The PWA team befriends a (seemingly unimpressed) American Bullfrog. Back row (left to right): Kurt Moeller, Jeremy Hatfield, Hailey
Dutton, Alex Shipherd, Adolf Zollinger, Elyse Henshaw, Tina Nelson. Front
row (left to right): Matt Elia, Griffin Noon, Erros Quinones.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Wild America – a book written by Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher, in which they chronicle their epic journey to explore the untamed reaches of our continent. With the coming of July, and in the spirit of celebrating America, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History kicked off its Project Wild America stewardship initiative in Jamestown.
As part of their ongoing efforts to better understand the natural history of our region and promote environmental literacy and stewardship, RTPI recruited a group of local students who share these interests. Six local high school students began training as PWA Youth Ambassadors at RTPI under the supervision of two Jamestown Community College students. The first week was something of a “conservation boot camp”, wherein students: were introduced to the RTPI staff and facilities, gained exposure to the life and work of Roger Tory Peterson, constructed and learned to how to deploy various biological sampling devices, and spent time in the field where they practiced capturing and identifying local organisms.
With the guidance of project staff and RTPI personnel, The PWA Youth Ambassadors will regularly survey designated sections of the Chadakoin River along the current and proposed Riverwalk to observe and document the wildlife found there. They will also perform water quality monitoring and collect data on this and other relevant environmental variables. Furthermore, RTPIs Youth Ambassadors will demonstrate positive stewardship and provide educational outreach to communicate their objectives, experiences and discoveries to the public through conversations, displays and presentations. The PWA group has been enthusiastically engaged in their explorations of our local ecosystems, and the program promises to be a rewarding endeavor in so many ways!
These Project Wild America efforts will assist ongoing and new studies on local reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, mussels and fish that inhabit the Chadakoin River corridor. They will also contribute to the assessment of habitat quality and the impacts of development. The information collected throughout the summer will be entered into RTPI’s GIS-based Natural Diversity Data Base, and this resource will be used to educate the community about the ecology of the Chadakoin River, and to explore the river’s recreational and economic value.
While this project is just getting underway, the presence of several rare aquatic and terrestrial species has already been documented in the Chadakoin. One of these, the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, is indicative of high quality habitat, as it cannot persist in heavily polluted waters. This may come as a surprise to those who identify the historical role of the river as a conduit for industrial wastes, and it is a testament to the tenacity of life.
Natural wonders abound, even in the heavily altered and fragmented habitats surrounding centers of human development. And although, as Roger Tory Peterson put it — “Many people go through life as though they are wearing blinders. Their eyes are open, yet they may see nothing of their wild associates. Their ears, attuned to motor cars and traffic, seldom catch the music of nature, the singing of birds, frogs, or crickets, or the wind.” — Wild adventures can still be had, and remarkable discoveries made, even in your own backyard. So, in the spirit of celebrating America, we encourage you to explore her wild side. Pay a visit to the PWA Youth Ambassadors along the Chadakoin River this summer to learn about what they’re finding. You can also keep up to date through their website (http://projectwildamerica.org/) and Facebook page.
~Melanie Smith, RTPI Communications Coordinator.
Learn it, Love it, Protect it!
