Bayou Buzz Volume 3, Issue I March, 2017– July , 2017 Star Party 2016 Bird Whisperer S tar Party is the one event a year Night boardwalk footsteps where the entire Grand Bay NERR staff Birdman calls, barred owls swoop low come together and put forth one strong Feather dusting all collaborative effort. It is a really good measure of what we can accomplish as Horned and Barred Owls before our footsteps a team. While star party 2016 was no followed the narrow boardwalk through a Inside this issue: different in the level of teamwork, it dark wetland forest. Ears perked as we was different in sheer size. There were listened to Mark’s inviting hoots and his Grace Bennett 2 338 attendees who came out to enjoy iPhone’s call of the wild. Did you know the the festivities. Needless to say, this Star Barred Owl is the most vocal of Eastern Owls, Botany Zone 2 Party will go down in history as the known best for its call, “Who cooks for you? biggest event the NERR has ever hosted. Who cooks for you all?” It doesn’t migrate or Critter Corner 2 The following is an article written by move around much, but when a Great Horned Jacqueline Rose, a volunteer who Capitol Day 3 Owl moves in, the Barred Owl will scurry to assisted with the owl walk. another part of its territory to avoid becoming Looking Ahead 3 This past December, I enjoyed a stellar a midnight snack for its Great Horned predator. Meet Our Staff 4 experience helping out with the Owl Walks at Grand Bay Reserve’s Star I followed as the tour caboose, keeping an eye Visit Us 4 Party, a celebration skyjacked by peeled to make sure no one fell behind, clouds that cuddled the stars from our thinking… “What if we don’t see any? There’s Children’s Art 5 eyesight and traded our intergalactic no way owls are going to fly by for all these From Our Director 5 expectations for a friendly gift of warm people,” just as a startling, swooping sound winter twilight. Dozens of families fluttered overhead, a dark shadow trailing arrived as nightfall befell, curious to toward the treetops like the ghost of Tarzan Grand Bay NERR is a state- scout out feathered friends in the forest. swinging from one side of the forest to the federal partnership with the Dr. Mark Woodrey, Grand Bay’s other. “Woooahw!” whispered a soft chorus of Mississippi Department of voices. After the first walk, I wondered if the Marine Resources and the Research Coordinator and local owls would catch on and get tired of pursuing National Oceanic and birdman, shared fun facts about Great the “new owl in town,” but even after five Atmospheric Administration, tours, the owls continued to swoop in for a Office for Coastal Management. We are one of 29 bird’s eye view of our star party. NERRs nationwide. Visitors left intrigued by the wildlife that shares this enchanting wetland. I learned to never doubt the reliability of a bird whisperer. You can check out the Grand Bay Reserve eBird list at http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L274501 Dr. Mark Woodrey giving guests a crash with over 552 checklists and 257 species of course on NERR resident owl species birds that have been reported at the Reserve. Pa ge 2 B a you B uzz Volume 3, Issue I Grace Bennett: Two-time Poster Contest Champion Grace Bennett is a senior at Pass Christian High School with exceptional artistic ability. She loves creating art and has been doing so since she was a child. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Grace mostly works with watercolors and oil paints. The entry she submitted this year really captured the essence of the Gulf Coast by featuring some of our most valuable resources. It should be noted that she has entered our poster attending MSU in the fall to study art contest twice, put up against older, with an emphasis in painting. Grace, more experienced artists, and won by we wish you well and know that you a landslide each time. She plans on are destined for great things. Botany Zone: Yellow Butterwort (Pinguicula lutea) The yellow butterwort is a perennial with highly acidic soils. shown that some of plant that is less than one foot tall and They are also a type of carnivorous the materials flowers between April and May under plant. The prey, mostly gnats and absorbed from their normal conditions. This year, they are mosquitos or midges, are attracted to insect prey, assumed already popping up in the savannas the “sticky trap” by a musty smelling to be phosphates, not around the reserve, flower. They then become trapped on only provide them indicating an early the leaves by a thick, gluey mucilage with nutrients, but can spring. The yellow like substance that they excrete. The actually assist the butterwort can be leaves