June 29

On my quest to follow the Pine River from mouth to source, I find myself at the Polk Rd bridge in western Gratiot County, about 5 miles upstream from last week’s canoeing adventure. It’s a beautiful summer morning as I descend into the wooded flood plain where dozens of Ebony Jewelwing damselflies flutter about and perch along the lush riverbank, including this female with its white wingtip spots. The life cycle of this attractive insect begins as a cylindrical egg laid in vegetation along streams and rivers. From there, it grows into a predaceous naiad (stock photo) that lives underwater for up to a year. After 11-12 molts, it crawls out of the water to finally molt into a winged adult that lives about 2 weeks. Next, I turn my attention to the river as it flows north, ever so slowly, through a dense forest of Maple, Elm and Willow. Near the shore, I spot a resting Green Frog, a patch of Reed Canary Grass swaying in the breeze, sparkling whirligigs swimming circles around each other and a dead dragonfly floating on the mirrored water. Away from the river, I explore the mud flats where I notice Sensitive and Cinnamon Ferns as well as a solitary Wild Iris blossom. With surprisingly few mosquitoes to bother me, I come upon a single blossom of Wood Anemone surrounded by several tiny blossoms of Forget-me-nots. Another view of the flowing river reveals a pleasing combination of sunlight, water reflections and sounds. Turning around and continuing to closely observe the landscape, I come upon a perching Orange Bluet Damselfly as well as a couple of tiny Stoneflies resting on milkweed leaves. Further ahead, I first notice some poison ivy beginning to flower and then a maple leaf covered with tiny bumps. These colorful growths, called bladder galls, are caused by tiny eriophyid mites feeding on the underside of the leaf. The mite completes its entire life cycle inside the gall (stock photo). The damage to the leaf is generally cosmetic and not permanent. While hiking back up onto the road, I pass a Motherwort mint in bloom. Re-crossing the bridge toward the car, I spot an Eastern Phoebe perched far up the channel. Also, I pause to view the blue sky while listening to the song of a Warbling Vireo from high in the canopy. Near the car, the air smells sweet with the lovely fragrance of Milkweed blossoms. Finally, I find the car where Caroline is reading her latest novel.

 

Dawn of summer

Neath a cirrus sky

Hiking a river’s edge

Jewelwings flutter by

Patch of bracken ferns

Blanket the sunny glade

Breaking the silence

Chickadees serenade

Above the waterflow

Turkey Vultures glide

Sunbeams at my back

Mother Nature at my side

 

D. DeGraaf

June 22

The sky is sunny with temperatures in the mid 60’s as our canoe shoves off from Luneack County Park, west of Alma and heads upstream on the Pine River. With fellow naturalist and experienced canoeist, Dave Shepherd at the helm, we traverse the west end of the mill pond where I spot a Mallard hen and chick making their way through a large mat of floating weeds. Further ahead, an Eastern Kingbird, perching high along the south bank, catches our attention. Paddling southwest over smooth water, we pass an exposed sandbar occupied by Mallards and Killdeer. Just ahead, we spot our first of many Muskrats swimming across our path. Whiling tracking it toward a large stand of cattails, we hear the familiar calls of Redwing Blackbirds. Continuing upstream in still water, we marvel at the scenery around us, both real and reflected. Around the next bend, we notice a number of leafless ash trees, dead as they stand along the bank as well as a couple of Painted Turtles basking on a downed tree trunk. Slowing down and steering closer to the bank, I lean over to examine a floating pondweed soup including some with tiny white blossoms. Also, I notice some lily pads with flower buds. As the channel narrows and becomes more cluttered with branches, we finally reach an impasse, so we turn around and begin paddling downstream. Heading back, we enjoy the fragrance of multiflora rose blossoms along the bank. Further along, we quietly approach the bank where we see the rear end of a foraging whitetail deer. Once, we are noticed, it scampers off into the brush. Continuing downstream, we paddle through a dense patch of lily pads on our way back to the main channel. Back across the wide mill pond, we notice large floating mats of the highly invasive pond weed called Eurasian Milfoil. Upon reaching the shore, I spot several plum-size Chinese Mystery snails in the shallow water. This invasive mollusk found its way to North America in the late 1800’s as part the Asian food market. Once introduced, it spread to other waterbodies in bait bucket water and on plants attached to boat propellers. Its unique operculum or “trap door” feature covers the shell opening and allows it to avoid predation and survive out of water. Infesting lakes and rivers, it out competes native populations for food and space. After loading the canoe on the roof of Dave’s car, we bid farewell and head for home.

