Fishing Fun!

Our cane pole fishing trips

are always a hit! On Sunday, August 20th, our naturalists hosted a group at Spring Lake Park. Here are some pictures from the day. The children caught seven fish and a snapping

turtle. All of these animals were released after their picture was taken. It was an exciting day for everyone!

A Fantastic Day!

I got a great opportunity on August 15th. I was invited to Mittal Steel (formerly Bethleham Steel) to collect pig iron for an exhibit we are trying to construct. Oregon Ridge used to be an iron ore mining town, which is where the name came from (Ore-gone). At Mittal, I got to see the modern way that pig iron is made.

Pig iron got its name from the formation that it made when poured. Workers thought that the iron followed the main pour into a mold that looked like a sow with suckling piglets. These molds used to be simple and dug out of the ground. Today, the mold is like a "moving ice tray" that the molton iron is poured into. Bars are molded and moved up a conveyer belt to an end where they fall out onto the ground.

The new exhibit is still in the early stages of planning, but it will describe how the furnace at Oregon Ridge functioned. It will also show the workers and the end product of the whole firing process. Of course, I will advertise when this exhibit is finished, but for now you can look at these terrific pictures that the employees of Mittal Steel were kind enough to supply me.

A Small Visitor

This baby Robin was brought to us by a nice family who thought their cat had bitten it's tail. Although I thought there was a scab on it's back, it survived the night and is eating well. This tells me that a cat may not have bitten it after all. There isn't much hope for anything that a cat bites since their mouths are so dirty and bacteria ridden. Infection goes septic very quickly in these small creatures, and this usually has a fatal ending.

This brings up a good point. Cats are not natural predators of our area. Allowing them to roam outside at night takes more lives than you might think. Studies have shown that cats do most of their hunting secretly, away from prying eyes. This means that they are killing and eating a lot more prey than you ever see them leave on your doorstep. Birds, rodents, reptiles and just about any other animal that wanders in your cat's path can be a victim.

Since so many animals in our area are endangered, lets help them out a little. Keep the kitty inside, walk it on a harness or buy a run for him if you insist on letting him out. My three cats are perfectly happy inside. The cat will survive if you don't let it out. Our native birds need their rest and a safe place to sleep at night. In return, they will provide those beautiful songs that we have come to love so much.

Justine and the Monarchs

Our weekend naturalist, Justine, had a wonderful time this past Saturday tagging Monarch Butterflies at Bear Branch Nature Center in Carroll County. The tags will be used to track the insects as they make their annual migration south. These beauties will spend the cold winter months in Mexico and then return next year to Maryland to lay eggs. Taggers will catch the butterflies and record which individuals have returned to the same fields as last year.


You can participate in a tagging program at your local Nature Center. Check their calendar or call them directly. Look for Oregon Ridge to be hosting one next year.

Share Your Thoughts

If you have read the newsletter article about dog leftovers, this is the spot to share your thoughts. Click on the comments link at the bottom of this post and tell me if you think the MuttMitt pickup stations are going to be good for the park or cause us some trash problems.

New Butterfly Exhibit!

Yep, that's me with the new Butterfly exhibit in the meadow area. I got everything up with Amanda's help last Friday. It is an identification guide to the butterflies that inhabit our herb garden. They are the most frequent visitors and the most commonly spotted species. There are even some moths pictured to mix it up a little.

Butterflies and moths are important pollinators in our gardens and natural habitats. Most drink the nectar of flowers and pick up pollen during their visit. They then transport this pollen to another flower of the same species and Voila! A seed is created! Well, there is a little more to it, but butterflies play a big part in the pollination of plants. Plus, they are so pretty to watch. Come out and see our new exhibit so that you can put a name to those beauties in the garden!

New Pond Sentinel

We have a new resident at our Nature Center pond. It is a Blue Dasher Dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) and it is very easy to spot! I am pretty sure that this is a male since it has green eyes and a dashing type of flight over the watery surface. He will come right up to you when you visit, but don't be afraid! He will not harm you. Let him check you out and when he lands on our Blue Flag Iris, you can get a close look at him too!

These dragonflies are also called Blue Pirates. I am not sure how the nickname came to exist, but I would keep an eye on your pocket change while visiting our pond! You just never know...