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S + gg L 88 ECO-EDUCATIONAL TOURS i uty ot “ 2 te mt VF al — a Lie ee ae So Cal 6 4 oe ef] ei ts eK Sh ae FE fl gt eS '- as ba a as ‘ak Tat TT a, ae [ait +n a hie Ke re ae a la jae ne a hw es es es || ar a / he i ef Le bau “he rae, sl. " eal: - alt i if iy ee int - a pee oF La a tae al ki La) Ts : “lh eters ee a's ip 1p: ao ar “th ela — ee a aa, ae tre te ii J is ee (ie Agar fn 1 ae ea) ms Poe ; | = ax Pe os He. 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Po oF og a fi c=. #, oe shite ee a oe ae =p Pn 2 &: - ae ae Ff ‘Sh Rs ed ey —_ ei in oi, ers ahi as in. =e ay “£ Rie {i ri. abe ‘ih eS 1 * | “a Ro or nt, “i et Eo ay a et a4 mie, ie ee: ra Bi it at eal — ieee, at a oe ey af Le a ae oa x; A sore i nk ‘al, mt oi at es a ae aa at i ed my 4 age oe Eo nis © Se ae oe ge = Ming ‘a apo ~e ae - ee eer. i ae = oi al Fae _ ke a7 od Dae ome ae as + at Rif . = te ett ie — ge shat ‘4 1 aie a 4 \ ad ba Far bane Fifer, ri ae ch. ig the iy rE ‘\ i Tair 7a a “a Fr ae al oo pee Biss ent < - GA | a ~ ee a co $ a te ad . at ny 2. 0 7 eek aa University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service # Dr, D. S. Padda, Director m= St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands ECO-EDUCATIONAL TOURS by Olasee Davis and Rudy G. O'Reilly, Jr. Natural Resources Specialist and Natural Resources Agent, respectively, UVI Cooperative Extension Service Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Extension Bulletin No. 10 February 1996 Copies of this bulletin available from: Cooperative Extension Service University of the Virgin Islands RRO2, Box 10,000, Kingshill, St. Croix 00850 (809) 692-4060/4080 Editor Clarice C. Clarke Public Information Specialist Eeo-Educational Tours is desk-top published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. D. 5. Padda, Director. Contents of this publication constitute public property. No endorsement of products or firms is intended, nor is criticism implied of those not mentioned. Issued by the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on non- ro asa regarding race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age disability and gender preference. Thanks are due to Marvin Williams, Christine Henry and Raquel Santiago- Ver. ECO-EDUCATIONAL TOURS = ea INTRODUCTION part of the Natural Resources Environmental Educa- AS tion program, the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service offers field trips to schools, summer camps and other interested groups. These field trips help participants understand and appreciate the unique resources that we are fortunate to have in the complex ecosystems of the Virgin Islands. The following are brief descriptions of the various sites. For more information contact the UVI Cooperative Extension Service at 778-9491/ 692-4080 or 692/4060, ae = ae, tay gt _ ' | 1 A es ee aE, tie i a ae u es pat Se, a7 ete =." rater ae ‘tan ee ey ce 4 im, ee ae — as me pr Kt >, er iat, Gee Pte Es | arf a *- Ce | i} ee Z a gl ok ‘i, of Wail ten | ae eh PRR cs a > eae bas Ae. vo oe fie ae ty: kere oe =a 4 aw eth, jt ~ e tii a | Ea ft au {3 Ae " an ae a te | sal” “hie iis bs wie, S ‘ iS pve U38664 A he Annaly and Wills Bays hike is the most difficult. It encompasses a moist forest, a rocky shoreline, slopes, valleys, small and large pools of water, and an algae forest with various plant and animal life. Along the shore of Annaly Bay some coral reefs are exposed creating underwater caves and, occasionally, saltwater waterfalls. The four mile Exposed coral ree/s can be seen along the shoreline of Annaly Bay. hike passes over very hilly terrain, ranging from sea level to about 700 ft., through old mahogany stands and a sugar plantation. The hike continues toward a partly sandy shore with exposed coral formations. The moist forest ecosystem consists of rare plants. These include the sea hibiscus and sea boxwood along the coastline, and anthuriums and tyre palms along the hillside. This area also has medicinal plants and fruit trees like mango, guava and kenip. Hikers can hear and see pearly- eyed thrashers, common ground doves, bananaquits, red-tailed hawks, bridled quail doves, and other birds along the valleys and hills. Deer, although very common in this area, are seldom seen, hae Fr Se alan st Students from the Ricardo Richards Elementary School encountered steep slopes on their hike to Annaly and Wills Bays. | CALEDONIA | bh Caledonia Valley, locally called the “rainforest,” is a good example of St. Croix’s moist forest ecosystem. This is one of the few areas where water can still be found year- round. The two and a half hour hike begins at an old quarry with fantastic sedimentary rock exposures, continues along the gut and culminates at a waterfall about 200 ft. above sea level. Hiking the entire Caledonia Valley would require about nine hours. planted fruit trees such as coconut, cocoa, and mango. Most of the plants, however, are native trees, shrubs and vines. Medicinal plants are also common in this area, Certain trees have