January 19

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. Instead, I drove 16 miles south on US 127 to the Maple River State Game Area where we planned to explore part of this 9000-acre wetland complex consisting of floodplains, lowlands and marshes associated with the Maple River corridor. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 37 degrees and a slight wind from the southwest. As soon as I got out of the car to look around, I noticed the loud traffic noise. We followed a trail east on a berm with frozen water on both sides where I spotted a few deer tracks on one of the few patches of snow. Off to the south, I saw a Wood Duck house sticking up above a sea of dead cattails. Next, I hiked out on a boardwalk where I spotted a Fox Squirrel and noticed its tracks. Continuing east, I saw several Muskrat lodges tucked in among the cattails. I turned south and came to an observation platform, climbed to the top, scanned the area and thought about how the DNR has begun a long-term rehabilitation project on this land with a goal of providing more and better waterfowl habitat. The management plan calls for improving upland habitat to provide better nesting conditions for waterfowl and pheasants. As I looked to the east, I could see the section that is now designated as a waterfowl refuge and is off-limits to hunters and others from Sept. 1 - Dec. 1. The refuge will offer an undisturbed area for migrating waterfowl. Hiking south over another berm, I spotted some Muskrat channels on the ice. Next, I turned around and headed north where I spotted a Muskrat hole close to the trail. Also, I spotted the dried seed heads of Common Teasel. The seeds are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably the Goldfinch. This plant is considered an invasive species that forms a monoculture, capable of crowding out native plants. I crossed a footbridge and turned west toward the car where I noticed some open water in the ditch with some unusual ice formations. Continuing west, I observed a few Ash trees that were being killed by the Emerald Ash Borer. Finally, we returned to the car and headed north toward home.

In thy nature is beauty

In thy nature is earth

In thy nature I find my worth
In thy nature is peace

In thy nature I find myself

In thy nature every lasting greens
In thy nature there is more to be seen

In thy nature a beauty untold

In thy nature everything is worth more than gold

Stephanie McGrath