Tuesday, October 1, 2013
By the Numbers: September 2013
September was a dry month:
Total number of visitors: 4413
Total rainfall amount: 1.58 inches
Average daily high: 80.9 degrees F
Average daily low: 57.9 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 100% of the month
Here's August's numbers if you are keeping track:
Total number of visitors: 3600
Total rainfall amount: 6.106 inches
Average daily highs: 85.7 degrees F
Average daily lows: 65.9 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
By the Numbers: August 2013
August is usually dry and hot around here but not this time:
Total number of visitors: 3600
Total rainfall amount: 6.106 inches
Average daily highs: 85.7 degrees F
Average daily lows: 65.9 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month
Here's the numbers for July, if you're keeping track:
Total number of visitors: 2860
Total rainfall amount: 6.776 inches
Average daily highs: 89.4 degrees F
Average daily lows: 68.9 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month
By the Numbers: July 2013
The rains continued in July though not as much as last month.
Total number of visitors: 2860
Total rainfall amount: 6.776 inches
Average daily highs: 89.4 degrees F
Average daily lows: 68.9 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 55% of the month
Here's the numbers for June, if you're into that kind of thing:
Total number of visitors: 3636
Total rainfall amount: 13.044 inches
Average daily highs: 83.42 degrees F
Average daily lows: 63.84 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 67% of the month
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Fall Programs Feature Stars and Moon
Here's the list of Little River's programs for September through December 2013 which includes Stargazing, tree ID and a night hike.
Little River Regional Park Programs for September – December 2013
Environmental Education at Little River
The Little River Regional Park offers a variety of nature programs for all ages. Regularly scheduled programs and special events are listed below. Park staff can also arrange programs on a variety of topics for schools, scouts, or other groups. For more information, call the park office: 919-732-5505. Registration is available online: https://server3.co.orange.nc.us/. Pre-registration is required for most programs and closes three days prior to the program date.
Tiny Trekkers (age 2-4)
Tiny Trekkers is a series of programs designed for young children ages 2 to 4 years old accompanied by an adult. Trekkers learn about nature through stories, activities, crafts and games.
Trees - From Roots to Leaves
When: Monday, October 7, 10am-11am
Tuesday, October 8, 10am-11am
Where: Large Shelter
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: This month our Trekkers talk trees: some grow tall, some grow wide, can you guess what they all hide? Stories, crafts and some tree-mendous fun! Pre-registration required.
What’s the Weather?
When: Monday, November 4, 10am-11am
Tuesday, November 5, 10am-11am
Where: Large Shelter
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: Trekkers find out about weather as we create some clouds, make some rain, and wonder about thunder. Pre-registration required.
Birds for Beginners
When: Monday, December 2, 10am-11am
Tuesday, December 3, 10am-11am
Where: Park Office
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: This month we turn the park office into a bird blind where Trekkers will learn about birds and how to watch them. We’ll read a story about birds, make a craft, and observe the birds at our feeders. Pre-registration is required.
Discovery Club (ages 5 and Up)
Discovery Club programs are geared toward children ages 5 & up accompanied by an adult. Programs focus on learning about nature and science through hands-on activities and exploration.
Full Moon Hike
Date: Saturday, October 19
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: Large Shelter
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: Experience Little River Park in a whole new light on this hike led by park staff. We’ll learn about nocturnal animals, search for eyeshine, and hoot like owls. Pre-registration required.
Winter Tree ID
Date: Saturday, November 23
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Large Shelter
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: How can you recognize trees when they don’t even have any leaves on them? Learn to identify trees by looking at their bark, structure and twigs. Pre-registration required.
Tracks & Scat
Date: Saturday, December 21
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Park Office
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: Signs of animals are everywhere; you just have to know where to look. Join us as we look for tracks and scat of Little River wildlife. Make your own track station to take home and discover the wildlife in your backyard or neighborhood. Pre-registration required.
Special Events/Programs
Little River Under the Stars
Dates: September 27, 8:00pm – 10:00pm
December 6, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Description: Volunteers from Morehead Planetarium will bring out the high powered telescopes and give us a tour of the night sky. Bring a blanket, camp chairs or your own telescope or binoculars. Be sure to call the park office after 4pm for cloud/cancellation updates: (919) 732-5505.
Little River’s Big Sweep
Date: Saturday, October 5
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Park Office
Description: Join thousands of volunteers across the nation as we clean up litter from our waterways and lands. As part of the nationwide Big Sweep, we’ll scour the park and portions of the Little River for trash and debris. Gloves, trash bags, pick-up sticks and refreshments provided.
