Bayou Buzz Volume 4, Issue I October , 2017—February 2018 Star Party 2017

his year’s Star Party voting on the winner. occurred on Outreach Specialist, December 16, 2017, Dennis McGrury, who just past the peak sported a cozy red viewing days for the sweater featuring a TGeminid Meteor Shower. But that didn’t fuzzy llama, was the stop some of our guests from seeing a winner! Inside this issue: few stray Geminid meteors! After a Star Party is Grand couple hours of partly cloudy skies, Bay NERR’s largest open house event that Poster Contest Winners 2 guests were treated to perfect, clear occurs around the Geminid Meteor Shower skies for good views of the winter Botany Zone 2 each year. It’s a fun family event for all, and constellations. Our hayrides shuttled one we hope becomes a family tradition for Critter Corner 2 families to the Bayou Heron boat guests. One of our guests commented on launch, where telescopes, binoculars, Facebook, “We had a great time!! The staff Meet Our Staff 3 and stargazing apps were set up by were wonderful and extremely friendly! I Looking Ahead 3 some of our staff and volunteers. would definitely go back for future events.” Back at the Coastal Resources Center, We would like to extend a special thanks to On the Road Focus 4 we had games, paper crafts, hot veterans from the VA Hospital in Biloxi, MS for Visit Us 4 chocolate, and soups. We transformed helping us with crafts and decorations, and our dormitories into a space just for thanks to our volunteers, fellow staff, and Veteran Art 5 cookie decorating. One of our very guests for making Star Party 2017 another popular activities was the Screech Owl great success! From Our Director 5 Walk. At one point, they had about 60 people on the walk! Grand Bay NERR is a state- New to Star Party this year was our federal partnership with the campground-themed room, where a Mississippi Department of space story was read to our younger Marine Resources and the guests. The Ocean Springs library also National Oceanic and held a raffle for rain barrels, and Atmospheric Administration, winners were excited to take one home. Office for Coastal Management. We are one of 29 Guests were also able to see our NERRs nationwide. resident Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin, Tobi, in her new and improved home in the interpretive center. Grand Bay NERR staff once again held a tacky sweater contest with the guests

Pa ge 2 B a you B uzz Volume 4, Issue I

Celebrate the Gulf Poster Contest Winners

“MS “MS Gulf Coast”by Grace First Bennett Place

“Celebrate Gulf”the by Sue Second Cox: Place “Bayou Sunset” by Christian Bailey Third Place Botany Zone: Beggar Ticks (Bidens mitis)

The smallfruit beggarticks, Bidens mitis flowers are common along the (also Coreopsis mitis), is a native aster Savanna Trail at the Grand Bay found in the Southeastern United States NERR. Their seeds are spread by from Delaware to Texas, although it is sticking to animal fur, a trait known as listed an Endangered in Maryland. This zoochorous. Several Bidens species forb is a wetland obligate, meaning it are used as food by caterpillars of must occur in wetlands, throughout its certain butterflies and moths. There range. The conspicuous yellow flowers are up to 250 species found in the appear from August to October and Bidens genus and the taxonomy has may reach a height of 3.5 feet. These been described as chaotic. Smallfruit plants are adapted to fine textured beggarticks is the pretty flower with a soils and they require a lot of moisture funny name. There are always to grow. In the late summer, these surprises to be found at Grand Bay! Critter Corner: Pitcher Plant Moth (Exyra semicrocea) The pitcher plant moth (Exyra black spiny projections on its back semicrocea) spends most of its life called lappets. These spikes keep the inside a pitcher plant. The female larva from falling into the deepest, moth lays 1-3 eggs on the inside of narrowest part of the pitcher which the pitcher plant wall that will hatch contains dangerous downward facing after 12 days. In the larval, or hairs. It will develop through five instar caterpillar, stage, E. semicrocea stages lasting around 32 days. After consumes the inner wall of the pitcher. pupation into an adult, the moth will It produces a dragline of silk to keep spend its days safe inside the pitcher it from slipping on the slick inner-walls perched in an upright position only and falling into the pitcher. If the silk venturing out at night to find a mate to breaks and the caterpillar does fall, start the process again. it will not be trapped because of the

