Hi all! Welcome to my iteration of the blog that interns keep up during their time with BCCDKY! While with everything going on with regards to COVID-19 we have been treading some new ground, I’m sure that this summer will still be as loaded with fun and conservation education as any other.

I officially started with BCCDKY on May 18th and when I say we hit the ground running, we hit the ground running. On my first day, Susan (the conservation district’s Conservation Education Specialist and who I’ll be reporting to for the duration of my internship) showed me the ropes and immediately introduced me to the district’s ongoing bat monitoring research and the tech that goes along with it.  Since then I’ve been working on going through the sound files that BCCD’s monitors have recorded while in the field and identifying potential bat calls, Susan and I have also been working to further the district’s bat research.  

Along with the district’s bat research, my other big project since coming on board was picking out/assembling the craft bags that were handed out at the trunk-a-tree event that took place on May 30th!  Beyond those two major items, Susan and I have also been busy in the field assisting SD1 with wetland maintenance, assessing the beaver population at Conservancy Park, and tracking sasquatch!!!

Looking forward into the summer, Susan and I have also been discussing what my independent project as part of my internship will look like (there’s a hint of what it might be in my bio under the intern section on BCCDKY.org).  For now, you guys are all caught up to speed, so I’ll see you at the end of June!

Sincerely,

Joe Pedro

Hello again! It is round two of my blog posts, and my final post before my internship comes to an end. The 160 hours I spent with the BCCDKY have been an amazing learning opportunity that has come to an end, all too soon. My plan, post-graduation, is to find a career in environmental education. The skills I learned from BCCDKY over the past few months are sure to benefit me as I move on to a career. Since my first post I have been involved in a variety of projects. There simply is not enough time to tell every detail, so I will let you in on the highlights of the last few months.

On October second, I had the opportunity to participate in an eDNA study of Gunpowder Creek. The goal was to prove the rumors that the elusive hellbender salamanders were living in the area. For those who are not familiar with eDNA, it is a DNA sample collected from the environment instead of directly from an individual organism. In this instance the sample was collected by filtering water samples. The filter paper was collected and further processed in the lab to confirm or refute the rumors of the hellbender’s existence in the creek. We are still awaiting the results of the study but will hopefully share news soon!

The other major project going on was the opening of a birding trail at Conservancy Park. After getting my hands dirty during some trail maintenance, I was inspired to incorporate birds into a lesson plan for the environmental outreach programs. I chose to create a lesson that focuses on beak adaptations and how specialization allows birds to fulfill a specific niche in the ecosystem. The highlight of the lesson was the seven-station activity. Each station had a unique food source that students had to collect by choosing the best tool. Each tool represented the different types of beaks birds could have. For example, chopsticks were used to simulate the beak of a woodcock. Their long beaks allow them to reach deep into soil to find worms. It was fulfilling to see the lesson come full circle, from an idea to a successful activity that made learning enjoyable for all involved.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my experiences with you.

~Julie

Hello! My name is Julie Arlinghaus and I am majoring in Environmental Science at Northern Kentucky University. Welcome to my blog following my journey as an intern with the Boone County Conservation District. This is my first internship so welcome to the real world of getting up early and heading to work. However, so far, my journey has not felt much like work. I suppose that is what happens when one is doing something, they are passionate about.

The first few days of my journey entailed of running through the Boone County fields catching butterflies and getting in touch with my creative side. As many may know, the Monarch butterfly migration is underway in the tristate. Like many of Kentucky’s snowbirds who flock to Florida each year to escape Kentucky’s relentless winter wonderland of cold, snowy conditions; many of these beauties have begun their travels towards Mexico’s warm weather. In order to better understand this fascinating phenomenon, Monarchs are tagged with small stickers that adhere to their wings. That is where I come in, or should I say run in? Chasing down these little guys can be quite exhausting. Who knew something so small could move so fast and fly so high with ease? When I finally chased down my first Monarch, I was disappointed to learn it was just its look-a-like, the Viceroy. Eventually, I hope to tag my first Monarch. Until then, I am enjoying helping the next generation learn about these butterflies and other insects through the environmental education programs offered by the district. These interactive lesson plans incorporate learning, a hands-on activity, and a craft. It is inspiring to see kids who are so enthusiastic about our environment and to see them chasing down butterflies in hopes of catching their very first Monarch. I look forward to learning and seeing what is instore for me next.

