Understanding Urban Nature

Urban nature. This seems to be a paradoxical concept. How can you connect to wildlife, trees, rivers, Mother Nature when you're surrounded by tall brick buildings? Busses and cars speed along paved roads rather than hooves of deer along dirt trails. This poses a problem for children in urban areas. How are they to escape the city and experience a true learning "environment?" What if the environment could come to them?



USFWS biologist, Cheri Anderson teaching one of the Salmon in
the Classroom lessons to students
Credit: Meghan Kearney/USFWS



Salmon in the Classroom

It turns out – it can! The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Salmon in the Classroom program, typically brought to more rural area schools, was adapted to bring nature into the hands of children bound by urban settings. This year, Boise-Eliot Humboldt elementary students were chosen to become junior fish biologists who would help raise a generation of salmon. Kids raising salmon at school?! Sounds far-fetched, but let me get into some of the details.

The salmon that students have been raising continue to grow.
Credit: Pat Edwards/USFWS 

The return of the squishy egg

The program began in early January when salmon at local hatcheries were beginning to spawn. A set of fertilized eggs was delivered to Boise-Eliot and the students began their first lesson. These squishy, bright orange eggs (proven to be a hit among kids: read more) made up the students' first introduction to the life cycle of salmon. Held in a tank in the school's library, the students observed and monitored the growth of these tiny eggs as they slowly developed into fry. 



Malachi (center) explains each of the organs to his classmates.
Credit: Pat Edwards/USFWS



Everything to do with salmon

As the eager students waited for their fish to grow, USFWS fish biologists visited the school teaching lessons on everything from watersheds, to fish dissection. The fish dissection portion was a particularly big hit among the students – what could be more exciting than the icky, stinky insides of a fish? One student – Malachi Spinks, nicknamed "Dr. Spinks" by his classmates hopes to be a fish biologist in the future. He spent the lesson leading his peers in identifying each organ of the fish. The night before, Malachi found and completed an online fish dissection module to be better prepared. How did Malachi become so interested in fish? "My dad always used to cook fish when I was growing up, and he let me help him." Malachi shared. A little spark can carry a child's love for nature a long way. A night of family bonding, some sweating in the kitchen and a delicious meal as the reward, and Malachi was hooked!

When it comes to science - these junior fish biologists aren't grossed out
by anything!
Credit: Meghan Kearney/USFWS

The final step

Later this month, the children will embark on a field trip to Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery where they will release their fish into the Columbia River. This trip will finalize their study of the salmon life cycle and give them an idea of what it is like to work with salmon out in the field. From the river, to the classroom, back to the river - These future fish biologists might spend most of their time in the center of a big city but urban nature is real and with a little bit of creativity and planning anybody can be a part of it!

For more information about the Salmon in the Classroom program visit here.

Celebrating African American Heritage in Fish & Wildlife

Judy Gordon, Abernathy Fish Technology
Center Director
Credit: USFWS

In celebration of African American Heritage month, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service asked Judith Gordon, Center Director at Abernathy Fish Technology Center in Longview, Washington why she does what she does. Her inspiring personal account of getting involved with conservation showcases one of the many ways that nature inspires Service employees! Thank you, Judy, for your hard work and dedication to nature and conservation!

Why I do what I do?

I can answer that with a name, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the oceanographer and marine conservationist. Growing up I probably watched every one of his TV specials about his adventures aboard the research vessel Calypso and cruising around in Zodiacs®. I knew by the time I was eleven years old that I wanted a career in a marine biological science so I could be near the water and study biology. My parents helped in this choice in two ways. First, they were fully engaged in and encouraging of my educational goal of going to college.  Secondly, they wanted my sister and me to have a choice in careers, which as children of the Great Depression they didn’t. 

Judy sampling on the Yukon River in
Alaska
Credit: Judy Gordon/USFWS

Following a dream around the U.S.
Thus armed with images from TV specials and support from family I started down my career path.  This led me to a Bachelor's degree in population Biology and as Master's degree in Quantitative Ecology, with a minor in Statistics.  But most importantly it led me to jobs in Woods Hole, MA, Pascagoula, MS, Fairbanks, AK, Longview, WA, and research cruises/field work in the North Atlantic Ocean off of New England, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska's Beaufort Sea and middle Yukon River, and now the Pacific Northwest.

