February 22

Five inches of overnight snow cover the path I trudge along the frozen Pine River mill pond in Alma’s Conservation Park. Under mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the single digits, I proceed west where I notice a beautiful feature of the winter landscape called “sastrugi” Also spelled zastrugi, this type of wind-blasted snow resembles frozen waves. It forms in open areas where the wind’s velocity is unimpeded by vegetation. Snowflakes are blown off course a bit by surface irregularities and molded into these dune-like patterns. Continuing west, I spot a set of fresh deer tracks crossing lengthy tree shadows from a mid-day sun. Turning inland, I come upon a few leafless broad-leaf trees with dark blobs clinging to branches that turn out to be deteriorating nests of webworms. These loosely woven webs (stock photo) are constructed in the summer and fall by webworm caterpillars. Unlike springtime tent caterpillars which feed outside their dense webs (stock photo) and retreat to them when not feeding, these caterpillars enclose whole clusters of leaves at the ends of branches and feed on the leaves within their tent. When fully grown, they drop to the ground, pupate in leaf litter and remain for the winter. Perching in another nearby leafless tree is my first Robin sighting of the new year. Glancing north into a wooded area, I watch a young doe run past and head for cover. Working my way east on the crunchy snow, I pause to watch a male Downy woodpecker most likely probing for beetle larvae. He will also eat ants and other insects moving about on warmer winter days. However, the sex of the bird determines where it will most often search for these protein-rich critters. Males, like this one, seem to prefer feeding higher in trees among smaller branches. Females are more likely to search for food along the trunk and larger branches. Entering the Eyer Bird Observation Hut, I spend 10 minutes watching birds come and go, including a: Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-Breasted Nuthatch, female Downy Woodpecker along with a Chickadee and Junco as well as a sneaky Fox Squirrel. Moving next to the Eyer Learning Circle, I’m not surprised the benches are hibernating for another month or so until park patrons arrive to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

 

Blanket of brawny ice

Banks of overnight white

Water babbles beneath

River flow, river snow

Birdsongs are bygones

Tracks of hungry deer

Cloudless sunny blue

River crow, river doe

Whatever’s of winter

Flurries and flakes fall

Channel of frozen fluid

River go, river show

 

D. DeGraaf

February 15

Under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the single digits, I trudge west along a snow-covered Meijer Heartland Trail in the Vestaburg State Game Area, 3000 acres of hunting land just west of Montcalm County’s village of Vestaburg. Soon, I pass one of several Tag Alder trees with its frost-ladened flowers and then pause to listen to the song of a Black-capped Chickadee. This “fee bee” song is not as common as others and obviously not used in winter for mating purposes but rather to establish territorial boundaries with rival flocks. Another sound that catches my attention is the drumming of a Red-bellied Woodpecker.  Just ahead, I come upon a tree with bark chewed off by a hungry porcupine. These mammals do not hibernate but might den in hollow logs or abandoned burrows in bad weather. Due to their heavy bodies and short legs, they cannot easily navigate deep snow, therefore wintertime adds extra pressure on them to find accessible and nutritionally dense food. Like beavers, porcupines prefer to eat the nutritious inner tree bark or phloem. To get to it they have to remove the bark all the way down to the cambium layer. If this happens all the way around the trunk (girdling it), the tree will die. Continuing west, I spot a few spore stalks of ferns poking out of an 8-inch snow cover, a few dried seedpods of Tiger Lilies and Milkweed. While following deer tracks that continue laterally down the trail in front of me, I spot a set of least weasel tracks that cross the trail, north to south. Also crossing the trail nearby are a set of running deer tracks that have a leaping span of about 8 feet. Still heading west, I pause again as a light south breeze moves through a stand of Phragmites. Approaching a frozen creek bed, I spot a couple of Tree Sparrows feeding on Goldenrod seeds. Despite the name, these birds are not really associated with trees. In winter, flocks of them are common in open country rather than wooded areas while in summer they migrate and nest far north on the tundra, above the tree line.  After 1.3 miles, I turn around to begin my trek back to the trailhead where I come upon wing prints in the snow most likely made by a raptor such as a hawk or owl swooping in to snatch its prey such as a rodent or songbird. Continuing east, I watch the morning sun rise to produce lengthy tree shadows. Finally, I make it back to the car, turn on the heat and head for home.

