January 28

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was overcast with a temperature of 32 degrees and light snow carried by a steady south wind. Before starting the hike, I paused at the crest of the hill to look west at the snowy landscape. I started down the hill, passed Mallard Marsh and continued through Bobolink Meadow where I scared up four pheasants. Ring-necked pheasants are native to China and East Asia, but they have been successfully introduced in North America. In autumn, ring-necked pheasants form flocks in which they will live until the following spring. These birds are most comfortable on the ground, where they forage for grains, seeds, berries, insects, and, occasionally, small animals. They can fly and launch themselves airborne with an abrupt, noisy takeoff, but typically run from trouble. Also, I saw some of their tracks on the trail. Turning at the entrance to North Woods, I walked south to Willow Wallow. I turned west, followed the path into Succession Field and veered off the trail into North Woods where I observed a huge granite rock. It looked like another glacial erratic. Also, I saw a discarded augur feeder reminding me that this property used to be a farm. I returned to the path for a short time before getting off to check the deer carcass that I had discovered a few weeks ago. I was surprised how well preserved it still was. Completing my circuit of Succession Field, I paused at Artist Overlook to gaze at Sora Swale. Moving along the south trail, I observed some samaras hanging from a box elder tree and concluded it must be a female tree since it is the only one to bear fruit. These trees tend to keep samaras well into the winter or even into spring. Continuing on the trail, I spotted some tiny tracks and a snow tunnel of a Meadow Vole. Meadow Voles are active year-round, usually at night. They eat grasses, sedges and forbs including many agricultural plant species. They occasionally consume insects and snails. Meadow Voles occasionally scavenge on animal remains and cannibalism is frequent in periods of high population density. In winter they consume green basal portions of grass plants, often hidden under snow. Other winter diet components include seeds, roots, and bulbs. The Meadow Vole is an important food source for many predators such as snakes, owls, hawks, and carnivorous mammals. Next, I turned north at Frog Fen, climbed Reflection Hill and faced south to feel the snow hitting my face. I descended the hill and stopped behind the Classroom Building to observe lots of bird tracks next to the feeders. I wandered past the observation deck to the edge of Grebe Pond to check the ice conditions. Finally, it was back to the van and heading for home.

We trod a trail, my dog and me

I open my senses to hear and see

What nature’s expressions will be?

Whiteness covers brown and gold

Tales of the living cannot be told

Sounds of silence fill the air

Where is the bird or even the hare?

Snow hides most living things

No butterfly soars or cricket sings

I am delighted and rather fond

To see ice covering the pond

Leafless trees line my way

I hope to see some deer today

Animal tracks describe the night

A squirrel scampers in my sight

End of January is colder than cold

Winter stories are yet to be told.

D. DeGraaf

January 21

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 1 degree and no wind.  The frigid overnight temperature covered everything with crystalline hoarfrost. On this hike, I planned to focus on the sounds of winter, both natural and man-made. As I started out, my questions were: How quiet was the Nature Area in the depths of winter? What sounds would Mother Nature offer today? How would these sounds compare to a similar hike I made last June? Before descending the hill, I looked west over the landscape and heard a motor running from the dairy farm next door. Beginning my hike, I paused at Mallard March where silence replaced the familiar songs of perching Redwing Blackbirds that I remembered from last summer. Walking through a serene Bobolink Meadow, I picked up the rhythmic crunching sound of my boots walking over the frozen snow. Hiking through peaceful North Woods, I saw a squirrel run up a tree and was reminded of the crunching noise this creature made last June as it ran over the dry leaf litter. Also, I noticed some fresh deer tracks while listening to a few crows off to the north. I exited the woods and circled the far western edge of Succession Field where I saw a couple of Downy Woodpeckers perched against trees while hearing one of them call out. This was the spot where I remembered hearing the beautiful song of an Indigo Bunting last summer. Entering a very quiet South Woods, I moved off the trail and walked onto the ice of secluded Swanson’s Swamp where I found some fresh rabbit and raccoon tracks. I paused, closed my eyes and recalled last June hearing the drumming sound of a Bull Frog coming from this location. Exiting the woods, I hiked toward Artist Overlook where I recalled the melodious sound of a Song Sparrow last June. I continued along the south trail where I spotted a male and female Cardinal while hearing the familiar sound of a lone Chickadee. Turning north at Frog Fen, I climbed Reflection Hill where my ears perked up to hear the distant drone of a passenger jet high above giving off a white vapor trail against a clear blue sky.  I paused to gaze at a silent Grebe Pond. Next, I descended the hill where I noticed how the additional inch of snow would help make the hill prime for sledding next week. Also, I was pleased to see several old Xmas trees that some of the guides had piled up to make a rabbit habitat. Next, came the sounds of chirping birds at the feeders where I spotted Buntings, Goldfinch and Juncos. Finally, I arrived at the van, listened one last time to nature’s quietude and headed for home.

