Ellie Counts
March 31, 2023
Today at the internship Brianna introduced me to Earth Hour which is from 8:30-9:30 on March 25th where the lights are turned off for an hour to help reduce light pollution. I was amazed to learn about Earth Hour and wondered how we could continue to implement days like this worldwide more often. We discussed what was currently in bloom which consisted of Mountain Laurel, Dog Wood, Lespedeza Cuneata, and Grenadine Molle. I got to see the trail camera photos over the last week which included White-tailed Deer, Bobcats, Beaver, Wild Turkeys, Great Blue Heron, Wild Hogs, Robins, Blue Jays, and a Coyote. I had wondered if any plants suffered from the freezing temperatures we experienced this week and learned the Redbuds were messed up from the freezing temperatures. Next, we headed to Thompson Creek where I saw Mayapple, Mountain Laurel, and scat that was likely from a Coyote due to how much fur was present. The Creek looked crystal clear and it was beautiful. I felt so peaceful listening to the ripples in the water and observing everything around me. Across the bank, it looked as if there had not been a prescribed burn since so much greenery had already grown back which was amazing. Along the bank there was a lot of Golden Alexander and walking back through the woods I saw Rattlesnake Weed. Next, we headed to our transect at the Fireworks Prairie that had been mowed over since the last time I was there. I saw deer tracks, lots of Black-eyed Susan, Crow’s Poison Corn, Speedwell, and Dog Fennel. I observed our Nature’s Notebook species and noticed the Lance Leaf Coreopsis had some red on its leaves which I learned from Brianna is due to the chlorophyll being destroyed by the sun due to prolonged sun exposure. As I walked through the mowed transect, I heard the Meadowlarks singing away which has become something I look forward to hearing every week. On our way to our woodland transect, I observed a Yellow-bellied Slider basking on a log and saw Oxalis which Brianna taught me can be identified because it folds its leaves up at night. Lots of greenery had popped through the leaf litter and I saw lots of Japanese Honeysuckle and Chinese Privet. I found some Devil’s Urn Fungus and we saw an Eastern Tent Caterpillar. Brianna pointed out Pokeweed which has berries safe for birds but is poisonous to humans, however, we can still eat the shoots and leaves of the plant which I found very interesting. On the way to Turtle Pond, we drove past areas that had experienced a prescribed burn to see how fast things are growing. We stopped in the Peninsula and saw tons of Eastern Tent Caterpillar tents and two potential White-footed Mice. At Turtle Pond, I saw scat, lots of turtles basking on longs, deer tracks, and lots of places where Wild Hogs had torn up the ground looking for grubs. I also found an exoskeleton of an insect we couldn’t identify and a Box Turtle which was exciting to see. After visiting Turtle Pond, we visited Chimney Pond where the water level was very low and the pond looked overtaken by Duckweed. We saw two American Toads and a Wild Hog bathing puddle which I was surprised to see in person. I found a Red-Bellied Water Snake which I was very excited about since I had never seen a Red-Bellied Water Snake before. Lastly, we visited the kayak put in near the Love Shack where we saw a Belted Kingfisher bird, Raccoon tracks, freshwater clams, and a beautiful Luna Moth. After spending most of our time outside in nature where I saw many different organisms and plants I felt so thankful for the time I get to spend admiring nature and trying to find more ways to protect it.
March 25, 2023
Today at the internship Brianna introduced me to Earth Hour which is from 8:30-9:30 on March 25th where the lights are turned off for an hour to help reduce light pollution. I was amazed to learn about Earth Hour and wondered how we could continue to implement days like this worldwide more often. We discussed what was currently in bloom which consisted of Mountain Laurel, Dog Wood, Lespedeza Cuneata, and Grenadine Molle. I got to see the trail camera photos over the last week which included White-tailed Deer, Bobcats, Beaver, Wild Turkeys, Great Blue Heron, Wild Hogs, Robins, Blue Jays, and a Coyote. I had wondered if any plants suffered from the freezing temperatures we experienced this week and learned the Redbuds were messed up from the freezing temperatures. Next, we headed to Thompson Creek where I saw Mayapple, Mountain Laurel, and scat that was likely from a Coyote due to how much fur was present. The Creek looked crystal clear and it was beautiful. I felt so peaceful listening to the ripples in the water and observing everything around me. Across the bank, it looked as if there had not been a prescribed burn since so much greenery had already grown back which was amazing. Along the bank there was a lot of Golden Alexander and walking back through the woods I saw Rattlesnake Weed. Next, we headed to our transect at the Fireworks Prairie that had been mowed over since the last time I was there. I saw deer tracks, lots of Black-eyed Susan, Crow’s Poison Corn, Speedwell, and Dog Fennel. I observed our Nature’s Notebook species and noticed the Lance Leaf Coreopsis had some red on its leaves which I learned from Brianna is due to the chlorophyll being destroyed by the sun due to prolonged sun exposure. As I walked through the mowed transect, I heard the Meadowlarks singing away which has become something I look forward to hearing every week. On our way to our woodland transect, I observed a Yellow-bellied Slider basking on a log and saw Oxalis which Brianna taught me can be identified because it folds its leaves up at night. Lots of greenery had popped through the leaf litter and I saw lots of Japanese Honeysuckle and Chinese Privet. I found some Devil’s Urn Fungus and we saw an Eastern Tent Caterpillar. Brianna pointed out Pokeweed which has berries safe for birds but is poisonous to humans, however, we can still eat the shoots and leaves of the plant which I found very interesting. On the way to Turtle Pond, we drove past areas that had experienced a prescribed burn to see how fast things are growing. We stopped in the Peninsula and saw tons of Eastern Tent Caterpillar tents and two potential White-footed Mice. At Turtle Pond, I saw scat, lots of turtles basking on longs, deer tracks, and lots of places where Wild Hogs had torn up the ground looking for grubs. I also found an exoskeleton of an insect we couldn’t identify and a Box Turtle which was exciting to see. After visiting Turtle Pond, we visited Chimney Pond where the water level was very low and the pond looked overtaken by Duckweed. We saw two American Toads and a Wild Hog bathing puddle which I was surprised to see in person. I found a Red-Bellied Water Snake which I was very excited about since I had never seen a Red-Bellied Water Snake before. Lastly, we visited the kayak put in near the Love Shack where we saw a Belted Kingfisher bird, Raccoon tracks, freshwater clams, and a beautiful Luna Moth. After spending most of our time outside in nature where I saw many different organisms and plants I felt so thankful for the time I get to spend admiring nature and trying to find more ways to protect it.
