International Rock Flipping Day

These adorable striped bark lice are only 5 mm long, and easy to overlook if you aren’t crawling around on the ground. Alex Wild

The second Sunday in September is International Rock Flipping Day. It’s basically an excuse to go outside and explore like a kid; perhaps with your kids.  What might you find?

Maybe some things you’ve never seen before, like these bark lice. They are common, but so tiny most people overlook them. I love Alex Wild’s description:

“I think of bark lice as tiny buggy bison. These pudgy little insects graze across vast plains of tree bark, munching on lichen and fungus, and generally minding their own business. Bark lice do not bite people, they do not carry human diseases, and they pose no risk to structures. They are about as innocuous as an insect can be.”

Rock Flipping Day was started by Dave Bonta and Bev Wigney in 2007:

“The point is simply to have fun, and hopefully learn something at the same time. We don’t want to over-determine what that something should be: those of a more scientific frame of mind might focus on IDs or ecological interactions, while those of an artistic or poetic bent could go in a different direction entirely…

Whatever you do, please be sure to replace all rocks that you flip as soon as possible, so as not to disrupt the natives’ lives unduly.”

How do you Participate in IRFD?

On or about September 14th, 2014, find a rock or rocks and flip it/them over.Record what you find:  “Any and all forms of documentation are welcome: still photos, video, sketches, prose, or poetry.”Replace the rock as you found it; it’s someone’s home.Post what you find online; load your photos to the Flickr group. If you’re on Twitter, the hashtag is #rockflip.Have Fun.

Important Safety Precautions:

“[I want to] caution people about flipping rocks in poisonous snake or scorpion habitat…I’d suggest wearing gloves and/or using a pry bar — or simply finding somewhere else to do your flipping. Please do not disturb any known rattlesnake shelters if you don’t plan on replacing the rocks exactly as you found them. Timber rattlesnakes, like many other adult herps, are very site-loyal, and can die if their homes are destroyed. Also, don’t play with spiders. If you disturb an adjacent hornet nest (hey, it’s possible), run like hell. But be sure to have someone standing by to get it all on film!”

About Respect and Consideration:

“The animals we find under rocks are at home; they rest there, sleep there, raise their families there. Then we come along and take off the roof, so please remember to replace it carefully. Try not to squish the residents; move them aside if they’re big enough; they’ll run back as soon as their rock is back in place.”

 Enjoy!

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