Member Highlight: The Nature Conservancy - Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve

Last week I had the opportunity to visit The Nature Conservancy's Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. Heidi Nedreberg, who is the head of the education and outreach programs at the preserve, let me tag along for one of their volunteer training days.

Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve Pavillion

Photo by Nicole Thomas

If you have never been to the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve, I highly recommend it. The preserve is located on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake, in the Layton area, and features over a mile of boardwalks that loop through the wetlands. There is a massive outdoor pavilion with educational signs about the various birds that live on and migrate though the preserve. There is also a look-out tower at the far end of the boardwalk perfect for bird-watching.

On my visit, I got to interact with some of the volunteer naturalists that lead the tours that come to the preserve. Most of these groups are participating in the Wings and Water Program, an award-winning, hands-on wetlands education program designed to meet state science core curriculum standards for 4th grade students. Part of the Wings and Water Program is a visit to the preserve where students can discover the wetlands in a naturalist guided tour.

Bird Migration Signs at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve

Photo by Nicole Thomas

While we were out discussing various techniques of engaging students in different areas along the boardwalk, we also saw many different birds out in the wetlands and marshes. Red winged black birds, a blue heron, mallards, pelicans and several other flocks that I wasn't quick enough to catch their names. We found a garter snake near the supply shed and we even heard several frogs singing as we were packing up to head home.

So if you are looking for a fun place to take your family for a little outdoor discovery, a field trip for your 4th graders, a place to bird-watch and discover the migratory birds that come through the Salt Lake fly-way, or somewhere peaceful to stretch your legs and get outside, come and check out the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve! The preserve is always open, and the new visitor's center is now open every day from 7am - 8pm.  Hope to see you there!

Credits: All photos courtesy and copyright of Nicole Thomas

2010 HOUSEHOLD ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DAY

Thursday, April 22, 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
University Services Building parking lot (immediately west of the Huntsman Center)
Free and open to the campus community and all Salt Lake City and County residents

Take advantage of this opportunity to properly and easily dispose of your unwanted or obsolete electronics items at no charge. Please bring personal items only; businesses are not eligible to participate, and University equipment must be retired through University Surplus and Salvage.

Many discarded electronics contain hazardous materials, and as the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S., nearly 400 million units a year will be discarded by 2010. Obsolete electronic equipment isn't usually accepted by thrift stores or charities, so responsible disposal of reusable components is sometimes challenging. Take advantage of this opportunity! Sponsors include the Salt Lake City Corporation and the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. For event details, visit www.sustainability.utah.edu.

All items collected will be responsibly recycled by Metech, a certified e-steward company. Learn more about electronics disposal issues at www.ban.org. This event is one of the many campus events celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Visit http://earthday.org/ for more information.

Birdhouse Competition at Ogden Nature Center

The Ogden Nature Center is proud to announce its 17th Annual Birdhouse Exhibit, opening on Saturday, April 17 and showing through August 31, 2010. The public is invited to stroll down Birdhouse Lane to view this year’s 24 entries along with the Nature Center’s permanent collection of over 100 birdhouses. The birdhouse competition was designed to demonstrate ways to attract wildlife to backyards by creating unique, aesthetically pleasing habitats. Entries range from whimsical to practical.

Exhibition Display runs from April 17 through August 31, 2010. The Ogden Nature Center is open Monday through Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-4 Admission is free for Nature Center members $2.00 for children 2-11, $4.00 for adults, and $3.00 for seniors.

Bird on the Run

Bird Yurt

Celebrate EE Week!

Celebrate EE Week - become a professional member now at 1/2 price!
Sunday, April 11 - Saturday, April 17, 2010

Have you ever wanted to be more involved with the Utah Society for Environmental Education? Have you thought about becoming a member, but never made the leap? Now is your chance!

USEE is offering 1/2 priced Professional and discounted Student/Retired memberships during EE Week!!

Why become a member of the Utah Society for Environmental Education?

By becoming a member of USEE, you are joining a growing group that supports high quality environmental education throughout the state and your community. You are also gaining a network of other formal and non-formal environmental educators and community leaders who are helping to build a strong future for Utah's diverse communities to be engaged in the development of an environmentally literate citizenry. And did we mention the networking opportunities that await you?

Not convinced yet? Click here for a list of membership benefits!


So what are you waiting for? Become a professional member of USEE today!


What is EE Week?

National Environmental Education Week is a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation and the nation's largest environmental education event. Held each year the week before Earth Day, EE Week inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students by connecting educators with environmental resources to promote students' understanding of the environment.

EE Week is "a time to get involved in lessons and activities that teach valuable environmental skills."
--- Lisa Jackson (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator)


Good News!

Governor Gary Herbert declared April 11 - April 17, 2010 as Utah Environmental Education Week!

Thank you to USEE Member Ron Hellstern for getting the ball rolling and contacting Governor Herbert about EE Week!

