Tag Archive for: Science Saturday

Science Saturday: Tracking American Kestrels

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We are using GPS transmitters to track kestrel habitat selection and learn why they are declining. In this installment of our Science Saturdays series, participants will have the opportunity to shadow our kestrel research team. We will start with a brief presentation on the kestrel research project. Then we’ll go out into the field to demonstrate how we collect data. We can’t guarantee a kestrel sighting, but the goal will be to see and maybe even band one of our local birds.

Cost:

Children 18 and under – Free

Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!

Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.

Bring: Please bring a lunch and water bottle. Binoculars are recommended.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

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Science Saturday: Vernal Pool Monitoring

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In this installment of our Science Saturdays series participants will have the opportunity to participate in our vernal pool monitoring project. Vernal pools are fish-free bodies of water that are safe for amphibians to breed in. Here at Clifton, we have multiple made by beavers, humans, and natural depressions, where Spotted Salamanders, Jefferson Salamanders, Eastern Newts, Wood Frogs, and other amphibians breed. Each spring we monitor the water levels and quality in each pool and survey for eggs and adults to keep track of our amphibian populations are faring. It’s never a certainty, but it is likely that we will see adult amphibians in at least one of the pools. This is a special opportunity to visit an amazing habitat and to learn about the science going on here at Clifton.

Cost:

Children 18 and under – Free

Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!

Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.

Bring: Please bring a lunch and water bottle.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program may be partially indoors, partially outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

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Science Saturday: Grassland Insects

Since 2019 we have been working to restore a 100-acre cattle pasture into a diverse native grassland, using eight different methods to compare different ways of establishing and maintaining grassland plants. Graduate students have been studying the plants in the grassland since 2019, but we’ve just started studying the insects and we need your help! On this installment of Science Saturdays, we will give a brief introduction to the grassland experiment and teach participants how to collect insects and identify them to order, before setting you loose to look for insects. This is a special opportunity to tag along with our staff researchers and see how field science is done and to explore a native grassland, a habitat unique to the Piedmont region of Virginia.

Cost:

Children 18 and under – Free

Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!

Age:  Adults and children accompanied by an adult.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

/by

Science Saturday: Kestrel Tracking

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In this installment of our Science Saturdays series participants will have the opportunity to shadow our kestrel research team. We have been attaching GPS transmitters to kestrels since 2021. This summer we will be attaching fewer transmitters in the past, but we will still be keeping an eye on a few birds from previous summers and monitoring their nest boxes. We can’t guarantee a kestrel sighting, but it is likely that we’ll get to see one of our local birds. Depending on how the breeding season is going, from Clifton we may drive to one or two nearby properties that have kestrel boxes. We will encourage but not require everyone to carpool in as few cars as possible. We’re looking forward to a beautiful day in the field with you!

Cost: Free!

Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.

Bring: Please bring a lunch and water bottle. Binoculars are recommended.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

/by

Science Saturday: Grass Identification Workshop and Survey

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Since 2019 we have been working to restore a 100-acre field that was dominated by Tall Fescue into a diverse native grassland. In cooperation with Virginia Working Landscapes and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, we are conducting an experiment to test which of eight methods are best for establishing and maintaining native plants. In this workshop we will give a brief introduction to the restoration experiment and teach you how to identify common grass species. Then we’ll walk about half a mile out into our grassland where we’ll practice our grass identification skills while learning about the methods our scientists use to study the results of the different treatments. We’re looking forward to a beautiful day in the field with you!

Cost: Free!

Age:  Adults and children accompanied by an adult.

Weather policy: Rain or shine except in case of extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorm or significant snow fall).

COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

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Science Saturday: Box Turtles

In 2022 we started a research project to study what habitats Box Turtles use at different times of year so that we and other landowners can know what the best time of year is to mow fields and do other land management practices that might disrupt or even kill Box Turtles. On this second installment of Science Saturdays, participants will help us get our 2023 season started by looking for turtles we radio-tagged last year and potentially finding new turtles to tag. This is a special opportunity to tag along with our staff researchers and see how field science is done.

Cost: Free!

Age: Adults only.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

/by

Science Saturday: Kestrel Watch

In what we hope will become a regular occurrence, we are inviting the public to participate in one of our ongoing research projects. This time you’ll help us track American Kestrels that have been outfitted with GPS transmitters, collect vegetation data in different types of fields, and visit ink-pad tracks to see what kinds of rodents have been visiting. This is a great opportunity to see what it’s like to do field research and to learn about some fascinating native species. We will start here at the Clifton Institute and then drive to a few nearby properties where we know kestrels are hanging out. From Clifton, we will encourage but not require everyone to carpool in as few cars as possible. We’re looking forward to a beautiful day in the field with you!

Cost: Free!

Age: Adults only.

Bring: Please bring a lunch and water bottle. Binoculars are recommended.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program will be entirely outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last two weeks any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.).

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!

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