Nature Blog

Nature’s diversity peaks in mid-summer, but only a few of the many species one can see are featured in these updates. We’ve enjoyed watching the tree swallows and savannah sparrows as they use the bluebird boxes just north of Dugway Rd. To my surprise, last week one of the boxes had a spotted sandpiper perched on it. The sandpiper should have been at the pond, where both painted and snapping turtles are active among mallards and other wildlife. Bird song is reduced along the trail now, but catbirds call everywhere, and green frogs call from wetlands.

Many of the plant species we see are not North American natives. The first row of flowers shown below are all natives, but the second row shows non-natives, which are often invasive. Because trails are disturbed sites, trail edges are often lined with non-natives like soapwort, wild parsnip, mustards, thistles, woolly mullein, and spotted knapweed. But be careful not to pick wild parsnip! The sap contains chemicals (furanocoumarins) that, in the presence of sunlight, bind with DNA and cause a rash; the plant produces these chemicals for protection from its own herbivores and pathogens. Non-native plants take growing space from native plants, although some non-natives have become well integrated into the native ecological community. The best support for local wildlife, however, is provided by native (and therefore locally adapted) vegetation.

Mid-summer is prime time for butterflies. In addition to the three species pictured below, monarchs and white admirals have been flying along the trail, as have numerous damselflies. Milkweed and dogbane flowers are excellent nectar sources, so keep an eye out for what butterflies and other insects are attracted to them. Deer, squirrels, and numerous chipmunks are other regular wildlife on the trail, as are some of you reading this!

Surprises can pop up during any nature walk. Yesterday, June 11, I found 38 bird species on a morning trail walk, including several of our most colorful: Baltimore oriole, yellow warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager, goldfinch, and indigo bunting. But the surprise was flushing three woodcock, a species I haven’t seen here before. As always, the pond has active wildlife; the great blue heron and killdeer shown here are examples, and geese and mallards are usually present.

The list of flowering plants changes weekly. Mayapples are fading, white campion and herb Robert are fully open, spreading dogbane has just begun, and milkweed is in bud. Many invasives are flowering along the trail edges, especially chervil. Wild parsnip will soon add to the mix. Dame’s rocket is another abundant
invasive that is flowering now; some will continue to flower through the summer.

Another pop-up surprise was finding a female snapping turtle laying eggs at the trail edge (Sharon photo). Chipmunks, red squirrels, deer, and painted turtles are always around, and green frogs have been calling loudly. The trail also supports a jelly fungus known as witches’ butter, but don’t put it on your sandwich! The trail is an active place.

Skunk cabbage first flowered in February, and red-winged blackbirds arrived in early March – both as expected – but other spring appearances have been delayed this year. Hepatica, our second flowering native wildflower, is finally open in good abundance along the middle of the trail, and non-native coltsfoot has just opened.

Spring is time for breeding, and it was nice to see a male turkey openly displaying on the trail to nearby females (he looked irresistible!). Bird song has increased as birds have returned; along with year-round regulars, there are lots of redwings and sparrows, and we’re anxious for the coming influx of spring migrants (wrens, warblers, vireos, flycatchers, etc.). You can hear the increasing dawn chorus (birds) wherever you are. Listen for the distinct songs of house wrens and phoebes, which are notable signs of spring. And frogs are calling loudly in trail wet areas.

All those who have walked the trail recently know that it has been widened by pushing aside honeysuckle and other shrubs. Despite some benefits of greater width, many trailside trilliums and the densest patch of hepatica have been destroyed in the process. The greatest emergence of spring wildflowers will occur over the next several weeks, so we’ll find out how many trilliums recover. Before the leaves get in the way, one can easily see the beautiful red bark of native dogwoods. As always keep an eye out for activity on the pond. All the photos below are from the trail in the past few weeks.