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Participate in the Junior Duck Stamp Program

Two Mallards Flying from Forest Street, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Courtesy US FWS, Sheryl Ritter, Photographer
Two Mallards Flying from Forest Street
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Courtesy US FWS,
Sheryl Ritter, Photographer
Dr. Joseph Kozlowski
Last month, I ran a segment on how students engaging in nature-related art helps them develop appreciation and awareness for the natural world around them. Today, I am joined by Gabby Johnson, who works for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, who is here to share her experience leading the Utah Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which encourages just that kind of nature and art appreciation.

So thank you, Gabby, for being here with us. Do you mind jumping right into a little bit of the history of this program?

Gabby Johnson
Yeah. Thank you so much for having me.

The Junior Duck Stamp Program is part of the Federal Duck Stamp Program, which started in 1934 when Congress passed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. Every waterfowl hunter 16 and older is required to purchase a federal duck stamp each year they hunt. Since 1934, sales from federal duck stamps have helped conserve more than six million acres of wildlife habitat. Ninety-eight cents of every duck stamp dollar goes to purchasing or leasing wetlands and wildlife habitat, and the art featured on the duck stamp is chosen every year in the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest.

In 1989, the Junior Duck Stamp Program started. This program gives students the opportunity to learn about conservation and submit a waterfowl painting or drawing into the Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. After the state-level competitions, the art is judged at the national level, and the winning art is made into the Junior Duck Stamp, which sells for $5 to support conservation education.

Dr Joseph Kozlowski
Six million acres, that’s incredible. It makes me think of that saying I’ve heard, hunting is conservation, and it’s neat to see those two communities work together to support wildlife in this sense in wetlands.

So what about a basic overview of how people might be able to participate in this program?

Gabby Johnson
Yeah. All students from kindergarten through 12th grade, whether in a public, private, charter, or homeschool are welcome to participate in the Junior Duck Stamp Program. Each state holds their own Junior Duck Stamp Contest. In Utah, the deadline to submit art each year is March 1st.

Students participating in the program learn about North American waterfowl, including ducks, geese, and swans, and the importance of wetland habitat to these animals. Students share what they’ve learned during classroom discussions, research, and planning through both the artwork and a written conservation message. There are some contest rules to keep in mind, like specific paper size, and ensuring there’s no writing on the front of the artwork. For educators interested in getting involved, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge has a variety of materials to support you. Educators can reach out about in-class programming, field trips at the refuge, or rentable art supplies and curriculum guides.

Dr Joseph Kozlowski
And I know personally as a educator who has done this program with my students, you’ve been incredibly helpful to staff at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in supporting me in getting the resources and submitting artwork in the correct way, so thank you.

What about the impact you’ve seen from participation in this program?

Gabby Johnson
Yeah, one of my favorite parts of working on this program has been getting to read the student conservation messages. Through learning about waterfowl and wetlands, creating their artwork, and taking time to write about conservation, students recognize the important role wetlands play in our environment and the ways they can have a role in conservation, and that’s clear through their conservation messages.

This year, our conservation message winner was Jason Deacon. He’s 11 years old, and his message was, for future inspiration, utilize smart conservation.

Dr Joseph Kozlowski
I think it’s so important definitely here in Utah where we face these real water questions and water conservation issues to get kids thinking at a young age how they can be aware and thoughtful of some of those practices and ideas.

Well, finally, Gabby, what excites you personally about this program?

Gabby Johnson
I think the lasting impact this program can have on students is the most exciting part of the program to me. When there’s a positive experience associated with learning about waterfowl, wetlands, and the local environment as a student, the hope is that the value for these resources for students increases, and they make decisions in the future that reflect that care and value.
Dr Joseph Kozlowski
Well, personally, I’m awfully grateful for this program. My students have been doing this for a couple years now, and as our implementation of this program gets better and better each year, I can see that lasting impact in their knowledge and their understanding of conservation and wetlands, so I thank you, Gabby, for being here, and to all you educators and families out there, I encourage you, get your kids involved, encourage them to try to participate in this Junior Duck Stamp Contest, and I think you’ll see a lot of benefits in their learning and appreciation for the world around us.
Dr Joseph Kozlowski & Gabby Johnson
So I’m Dr. Joseph Kozlowski.
I’m Gabby Johnson.

And we’re wild about outdoor education in Utah.

