After a 25-mile, southeasterly drive from my home in Alma, I stand on the Merrill Rd bridge watching the water of the Bad River flow under me. The early morning sky is clear with temperatures in the mid 40’s as I descend to the flood plain and hike on a groomed trail along the riverbank, listening to a chorus of birds. Soon, I come upon a noisy Canada Goose swimming alone on a small pond. It is most likely a male guarding a nearby nest, warning me and other intruders to stay away. While the female is incubating, the male's primary role is to protect her and the nest from predators and other potential threats. Beside a loud honking sound, he may use displays like lowering his head, hissing, and pumping his head up and down. Up ahead on the wet ground, I spot dainty blossoms of Purple Cress, my first ephemeral wildflower of the season. Ephemerals are short-lived plants that bloom briefly in spring before trees leaf out, taking advantage of sunlight before quickly going dormant. Still focusing on the ground, I notice a patch of tiny green leaves of Woodland Stonecrop. It wouldn’t be long before this plant blooms (stock photo). Along the way, I first pass by dead vines connecting some decomposing, walnut-size seed pods of Wild Cucumber and then pause to observe some Multi-flora Rose branches displaying symptoms of Rose Rosette disease including reddish clusters of distorted leaves. Continuing to follow the riverbank, I recognize mottled trunks of Sycamore trees, drooping seed-heads of Foxtail grass and red flowers of a Red Maple tree. Turning around and heading back to the car, I look up and listen as a small flock of Sandhill Cranes fly overhead. Returning from their wintering grounds in Florida and Texas, many of these large wading birds (stock photo) will stop and breed among the vast wetlands here in Michigan. About one-third of the population will continue north to breed in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. The estimated summer population of Sandhill Cranes in Michigan is around 23,000. This is a significant increase from the 1940s when only 27 pairs were found in the Lower Peninsula. These birds produce a variety of calls that range from a piercing rattle that can be heard two miles away to low purrs that only carry a few yards. Rattle calls can be sung in unison by several members creating a cacophony of noise. By contrast, the quiet purrs are often heard just before they take-off, while they’re feeding, or as a sign of aggression. Nearing the bridge where my car is parked, I enjoy a Robin solo before heading home.
April nears the finish
New season grabs hold
From the river’s edge
Blossoms of Marigold
Chipmunks scamper
On the forest floor
Looking for a carcass
Turkey Vultures soar
From a vernal pond
Peeper frogs sing
Nature comes alive
Glad tidings of spring
D. DeGraaf
No comments:
Post a Comment