CALLING ALL NATURALISTS AND NATURALIST WANNA-BEs to
"WEDNESDAYS in the WILD"
Natural History Talks/Workshops/Field Trips 1-3p.m. or As Noted
JANUARY – MARCH 2012
Jan 11th 1-3pm “Fire: Friend or Foe—An Ecological Perspective” ----------------------- indoor pgm—LNC
A fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of fire’s effects on natural landscapes will be provided by
Drew Daily (State Fire Supervisor, IDNR Division of Forestry).
Jan 18th 7-9p by Wildlife Ecologist Harmon (Mickey) Weeks, Jr. on free-ranging cats, which have been shown to be
a major detriment to populations of songbirds and other wildlife. Recent evidence also suggests problems with disease
transmission to both wildlife and humans. All persons interested in wildlife should campaign to keep cats indoors.
Jan 25th 7-9pm “Asteroid & Comet Impacts on Earth: The Kentland Connection” ---- indoor pgm—LNC
Dr. Jay Melosh (Purdue Professor of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences) will present the nature of asteroids
and comets in our solar system, including a discussion of the world-class impact crater created by an asteroid
in Kentland, IN, sometime within the last 400 million years!
Feb 1st 1-3pm “Is it an Opossum or a Possum? The Life History of the Virginia (O)possum” -- indoor—LNC
Come learn about the behavior & natural history of North America’s only native marsupial! Bill Beatty (graduate
student in Purdue’s Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources) will also highlight the techniques used to study
opossums, and other native animals, in the wild.
Feb 8th 1-3pm “Bringing Back the Bluebird (and Bluebird Box Construction)” --------- indoor pgm—LNC
Tippecanoe Co. Park & Rec Dept Naturalist Mary Cutler & Property Manager Brenda Moore team up
to discuss the natural history of this delightful songbird, with tips & techniques for becoming a “bluebird landlord.”
IF making a bluebird box, BRING $15 materials fee for one/$25 for two, and a HAMMER. (Limited scholarships available.)
Feb 15th 1-3pm “Healthy Rivers INitiative: Building an Indiana Conservation Legacy” indoor pgm—LNC
Angie Tilton (IDNR’s Healthy Rivers INitiative Liaison) will provide an overview of the HRI, Indiana’s largest
land conservation project, which aims to protect a total of 69,000 acres in two of Indiana’s major watersheds!
Feb 22nd 1-3pm “A Veterinarian’s Alaskan Experiences” --------------------------------- indoor pgm—
LNC
Dr. Paul Snyder (Professor in Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine) will share the saga of his ongoing
study of the impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters and other Alaskan wildlife.
Feb 29th 1-3pm “Nature’s Notebook: The Fascination of Phenology” ------------------ indoor pgm—LNC
Celebrate the extra day in 2012’s calendar by exploring nature’s calendar of events: the recurring cycle of plant
and animal events known as phenology. Naturalist Mary Cutler will also provide information about citizen scientist
opportunities related to nature note-taking!
Mar 7th 1-3pm “The Distribution of Native Prairie & Barrens Plant Communities in Indiana” ----- indoor—LNC
News Channel 18’s Chief Meteorologist Chad Evans looks at how prairie & barrens developed so far east and how
historic & prehistoric climate and geology influenced the distribution of these native plant communities in Indiana.
Mar 14th 5:30-7:30pm ”Frog Monitoring Workshop”----- BRING FLASHLIGHT ----- indoor/outdoor pgm—LNC
Dr. Robert Brodman (Biology Professor at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer) will give an indoor presentation
on the hows and whys of monitoring frogs, including frog calls, followed by outdoor monitoring of Celery Bog frogs!
Mar 21st 7:30-9:30pm “Sounds of Spring-Wacky Woodcocks”-Flashlight/Binoculars -- outdoor pgm—AMPH
Experience this spring ritual with Naturalist Mary Cutler & members of the Sycamore Audubon Society.
Mar 28th 7-9pm “Biodiversity of Indiana Longhorned Beetles” -------------------------- indoor pgm—
LNC
Jeffrey Holland (Purdue Entomology Associate Professor) will give a presentation on longhorned beetles,
Cerambycidae, a very diverse beetle family with many adaptations to different life histories.
LOCATIONS of these FREE PROGRAMS which are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
AMPH (Tipp Co Amphitheater): Meet in parking lot on east side of North River Rd, near Soldiers Home Rd in West Lafayette.
LNC (Lilly Nature Center/Celery Bog Nature Area): On north side of Lindberg Rd, between Northwestern and McCormick in WL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION or TO HELP WITH PLANNING, contact:
Mary Cutler 765-567-2993, Dan Dunten 765-775-5172, Joan Mohr Samuels 765-567-7023; mohrsamuels@comcast.net
SPONSORED BY
Mary Cutler, Naturalist, Tippecanoe County Park & Rec Dept. — Sycamore Audubon Society — NICHES Land Trust
Dan Dunten, Stewardship Manager, West Lafayette Parks & Rec Dept. — West Central Chapter of INPAWS