March 16

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. Early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 23 degrees and a light breeze from the northeast. I recalled on my hike a year ago this week recording a temperature of 51 degrees. From the crest of the hill, I gazed west at a white landscape as an inch of snow fell overnight. Descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I scared up eight rooster pheasants. Then, I passed the pond and scared up four hen pheasants. Walking through Bobolink Meadow, I counted eight deer running west toward Succession Field. Entering North Woods, I followed the trail west where I noticed a few trees had dark stains on their trunks from bleeding sap. I exited the woods, continued around Succession Field and entered South Woods where I was greeted by a few honking Canada geese in Swanson Swamp. I exited the woods and proceeded east to Artist Overlook where I stopped to view Sora Swale. Following the south trail, I turned south at Frog Fen and headed to Brady Cemetery. Passing the cemetery, I entered Native Grassland where I immediately got off the trail and walked over to a large snow-covered cement slab where a building once stood. Back in 1993 when we acquired the property, there were several old, abandoned buildings throughout. The one here was a large pig barn. In 1997, through the efforts of Ithaca FFA students and their instructor, Karl Merchant, the building was demolished. Next, proceeding north to Grebe Pond, I paused to recall a rare sighting earlier in the week as an adult mink ran over the ice near a muskrat lodge and disappeared in the brush on the north shore. These fierce predators will often spend time in muskrat dens where they hold out for a day or two while they feed on the carcass of the den's tenant. Continuing north along the edge of the pond, I scared up one rooster and two hen pheasants. Also, I was pleased to hear and see a few Redwing Blackbirds who had returned from their winter migration. In addition, I spotted a male Cardinal high in a tree singing to stake out its territory-one of the first signs of spring. I arrived at the barn, pulled the door open and walked in. I looked around at all the old farm tools and equipment and thought about one of our guides, Marti Raske who passed away earlier this week after being hospitalized with intestinal complications. Marti loved going to yard sales and auctions to purchase these things for a simple machines lesson she designed for the school children. Next, I exited the barn and entered the granary that again brought back memories of Marti teaching the kids about farming history, using equipment she had acquired for the Nature Area. Marti was a kind and gentle woman who loved all creatures, especially dogs and cats. She was committed to the success of this place and will be greatly missed. Finally, we made it to the car and headed for home.

Rhythm to nature
A pace to my walk
Ears perk up
From the deer I stalk
I look in the field
Tracks in the snow
It’s hard to tell
I think it’s a doe
She stands and stares
Through morning haze
Whitetail of winter
I admire your ways

D. DeGraaf