May 28

Last Wednesday, I drove 20 miles north to Mt. Pleasant to join members of the Chippewa Valley Audubon Club for a bird hike at the 90-acre Mill Pond Park. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 54 degrees and no wind. Leaving the parking area, we followed a paved path south where we heard and saw a Chipping Sparrow perched high in a Spruce tree. Turning east and crossing over the millpond bridge, we paused to observe a perching Rough-winged Swallow. Continuing east on an earthen trail through a wooded area dominated by Box Edger trees, we heard and saw a variety of birds including: Carolina Wren, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Redstart and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Along the way, I noticed the understory contained lots of Honeysuckle bushes displaying white, pink and red blossoms while the forest floor was blanketed with the highly invasive Garlic Mustard, showing its dainty white blooms. Further ahead, I paused to watch a ½ inch Amber Snail crawl slowly over a decaying log. Reaching the Chippewa River, I spotted a mixed patch of Buttercups and Violets on the muddy bank. Looping our way back to the paved path along the river, we observed a female Wood duck along with one of her ducklings swimming close to the path. Nearby, I noticed a few blossoms of Black Mustard and Dame’s Rocket. Also, I could see lacy leaves of Wild Carrot plants beginning to appear. Continuing east, we paused to look and listen as the river rushed north over the dam. From here, this extremely meandering river, curves to the east and flows 30 miles to Midland where it empties into the Tittabawassee River. As the path curved to the north, we saw and heard such birds as: Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Cuckoo and Ovenbird. Along the way, I spotted some tree blossoms of Choke Cherry and Pawpaw as well as ground blossoms of Wild Rose. Finally, I turned around, retraced my steps back to the car and headed home.

From a verdant meadow

From the forest ground

From trees on high

Jewels can be found

Some are bright yellow

Others white and blue

Some mostly red

Others, a purple hue

Colorful displays

To earth they cling

Nature’s gems

Blossoms of spring

D. DeGraaf

May 21

Last Friday, I drove 31 miles southwest of Alma to hike on a few of the Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails on the campus of Montcalm Community College. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 54 degrees and a steady easterly breeze. Leaving the car parked at a cul-de-sac on the north end of the campus, I followed the grassy, Tree Swallow Loop trail north through a meadow area that was being overrun with invasive Autumn Olive shrubs. Continuing north, I came to the edge of South Twin Lake where I was greeted by a noisy pair of Canada Geese while spotting a clump of Bottlebrush Sedge. Turning west on the Wood Duck Trail, I noticed several patches of Cinnamon Fern fiddleheads. While fiddleheads of some species are edible including Bracken, Lady and Ostrich Ferns, this one is not. Continuing west while being serenaded by a Common Yellowthroat, I came upon some large and colorful Pheasant Back Mushrooms. While edible this time of year, they are not high on the mushroom hunter’s list. Further ahead, I spotted my first May Apple blossom of the season as well as a patch of Woodland Violets. Turning North, I picked up the White Pine Trail where I came upon the fresh carcass of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Observing its colorful plumage, reminded me why many people mistakenly identify this bird as a Red-Headed Woodpecker. With no evidence of predation, the cause of this bird’s death was not apparent. Turning around, I retraced my steps eastward and picked up the Tree Swallow Loop again where I was able to see a perching, Ebony Jewel-wing damselfly. Nearby, I stooped to observe workers of an ant colony scurrying among the leaf litter. Continuing on the trail as it turned south, I noticed a Shagbark Hickory tree with new leaves emerging while still displaying some female flowers. As the trail looped back to the west, I paused to listen to the melodic song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a fitting finale to the hike. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

Happened overnight

Seemed that way

Meadow was brown

Forest was gray

Wetlands were stark

Canopy bare

Nature was ready

Her color to share

Spectacle of spring

Welcomed scene

Suddenly the landscape

Exploded green

D. DeGraaf

May 15

Last Sunday, I traveled 19 miles northwest of Alma to hike once again in the 13-acre, Sponseller Preserve, another property owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 48 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car parked along side of E. Deerfield Rd., I proceeded south across a rustic bridge over a narrow stream called Johnson Creek. After snaking through the preserve, this scenic waterway flows due north about 2 miles before it empties into the Chippewa River at Meridian Park. Following a muddy game trail, I spotted some colorful wildflowers in bloom including: Marsh Marigold, Beardtongue and Trillium. In several places, the ground was blanketed with dainty Forget-me-nots. According to German folklore, the name of this flower is based on a tale of two lovers walking along the Danube River seeing the bright blue blossoms. The man retrieved the flowers for the woman, but was swept away by the river as he pleaded with her not to forget him. Whether the story is true or not, it’s certainly made the flower a lasting symbol of remembrance. Nearby, I paused to observe the gentle flow of the creek and listen to a Chipping Sparrow, a Cardinal as well as a noisy Mallard flying overhead. Continuing south, I noticed a patch of May apple as well as a small grove of the apple trees beginning to bud out. As the path turned east into an old cedar swamp, I spotted some Horsetail along with lots of Lady Ferns with their unusual red stems. Just ahead, I paused to hear a singing Red-eyed Vireo perched somewhere up in the partially open canopy. Eventually, I turned around, retraced my steps back toward the car where I paused to watch the morning sun bounce off the gently flowing creek. Also, I observed lots of Skunk Cabbage as well as a patch of blossoming Periwinkle. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

