July 15

The mid-day sky is cloudy with temperatures in the mid 70’s and humid air, as I start hiking and monitoring a 40-acre conservation easement in Gratiot County. As it was last week, my goal is to make sure the owner is complying with the lease agreement made years ago with the federal government to maintain the property as a wildlife refuge. Soon, I come upon a curious fawn with its white spots that will disappear by the time its four months old. In the distance, perched on a Canada Thistle blossom is an Eastern Monarch butterfly, one of only a few I’ve seen this year. Unfortunately, the monarch population count in 2024 is the second lowest in recorded history. The decline is attributed mostly to a lack of milkweed and other pollinating flowers in breeding areas due to high temperatures, drought, land-use changes and overuse of herbicides. Examining a patch of Dogbane plants, a colorful, 1/2 -inch, Dogbane Leaf beetle catches my eyes. The beetle's scientific name loosely translates to "made of gold."  In fact, gold is only one of a medley of colors displayed by these gorgeous native insects.  As I change my viewing angle, the iridescent beetle glistens with mixed shades of green, copper, blue, red, and of course gold. Unlike humans and many other organisms, these beetles can ingest and process the toxic chemicals concentrated in the latex of Milkweed and Dogbane. Approaching one of many ponds on the property, I notice, from afar, a swimming, breeding pair of Wood ducks along with their juvenile offspring while along the shore a patch of attractive, but highly invasive, Purple Loosestrife. Next, I pause to watch a Muskrat slowly swim past me. Proceeding south, I scan a wetland while listening to a Killdeer and noticing a large field of small, white flowers. Upon closer look, I see they are daisy-like blossoms known as Corn Chamomile, Mayweed or Field Chamomile. Suddenly, a pair of noisy Sandhill Cranes take off and fly west. Heading back toward the car, I hear a short chirping call from a Redwing Blackbird. This check call is a distinctive, matter-of-fact sound that both male and female birds make all year. It's often heard when the birds are feeding, in flight, confronting rivals, or raising an alarm. Up ahead, I come across a never-before-seen, Red-spotted Purple Butterfly. The red or orange-red spots in the name can been seen on the underside of its wings (stock photo). Down in the wet grass, I spot a lovely, 1-inch, red Meadow Hawk dragonfly. Unable to get a closer look, it is either a Ruby or Cherry-faced variety. 

Symphony of sounds

Dawn to dusk

Array of aromas

Mint to musk

Field and forest

Flooded with green

Fruits of the vine

Creatures glean

Fragile fledglings

Take to the sky

Crescendo of summer

Nature in July

 

D. DeGraaf