This a new section, which will feature reports from the current class. This article was written, and photographs taken, by Spring Class 2016 member Jennifer Trandell.  On a sunny, blue sky Saturday, the Gulf Coast Master Naturalist 2016 Spring Class  The park consists of 1722 acres; mostly pine with some hardwood species. The Forest Service uses prescribed fires, machine mulching and herbicides to control the invasive species and restore balance. John Warner led the group to various areas of the park revealing each of the methods of management including areas left natural. In the natural environment, the native yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is a thick impenetrable bramble of understory brush. Warner explained that sunlight is unable to reach the forest floor where seed trees and native grasses should grow. In Jones Park there are 2 types of pine - loblolly and short leaf. Pine trees live up to 100 years and open, old growth pine stands are the preferred nesting area for endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. There are somewhere between 24 and 40 birds living in clusters throughout the park. Trees are marked with an identifying green band but missing bark and sap running down the trunk also identifies the nests. Some of the chapter members arrived early and were able to view the active woodpeckers before class. During the tour plenty of birds were spotted and identified by several experts in our group. Bird songs filled the air and everyone enjoyed the wonderful weather in the forest classroom!
W. Goodrich Jones State Park is open to the public year round during daylight hours and is considered a birding hot spot. This spring volunteers are needed during the Red-cockaded Woodpecker’s nesting season to help with roost checks, counting eggs and banding of babies for identification. For more information contact Donna Work dwork@tfs.tamu.edu |
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