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