The morning temperature is in the low 70’s, under partly sunny skies and no wind as I begin my annual investigation of a 1- acre parcel on the shore of Montcalm County’s Lake Steven, owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. As a volunteer, I’m inspecting this property to make sure it complies with their standards of wildlife preservation. Exploring a watery ditch and open field next to the road, I come upon blossoms of Black-eyed Susan, Hairy Buttercup, Heal-All as well as flowers of Narrow-leaved cattail. Moving into a dense broadleaf woodland with a full canopy, I come upon a downed white Birch log displaying a unique pattern of holes. These holes are being made by a "Yellow-bellied Sapsucker", a species of woodpecker (stock photo) that doesn't have a yellow belly and doesn't "suck" the sap! These birds however consume tree sap as their main food source by drilling ¼ inch diameter holes (called "wells") into the tree. As the sap oozes into the wells, the sapsucker uses its brush-like tongue to lap it up. Hummingbirds and bats also use the sapsucker wells for feeding. Insects that are attracted to the sap also make up the Sapsucker’s diet. Nearby, a standing white birch tree trunk displays a few conks. Conks are also known as shelf fungi or bracket fungi. Fungi include mushrooms, molds, and yeast. Proceeding toward the water, I pass blossoms of White Avens and a Green frog sitting on the leaf litter. (Note the large circular Tympanum above the eye indicating it’s a male). Reaching the shore, not of the lake proper but an outflow canal, I scan the surface, choked with lily pads. Looking more closely, I see a few waterlily flower buds ready to open and a foraging female Redwing blackbird. Exploring the area along the shore, I stop and listen to the close-up chipping call of a Yellow Warbler. After watching it a long time as it flutters rapidly among the dense underbrush, I finally snap a quick, blurry photo while it perches in a flowering Basswood tree. Nearby, some ripe wild raspberries catch my eye. Heading back toward the car, a variety of small white moths are easily seen resting on the green vegetation including: White Wave, Geometer and Powdered Big wing. Also, I notice a small colorful moth called a Leafroller. The name comes from the larvae stage as they feed inside nests made from leaves of their host plants, rolled together and tied with silk (stock photo).
Nature in rhythm
July moves ahead
Summer sky blue
Raspberries red
Creatures born
Feed and grow
Vultures fly high
Snakes lie low
Lakes are full
Up to the brim
Below the surface
Muskrats swim
D. DeGraaf
Great hike with photos!
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