 

Ah! commencement of summer.

Morning sunbeams awaken the earthen bank,

where the stealth of a hungry heron

is barely seen among the cattail reeds.

Where the Mallard hen leads her line of chicks

along the verdant shore, past a floating log

topped by turtles basking to warm cold blood.

Snapshot of a remote river realm, 

where survival instincts display.

 

D. DeGraaf

June 15

 

The early morning weather is breezy, clear and cool as I begin another encounter with the Pine River. Having discovered an access point tucked away in a residential area, just east of downtown Alma, I proceed north along a grassy trail into a wooded flood plain, taking in the sights and sounds of the riparian landscape. Along the way, I spot some Dame’s Rocket and Pin Cherry in bloom as well as pause to watch the river flow gently through a corridor of chlorophyll. Away from the river, I get a brief glimpse of a perching Eastern Kingbird followed by a deer scampering through the dense underbrush. Continuing north, I recognize some large leaves of a Catalpa tree and then watch a Crane Fly come to rest in a patch of lush grass nearby. Following a game trail near the river’s edge, I come upon some tall grass where my attention is drawn to a resting Blue-tipped Dancer damselfly as well as a ½ inch winged Termite. Further ahead, while moving from shade into sunlight, I notice a few Ebony Jewel-wing damselflies fluttering about and follow one as it comes to rest. Arriving at the bank once again, I watch the meandering river make a sharp turn and flow south. Also, I come upon a large Silver Maple tree blown over by yesterday’s powerful thunderstorm. Turning around to retrace my steps, I pass another dainty damselfly, this one being an Orange Bluet. Finding my way over to the edge of the flooded wetlands, I pause to watch a half dozen, ½ inch Whirligig beetles gliding effortlessly over the water surface. These amazing little insects (stock photo) possess several adaptations that help them thrive in an aquatic habitat. For example, to better find food and avoid predation, their eyes are divided into two parts, the top part to see above the water line and the bottom part to see below. Also, they carry a bubble of air that allows them to dive and swim for indefinite periods if necessary. In addition, they have a primitive echolocation system that allows them to locate prey from the slightest ripples in the water. Finally, besides being great swimmers, they have wings to fly to a new habitat if theirs dries up. Nearing the end of the hike, I glance across the channel to see some large. edible Pheasant Back fungi growing at the base of a decaying tree trunk. Within sight of the car, I see evidence of nearby Cottonwood trees including tufts of fluffy seeds and leaves scattered on the muddy ground. Finally, I reach the car and head for home, only a few miles to the west.