Too many fish to count
During my ~30 year career I have seen amazing things: a whale shark feeding at the surface of the ocean; porpoises enjoying themselves riding the bow wave of a ship; a grizzly bear and her two cubs walking across a hill side; a pod of beluga whales; polar bear running across the tundra; a tarpon jumping out of the ocean; the vividly colored Queen Triggerfish; mahi mahi moving so fast they appear to be just streaks of color underwater; a black bear strolling along a river bank; a moose taking a drink; a startled herd of musk ox forming a protective circle around their calves; streams full of salmon in their spawning colors; a family of river otters playing; herds of caribou, elk, bison, and mule deer; frigate birds, wild swans and bald eagles.  And I haven't even listed all the different species of fish!

Feeling a "sense of calm" during sunset on the Beaufort Sea, Alaksa.
Credit: Judy Gordon/USFWS

Our place in nature
One of my favorite things about my work is a moment when I feel most connected to the natural world.  Be it standing on the deck of research vessel heading to port in twenty foot seas, the quiet in the morning when you wake up in your tent, the smell of sea air and the sounds of sea birds, or seeing a run of brightly colored fish returning to spawn in a creek. Those are the moments that I most strongly feel a sense of calm, a better understanding of our place in nature, and the importance of conserving the natural world.

I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Strutting Back to a Healthy Ecosystem

A male sage-grouse struts to attract females on a lek.
Credit: Jeannie Stafford/USFWS

One of the things that attracts me most to nature is its fascinating and especially strange aspects. How on earth do salmon know exactly where to return to for spawning? How do beavers instinctively just know how to build dams? All of this amazes me. Since I have been working with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), there are a few handfuls of species I have been introduced to that I ordinarily wouldn’t have learned about. If you are anything like me, especially if you’re not native to the Pacific Northwest, you may find yourself in the same boat. Sure, we really love salmon here; that was one of the first things I discovered. Recently, however, I had the privilege of learning about the equally fascinating and important species – the greater sage-grouse.

What are sage-grouse?

This amazing creature is native to the Western U.S. and Canada. It is a particularly odd looking bird, especially males, which have big puffs of white on the chest, and large, brown, feathered tails. Sage-grouse, found in the high deserts of Idaho, Oregon and other western states, depend sagebrush habitat for survival. The most interesting feature about them is their courtship display. Males gather in areas called “leks” each mating season to strut their stuff for the ladies, and strut, do they ever! Their display consists of fluffy puffed bodies, loud and unique coos, and popping chests that display brilliantly colored yellow air sacs.

Why should we care?

These birds are really a sight to see, but in recent years this species have been in steady decline. Due to a number of impacts ranging from invasive species to wildfires, critical sagebrush habitat has taken a huge hit. The sage-grouse were once greatly abundant in these habitats, and are strong indicators of healthy sagebrush ecosystems. Within these sagebrush ecosystems, a decrease in sage-grouse numbers provides warning of potential declines in many of these other sagebrush dwelling critters. 

What are we doing to help them?

As the decline in this iconic western bird becomes more and more apparent, USFWS and its partners, including other agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners have begun diligent efforts to restore sage-grouse to their once thriving populations.

Sage-grouse gathering on their mating grounds called "leks."
Credit: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Recently, the Service and its partners worked with high school students and local private landowners to connect local youth to this important species and its habitat. Dubbed “Sage-grouse in the Schools,” this program helps to instill a passion for the land and a greater understanding of conservation within the next generation. Participation in this program brings groups of local students out into the field, or leks where they observe sage-grouse and work with local partners to develop habitat improvement strategies.

Stay tuned for updates?

A series of nine videos was produced to showcase the “Sage-grouse in the Schools” program. Stay tuned for more exciting information about sage-grouse and the program on the Pacific Region Connecting People with Nature Team’s Facebook and Twitter pages over the next few months. If your interest was piqued about sage-grouse, please join us in learning all about this wonderful project that dually helps an endangered species and an ecosystem in need, while connecting youth to the great outdoors!

Connecting with Nature in 2013

Students enjoyed an outdoor trail walk on ESA Day with
Connecting People with Nature.
Credit: Nick Jeremiah/NOAA

As you may know, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Connecting People with Nature team has one overarching goal – To connect people with nature. As a team, we are nature enthusiasts who enjoy talking to people, being outside, and encouraging others to join us. Digging (pun intended) deeper into that goal, we especially aim to reach youth, and other groups who don’t spend much time outside. What you may not be as aware of is how we make this goal a reality from behind the scenes.

Each year, the Connecting People with Nature Team receives funding from the National Conservation Training Center in Washington, D.C. to help connect people with nature. We ask employees from around the Pacific Region (Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Washington) to apply for a portion of this grant money to fund projects that help educate, engage and employ different groups in nature and the conservation of nature. At the end of our fiscal year (right around the months of October/November) USFWS groups from around the region submit project proposals, and by the beginning of the new year, funds are distributed and the real "connecting" begins!

