Park Programs and Events for January 2016

New Year’s Day Nature Walk

Friday, January 1, 9–11:30am. Free.

Start the new year enjoying the trails of Little River Park on this informal group walk. This walk will be at a pace which allows for picture taking and enjoyment of the natural surroundings. We’ll have a few guide books and binoculars to loan. Meet at the Large Shelter.

Beginning Birder

Birds for Beginners

Monday, January 4, 10-11am. Ages 2-5 yrs. Free.

 

We’re breaking out the binoculars and brushing up on our bird basics! Help put out some seeds and watch our feathered friends at the feeders. Meet at the Park office. Pre-registration is required.

 

11th Annual Little River Trail Run

Saturday, January 16, 9am & 9:30am.

The Park will be moving as runners converge on the trails of Little River Regional Park. Sponsored by the Trailheads, runners of every level are encouraged to participate in a fun, relaxed and enjoyable morning on the trails. Register at www.trailheads.org for the 10 mile or 7k races.

 

Full Moon Hike

Saturday, January 23, 5:30-7pm. Ages 6 yrs & older. Free.

 

Experience Little River Park in a whole new light on this hike led by park staff. We’ll learn about nocturnal animals, hoot like owls and howl at the moon. Meet at the Large Shelter. Pre-registration is required.

 

Viewing the Geminid Meteor Shower 2015

Geminid's over Chile, 2013.
 Image Credit & Copyright:
Yuri Beletsky
 (Las Campanas Observatory,
 Carnegie Institution)

The Geminids can be seen each year in December. This year's meteor activity begins on December 4 and will peak on the evenings of December 13 and 14. A waxing crescent moon sets early in the evening making for a nice dark sky.

The shower is named for the constellation Gemini, the Twins, from where the meteors appear to originate. Although most meteor showers are associated with a comet, the Geminids form from the rocky asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The orbit of the 3 mile wide asteroid takes it pretty close to the Sun every 1.4 years. The intense heat causes the asteroid to fracture and crumble off bits of debris which then crash into the Earth's atmosphere every year around December.

The Geminid meteor shower is a favorite, especially for younger viewers, because the show gets going early in the evening. Even so, more meteors will be visible as the constellation Gemini reaches its peak in the night sky, around 2am. This meteor shower can also be one of the most spectacular shows of the year, with possible sightings of over 100 meteors in an hour.

Tips for Viewing Meteor Showers:

1. Find a spot away from areas with bright lights.
2. Check the weather and dress appropriately - you'll be sitting/laying for long stretches.
3. Pack a chair, blanket, some water or a warm beverage and a snack.
4. Sit back, wait, and enjoy.

Give yourself at least an hour to view the show since our eyes need at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Avoid looking at your cell phone or using a flashlight. You can use a light with a red filter to preserve your night vision. Also, meteors tend to be active in short bursts, followed by a lull, so be patient.

Where to View the Geminid Meteor Shower:

Morehead Planetarium, the Raleigh Astronomy Club (RAC), and the Chapel Hill Astronomical & Observational Society (CHAOS) will host two skywatching sessions for the Geminid meteor shower:

- December 13     8pm
Little River Regional Park & Natural Area, 301 Little River Park Way, Rougemont, NC 27572
919-732-5505

- December 14     8pm
Jordan Lake - Ebenezer Church Recreation Area, 2582 Beaver Creek Road, Apex, NC 27502
919-962-1236

More information can be found at http://moreheadplanetarium.org/programs/teen-adult-programs/skywatching

Further reading:
Everything you need to know: Geminid meteor shower - http://earthsky.org/?p=187764

Meteor Showers in 2015 - http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/celestial-objects-to-watch/meteor-showers-in-2015-12142014/

Meteor Showers: Shooting for Shooting Stars -
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2010-118


December Programs at Little River Park

Here’s a list of park programs and events for December. Remember the park hours are still 8am-5pm. Also, the park is closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Geminid Meteor Shower Viewing

Sunday, December 13, 8pm-10pm. Free. All ages. No registration required.

Join us for the peak of the Geminid meteor shower. Morehead Planetarium will be on hand to give us a tour of the night sky and the big telescopes will be out in the big field. Camp chairs, blankets, and picnics are welcome. Call 919-732-5505 after 4:00pm on the day of the program for cloud or cancellation information.

Edible Ornaments

Saturday, December 19, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Free. All ages. No registration required.

It’s peanut butter, pinecone- craft time, folks! Find out what birds are hanging around for the winter and make a few nature-themed ornaments for them to eat. Meet at the Large Shelter.

Christmas Bird Count

Sunday, December 20, 9:00am – 12:00pm. Free. Ages 6 yrs. & older. No registration required.

Come count the birds at Little River. Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park for Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count.

