Last week, the Southern Blue Ridge Burn Crew (The Nature Conservancy – North Carolina chapter) partnered with the NC Department of Agriculture’s Plant Conservation Program for a controlled burn at their Cedar Mountain Bog. TNC-NC’s Dean Simon was burn boss on this small but very important burn, which went really well!
Range-Wide Bog Turtle 2018 Symposium
This December 4-5, 2018 meeting in Richmond, VA is offered at no charge to bog turtle partners. See draft agenda: BT Meeting Draft Agenda 09.26.18 To register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC7iIaceWytheSs1MzyNwU3DvfdLpp-buf2dyCDhwNM-KcFg/viewform To reserve a hotel room, make your reservation by November 3 to get the discounted rate. Be sure to tell them you are with the Bog Turtle…
Poaching Threat is Serious Business
We came across this article recently and thought it was worth reiterating the importance of concealing wetland locations.
Save the date for SePPCon 2019
The second Southeastern Partners in Plant Conservation Symposium & Workshop will be held November 4-9, 2019 at the Garden’s new Southeastern Center for Plant Conservation. More details will be available next month at https://atlantabg.org/learn/conservation-efforts
Understanding Bog Turtle decline in the Southern Appalachians. Guest post by Mike Knoerr
Endangered Bog turtles exist in southern Appalachian mountain bogs. These wetlands are incredibly rare and increasing isolated on the landscape. Thankfully, The Nature Conservancy has acquired and actively manages several of these wetlands for rare plants and animals, including the small and secretive bog turtle. Mark-recapture data and population level analyses suggest that many…
Trending in the Right Direction: Green Pitcher Plant Monitoring
Last week, USFWS and TNC teamed up to do survey green pitcher plants (Sarracenia oreophila) at the only remaining Low Mountain Seepage Bogs in western North Carolina. We’ve been observing population trends for this species since TNC acquired the site in the late 1980’s and started a controlled burning interval of once every 2-3 years. …
Exploring Mountain Bogs
Great new article appearing in The Transylvania Times by BLN Member, Owen Carson. Nice job Owen!
Job opportunities that may be of interest to BLN members
Three positions with the Natural Resources Program of North Carolina State Parks are now open. According to BLN member & NC State Parks Inventory Biologist Ed Corey, these positions will close fast, so don’t delay! Mountain Regional Biologist: https://agency.governmentjobs.com/northcarolina/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=2030924 Fire Specialist: https://agency.governmentjobs.com/northcarolina/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=2030875 Restoration Specialist: https://agency.governmentjobs.com/northcarolina/job_bulletin.cfm?JobID=2030312
The Seeds of Success East partnership is conducting an online survey of Native Plant and Seed Use in the Eastern United States — your responses will help support the development of a native plant materials program based on the real-world needs of land managers, restoration ecologists, and other conservation/horticultural professionals. This survey is open to all professionals…
NC Plant Conservation Program: 2017 Year In Review
Lesley Starke, Plant Ecologist for the NC Plant Conservation Program, shared this report with highlights about protection efforts, volunteer opportunities and events, and management activities. Check it out: 2017 PCP Year in Review
The David Attenborough Style of Scientific Presentation
I’ve been giving more and more talks lately and I came across a couple articles the other are really spot on so I thought I would share. The first is by Marshall Shepherd, written for Forbes.com, while the latter is a handout from Will Ratcliff, a Georgia Tech Professor of Biology. 2016 (Shepherd) 9 Tips…
Fall 2017 Bog Workday Highlights
With last week’s surprise snow and this week’s blast of arctic air, let’s have some fun looking back at Fall 2017 workday activities: On November 1st, a dedicated team of bog enthusiasts conducted hardwood management and invasive species control in Henderson County, led by Gabrielle Graeter of NCWRC and David Lee of Conserving Carolina. This…