B a you B uzz Volume 4, Issue I Pa ge 3

Meet our Staff: Jay McIlwain

Meet Jay McIlwain, Grand Bay NERR’s Director. “His passions include good Natural Resource Manager. Jay is our land management of wet pine might find him as captain on one of our special staff feature this quarter, as he is savannas through prescribed fire and boats, or teaching young learners celebrating 10 years working at the stewardship of Mississippi coastal about prescribed fires. “Jay has been NERR. “From the time we hired Jay at lands. I have been told many times by an excellent teacher and I feel the Reserve, he was always a pleasure our partners at the USFWS how fortunate to get to learn from him,” to work with, willing to assist wherever valuable he is to the fire team.” “I said Dr. Pitchford. “I look forward to needed,” said Dave Ruple, former feel very fortunate to be working with continuing to work together and Grand Bay NERR manager. “He was Jay,” said Dr. Jonathan Pitchford, accomplish some of our management particularly eager to work in the field Stewardship Coordinator. “He’s a goals for the NERR in the coming and was a valuable member of our huge asset to the NERR because of his years!” Jay is also an accomplished team.” As part of the Stewardship knowledge of the Reserve, his wildlife and landscape photographer Sector, Jay coordinates and assists with dedication to doing things right, his and musician. You can find his research and stewardship efforts at the ever-expanding skill set, and his photographs embedded in our visitor NERR. His duties also include working willingness to get along with people.” center exhibits, so come see us soon and find a Jay McIlwain photo! with university researchers and “He is also an engaging interpreter government agencies on a variety of and has worked with our education natural resource management projects, program to share his fascination with such as invasive species control and natural resource management,” said prescribed fires. “Jay has worked hard Dr. Gray. A Pascagoula, MS native, to earn and maintain his wildland fire Jay has deep historical ties to south certifications and trainings, and was a Mississippi and the local area within key part of the wildland fire team that and around the Reserve. You can protected the NERR during the 2015 oftentimes find Jay discussing Grand Grand Bature fire,” commented Dr. Bay NERR history at our outreach and Ayesha Gray, Grand Bay NERR education events. Other times, you Looking Ahead...

Dates and times are subject to change. Please ) March: see our Website or Facebook page for updates 13 Social Science Workshop May: 14-15 Managing Visitor Use Workshop 28 Memorial Day: Office Closed

Marshallia graminifolia 24-25 Batik Workshop April: 7 Celebrate the Gulf: Marine Education Festival 21 Earth Day Watercolor Workshop For more information on events, 26-27 Planning and Facilitation visit our website at

Narrowleafed Barbra’s Button ( Workshop www.GrandBayNERR.org 30 Office Closed call us at (228) 475-7047 Or check out our Facebook page!

Pa ge 4 B a you B uzz Volume 4, Issue I On the Road Focus: Fire Ecology

before combustion can occur and of our forests, they are becoming How do firefighters battle wildland continue. Can you guess what those larger, more intense and more fires? What equipment do they use? three elements are? First, a triangle is dangerous because of the unnatural Great questions like these are drawn on the board. Number one, conditions that people have created. addressed by our On the Road there must be fuel to burn. The fuel in Program Education Specialist K12- As an educator, it is my goal to inspire our forests has changed substantially the next generation to become better Rick Ranew. Our new Fire over time. Number two, there must be Ecology Presentation tells students stewards and give students a little air to supply oxygen for the flame. insight into what it is like to become a about the protective gear a Number three, there must be heat to firefighter has to wear, shows students wildland firefighter – from the gear start and continue the combustion you need to wear, to the tools you use, the tools a firefighter uses, and process. Remove any single one of teaches them the basics that all to the kind of knowledge and training these elements, and there can be no you must have for future wildland firefighters need to know before they fire. can fight fire. firefighters. So what does all that mean? It means A student from the class volunteers to that some of our forests aren’t healthy dress up as a real wildland right now because there are simply firefighter. Along with the too many trees. People have changed firefighter demonstration, there is the forests to meet their needs without the basic firefighter training. The very an understanding of the consequences first thing they learn is the Fire of those changes. It also means that Triangle. Three elements must be even though fires are a natural part present and satisfactorily combined Have You Visited Lately? Learn what it really means to “live life on the edge” by visiting the you can learn about everything an estuary has to offer. Grand Bay NERR today! You’ll learn about everything from Interpretive Center wildlife, weather, and wildland fires, Hours: to the culture and history of the area! Ask for a tour of the building and Monday through learn how we received our Gold LEED Friday Standard Award for being green. 9 am – 3 pm Don’t forget to say “hi!” to Tobi the Terrapin before you leave!