Credits:

Images: Courtesy & Copyright Joseph Kozlowski, Photographer, Used by Permission
Featured Audio: Courtesy & Copyright © Kevin Colver, https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections/kevin-colver
Text:     Audio converted to text using Otter.ai, Speakers: Joseph Kozlowski, Edith Bowen Laboratory School, Utah State University https://edithbowen.usu.edu/ Gabby Johnson, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, US Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird
Additional Reading Links: Joseph Kozlowski & Lyle Bingham

Additional Reading:

Joseph (Joey) Kozlowski’s pieces on Wild About Utah:

Edith Bowen Lab School, Utah State University, https://edithbowen.usu.edu/

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird
https://www.facebook.com/BearRiverMBR/

Junior Duck Stamp, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, https://www.fws.gov/program/junior-duck-stamp/junior-duck-stamp-contest-information

Junior Duck Stamp Gallery, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/junior-duck-stamp-gallery

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Mountain Mahogany

Mountain Mahogany: Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Tree, (Cercocarpus ledifolius) Courtesy & Copyright USU Extension
Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Tree
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Courtesy & Copyright USU Extension
Today’s Wild About Utah is in both Spanish and English. The Spanish version is be read by Carlos Ramos. You can also listen to this story in Spanish this Wednesday evening between 9:01-9:06 or online.

My name is Kate Hunter, Director of Education at Stokes Nature Center, and I love all of the trees of the Cache National Forest. But there’s one that’s always intrigued me-the Mountain Mahogany.

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Tree Devil's Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah (Mt Nebo to the right) Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, Photographer
Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Tree
Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah (Mt Nebo to the right)
Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, Photographer

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Tree Devil's Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah Mt Nebo in the background Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, Photographer Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany Tree
Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah
Mt Nebo in the background
Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, Photographer

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Devil's Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, Photographer Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah
Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, Photographer

You’ve probably seen this tree if you’ve hiked up the mountains in Northern Utah, I can only describe our Mountain Mahogany as twisty. Even the name suggests a twist, with our most common mahogany being the Curl-Leaf Mahogany. The branches of the Curl-Leaf Mahogany twist around as they grow upwards, like the tendrils of a pea plant or a bindweed trying to find something to grab onto. The twistiness in the branches is found in the seeds as well. These trees grow feathery wispy seeds that curl into themselves like a spiral or corkscrew which helps them drill into the ground. I feel kinship with these twisty trees whenever I’m hiking up a mountain and come upon forests of these mahoganies, as I am often feeling similarly twisty and unnerved by the amount of huffing and puffing I’m doing upon encountering them.

But unlike the tendrils of a pea plant, these trees don’t need other supports, they have extremely dense, sturdy wood. The wood of mountain mahogany actually sinks in water. This density of the wood makes it hard to count the rings as the rings are packed closely together, but scientists can use microscopes to date these trees and have discovered that they can grow to be quite old. The oldest Mountain Mahogany measured is estimated to be 1,350 years old, making it one of the oldest known flowering plants.

So far, I’m hoping you’ve found the same interest in this tree as me, whether for its twists or for its ability to withstand the tests of time. But you don’t necessarily have to travel the slopes of our national forests to connect with this tree, you can find its siblings in your garden. Although the evergreen curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany might seem like its closest relatives are the junipers or pines or even the Mahoganies of the African Savannah. This tree is actually part of the rose family-a family of plants that includes roses, apples, peaches, pears, and more.

The next time you find yourself among the Mountain Mahoganies of the slopes, hopefully you find yourself with just as much appreciation for this tree as myself.

My name is Kate Hunter and I’m Wild About Utah.

Credits:
English Version: Kate Hunter, Education, Stokes Nature Center https://logannature.org/staff/
Spanish Version: Carlos Ramos, Facilities, Stokes Nature Center https://logannature.org/staff/
Images: Courtesy USU Extension,
Featured Audio: Courtesy & Copyright J. Chase and K.W. Baldwin as well as Courtesy & Copyright Anderson, Howe, & Wakeman
Text: Kate Hunter & Carlos Ramos, https://logannature.org/staff
Additional Reading: Lyle Bingham, https://bridgerlandaudubon.org/

Additional Reading

Wild About Utah Pieces by Kate Hunter https://wildaboututah.org/author/kate-hunter/
Wild About Utah Pieces by Carlos Ramos https://wildaboututah.org/author/carlos-ramos/

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany in the Landscape, Cercocarpus/ledifolius, Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping, Extension, Utah State University, https://extension.usu.edu/cwel/research/curl-leaf-mountain-mahogany-in-the-landscape

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Cercocarpus/ledifolius, Natures Notebook, a project of the US NPN (National Phenology Network), https://mynpn.usanpn.org/npnapps/species/Cercocarpus/ledifolius

Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany, Cache Valley Native Plants, https://www.cachevalleynativeplants.com/product-page/curl-leaf-mountain-mahogany

Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany, Native Utah Plants, Provo, UT, https://utahplants.com/products/curl-leaf-mountain-mahogany

