James River News Hub

Phil Riggans of "Richmond on the James" has set up a new blog to aggregate any and all news regarding the James River. It is a great resource for anyone interesting in the James River and care about its future. Read and contribute your own material and find out what's going on the our most precious natural resource.

James River News Hub

Today's JRN Story:

Volunteer Day: Help restore the Pump House


Help HandsOn Greater Richmond and The Friends of James River Park are sponsoring a voluteer day to help restore a section of the James River Canal and return the ballroom in the old Pump House to its glory days as a venue for social events.

See James River News for details.

For more on the Pumphouse check this out.

Richmond's Secret Castle

From

Pony Pasture Cleanup This Saturday

A message from Maureen Egan about the next Riverside Drive Cleanup.

FOJRP's next clean-up of Riverside Drive will be Saturday, Feb. 6th at 9 a.m. If you'd like to help, meet at Pony Pasture parking lot and wear shoes you don't mind getting mucky, and bring gloves and trash bags. A winter clean-up gives us the chance to go after trash that is usually hidden in the spring and summer by greenery. It's a bit like a treasure hunt, really. An hour and a half usually takes care of things, but any amount of time you can give would be much appreciated. Please let Maureen Egan know if you're coming: maureenLegan@comcast.net Hope to see you there.

Snowstorm In Library Park

The next day.

Flown the Coop

From the DGIF weblog:

All three have flown

"Following the first successful flight of the young male, the two juvenile females were somewhat more cautious. One of the females slowly scaled the roof line using a strand of holiday lights (the lights are unplugged) and finally reached the apex of the roof. The other perched on the box that houses the camera equipment. Both females practiced getting the wind under their wings for some time before finally taking flight. Both of the two females flew strongly and were able to gain altitude."

Read More...

Opening Ceremonies

From Stephen Living - Wildlife Biologist for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

"We have a number of volunteers with experience in Identifying birds - along with dgif staff experienced with handling raptors. While all of our "official volunteer" spots are filled you can still feel free to join us downtown in the area around Riverfront Plaza (951 East Bryd Street) tomorrow and Wednesday. You'll be able to ID DGIF staff by our bright orange hats and green polo shirts. Hopefully we will see the young birds fly well and need no assistance. In this case volunteers will help us track where the young birds perch so we can monitor them. Should the fledglings have any problems biologists will be on hand to intervene as necessary.

We'll be placing the door opening mechanism on at about 9:15am (give or take) the door will open 1-3 hours later and then the waiting begins. Our fledge watch effort will last until about 8 pm and start again at about 9 am on Wednesday through 8 - that evening."

Flight Preparations

Looking more and more like adult birds, the three falcon chicks are almost fully fledged. This In years past DGIF biologists have taken the young birds to remote locations in the Blue Ridge mountains to hone their flight skills. Since the nesting pair have been so successful breeding here in Richmond, the chicks will be allowed to run the fledge downtown in hopes they will imprint on the city and return to start nests of their own.

The chicks are very active now. This may be the best and maybe last time to see them up close and personal.

From the DGIF website.

"Our three young falcons have grown quickly. Only a few scattered tufts of down remain and their juvenile plumage is almost fully grown in. Peregrine falcons typically fledge between 40-45 days after hatching.

The door-opener apparatus will be installed on the pen door on Tuesday morning, August 18th. This will mark 47 to 48 days since hatching for these falcons. The extra time ensures full feather development, and allows these birds to strengthen their flight muscles before attempting their first flights. The “apparatus” is comprised of a weight, bungee cords, and a plastic bottle of ice attached to the pen door. As the ice melts it releases the weight and the door is slowly pulled open by the bungee cords. Depending on the temperature on the release date, the door should open about 2-4 hours after the trigger is attached. We have used this method successfully for three years. Though the adults become aggressive when we attach the device, they quickly calm down after we leave. Past releases have gone very smoothly, with the chicks typically walking from the pen or flying to the ledge, surveying their surroundings for a few minutes or hours, and then taking successful first flights.

DGIF personnel and skilled volunteers will be stationed in the area surrounding the nest building. This will allow us to track the young birds’ first efforts and ensure that they are capable of sustained, controlled flight. This monitoring effort will continue until we are confident in the flight abilities of the fledglings. Should one of the fledglings encounter difficulty and end up on the ground, DGIF staff will recover the fledgling and either return it to the ledge or ensure prompt treatment and transportation to a licensed rehabilitation facility if necessary. "

Summer Sizzle Hike - Cancelled

Do you want to see our urban wilderness up close in personal?

Do you want to escape from the everyday, get lost along the river and see just how beautiful and remote the James River can be?