Until next time,

Julie

Fall is magical. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, the leaves are changing, bonfires are blazing, and the air is cool (although not cold yet). Fall is that special season when school starts again, but when it lets out each day everyone flocks to the outdoors to soak up Mother Nature’s love. At least, that’s how I remember fall being when I was younger. These days, it seems that even as the weather remains comfortable, people are staying inside. Whether it’s to knock out a few levels of a video game or catch up on or binge-watch a TV show, many of our favorite activities are indoors. Fall just doesn’t feel quite as synonymous with the outdoors as it used to. Our modern technological world often seems at odds with spending time outside, as our charging cords only reach so far and our screen brightness just can’t compete with the shine of the sun. However, using a smartphone can help us get acquainted with our local wildlife.

So when you find yourself wrestling with your family members to put down their screens and get outside, you might be asking yourself, “What is so good about getting outside anyway?” Our environment not only provides us with food, raw materials, and medicine, but experiencing nature and its diversity has been found to have positive impacts for us such as improving physical health from increased activity and reducing our exposure to pollution. Spending time in nature can also give us mental health benefits such as feelings of calmness and happiness, increased creativity through inspiration, and personal growth through reflection and connectedness with nature.

With urbanization and the increasing presence of technology in our lives, we can still strengthen our awareness and knowledge of local birds and our connection with nature (and maybe even with some of our neighbors once we get outside) through the use of technology via smartphone apps. Using a smartphone and mobile apps for learning bird species gives you access to pictures, videos, and audio to identify them. I use two apps myself to identify birds, the Merlin Bird ID and Audubon Bird Guide, which are free to download and are available for both Apple and Android phones. Each one generates a list of possible bird species based on the information you enter, and in my own experience using these apps I found that both showed the correct bird species as the #1 suggestion the majority of the time. Even when we might not be all too familiar with the birds and nature we see outside our windows, we can have the technology right at our fingertips to get to know our local wildlife a bit better.

With time spent in nature showing a wealth of positive outcomes towards human life, we might ask ourselves what interactions can lead to a better connection with nature and perhaps how we can incorporate technology into the experience. Studies have shown that communities felt more satisfied with the well-being of their neighborhoods in relation to the number and variety of bird species around, as well as in relation to the number of species they knew. Birdwatching has become a popular leisure activity, and increases in birdwatching have been suggested to be a result of people’s growing concern for the environment and the expansion of urbanization. As our populations shift more towards cities, keeping an eye out for birds flitting by can be an impactful way to remain connected to nature. So remember this fall when you’re asking yourself “How can I get my family outside and experiencing nature?” like the saying goes, there is an app for that.

Hello! Sadly, this will be my last post for the BCCDKY. Summer flies by and it’s back to hitting the books.

The second half of the summer internship consisted of LEAF Academy and research.

This year was the first camp we hosted for 13-15 year olds, and I would say it was a success. LEAF Academy was held by the BCCDKY and the Boone County Parks Department (which means we got to work with Kevin!) Both students and staff enjoyed learning about the environment and being surrounded by nature. The first day we took the kids on a Bioblitz through Middle Creek Park. A Bioblitz is similar to a hike, except, rather than simply enjoying the fresh air, we identify the different organisms that we see. This not only helps us to practice the important skill of identification, but also lets us know what lives and grows in the area. The rest of the week was filled with activities like snorkeling, orienteering, and even a field trip to Salato Wildlife Center. The kids (myself included) spent a bright morning learning how to fly fish – for some, it was their first time fishing.  The kids, including some of the staff, expanded their knowledge and gained a deeper respect for the environment. 

