March 31

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 33 degrees and a light wind out of the north. Before commencing, I perused the early spring western landscape. I descended the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh. Continuing through Bobolink Meadow, I entered North Woods to see some snow left over from yesterday. I stopped at the boardwalk where I saw some Purple Cress blossoms. A member of the mustard family, Purple Cress is a spring ephemeral that gets its name from the green to purplish green hairy stem and pale purple flowers. Essentially, a spring ephemeral wildflower appears early each spring, before the leafing out of the deciduous trees in which it dwells underneath and when full sunlight can get to the forest floor. In addition, this is the time of year when soil moisture is at the highest because the trees are not actively soaking it up. Also, a considerable amount of decay from the previous year’s leaves has put lots of nutrients in the soil. These ephemeral wildflowers can take advantage of this abundant food supply. Before leaving the woods, I was surprised to see May apple plants beginning to appear on the forest floor. I exited the woods and went over to see the deer remains. Circling Succession Field, I heard a few Field Sparrows singing out. Along the western boundary I noticed the colorful white blossoms of a Serviceberry or Juneberry tree. Continuing along the north side of South Woods, I spotted 3 deer running silently through the understory. I entered the woods and hiked along the edge of Swanson Swamp where I was surprise to see a mother goose sitting on her nest on a small island just off shore. This was the same place I saw one last spring. Leaving the woods, I continued onto Artist Overlook where I stopped to view the new green shoots of Reed Canary Grass growing on the far shore of Sora Swale. I followed the south trail to Frog Fen, turned south and headed toward Brady Cemetery where I examined the area where the recent grass fire had occurred. I noticed green grass growing up through the blackened ground. I passed the cemetery and entered Native Grassland where some of the vegetation had been cut in preparation for the controlled burn tomorrow afternoon. I continued north where I was pleased to see the dock had been installed on Grebe Pond as we prepare for our spring field trips. Also, I was reminded of the beautiful Mute Swan that swam there earlier in the week. Arriving back at the Classroom Building, I spotted my first Dandelion blossoms growing along the north side. Finally, Remi and I got in the van and headed for home.

I hike along to the beat of earth
Mother Nature has given birth
Plants and animals come alive
Dormant wildlife start to revive
All around is freshening air
The world awakens with flair
End of March is here right now
Season has changed. Oh Wow!
Rhythm of life is picking up
Springtime begins to erupt

D. DeGraaf

March 24

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with temperature of 50 degrees and a slight northeast wind bringing a familiar smell from the dairy farm next door. Before beginning my hike, I faced east to acknowledge the hidden sun for its recent crossing of the celestial equator at the vernal equinox to begin warming the northern hemisphere. Next, I turned my gaze to the western landscape. I descended the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh to see a muskrat swimming by a pair of floating geese. Passing through Bobolink Meadow, I spotted my first of 6 crayfish walking slowing on the trail. Also, to my left a single quacking Mallard took off and to my right a Killdeer called out from the neighbor’s field. At the entrance to North Woods I turned south to Willow Wallow. Continuing west through Succession Field, I saw two doe standing still far to the west. I was surprised how close I got before they darted into North Woods. I stopped at the decomposing deer and observed a Carrion Beetle feeding on what remained of the flesh. At this stage what is left is being broken down into its constituent chemicals by a host of creatures including these beetles as well as flies, maggots and worms. Collectively these are know as decomposers. The lives of these organisms depend on the death of others. During the process of decomposition, they provide food for themselves by extracting chemicals from the dead deer, using those to produce energy. The decomposers will then produce waste of their own. In turn, this will also decompose, eventually returning nutrients to the soil. These nutrients will be taken up by the roots of living plants enabling them to grow and develop, so that organic material is naturally recycled. Virtually nothing goes to waste in nature. Next, I continued around the field and circled back toward Willow Wallow where I noticed the willows were greening up. I passed the pond and noticed that the Autumn Olive bushes that we didn’t kill last fall were starting to leaf out. I continued east and climbed Reflection Hill where I looked out over Grebe Pond. I descended the hill, passed Frog Fen and headed toward Brady Cemetery. Approaching the cemetery, I looked over the 2 acres of charred vegetation caused by a grass fire earlier in the week. Also, some of the small white pine trees had yellow needles due to heat from the fire. I passed the cemetery and entered Native Grassland. Following the trail north, I glanced once again at Grebe Pond where I spotted 10 Geese, 4 Mallards and 3 Mergansers. I continued toward the barn and arrived at the Classroom Building. Finally, another great hike was over as Remi and I took off for home.

