Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Several people correctly guessed what was in our mystery photos! They’re slime molds— tiny organisms consisting of one to a few cells that come together to form fruiting bodies, spreading and reproducing through spores. The gray blobs (Physarum cinereum) and orange goo (Dog Vomit Slime Mold) are two different slime mold species, gently breaking down old wood and leaves.

They’re harmless to humans and wildlife, so we were excited to see them!

One of our staff found these two things on the grounds last week. The grey was spotted under a maple tree and the orange was on a pile of mulch. Anyone know what they are? Put your guesses in the comments and we’ll share the answer soon!

Ever wonder why we have Bison sculptures in our prairie? They're a reminder of North Carolina's past! Bison historically roamed North Carolina's prairies, though both the Bison and the prairies were mostly eliminated once Europeans colonized the area and began farming. Prairie Ridge stands as a reminder of our prairie history, making our Bison pair the perfect animals to feature in the grasses.

Fireflies are amazing animals! Did you know that they can...

- Glow as larvae?
- Lure in other species of fireflies to eat them? (Don't worry — only some species do this!)
- Use their lights to scare predators?

The fireflies at Prairie Ridge can put on a spectacular show, and luckily we still have a few spaces in our upcoming firefly night on Saturday, June 6. Join us to learn how and why fireflies make light, and observe them flying over the prairie. Get an up-close look at some fireflies with a magnifier bug box that you'll get to take home at the end of the program! Learn more or register here: https://ncmns.net/PrairieFireflies

We've seen tracks and signs of animals using the pond, but nothing beats seeing one of our residents directly. This Snapping Turtle was spotted basking in the sun recently, covered in duckweed and living its best life. We don't see Snapping Turtles often, so this sighting was a rare treat!

As the drought continues and our pond shrinks, this habitat remains an essential and now even more vital water source for the Snapping Turtle and all the other wildlife at Prairie Ridge.

The mulberry fruits are ripe, so the air around Prairie Ridge is filled with the high-pitched calls of Cedar Waxwings! These charismatic birds love mulberries and hundreds of them have been chowing down in the trees. Waxwings get their name from the red wingtips that look like sealing wax. Their tall crests, black face masks and yellow tail tips make them elegant visitors to our mulberry trees. They’ll be visible hopping from branch to branch as long as the berries last — then they’ll head off to find better fruit sources for the rest of the summer.

Our staff love being on site after dark because we can experience animals that are rarely spotted during the day. Choruses of Green Tree Frogs, large moths such as Luna Moths, or coyotes are most active at night. It's a treat to see them out and about during their favorite time of day! Check out some of the species we've spotted at night in the photos below. 🐸

Would you like to listen to frogs, look for moths, and search for owls after dark with us at Prairie Ridge? Join us for Biodiversity After Dark on Friday, 8:30-11:30pm — we have a few spots left!

Learn more or register at https://www.naturalsciences.org/calendar/event/nighttime-biodiversity/

Have you ever noticed this plastic tube at Prairie Ridge? It’s a rain gauge, a valuable tool that accurately measures precipitation.

For over a dozen years, we’ve shared our measurements with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), a project that studies microclimates and their impact on weather patterns. Scientists, meteorologists, the National Weather Service, and others nationwide use CoCoRaHS data to study everything from global climate change to local rainfall effects on bird nests.

You can be become a CoCoRaHS participant too! The project is currently recruiting new members. Visit https://cocorahs.org for more info, and explore our data at https://ncmns.net/4vMYX9I.

Another great City Nature Challenge has concluded, and we’re thrilled to see all of the submissions rolling in from across the Triangle! We also got some great observations at Prairie Ridge. Here are a few of our favorites.

If you participated, you have until May 10 to submit your photos to iNaturalist for them to count. We’ll share the final results once international results are announced.

UPDATE:

While general access is paused for construction on the Mary Ann Brittain Education Center, some of our programs will be offered in fresh settings and in new formats designed to keep our community connected. Join one of our small, registration-based programs: ncmns.net/3Oo0grH.

To stay in the loop, continue to follow us on social and subscribe to our newsletter: ncmns.net/3vgKWGX.

Want to help build our future? Support the MABEC campaign at ncmns.net/mabec.