NATURE NOTE – Number 98 August 14, 2024
Introduction:
I recently made a trip across the state on U. S. Route 460 to Chesapeake and then north to Virginia’s Eastern Shore and Chincoteague Island. This is certainly a good way to see the great diversity of nature that our state is blessed with. I realize that not many scout units will make this trip, but many individuals (scouters and scouts) might as part of a vacation, and just being aware of the changes from the BRMC area to the Eastern Shore gives you great insight to:
Our Current topic:
Nature’s Diversity in Virginia
I commonly write about nature that is mostly seen in the western and Southside part of our state, but as we go east things start to change – gradually at first, but eventually in a major way. In NATURE NOTE #53 we discussed the five physiographic provinces in Virginia. If we start east from Roanoke, we leave the Blue Ridge Region, cross over the Piedmont and enter the Coastal Plain somewhere around Farmville. Again, the change is subtle. The soil begins to change, and you don’t see many rock outcroppings after about Lynchburg, as the underlying structure is not protruding and you enter a sandy coastal plain without many rocks. On the return trip westward, you get the first glimpse of the Blue Ridge Mountains as U.S. 460 tops a hill near Concord, Virginia. The rolling hills of the Piedmont surround you and the flat land is behind you. All of this geographic change brings changes to the rest of nature. We are used to seeing streams and rivers in our area that are moving. Sometimes rapidly, sometimes slowly, but the water is headed to the sea. In the Tidewater area most stream and rivers are still. The flow is very slow because it is flat. In Eastern Virginia a lot of the water movement is caused by the tides: up twice a day; down twice a day. You can easily see the change. Certainly the tree species change. Our common white pines give away to the common Loblolly pines that dominate the Tidewater landscape. We start to see Southern Red Oaks and Willow Oaks. The White oak is still there, as are many other species we are familiar with. But you might notice that Tulip Poplars start to become scarce and Red Gum is everywhere along the coast. Smaller shrubs, grasses, and plants change as well. If you are a birder, the Eastern Shore is a goldmine for seeing those species unavailable in our area. Most are related to the tidal flats and shallow marshes of the region. Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, White Pelicans, Osprey, Herring Gulls, Laughing Gulls, Foster’s Terns and other species become common. A couple of really “cool” birds seen were the Oystercatcher, the giant Black-back Gull, and both species of Ibis. My count was 26 species in two days and that was without looking for smaller song birds. During fall migration, this number shoots upward with thousands of ducks, Snow geese and other shore birds stopping over on their movement south. Lots of the smaller birds we see here are common there, such as Mocking birds, Cardinals, Red-winged blackbirds, etc. I suspect that many folks were first attracted to bird watching during a visit to the Eastern Shore. I know it certainly whetted my appetite fifty years ago when I made my first trip there in the fall and had more duck species in 5 minutes than I had ever seen in the Roanoke area in my lifetime.
Many other species of wildlife were there for the watching, such as tiny Fiddler crabs scurrying around along a board walk out in the marches. The wild ponies, deer, both white-tailed and Sika, fox and raccoons inhabit Chincoteague/Assateague Island. The fish life is certainly there for anyone wanting to venture out on a fishing trip.
While the weather is not totally different from our local weather you quickly notice the cooling effect of the constant breeze blowing in, quite hard at times, from the ocean if you are anywhere near the coast. And it doesn’t take long for you to start to taste that salty residue on your lips.
Another thing to notice, related indirectly to nature, is the change in agriculture from our area to the coast. Here, we see cattle farms, some dairy, some beef. There, the cows seem to disappear and poultry becomes a major industry on the Eastern Shore. Corn along with soybeans are major crops, as it is here, but notice the fields of peanuts as you pass through the area between Petersburg and Suffolk. Again, related to difference in soils.
Opportunity:
As I mentioned earlier, the opportunity to take a scout troop across the state is probably not too likely, but if YOU go, or if some of your scouts go on vacation, challenge them (and yourself) to look for the changes in plants, birds, terrain and NATURE as they transit different areas of the country, or world (See NN#54). While they may not be able to identify the different species they see, just being aware of the changes and the differences (or similarities) will be a reinforcement of the fact that nature changes as you go up or down in elevation, or travel east, west, north or south in direction. Make them aware; probably no one else has ever done that. Throw a field guide to birds or trees in your car or pack back and use it. Look for the different things. The more you look, the more you find. Don’t restrict NATURE study to your backyard or scout camp. Nature is everywhere. Stop. Look. Listen. Appreciate. Enjoy.
NATURE NOTES are coming to a close soon. Four years is enough. More on that later. Thanks for reading this NATURE NOTE. Keep your eyes open for what you might find wherever you go. It’s there. Share it with your scouts
Bob Garst
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