April 18

Friday 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 45 degrees and a slight breeze out of the east. I stood on the crest of the hill to gaze at a slowly greening landscape. Proceeding to Mallard Marsh, I spotted a half dozen Redwings, both male and female fluttering about and perching on the cattails. I continued through Bobolink Meadow where I saw a pair of noisy geese walking in the neighbor’s field to the north. As I watched, another pair of geese landed nearby at which time a noisy scuffle took place. Entering North Woods, I hiked west along the leaf-covered trail where I noticed patches of Nut Sedge growing and greening up the forest floor. I exited the woods and stopped by the deer carcass in Succession Field where I observed several green, Ham Beetles feeding on the remains. Their name comes from being found feeding on stored meat including smoked fish and ham. Continuing around Succession Field, I entered South Woods and walked along the edge of Swanson Swamp where I spotted a mother goose nesting on a small island just off shore. Last week’s wind storm had toppled several large trees including a 16-inch diameter Ash tree that lay across the trail. I exited the woods and followed the trail past Artist Overlook along the edge of Sora Swale where I paused to listen to a very noisy Spring Peeper. Continuing east, I turned south at Frog Fen and hiked past Brady Cemetery into Native Grassland. Heading north, I stopped to admire the new rock display area that had been set up my one of our nature guides, Ivan Palmer in preparation for a new, spring field trip activity. Next, I came to Grebe Pond where I was surprised to see what appeared to be a Double-Crested Cormorant circling high overhead before it headed north. Population control methods have been used on these fish-eating ducks in Michigan since they have depleted desirable fish populations of many lakes. Following the edge of the pond, I passed the barn and walked over to the west side of the classroom to check out one of six new birdhouses installed by a Cub Scout troop from Alma. Finally, we found the car for our trip home.

Tell me your story

Stone of the ground

Where have you been?

Why are you round?

Born in the depths

Hot molten rock

Cooled at the surface

Part of earth’s stock

Moved by a glacier

From a mountain crest

Weathered and worn

Laid down to rest

D. DeGraaf