epiphytes on their branches. Lichens, liverworts and mosses are abundant. Water holes can also be found with fish, fresh water shrimp, hermit crabs and, occasionally, fresh water crabs. The endangered Puerto Rican screech owl, blue pigeons, pearly-eyed thrashers and quail doves make the Caledonia Valley their home. During the winter months, many migratory birds, such as the scarlet tanager, American redstarts, various warblers and even a peregrine falcon can be found in the Caledonia Valley. If you are lucky, you might see a deer drinking at a water hole. CREOUE DAM Bu in the 1920s by the U.S. Navy, Creque Dam was origi- nally intended to supply Frederiksted with water. Known as Creque Dam “Rainforest,” much of the area along the gut has been used for livestock. Consequently, pigs and cattle are often seen along the road and gut. However, there are areas still covered with tall trees giving the appearance of a rainforest. There are trees with air plants and Spanish moss hanging from branches, and water trickling in some places along the gut. This area is also used for horseback riding and gathering fruits during the summer time. Birds can also be heard and seen flying through the trees. This easy two and a half mile hike focuses on the medicinal plants along the road. Many types of ferns, including the rare swamp fern,can be The hike begins at the intersection leading to the Tranbergs' found along the gut. People who once inhabited the area estate in Estate Mount Victory and ends at Sprat Hall Beach. 4 [GREAT POND | | Be on the south shore of the island, the pond is the second largest salt pond in the Virgin Islands. The pond has a large mangrove stand along the beach, which serves as a habitat for resident and migratory birds (some of which are endangered) and a nursery for juvenile fish. Some fishermen use the pond as a staging point, some small game hunting occurs in the littoral forest, and a few fishermen harvest crabs from the pond mudflats. Along the south shore at Great Pond, sea grass beds and coral reefs can be seen. Coastal plants, such as sea purslane, beach bean, sea grapes, and other shrubs and trees can be found along the coastline. This two and a half mile hike starts from the bay estuary of red mangrove and heads northwest toward the Howard M. Wall Boy Scout Camp. The hike lasts about two and a half hours. SALT RIVER g ha Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecologi- cal Preserve contains one of the few intact natural ecosystems left in the Virgin Islands. This preserve has fresh water streams, salt ponds, a mangrove forest, flood plain, and an estuary with extensive seagrass beds. The mangrove forest ecosystem is also one of the best in the Virgin Islands. Severely damaged by hurricane Hugo in 1989, the forest is slowly recovering. The area is known historically for Columbus’ landing, a large Indian settlement, as well as many endangered plants and animals. The two hour hike passes along the old river bed and through the mangrove forest. Hikers learn about fossils, oysters, crabs, and mangrove ecology on the swamp hike. At the landing site, they learn about the history of the area. he cactus and thorn scrub, of the dry forest on St. Croix’s southeast shore, are unique in the Lesser Antilles, The dry coastal vegetation has few large trees. Many oddities can be found along the coastline. These include tree fern trunks, bamboo and sea burger seeds, all originating from islands in the Lesser Antilles and finding their way to our shore. This area 1s also known for the endangered green and hawksbill sea turtles. Deer are occasionally seen and, at the beginning of the year, dolphins can be seen offshore. This hike focuses mainly on coastal plants and the coral reef ecosystems along the shore. Although the three hour, three and a half mile hike is mostly along a sandy shore and in full sun, the constant southeasterly wind keeps hikers cool and refreshed. DAVID HAMILTON - HARD LABOR ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE AND HISTORICAL PARK his ecological preserve, once inhabited, offers a cultural and an agricultural history of plants and animal life. The preserve encompasses a 1796 windmill tower, 1780 animal we mill, great house, and other historical architectural structures integrated into the forest environment. In 1917, the St. Croix Labor Union led by D. Hamilton Jackson acquired Estate Hard Labor and Grove Place. The land remained under Union ownership until 1994 when Samuel Raphael purchased the property. Much of this forest land has steep slopes on either side of a gut with a dense gallery of moist forest. Along the gut, fruit trees, native royal palms, ferns, medicinal plants, sweet pea, guavaberries and other plants unique to the northwestern hills of St. Croix can be found. In addition, birds and other animal life add to this forest ecosystem. This hike lasts about an hour and a half. UVI Library Digitally signed by UVI Library DN: cn=UVI Library, o=St. Croix, c=VI Date: 2002.05.29 09:18:27 -08'00' Signature Not Verified