You can do this on Saturday, August 15th. This challenging hike takes you on a scenic 10 mile loop through woods and abandoned quarries along both sides of the river.

Remarkably this all takes place within the city limits of Richmond. No other city in America can boast such a spectacular urban park. This hike will challenge you and show you the river in a new way. If you are game, then call the James River Park hotline for time and place. Reservations are encouraged.

• Fee: $5
• Date: Saturday, August 15th
• Bring water, lunch and hiking shoes
• Sponsor: James River Park
• 804 646-8911

Lots of Falcon News

There has been a lot of news and some adventure from the DGIF Falcon Blog in the past three weeks. The chicks are growing fast and fledging out and moving out of the nest. One even took an adventurous leap or fall onto the Manchester Bridge. Somehow it survived unharmed. All this shows that raising falcon chick on a 22 story ledge is not an easy trick. Here are some excerpts from the blog.

Monday, July 27th:

Banding: Both falcon parents were defensive of the ledge although they often took breaks, perching and keeping a close eye on all personnel involved All three chicks appeared well-fed and generally healthy. No external parasites were noted. The chicks were weighed and measured. The measurements revealed that we have two females and a male this year. The male's feather development indicates that he is the eldest of the three.

Vital Statistics

• Male USFWS Band #1126-11828 - Aux. Band 19/AB - Weight:627 grams
• Female USFWS Band #1807-65007 - Aux. Band 02/AD - Weight: 848 grams
• Female USFWS Band #1807-65008 - Aux. Band 03/AD - Weight: 883grams

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Walkabout? Some have expressed concern that the male chick (Band 19/AB) has not been seen on the camera since late Monday. As the chicks have become more mobile the full ledge has become available to them. The picture below should give an idea as to what we can and can't see on the camera.Only about 30 feet of the ledge are visible on the Falcon Cam. The remaining ledge comprises approximately 110 feet and is fully accessible to the chicks. The adults are also able to access the full ledge and will feed the chicks regardless of where they are.

A local falcon watcher with a vantage point from a nearby office building has made a positive sighting of our wandering chick. The young male was seen perched atop the parapet (raised edge of the ledge) at the farthest point possible from the nest box.

As we suspected the young bird has simply taken advantage of the spacious ledge to explore its surroundings. The observer noted at least one of the parents attending to the young male. Given the fact that his sisters are so much larger then he - remaining on his own might offer some relief in competing for food. Should he choose to, he'll be able to make his way back to the nest box.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

A Close Call: On the afternoon of Fri, July 31st, a DGIF biologist responded to a call of a grounded osprey chick in downtown Richmond. The caller reported having shooed the bird from the Manchester Bridge, where cars were swerving to avoid hitting it, onto the adjacent grassy lawn of the Federal Reserve Building. The Manchester Bridge sits between the Riverfront Plaza, where Richmond's peregrine falcon pair have nested this year, and the Federal Reserve Building. Upon arrival at the scene, the biologist was surprised to see that the ‘osprey’ chick was none other than the banded male peregrine falcon chick. This chick was known to have been spending time on the parapet of the ledge of the Riverfront Plaza and had evidently fallen or been swept off the ledge by a gust of wind. Luckily, the bird was unharmed and was returned to the Riverfront Plaza ledge shortly thereafter.

Read more on the DGIF Blog.

Falcon Updates

From the DGIF Falcon Blog:

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

• The 4th egg remains unhatched, at this point there is no chance that it will hatch. The egg remains in the nest and has now been rolled off to the corner.
  


• Our three eyases have have grown quickly! All three are well fed and moving around the nestbox. They aren't coordinated enough yet to walk on their feet...you'll note that they waddle on their tarsus. All three are feeding well.

Friday, July 16, 2009

• The young falcons are just starting to get their feet under them - literally. The eyases will soon be able to stand and their feet instead of waddling on their "ankles" (tarsus). This will mark their ability tp move around much more effectively. At this point they're still a bit unsteady, but with some practice will soon be able to get around quite well.
  


• This mobility created some consternation in 2007 (another late nest attempt at this site) as the young left the box and were unable to climb back in. We believe that the young were attempting to excape the heat of day by seeking shade elsewhere on the ledge. This necessitated some modifications including the ramp and overhand (for shade) seen on the nest box now.

I'll post falcon news here whenever I get it. I have restored the feed from the DGIF Blog in the lefthand sidebar. They are the mascot of this site and I hope Richmond's new mascot.