The other part of the summer was spent conducting research on the endangered Eastern Hellbender Salamander. Hellbenders are North America’s largest fully aquatic salamander, reaching up to 24 inches long. However, their populations have been drastically declining since the 1980s, by over 80%. Sources that threaten hellbenders include: pollution and alteration of waterways, sedimentation, anglers, and habitat destruction. My fantastic herp-loving partner, Kelli Hill, and I worked on the future head-start program at the Thomas More Biology Field Station. A head-start program, such as the one at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, obtains hellbenders as eggs, rears them until they are 2-3 years old, then releases them into the wild.  Our project focused on characterizing the historic sites for hellbenders in Northern Kentucky to test the viability of repopulating those areas. Thus we began the search for potential reintroduction sites as part of the head-start program to increase wild population levels. We found that, of the three sites we analyzed, the third site had sufficient habitat best suited to hellbenders, in addition to being the least disturbed by anthropogenic activity. You can read more about my research here.

Here and there were some scattered events and programs. One warm afternoon we helped the awesome intern, Cayla, teach a homeschool group about invasive species. A different day we helped the KY State Nature Preserve post bat detectors in Boone County to observe which species are present. This past week we worked a booth at the county fair, which if you didn’t see it this year, it was the best booth there. True story. 

In a way, the fair marks the end of the summer and also the end of my internship. I can say with full confidence that this was the best summer by far, all thanks to my folks at the BCCDKY, Boone County Parks, and SD1/TMU Field Station. They are not only great co-workers, but are also a great family. I am really going to miss everyone. I’ve learned so much and have grown more confident as a rising environmental scientist; they have inspired me to pursue the conservation/restoration field. For the next intern they take on: don’t worry, you’re in good hands. I also want to thank all the readers for taking their time to learn a little about me and this wonderful job. I hope you are as motivated as I am to conserve and protect our beautiful natural resources. 

Best wishes,

Jessi Urichich

Hello! Welcome to my blog documenting my summer internship with the BCCDKY and what we do. I have never written a blog before, so I apologize in advance if it’s a little rough.  

If you checked out my bio, you know that I was an intern at the Thomas More Biology Field Station last summer. I was part of the Stream Team, working with the Sanitation District No. 1 (SD1) and the BCCDKY to monitor Northern Kentucky’s streams by collecting biological, physical, and chemical data. This work inspired me to apply to the BCCDKY this summer where I could continue to protect watersheds and educate others about conservation. This summer I am also a part-time intern with the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) team at the station.

Basically I do what Kevin did, but during the summer. So far I’ve helped out with educational programs teaching kids, leading a group during Conservation Kids Camp, picking up trash for River Sweep, and helping the Boone County Farm Tour run smoothly. There are some odd jobs here and there, like rescuing a baby racoon or searching for an endangered plant species. Other aspects of the job includes working with SD1 and the Stream Team collecting macroinvertebrates and monitoring the stream banks. 

Conservation Kids Camp was a blast! The kids loved learning about nature. This year the theme was insects; my group was called the Hellgrammites (aka the Dobsonfly), my favorite insect. One of my favorite parts of the camp was watching the kids completely change their outlook on bugs. Originally they thought bugs were “creepy and gross,” but after holding a hissing cockroach or a giant millipede in their hands they realized there is nothing to be afraid of. Once they passed the insects around, they were arguing about who got to hold the next one. That is one of the reasons why I love this job: it changes people’s attitudes towards nature from completely grossed out to amazement and wonder. 

Another one of the opportunities with this internship is gaining research experience. I have a few ideas in mind, but you’ll hear more about it in later posts. Stay tuned!

            Hello everyone!  It has been quite a while since I’ve written on this blog, so I apologize for that.  The new year here at Boone County Conservation District has been a busy one for sure.  Over the last month and a half since my last post, we have hosted quite a few events for the public (such as the Owl Prowl and Raptors Inc. visit) and we have been getting squared away planning for everything we have coming up in 2019 such as Conservation Kids Camp in the summer and so much more!  These upcoming events will all be posted on our website and on our social media accounts, so be sure to follow us there to stay up to date (plus, Megan and Susan work hard on those accounts and it will make them feel good)! 

            In my last post, I spent a lot of time talking about my independent project.  I am happy to announce that the project is now 100% done!  My project poster – “Assessing avian diversity after wetland habitat restoration in the Gunpowder Creek watershed” – can be found here.  I won’t go into great detail on my findings here, but I will say that YMCA’s Camp Ernst is a beautiful place that is enjoyed by children and birds alike.  I was able to spot a total of 26 species and 252 individuals during my observations, including both common and uncommon species in this area. 

