Lake Barkley Naturalist and Recreation Blog

Fall Color Change at Lake Barkley, October 24th Report

Mary_Schmidt — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:57:21 -0700

The weather and peak color change last week and continuing this week has provided some fantastic hiking conditions. Most of our vibrant colors this week are being provided by Red & White Oaks, Hickories, Sweetgums, and a few maples. Some dogwoods, Blackgums, and sassafras are also providing color this week, but the majority are past peak and turning brown or falling. Although we may be a few days past peak at the park, it is one of my favorite times of the fall season, where even a slight breeze provides “rain” showers of leaves.
The birds seem to be enjoying the nice weather this week too. This morning I watched a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers, one of the few warbler species that winters in Kentucky. They were visiting a small puddle surrounded by fallen leaves, and they took turns bathing and preening insects off the leaves. Later in the morning I spotted a Dark-eyed junco, a common winter feeder bird, visiting the same puddle. Pied-billed Grebes and White Pelicans were also spotted this morning at the lodge.
Don’t forget to come out to Lake Barkley State Resort Park and enjoy our fall color change – it won’t be here much longer!

National Public Lands Day - a success at Lake Barkley SRP

Mary_Schmidt — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:31:46 -0700

This past Saturday we celebrated National Public Lands Day at Lake Barkley SRP. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest single day volunteer day dedicated to protecting and preserving our public lands. This year twelve volunteers worked on three separate projects. The first one was a cleanup near our public beach. It resulted in 21 bags of trash (12 which were recyclable) removed from one small area of the park. Volunteers also worked on trail maintenance and were able to install a new railing for a trail bridge, remove 6 downed trees, and repaired two trail bridges. In addition to those two projects over 100 bulbs were planted in the Friendship Garden located at the park’s main entrance.

After our projects were completed, volunteers were treated to a hot dog cookout at the campground. A great big thanks to all of our volunteers for helping keep Lake Barkley beautiful. We hope to see even more volunteers take part next year!

The first load of recyclables collected on National Public Lands Day at Lake Barkley SRP

Spiders

Mary_Schmidt — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:17:25 -0700

Spiders. Just the word can invoke fear in many people, but spiders provide a great service to people by consuming millions of insects. W.S. Bristowe, a naturalist who studied spiders, calculated that over a year, spiders in England consumed a weight of insects greater than the weight of all the people living in England. Perhaps the prevalence of arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) is based in part because there are some spiders that can harm people. Of the 30,000+ species of spiders, all are venomous, but very few have strong enough fangs or powerful enough venom to harm a person. In Kentucky, two types of venomous spiders occur, the Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders.

The Black widow is a fairly common spider which is often found in quiet areas. They tend not to be aggressive and only bite when attacked or threatened. The bite is rarely fatal.
These two photos show a Black Widow spider with red spots and a line running down it's abdomen.

Fall Color Change at Lake Barkley

Mary_Schmidt — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:35:28 -0700

Everyday at Lake Barkley SRP the trees seems to reveal just a little bit more color than the day before. The landscape is now dotted with hints of red, orange, and yellow.

Maples are just starting to show some color along the lodge entrance
Over the last week maples have started to change from green to a bright orange-red color. The entrance into the lodge is lined with maples that are now showing just a dab of color, in just a few weeks they all should be changing and bursting with color welcoming guests to the lodge. In addition to the maples, Black Gums, Dogwoods, and Sassafras trees are showing a red or orange color. A few of the Willow Oaks are changing early and just showing a bit of their golden yellow. While you’re looking at the fall color change, be sure to keep an eye out for migrating birds. White Pelicans and a variety of ducks have been spotted north of Lake Barkley, so they should be at the park soon.

If you are interested in viewing fall color reports from around the state, visit Kentucky's ColorFall Program

Special guest arrival (soon to depart)

Mary_Schmidt — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:10:00 -0700

A special guest arrived today at the front desk, but not of the human variety. The front desk staff had noticed a bird, that seemed to have a broken wing, hopping around the breezeway. The attentive staff was able to capture the bird without incident. When I fist saw the bird, I was surprised to find it was a hatch year Red-eyed Vireo. I knew it was a hatch year, or one hatched this summer, because its eyes were a brownish color instead of red like adult birds (it was also later verified as a hatch year by a lack of ossification of the skull). Upon examination of the bird, I found no broken bones, but did find that its left wing, foot, and tail had become entangled in a thin elastic thread. The thread prevented it from spreading its wing fully and its tail feathers were bound together preventing proper flight. After twenty minutes of careful removal of the thread, the bird was released and we watched with delight as it immediately spread its wings and flew to a nearby tree.