 

Season of cold

Leafy lairs appear

Darts among branches

Displays little fear

Snowy tracks

Between the trees

Chatters on high

Stash in the leaves

Creature of winter

Worthy of praise

Squirrel of the woods

I admire your ways

 

D. DeGraaf

February 8

Under mostly sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-teens and a moderate north wind, I find myself 14 miles southeast of Ithaca, hiking the White Pine trail in the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, 17,000 acres of hunting land spanning the southeastern section of Gratiot County and the southwestern section of Saginaw County. Proceeding south over 6 inches of snow, I watch the morning sun beam its light past leafless oaks and maples. Along the way, I notice disturbances of the leaf litter including: a scrape where deer pawed for food, a hole where a squirrel retrieved its stash and a large bedding area where a herd of deer spent the night. Moving ahead, I spot a tiny meandering stream and a classic 10-ft tall snag. Hard to believe, but trees can actually provide more habitats for wildlife dead than when they are alive. These dead and dying “snags” or “wildlife trees” are important to woodland creatures. Birds, small mammals and insects use them for nests, nurseries, storage areas, foraging, roosting, and perching. Nearby, I spot a snow tunnel of a Meadow Vole (stock photo) as well as a few of its surface tracks. In late winter, these tiny mammals venture to the surface in order for their brains to get updated information on the lengthening of daylight that in turn stimulate their appetite and increase their search for food. Coming to the edge of a small, ice-covered lake, I pause to gaze at a gibbous moon barely visible in the blue sky high above the tree line. Stepping out onto the thick ice, I make my way across the snow-covered lake where I spot tracks of deer as well as coyote. Even though dog and coyote have similar paw prints in snow, a dog’s gait pattern (stock photo) is less linear than a coyote’s. Also, my attention is drawn to how the low-angled winter sunlight casts lengthy shadows of tree trunks across the white surface. While these shadows were the longest at the last Winter Solstice (December 21, 2020), they will be the shortest at the upcoming summer solstice (June 20, 2021). Near shore, I notice dried seed heads of Buttonbush and Nut sedge. Next, I pause as a gust of frigid air blows through a stand of Phragmites. Finally, attempting to retrace my steps back to the start, I lose the trail and wander through the forest in the general direction of the car only to find it after an extra hour of trudging through this remote winter wilderness.

 

What lies beneath

My forest way

My trail of snow

On winter’s day

A dormant seed

A tunneling vole

A squirrel’s stash

A chipmunk’s hole

Carpet of white

O’er black and gray

O’er layer of leaves

O’er death and decay

D. DeGraaf

 

February 1

Under mostly cloudy skies, temperatures in the upper teens and a fresh snow cover, I trudge my way east into Camp Cutler, 160 acres of semi-wilderness land located in Montcalm County, 12 miles northwest of Alma. This scout camp was established in 1960 when the Cutler family donated 120 acres to the St Louis Boy Scouts. In 1975, the camp property expanded when the Leppien family donated an adjoining 40 acres. Just ahead, I pass a towering White Oak with its dead leaves still attached and then pause to hear the distant faint drumming of a Downy Woodpecker. Drumming, which is also called tattooing, tapping, and rapping, is a woodpecker's act of rapidly pecking on a tree to create a pattern of sound. It’s a communication signal that helps define territory, attract a mate and maintain the pair bond. In addition, mated woodpeckers may use drumming to let one another know about a food source, summon help at the nest or raise an alarm about a predator lurking nearby. Also, these birds have special adaptations that allow them to peck quickly and repeatedly on hard objects without hurting themselves. Thicker skulls cushion the birds' brains and heads from hard impacts and strong neck muscles allow them to drum for long periods of time without strain. Continuing east, I come to the edge of the North Branch of the Pine River to take in the sights and sounds of this peaceful winter landscape. This watercourse begins its journey 3 miles northwest of here at the confluence of Thatcher Creek and Cedar Drain. From here it flows southeast another 1½ miles into Gratiot County where it empties into the main branch of the Pine River, just north Lumberjack Park. Following the trail as it turns north, I spot a 6- inch diameter Foliose Lichen growing on an oak trunk as well as a decaying maple trunk displaying woodpecker holes and decomposing fungi. Next, I pass through a corridor of Red and White Pines before veering to my left to follow a deer trail into a clearing. Turning around and heading back, I cross the river again while passing a leafless Osier dogwood shrub with its colorful burgundy branches. Upon reaching the car, I gaze overhead through a stand of Aspen trees as the sun finally breaks through the overcast sky.

 

Drifting snow grips the meadow

Old man winter here today

Silence sweeps the river’s edge

All redwings have gone away

North wind blows in frigid air

Ice conceals a verdant pond

Muskrats huddle under mounds

Crows call from far beyond

In the midst of a cedar swamp

Sheltered from the bitter chill

Her eyes and ears on alert

A Whitetail doe stands still

 

D. DeGraaf