It was a pretty chill week but I got to know the staff as well as Frankie (previous summer CDIP) and Tajuan who was also a CDIP a few summers back. They both are working on the refuge (Yo they are legit employees... they have the logos!!!) haha The staff at John Heinz is so great.
My first week I was able to have a more in depth tour of the refuge. I was getting to know the refuge and figure out where everything is. I gave a tour to Beth who I met at orientation. (My very first - alone - tour :) She was an SCA rep so it was pretty cool. It w her first time coming to the refuge so I was able to give her a tour and engage in conversation about the amenities offered to the public as well as some info on our most seen birds and turtles.
After two weeks at Heinz, I 've learned so much. I can point out the wadding birds like the Great Blue Herons and Egrets. They're beautiful birds. I feel very comfortable here with the staff and visitors. I'm able to engage with visitors when I'm on the trails checking out the eagle nest or weed wacking something!
My second week at Heinz was working with maintenance. My first project was using the weed wacker to clear a section along Darby creek and wood chip the area. This was a fun project because it was my first time using a weed wacker and those weeds were high too! I was scared at first thinking I was gonna lose a finger but I was good! The purpose of this project was to make more space for youth to come and fish on the refuge as well as make it more accessible.
During my third week at Heinz I was with the wildlife biologist. We did a bird survey on the refuge. This is important because this allows us to see how many birds are using the different habitats and how they are behaving on the refuge. Their behavior, whether they are feeding or just hanging out is important for us to know to make sure the habitat is sufficiently supporting these species. The bird survey is also important because we can see if the refuge has attracted new species. I enjoyed doing the survey because I had one on one time with the biologist to learn about her role and how important it is. It was a fun time because we get to be out enjoying wildlife and observing. Sometimes you see the unexpected :) we saw a beaver up close with leaves in his mouth carrying toward the impoundment bank.
We have a volunteer studying biology at Saint Joe's Univ who is doing research on the red bellied turtle. This is great because this turtle is listed as threatened yet we see tons of these turtles on the refuge! I think we may have the most here. I am going to be helping her out this summer yay! So We completed the turtle trap this past week hope to catch some turtles soon!
This past Friday I went to New Moon Nursery to experience the banding of purple martins. They have a purple martin colony because it is a native bird by nonnative birds like the sparrow threaten their existence. Nonnative species are normally more aggressive than native species and so they can easily use up our native species resources. The bird bander who manages purple martin colonies in many different areas bands these birds to keep track of their numbers and their hatching success. While we were there, he banded 80 birds! It's be great to get a purple martin colony started at Heinz. I'll have to talk to the manager about that haha It was my first time holding a bird (I think..lol) and it was great. They are beautiful birds and every day I am learning why it is so important to protect wildlife habitat and how essential wildlife management is in a time where nonnative plants and animals have out competed native species.
The completed turtle trap!
We worked hard on this! That platform is so the turtles can crawl up the rigid sides then get trapped in
Purple Martin colony at New Moon Plant Nursery. The guards hanging down are to protect the nests from predators and invasives!
Baby purple martin! He's not that attractive but he's a cute one :)
The kids had fun! (Banding to the left)
Yup! I was workin' real hard that day.. we had a tough time gettin' my big ponytail through the helmet!
After a ton of weed wacking and wood chipping the Darby Creek is ready to be fished!