Red-eyed Vireos are fairly common residents of Kentucky in the summer time and nest in forested areas and even some suburban areas. They are currently migrating throughout the state on their way to their wintering grounds in South America.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at Lake Barkley

Mary_Schmidt — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:19:48 -0700

Our first hummingbird arrived in early April this year, and we have been enjoying them ever since. Now hummingbird migration is in full swing at Lake Barkley State Resort Park. This week, up to fifteen hummingbirds have been seen visiting the five feeders up near the outdoor pool. Most likely these birds breed further north and are visiting Lake Barkley to refuel before continuing their journey further south to places like Mexico and Panama. If you have a feeder up already, you can keep it up through October and it will not effect migration. Hummingbirds migrate based on day length and weather, not the availability of food.

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre - September 15th

Mary_Schmidt — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:21:21 -0700

Tickets are on sale now for Lake Barkley's next installment of their popular dinner theatre series. The next edition will be a murder mystery!

Take a trip back to the ole west. The bridge ahead has been washed out and while repairs are made you are invited to sit a spell at Molly’s Tavern in Bad Rock. But beware, tensions are high at bad rock and people are not always what they seem and the potential for trouble hangs heavy in the air, so enjoy stay, eat, drink and make merry but keep your eyes peeled for a murder is about to take place.

Guests are encourged to dress in their best western gear as they try to figure out who dun it!

Tickets are $45/person and include a dinner buffet, dessert and entertainment. Reservations can be made by calling the lodge at 270-926-1131.

Trick - or - Trot 5K this October at Lake Barkley

Mary_Schmidt — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:35:12 -0700

This year Lake Barkley will again host a 5k Run & Walk. This years race will be on Saturday, October 27th at 8:30a.m. This year’s theme is Trick or Trot and participants and spectators are encouraged to dress in costumes! The course will begin at the Fitness Center and follows the park road around the cottages and cabins. The course is sure to give you lots of tricks and a few treats along the way.

Participants will also receive a race t-shirt, swag bag, and the opportunity to win great prizes. The cost to register is $15 prior to the race or $20 day of race. Walk participants can register for $10 or $15 day of race. Online registration is available at https://secure.kentucky.gov/renewalservices/parks/raceseries/

This is the 3rd race of the 5 race Western KY series, and participants can register for all five races for a discounted price. The series begin on August 25th with the Hot August 5K at Kenlake State Resort Park September 22nd Run Through the Forest 5k at Pennyrile Forest State Park
October 27th Trick or Trot at Lake Barkley
November 10th Stars and Stripes 5k at KY Dam Village
December 15th Reindeer Run at John James Audubon SRP

For more information contact the fitness center at 270-924-1131 EXT 593

History & Humor, Hummin' & Strummin'

Mary_Schmidt — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:24:48 -0700

The Kentucky Humanities Council invites you to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Kentucky Chautauqua® program, which for two decades has helped tell Kentucky’s story through interesting dramatic characters. The council is joining with the Kentucky State Parks to help celebrate Aug. 1-5 with special programs at five parks and it starting with Lake Barkley on August 1st.

The “History & Humor, Hummin’ & Strummin’ 2012” programs will include Kentucky Chautauqua presentations, featuring actors who portray people important to the state’s history and culture.

The “History & Humor, Hummin’ & Strummin’ 2012” programs will feature traditional Chautauqua outdoor settings with a large tent, a stage, chairs for guests and refreshments. The show will start at 6 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. at Lake Barkley's beach and it is FREE to attend.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park's Public Beach
August 1st 6p.m. - 10p.m.
Free to attend

3:30 p.m. - History of Lake Barkley Hike: Sights and Stories of Lake Barkley State Resort Park’s four decades in a guided hike along the lodge and water. Meet in breezeway across from front desk.

5 p.m.- Dinner available in lodge.

6-10 p.m. - Chautauqua Presenters:
Private William Greathouse
Reverend Newton Bush
Harlan “Colonel” Sanders
Mary Settles
Grandpa Jones
Musician:
Nathan Blake Lynn http://nathanblakelynn.com/

Plenty to do at Lake Barkley SRP

Mary_Schmidt — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:37:36 -0700

Although the official start to summer is still a few weeks away, it feels like it is in full swing around the park. There is plenty to do at the park weather you are staying with us for a week or just visiting for the day. The park's public swimming beach is open from 9a.m. - 7p.m. and has picnic tables and grills available for use. Horse Riding Stables are open too and offer daily guided 45-minute rides for $18, tours depart on the hour every hour 9a.m. - 4p.m. except the noon hour. The trap range is also open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9:30a.m. for ages 12 and older. Cost is $17 and includes gun rental, shells, and clays. Private shoots can be scheduled for groups of 4 or more by contacting the recreation department at 270-924-1131 EXT 196.

The recreation department also offers a variety of daily programs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.