April 23

Last Friday, I stayed close to home and hiked again in Alma’s 50-acre, Conservation Park. The midday weather was sunny with a temperature of 41 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the northwest. From the parking lot, I followed a paved path west where I could see the Pine River on my right while on my left, remaining snow-cover from last weeks snow/ice storm. On the riverbank, I could barely make out a Song Sparrow perched in a leafless Dogwood shrub (can you find it?). Overhead, I observed the exposed, sac-like nest of a Baltimore oriole left over from last year. Continuing west, I paused on one of the decks where I spotted a Double-crested Cormorant perched on a log far out in the river. The noticeable crests on the head are a sign that it’s a breeding adult. Further ahead, I saw a perching male Goldfinch with it muted spring plumage that will soon turn golden yellow. Next, I turned south on a dirt road and passed the pump house where I watched a Fox Squirrel searching for its buried cache as well as a pair of Canada Geese taking off from one of the vernal ponds. Turning east and following the paved road a short distance, I stopped at the Eyer Bird Observation Hut where I could see a Dark-eyed Junco on one of the feeders. Nearby, high in a leafless Walnut Tree, I observed a perching male Cardinal calling for a mate. After turning around and retracing my steps back to the west, I proceeded south to the Girl Scout Cabin where a major remodeling project is taking place. Just east of the cabin, I paused by another vernal pond to listen to a very loud amphibian chorus of Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs. Following the trail as it curved east, I got a good look at a perching Red Squirrel and paused again at yet another vernal pond to hear the squeals of a Wood Duck along with the calls of Chorus Frogs. Continuing east, I entered the shade of a coniferous forest where I approached a curious deer. Next, I followed the trail as it curved north past mature Red, White and Jack Pine as well as White and Norway spruce. Finally, the trailed ended back at my car.

Calls of the wild

From a hill above

In the morning mist

A cooing dove

From forest afar

A cardinal tweets

From vernal pond

A peeper greets

Nature around me

My ears explore

As spring unfolds

She stirs once more

D. DeGraaf

April 16

Last Thursday, I traveled 16 miles southwest of Alma into Montcalm County to hike once again in the one-acre, Lake Steven Preserve, the smallest of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s 22 preserves. The mid afternoon weather was sunny with a temperature of 64 degrees and a strong wind from the west. Leaving the car parked off Birch Dr., on the west side of 20-acre, Lake Steven, I crossed the road and paused to scan the entire preserve that was dominated by medium-size deciduous trees including several White Birch. With no path to follow, I entered the woods and began noticing signs of new plant life emerging from the leaf litter including: Sphagnum Moss, Liverwort and Wild Strawberry. Suddenly, one of two frantic-flying American Woodcock took off from the ground and headed west. Moving east, I came to open water and realized the property abuts up to a wide outlet channel of the lake, not the lake proper. Looking around, I spotted a Canada goose defending a nearby nest and a couple of painted turtles basking on a log. After turning north along the channel bank, I was drawn inland by a familiar sign of spring, a chorus of Spring Peepers. Often heard but seldom seen, these tiny frogs spend the winter burrowed under logs and leaves while surviving the freezing temperatures by producing an anti-freeze like substance in their tissues. In early spring they thaw out and migrate to vernal ponds where they breed and sing. After breeding they disperse again to surrounding woodlands and swampy areas leading solitary lives. Turning around, I retraced my steps south along the channel bank where I noticed some old Beaver stumps. Continuing south, I flushed out a Great Blue Heron and its white counterpart, a Great Egret. While the Heron will most likely remain in the area to breed, the Egret will migrate south or the east coast to breed. After passing a large White Oak tree that still retained its leaves, I returned to the car and headed home.