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Caoba de Montaña

Caoba de Montaña: Árbol de caoba de montaña de hoja rizada, Courtesy & Copyright USU Extension
Árbol de caoba de montaña de hoja rizada
Cortesía y derechos de autor: USU Extension
La historia de hoy está en inglés y en español.
Para escuchar la traducción al español nos puedes sintonizar los miércoles a las 9 pm o en línea en UPR.org
Este artículo fue escrito por Kate Hunter, directora de educación en Stokes Nature Center y una apasionada por Utah

Árbol de caoba de montaña de hoja rizada, Devil's Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah (Mt Nebo to the right) Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, fotógrafa
Árbol de caoba de montaña de hoja rizada
Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah (Mt Nebo to the right)
Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, fotógrafa

Árbol de caoba de montaña de hoja rizada, Devil's Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah Mt Nebo in the background Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, fotógrafa Árbol de caoba de montaña de hoja rizada
Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah
Mt Nebo in the background
Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, fotógrafa

Caoba de montaña de hoja rizada, Devil's Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, fotógrafa Caoba de montaña de hoja rizada, Devil’s Kitchen Trail, Nebo Loop, Utah
Courtesy & Copyright Lyle Bingham, fotógrafa

Me encantan todos los árboles del Bosque Nacional Cache. Pero hay uno que siempre me ha intrigado: la caoba de montaña.

Probablemente hayas visto este árbol si has caminado por las montañas del norte de Utah; solo puedo describir nuestra caoba de montaña como retorcida.

Incluso el nombre sugiere una torsión, ya que nuestra variedad más común es la caoba de hoja rizada.

Las ramas de la caoba de hoja rizada se enroscan mientras crecen hacia arriba, como los zarcillos de una planta de guisante o una enredadera que intenta encontrar algo de lo cual sujetarse.

Esa cualidad retorcida de las ramas también se encuentra en las semillas.

Estos árboles producen semillas ligeras y plumosas que se enrollan sobre sí mismas como un espiral o un sacacorchos, lo que les ayuda a perforar la tierra.

Siento afinidad con estos árboles retorcidos cada vez que subo una montaña y me encuentro con bosques de estas caobas, ya que a menudo yo también me siento igual de retorcida y alterada por la cantidad de resoplidos y jadeos que doy al encontrármelos.

Pero, a diferencia de los zarcillos de una planta de guisante, estos árboles no necesitan otros soportes; tienen una madera extremadamente densa y resistente.

La madera de la caoba de montaña de hecho se hunde en el agua. Esa densidad hace que sea difícil contar los anillos, porque están muy juntos, pero los científicos pueden usar microscopios para fechar estos árboles y han descubierto que pueden llegar a ser bastante viejos.

Se estima que la caoba de montaña más antigua medida tiene 1,350 años, lo que la convierte en una de las plantas con flores más antiguas que se conocen.

Hasta ahora, espero que hayas encontrado en este árbol el mismo interés que yo, ya sea por sus torsiones o por su capacidad para resistir el paso del tiempo.

Pero no necesariamente tienes que recorrer las laderas de nuestros bosques nacionales para conectar con este árbol; puedes encontrar a sus parientes en tu jardín.

Aunque la caoba de montaña perenne de hoja rizada podría parecer emparentada más de cerca con los enebros, los pinos o incluso con las caobas de la sabana africana, en realidad este árbol forma parte de la familia de las rosáceas, una familia de plantas que incluye rosas, manzanas, duraznos, peras y más.

La próxima vez que te encuentres entre las caobas de montaña de las laderas, espero que sientas tanta admiración por este árbol como la que siento yo.

Soy Carlos Ramos y estoy loco por Utah.

Créditos:
Versión en inglés: Kate Hunter, Education, Stokes Nature Center https://logannature.org/staff/
Versión en español: Carlos Ramos, Facilities, Stokes Nature Center https://logannature.org/staff/
Imágenes: cortesía del USU Extension y Lyle W. Bingham, fotographia
Audio destacado: Cortesía y derechos de autor J. Chase and K.W. Baldwin y Cortesía y derechos de autor Anderson, Howe, & Wakeman
Texto: Kate Hunter & Carlos Ramos, https://logannature.org/staff
Lectura adicional: Lyle Bingham, https://bridgerlandaudubon.org/

Lectura adicional:

Artículos “Wild About Utah” por Kate Hunter https://wildaboututah.org/author/kate-hunter/
Artículos “Wild About Utah” por Carlos Ramos https://wildaboututah.org/author/carlos-ramos/

El caoba de montaña de hoja rizada en el paisaje [Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany in the Landscape], Cercocarpus/ledifolius, Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping, Extension, Utah State University, https://extension.usu.edu/cwel/research/curl-leaf-mountain-mahogany-in-the-landscape