Quench your thirst for outdoor adventure by hiking the Oak Grove Birding Trail or the brand new Savannah Trail. You’ll see birds, butterflies, and lots of other animals that frequent the area. What will you spot? Make sure to put it on our sightings board at the Interpretive Center! Cool off with a visit to the Interpretive Center located in our Coastal Resource Center. Inside

Pa ge 5 B a you B uzz Volume 4, Issue I Veteran Art

In September, we hosted the Veterans process of batik, many said they had their finished pieces. Our VA programs Affairs for a half day of exploring and never done it before. They ended the provide a great opportunity for veter- batiking. This Art Day was just one of morning with a lunch on the porch of ans to relax, and enjoy nature and art, the activities we have been hosting for the Coastal Resources Center. When and learn about how important estuar- our veterans. We have also hosted they returned the following week for kayaking events. We started the Art kayaking (another activity some had ies are to the Mississippi Coast. Day by talking about the process of never done), we provided them with batiking and with a walk on the Savan- na Trail where we asked our partici- pants to gather inspiration for nature. They were inspired by flowers and plants, and Avery, our Education Coor- diantor, found a frog to show them that also ended up in the art work. After returning from the field, they made drawings based on their inspiration. The drawings were finalized into a batik pattern and then fabric was stretched across the pattern. We heat- ed up the wax pots and then used tjanting tools (an ancient tool used for batik art) to apply the wax to the fabric. The designs were then painted. Everyone enjoyed learning about the Dr. Ayesha Gray on National Estuaries Day Every year we celebrate National from some of our partners such as the it to what they had seen in the estuary. Estuaries Day at the Grand Bay NERR U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sandhill Crane Our aim with National Estuaries Day is with our Seaside with a Scientist day. Refuge and MS State University to celebrate all the wonderful things We put our scientists out in the estuary, Extension. The Sandhill Crane Refuge that wetlands and estuaries do for us, and they explain to visitors what they demonstrated how the cranes are including being nurseries for fish, being do as part of their research and about marked by making bead bracelets for beautiful places for fishing and the special creatures and habitats that kids. Each bead represented different kayaking, protecting the shoreline from exist in Grand Bay. This year Seaside things, whether male or female, year storm surge, and being home for all with a Scientist was a terrific success on born, area found, etc. When the kinds of animals. National Estuaries a beautiful day! We partnered with volunteers made the bracelets for kids Day is celebrated all over the country Chevron, who provided lunch and a the beads represented the kid’s life at NERRs and by the National Estuary boat, and nine other natural resource history to help them understand how Program, so if next year you find organizations that had exhibits at the the cranes are tracked. Several yourself anywhere from Alabama to building. We had over 100 visitors to groups of people also enjoyed a walk Maine or Texas to Alaska, on the last the estuary and visitors were able to on our Savanna Trail after lunch. From Saturday in September, there will be a take a free boat ride and learn about the trail they can access Hawks Marsh, celebration at an estuary near you! Clapper Rails, ancient shell middens, a freshwater marsh, and then compare marsh vegetation and salt pannes, and our water quality monitoring. At least one Bald Eagle made an appearance! After returning to the center, everyone enjoyed a hamburger or hot dog lunch and a chance to learn about the work

Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve 6005 Bayou Heron Road Bayou Buzz Moss Point, MS 39562

Phone: 228.475.7047 Office hours: M-F 8am-4pm Interpretive Center Hours: M-F 9am-3pm

We’re on the Web! Visit GrandBayNERR.org Address for Mailing

The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) was designated in 1999 as part of a system

of 29 reserves around the nation. We are a “state-federal” partnership managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management. This NERR is co-located with a USFWS National Wildlife Refuge. The Grand Bay NERR is comprised of approximately 18,000 acres of pine savannas, salt marshes, salt pannes, open water and bayous, as well as other terrestrial habitats that are unique to the coastal zone. Come visit us! Can’t wait to see y’all!