November 14

About 2 months ago, I started my quest to explore the 14-mile, Pine Creek channel from its end, where it empties into the Maple River, to its beginning. Following the creek north, I first watched it spill over the Rainbow Lake dam. Further upstream, I saw it flow under the Luce Rd bridge and the sturdy railroad trestle near Perrington. Working my way upstream, I remember seeing the narrowing creek flow under the Grant Rd bridge and Hayes Rd bridge. Approaching its source, I observed its water flowing under the Johnson Rd bridge and Pierce Rd bridge where it became increasingly vulnerable to polluted agricultural runoff. Other memories include a soaring and wading Great Blue Heron.  So, for my 10^th and final encounter with Pine Creek, I’m standing on the St Charles Rd bridge watching its water trickle south. Under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 40’s, I explore the banks where a steady east wind blows some dying stalks of Goldenrod and Milkweed. On the cropland nearby, I spot some dried-up, papery husks of Ground Cherry. During the summer, this 3-ft vining plant produces cherry-size fruit wrapped in a thin, lantern-like husk (stock photo). Leaves and stems are highly toxic while unripe berries can cause upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. The ripe orangish yellow berries (stock photo) are a food source for turkey, opossums, skunks and humans. The berries taste slightly sweet and tropical, with a texture that's somewhere between a tomato and a grape. Ground cherries also make wonderful pies and preserves and can be used in any recipe that calls for tomatoes. Crossing the road, I come to the actual source of the creek which is nothing more than a small pool of water, fed by two county drains, that flows gently south through a huge culvert-a humble beginning indeed. While bidding farewell to this watercourse, suddenly, a muskrat swims by me. Ten years ago, the North American muskrat market was booming, thanks to soaring purchases by Chinese and other newly rich nations that desired muskrat fur to line coats and footwear. An auction in North Bay, Ontario featured 55,000 muskrat pelts that were all purchased by China. This high demand was good for Michigan trappers who had no limits on how many they could harvest. A pelt was going for $10-12 —five times what muskrats fetched in the 1990’s. Since then the market has softened. Currently, a pelt goes for $3-4 conservatively, with averages around $5.

 

Predator of night

Dark becomes day

Your hunt was hard

Your hunger obey

Picked up a scent

Options to weigh

The kill was quick

Devoured your prey

Found your den

Ended your quest

Coyote of the wild

Your time to rest

 

D. DeGraaf

November 7

Under sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 40’s, I’m standing on the Pierce Rd. bridge, watching a muskrat swim south along a narrow channel of Pine Creek that looks a lot like the hundreds of drainage ditches seen throughout Gratiot County. Classified as omnivores, muskrats mainly consume roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of aquatic vegetation. Once these are depleted, they will eat insects, fish and amphibians. These mammals remain active during the winter, foraging for food, since they do not store any in their lodges. In addition, they are among a few animals that regularly defecate in water where their droppings often contain a protozoan parasite that can cause a flu-like infection that old-time trappers referred to as “beaver fever.” Moving down to the water’s edge, I spot some raccoon tracks in the mud as well as one of their food sources. Moving south along the bank, I’m alarmed to see nearby cropland covered with fresh manure, allowing animal waste easy access to the creek. Further along, I spot a Muskrat resting on the far shore. Michigan’s culinary connection to muskrats began in the 1780’s, when French Catholics from Detroit settled in Monroe County. Historical records describe many residents consuming meat from a variety of sources, including abundant muskrats living along the riverbanks. However, since Lenten rules prohibited the eating of meat, Fr. Gabriel Richard, granted a special dispensation to the region’s Catholics allowing them to consume muskrat. Thus, muskrat dinners became a common occurrence both in the Downriver area and Monroe County (stock photo). St. Charles church in Newport has the longest running muskrat dinner in the region, which has taken place for the past 53 years on the Friday before Super Bowl Sunday. Returning to the car, I drive north and park next to the Filmore Rd. bridge to watch the Pine Creek flow south along the edge of the massive Vanderploeg Holstein farm where 3000 cows, crowded into pens, are milked daily. Given the amount of animal waste produced there, I’m wondering how much of it makes its way into the creek. Exploring the banks, I notice several patches of large green leaves. These are the basal leaves of Burdock that grow during the first year of this biennial plant’s life cycle. In the second year, these plants put out tall, erect stems that display pink to purplish flowers at the top of a spiny ball of hooked bracts, or burs that eventually dry out and turn brown.

