July 24

The mid-morning weather includes, mostly sunny skies, temperatures in the low 70’s and a westerly breeze as I hike through a 24-acre, conservation easement in eastern Gratiot County, sanctioned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. As a volunteer monitor, I peruse the property annually to determine if the owner is complying with management guidelines. Heading east on a mowed trail, I watch three Sand-hill Cranes take off and fly north. In the lush vegetation next to the trail, I notice a Common Wood-nymph butterfly and a White Spring moth as well as a Honeybee feeding on Prairie Clover. Other blossom sightings nearby include a Ladybug on Canadian Thistle and a Sweat bee on Daisy Fleabane.  Stepping off the trail, I hike north through tall grass and glance skyward to spot a rarely seen female Orchard Oriole, perched in a Box Elder tree. As with the Baltimore Oriole, the male is more colorful (stock photo). Orchard Orioles migrate north late in the spring and head southward early, with some returning to their wintering grounds as early as mid-July. These birds are easygoing toward other bird species, nesting in close quarters with Eastern Kingbirds, American Robins and Chipping Sparrows. The aggressive Kingbirds may be useful neighbors because they ward off predators and Cowbirds (which try to lay their eggs in the nests of other birds). With several dragonflies flying around and pausing to rest, I’m able to observe a Widow Skimmer and a Swamp Darner. Up ahead, on a Milkweed leaf, I get a close up view of an orange Milkweed Beetle alongside a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. This invasive insect is a nuisance pest of homes as it is attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days in search of protected, overwintering sites and can enter houses in large numbers. It was imported from east Asia and accidently released in North America in 1998. It has since spread throughout most of eastern and western North America. The pungent odor of this stink bug is similar to that of the cooking herb, cilantro. Others say it smells like sulfur and ammonia or rancid meat. The insect only produces the foul aroma when it feels threatened or if crushed. Looking afar, I see a Whitetail deer while close up, I gaze through a dense stand of Cattail leaves and Reed Canary Grass to see blossoms of Swamp Milkweed. Turning back toward the car, I watch a Bumblebee feeding on Blue Vervain blossoms and a Monarch butterfly perched in the tall grass. Finally, I follow turkey tracks back to the car. 

 

Nature in rhythm

July moves ahead

Summer sky of blue

Raspberries of red

Creatures are born

Consume and grow

Vultures fly high

Snakes lie low

Wetlands are full

Up to the brim

Beneath the surface

Mud minnows swim

 

D. DeGraaf