June 21

It’s early morning as I enter a privately-owned, 24-acre conservation easement just east of Alma. Years ago, the owner contracted with the state to maintain this land for wildlife habitat. As a volunteer, I monitor the property annually and report on the level of compliance. Under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50’s, I head east on a grassy, perimeter path while being serenaded by a Song sparrow and a House wren. On the ground along the way. I spot blossoms of Oxeye daisy and Plantain as well as a hole made by a burrowing Crayfish. Called a crayfish chimney, the animal (stock photo) tunnels down to ground water with its claws, piling mounds of dirt as it digs. These burrows create habitats not just for crayfish, but also for other organisms. For example, the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake as well as certain dragonfly larvae rely heavily on them for shelter and reproduction. Veering north off the path, I trudge through tall, wet grass where I’m greeted by a noisy, hovering, male Red-winged Blackbird who is warning me to stay away from an active nest. These birds will even “dive-bomb” intruders-man or beast. Also in flight, they have been known to drive away much larger birds who approach the nest. Moving into a wetland, I come across cattail flowers in various stages of development. The familiar brown cylinder shape are last years’ female flowers that have gone to seed. To the right, the top of a new stem displays a dark green area of tightly packed male flowers topped by a brown area where some are already releasing pollen. Below the constriction is a lighter green area of closely packed female flowers. Pausing by a pond, I listen to the piercing sound of Redwing blackbirds followed by the strumming sound of a Green Frog. Turning west, I make my way toward some dense stands of young Cottonwood trees where I spot a couple of old Goldenrod ball galls. At an earlier stage, the center of these galls contained tiny larvae of Goldenrod gall flies (stock photo) that were eaten by a Downy Woodpecker after pecking holes in the galls. Approaching the landowner’s gravel driveway, I spot a Killdeer running quickly south and a Spotted Sandpiper strutting slowly north. Hiking south on the long driveway toward the car, I notice a couple more Killdeer flying ahead. Near the end, a patch of Bird’s feet Trefoil and Yellow Sweet Clover catch my eye.

Creatures of earth

Bask in the sun

Those that crawl

Those that run

Those that soar 

Those that fly

Warms their air

Lights their sky

Season’s crescendo

Nature’s encore

Solstice of summer

Arrives once more

 

D. DeGraaf