Wild About Utah: Spring's Earliest Butterflies

Utah's earliest solar collectors are smaller than a credit card; their carbon footprints are likewise tiny. They convert the sun's energy to heat, not electricity, and they self multiply. I am referring to butterflies, particularly those that can be found flying on sunny days of late winter while our snow still lingers.

Our earliest butterflies transformed to adults last fall and have spent the winter wedged in nooks and crannies, such as cracks in deadwood or under flaps of bark. The butterflies’ names are generally more colorful than their appearance: red admirals, painted ladies, mourning cloaks, tortoise shells, commas and question marks. Their wing edges are scalloped and irregular, the topsides patterned or banded in tawny browns and muted oranges sometimes edged with yellow or red. Beneath, they tend to be camouflaged with patterns in shades of brown like a moldering leaf.

Being insects, butterflies generate little metabolic heat, so for warmth they quite literally turn to the sun on chilly spring days. Watch where they land and you will see them with their wings folded over their backs, their stance and tilt perfectly aligning their wings perpendicular to the sun's rays. The sunshine that they intercept warms their bodies and enables them to fly even when the air is cold. Butterflies of early spring often fuel their flights with the sugars of tree sap where it leaks from a bark injury.

The mourning cloak butterfly is particularly recognizable, it's rich brown wings edged with gold like gilt paint. If you see a mourning cloak flying among willows, watch carefully, for the females will be laying their tiny eggs singly on the tips of young emerging willow leaves. Like our migratory birds, the appearance of these early butterflies are living harbingers of the spring to come, a welcome sight indeed.

This is Linda Kervin for Bridgerland Audubon Society.

Satyr Angelwing Butterfly
Photo by Jim Cane 2010

Mourning Cloak Butterfly
Photo by Don Rolfs 2010

Red Admiral Butterfly
Thomas G. Barnes
US FWS Digital Library

Question Mark Butterfly
Thomas G. Barnes
US FWS Digital Library

Painted Lady Butterfly
Thomas G. Barnes
US FWS Digital Library

Credits:

Pictures: Don Rolfs
Jim Cane, Bridgerland Audubon Society
Thomas G. Barnes, US FWS

Text: Jim Cane, Bridgerland Audubon Society

Wild About Utah is a weekly nature series produced by Utah Public Radio in cooperation with Stokes Nature Center and Bridgerland Audubon Society. Archives of the program can be found at www.wildaboututah.org.

Celebrate National Environmental Education Week April 11-17, 2010

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, inspired by young people, encourages participation in National Environmental Education Week -- "a time to get involved in lessons and activities that teach valuable environmental skills."

National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation and the nation's largest environmental education event. Held each year the week before Earth Day, EE Week inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students by connecting educators with environmental resources to promote students' understanding of the environment.

Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet

The Utah DEQ is hosting several drop-off locations for medication disposal. Check it out:

Utahans will have an opportunity to drop off their unused prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs on April 24 at various locations throughout the state.

“Proper drug disposal is so important for the environment and for our health and safety,” said Leah Ann Lamb, assistant director of the Division of Water Quality. “Flushing medicines down the toilet or sink enter the water because some wastewater treatment plants aren’t designed to remove them. And, medications could be stolen if they are thrown away in the garbage.”

Because proper disposal is so important, the University of Utah Poison Control Center and many others have teamed up with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to provide “drive-up and drop-off” community collection events for Utah households on April 24, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the following locations:

* Cottonwood Heights: Smith’s Parking Lot, 3470 Bengal Blvd.
* Heber City: Smith’s Parking Lot, 550 N. Main St.
* Herriman: Smith’s Parking Lot, 5560 W. 1300 South
* Midvale: Hillcrest High School, 7350 S. 900 East
* Park City: Recycle Utah Parking Lot, 1951 Woodbine Way.
* Price: Sutherlands Parking Lot, 406 Highway 55.
* Salt Lake City: Salt Lake County Government Center, south parking lot, 2001 South State St.

The Utah County SMART coalition is also separately sponsoring community events, the following drop-off dates and locations are:

Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* Orem Utah Valley University, northwest parking lot, 1200 W. 800 South
* Provo Walgreens, 1315 N. State St.

Saturday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* Orem Walgreens, 850 S. State St.
* Orem Walgreens, 763 N. State St.
* Pleasant Grove Walgreens, 815 W. State Road
* Lehi Walgreens, 102 N. 1200 East
* Saratoga Springs Walgreens, 1410 N. Redwood Road
* Lindon City, Police Department, 100 N. State St.

Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* Springville Walgreens, 420 S. Main
* Payson Walgreens, 132 N. Main

For more information on proper disposal, please visit: http://www.medicationdisposal.utah.gov/

Download National Geographic for free!

Did you know you can download the April issue of National Geographic for free? This single topic issue, "Water: Our Thirsty Planet," highlights the challenges facing this critical resource. By downloading the free copy here, you can see all the content in the print version, plus additional photo galleries, rollover graphics, animated features, and other online benefits.

Fresh water is a critical resource to our planet. We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to download and read this issue, and become better informed about the water challenges we face as a planet today.