Tuesday, still on Beaver Island, I hiked in the 20-acre, Conn’s Cove Nature Preserve, property of the Little Traverse Conservancy adjoining the northeast shore of the island. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 66 degrees and a gentle southerly breeze off Lake Michigan. Leaving the car parked at the end of a sandy cul de sac, I walked northeast along a scenic beach toward the rising sun where I spotted yellow blossoms of Evening Primrose and Bushy Cinquefoil. Just ahead, near the edge of one of several temporary ponds created by high lake levels, I spotted the tiny lavender blossoms of a Calamint plant and crushed a leaf to enjoy the “minty” aroma. Nearby, I noticed a patch of bulrushes in full bloom. Continuing along the lakeshore, suddenly the beach surface changed from soft sand to mounds of crunchy Zebra mussel shells. This massive accumulation of shells is a reminder of the devastating effect these invasive mollusks have had on the Great Lakes ecosystem. Since their arrival 30 years ago, they have crowded out native clam species and have disrupted the base of the aquatic food chain-voraciously consuming the tiniest plants and animals upon which aquatic insects and small fish feed. In addition, they have cost industries and communities billions of dollars by clogging water intake pipes. Among these shells, I spotted a brown morph of a Northern Leopard Frog and a Giant Floater Mussel shell. Next, I turned inland and followed a trail through a dense coniferous forest of cedar, pine and spruce where I noticed a lush patch of Cinnamon Ferns. Along the way, I spotted a Grass Wave Moth resting on a fern and a curious Whitetail Deer with its velvet antlers. Finally, I made it to the car and headed back to the cottage.
What’s it about
This island place
Displays of nature
I gladly embrace
A mother eagle
Leaps from a perch
Food for her eaglets
She must search
Scanning waves
Along the coast
Maybe a duckling
Whitefish at most
D. DeGraaf
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