March 17, 2023
Today I studied phenology from my house since unfortunately I have been sick and wasn’t able to attend the internship. Early in the morning, I woke to birds chirping and singing outside my window. I wondered what birds they were since I wasn’t able to see them and I only heard them. While I dreaded getting out of my bed since I didn’t feel well when I took my dogs outside I instantly felt a little bit better being in the fresh air surrounded by all the greenery that has recently come up. As I walked through my yard I noticed patches of dead leaves where green grass and plants were pushing through. I saw lots of green plants that I was unfamiliar with since none were blooming but I also saw lots of dandelions that had already bloomed. Some plants I did recognize were Geranium and White Clover. While I was outside I also heard more birds chirping and as I walked around to investigate I saw a few Northern Cardinals perched in an American Holly tree that was in my front yard. I felt happy being surrounded by all the blooming plants and I also wondered how they all survived the recent drastic temperature drops this week. While looking at the plants on the ground, I also looked up at the trees and noticed there were still some trees that hadn’t gotten their leaves back yet. Although I really didn’t feel like going outside because of how sick I felt, I am glad I did because it made me appreciate nature and its healing powers even more.
February 10, 2023
Today, February 10th was our third week of the internship. We started off discussing our readings and talking about native plants and names. I learned that blueberries are native shrubs, and that maple syrup can be made from red maple trees which are native to this area. I also learned that the Pee Dee River and the Catawba River both have names that originated with indigenous tribes. First, we headed to an old homestead site known as the Steele Prairie. When we arrived, I noticed two Red-shouldered Hawks flying above us and calling out to one another. I wondered if they were the same pair we saw last week. I wondered how they knew the Steele Prairie was a previous homestead and David informed us it was because of the Daffodils and Paperwhite flowers that were planted purposefully. We walked along the Steele Prairie and discussed the benefits of live burns since it was just burned a few days prior to hopefully rid the infiltration of Loblolly Pine trees. I was surprised to see birds flying through the prairie and even landing on the char that was left. Seeing the life still in the prairie after it was burned made me happy to see nature still thriving after there was a fire. I learned that some wildflower seeds germinate better after there has been a fire. My group and I were all shocked to see plenty of ant mounds that were unaffected by the fire. After observing the Steele Prairie, we headed to Thompson Creek to observe the water. This week, the water was much more clear since there was less rain, and it had a chance to flush out all of the sediment we observed last week. The tributary that connects to Thompson Creek wasn’t clear this week because the sediment from the creek backed up into it turning it brown . David pointed out the 300 million-year-old rocks along Thompson Creek that were revealed since the water levels had retreated since last week. Before we left the group noticed Turkey Vultures circling above when David noted that they normally nest in caves but since there aren’t caves in the area we all wondered where the Turkey Vultures were nesting . I thought they could be nesting in abandoned homes, sheds, and maybe even larger dead trees. Once we left Thompson Creek, we headed to the woodland area to make our 80-meter transect that we would observe for the duration of the internship. On the way, we crossed a bridge that was built to allow wildlife to go under it which was really neat and should continue to be implemented around the world. As we entered the woodlands, we saw a pond that was likely used for cattle which I thought was covered in algae but I learned it was actually Common Duckweed that turtles and ducks eat. Throughout the woodlands, there were lots of trees that still had green leaves which were the American Holly trees that are native here. I also saw different oak, hickory, cedar, and pine trees in the woods. I heard many things in the woods like Spring Peepers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. After our transect was placed we walked to the unsafe bridge and noticed more trees like Loblolly Pines , Tulip Poplars , and some oak trees that were all planted in rows like a crop. On our walk back to the Learning Center a member of the group found a snake that David later identified as a Redbellied Snake that we all thought was a baby due to its small size however, it was an adult.
January 27, 2023
Today, January 27th was our first day of the internship. We toured the Southern 8ths property and got to see multiple prairies and ponds. When touring one of the prairies we noticed what plants had died back for the winter and what was starting to grow, even in the winter. When we were observing the prairies, I could hear different birds like the Meadowlark found only in or around meadows, singing and chirping, which was really neat. After viewing the prairies, we observed the turkey farm and learned about the importance of turkey and horse manure and how it can be reused as soil rather than contaminating the water. We rode to Thompson Creek and observed the high-water levels likely from the rain and the brownish color of the water which could be caused by runoff from the turkey farm. The creek beds contained quartz and there was a rock face present along Thompson Creek which was amazing to see. David pointed out a type of fern called Resurrection Fern growing on the tree branches that didn’t require any soil since it is able to take in water and nutrients on the host tree through its leaves, which was very interesting. We went over the bridge on Thompson Creek and stood in silence to observe and appreciate the serenity and peacefulness. I also heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker. We saw lots of pines including the Loblolly and Shortleaf Pines. We also saw that there were hardwoods planted in rows near the Loblollies that were most likely planted for harvesting in order to use the wood to make paper and furniture. After touring the property, we met back up for discussion to talk about what we saw and ask any questions we had.