The leaves drop to earth

Leaving the trees bare and gray

No shield from the cold

The animals hide

And they sleep for the winter

Now the land is bare

Strong gusts of wind blow

As white snow swirls everywhere

The world is blinded

The blizzard settles

Leaving the landscape pure white

There is no color

The snow is gentle

As it drifts slowly downward

And the world sparkles

Unknown

January 14

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 18 degrees and a slight wind out of the northeast. First, I paused to scan the western vista and noticed that snow cover had returned after a long dry spell. I followed the trail past Mallard Marsh and through Bobolink Meadow where I blazed a path through the powdery snow. A few crows welcomed me with their loud caws. I entered North Woods and continued along the trail where I looked up to see some blue sky through the leafless canopy. After exiting North Woods, I observed an unusual snow mound just off the trail.  I walked over and brushed the snow away to reveal a dead deer lying in the grass. I examined the body and noticed it was a button buck with no external signs to indicate cause of death. A button buck tends to be a buck that is only 6 months old. Since it is within the first year, it only has little nubs where the antlers will develop. While lamenting the passing of this magnificent creature, I was reminded of nature’s ageless cycle that from death comes life for others as carnivores and scavengers will gain sustenance from the flesh and the surrounding vegetation will gain soil nutrients. I continued along the far side of Succession Field where I paused at a bench and measured the snow depth at 5 inches. I passed through the stand of white cedar and saw a squirrel’s nest up about 30 ft. in a tree. Heading toward Artist Overlook. I changed my usual route and turned north toward Willow Wallow. I walked down to the edge of the pond to see a muskrat lodge out on the ice. I followed the trail along the edge of the pond and ascended Reflection Hill from the west. Circling the hill, I gazed down at a snowy Grebe Pond.  Heading south, I descended Reflection Hill and hiked past Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery.  I walked up the slope into the cemetery and gazed west at the surrounding landscape. I left the cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland where I observed the dried flowers of Aster, Queen Anne’s lace, Thistle, Black-eyed Susan, Milkweed and Burdock.  From the east side of Grebe Pond, I noticed a stand of cattails with their fuzzy flower heads. Finally, I arrived back at the Classroom Building where I spotted some birds at the feeders including Buntings, Goldfinches and one Mourning Dove. Finally, it was time to hop aboard the minivan, turn on the heater and head for home.

Amongst the quiet of Nature with wooded hills around

The harsh cawings of the ravens the only living sound

In the nice Winter sunshine it is a pleasant day

From life's many cares and worries a place for to hide away,

Of an Earthly Utopia 'tis not hard to visualize

Where Nature in all of her splendor is beauty to the eyes

I too am part of Nature like all creatures great and small

And memories of Nature's beauty are marvelous memories to recall,

An artist on her canvas would try to capture such a scene

And I enjoy remembering the beauty I have seen

And the unmistakable sounds of Nature on a sunny Winter's day

Like the clear flute of the magpie on trees not far away

A lovely day in Winter of around eighteen degrees

And in the stony valley there is scarce a puff of breeze.

Francis Duggan

January 7

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning sky was mostly clear with a light breeze out of the west and a temperature of 34 degrees compared to a frigid 8 degrees a year ago. Before descending the hill, I paused and scanned the western landscape to notice the absence of the white stuff as our snow drought continued. I paused at Mallard Marsh and then walked through Bobolink Meadow. I entered North Woods and followed the trail west where I saw a variety of deer tracks in the mud. Some were big, some small, some with splayed toes, some not. Tracks of a big, heavy buck often have splayed toes and sink so far into the mud that the dewclaws are visible. Because females and fawns weigh much less than a mature buck, their tracks show splayed toes and dewclaws only if they were running. Next, I paused on the boardwalk and noticed the vernal pond was full. I followed the trail and suddenly heard the raucous sound of a dozen crows come from high overhead. I exited the woods, hiked around Succession Field and entered South Woods. Following the trail past Swanson Swamp, I spotted three deer darting through the understory.White-tailed deer are herbivores. Their stomachs allow them to digest a varied diet, including leaves, twigs, fruits and nuts, grass, corn, alfalfa, and even lichens and other fungi. Occasionally venturing out in the daylight hours, they are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, browsing mainly at dawn and dusk. Adult whitetails have reddish-brown coats in summer that fade to a duller grayish-brown in winter. They are very good runners and can reach speeds of 30 mph. Buck antlers, which are made from bone are starting to shed in this month. It may be surprising that they’re rarely found in the woods. Since antlers are rich in calcium and other nutrients, animals such as rabbits and rodents usually eat them soon after they’re shed. Exiting the woods, I continued toward Artist Overlook where I saw a lingering patch of snow surrounding the picnic tables. I got to Artist Overlook and paused to look down at Sora Swale. I followed the South trail to Frog Fen and turned south to Brady Cemetery. I passed the cemetery and entered Native Grassland. I hiked along the east side of Grebe Pond toward the red barn. Next, I walked over to the edge of the pond to check the ice for an upcoming winter field trip. Unfortunately, it was not safe to walk on. Then I came to the Classroom Building where I could see the new wind turbine and solar panel. West of the building, I checked out the bird feeders and saw a few Goldfinch,SnowBuntings and one Blue Jay. Finally, I ducked in the van and headed for home.

The snow silvery white glistens under my feet

 Crunch,crunch sings the glimery substance

 Swish, Swish, sigh my shoes

 Light dances across the sparkly distance;

 Whirl, whirl the wind picks up the fluffy snow

 Shivers pass across my spine to the top of my neck

 The smell of crisp winter fills my nose

 Burrr, I tuck my chin under my scarf then treck.

 What a wonderful wintery scene abroad

 Many have prayed for this very day

 Please send us the white snow we love

 Oh how wonderful that it would stay!

Rebecca M