverwalk complete with recommendations of local places to stop at and grab a bite to eat, a cold drink, or a sweet treat. 

Read more.

Chattanooga Gas Brings Volunteers, Equipment to Help Preserve a Healthy Tennessee River Gorge

Chris Hardesty - Chattanooga Gas 

Chattanooga Gas Vice President of Operations Tiffany Callaway-Ferrell trims a tree branch along a wooded trail in the Tennessee River Gorge.  (Photo: Chattanooga Gas)

A team of volunteers from Chattanooga Gas met recently to support the Tennessee River Gorge Trust by removing fallen trees, placing gravel to reinforce a trail entrance that was beginning to erode and performing general trail cleanup, as well as installing posts and large rocks to deter unsafe parking and unauthorized camping.

Read more.

 

The Naturalist Afield - 5-9-2021

A weekly roundup of nature-related odds and ends from the region and beyond.

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• Tennessee Wildlife Federation is Tackling Litter in Tennessee   Tennessee Wildlife Federation

Litter pollution may seem like a slightly unusual issue for a wildlife nonprofit to take on. After all, there are organizations dedicated to anti-litter policies. But Tennessee’s litter problem (and it’s a BIG problem) is only getting worse and the wildlife and natural resources we cherish are paying the price.

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• Op-ed: Outdoor Infrastructure is More Important Than Ever   Tom Dempsey - Outside Business Journal

SylvanSport CEO Tom Dempsey says "public lands are to the outdoor industry as roads and bridges are to thee automotive or transportation industry." 

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• Handy Resources for Bird Lovers   Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Even through the many and challenging changes of the past year and a half, we’ve been able to rely on birds to cheer us up, bring us hope, and show us that our world is bigger and more wondrous than it sometimes seems. To help bird lovers enjoy these spectacular creatures all year, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology wants to remind you about their extensive resources to connect you to birds.

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• USDA Makes Changes to Boost the Conservation Reserve Program   Andrew Earl - Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

The USDA has announced a number of changes to the Farm Bill's Conservation Reserve Program that aim to boost shrinking enrollment. Among the updates are several recommendations championed by TRCP and partners in recent years to revitalize the nation's most successful private-lands conservation initiative and ensure healthy soil, clean water, and quality habitat. Here's why this news is a win-win for rural economies and hunting and fishing opportunities across the country.

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• Senate Passes Water Infrastructure Bill with Major Investments in Job-Creating Conservation Projects   Kristyn Brady - TRCP 

The Senate recently passed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which would make one of the investments TRCP previously recommended to put Americans back to work through conservation. Overall, this bill would invest $35 billion to upgrade aging water treatment infrastructure, improve wastewater control, and empower states to fund water quality protection and habitat restoration projects that have major benefits for fish and wildlife. 

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                                            (Image: Day Fire Podcast)

• Warren Doyle / AT Legend   Day Fire Podcast

Warren has been walking the Appalachian Trail since 1972 (i.e., 38,000 miles). He has traversed the entire AT a record eighteen times! He loves to share his love and enthusiasm for the trail and educate people on how to fulfill their dream of hiking it. 

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Compiled by Bob Butters