We welcome Blue Mountain Wildlife to the links table on Berks County Nature. Blue Mountain Wildlife Incorporated was formed to preserve the natural areas at Kernsville Dam on the Schuylkill River, helps maintain the Hamburg-to-Port Clinton portion of the Bartram Trial, and sponsors educational programs. To learn more about this organization visit their website above. "The Mission of Blue Mountain Wildlife, Incorporated, is the preservation and conservation of the wildlife and wetlands along the scenic Schuylkill River."

To continue in February 2015 (when weather permits).            Wednesday    2 - 4 pm

February 13, 2015             Friday 7:30 PM
Birds of Indiantown Gap by David McNaughton. Fort Indiantown Gap has been called the largest and highest quality native warm-season grasslands in the state. Learn about the use and occupation of the Gap for breeding, wintering, and migration of species such as the Chuck-will's-widow, Eastern Whip-poor-wil, Golden-winged Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, and many more. Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, PA-625 2 miles south of PA-724. All Welcome. Free.

Spotted LanternflyThere is a QUARANTINE for District, Herford, Pike, Rockland, and Washington Townships in Berks County, PA.
All residents and visitors (such as hikers and hunters) to these townships and nearby areas should keep a lookout for these insects. Currently adults have died and egg masses are overwintering on tree trunks, rocks, fence posts, and other smooth surfaces. Pictures are at the web page below. ALL SIGHTINGS should be reported to the phone or email list on that page.

An excellent printable checklist by Penn State extension with good photographs of all the life stages plus an inspection checklist you should use before moving items out of the quarantined area is available at Spotted Lanternfly Checklist with Photos

This insect (a plant hopper native to SE Asia) was discovered for the first time in North America in September 2014. It is a potential threat to an array of plants from herbaceous plants to trees not only locally, but for the continent. Grapes are especially impacted and the insect prefers to feed on and lay eggs on Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus) at this time of year. The PA Agriculture web page for this insect is at Spotted Lanternfly. That page has links to the "Pest Alert" and quarantine regulations. The "Pest Alert" page has photographs of all the life stages and lists some plant hosts. Citizen scientists can report sightings or collected specimens to the automated Invasive Species Hotline at 1-866-253-7189 listed there or photographs may be sent to Badbug@pa.gov. A PDF of the study of the insect in Korea is available at Spotted Lanternfly - Korea

Outside by Mike Slater is a nature column which appears weekly in the Berks Country insert of the Wednesday Reading Eagle. Links to these articles can be found at the Outside page of Berks Country.

The Weekend section of the Thursday issue of the Reading Eagle includes a "To Do" list which includes natural history activities.