Press Release
From Roan Mountain State Park:
Roan Mountain 56th annual Spring Naturalists Rally
scheduled for Friday through Sunday, April 25 – 27
Sponsored by the Friends of Roan Mountain, the rally continues the tradition of offering nature enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy field trips and engaging programs that cover many aspects of the natural history of Roan Mountain and the surrounding area. Past participants will notice a few new field trips, including one Saturday afternoon lead by our Friday night speaker Dan Dourson, mixed in with perennial favorites.
Evening programs and the lunch-time workshops will take place in Roan Mountain State Park’s Conference Center throughout the weekend at varied times, and field trips will leave from the field on the left before entrance to the cabins in the park.
Because of the continued support of the Friends of Roan Mountain, the Naturalists Rallies have the resources they need to prosper and grow. The Friends of Roan Mountain also provides support for research and restoration projects on the Roan. Consider joining the Friends of Roan Mountain, if you are not a member. Members receive free admission to all Naturalists Rally events and our newsletter, “Friends of Roan Mountain.” The Friends of Roan Mountain thanks Roan Mountain State Park for their long-time support of the Naturalists Rallies.
Our Friday evening program will be presented by Daniel C. Dourson – “Of Ice Thorns, Tree Crotches and Love Darts: Shelled Creatures of the Southern Appalachians.” Did you know that some snails are covered in long “hair-like” structures? That the slime of some snails will fluoresce under UV light? That the slime from snails is used to treat skin disorders? Join wildlife biologist, naturalist and natural history author, Dan Dourson, as he shares his passion for the shelled creatures of the southern Appalachians, the land snails. Dan, who has been studying land snails in the Southern Appalachians for nearly 20 years, recently described 4 new species of land snails from the area including the globally endangered Roan Mountain endemic, Roan Covert, Fumonelix roanensis. Learn of the intricate delicate features that separate these creatures and find out what love darts, ice thorns, and tree crotches have to do with these organisms. Join Dan in the field on Saturday afternoon for an exciting field trip to search for these jewels of the forest leaf litter.
On Saturday evening, we welcome Bob Hale, whose program, “Spring Wildflowers and Native Orchids,” will provide a colorful look at some of the unique species that make their home in the southern Appalachians. Bob’s interest in wildflowers began with making slides of spring wildflowers in the late 1960’s. This interest expanded to photographing wildflowers throughout the growing season. While working as a chemist at Eastman Chemical Company for 33 years, he was a member of the Eastman Camera Club for over 25 years, where he served as president, held several other offices, and taught numerous photography classes. Bob has used SLR cameras for many years, taking both slides and negatives for prints. With the coming of the digital age, he switched to digital in 2004. Bob’s program will feature a sampling of his digital images of wildflowers including a special focus on numerous native orchids. The collection of images are taken from many nearby locations in the southern Appalachians including Grayson Highlands, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Unaka Mt., Buffalo Mt., Cherokee National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, middle Tennessee, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bob is also an avid gardener, growing a wide variety of annuals, perennials, spring bulbs, and shrubs. He developed a strong interest in daylilies and has been growing, hybridizing and selling them for more than 40 years.
Plan to spend a weekend in Roan Mountain April 25 – 27 and enjoy a weekend full of outdoor activities presented by very knowledgeable leaders. For additional information, please contact Jennifer Bauer at 423-543-5808, James Neves at 706-224-3355, or Roan Mountain State Park at 423-772-0190. Visit us online at www.friendsofroanmtn.org or www.facebook.com/FriendsOfRoanMountain
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014
Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center
5:30 pm Registration
6:30 pm Dinner – **Pre-paid Reservations are required and must be received by Tuesday, April 22nd.
Catered by City Market, Elizabethton, TN. ($9.00/adults; $5.00/12 & under): Grilled or Breaded Chicken, Vegetable selection, salad, bread, dessert, drink.7:30 pm Program – Daniel C. Dourson
Of Ice Thorns, Tree Crotches and Love Darts: Shelled Creatures of the Southern Appalachians9:00 pm Moth Party (E/KF)
Larry McDanielSATURDAY, April 26, 2014
Unless otherwise noted**, field trips will depart from the field on the left of the Cabin area entrance:
Morning Field Trips:
6:00 am Nature Photography – Sunrise at Carver’s Gap (M)
Jerry Greer
** Meet at Carver’s Gap – Bring your camera **6:30 am Early Birds at Hampton Creek Cove (E/CP)
Lee & Lois Herndon Bird Club
** Meet at State Park Welcome Center **8:30 am
1 Birds of Roan Mountain (E/CP)
Lee & Lois Herndon Bird Club
2 Jones Falls Hike (S/CP)
** Hike is approximately 3 miles **
Marty Silver
3 River & High Mountain Wildflowers (E/CP)
Guy Mauldin
4 Nature Photography (E/CP)
Jerry Greer
5 Tree Identification Basics (H/KF)
Meg Guy
6 Birding for Beginners (E/KF/CP)
Joe McGuinessRoan Mountain State Park Conference Center
11:00 – 1:30 pm Lunchtime Workshop
Fossil Casting for All Ages
Mick Whitelaw and the ETSU Dept. of Geology and Geoscience Club12:00 pm Lunch:
Bag lunches are available by pre-paid reservation only. Choice of sandwich (see form), chips, cookie, drink – $6.00. Reserve by Tuesday, April 22nd.12:30 pm Program – Marty Silver
DragonfliesAfternoon Field Trips:
2:00 pm
1 Land Snails and Invertebrates (E/KF)
Dan Dourson
2 Nature Walk for Everybody (H/KF/CP)
Pat Gagan
3 Wildflowers and Trees of the Twin Springs/Hackline Cross Trail (M/CP)
David Hall
4 Reptiles and Amphibians of Roan Mountain (E/KF/CP)
Jacob Young
5 Baatany Goat Project & Roan’s Unique Alder Bald (M/CP)
Jamey Donaldson
6 Aquatic Insects as Water Quality Indicators (E/KF/W)
Gary Barrigar
7 Butterflies and Insects (E/KF/CP)
Larry McDanielEvening Activities:
Roan Mtn. State Park Conference Center6:30 pm Dinner – **Pre-paid Reservations are required and must be received by Tuesday, April 22nd.
Catered by City Market, Elizabethton, TN ($9.00/Adults, $5.00/12 and under): Roast Pork or Veggie Lasagna, Vegetable selection, salad, bread, dessert, drink.7:30 pm Program – Bob Hale
Spring Wildflowers and Native Orchids9:00 pm Viewing the Summer Skies (E/KF/CP)
** Event at the Dave Miller Homestead **
Gary Henson, ETSU
9:00 pm Moth Party (E/KF)
Larry McDanielSUNDAY, April 27, 2014
Unless otherwise noted, field trips will depart from the field on the left of the Cabin area entrance:Morning Field Trips:
8:30 am
1 Birds of Hampton Creek Cove (M/CP/KF)
James Neves
2 Doe River Gorge Wildflowers & Geology (M/CP)
** All-day hike; bring water, lunch, and rain gear **
Gabrielle Zeiger & Mick WhitelawAfternoon Field Trips:
2:00 pm
1 Salamanders (E/KF/CP)
Dale Ledford
2 Butterflies and Insects (E/KF/W/CP)
Don HoltKey for Hikes and Tours
E – Easy; M – Moderate; S – Strenuous;
H – Handicap Accessible.
CP – Carpooling; KF – Kid Friendly
W – Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet.
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