The BRIDGE Volume 30: Issue 1 January 2017 The Newsletter of the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park News from the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park (FoRB) Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is a membership supported 501 (c)(3) organized to promote understanding, appreciation, enjoyment and preservation of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the surrounding area. email: weaverjc@missouri.edu, address: FoRB, P.O. Box 7642, Columbia MO 65205-7642 website: http://www.friendsofrockbridgemsp.org/ Board News, Kevin Roberson, President – Moving the Mountain Happy New Year to all my fellow tree-huggers and do-gooders. I hope that this year has been a good one for you. I know that politically this year has been a stressor on us all and that there are around 50% of the Americans that are unhappy. That being said, we still have very much to be happy about and proud of. We live in a state where Parks are supported by a vast majority of the voting public; a community where one person can make a difference, just by being stubborn and trying (thank you board members). We have much work to do, but we have moved the mountain over the years. What started out as a hope to memorialize a little girl that was tragically lost, ended up being a magnificent park that is used by thousands for hiking, dog walking, nature discovery, and solitude amid the bustling hubbub of the city life. Let us continue this work in the coming year. Please reach out if you can and will assist. Please thank a park volunteer, park staff, and/or a board member for what they do to support the park. I hope to see you all in the Park next year and hope you are able to take advantage of all it has to offer. In the Park’s service, Kevin Roberson FoRB Officers and Directors – 2016 Officers: President: Kevin Roberson; Treasurer: Jan Weaver, Secretary: Sara Whiting ; 2016 Directors: Sue Tillema, Scott Schulte, Lynne Hooper

News from Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Missouri State Parks, and is primarily funded by 1/2 of 1/10 of a per cent State Parks-and-Soils Sales Tax. It is located at 5901 S. Highway 163, Columbia, MO 65203. phone: 573-449-7400; Website: http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, email: rock.bridge.memorial.state.park@dnr.mo.gov

Superintendent News, Sarah Jones – Find the Opportunities Hidden in Each New Day As 2016 comes to a close, it has been a great opportunity to look back the year. It has been a year full of major changes and events. I left a State that I had called home for over 10 years and a park system that I loved. I moved back to MO and joined MO State Parks here at Rock Bridge in April. We had lots of amazing moments throughout the year. Looking back, I realized I did enjoy the “Big Moments” that happened like the move, the park’s program & events, and the cave research trip. But what I connected with and remembered most was the small moments. Small moments like watching the sunrise in the park, taking hikes with Roxie, talking with volunteers while working an event, and watching a fawn grow up next to the park office. These are the memories that brought joy to my heart and a smile on my face. I realized the everyday joys are what mean the most. So as you start the New Year, I encourage you to take the time for the small things like taking the hike in the park with a loved one, watching Mama Bird feed her young, and watching a sunset. Today, I pass on a New Year’s resolution by quoting Michael Josephson: “Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day” ,and create the small memories that bring joy to your heart. Happy Trails! Sarah Naturalist News, Roxie Campbell – The Christmas Bird Count Helps Track Bird Welfare in the Park There is a tendency to think that since the acreage of the park is protected from development, that things remain fairly static for the plants and animals of the park. Yet there are various ecological influences that cause changes the plants and animals have to deal with. For example, scientists are learning more about the impact of invasive plants like bush honeysuckle.

NEXT FRIENDS BOARD MEETING: 6:00 pm, January 9, Park Office

A study showed that after bush honeysuckle became abundant in woodlands, that Cardinals would often chose to build nests in their branches, probably because the bushes leafed out early and appeared to hide the nest from predators. However, the result was that nests were actually more susceptible to predation and fewer chicks survived compared to nests built in native vegetation. Therefore, there is a need for us to monitor the park’s animals and plants to know how they are doing. One of those monitoring efforts is the Christmas Bird Count, a way that citizens can contribute to science. The Columbia Audubon Society has been monitoring a 15-mile diameter circle around Rock Bridge Elementary School (which included the park) every year since 1960. Eric Wood was glad to report that certain bird species which can be hard to find and are usually in low numbers, were found in this park during this year’s count, specifically: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper and Sharp-shinned Hawk. The 12/23/16 Columbia Daily Tribune ran a front page story about the bird count. If you’d like to find out the results of this year’s count and/or get a summary report of the count’s history, let Roxie know.

If you would like to help remove invasives contact Roxie Campbell at roxie.campbell@dnr.mo.gov

Park 50th Anniversary – If you would like to help plan our celebration of the Park’s 50th year,

please contact Jan Weaver at weaverjc@missouri.edu

Board News: Moving the Mountain Park News: Hidden Opportunities Naturalist News: Christmas Bird Count

To join FoRB, send your name, address, phone and email with a check to: FoRB, P.O. Box 7642, Columbia MO 65205. Membership levels: $15 park staff/volunteer, senior or student; $20 individual; $35 family; $100 supporting FoRB is a 501 (c) (3) organization and donations (but not memberships!) are deductible to the extent allowed by law

Cardinals are monitored as part of the Christmas Bird Count.