June 13

With partly sunny skies, temperatures in the low 60’s and a stiff north wind, I’m 5 miles upstream from my last encounter with the Maple River, hiking east from US 127 on a grass-covered, man-made berm in the State Game with vast wetlands on my left and the gently flowing river on my right. Overhead, dozens of Barn Swallows swoop and dive for insects on the water. This swallow species (stock photo) is the most abundant and widely distributed one in the world.  Barn Swallow parents sometimes get help from other birds to feed their young. These “helpers at the nest” are usually older siblings from previous clutches, but unrelated juveniles may help as well. In the 1800’s, the millinery (hat-making) trade endangered their population leading to the founding of the first Audubon Society. Against the background of loud traffic noise, I spot a swimming muskrat and a perching male Redwing Blackbird, noisily defending its breeding territory. Not surprisingly, I come upon an active redwing nest, low in the cattails with 2 eggs. Continuing to trudge through tall, wet grass, I stir up hundreds of tiny fluttering damselflies, including a few that perch: a Citrine forktail and a male and female pair of Eastern Forktails. Looking around, I see deer scat at my feet, a patch of Stinging Nettle and Reed Canary Grass. Descending the berm to the river’s edge, I follow the muddy shore where I spot a lovely blossom of Wild Iris, some Canada Goose scat and a raccoon/mussel feasting area. Turning around, I climb back onto the berm where I spot a ½ inch Delaware Skipper Butterfly. The skipper caterpillar is bluish-green (stock photo). Nearby I see a ¼ inch Soldier Fly. These flies are harmless to humans since they have no functioning mouth parts and therefore cannot bite, nor do they have a stinging mechanism. Once they reach adulthood, they do not eat, but rely on the nutrients they gathered as larvae (stock photo). Also, they do not transfer diseases or parasites like mosquitos or ticks do. In the larva stage, they devour the larvae of other fly species, including nuisance flies. The larvae eat almost any organic waste, making them perfect for dealing with discarded foods or agricultural wastes. Nearing the car, I walk past blossoms of Dame’s Rocket and Birdfoot Trefoil. Finally, a Barn Swallow nest attached to the bottoms of the highway bridge catches my eye.

Spring to summer

Fledglings to fly

Facing the sun

Garter snakes lie 

Verdant meadow

Milkweeds green

Floating logs

Turtles seen

Canopy shades

The forest deep

Reverence for life

Covenant I keep

 

D. DeGraaf