 

Gone from the fields

The luster of gold

Sunshine of summer

Has now turned cold

Gone are Redwings

That ruled the marsh

Winds of November

Blow wild and harsh

Gone is the green

Of leaves and vines

Tales of nature

Mid-autumn signs

 

D. DeGraaf

October 31

With morning temperatures in the lower 60’s under mostly sunny skies and a southerly breeze, I look south from the Johnson Rd. bridge at an unusually straight section of the Pine Creek channel, most likely reshaped by humans to facilitate drainage of farmland. Likewise, the lack of a natural vegetation buffer along the banks, means runoff from this farmland (likely containing herbicide and pesticide residue) washes directly into the creek. Moving down from the bridge, I spot seeds of Milkweed and Clematis (Old Man’s Beard) as well as the red berries of Bittersweet Nightshade. Although not as toxic as Deadly Nightshade (stock photo), these berries are somewhat poisonous and have caused loss of livestock, pet poisoning and, more rarely, sickness and death in children. While exploring the creek, north of the bridge, I pause to watch its water flow gently past, carrying and depositing Cottonwood leaves. After driving north to the Buchannan Rd. bridge, I work my way along a high bank and come upon a patch of recently disturbed dirt called a “buck scrape.” In most cases a buck begins the scraping process by rubbing his forehead and spreading is scent on an overhanging branch and in some cases licking and chewing it.  Once done, he will paw the leaves and other debris from the ground under the branch, then urinate on it, leaving liberal amounts of scent behind to signal his dominance over other bucks. Moving down the bank, I notice a small tree trunk with scrape marks called a “buck rub. These abrasions are caused by a buck rubbing his forehead and antlers against it to remove the velvet from newly grown antlers. Likewise, this effort leaves a scent that communicates a challenge to other bucks while also attracting potential mates. Glancing skyward, I see and hear a perching male Redwing Blackbird-a sight and sound expected in early spring when he claims his breeding territory. However, most likely, this bird is part of a larger feeding flock that is migrating south from his summer breeding grounds in northern Michigan or Canada to winter grounds in southern US or Mexico. Looking across the creek, I can barely make out a clump of dead grass mixed with the fur and bones of an unknown mammal, clinging to a woody snag. Working my way back to the car, I can’t help but notice another one of many suspicious drainpipes sticking out of the bank. Near the car, I’m reminded of the season while observing leaves fall gently as the morning sun shines through a dense stand of deciduous trees. 

 

Autumn breathes a sigh

October breathes its last

Green has gone in hiding

Colors fading fast

Swallows long gone

Blue Jays stayed

Gone the flowered fields

Gone the forest shade

No more warming sun

Or calls of the wild

No more long days

Or breezes mild

 

D. DeGraaf

October 24

For my 7th encounter with Pine Creek, I start by observing its water flowing slowly south under the Hayes Rd. bridge. Under sunny skies, with noontime temperatures in the upper 50’s and a stiff southwest breeze, I make my way off the road toward the creek bank where I’m surprised to see a half dozen Cloudless Sulfur Butterflies fluttering about and landing on the grassy ground. These butterflies exhibit migration and overwintering behavior like monarchs, but they do not travel as far or in as great of numbers. Soon they will leave their breeding sites here and travel south to Florida and other southern states. There, they stay until the end of winter when they again return here to the same breeding sites. One of the greatest threats to these and other migrating butterflies is the destruction and loss of habitat. The caterpillars (stock photo) are often considered elusive pests, because they turn green when eating green leaves and turn yellow when eating yellow flowers. From the bank, I watch yellow blossoms of Black Mustard sway in the breeze. While this plant mostly blossoms in spring, some do blossom now. Moving my way along the bank next to cropland, I spot the never-before-seen, cattail-like seedhead of a grain called Pearl Millet which is used by farmers for poultry, cattle and swine feed. Back near the road, I come upon a well-decomposed roadkill of some unknown mammal, about the size of a Raccoon, Opossum or Woodchuck. While moving the carcass, I notice part of the hairless, scaly remains of an Opossum’s tail. An average adult has a long tail used as an adaptive tool when grasping something (prehensile). This amazing marsupial uses its tail as a fifth limb when climbing on different surfaces. Many people are not aware that they produce a scent at the base of their tail. When a scent is created, it can be easily identified by other Opossums to identify territorial boundaries. In some cases, an Opossum may wag its tail to signal other others that there is danger lurking around, like predators such as large dogs, coyotes and raccoons. Moving my way upstream next to Ennis Rd, I pause to watch a wading Great Blue Heron searching for aquatic prey such as small fish, frogs and snakes. These large, graceful birds will soon migrate south for the winter, some going to the Caribbean, Central America, or northern South America. They travel by day or night, alone or in flocks. Finally, along the bank, I once again spot a drainpipe. Since it drains from a nearby cattle feedlot, it’s pretty good evidence that animal waste is making its way into the creek. 

