February 10

A frigid north wind and temperatures in the mid 20’s greet me as I stand on the Washington Rd. bridge and look down at a wide, icy, snow-covered channel of the Bad River. Looking up, I spot an old, 4-inch long nest of a Baltimore Oriole hanging from leafless tree branches. Suspended like a basketball net, this nest stands out from any other North American bird’s. With hundreds of thin, intertwined fibers, the seemingly delicate cradle can carry up to seven eggs and last for months beyond its intended purpose—a testament to the skill and dedication of female Orioles. The only reason why there aren’t dozens of old nests hanging from the trees is because oftentimes the material from the old nest is recycled to make a new one. Following a deer trail over the wooded flood plain, I come upon a Box Elder tree with large branches that have been stripped of their bark by a chiseling Pileated Woodpecker. This woodpecker was feeding on the ¼ inch grubs of Power Post Beetles. The tiny holes seen in the wood are exit holes where adult beetles have chewed out of the wood after completing their development. (stock photo). Next, I come upon a large Eastern Cottonwood trunk with a very unusual knot hole at the base that almost appears to be man-made. These abnormal growths are often referred to as "burls," which are caused by stress factors like injury, insect damage, or environmental stress. Up ahead, I see a pile of dark brown pea-size pellets in the snow. This dry form of deer scat is typical in the winter when they have less water in their diet, However, in the summer with better access to water, deer scat can appear as soft, clumped masses. (stock photo) Turning around to observe the bridge, I notice the river to be about 30 ft wide as it passes under. Making my way back up onto the road, I glance at the far bank where I spot a Red-osier Dogwood shrub with its crimson-colored branches. This is one of several plants referred to as “kinnikinik” by American Indians for its use as a tobacco substitute. The inner bark of young stems was split and scraped into threads and toasted over a fire before being mixed with real tobacco. For centuries, humans have also used the hard wood of dogwood for basketry, wicker, farm implements, and weaving shuttles. Back to the car, I drive a short distance and stop on the Woodbridge Rd bridge where the Bad River continue its journey eastward. Having completed my 6^th encounter with this watercourse, it appears I’m about a third of the way from beginning to end (stock photo)

Tracks in snow

Let me know

You walked last night

O’er fields of white

Your hooves reveal

You found a meal

Nocturnal creature

Favorite of nature

Deer of the forest

It’s time to rest

 

D. DeGraaf