New Year’s Day Nature Walk

Friday, January 1, 9–11:30am. Free.

Start the New Year enjoying the trails of Little River Park on this informal group walk. This walk will be at a pace which allows for picture taking and enjoyment of the natural surroundings. We’ll have a few guide books and binoculars to loan. Meet at the Large Shelter.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holidays and we look forward to seeing you at the park.

More program and event information can be found at: http://littleriverrambler.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-online-calendar-of-events.html

Registration Opens for 11th Annual Little River Trail Runs

Please join us for the 2016 running of the Little River Trail Runs on January 16, 2016. This will be the 11th year of the race, which has thus far raised over $61,000 for Little River Regional Park and Natural Area and for local trails, including last year’s record donation of $11,000.

Registration opens October 1st, 2016 at https://www.sportoften.com/event/25510/little-river-trail-runs. This race fills to capacity each year, so don’t miss out, register early!  Also, orders for race shirts will be placed in a few weeks’ time; your shirt size can only guaranteed if you register by December 5. So don’t delay, and please help spread the word.

For those who are registered for the 2016 race, a Course Tour is scheduled for Saturday December 19, 2015, beginning at 9:00am. This is a low-key outing followed by coffee, hot chocolate, pastries, and fruit.  Tour leaders who are familiar with both the 7K and 10 mile courses will be on hand, and who will accommodate a variety of paces.  For more information or to join the course tour, please reply to littlerivertrailruns@gmail.com with “Course Tour” in the subject line.

Species Spotlight: Banded Woolly Bear

Banded Wooly Bear caterpillar

The Banded Woolly Bear is the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella). Many larva of the Arctiid species of moths are called "woolly bears" because of the long, thick bristly hairs that cover their bodies.

This species of woolly bear is black on both ends typically with a thick, copper band around its middle. The larva emerges from its egg in the fall and will overwinter in caterpillar form. The Banded Woolly Bear caterpillar produces a cryoprotectant which allows it to survive being frozen solid. In the spring the larva will thaw and begin to pupate into its adult form, the Isabella Tiger moth. The moth can be dull yellow or orange with a few small, black dots scattered on the wings. The hindwings, visible when the wings are spread open, are pink with grey dots. The body is large and covered with yellowish or brownish fuzz. The first pair of legs will have a reddish-orange color on the segments closest to the body.

Isabella Tiger moth

Despite its spikey appearance, the woolly bear`s bristly hairs do not inject any venom or cause injury like some plants and animals do to defend against predators. The primary defense of the Banded Woolly Bear caterpillar is to roll up into a ball.

The caterpillar feeds on a variety of plants including asters, maples, birches, corn and herbaceous flowering plants. In North Carolina, the Banded Woolly Bear caterpillar can transform into a moth within months of hatching. However, in colder climates where the plant growing season is shorter, the caterpillar may feed for several summers before pupating, freezing and thawing each season. Some have gone through as many as 14 winters.

Farmers used the Banded Woolly Bear caterpillar, which is abundant in the fall, as a predictor of winter weather: a thick middle stripe indicated a mild winter whereas a thin middle stripe would mean a severe winter. There is a Woolly Worm festival held in Banner Elk, NC each fall to celebrate the coming winter. It is now known that the stripping and coloration varies with the age of the caterpillar and even among caterpillars within the same clutch of eggs.

Here is a short video clip about a close cousin of Banded Woolly Bear caterpillar, talking about its ability to freeze, from the Discovery Channel: http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/frozen-planet/videos/woolly-bear-caterpillars/

Fall Programs and Special Events at Little River Regional Park

Here's a listing of the programs and special events hosted by Little River Regional Park & Natural Area from September through December 2015: 

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.

Registration is required unless otherwise noted. For more information or to sign-up, call the park office: 919-732-5505.

*Programs made possible by donations from the Little River Trail Runs and the TrailHeads Running Club.

Special Events/Programs

Fall/Winter Nature Walks

Day/Date(s): Monday, September 7^th
                     Friday, October 16^th
                     Friday, November 27^th
                              Friday, January 1^st
Time:            9am – 11:30am
Location:      Meet at the Large Shelter
Fee:              Free; no registration required
Description:  We’ll explore the trails of Little River Park on some informal group walks. These walks led by park staff will be at a pace which allows for picture taking and enjoyment of the natural surroundings. We’ll have a few guide books and binoculars to loan.

Haunted Hike with CLAWS
Day/Date:      Friday, October 30^th
Time:              7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location:        Large Shelter
Fee:                Free; all ages; no registration required
Description:   Ghouls and goblins of all ages are invited to experience the park after dark. Explore the ¼-mile paved trail and discover what tricks and treats await. Wildlife educators from CLAWS will be stationed along the trail with their owls, ravens and hawks. 