begin to slowly curl inward roots of butterworts found in savannas, and digestive fluids are released. to better absorb the bogs, pinelands, After nutrients are absorbed from the small amount of and other regions prey, the leaves will uncurl and nutrients that are of the coastal plain resume prey capture. Studies have contained in the soil. Critter Corner: Gulf Salt Marsh Snake (Nerodia clarkii clarkii) The gulf salt marsh snake is a easily. This snake has been seen hiding subspecies found along the Gulf Coast in the wrack line as well as the from Texas to the tip of the Florida burrows of fiddler crabs, crawfish, panhandle. These snakes are found in and muskrats. While gulf salt marsh brackish water habitats such as snakes are mainly piscivorous, or fish marshes, salt meadows, mud flats, and eating, they will also prey upon estuaries. They are rarely found in invertebrates such as crabs and fresh water. shrimp. The gulf salt marsh snake is known to Because these animals do not possess be mostly nocturnal, but its behaviors salt glands to remove the excess salt are greatly influenced by tidal from their bodies, they must take in fresh water from rainfall, the shifting patterns or seasons and can adjust fresh water to survive. They can obtain tides, or the animals they consume. B a you B uzz Volume 3, Issue I Pa ge 3 Capitol Day Being a Gulf Coast girl who loves the water, I haven’t traveled much to goodies to greet Mississippi House of Jackson, MS. Recently, I traded in the Representatives and Senators, staff, pine savanna view from my office and visitors. Even Governor Phil Bryant window for a view of Mississippi’s State made an appearance! Capitol Rotunda (pictured right). One of the most important aspects of The Mississippi Department of Marine MDMR’s Capitol Day is to bring a little Resources (MDMR) Capitol Day is an taste of the Gulf Coast inland, where annual agency outreach event in Jackson residents and legislators Jackson. outside of the Coast can see what we’re all about. The MS Seafood booth We traveled on January 31 and met had yummy shrimp and grits, while the with our Coast legislators and MDMR Heritage Area display featured its new colleagues for dinner at The Manship kiosk. We also had examples of Wood Fired Kitchen. While I introduced artificial reefs, oyster tongs, and many Avery (who was relatively new at the On February 1, Avery and I met with giveaway items. Reserve– See “Meet the Staff”) to our the legislators from the previous night My favorite part about speaking to MDMR colleagues from other offices, she and toured the House of groups was sharing how awesome the introduced me to Rep. Manly Barton Representatives Chamber before Grand Bay NERR is, and the fun and (District 109- George, Jackson Counties). Session began. It was beautiful, with exciting things we do, like everything stained glass and gorgeous marble Rep. Barton then introduced us to Rep. featured in this newsletter. Avery and I walls! Not many people are allowed John Read (District 112- Jackson County) invited many people to come visit us if in the chambers during session, so we and many other Coast legislators. We they visit the Gulf Coast, and we hope were grateful for the quick tour and talked about our favorite things about to see them (and you) soon! the MS Gulf Coast- and of course the sneak peek. In the Capitol Rotunda, Grand Bay NERR! MDMR gathered with displays and -Sandra Huynh, Director’s Assistant Looking Ahead... May: Dates and times are subject to change. Please see our Website or Facebook page for updates 13 Advanced Photography Workshop 6-8 Advanced Topics in Plant ID @ 20-21 Batik Workshop Weeks Bay NERR 22-26 FWS Advanced Plant ID 16 NERR Birthday Celebration 29 Office Closed 25-29 NMEA Conference June: July: 1 Disaster Response Field Exercise 4 Office Closed 3 Photography for Beginners For more information on events, Workshop visit our website at 6 Rain Barrel Workshop @ www.GrandBayNERR.org Ocean Springs Library Above: Mist Flower (Eupatorium coelestinum) Call us at (228) 475-7047 Or check out our Facebook page! Pa ge 4 B a you B uzz Volume 3, Issue I Meet our Staff: Avery Sward Please join us in welcoming Grand degree from USM and Mississippi Bay NERR’s new Education Gulf Coast Community College in Coordinator, Avery Sward. Avery Biology. Avery also taught laboratory coordinates all K-12, outreach, and classes and worked in the community educational events. She herpetology laboratory at USM. collaborates with different sectors at While in Hattiesburg, she actively the Grand Bay NERR to integrate volunteered at Lake Thoreau current research and training into the Environmental Center by assisting with educational programs.