February 23

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 27 degrees and a light southwest wind blowing moderate snow flurries. Standing on the crest of the hill, I gazed west at a white landscape where five inches of snow fell yesterday. I descended the hill, passed Mallard Marsh and walked through Bobolink Meadow where a thin layer of ice under the fresh snow made the footing unstable. Despite my best efforts to step cautiously, I took an ungraceful spill. Fortunately, Remi was the only one around to witness this embarrassing tumble. After cleaning the snow off my clothes and checking for bruises, I continued west where I noticed a few crows perched high in a tree ahead in North Woods. Entering the woods, I followed the trail west and noticed how some of the recent snow had been blown and stuck to the east side of the trees. I exited the woods and continued around Succession Field where I spotted a Tufted Titmouse feeding on dried Goldenrod seeds. Entering South Woods, I spotted a couple of holes under the boardwalk where squirrels had retrieved their stored food cache. I strolled along and paused at picturesque Swanson Swamp. I exited the woods, headed east then south to Artist overlook where I gazed north at Willow Wallow. Instead of taking my usual route around Sora Swale, I headed due east down the hill and walked out on the ice of the pond. Along with Mallard Marsh, this wetland was created in 1999 when drain tiles were broken and a berm was built on the north end. A small pond formed and after further study of the topography and hydrology of the area, more tiles were found and broken which expanded the pond to where it is today. I continued east and got back on the south trail where I once again slipped and took a tumble. Fortunately, I held my camera up so no snow got on it. Turning at Frog Fen, I followed the trail south to Brady Cemetery. I followed Adams Rd. east for a short distance and turned into Native Grassland. Continuing north, I noticed the property to the east was empty since the house and barn had been demolished last week. Next, I got off the path and stepped on the ice of Grebe Pond where I followed the shoreline around to the north end and checked out the stand of Phragmites. I exited the pond, passed the observation deck and came to the Classroom Building where I noticed the bird feeders needed filling. Since birds are warm-blooded, they need to maintain their body temperature at around 100 degrees even when the temperature around them is freezing. To keep up a high metabolic rate, our resident birds consume lots of seeds and suet. Finally, we made it to the car for our trip home.

Dynamics of nature may seem cruel
Kill or be killed is a general rule
A life must be taken to help another
One will make it, but not the other
Animal lies dead on the ground
Food for the living has been found
I mourn the end of a creature’s life
I hope for no pain, I hope no strife
Cycle of life and death goes on
Ways of the wild of which I am fond

D. DeGraaf