April 30

Last Saturday, I joined a small group of Chippewa Watershed Conservancy members to hike in the 78-acre, Sylvan Solace, another one of their preserves. The early morning weather was clear with a temperature of 43 degrees and a brisk wind from the northwest. From the parking area off W. Pickard Rd., we headed due south through a coniferous corridor of White, Jack and Scotch Pines as well as Blue and Norway Spruce. Along the way, I spotted a Chipping Sparrow perched high in one of the trees, singing loudly. Also, we came upon a large colony of Allegany Mound Ants that were just beginning to warm up and move around. Arriving at a clearing, I paused to look at and listen to a Rose-breasted Grosbeak perched high overhead. Turning west, I followed my shadow past stands of mature Big-tooth Aspen trees on our left. We continued on the trail as it turned south into a mature forest of hardwoods where the leaf litter showed mostly oaks as well as pile of feathers from a recent predator-prey incident. Just off the trail, we came upon a White Birch snag covered with a shelf fungus called Tinder Conk. As the name implies, they can be removed and used for catching sparks and creating smoldering coals. Continuing west, we came to a high bank overlooking the Chippewa River and spotted a Painted Turtle basking on a log as well as a breeding pair of Mallards swimming near the far shore. Climbing down the bank past some Pin Cushion Moss, we came to the river’s edge and paused to take in this peaceful riparian landscape. Nearby, we observed parts of a deer carcass. Back up the bank, we continued following the trail south and then east toward the rising sun where we paused to hear a distant Pileated Woodpecker. Nearby, we came upon one of many snags that had been recently shredded by one of these birds. Finally, we followed the trail as it turned back to the north and back to our cars.

Out of the womb of winter

In the season of birth

Mother Nature’s offspring

Emerge on the earth

Out of the soften soil

Come insects of the ground

Under soggy logs

Worms and slugs are found

Out of the swollen river

Mallard ducks appear

Out of the burgeoning forest

Come the hungry deer

D. DeGraaf