ATR Weekend Calendar 07/17/2009

Friday July 17th

• Virginia Historical Society - Free Admission - 428 N. Boulevard
• River District Canal Cruises - Canal Turning Basin 14th and Dock St Richmond VA
• Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition: Small Works 2009 @ 1212 Gallery - 12 East 12th Street,
• 10am – 11:30am "Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery” Daily Walking Tours - Valentine Richmond History Center,
  
• 11am – 12:30pm Safety House – Fire Safety 11 am - Dogwood Dell - Maymont Park - Ha Penny Stage
• 5pm – 8pm After Work Brews & Blues with Mo Debree @ Capital Ale House - 623 E. Main St.,
• 6:30pm – 10pm Fridays At Sunset - Kanawa Plaza
  
  *** ATR Pick ***
• 6:30pm – 10:30pm Gills and Wings / Crucial Elements / Moruza @
  The National - 708 E. Broad St.
  *** ATR Pick ***
  
• 7:30pm – 9:30pm Guitar and Other Strings Series: Stephen Bennett @ VCU - 922 Park Ave.,
• 8pm – 12am NOBS Brass Band w/ Hot Lava @ The Camel - 1621 W. Broad St.,
• 8:30pm – 10:30pm Latin Ballet - Dogwood Dell - Maymont Park
• 8:30pm – 11pm 2009 Movie Night in the Park - Bellmeade Community Center
• 9:30pm – 12am The Recliners @ Tobacco Company - 1201 E. Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia
• 11pm – 12am Richmond Rocky Horror Week: The Midnight Show - Movieland at Boulevard Square, 1301 N. Boulevard,
  

Saturday July 18th

• Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition: Small Works 2009 @ 1212 Gallery - 12 East 12th Street,
• River District Canal Cruises - Canal Turning Basin 14th and Dock St Richmond VA
• Free Family Day - Open House - VA History Museum 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia
  
• 10am – 4pm RO White Water Rafting - James River Park
• 11am – 12:30pm Victorian High Tech @ Maymont - Maymont Nature Center, 2201 Shields Lake Drive,
• 11am – 12:30pm Victorian High Tech @ Maymont - Maymont Nature Center, 2201 Shields Lake Drive,
• 12pm – 2pm SEGWAY TOUR - Starting point will be determined by Segway of Richmond.
• 2pm – 5pm Tubing on the James - Wetlands
  
  *** ATR Pick ***
• 8pm – 10:30pm Page Wilson and Reckless Abandon -
  Dogwood Dell - Maymont
  *** ATR Pick ***
  
• 8pm – 12am Southern Culture on the Skids ? The Dregs ? Hamburger James @ Plaza Bowl - 521 East Southside Plaza,

Sunday July 19th

• Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition: Small Works 2009 @ 1212 Gallery - 12 East 12th Street
• Virginia Historical Society - Free Admission - 428 N. Boulevard
• River District Canal Cruises - Canal Turning Basin 14th and Dock St Richmond VA
  
• 10am – 4pm RO White Water Rafting - James River Park
• 11am – 1pm John Smith Trail Guided Kayaking - Huguenot Flat Water
  
  *** ATR Pick ***
• 12pm – 4pm Sunday in the Park @ Forest Hill Park -
  42nd St. & New Kent Ave.,
  *** ATR Pick ***
  
• 1pm – 3pm 2009 Summer Reenactment Series - St John's Episcopal Church
• 2pm – 4pm The Museum District Walking Tour - the Pauley Center, directly behind the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Richmnd, VA
• 4pm – 5:30pm YAV’s Red Hawk – "Stories of My People" - Storytelling 4 pm - Dogwood Dell - Maymont Park - Ha Penny Stage
• 6pm – 8pm Music in the Park @ Forest Hill Park - 42nd St. & New Kent Ave.,
• 7pm – 9pm James Gates Group - Dogwood Dell - Maymont Park
  

Falcon Mom Tending to Chicks

I can't tell how many chicks are in the nest. At last count there were three with one unhatched egg. The DGIF blog has not been updated since last Tuesday. I'm not going to speculate. I expect we will here something soon. The falcon parents must not only feed they brood, but shield them from the sun and keep them cool So far they are thriving.

To view blog and cam go here.

To view Richmond Falcon Cam full screen, go here.

Fledging Out

Three out of four eggs have hatched and the chicks are doing well. One egg remains unhatched.

From the DGIF website.

We have been closely monitoring the 4th egg, hoping to see some indication of a pip. Today marks the 37th day for this egg. While peregrine falcon eggs generally hatch at between 33-35 days of incubation, 37 days is not unknown. We are drawing towards the end of the window where we can reasonably hope that this egg remains viable.