 

Showy leaf

Autumn day

Won’t last

Won’t stay

Red to yellow

Fades to gray

Brown to black

Moldy decay

Disintegrates

Without delay

Joins the soil

Nature’s way

 

D. DeGraaf

October 17

The noontime temperatures are in the mid 50’s, under sunny skies as I stand on the Grant Rd. bridge watching Pine Creek water flow slowly toward its confluence with the Maple River, some 7 miles to the south. Exploring the bank below, I come upon a 16-inch, well-decomposed carcass of a Common Carp. This species was introduced to North America as a sport and food fish during the middle of the 19th century. In the US, carp was farmed by private interests as well as by state and federal fish-and-game authorities. The fish spread quickly and by the 20th century it became an invasive nuisance species competing with native species for food and living space. Also, it uprooted aquatic vegetation, which increased the cloudiness (turbidity) of rivers and lakes. Nearby, I spot a ½-inch Boxelder Bug resting on an Aspen leaf. At this time of year these insects become gregarious and congregate on the south side of rocks, trees and buildings where the sun hits. After large masses gather, they migrate to nearby buildings or homes to overwinter. In the spring they emerge from hibernation when the Boxelder tree buds open. They first feed on fallen boxelder seeds and later move to the female boxelder trees or maple trees where they eat newly developing leaves. Boxelder bugs are not known to bite, but their piercing-sucking mouthparts can occasionally puncture skin, causing a slight irritation and producing a red spot like a mosquito bite. Also, near the ground, I come upon a ¼-inch Winter Cranefly fluttering about. Up ahead, I watch a ¼ inch winged Carpenter Ant crawl rapidly up a dead tree trunk as it passes several pea-size holes made by Carpenter Bees (stock photo). On my way back to the car, I almost step on a 1-inch Garden Slug moving slowly over the ground. Near the car, I spot a Wild Cucumber fruit. While related to the familiar, domestic vegetable, the prickly “cucumbers” is not edible. Instead of fleshy tissue under the skin, it has two seed chambers containing lacy netting. The netting holds four large seeds (stock photo) in place until the fruit ripens and the seeds drop to the ground to begin a new vine. Californian Indians of old would mash the root of this plant and add it to river water to stun fish which would float to the surface for easy retrieval. Next, I drive a short distance to the Luce Rd bridge where I stop and observe the creek as it flows westward. Finally, I pause to look at a stand of trees filled with hundreds of chirping Starlings while others perch on a nearby electrical transmission tower.

 

Summer leaves

Captured the sun

Green and lush

Everyone

Fall foliage

October days

Yellows and reds

Browns and grays

No matter the pigment

No matter the shade

Forest has no favorites

Every color displayed

 