Salmon in the Classroom, a project supported by a Connecting People
with Nature grant.
Credit: USFWS

When it comes to being selected to receive these funds – a bit of creativity, a helping hand from partners and a lot of hard work are what it takes! We want to make sure our dollars go as far as possible in the most efficient and successful way. Therefore a thorough review process assures that projects that receive funding fulfill our most important goals: 1. Reaching youth and underserved audiences, 2. Supporting conservation and education, 3. Providing internships, volunteer opportunities and employment 4. Working with partners and 5. Developing successful and measurable results. Now, if you aren’t very familiar with grant proposals and funding and all that scientific and economic jargon, I will share with you five of the projects that were funded for 2013 from around our region!

Hakalau Forest NWR
Credit: David Patte/USFWS

Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge (NWR): Youth Climate Change/Forest Phenology Project with University of Hawaii - Workshops for Students and Teachers

•  Project is led by Refuge Manager, Jim Kraus.
• Focus is on bringing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island youth and low income families to the remote Hakalau Forest NWR on the island of Hawaii.
• Funding for the project will help the Refuge to employ two training workshops for local high school biology teachers empowering them to carry on the curriculum and trips to the refuge for years to come.
• Working with partners including local schools, USDA Forest Service, USGS and more, this project will connect local youth with their species, ecosystems and habitats in their natural communities.

Bird watching with Team Naturaleza at Leavenworth Bird Festival.
Credit: El Mundo Communication

"Team Naturaleza" Citizen Science Program - Education Program Coordination

• Team Naturaleza is a group in Leavenworth, Washington dedicated to connecting the Latino community with science and nature.
• This bilingual program will employ a trusted Latino Community Liason to connect fellow community members with nature through cultural traditions.
• Team Naturaleza is comprised of a creative group of nature lovers who will utilize activities like nature walks, arts, birding and citizen science projects to engage and educate the local Latino community.

Students spending the day spawning at Little White Salmon NFH
Credit: Little White Salmon NFH/USFWS

Columbia Gorge National Fish Hatchery (NFH) Summer Youth Employment Program

• This project is led by Cheri Anderson, a member of our CPWN Team who works out of the Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex.
• The project's goal is to provide work experience to youth between the ages of 14 and 18 in Skamania County, Washington working with USFWS employees at the fish hatchery.
• Partnering with the Stevenson Carson School District’s Forest Youth Success program, this summer project will help educate diverse groups of local youth on fish habitat and conservation while providing them hands-on experience in ecology, biology, hydrology and so much more.

Photo of a hermit crab, called dukduk on Guam. This photo was taken
by 11-year-old Faith, as part of a photo contest. One of the many
examples of engagement we will see from this project.
Credit: Guam NWR/USFWS

Guam National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Threatened & Endangered Species Program Outreach – Intern

• This year, the Guam NWR celebrates its 20^th year, and they will be celebrating by sharing the spirit of conservation.
• This project will employ a summer outreach intern to help plan, promote and carry out a number of events celebrating the Refuge's 20 years of conservation.
• The student intern will travel around to local k-12 schools and colleges offering free presentations on threatened & endangered species, conservation and biology while showcasing 20 years of great conservation efforts at Guam NWR.
• This event will also engage the community through creative activities such as a native species art contest.

Keeping an "eye on nature" at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Credit: Ingrid Barrentine/Joint Base Lewis-McChord

"Eye on Nature" Youth STEM Studies - Teacher and Student training/field trips

• "Eye on Nature" is a full-circle, four-part program led by Sheila McCartan, Education Coordinator at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
• The goal of this program is to educate local and tribal students (grades 3-10) and teachers about the mission of USFWS Refuges and the significance of Nisqually NWR.
• The project will first train students on observational skills and conservation strategies. After this training, field trips to the refuge will be provided where teachers and students will test out and better the skills they learned in the classroom. After returning, the teachers and students will participate in post-field trip lessons which will include analysis of data gathered during their trip.
• This project will help to give students hands on experience in the field of conservation, and bring these exciting activities back to their classrooms.

Nature in the Holidays

From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Pacific Region Connecting People with Nature Team - We wish the happiest of holidays to all of our readers. Enjoy spending time with friends, family, and even strangers out in nature! We wanted to share some great stories, photos and videos related to nature and the holidays! Enjoy!

Bugs in the Christmas Tree

Chemistry of snowflakes

Christmas in Yellowstone

Using Science to Care for your Christmas Tree

12 Things to know about mistletoe