New Year’s Day Bird Count
Date: Wednesday, January 1
Time: 9:00am – 12noon
Location: Park Office
Description: Come count the birds at Little River! Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park. Results will be added to the national count held by the Audubon Society from December 14 through January 5.
Little River Regional Park Programs for September – December 2013
Environmental Education at Little River
The Little River Regional Park offers a variety of nature programs for all ages. Regularly scheduled programs and special events are listed below. Park staff can also arrange programs on a variety of topics for schools, scouts, or other groups. For more information, call the park office: 919-732-5505. Registration is available online: https://server3.co.orange.nc.us/. Pre-registration is required for most programs and closes three days prior to the program date.
Tiny Trekkers (age 2-4)
Tiny Trekkers is a series of programs designed for young children ages 2 to 4 years old accompanied by an adult. Trekkers learn about nature through stories, activities, crafts and games.
Trees - From Roots to Leaves
When: Monday, October 7, 10am-11am
Tuesday, October 8, 10am-11am
Where: Large Shelter
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: This month our Trekkers talk trees: some grow tall, some grow wide, can you guess what they all hide? Stories, crafts and some tree-mendous fun! Pre-registration required.
What’s the Weather?
When: Monday, November 4, 10am-11am
Tuesday, November 5, 10am-11am
Where: Large Shelter
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: Trekkers find out about weather as we create some clouds, make some rain, and wonder about thunder. Pre-registration required.
Birds for Beginners
When: Monday, December 2, 10am-11am
Tuesday, December 3, 10am-11am
Where: Park Office
Cost: $2.00 per participant
Description: This month we turn the park office into a bird blind where Trekkers will learn about birds and how to watch them. We’ll read a story about birds, make a craft, and observe the birds at our feeders. Pre-registration is required.
Discovery Club (ages 5 and Up)
Discovery Club programs are geared toward children ages 5 & up accompanied by an adult. Programs focus on learning about nature and science through hands-on activities and exploration.
Full Moon Hike
Date: Saturday, October 19
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: Large Shelter
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: Experience Little River Park in a whole new light on this hike led by park staff. We’ll learn about nocturnal animals, search for eyeshine, and hoot like owls. Pre-registration required.
Winter Tree ID
Date: Saturday, November 23
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Large Shelter
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: How can you recognize trees when they don’t even have any leaves on them? Learn to identify trees by looking at their bark, structure and twigs. Pre-registration required.
Tracks & ScatDate: Saturday, December 21
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Park Office
Cost: $5.00 per family/couple/individual
Description: Signs of animals are everywhere; you just have to know where to look. Join us as we look for tracks and scat of Little River wildlife. Make your own track station to take home and discover the wildlife in your backyard or neighborhood. Pre-registration required.
Special Events/Programs
Little River Under the Stars
Dates: September 27, 8:00pm – 10:00pmDecember 6, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Description: Volunteers from Morehead Planetarium will bring out the high powered telescopes and give us a tour of the night sky. Bring a blanket, camp chairs or your own telescope or binoculars. Be sure to call the park office after 4pm for cloud/cancellation updates: (919) 732-5505.
Little River’s Big Sweep
Date: Saturday, October 5Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Park Office
Description: Join thousands of volunteers across the nation as we clean up litter from our waterways and lands. As part of the nationwide Big Sweep, we’ll scour the park and portions of the Little River for trash and debris. Gloves, trash bags, pick-up sticks and refreshments provided.
New Year’s Day Bird Count
Date: Wednesday, January 1
Time: 9:00am – 12noon
Location: Park Office
Description: Come count the birds at Little River! Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park. Results will be added to the national count held by the Audubon Society from December 14 through January 5.
Friday, July 12, 2013
By the Numbers: June 2013
If April showers bring May flowers, what do June showers bring? More showers apparently... June saw a record amount of rainfall for any month since the park opened in 2004 - over 13 inches!