One of nature’s finest

Look for you each spring

Waited for your arrival

Longed to hear you sing

Daily I searched for you

In trees and in the sky

No sightings to report

Made me wonder why

Today you showed up

Welcomed by eye and ear

Greetings Baltimore oriole

Glad you’re finally here

D. DeGraaf

May 7

Last Wednesday, I traveled 22 miles southeast of Alma to the village of Maple Rapids to hike in part of Clinton County’s Maple River State Game Area. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 68 degrees and a gentle westerly wind. Leaving my car parked at the dead end of W. Maple Rapids Rd., I followed a dirt road back to the southeast where I noticed a patch of blossoming Wood Anemones just off the trail. On the other side of the trail, I spotted a few Purple Cress blossoms. Continuing southeast, I came to the edge of the placid Maple River and paused as the slow moving current flowed east to west. The muddy shore displayed deer and fox tracks as well as Crayfish chimneys. Hopping through the brush nearby was a White-crowned Sparrow. Just ahead, I veered south off the trail into an open field where I paused by a vernal pond to hear the chorus frogs sing their mating song while a male Redwing Blackbird perched on an old stump. Gazing toward the woods, I could see the Honey Suckle beginning to leaf out in the understory while on the ground nearby, dandelions were beginning to flower. Back on the road, I was amazed by the number of large Ash trees that were dead or dying from the Emerald Ash Borer. After approaching one of these trees and removing some of the bark, I could see the serpentine galleries made by EAB larvae including some packed with dried frass (excrement). With so many trees dying and falling, this wooded area will look quite different five years from now. Far ahead, I watched a family of deer cross the road. Turning around, I retraced my steps back to the car and beyond into another wooded area where I paused to hear a serenading Tufted Titmouse. On the ground, I spotted several acorn caps from Bur Oak trees with their distinctive burs, a well as a few Woodland Violets beginning to display their blossoms and raccoon scat. Also, hanging out over the river, I noticed a maple tree sprouting new leaves. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

A rhythm to nature

A pace to my walk

Ears perk up

On the one I stalk

I look to the woods

Tracks in the muck

It’s hard to tell

I think it’s a buck

He stands and stares

In the morning haze

Whitetail of spring

A sight to amaze

D. DeGraaf

April 30

Last Saturday, I joined a small group of Chippewa Watershed Conservancy members to hike in the 78-acre, Sylvan Solace, another one of their preserves. The early morning weather was clear with a temperature of 43 degrees and a brisk wind from the northwest. From the parking area off W. Pickard Rd., we headed due south through a coniferous corridor of White, Jack and Scotch Pines as well as Blue and Norway Spruce. Along the way, I spotted a Chipping Sparrow perched high in one of the trees, singing loudly. Also, we came upon a large colony of Allegany Mound Ants that were just beginning to warm up and move around. Arriving at a clearing, I paused to look at and listen to a Rose-breasted Grosbeak perched high overhead. Turning west, I followed my shadow past stands of mature Big-tooth Aspen trees on our left. We continued on the trail as it turned south into a mature forest of hardwoods where the leaf litter showed mostly oaks as well as pile of feathers from a recent predator-prey incident. Just off the trail, we came upon a White Birch snag covered with a shelf fungus called Tinder Conk. As the name implies, they can be removed and used for catching sparks and creating smoldering coals. Continuing west, we came to a high bank overlooking the Chippewa River and spotted a Painted Turtle basking on a log as well as a breeding pair of Mallards swimming near the far shore. Climbing down the bank past some Pin Cushion Moss, we came to the river’s edge and paused to take in this peaceful riparian landscape. Nearby, we observed parts of a deer carcass. Back up the bank, we continued following the trail south and then east toward the rising sun where we paused to hear a distant Pileated Woodpecker. Nearby, we came upon one of many snags that had been recently shredded by one of these birds. Finally, we followed the trail as it turned back to the north and back to our cars.

Out of the womb of winter

In the season of birth

Mother Nature’s offspring

Emerge on the earth

Out of the soften soil

Come insects of the ground

Under soggy logs

Worms and slugs are found

Out of the swollen river

Mallard ducks appear

Out of the burgeoning forest

Come the hungry deer

D. DeGraaf

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