December 12

A noticeable south wind and temperatures in the upper 20’s greet me on this partly sunny morning as I begin my hike at Forest Hill Nature Area, a few miles north of Alma.  After ascending Reflection Hill, first I notice a field of Wild Carrot plants with their seed heads swaying with the wind and then I turn eastward to look down on Grebe Pond. Nearby, I come upon a tree filled with ripe, 1-inch crabapples. So, I pick one to eat and enjoy its tart flavor. After passing by a few fluffy seed heads of Phragmites waving in the breeze, I come to the edge of Grebe Pond where I spot 2 juvenile Muskrats on the end of the dock eating corn, put there by a caring human. Following the trail west toward North Woods, I spot a pair of male House Finches perched high overhead. Native to the Southwest, these birds are now well established throughout the US. In 1940, New York pet shop owners, who had been selling the finches illegally, released them into the wild to avoid prosecution. Over the next 50 years they spread eastward across the continent, meeting their western kin on the Great Plains. During the winter, groups of these non-migratory birds can be seen on feeders, foraging on the ground or perching in tall trees. Making my way through North Woods, I’m surprised to see the large vernal pond is empty with only the base of nearby tree trunks marking where the water was when full. Up ahead, I come face-to-face with a dead Ash tree displaying the meandering channels where Ash Borer larvae girdled and killed the tree. While walking through White Birch row on my way to South Woods, I notice the leaf litter consists mostly of birch mixed with a few oak, maple and beech. Moving quickly through South Woods, I see a Witch Hazel tree displaying flower buds. This plant is exceptional by flowering in the dead of winter. Soon these buds will open to reveal a fragrant yellow flower (stock photo). Leaving South Woods, I pass by Sora Swale where a Muskrat lodge is easily seen. Turning east and making my way toward the car, I notice the recently-melted snow reveals a 1-inch-wide tunnel excavated by a tiny mouse-like Meadow Vole (stock photo). These tunnels provide voles protection from the wind and cold and keep them hidden from predators. Nearing the car, I pass a clump of pinkish Switchgrass and a clump of Indian Grass, swaying in the breeze. 

Outer edge of autumn

Now and then snow

Creatures hunker down

No tall grasses show

Warm sun moves south

Cold winds from the north

Sweep the icy pond

Reeds sway back and forth

Gone, flowers of May

Gone, birds of June

Nature takes a break

Winter’s coming soon

 

D. DeGraaf

December 5

It’s in the upper 30’s and overcast as I start my morning hike at the Lumberjack Park Nature trail. After crossing the boardwalk through a green-less landscape, I approach the bridge over Mud Creek where I stir up a Black-capped Chickadee, darting through the underbrush as it gives out a warning call that sounds just like its name, “chickadee-dee-dee”. These non-migratory birds have many different calls, communicating information on identity and recognition of other flocks. Their summer diet is mostly caterpillars and other insects, spiders, snails and berries. In winter, Chickadees feed on insects (especially their eggs and pupae), seeds, berries and small fruits. These birds hide seeds and other food items to eat later. Each item is placed in a different spot and they can remember thousands of hiding places. Standing on the bridge, I gaze west as Mud Creek flows slowly through its stark surroundings toward a confluence with the Pine River. After passing through a mature plantation of Red and White Pine trees, I make my way to the edge of the Pine River where I’m pleased to see the flowing water is clear enough to see the sandy bottom. Heading west, I cross the Lumberjack Rd. bridge, turn east along the riverbank where I notice a patch of snow remains from last week’s storm. Up ahead, I watch a melanistic Eastern Gray Squirrel scamper across the river on a downed tree trunk. The squirrel’s black color is due to a variant form of a specific gene that produces more dark pigment. The range of the Gray Squirrel stretches across the eastern half of the country extending well into Canada. Several studies have shown that the dark morph squirrels had lower heat losses and lower basal metabolic rates compared to the regular gray squirrels during winter. The dark-morph squirrels have lower energy costs for living in cold and wintry conditions compared to the gray ones. Not surprisingly, there are more of them sighted as you move north from here into Canada. Just ahead, I pause to listen as river water flows over some embedded rocks. Turning south onto the Campground trail, I come upon a healthy patch of moss growing on the south base of a tree, debunking the myth that moss only grows on the north base. Nearby, in the crevice of tree bark, I spot an old egg mass of a Sponge Moth (formally called a Gypsy Moth). While making my way back toward the car, I spot several patches of Christmas fern whose sterile fronds accumulate carbon compounds, mostly in the form of plant sugars that act as a natural antifreeze and keep them green throughout the winter.