Early morning wakeup

An hour of river flow

Swallows dip and dive

Muskrats put on a show

Above cattail reeds

Dragonflies soar

Green fills the landscape

As it did before

Water in motion

Peace I find

Water in motion

Carries my mind

D. DeGraaf

June 8

Working my way upstream on the Pine River from Midland County, I find myself in Gratiot County, walking beside a municipal water tower in a residential section of St. Louis. Under mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 60’s, I proceed west toward the river where I spot colorful blossoms of Dame’s Rocket, an attractive but highly invasive plant seen throughout the watershed. Passing through dense woodlands of oak and maple, I pause on a steep bank to watch the river flow gently by, some 100’ below. Turning north, I work my way downslope to the river’s edge where I pause to notice flood debris of dead leaves and branches clinging to some shrubs and small trees up to about 5’ off the ground. I’m amazed that some 2 weeks ago, I would have been standing here, chest deep in water as the flooded river came rushing through this area. Continuing north along the shore, I come upon some Raccoon tracks and a large deposit of finger-nail size Zebra Mussel shells. Over the past 35 years, these invasive mollusks have spread through North America virtually unchecked; disrupting native ecosystems, damaging power plants, clogging pipes and clustering on anything in their path. However, a new Michigan–made, bio-pesticide called Zequanox is now being used to kill them while leaving other organisms alive and unharmed. Finding a groomed pathway, I pause to listen to the birds, feel a gentle breeze and gaze at the flowing water ahead, glistening from the morning sun. Hanging over the muddy water nearby are leaves of Elm and Weeping Willow. Turning around to retrace my steps, I come upon a patch of wild onions displaying their olive-size flower buds. Continuing south back to where I began, I notice several dead and fallen Ash trees, ravaged by the Ash Borer. Back up the steep bank, I turn east and exit the woods where I notice a patch of flowering Orchard Grass as well as a few blossoms of Goat’s Beard, named for the flower after it goes to seed (stock photo). Approaching the car, I stoop down to spot tiny blossoms of Chickweed and Hop Clover nestled in the lawn. After finding the car where Caroline waits patiently reading her novel, we head for home.

Once, your water flowed fast and free

carving a course through the lay of the land.

Interrupted by earthen dikes and dams,

Channeled by concrete bridges and banks.

you have survived this gauntlet of man

and your true path and pace restored.

Now your water flows freely again

to meander through forest and field

without human havoc to divert your way.

Harmony again! Run, river, run!

D. DeGraaf

June 1

As a volunteer for the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, I visit two of their 22 nature preserves annually to report on environmental quality. Today, under mostly sunny skies and mid-morning temperatures in the high 70’s, I make my way into the 1-acre Lake Steven preserve, located on the west side of Lake Steven, a small lake nestled in far eastern Montcalm County. Immediately, I pause to notice the lush woodland, dominated by immature Birch and Ash trees. After making my way through a patch of Sensitive Ferns, I come across a ¾ inch Spring Peeper, well camouflaged in the leaf litter. The peeping call of this tiny amphibian is a sure sign of spring in the wetlands. In the winter as temperatures dip below 32 degrees, these frogs start producing their own “antifreeze” to help preserve the most essential organs. Up to 70% of the frog’s body can freeze, to the point that the heart stops pumping and the frog appears to be dead. Continuing my walk, I notice blossoms of Wild Strawberry and Polypore Fungi on a Birch tree. After spotting a tiny resting White Satin Moth in the undergrowth, I pause to listen to the lovely song of a Warbling Vireo (stock photo). Brown-headed Cowbirds frequently deposit their own eggs in the nests of this species (stock photo). In some instances, the vireo pair incubates the alien egg and raises the young cowbird until it fledges. Arriving at the water’s edge, I enjoy a cool breeze while looking at the lily pads floating on the outflow channel of Lake Steven and listening to Redwing Blackbirds accompanied by a single strum from a Green Frog. Moving along the shore, I watch one tiny Sweat Bee feeding on a blossom of Daisy Fleabane and another one feeding on blossoms of a Service Berry tree. Also, I notice Honeysuckle and Dogwood shrubs are blossoming. Turning around, I begin retracing my steps when my ears perk up to a trio of bird songs coming from a Mourning Dove, a Redwing Blackbird and a Yellowthroat. Near the end, I spot yellow blossoms of Butterweed. Finally, I find the car and head home to Alma.

Mid morning concert

Beside the placid lake

Chipping of a Chipmunk

Quack of a Mallard drake

Shrill of a posing Redwing

Protecting its nesting site

Honk of a Canada goose

Before it takes to flight

Strum of a Green Frog

Call of a mother Loon

Mother Nature’s chorus

Hails the start of June

D. DeGraaf