Nature serenades me

Facing the midday sun

I hear a pheasant’s call

Before it begins to run

I hear a redwing’s shrill

Guarding its nesting site

I hear a honking goose

Before it takes to flight

I hear a croaking frog

Hidden beside the reed

I welcome every sound

Spring symphony indeed

D. DeGraaf

April 9

Last Friday, I stayed close to home and hiked once again at the 90-acre Forest Hill Nature. The early morning weather started out partly cloudy with a temperature of 32 degrees and a stiff northwesterly wind. Parking the car at the dead end of Adams road next to the Brady Cemetery, I followed the snow-covered trail west and then north to the top of Reflection Hill. After glancing down at Grebe Pond, I continued around the hilltop to observe a flooded Mallard Marsh where a pair of noisy geese caught my attention. Continuing around to the west, I descended the hill and followed my shadow along the trail where I both heard and spotted male Redwing Blackbirds as they began staking out their nesting territory. Nearby, I spotted the fuzzy male catkins on branches of a Pussy Willow tree as well as a single male Bufflehead swimming along the far end of Willow Wallow. This colorful waterfowl will be leaving soon for its summer breeding grounds in northern Canada or Alaska. Just ahead, I turned left and began to circle Succession Field where I was pleased to observe a few Field Sparrows fluttering through the leafless underbrush. Even though these birds are common residents during much of the year, once the underbrush leafs out, they are difficult to see. Turning west, I followed the path through Birch Row and then took a left into South Woods where I noticed some fresh squirrel tracks on my way to the edge of Swanson Swamp, pausing to take in this remote, scenic wetlands. Leaving South Woods, I made my way around to North Woods where a chorus of birds and gently falling snowflakes greeted me. Following the trail east, I paused to observe this peaceful vernal pond landscape. Just as I exited the woods and headed east, along came a snow squall. Picking up my pace, I managed to make out a few fading Pheasant tracks on the trail. Moving quickly past Mallard Marsh, I climbed up Energy Hill, passed the classroom building and paused briefly at the north shore of swollen Grebe Pond. While making my way south through Native Grassland, the sky began to clear and the sun broke through again. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.

Robert Frost 

April 2

Last Wednesday, I traveled 10 miles west of Alma to hike once again in the14-acre Stearns Preserve, another property of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The mid morning weather was overcast with a temperature of 37 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car in the Heartland Trail parking lot in Riverdale, I headed north a short distance to a 1-acre field where I paused to look at and listen to a Robin perched high overhead in a leafless tree while a crow called from afar. Hiking east, I came to the edge of the Pine River and explored the bank where I noticed some new green growth including Eastern Woodland Sedge and Foxtail Grass. Turning south, I walked a short distance to the Meijer Heartland Trail and followed it east where I spotted a large patch of Horsetail and a few red berry clusters still hanging on the bare branches of Maple leaf Viburnum. Just ahead, I paused on the bridge to observe the rapid river current while listening to a distant Tree Sparrow. Proceeding east, I walked under a canopy of bowing Box Elder trees and paused to listen to a noisy Blue Jay. Also, facing north, I scanned several acres of muddy river flats dominated by mature leafless oaks and maples. Still heading east, I arrived at the Preserve boundary identified by a small yellow tree label, turned north and climbed down a steep slippery bank into a unique wooded area called a rich conifer swamp. This groundwater-influenced, forested wetland is dominated by Northern White Cedar growing on rich organic soil. This landscape is also referred to as cedar swamp. Walking around, I noticed the ground was covered with dead, scale-like cedar leaves, sedge, Pincushion Moss and decaying trunks displaying Blue-Green Lichens. Exploring the muddy wet ground, I noticed Skunk Cabbage sprouts, young Wild Ginger leaves under a thin sheet of ice and a few shells of the invasive Banded Wood Snail. Next, I climbed back up the steep slope to the Heartland Trail, turned west and began retracing my steps toward the car where I paused as a perching crow flew off over the river. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

Seasons have changed

Ice is still there

Ground is still frozen

Cold morning air

Warmer sun rises

Mostly silence around

Nature’s asleep

Except a lovely sound

I welcome its song

From a leafless tree

Robin of spring

You’re singing for me

D. DeGraaf

March 26

Last Thursday, I drove 18 miles northwest of Alma to hike in another section of Montcalm County’s Edmore State Game Area. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 21 degrees and still air. Leaving the car parked near the corner of Little Field Rd. and South County Line Rd, I proceeded south a few hundred feet and paused on the edge of the meandering Pine River as it gently flowed southeast toward Alma. Turning west with the morning sun at my back, I followed a trail marked by shadows of tree trunks and a covering of oak leaves. Just in front of me, I noticed an oak tree with a large burl attached. These “tumors” yield an unusual grain pattern, prized for its beauty and sought after by furniture makers, artists, and wood sculptors. Because the ground was still frozen, I had a rare opportunity to venture off the trail and explore the extensive river flats surrounding the main river channel. Among my findings were emerging sprouts of skunk cabbage, a sure sign of spring. Another sign was the small red flower buds of Silver Maples, both on the barren ground and in the leafless treetop. Scattered around the dark-colored mud, I noticed deposits of lighter colored sand. Upon closer investigation, I spotted several tiny shells of River Fingernail clams, most of them less than a centimeter in diameter. Continuing to explore this surprisingly tranquil landscape, I came face to face with a Canadian mother goose sitting still on her nest in a discreet posture with her head near the ground. After backing off, I noticed her mate nearby ready to defend. Returning to higher ground, I retraced my steps past my car and continued east along a steeper riverbank where I could see lots of evidence of beaver activity including some old stumps and tree trunks as large as 18 inches in diameter that had been recently gnawed. It was easy to see why these mammals are called the lumberjacks of the rodent world. After turning around, I took one last look at this scenic riparian landscape and headed back to the car.