 

She whispers to me in the wind

Beckons with calls of the wild

She displays profound beauty

Makes me curious as a child

She surrounds me with life

With death and life anew

She shows a delicate balance

Harmony through and through

She teaches me lasting truths

Joins me to the cosmic whole

She feeds my body and mind

Nourishes my earthly soul

 

D. DeGraaf

November 28

I’m at Mt Pleasant’s Chipp-a-Waters Park on a mostly sunny morning with temperatures in the lower 30’s and a westerly breeze, watching the clear, cold water of the Chippewa River flow gently east through a snowy landscape. Up ahead, I watch a family of geese move with the current downstream. Following a paved pathway along the river’s edge, I spot a Cocklebur plant with its prickly seedheads and a Prickly rose plant with its large, bright-red, pear-like hips. Since these hips are fleshy and edible, I pick one and enjoyed its sweet flavor. While they are consumed by humans for jelly and tea, birds love them as well. On the other side of the trail on the snow-covered ground, I notice tracks of a Field mouse and a briefly resting Dark-eyed Junco.  Juncos, like many other birds, migrate “South” for the winter months; however, lower Michigan is their south. These birds live in Canada for the rest of the year and come down here only in the winter where they can be seen around backyard bird feeders eating assorted grass, thistle, and sunflower seeds. When they are not at feeders, they can be found near farm fields foraging for grains on the ground that were not harvested. Scanning the understory, I’m not surprised to see dead leaves of American Beech and White Oak still attached to branches. However, I am surprised to see a solitary Maple tree with leaves still attached (a possible hybrid). Tree foliage that is still green include Buckthorn with its dark blue fruit and Winterberry with its bright red fruit. Crossing the Brandell bridge over the Chippewa River, I gaze west to take in the scenic riparian landscape. Circling the paved path around Viet’s Woods, I spot a female Hairy Woodpecker (males have a red patch on the back of the head) feeding on a snag and a perching male Goldfinch. Beginning in September, and continuing for six to eight weeks, these birds molt all their feathers, ending up with a completely new, drab-colored set as they head into the winter. In the spring, they grow new feathers that are a bright yellow breeding plumage (stock photo). Most Goldfinches observed around here do not migrate. To stay warm on a cold winter's night, these birds have been known to burrow under the snow to form a cozy sleeping cavity. They will also roost together in coniferous trees. Other sightings include Whitetail deer tracks and Fox Squirrel tracks. Back across the bridge heading toward the car, I notice a stand of leafless Black Locust trees with 4-inch seed pods hanging from their branches.

 

Hunter or hunted

Man or deer

Who’s the killer

Answer is clear

Heated blind

Comfortable wait

High-powered gun

Pile of bait

Shots ring out

Bullets stray

Whitetail runs

No death today

 

D. DeGraaf

November 21

Before starting a hike at Alma’s Conservation Park, I’m checking out my newly-started butterfly garden next to the bathroom building. Under overcast skies and temperatures in the lower 30’s, I head south when a gust of wind shakes the dead oak leaves still clinging to the tree above me. Further along, I pass through a grove of Red Pine trees where their slightly reddish trunks are noticeable and the leaf litter reveals lots of their dead needles. Moving west under the powerlines through the native grassland, I notice a few blue berries remain on some dead Pokeweed plants. As the trail veers north, I come upon a vine of the invasive, Oriental Bittersweet with its colorful red berries, some of which still display their orange seed capsules. This Asian native was imported in the 1860’s as an ornamental landscape plant but has long since escaped into the wild. The vines grow vigorously and tend to suffocate native plants from growing by preventing exposure to sunlight and other resources in the landscape. It’s not surprising that florists like to add these vines to wreaths and other autumn decorations. While the berries are toxic to humans and pets, they are a winter food source for birds like Robins, Grouse and Starlings. Birds are a key part of the plant’s success story sine the seeds inside the fruit usually pass safely through the birds’ digestive tracts and quickly get spread. Up ahead, I come upon another invasive, Asian import- a thorny shrub with bright red berries, called Japanese Barberry. This plant was introduced to the United States as an ornamental in the 1870’s. As a hardy, exotic species, it since has spread to open woods, roadsides, and natural areas. The berries are eaten by birds and small mammals who widely disperse the seeds. Humans can eat the berries as well. Eaten raw, they taste a lot like very tart cranberries. In the Middle East, the fruit is usually dried for preservation so it can be used year-round in all manner of dishes. At my feet, I notice the leaf litter includes oak, maple and cottonwood. Up ahead, I stop by the Eyer Learning Circle and Bird Observation Hut before heading west through tall pines as snowflakes begin to fall. Turning north, I come to a high bank of the Pine River where I scan the austere millpond, occupied by some swimming waterfowl. Upon closer observation, I see several male and female Mallards. As snow continues to fall, I follow the riverbank eastward through one of the overlooks where the leaf litter reveals big-tooth Aspen. Finally, I glance one more time at the whiting landscape before reaching the car.

 

Far away from the hunter’s gun

Run, river run

By light of the moon, light of the sun

Run, river run

Your journey’s not over, only half done

Run, river run

Keeping you clean is priority one

Run, river run

Ice flows have not yet begun

Run, river run

Walking beside you is lots of fun

Pine River run

 

D. DeGraaf

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