Fall is the Perfect Time to Plant

Happy first day of Fall!

We say it every year (because it's true)— fall is the best time to plant. Why? For one, autumn is less stressful for plants as the summer heat subsides, and soil temps are still warm. Surrounding trees will soon give us free mulch to nourish soils. As winter dormancy sets in, the roots of the new plants will spread out and grow, and by next spring, the plants will be well established.

To usher in the fall season, we are offering our members and donors the chance to purchase native plants in-person at the Ruffner Greenhouse beginning Saturday, October 8th through Sunday, October 9th. We are trying something new and we appreciate your understanding as we test it out!

Members, be sure to check your email next week for a link to register. A reservation is required to attend the member plant sale. You will be able to reserve your spot by choosing a time slot from the options provided. Spots are limited - max of 30 attendees per time slot.

Not a member? Sign up online at http://ruffnermountain.org/membership

If you miss the member sale, you can shop online public native plant sale on October 14th - 16th!

Regional Cooperation Matters

Members of Ruffner Board and Staff with Mayor James Stewart of the City of Irondale at the Jefferson County Mayors Association Meeting.

We had the honor of hosting the Jefferson County Mayors Association for their August meeting and were thrilled to receive operating support from the City of Irondale. This support is a great example of regional cooperation. Thank you to Mayor James Stewart and the Irondale City Council!

Regional cooperation is a term that gets tossed around a good bit, but what does it mean and why does it matter?

According to the 2017 report “Together We Can” prepared by the Public Affairs Council of Alabama (PARCA) for the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, our central city of Birmingham is surrounded by more independent cities than any other southern city. This pattern of fragmentation within Jefferson County has consequences. It leads to duplication, creates intra-regional competition, concentrates economic advantage and disadvantage, and diffuses resources and leadership. It makes it difficult to arrive at a consensus, pursue priorities of regional importance, or deliver services that transcend municipal boundaries. In sum, it puts the whole of Jefferson County at a disadvantage.

For example, Ruffner Mountain manages land owned by the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County Commission, and State of Alabama (Forever Wild Land Trust), and the 501c3 nonprofit, but people from across Jefferson County, from each of its 35 cities, multiple towns, and unincorporated areas visit. Our fractured regional government has left it up to individual cities to provide operating and maintenance funding for regional assets like connected trail systems, preserves, and parks.

The cities of Irondale and Birmingham support a place enjoyed by residents of their cities and visitors from across Jefferson County.

Want to learn even more read the full Together We Can report here (be sure to check out the maps on pages 28 and 29)!

More to come on this topic…

Let’s Fix This

Have you ever tried filling up your water bottle at the pavilion and thought—
“Ugh, this is gonna take forever!”

Have you ever approached the outdoor animal exhibits and wondered—
“What IS that?”

Have you ever visited the Nature Center and asked—
“What’s up with the caution tape?”

We need your help to fix these and 16 other Improvement Projects.

Heard all you need to know? Donate below.

Job Posting: Wildlife Care Apprentice

Do you have a passion for wildlife and environmental education?

We are seeking a part-time Wildlife Care Apprentice for a 2-year term program. Candidates who are passionate about wildlife and desire a career in wildlife care and/or environmental education, especially individuals who have encountered obstacles to skill development or paid experience, are preferred for this apprenticeship. Click the link below to learn more and apply!

Wildlife Care Naturalist, Emily Stauss with Grady the rat snake, one of Ruffner’s animal ambassadors.

Egg Predation in Action!

Recently, on a hike to the wetlands, Rick and Susan Remy observed a black kingsnake (Lampropeltis nigra) with its head in a hole in the ground. The snake was busy excavating soil. After a few minutes, the kingsnake backed out with an egg in its mouth. Rick and Susan watched as the snake swallowed the egg whole. Judging from the lumps in the snake’s body, it had already eaten a few. The eggs were most likely turtle eggs. We know there are a lot of pond sliders inhabiting the ponds at the wetlands, and Rick and Susan saw a slider up on dry land in the same spot (not too far from the ponds and prime location for digging a nest) just a week prior.

Pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) breed from May through July, and a female may lay one to three clutches of eggs during the season. The females excavate two to four inch nests in sandy or gravelly soil and will lay anywhere from 2 to 30 round eggs in a nest. Sliders are very good at hiding their nests, yet eggs are vulnerable to predators.

Black kingsnakes are constrictors and opportunistic eaters. They consume a variety of prey including other snakes, lizards, rodents, birds — and especially turtle eggs!

Be sure to check out the Fauna and Flora of Ruffner iNaturalist projects, join the projects, and contribute to them while on your hikes. Rick and Susan Remy are super contributors to both projects! Uploading observations to iNaturalist is a wonderful way to engage and interact with community scientists, and your observations help us to map and monitor plant and animal species of the mountain.

The Time is Now

From Ruffner Mountain Executive Director, Carlee Sanford:

Thank you to Tom Spencer and Comeback Town for this important article on the need for more sustainable support for large-scale parks and preserves such as Red Mountain, Ruffner Mountain, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Thanks also to the cities within Jefferson County for their continued financial support— City of Birmingham, City of Irondale, City of Homewood, and City of Pinson.      

"We need these shared outdoor spaces. We’ve always been good at exploiting our natural resources in Jefferson County. We must appreciate how these restored natural landscapes can be cornerstones for a new century, improving our health, quality of life, and attractiveness for new residents and economic development."

“We need to make sure they are sustainably supported, and that future expansions are strategically planned and developed with sustainability in mind.”

I agree with Tom Spencer.

Jefferson County needs more conserved land and more protected green space for wildlife. We need more large acreage parks, preserves, & greenways for walking, hiking, mountain biking, birding, commuting, and ADA-compliant trails specifically designed for accessibility.

But first, Jefferson County needs a regional solution to support current and future green infrastructure and preservation of our natural world so that all residents— across Jefferson County— may connect with nature, clear our minds, recreate, and find peace or inspiration from time spent in the outdoors.

Read the article here.

Tom Spencer

Now You See it, Now You Don't

Io moth (Automeris io)

Right on time for National Moth Week, an io moth (Automeris io), the National Moth Week icon, just so happened to show up on the front door of the Nature Center.

Wildlife Care Naturalist, Emily Stauss, enters the Nature Center to begin her routine of taking care of the Ruffner animal ambassadors. She takes a picture of the io moth on the door. What big eyes he has! The moth’s forewings are parted to reveal the hindwings. Large, blue, and black owl-like eyes are strikingly beautiful. But they are meant to stare and startle — predators beware!

Minutes later, Carmen Molay, Membership Coordinator, snaps a photo of the same moth. In the usual resting position, the moth’s underwings are tucked beneath the forewings. They appear drab to bright yellow, slightly speckled. A female’s wings would be brownish to rust in color, and we imagine they would be well camouflaged against fallen leaves or bark. Disappointed the moth didn’t show off for her, Carmen was delighted to see Emily’s photo of the io’s eyes.

What moths will you find around your place this week? Go outside, look and see! Observe and record your observations on iNaturalist. Be sure to check out the Moths of Alabama iNaturalist project and the Moths of Alabama Facebook page. For more information on moth week, visit the National Moth Week website: https://nationalmothweek.org