            The results of my study told us that the restored wetland is in fact serving as wildlife habitat and supporting a diverse bird community.  This is something that BCCDKY is very proud of, as it is direct evidence that our conservation efforts in the Gunpowder Creek Watershed Plan are having a positive impact on our wildlife and natural areas.  The project is also something that I am personally proud to have accomplished.  Beyond my own work, this project required the help of so many other people to finish and not a single person turned me down when I needed the help.  The collaboration and willingness to help, from private citizens’ contribution of photographs to other Boone County government agencies providing expertise, goes to show the support the Conservation District has earned in this county.  It is something that I will miss.

            Yes, you heard me correctly.  This will be my final blog post as an intern for the Conservation District.  The past four months have been an incredible experience for me in the things that I have learned and the people I have met.  I have grown as a student and as a professional, and it is time to allow another student to follow my path (just not into the wetland to get stuck).  However, I will not be truly gone.  As a direct result of this internship, I was able to earn a job offer at Boone County Parks, which I have accepted and will begin in a few weeks.  In my new role, I will still be working with the Conservation District on certain events and I will be able to stay involved with current and future projects to benefit the people of Boone County.

            Thank you to those who have read my posts as I’ve gone through this internship.  I have never really known how to be a blogger, so I hope that you have found some interest or entertainment along the way.  As always, send any comments or concerns along, and I will make sure the next intern takes care of it right away!

I wish you all the best, 

–  Kevin  

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone reading this had some happy holidays!  Here at BCCDKY, we are starting this new year strong!  As promised, I wanted to update you all on the independent project that I have been working on and will continue to do for the next two months.  My super-secret project is (drumroll please) . . . A bird inventory of the restored wetland at YMCA’s Camp Ernst. 

As part of BCCDKY’s Gunpowder Creek Watershed Plan, an old horse pasture at Camp Ernst was converted to a wetland which was finished in 2017.  This wetland is approximately 5 to 7 acre-feet of land in the floodplain of Gunpowder Creek which provides stormwater retention and wildlife habitat.  The wetland consists of a large retention pond surrounded by a native shortgrass prairie and a riparian zone along Gunpowder Creek. 

For my independent project, we determined that doing some sort of bioassessment of the wetland would give us an indication of how the restoration project is influencing the native wildlife in the area.  The thought is that this assessment can later be compared to other restoration projects or to intact wetlands to determine the level of success the restoration has reached in terms of biodiversity.  I chose to do an inventory of birds at the wetland for two reasons.  First, I am familiar with identifying many local bird species from taking ornithology at NKU.  This makes my task much easier than studying other groups of organisms.  Secondly, birds are an excellent indicator of the health of an ecosystem.  Various bird species rely on a combination of insects, fish, trees, shrubs, water, and other organisms for their food and habitat needs.  Without a large biodiversity in other organisms, there cannot be a large diversity in bird species.  Therefore, we can indirectly measure the biodiversity of this restored wetland by measuring the diversity of its avian inhabitants. 

For this project, I have been and will continue to make two hour-long observations of the wetland each week.  By the end of the project, this will amount to approximately 20 hours of live observation to catalogue the diversity of the birds at the site.  I am using the free application eBird to record these observations.  This allows me to keep track of how many different species I have seen as well as the number of individual birds from each species.  At the end of the observation period, I will analyze my findings to determine the richness and evenness of the bird community, as well as the importance value of each species.  For native birds seen in the winter, click here!

The findings from this project will give BCCDKY and our partners an opportunity to examine our restoration efforts in the Gunpowder Creek Watershed Plan.  This project can be replicated in the future to see how biodiversity at this watershed changes over time.  The project can also be used in other locations as a way to compare different sites.  In all, I aim to create another tool we can use in our continued effort to conserve our wetlands, watersheds, and other natural areas.

I do apologize for this being a factual blog post.  It is my sincere hope that my regularly scheduled misadventures will continue shortly.  Thanks for sticking with me for this and, as always, let me know if you have any additional feedback!

– Kevin