The three chicks that have hatched are doing quite well - and being fed often by the adults. In the short time since they've hatched the chicks have grown noticeably.

The falcon cam is a great way to pass time at work or just destress in general. Knowing that this wild piece of nature is taking place on a manmade cliff above the river is heartening. We've got weeks of feeding and fledging to go. Something to look forward to.

Who We Are

Many of you may be first time visitors to this site. There are thousands of sites you could be visiting or things you should be doing. The fact that you stopped here, even briefly, is greatly appreciated.

Who are we? Well we are NOT a news site, though you might find a bit of news here occasionally. Sometimes we even break news, Falcon Chicks Are Hatching!, but that is not our mission. It is our pleasure share news, good news, about Richmond. Reading the daily or weekly paper it is possible to lose track of what a great place we live in. We share problems with the whole world, but nowhere else can you find the combination of art, history and natural beauty that you find here in Richmond. So whether you live here or not, we hope you we find something new about Richmond or always knew. Almost 1/3 of our readers are from out of state, some are out of the United States. Drop me a line if you are planning a visit.

We are also about what is happening now. Our calendar features daily events in and around the city center. We are not limited by the city limits though. Richmond is a community and an idea founded four centuries ago and the best in Richmond can be found anywhere, sometimes a long way from home.

You will find local artists, local musicians, local culture and business. The idea is to create a place where you can get to know the community that you live in. In a community like this, it is a never ending process.

You can be a part of All Things Richmond by sharing your ideas, comments and events. We want to be a showcase of the best in Richmond. It is a task we look forward to. Help us share the city that we love with a new generation. Look around, kick the tires and come back often. We try to have something new for you each time.

Celine Cousteau @ SMV Tonight

A bit of Television and marine (aqua) history steps into the Science Museum of Virginia on Thursday Night. If you are of a certain age you remember when Jacques Cousteau was a regular guest in your living room. Before Nature, before Planet Earth, before National Geographic Specials, there was The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau telling us the wonders of the marine world and how fragile it was. The inventor of the aqualung, Cousteau was a pioneer of television and environmental protection and set the standard for all who followed. His french accented voice was as familiar as Marlin Perkins and Walt Disney. Just to see his daughter would touch my heart. If you don't get the opportunity to go, then share his story or watch a DVD with your children. He is a bit of television history that should not be forgotten.

James River Park Day

Image from Shared Air

It is hard to pick just one day to celebrate the JRPS, but Saturday is it. The James River runs with history and JRP Day will celebrate 400 years of Richmond history, the good (the Hollywood Rapids), the bad (hurricane related flooding) and the ugly (Richmond's slave past). It is all part of what makes up Richmond today. So spend a day of the river with your friends, learn about the James River Park System and wrap up the day with a candlelit night walk down the slave trail. Remember, it is your James River.

From Near West End News :

James River Park Day - Saturday June 27th - All Day

Actually, that is sort of a misnomer — because the best activity of all on James River Park Day is actually the one that takes place at night. So many people who live in Richmond don’t know its slave history and have never done the Slave Trail walk. Traditionally it is done each year shortly after the Juneteenth celebration as a very moving torch-lit walk.

Don’t miss these special activities:

• 9 a.m. – Man & Nature Tour of Belle Isle
  (Meet at Tredegar Parking Lot.)
• 10 a.m. – River Exploration for Kids
  (Requires advance registration. Call 646-8911.)
• 2 p.m. – River Exploration for Adults
  (Meet at Reedy Creek entrance.)
• 8:30 p.m. – Night Walk on the Slave Trail
  (Meet at Ancarrow’s Landing.)

For more information, call 646-8911.

The Martins Return to Shockoe Bottom

Like the swallows to Capistrano, the purple martins are returning to Shockoe Bottom. Last year 8 to 10 thousand birds swooped into Richmond and became a local tourist draw with crowds coming out each night to watch them. Along with the blue herons on the James and the peregrine falcons on Riverfront Towers, Richmond is getting to be a avian sanctuary. I have even seen red tailed hawks in Monroe Park swooping down and snatching squirrels, not to mention Osprey that wander up the James to feed on the shad run. Richmond can feel like a concrete jungle sometimes, but we are graced with a bit of nature that brings smiles and laughter with it. Life in the city has it's rewards.

Story in the RTD.

From Twighlight Mind on flickr

Butterflies Live! Today at Lewis Ginter

The Butterflies Are Here



Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden celebrates its 25th anniversary with the return of Butterflies Live! The popular exhibit serves as the centerpiece for community celebrations, special events and symposia around the theme of metamorphosis.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Ave.Richmond,
VA 23228
(804) 262-9887