Pick the statement about Bundoran Farm that is Not True!

1: Lake Inferior is a good fishing hole.

2: Cacti grow wild in the forests of Bundoran Farm.

3: Snakehead fish have been caught in Lake Scogo.

4: A Lockheed C-130 Hercules Transport Aircraft has landed on the farm.

To locate these areas on at Bundoran Farm, visit the interactive masterplan.

More than one resident of Bundoran Farm has noted the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo recently.  They have been calling their hollow wooden calls ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kow-kow-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp from many sites in the forests or the forest edge.

This secretive bird has an unusual breeding pattern, with breeding correlated with an abundant food supply and a very rapid breeding cycle.  From egg-laying to fledging of the young takes only 17 days, and breeding occurs from April well into August.  Since they are so vocal at this time one can speculate that the recent rains have brought out their favorite foods: large insects such as katydids, grasshoppers, cicadas, crickets and caterpillars.  I did not hear these cuckoos much during the recent drought.

The yellow-billed cuckoo arrives from its winter stay in Central America in April and breeds through out central and eastern US.  It prefers open woodland with clearings and some low dense vegetation, usually with water nearby.  It is generally absent from urban areas.

The yellow-billed cuckoo has been called “the rain crow” but its proficiency as a rain predictor has never been shown.  This cuckoo is known for its “skulking” behavior; when perched it avoids movement, sits with its back hunched to conceal its white breast and belly and disappears into the foliage when disturbed.  It is much more likely to be heard than seen.  When spotted, its distinctive tail pattern is quite pretty: the outer feathers (rectrices) are tipped with white giving the appearance of six large white spots on the undersurface,  The bright rufous wing primaries are a lovely color.  The moderately long curved, stout bill is mostly yellow with the upper mandible black.

The yellow-billed cuckoo has declined significantly in the US and used to be common in the west, but has virtually disappeared from those states.  This disappearance seems to be due to destruction of riparian habitats from agriculture, flood control and urbanization.

The yellow-billed cuckoo, like other cuckoos may lay eggs in other bird’s nests.  Most often it is in another yellow-billed cuckoo’s nest.  Generally they seem to use their own nest, and the incidence of brood parasitism is not known.

It’s call can be heard at www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo/sounds

Dorothy Tompkins – Master Naturalist and Bundoran Farm Steward

During his recent vacation, Leif participated in the 25^th Annual James River Batteau Festival.  The festival included 25 flat bottom, wooden vessels that are replicas of the boats used Colonial times into the 19^th century to move cargo along the James River and is a tradition for many boating fans.  Some even dress in period colonial outfits.  Leif helped crew the Rosalee on the 120 mile trip down the James River from Lynchburg to Maiden’s Landing.

As highlighted in the May 26, 2010 issue of the Washington Post, these “boats were vital to Virginia’s early commerce, when much of the state could only be traveled by horseback.  The cargo typically included tobacco and other crops, along with some passengers, and were navigated by batteaumen who used long poles to push the huge boats around rocks and through shallow water.  The first remains of the ancient boats were found in 1983 at a construction site in downtown Richmond.  From that discovery, the first reproduction was built.

Here’s a link to a great narrated photo essay about the trip.  James River Batteau Festival

Dorothy Tompkins — Master Naturalist and Bundoran Farm Steward

The speakers for this event were Mike Santucci & Nelson Shaw, both with the Virginia Department of Forestry, Rex Linville of the Piedmont Environmental Council, and Adam Downing, a forester with Virginia Cooperative Extension.  The participants learned important information about the history of Virginia’s Forests, how they can get a Forest Stewardship Management Plan written for their property, how timber is sold, and also about conservation easements.

We would like to thank these folks for provided this informative workshop for the public.  Additional support for this event was provided by the Ballyshannon Fund.

In addition to providing an overview of the project vision and a brief history of the property, Hay goes on to describe how the vision is being fully realized as development activity proceeds.

“When you enter Bundoran Farm, you will see cattle grazing peacefully on acres of pasture and cattails swaying gently around the ponds. Gravel farm roads cross gurgling streams on well-constructed bridges with timber railings, and meander off into the woodlands. Tasteful wooden road signs mark the routes at each fork in the road. It is difficult to believe that you are actually in a residential development – a preservation development – and at the same time, on working farm.

Using the Tillman House built by Maple Ridge Group as an example, Hay also goes in great detail how the homes are designed and built in an environmentally friendly manner. All house built at Bundoran Farm are required to meet EarthCraft standards, the green building standard for residential construction in Virginia.

“Homeowners are encouraged to build homes with a scale and style that complement the landscape of the region. An example is the Tillman House. It is designed by Russell Versaci, one of the several architects and design professional in the Bundoran Farm Guild.

The site plan for the Tillman house was designed to protect and nurture the land. Non-permeable surfaces such as asphalt driveways were avoided to prevent runoff. Instead, permeable surfaces create a rain garden, keeping the rainfall on the property.

During construction, Maple Ridge implemented a recycling program for all the debris created in the process. Steve Nicholson, Maple Ridge’s managing partner, added that their company-preferred building practice exceeds the demand of the EarthCraft standards.”

Hay concludes the article by speaking with Fred Scott whose family stewarded the Bundoran Farm land since the 1940’s. “Scott feels that he has place his family homestead in good hand and insured its future.”

Virginia Sportsman Magazine – June – July 2010

Dorothy Tompkins – Master Naturalist and Bundoran Farm Steward

Hats of to Leif Riddervold, Bundoran Farm’s natural resources manager, who organized this event and to all who participated.  I can’t wait for the next one.

This afternoon, wanting to take full advantage of another lovely Spring day in Albemarle County, I went for a hike at Bundoran Farm.  My companion on this hike was my dog, a Boston Terrier named Hunter.  As we hiked up and along the trail at Tom Mountain, I had no concerns about getting lost and was able to fully enjoy the peaceful solitude and breathtaking views during this glorious day in the woods.  I am sure Hunter seemed to think he was leading me where I needed to go just like his predecessor Domino used to do.  He was walking ahead of me the entire hike with purpose and pride.

If you ever meet my dog Hunter, please don’t let him know the secret to our successful hike was the clear and easy to follow trail markers installed by Leif Riddervold, Bundoran Farm’s Natural Resource Manager and not Hunters tracking skills.  I want to make sure he stays my best friend.

The week started out with a cover story in C-Ville Abode, C-Ville Magazine’s publication focusing on all the essentials of homes, gardening and neighborhoods in the Charlottesville/Albemarle County region.  The article entitle “Little Houses in the Big Woods” features some of the houses at Bundoran Farm that exemplify several of the planning, design and environmental principles being applied throughout the property.  It’s always nice to see the efforts of those involved building and living in a sensible (the homeowners, their builders and their architects) recognized.

A complete version of the article can be found at C-Ville Abode.

Later in the week Bundoran Farm on was featured on a segment of PBS’s Charlottesville-Inside Out

The episode, which aired on April 8 2010, includes a tour of the farm and interviews with Bundoran Farm team members Leif Riddervold, David Hamilton and Joe Barnes.

This is segment on Bundoran Farm is part of the third season of WHTJ PBS’s Telly Award winning show “Charlottesville Inside-Out,” hosted by Terri Allard. “Charlottesville Inside-Out” is a fun and unique interview program in which Terri Allard, a local performing artist and native daughter of the region, introduces viewers to the people and places that define the Charlottesville area.

You can air the segment by going to Charlottesville-Inside Out.

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