Total number of visitors: 3636
Total rainfall amount: 13.044 inches
Average daily highs: 83.42 degrees F
Average daily lows: 63.84 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 67% of the month
The numbers for May, if you're keeping track:
Total number of visitors: 4014
Total rainfall amount: 3.331 inches
Average daily highs: 75.9 degrees F
Average daily lows: 55.61 degrees F
Mountain bike trails open: 87% of the month
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
By the Numbers: May 2013
Most visitors ever at the park for a May. Here are the May numbers:
Total number of visitors: 4014
Total rainfall amount: 3.331 inches
Average daily highs: 75.9 degrees
Average daily lows: 55.61 degrees
Mountain bike trails open: 87% of the month
And if you are keeping track, here are the numbers for April:
Total number of visitors: 3852
Total rainfall amount: 4.682 inches
Average daily highs: 71.53 degrees
Average daily lows: 48.3 degrees
Mountain bike trails open: 70% of the month
Monday, May 27, 2013
Building Bat Boxes
Bats make good neighbors: They don't take up much space. They eat a LOT of bugs. They are fun to watch zig-zagging in the sky. And even though they are up all night, we don't usually hear them. Yet many people are reluctant to encourage bats to take up residence near their home.
Bats use echolocation to hunt for insects. They emit ultrasonic sound pulses which bounce back to their large ears and gives them a "picture" of what is around them. This doesn't mean bats are blind. Their eyes are small and poorly developed so they do not see things as sharply as humans. The use of echolocation gives them the ability to hunt in the dark. Even though the sounds they emit are usually too high of a frequency for us to hear, that doesn't mean they are not loud. Those sounds can top out at 100 decibels which means if we could hear them, it would be as loud as a freight train or loud clap of thunder!
Insect eating bats can eat half of their body weight in one night. Some bats like the Red Bat can eat as many as 3,000 mosquitoes during an evening's hunt. Image how many 100 bats could eat! The Little Brown Bat and Big Brown Bat are the most common bat in the U.S. and the most frequent users of bat boxes. Little Brown Bats can eat 100 mosquitoes in an hour. Bats eat a variety of insects including mosquitoes, flies, moths, centipedes, earwigs, crickets and cicadas.
Bats are most active at night when insects are most active and competition from birds is lessened. They use the daytime hours to sleep and groom their fur. Some bats live a solitary life while others live in colonies that can number over a million. Bats prefer enclosed spaces that are dry, warm and draft-free. They may roost under the bark of trees, in caves, small cavities in trees as well as man-made structures like attics, barns and bat boxes.
Bat boxes are put up for many of the same reasons people put up birdhouses. They may enjoy a variety of wildlife in their yard or want to take advantage of the insect control that a colony of bats can provide. There are several important factors to consider when placing a bat box. Size, height, location and temperature are keys to a succussful bat box. Boxes can be easily made and there are many designs and plans available on the web. Pre-made boxes can also be purchased.
When building a bat box the main requirements are that it be over 20 inches tall, 12 inches wide with a 3-6 inch landing area at the bottom entrance and a 1/2 inch ventilation gap in the front. It can be made out of plywood or board lumber but it should have a rough interior surface or nylon screening for the bats to hold on to and be weather-tight. Bats like to be snug in their roosts so a depth of 3/4 to 1 inch is all that is needed. Multi-chambered bat houses will attract larger colonies than single chamber houses as long as the partitions are spaced no more than 1 inch apart. Larger spacing also attracts pests like wasps. Boxes that are taller and wider give the bats more choices to adjust to changes in temperature.
The exterior of the bat box should be painted. You can paint it black if your average summer temperature in July is under 85 degrees F. Lighter colors like gray, green or brown can be used if the average July temperature is not over 95 degrees F. If your average temperature in July is over 100 degrees F, the box should be painted white. Darker colors are better for areas where bats might hibernate through the cold winter, helping to keep the interior temperature warm enough. The interior can be painted to help preserve the wood but it is not necessary. Make sure any gaps along the seams are caulked to prevent drafts.
Bat boxes can be mounted to buildings or on poles. They can be attached to trees as long as there are no limbs or other obstacles within 20 feet. Of course, try not to damage the tree when mounting the box. They should be placed at least 10 feet from the ground, with 12-20 feet being best. Boxes should face south or southeast to maximize sun exposure. Bats prefer boxes that get at least 6 hours of sun per day. In warm southern climates avoid too much exposure as the very hot temperatures inside the box will make it unsuitable for the bats to roost.
A bat box does not usually need cleaning but do check it periodically for wasps or other pests and make sure the box is in good repair. Painting, repairs and pest removal is best done after bat breeding season is over in the fall and winter. It is not known if seasonal cleaning will help reduce the spread of white nose fungus but if you do not have bats hibernating in the box over the winter, it may be a good time to wash it out with a diluted bleach solution much like you would do with a birdhouse.
