Alex Palmer's Natural History Notes and Thoughts

When people travel to Washington, DC, one of the first things they will likely do is visit the museums, monuments, and restaurant-filled neighborhoods.   As a naturalist, my first instinct is to visit the parks and natural areas in any region I travel to.  Yet why would I try and go on a safari in the middle of Washington, DC? Perhaps it may be surprising to know that our capital has a lot of natural capitol.   Natural capitol  is any sort of natural resources that has some positive value.  For example, wetlands are usually abundant in natural capitol because the provide us with water filtration, are biologically diverse, act as a flood control mechanism, and they provide us with a source of recreation.  In Washington, DC, tidal wetlands with fresh water along the Potomac River provide a refuge for a diverse array of wildlife in a densely urban area (see photo A).  The Washington metro area is do...

The following map shows my vision for what a vacation  town-home  complex in Norfolk, Virginia could look like.  Norfolk lies within the lower watershed of the Chesapeake Bay , America's largest  estuary.  Home to vast marine resources- and a vast human population, people who settle in this region should do everything they can to  minimize  impacts to this  sensitive  coastal ecosystem.    Some of the content in this map will no doubt be  controversial.   But we must be willing to make changes such as those presented in this map if we are to live  sustainability  - and happily - in a low elevation coastline.   Please note:  this map is not meant to be an engineering plan for this site.  It is merely a visual concept model of what would take place here.   Please click on map to enlarge.  

Are you a prospective employer in the environmental conservation field?  Then please follow me on my new LinkedIn Page: www.linkedin.com/pub/alex-palmer/5b/913/74b/

This blog post is a draft of an article of the Mid-Atlantic region newsletter  of the National Association for Interpretation .  The opinions and commentary, though, are my own.   The other day I went for a hike at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  The weather was oddly warm for early December, and I regrettably had to carry my coat and sweater during my afternoon excursion.  Even the skinks (small lizards) were perplexed, with many of them cautiously peeking their heads up from underneath the leaf litter of a maturing maritime forest.  A metallic sounding wind rushed through the barren sweetgum trees, though, sending fourth a reminder that winter will indeed be back soon. I stopped and examined some swamp bay bushes growing along the trail, and I remember learning about them on my field trip during the recent NAI National Workshop.  The swamp bay ( Persea palustris ) is a small evergreen...

The other week I went for a hike at Prince William Forest Park, which consists of over 15,000 acres of forested trails, streams, and hills a short commute south from Washington, DC.  The park preserves one of the largest remaining tracts of Piedmont forest, which once extended almost continuously from New York to Georgia.  All 37 miles of hiking trails in the park are surrounded by this glorious forest, and some of the trails tread a long flowing brooks and streams with small waterfalls and cascades. The sound of leaves crunching underneath my feet, and that sweet smell of autumn aroused a sensation that had more to do then with being just "out in the woods."  It felt like home. As much as I love the coastal environment where I am living now (the tidewater region of Virginia), I frequently miss those foot hills near the Appalachians.  I miss seeing salamanders hiding under rocks in a cool, spring-fed stream.  I miss be...

For readers of my blog who are seeking qualified environmental educators, natural history interpreters, Geospatial analysts, GIS technicians, or GPS field technicians, stay tuned for my upcoming Linked page.   For now, please see my resume page of this blog site.   

Situated far back into the quiet and dull suburban subdivisions of Portsmouth, Virginia is a somewhat unexpected place; it is a place that easily breaks the monotony of neatly trimmed lawns and dated cookie-cutter houses.  The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve protects one of the last remaining undeveloped tracts of land in the Portsmouth city limits (see map below).  This protects the water quality of the Hoffler Creek tidal estuary (see Photo A), and the land-areas of the preserve are filled with lush Mid-Atlantic maritime forest (Photo B). View Larger Map Photo A: The Hoffler Creek tidal estuary Photo B:  A milder climate and a lack of urban development has helped preserve the maritime forest community at Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve. In the middle of the wildlife preserve is a natural-looking, mostly freshwater lake (Photo C).  Prior to the establishment of the wildlife preserve, th...