D. DeGraaf

October 10

It’s a chilly 39 degrees under sunny skies as I walk east on a railroad track from the Gratiot County village of Perrinton (population of 400) toward another encounter with Pine Creek. From 1888 to 1956, the track was used daily to run passenger and freight trains from Muskegon to Ashley and back. Presently, a rare freight train uses this track to haul grain between elevators in Ashley and Middleton. Up ahead beside the tracks, I spot leaves changing into their autumn colors including, Sugar Maple and Sycamore Maple while in the distance, a Whitetail deer looks my way. Arriving at my destination, I descend a steep slope and look up to admire the sturdy trestle that spans the creek. After gazing downstream, I explore the bank where blossoms of Black Mustard and Pennsylvania Smartweed catch my eye. Moving upstream, I pause to take in the sights and sounds of this peaceful landscape. Next, I come upon a drain tile that empties into the creek from nearby cropland and wonder if any pollutants make their way into this watercourse. Moving back toward the tracks, I notice a huge glacial erratic boulder. Unlike the one I saw last week that weighed a 1000+ pounds, this one is at least twice as large. About 10,000 years ago during the last ice age, massive flowing glaciers eroded bedrock from Canada and dragged large fragments, such as this one, south to Michigan where they were deposited when the glacier stalled or melted back. Back on the tracks and proceeding west, I pick up the duet of a Blue Jay and Chipmunk. Further along, I see the tiny white blossoms of Heath Aster and the bright red berries of Maple Leaf Viburnum. Finally, I reach the car, parked on the north side of Perrinton. Founded in 1886, this tiny village owes its existence largely to the fact that a railroad track was built and required a station (stock photo) here. When building a station became a certainty, Ansel Phinney, one of the founders of the village of Ashley, proceeded to purchase land and plat a village. The projected village was named “Perrin” in honor of a prominent firm of lawyers from St Johns. Later the name was changed to “Perrinton” because there was already a post office named “Perrin.” Quoting Gratiot County historical records, “Perrinton is in excellent farming country. As a trading post, Perrinton is up to standards with dealers and stocked to satisfy all demands of a discriminating public. The village is fairly supplied with religious societies. It is a peaceful, law-abiding town where the churches are doing their full duty and are amply sufficient in numbers and influence.”

 

Coat of many colors

Nature can’t defer

Green lost its hold

Others begin to stir

Shades of orange

Find the maple leaf

Yellow starts to show

Joins aspen motif

Red’s wait is over

Responding to its cue

Many yet to cover

Early autumn debut

 

D. DeGraaf

October 3

About a ½ mile upstream from my last Pine Creek encounter, I’m using a map to hike cautiously through private property toward the flowing watercourse. With temperatures in the low 50’s, the morning sun at my back and a stiff wind in my face, I look up at an azure blue sky to see the leaves of a towering Cottonwood tree sway in the wind. As the trail leads me into a clearing, I spot blossoms of Panicle Aster and a Milkweed plant with a seed pod opening to reveal its brown seeds attached to white, silky strands, called floss. Alayna Rasile, an environmentally conscious textile artist has a small apparel line and a Milkweed-based design studio called May West that makes outerwear using milkweed floss as a goose down alternative. Just ahead, I pause to look at and listen to a perching male Eastern Chipmunk. The “chip-chip” sound is an alarm call to other members of the colony that a predator (or curious human) is nearby. Only male chipmunks have vocal sacs for making sounds. Moving toward the dark shade of a dense woods, I hear the call of an Eastern Wood Pewee. A long-distance migrant, this small bird (stock photo) is one of the last to leave for its wintering grounds in wooded and shrubby habitats of Central America and the Andes region of northern South America. Entering the woods, I’m pleasantly surprised to witness an amazing riparian landscape of old growth Beech and Maple trees, sloping terrain, a wide floodplain and a gently flowing Pine Creek. At the water’s edge, I watch a narrow tributary converge with the shallow Pine Creek as it flows south over piles of rocks along a lush bank where I come upon a small Shagbark Hickory tree. Turning around and heading back toward the car, I pass by a moss-covered, 1000+pound, glacial erratic boulder that was transported here thousands of years ago during the last ice age. Back into the clearing, I spot a Cockspur Hawthorn tree with its long thorns and one remaining berry (haw). Hawthorn fruit is extremely high in pectin and therefore particularly useful for making jams and jellies. Near the car, I see the walnut-like compound leaves of a Tree of Heaven. This rapidly growing deciduous tree has become a widespread invasive species across North America. Known by other names including stinking sumac, Chinese sumac and stink tree, the plant releases a strong, offensive smell from its flowers. It was brought from China to the United States in the late 1700’s as a horticultural specimen and shade tree. 

 

October forest 

Brushed with green

Artist is ready

To change the scene

Her canvas is set

Her easels unfold

Orange and brown

Oak leaves behold

Dabs of yellow

Splashes of red

Maple leaves

More colors ahead

 

D. DeGraaf