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