Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists

Excited and curious about the natural world? Enjoy being outside? Want to play an ACTIVE role in the management and conservation of Virginia’s natural resources? If so…the Virginia Master Naturalist program is for you!

As members of a community-based natural resources program, Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginians conserve and manage natural resources and public lands.

Ways you can help:

Education – Teach adults and youth about nature!
Citizen Science – Collect data on wildlife and plant populations, water quality, and more!
Stewardship – Restore wildlife habitat, clean up a local stream, or build a trail!

Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. Click here to learn more.

Applications for the Middle Peninsula chapter’s Basic Training class February – May, 2022 are closed. For more information and to be added to the mailing list for the next available class, email Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists on our Contact page.

Upcoming events:

Marine Science Day – June 4, 2022

Free, family-friendly event. Join in person and online. Click here for more info.

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In the news:

Pre-Earth Day cleanup

Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists participated in Pre-Earth Day shoreline cleanup events held at Machicomoco State Park on March 29, April 9, April 12, and April 19. The chapter worked with the Park and VIMS to organize the cleanup. Volunteers started near the outlet of Timberneck Creek and worked their way towards Cedarbush Creek over the four events. Volunteers also had the opportunity to conduct Citizen Science during this Stewardship activity by recording data using the Marine Debris Tracker app in advance of the cleanup team.

20220409_101002 — Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists taking part in the shoreline cleanup event on April 9, from left: Amy Baker, Leslie Hervey, Sharon Walker, Dave Harlan, Anne Wilber, Roger Dick, Hurricane Thompson

Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

On Tuesday April 5, 2022 twelve Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists and eight other members of the Middle Peninsula Bird Club conducted the inaugural bird and wildlife survey at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Ware Neck for the Department of Wildlife Resources Gloucester Loop of the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail system. 24 species of birds were seen or heard on this Spring survey including a large flock of 225 Cedar Waxwings that were roosting in a nearby oak tree.

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and Machicomoco State Park have been recently added to the Gloucester Loop that has seven other sites where people can visit to enjoy bird and wildlife viewing. The Coastal Region has 13 Trail Loops including nearby Mathews and Mattaponi Loops. https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/coastal-trail/

Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists will be surveying the Gloucester, Mathews, and Mattaponi sites for birds and other wildlife four times a year on a seasonal basis. The data obtained will be entered into the CitSci.org database and used for research purposes.

20220405 bird and wildlife survey B&B's — Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists, from left to right: Edith Bradbury, Denise Hutchins with Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Ed Pels, Roger Dick, Ginny Miller, Susan Walton, Sherry Rollins, Bill Corbin, Anne Wilber, Tomoko Hamada, Susan Crockett, Doug Dwoyer, Terry Skinner

Getting ready for new residents at Holly Point Nature Park at the Deltaville Maritime Museum

Ten bluebird nest boxes were installed at the Deltaville Maritime Museum at Holly Point Nature Park. On February 12, volunteers with Virginia Master Naturalists – Middle Peninsula Chapter placed poles in the ground and mounted baffles and nest boxes to each. The population of bluebirds dropped as much as 90% decades ago due to habitat loss. Citizens everywhere have been putting up boxes to help their numbers bounce back.

Materials for some of the boxes were donated by Roland Anderson and the Deltaville Maritime Museum Boat Shop. Others were donated by Ed Pels along with much of the hardware needed. Participants were Pat Anderson (project captain), Luann Johnson, Mike Grose, Chris Conley, Miles Wong, and Patty Campbell.

The nest boxes on the trail will be monitored by trained members of the Master Naturalists through the spring and summer. We ask that visitors watch from a wide distance and give the new families some peace. The babies may be sleeping.

mpmn bluebird house deltaville — Master Naturalists from left: Mike Grose, Patty Campbell, Luann Johnson, Pat Anderson, and Chris Conley. Photo by Miles Wong

The program is open to all adults regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.