For more information on bats and bat boxes, try a few of these resources:
Stokes Beginner's Guide to Bats by Kim Williams, Rob Mies, Donald & Lillian Stokes
The Bat House Builder's Handbook by Merlin D. Tuttle, Mark Kiser and Selena Kiser
Bats by Gail Gibbons
Bat Conservation International - www.batcon.org
National Wildlife Federation: Build a Bat House - www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx
 |
| Common Pipistrelle |
Bats use echolocation to hunt for insects. They emit ultrasonic sound pulses which bounce back to their large ears and gives them a "picture" of what is around them. This doesn't mean bats are blind. Their eyes are small and poorly developed so they do not see things as sharply as humans. The use of echolocation gives them the ability to hunt in the dark. Even though the sounds they emit are usually too high of a frequency for us to hear, that doesn't mean they are not loud. Those sounds can top out at 100 decibels which means if we could hear them, it would be as loud as a freight train or loud clap of thunder!
Insect eating bats can eat half of their body weight in one night. Some bats like the Red Bat can eat as many as 3,000 mosquitoes during an evening's hunt. Image how many 100 bats could eat! The Little Brown Bat and Big Brown Bat are the most common bat in the U.S. and the most frequent users of bat boxes. Little Brown Bats can eat 100 mosquitoes in an hour. Bats eat a variety of insects including mosquitoes, flies, moths, centipedes, earwigs, crickets and cicadas.
Bats are most active at night when insects are most active and competition from birds is lessened. They use the daytime hours to sleep and groom their fur. Some bats live a solitary life while others live in colonies that can number over a million. Bats prefer enclosed spaces that are dry, warm and draft-free. They may roost under the bark of trees, in caves, small cavities in trees as well as man-made structures like attics, barns and bat boxes.
Bat boxes are put up for many of the same reasons people put up birdhouses. They may enjoy a variety of wildlife in their yard or want to take advantage of the insect control that a colony of bats can provide. There are several important factors to consider when placing a bat box. Size, height, location and temperature are keys to a succussful bat box. Boxes can be easily made and there are many designs and plans available on the web. Pre-made boxes can also be purchased.
 |
| Single-chamber bat houses |
When building a bat box the main requirements are that it be over 20 inches tall, 12 inches wide with a 3-6 inch landing area at the bottom entrance and a 1/2 inch ventilation gap in the front. It can be made out of plywood or board lumber but it should have a rough interior surface or nylon screening for the bats to hold on to and be weather-tight. Bats like to be snug in their roosts so a depth of 3/4 to 1 inch is all that is needed. Multi-chambered bat houses will attract larger colonies than single chamber houses as long as the partitions are spaced no more than 1 inch apart. Larger spacing also attracts pests like wasps. Boxes that are taller and wider give the bats more choices to adjust to changes in temperature.
The exterior of the bat box should be painted. You can paint it black if your average summer temperature in July is under 85 degrees F. Lighter colors like gray, green or brown can be used if the average July temperature is not over 95 degrees F. If your average temperature in July is over 100 degrees F, the box should be painted white. Darker colors are better for areas where bats might hibernate through the cold winter, helping to keep the interior temperature warm enough. The interior can be painted to help preserve the wood but it is not necessary. Make sure any gaps along the seams are caulked to prevent drafts.
 |
| Single-chamber bat house: A) roof; B) & C) front with 1/2 inch ventelation space; D) back with landing area & covered in nylon screen; E) side |
Bat boxes can be mounted to buildings or on poles. They can be attached to trees as long as there are no limbs or other obstacles within 20 feet. Of course, try not to damage the tree when mounting the box. They should be placed at least 10 feet from the ground, with 12-20 feet being best. Boxes should face south or southeast to maximize sun exposure. Bats prefer boxes that get at least 6 hours of sun per day. In warm southern climates avoid too much exposure as the very hot temperatures inside the box will make it unsuitable for the bats to roost.
A bat box does not usually need cleaning but do check it periodically for wasps or other pests and make sure the box is in good repair. Painting, repairs and pest removal is best done after bat breeding season is over in the fall and winter. It is not known if seasonal cleaning will help reduce the spread of white nose fungus but if you do not have bats hibernating in the box over the winter, it may be a good time to wash it out with a diluted bleach solution much like you would do with a birdhouse.
For more information on bats and bat boxes, try a few of these resources:
Stokes Beginner's Guide to Bats by Kim Williams, Rob Mies, Donald & Lillian Stokes
The Bat House Builder's Handbook by Merlin D. Tuttle, Mark Kiser and Selena Kiser
Bats by Gail Gibbons
Bat Conservation International - www.batcon.org
National Wildlife Federation: Build a Bat House - www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx
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