The Ivy Creek Foundation, a community-supported non-profit organization, offers free nature programs and hikes throughout the year. The Foundation also sponsors courses on natural history through Piedmont Virginia Community College, and maintains an energetic corps of volunteer guides who, each year, lead education tours for more than 3000 schoolchildren. Your membership, event participation and reports of wildlife sightings are most welcome.

Nearly two miles of Rivanna Reservoir shoreline border ICNA, providing excellent fish habitat. The sunfish family, which includes bass, crappie, and bluegill, is the most easily observed group. Sunfish prefer to spawn in the warm shallow water of inlets, where the males scoop out nests in the mud to attract females, then stand guard over the eggs and young. Creek chub, blacknose dace, and rosyside dace are common in Martin's Branch, a creek bisecting ICNA southwest of the barn. Larger game fish have been introduced into the deeper waters of the reservoir.

Because fish populations fluctuate dramatically, up-to-date records are difficult to maintain. The following is a list of the most commonly encountered species in the reservoir and Martin's Branch.

Ancestors of reptiles, birds and mammals, ampihibians were the first land-dwelling vertebrates. Most species lay gelatinous eggs in or near water where the larvae undergo an aquatic stage before transformation to more terrestrial adults. Amphibians are carnivorous and will eat whatever moves and is small enough to swallow (primarily insects and worms). Larger prey is taken by some, including the bullfrog which can ingest ducklings and small mammals nearly its own size.

Amphibians cannot internally control their body temperature; therefore they must seek shelter during winter. Many prefer underground burrows or rotting logs; some remain underwater or nestle in mud, absorbing oxygen through their skin. Mass movements to breeding sites often occur with the first warm rains of late winter and early spring.

Keen hearing and strong voices aid in courtship. Usually found near water. Activity peaks in evening.

Although often found near water, many reptiles are adapted to life on dry land. They have well-developed lungs and their skin is covered with scales or plates. Most reptiles lay large leathery eggs in concealed nests. Some, including eight snake species at ICNA, have live-born young. Unlike amphibians, young reptiles resemble their parents from birth and do not undergo a separate larval stage. Reptiles are cold-blooded; therefore are inactive during winter.

Opportunities for encountering turtles, lizards, and snakes at the Natural Area are plentiful. Patience and respect for these shy animals often yield rewarding insights into their intriguing lifestyles.

Durable and long-lived. Eat a wide variety of plant and animal matter. Many species spend winter buried in mud of pond and lake bottoms -- take in dissolved oxygen through mouth and anus.

Well-developed legs, clawed toes. Eat mostly insects, spiders, worms. For defense, tails of many species break off easily (but soon grow back). Winter underground or in rotting logs.

All snakes are carnivorous. With the aid of highly flexible jaws, they can ingest relatively large prey and go for long periods between meals. Many species are terrestrial; others prefer water and some, such as the black rat snake, spend considerable time in trees. Although keenly able to sense vibration, snakes are deaf. Their tongue flicking behavior is not a threat, but a means of "sniffing" the air for food or danger.

Most snakes hide by day, prowl by night, and spend the winter underground or in deep rock crevices. Snakes are timid and retreating by nature; those that bite will do so only if provoked.  (Advice from UVa Health System regarding snake bites is available here.)

Because they tend to be secretive and nocturnal, mammals are not easily observed. More often their signs are seen: tracks, burrows, scat, and feeding evidence.

Characteristics of mammals include hair, well-developed teeth, and milk glands for nursing their young. Mammals have the ability (along with birds) to internally regulate body temperature which allows many to remain active year-round and to inhabit harsh environments. During extreme cold, some species "hole up" in dens or burrows. Other hibernate underground the entire winter. Some bat species migrate to warmer areas.

Most mammals possess keen senses, especially hearing and smell. Quietly walking the trails in early morning or evening provides the best opportunity for an encounter.

Newly born embryos crawl into their mother's abdominal pouch to continue development.

Most have sensitive pointed snouts. Fierce predators of worms and grubs -- eat constantly. Utilize tunnels, either underground or through dead grass and leaves.

Capable of sustained flight -- catch insects in the air. Nocturnal; navigate by echolocation. Bats are not blind, aggressive, or rabies-infested; nor do they get tangled in human hair. Commonly seen at ICNA at dusk during warmer months.

Incisors grow constantly -- kept in check by gnawing. Most are nocturnal and herbivorous. Variety of habitats -- underground to treetops.

Prolific breeders; important prey species for many animals. Herbivorous; diurnal. Use burrows of other animals for shelter -- do not dig their own. Cottontail has small home range, usually an acre or two.

Foot bones are fused -- walk on "tip-toes". Herbivorous -- complex stomachs digest food through several stages. Deer are commonly seen at ICNA in fields near the barn.

Adapted for hunting and killing prey. Strong teeth and claws. Keen sense of smell and hearing; most are nocturnal and far ranging.

Due to their high visibility and vocal antics, birds are the most readily encountered form of wildlife. A variety of quality habitat contributes to an impressive number and diversity of birds at ICNA. Many are resident year-round.

All birds are warm-blooded, lay eggs, and have feathers for insulation and (for most) flight. Because of their high metabolism, they spend considerable time hunting food. It is not uncommon for some species to ingest a third or more of their body weight each day. Beaks are a good indicator of food preference -- short and thick for cracking seeds (finches); long and thin to probe for insects (warblers); sharp and hooked for tearing flesh (hawks).

When advertising for mates or defending territory, birds utilize intriguing methods of attracting attention. Many have developed elaborate songs. Some dance, fake injury, grunt, or bang on trees, the ground, buildings, and each other. Observing bird behavior adds much to the pleasure of birdwatching.

Note: Seasons and habitats for the following list have been generalized -- many variations occur. (Seasons: sp = spring, s = summer, f = fall, w = winter)