July 28

he early morning skies are partly sunny with temperatures in the mid 50’s as Caroline, Riley and I hike on one of several paved nature trails in the city of Sherwood, Oregon, 17 miles south of Portland. On both sides of the path, I look up to see lots of tree branches covered with Usnea lichens. Also known as Old Man’s Beard, Usnea plays an important role in the ecosystem, providing food and nesting material for wildlife and contributing to nutrient cycling. It's also a bioindicator, meaning its presence or absence can indicate air quality. On a large, decaying tree trunk, I notice some lichens and mosses mixed with some wood oysterling mushrooms. In Oregon, the term "wood oysterling" may refer to several different fungi, including some true Oyster mushrooms and other lookalikes. Pausing by a small pond, I watch a group of Mallard hens and juveniles swimming around. Near the far shore, I spot, but am unable to photograph, the head of a swimming muskrat-like rodent, called a Nutria (stock photo). This semi-aquatic mammal, native to South America, was originally brought to the US in 1889 for its fur. When the fur market collapsed in the 1940s, thousands of them escaped or were released into the wild by ranchers who could no longer afford to feed and house them. Nutria are voracious herbivores, known for clearing areas of their vegetation. Coupled with their proficiency in traveling both on land and in water, they pose a significant threat to the environment, particularly wetlands. Up ahead, I observe the pink blossoms of a native, deciduous shrub called Douglas Spirea, also known by other common names like hardhack and steeplebush. Named after David Douglas, this 19^th century, Scottish botanist also has his name attached to the Douglas Fir. Nearby, I notice pink blossoms of Japanese Spirea, a small, invasive shrub native to Japan, Korea and China. Among the floating pond weeds covering the pond surface, I spot the head of a Bullfrog with its large, bulging eyes that sit at the top of its skull. The location of its eyes gives it a wide frame of vision, which is important because it cannot move its head from side to side. These amphibians are carnivore that eat crayfish, water beetles, snails, dragonfly nymphs (larvae), small fish, and occasionally small birds. Animals such as snapping turtles, foxes, herons, and raccoons eat them. Continuing down the path, lined with snow-like Cottonwood seeds, my ears perk up to the song of a Spotted Towhee (stock photo) and a Steller’s Jay (stock photo) Turning around and approaching the car, I see the familiar blossoms of Queen Anne’s Lace as well as 10-inch wide leaves of Bigleaf Maple.

Who will raise their voices

With arguments and pleas

Who will speak for the creatures

Who will defend the trees

Wildlife are in peril

Their habitats shrink

Some are threatened

Others on the brink

Respect living things

Conserve and care

Revere them all

This planet we share

 

D. DeGraaf