Thousands of golden trumpets are raised

To herald the return of Spring;

Daylight, gradually returning again,

Birds chatter, and chirp and sing.
Cold days have passed us by once more,

Another Winter is thankfully over;

Spring brings with it, an sense of brightness,

Of fields carpeted with lucky clover.
Roadside verges explode with a fusion of colour,

As bulbs that had laid dormant, reappear;

Vast stretches, like an artists palette,

Yes, Spring is certainly here.

Jim Bell

March 17

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 51 degrees and no wind. Walking past the storage building, I noticed a pair of Starlings beginning their annual nest building on top of the propane tank. I stood at the crest of the hill before proceeding down to Mallard Marsh where a pair of Mallards took off just north of the trail. I continued through Bobolink Meadow where a noisy Killdeer flew overhead. Also, I recalled earlier in the week being surprised to see the largest flock of Wild Turkeys that I’ve seen around here, numbering about fifty birds, walking silently in the neighbor’s field north of North Woods. This time of year turkeys demonstrate a different flocking behavior. Groups of bachelor gobblers rejoin up with all of the hens and form large groups just before the mating season. After 2 or 3 weeks, when breeding season begins, the birds will break up again into mating flocks consisting of 2 or 3 adult gobblers and 5 - 15 hens. Next, I entered North Woods and hiked west along a muddy path. Continuing past the boardwalk, I could hear the calls of Leopard frogs off to the west. Exiting the woods, I stopped to examine the deer remains. I circled Succession Field where I spotted hundreds of small spider webs clinging to the dead vegetation. I entered South Woods and followed the edge of Swanson Swamp where I paused as my ears were filled with a symphony of early spring sounds including: Chorus Frogs, Redwing Blackbirds, Crows and a drumming woodpecker. Exiting the woods, I arrived at Artist Overlook where I paused to enjoy the song of a Song Sparrow perched in a nearby tree. Proceeding onward, I could hear several Spring Peepers coming from the south side of Sora Swale. Following the south trail, I noticed some geese foraging in the neighbor’s field off to the south. I came to Frog Fen and turned to climbed Reflection Hill where I gazed at Grebe Pond. I descended the hill and arrived back at the Classroom Building where I recalled a sight to behold earlier in the week as waves of hundreds of Mute Swans flew in formation high overhead heading west. This bird was introduced to North America in the late 19th century. Recently, it has been widely viewed as an invasive species because of its rapidly increasing numbers and impacts on other waterfowl and native ecosystems. For example, a study of population sizes in the lower Great Lakes from 1971 to 2000 found that Mute Swan numbers were increasing at an average rate of at least 10% per year, doubling the population every seven to eight years. Several studies have concluded that Mute Swans severely reduce densities of submerged vegetation where they occur. Finally, Remi and I hopped in the van and drove for home.

…Joy at our feeder,

Joy to my eyes and heart

Where-ever birds

May be.
Feathers, beaks, wings, feet,

Brown, blue, red, yellow, green -

Feeding my joy, feeding my heart,

Feeding my life.