Stargazing at Little River

Date/Times:   October, 23^rd, 7:30pm-9:30pm
                       November 6^th, 6pm-8pm
                       December 13^th, 8pm-10pm
Location:        Play Meadow
Fee:                Free; all ages; no registration required
Description:    The fine folks from Morehead Planetarium will bring out the high power 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. 



Suet making.

Edible Ornaments

Day/Date:      Saturday, December 19^th
Time:             1:00pm – 4:00pm
Location:        Large Shelter/Park Office
Fee:               Free*; all ages; no registration required
Description:   It’s peanut butter, pinecone- craft time, folks! Find out what birds are hanging around for the winter and make a few nature-themed ornaments for them to eat.

Christmas Bird Count

Day/Date:      Sunday, December 20^th
Time:              9:00am – 12:00pm
Location:        Park Office
Fee:                Free; ages 6 and up; no registration required
Description:   Come count the birds at Little River. Join staff as we tally the diverse species of birds found around the park for Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count.

Tiny Trekkers (ages 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.

Hummingbirds

Date/Time:     Monday, September 14^th, 10am-11am
Location:        Large Shelter
Fee:                Free*
Min/Max:        4/12
Description:  Trekkers try to keep up with the hummingbirds zipping around the park. Participants will learn how they get their food and fly so fast.

Lizards

Date/Time:     Monday, October 5^th, 10am-11am
Location:        Large Shelter
Fee:                Free*
Min/Max:        4/12
Description:   Trekkers learn about lizards. We will search for anoles, fence lizards, and skinks as we learn about the special ways they protect themselves from predators.



Tree crafts.

 Trees

Date/Time:     Monday, November 2^nd, 10am-11am
Location:        Large Shelter
Fee:                Free*
Min/Max:        4/12
Description:  This month our Trekkers talk trees: some grow tall, some grow wide, but can you guess what they all hide? Stories, crafts and some tree-mendous fun!

 

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.  



Shark teeth and other marine fossils.

Rocks & Fossils

Day/Date:      Saturday, October 24^th
Time:              2:00pm – 3:30pm
Location:        Large Shelter
Fee:                Free*
Min/Max:        4/12
Description:  We’ll dig into how rocks and fossils are formed and the tools archeologists use. Start your own rock collection and search for fossils from North Carolina.

Map & Compass

Day/Date:      Saturday, November 21^st
Time:              2:00pm – 3:30pm
Location:        Large Shelter
Fee:                Free*
Min/Max:        4/12
Description:  Learn the basics of reading a map and compass. Search around the park for hidden treasure using clues and your new skills.

Species Spotlight: Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Eastern Fence Lizard

You may know them as 'wood lizards' or 'swift lizards' but they are more readily known as Eastern Fence Lizards. Quick and agile they are commonly found on fences and open woodlands throughout its range in most of the eastern United States from New York State south to Florida and west to South Dakota. Here at the park they can easily be spotted on the fence around our butterfly garden looking for insects and spiders to nosh on. They can also be seen throughout the parks open woodlands of pines and hardwoods scampering around the ground and around stumps, rocky outcrops, brush piles and up trees. They are strictly diurnal and are often seen basking in the sun until disturbed where they will dart off quickly for cover.

Fence lizards are 4 to 7 inches in length and are generally brown, gray or bronze in color with several wavy crossbands along its body. The bellies are generally white with black flecks scattered about. If you are lucky enough to see the belly of the adult males you will be treated to patches of deep bright iridescent blue, greenish blue or bluish-black markings. The scales are pointed and overlap giving the fence lizard a rough appearance. Compared to other lizards found in the park and the state of North Carolina this rough scaly appearance makes them easily identifiable. When winter comes they can be found hibernating in logs, under rocks, stumps or other sheltered areas. On warmer winter days they will emerge to bask in the sunlight.


Male fence lizards are highly territorial and will fend off competing males (usually by displaying their blue patches through a series of ‘push-ups”) for breeding grounds and feeding locations. Fence lizards use their keen eyesight to spot prey. They will find a favorable perch and then ‘sit and wait’ for their prey to come. Fence lizards can eat their weight in insects and spiders most every day making them a friend to gardeners. These lizards can also become prey themselves to snakes, mammals and larger birds and rely on camouflage and speed to evade such predators. If captured, they can bite, feign death and or have its tail break off potentially giving the lizard a chance to escape. Like all of North Carolinas native lizards they have fractures along their vertebrae that allow the tail to break off. In time a new tail will partially regenerate.

Eastern Fence Lizards are fun little reptiles adding life and personality to Little River Regional Park. If you ever have tried to catch one before you know just how fast these little buggers can be. Eastern Fence Lizards call Little River Regional Park home and I encourage you to come out and visit the park to see if you con spot one at our garden or along one of our trails.