Snake Day

By Peter Gordon, Education Director

Of all the programs, workshops, camps, seminars, educational series and other worthwhile endeavors that Elachee undertakes, none are as effective a “friend raiser” as Snake Day.

1,600 snake aficionados from Hall County, Metro Atlanta, and beyond joined us at Elachee for a day of perfect weather, contagiously friendly and knowledgeable members of the Georgia Herpetological Society and one dedicated member of the Alabama Herpetological Society (Thanks folks, we couldn’t do it without you!), their beautiful animals, informed and gracious presenters and our professionally talented and innately wonderful Elachee staff.

Thanks also to our volunteers who sacrificed a perfect late summer day to help us celebrate all things herpetological.

Viva Snake Day!

Science in the Chicopee Woods

By:  Michelle Cash,  Ecology Student & Elachee Intern

I’m performing a year-long analysis of reptile and amphibian species of the Chicopee Woods/Elachee Nature Center area.   I am starting the analysis at Chicopee Lake because of the large wetland habitat. I am setting up cover boards and other traps to capture and identify species.

The idea is to compare the species I find with species that should be in this area.

Rain Gardens: A Beautiful Solution to Run-off & Pollution

Droughts aside, Northeast Georgia is blessed with an abundance of water.

Our area averages nearly 50 inches of rain each year. Of that total, 35 inches evaporates, 6 inches infiltrates the earth to become groundwater, and almost 9 inches becomes run-off. The pace of run-off is key. In the Chicopee Woods, most rainfall is slowed by the tall trees before it strikes the earth. The leaf cover and ground plants trap the water and then allow it to slowly percolate into the soil or into nearby creeks. Erosion is kept to a minimum and soil and water resources are well protected by this system.

Green Tips

Want to be “green”?  You can live lightly on the Earth  and save money.

You need to be aware of the impact your lifestyle has on the environment and know your options. It’s all about making thoughtful choices.

Here are some Tips to get you started:

• Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight or when you go on vacation).
• Recycle. Goto Earth911 to learn where.  Remember to buy products that use recyclable materials whenever possible.

• Take your batteries to a recycling center.
• Take used CFL bulbs to Lowe’s or Ikea to properly dispose of them

Reduce & Reuse. Reduce your environmental impact- Recycling is great, but Reusing is even better!

• Reuse your water bottle. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics. Elachee has neat BPA free water bottles available online.
• Plastic food containers make good crayon and marker holders.

Habitat Restoration in the Chicopee Woods

Riparian areas in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve are under attack by exotic invasive plants. They are causing loss of habitat for native wildlife, and loss of plant diversity in the park.

An invasive species is any species that is not native to a given ecosystem; and whose presence causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Since invasive species are in a new environment, free from the natural predators, parasites, or competitors of their native habitats, they often develop very high populations. These large populations can out-compete and displace native species, and can reduce wildlife food and habitat. Some invasive species can reduce tree growth rates, and restrict tree seedling establishment and forest succession.

Elachee works to control exotic invasive plants to restore and protect important wildlife habitats, enhance biodiversity, and safeguard high priority (rare) plants. Educating the public about the adverse impacts caused by exotic invasive species will also contribute to the long-term restoration efforts in the watershed.

Chicopee Woods is an Important Bird Area

In 2001, the National Audubon Society designated the 1500-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve an Important Bird Area (IBA). This designation recognizes the Nature Preserve as an essential area for migrating and nesting birds.

The IBA Program is an international undertaking designed to identify essential areas for birds around the globe. Many species are decreasing in number due in large part to destruction of habitat. North American migrants, called neotropicals, are especially vulnerable because they face challenges in both North America and their South and Central American winter habitats.

Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve Legally Protected

In 2001, The Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission approved a conservation easement for the 1500 acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve, with Elachee Nature Science Center to serve as the Land Trust holding the easement.

Although designated as a scenic area and used by the public as well as Elachee’s visiting school groups and day camps, the land was not legally protected from development until the conservation easement was granted. Appointing Elachee as the trustee for the easement in perpetuity means that the Center and the Park Commission will share responsibility for maintaining the Preserve in its natural state.