May 12

The early morning sky is sunny with temperatures in the upper 50’s as I hike on the bank of the Bad River, off Dempsey Rd, 3 miles due west of the town St. Charles in Saginaw County. Soon my ears perk up to the attractive song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak ,coming from a nearby tall leafless tree.. This robin-like song has inspired many a bird watcher to pay tribute to it. A couple of early twentieth-century naturalists said it is “so entrancingly beautiful that words cannot describe it.” Following the sound, I’m pleased to see a multi-colored male Grosbeak perched high in the tree. Further ahead, I spot a Staghorn Sumac displaying its reddish fruit clusters. Although the fruit ripened last fall, the seeds can still be used whole, dried, or ground into a powder for various culinary applications. Next, I pause to take in the gently flowing river while listening to a chorus of birds. From the bank, I watch a Muskrat swim by with some aquatic vegetation in its mouth. My guess is it’s food for babies born a few weeks ago that are being weened from their mother’s milk. Adult Muskrats are primarily herbivores, feeding mostly on cattails, sedges, and water lilies. They may also eat some animal matter, including mussels, crayfish, and frogs.Continuing along the bank, I observe an Autumn Olive bush beginning to flower. Glancing skyward, I notice the red flower buds and white flowers of Crabapple. Near the river’s edge, I spot a spider web. Whenever, I see these ornate patterns of silken threads, I’m amazed that it likely will be dismantled and rebuilt by tomarrow. Rebuilding a new web is more efficient than repairing a damaged one, and it allows the spider to have a fresh, functional web each night. These orb weavers digest the silk from their old webs, allowing them to recycle the proteins and rebuild their webs without wasting resources. Exploring the muddy flood plain, I notice yellow blossoms of Wild Mustard and Buttercup as well as a pile of fresh Raccoon scat. This sight reminds me of a funny jingle I recited years ago with school kids during field trips at Forest Hill Nature Area.“Starts with an S, ends with a T, comes out of you, comes out of me. I know what you’re thinking. It’s not that. Let’s be scientific, call it SCAT.” Turning back toward the car, I hear the lovely song of a male Baltimore Oriole along with the disturbing sound of a chainsaw. In a nearby tree, I get a brief look at the colorful source.  These birds got their name from their bold orange-and-black plumage, the same colors as the heraldic crest of England’s Baltimore family (who also gave their name to Maryland’s largest city).

Perching squirrel

Chitter, Chatter

Chipmunk runs

Pitter, patter

Wood duck pair

Flies and squeaks

River rapids

Babbling creeks

Frogs and toads

Start to sing

Natures choir

Songs of spring

 

D. DeGraaf