Mary Lathrup

March 10

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was partly cloudy with a temperature of 23 degrees and a stiff southerly wind. Before descending the hill, I gazed west and saw no evidence of snow cover. I paused at Mallard March where I noticed a pair of geese swimming in the partially thawed pond. Continuing through Bobolink Meadow, I was pleased to spot my first male Redwing Blackbirds of the season and hear their familiar whirring calls. I turned at the entrance to North Woods and headed south toward Willow Wallow. I passed the pond and continued west where I observed 3 whitetail deer loping from north to south across Succession Field. Stopping at the deer carcass, I observed mostly hair and bones. I proceeded around the edge of the field where I spotted what could be the last patches of snow for the season. Arriving at Artist Overlook, I paused to see 4 mallards take off from Sora Swale. Also, I was reminded of the many Painted Turtles that sun themselves there in the summer. I wondered what they were doing now. Unlike humans, which need to keep a fairly consistent body temperature regardless of their surroundings, these turtles are ectotherms, which means their body temperature depends on their environment. In the winter, they find a spot in the mud at the bottom of the pond under the ice. Their body temperature drops to approximately that of the surrounding water. Their metabolism slows to a crawl, and they won’t come up for air until spring. Even though they abstain from breathing, they still have some minimal oxygen requirements, which they meet by taking up oxygen from the surrounding water through their skin. Next, I proceeded down south trail and circle back to the east side of Sora Swale where I saw another pair of geese walking on the ice. Next, I came to Frog Fen and turned south toward Brady Cemetery. I passed the cemetery, entered Native Grassland and headed north. I paused at Grebe Pond where I saw a few geese, several Hooded Mergansers including the white-faced males and some Common Mergansers including the white-bodied males. Continuing north around the pond, I came close to a male Redwing Blackbird perched in a tree announcing its nesting territory. Approaching the end of the trail, I scared up 2 female pheasants. I arrived back at the Classroom Building where I noticed lots of sparrows on the bird feeders. Finally, it was time to get in the van and shove off.

Birds in a
bare bush
beneath quiet
noonday beams,
tail flicking,
preening,
dreaming Spring dreams.
There, on the
high branch
backs to the sun
- sparrows -
steeped warm.
A calm March
has begun.



Sally Plumb

March 3

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 31 degrees and light snow flurries driven by a strong westerly wind. Before descending the hill, I paused to view the western landscape dusted by an early morning snow. I walked briefly and stopped by Mallard Marsh where I recalled the leaping Leopard frogs of summer and wondered where they were now. Leopard frogs typically hibernate underwater. A common misconception is that they spend the winter the way aquatic turtles do, dug into the mud at the bottom of a pond or stream. In fact, they would suffocate if they dug into the mud for an extended period of time. However, they must be near oxygen-rich water and spend a good portion of the winter just lying on top of the mud or only partially buried. They may even slowly swim around from time to time. Next, I hiked through Bobolink Meadow and entered North Woods where I followed the trail west and saw a few deer tracks. Before exiting the woods, I spotted my first Robin of the season as well as a Tufted Titmouse and a Chickadee. I exited the woods and stopped by to look at the deer carcass. I proceeded around Succession Field where the trail was flooded from heavy overnight rain. I entered South Woods and followed the trail along the edge of Swanson Swamp. Before exiting the woods, I spotted some Raccoon tracks on the boardwalk. I exited the woods and passed Artist Overlook where the light snow had created an interesting pattern on the grassy trail. Walking along the edge of Sora Swale, I noticed Remi’s footprints in the snow as he walked in front of me. I continued on the south trail and fondly recalled seeing some Monarch Butterflies here last fall. Their annual migration is a unique and amazing phenomenon. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter home in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico where they roost in Oyamel Fir forests at an elevation 11,000 feet. To stay warm, tens of thousands of them can cluster on a single tree. Next, I came to Frog Fen, turned north and noticed a few pheasant tracks on the trail. Climbing Reflection Hill, I paused to view Grebe Pond. Suddenly, the open water on the north end exploded as 5 Mallards and 2-dozen geese took off and flew overhead. A couple of geese remained behind walking on the thin ice. Descending the hill, I arrived at the Classroom Building where I checked out the bird feeders. Finally, it was time to get in the van and head for home.

Harshness vanished. A sudden softness
has replaced the meadows' wintry grey.
Little rivulets of water changed
their singing accents. Tendernesses,
hesitantly, reach toward the earth
from space, and country lanes are showing
these unexpected subtle risings
that find expression in the empty trees.

Rainer Maria Rilke