Caoba de montaña de hoja rizada [Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany], Cercocarpus/ledifolius, Natures Notebook, a project of the US NPN (National Phenology Network), https://mynpn.usanpn.org/npnapps/species/Cercocarpus/ledifolius

Caoba de montaña de hoja rizada [Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany], Cache Valley Native Plants, https://www.cachevalleynativeplants.com/product-page/curl-leaf-mountain-mahogany

Caoba de montaña de hoja rizada [Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany], Native Utah Plants, Provo, UT, https://utahplants.com/products/curl-leaf-mountain-mahogany

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Milking Cows – Then and Now

Holstein Milk Cow with Calf Courtesy Pixabay, ElseMargariet, Contributor
Holstein Milk Cow with Calf
Courtesy Pixabay, ElseMargariet, Contributor

Ice Cream Cone Courtesy Pixabay, Sylvia Emilie, Contributor
Ice Cream Cone
Courtesy Pixabay, Sylvia Emilie, Contributor
When I moved to Mendon in 1980, a neighbor asked me if I’d like to go along with her to feed calves at a local dairy farm. I jumped into her car and off we went.

When the calves saw us coming, holding bottles full of warm milk, they let out what sounded to me like joyous noise. And once the calves got hold of the three-inch nipples, they sucked with so much enthusiasm that I had a hard time hanging on to the bottle.

I found the whole experience deeply satisfying, and even a bit romantic. In no time I found my own job feeding calves and doing the morning milking at a small dairy farm in Benson.

By the 1980s most dairies came equipped with vacuum-powered suction cups that imitated the squeeze of a hand milker. My job was to let in five cows on each side of what we now call the milking parlor, and tug on the rope that drops some tasty grain into each cow’s feed bowl.Then I washed the teats with the warm water hose and attached the suction cups.

All the cows had names, and I soon learned them by their udders. This made it a bit awkward later when I had to go find a cow that the vet wanted to see. I had to walk through the herd, bent over the waste, peeking under the cows until I found the right udder.

All this was over 40 years ago, so you can imagine how I perked up when I heard that some of the valley dairies were switching to robot milkers. I jumped at the chance to visit USU’s new robotic setup.

Each of the cows at the USU dairy farm was wearing an ID necklace, so when she stepped into the milking chute, the robot knew exactly who was there. Immediately, the precise amount of grain she was allotted dropped into the feed bowl.

The robot moved under her udder and went to work. With the aid of its camera the robot scrubbed each teat between its wet rotating bristle brushes. The robot then realigned itself and raised a suction cup up and attached to the teat. Three more realignments, and soon all four suction cups were attached and milking the cow.

The robot was reporting its progress on a screen diagram documenting the exact amount of milk coming out of each teat. The computer was clicking along, not only reporting the cow’s performance, but also comparing it to the previous day’s. Any unexpected measurements, and the computer shot off a message to the manager’s computer telling him he better check on that cow.

I must admit I was a bit dazzled by the efficiency of the whole set up. Looking around the milking chute, I could see five cows milling around the entrance to the chute patiently waiting their turn to get milked.

Most cows voluntarily came through the chute three times a day. The top cow was currently giving 17 gallons of milk a day.

Every Monday morning, Aggie Ice Cream sends its milk truck to the USU Dairy to pick up its weekly allotment of 9000 pounds of milk.

For those of us whose happy place is Aggie Ice Cream, we now know that the journey of milk from the cow to the ice cream cone begins out on the highway near Wellsville, where two robots are milking 45 Jerseys and 65 Holsteins.

This is Mary Hears, and I’m wild about Utah.

Credits:

Images Courtesy Pixabay, https://pixabay.com/photos/ice-cream-summer-cornet-cone-scoop-770994/
https://pixabay.com/photos/calf-cow-moederzorg-cows-meadow-5047986/
Featured Audio: Courtesy & Copyright © Freesound, https://freesound.org/people/spurioustransients/sounds/513565/?#comments & Anderson, Howe & Wakeman,
Text: Mary Heers, https://cca.usu.edu/files/awards/art-and-mary-heers-citation.pdf
Additional Reading: Lyle Bingham, https://bridgerlandaudubon.org/

Additional Reading

Wild About Utah, Mary Heers’ Postings

Aggie Ice Cream, https://www.usu.edu/aggieicecream/

Teichert, Bronson, Dairy Robotics and Economics: New Milking Barn at USU Changes More Than Equipment,S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Utah State University, https://qanr.usu.edu/cultivate/spring18/dairy-robotics

From Cow to Cone: Utah State University, Holstein Association USA, Inc.