Field and forest

Meandering flow

Carving the earth

Onward you go

Current speaks

Clear and concise

Scouring rocks

Sculpting ice

In snowy banks

Waters confine

Nature’s creation

River called Pine

D. DeGraaf

MARCH 19

Last Saturday, as part of my goal to visit all 22 of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy preserves this year, I joined a small group of fellow members to hike in the 40-acre, Audubon Woods Preserve. The early morning weather was clear with a temperature of 21 degrees and a slight northerly wind. Also, since today was St. Patrick’s Day as well as close to the Vernal Equinox, our quest included looking for any green vegetation, both old and new. Parking are cars along Gilmore Rd, we entered the preserve and followed the Water Thrush Trail north as it descended a snow- covered slope through a dense forest of tall, leafless deciduous trees. Patches of leaf litter on the path showed that many of them were Oak, Aspen and Maple. The understory included some small Beech trees that still held their dead leaves. Our first sighting of green included mosses and lichens as well as some evergreen trees scattered throughout the woods including: White Pine and Canadian Hemlock. Proceeding north down the slope we paused to observe a few clumps of Woodland Sedge beginning to green out. Nearing the river, we got off the trail and ventured down onto the flood plain to admire the Chippewa River as it flowed fast and full east toward Mt. Pleasant. Meanwhile, a member of the group brushed away some snow to expose green fronds of a Christmas fern. Continuing west along the riverbank, we noticed the green color of a Northern White Cedar on the far shore. Turning south, we followed the Flycatcher Trail up the slope where we spotted several large glacial erratics, large rocks transported by glaciers thousands of years ago. Also, we noticed one of many snags where a Pileated Woodpecker had pecked in search for food. Approaching the south boundary of the preserve, we turned east and followed the trail through hilly glacial terrain where we paused to listen to a Nuthatch and a Sand hill Crane. Finally, after crossing a small vernal stream being fed by meltwater, we continued east back to the trailhead to end the hike.

In the midst of March

Old man winter won’t let go

Seasons are about to change

Ground still keeps the snow

Hiking through a silent forest

Naked maples in a sea of white

Squirrel tracks to my left

Whitetail tracks to my right

Turning into a stiff north wind

Hands are cold, cheeks numb

Few sounds of singing birds

Few clues of spring to come

D. DeGraaf

March 12

After coming back home to Michigan nine days ago, I returned to Lumberjack Park to hike on the nature trail that I’m helping to develop. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 27 degrees, light snow flurries and no wind. Leaving the car at the south trailhead off Madison Rd., I headed north on a path covered with 4 inches of fresh snow where I immediately noticed several fresh squirrel and turkey tracks. Continuing north, I walked on the boardwalk over the wetlands where I paused to observe a partially frozen puddle while listening to a Cardinal sing, a sign of the changing seasons. Just ahead, I paused in the middle of the new bridge to look at and listen to Mud Creek. A short distance beyond the creek, I turned east, then south and followed the trail through a dense growth of tall Red and White Pines where a noisy crow greeted me. Continuing south, I came to the edge of the Pine River where I paused to take in this scenic riparian landscape. Following the trail west along the riverbank, I came upon a pair of swimming Canada Geese who suddenly took to flight while making quite a ruckus. Continuing west, I glanced skyward to note the open canopy of leafless deciduous trees. Just ahead, I spotted a patch of Foliose lichen growing on a tree trunk. After reaching the other trailhead off Lumberjack Rd., I turned east and followed the trail through a grove of mature white pine where a few small beech trees in the understory still retained their dead leaves. Nearby, I noticed lots of deer tracks in the snow as well as a White Pine tree trunk with several fresh holes made by a Pileated Woodpecker. This colorful bird chips out these large holes with its long sharp bill, searching for Carpenter Ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. It has a long sticky barbed tongue that it sticks in them to pull out its prey. Later on these holes will host a diverse array of other birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates which use them for feeding, shelter and nesting. Proceeding eastward, I looped back to an earlier trail, retraced my steps across Mud Creek, back over the wetlands and finally to the car.

Spring starts to pull

Winter won’t let go

One warms the ground

Other returns the snow

One thaws the pond

Welcoming the geese

Other refreezes water

Nesting efforts cease

One brings Redwings

Songs from the marsh

Other keeps the wind

Still cold and harsh

D. DeGraaf