June 27

The mid-morning is sunny with temperatures pushing 80 degrees as I find myself 4 miles upstream from my last encounter with the Maple River, watching its water rush over the dam in the village of Elsie. The village is named after Elsie Amelia Tillotson, born in 1853 to Jane and Franklin Tillotson who was a farmer, a wool dealer and the town’s first postmaster. The village is home to Green Meadows dairy farm consisting of 7,000 acres of land and 9,500 head of cattle, making it one of the largest herds of registered Holstein dairy cattle in North America. From the bank, I spot a Gray Catbird, several clumps of “cotton” shed from an overhead Cottonwood tree and a mixed patch of Buffalo and Brome grasses swaying in a refreshing westerly breeze. Scanning the marshy mill pond behind the dam, sounds of Redwing Blackbirds and Green Frogs catch my attention. Up ahead, I spot blue blossoms of Chicory, pink blossoms of Crown Vetch and white blossoms of Privet. Up ahead, resting in the lush foliage, I observe a Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly and a Yellow-sided Skimmer Dragonfly. Female Skimmers have a pair of flanges beneath their eighth abdominal segment that are used to scoop and hold a few drops of water when laying eggs, hence the name, “skimmer “. Moving closer to the shore of the millpond, I observe a few yellow blossoms of Creeping Jenny, a single Morning Glory blossom and a juvenile Ground Hog eating fresh clover. Also called a Woodchuck, this large rodent is a member of the squirrel family that most likely was born a few months ago and recently left its mother to venture out on its own. Although groundhogs dig deep and extensive burrow systems, they are also good swimmers and can climb tall shrubs and sizable trees. They are most active in the morning and evening, eating grasses and other green plants, as well as some fruit, bark and buds of trees. They feed heavily in summer and early fall, accumulating huge fat reserves to prepare for winter hibernation. It then curls into what appears to be a lifeless ball, its body temperature drops nearly to the ambient temperature of the burrow and its heart rate decreases from 75 to 4 beats per minute. Groundhogs were once the objects of sport hunting and are considered quite edible. Other sights along the way include, Goat’s Beard blossoms that have seeded out, clusters of Chicken-of-the-woods fungi on a decaying tree trunk and a crescent moon high against an azure blue sky. After noticing a basking Painted turtle and taking one last look at the river channel, I head back to the car. 

 

Bid June farewell

Hiking early day

Summer’s invitation

Sights along the way

Morning sunrise

Nature’s mystique

On the verdant bank

Green frogs speak

Out in the meadow

Whitetails reside

Maple River flows

Gently by my side

 

D. DeGraaf

June 20

It’s a warm, muggy morning on the last day of spring as I watch the Maple River flow through the small village of Bannister, eight miles east of my last encounter. In the 1880’s, the residents considered naming the village ‘‘Maple Bend’’, because of its proximity to the big bend in Maple River. However, after some debate it was named “Bannister’’ in honor of A. M. Bannister who owned the surrounding land. The village was located on the “gurgling Maple’’ so called sarcastically in the early days, because there was not a spot in its entire course in Gratiot County where it had life or speed enough to produce a single gurgle. So, for power purposes it was a failure. Exploring the lush riverbank north of Wilson Rd., I spot several Ebony Jewel-wing Damselflies as well as a small Delaware Skipper Butterfly perched on blossoms of Dame’s Rocket. At my feet, scattered on the damp vegetation were white globs of foam made by nymphs of Froghoppers, called Spittlebugs (stock photo). These tiny insects pump bubbles into fluid that is secreted as a foamy substance during feeding. This frothy mass protects them from predators and desiccation. Up ahead, after seeing a large Mussel shell near shore, I pause to take in the sights and sounds of the flowing river. Nearby, I come upon a Motherwort plant beginning to blossom, the spiky seedheads of Morning Star Sedge and a perching Crane Fly, well-hidden in the dense underbrush. Turning around, I make my way back across Wilson Rd to explore the south bank where I come upon blossoms of the invasive Crown Vetch and the tangled vines of Catchweed Bedstraw. This plant grows low to the ground or will readily grow up and over other plants. It has short hairs on the stems, leaves and fruits that are like tiny hooks that catch on shoes, clothing and skin. It is known by many names around the world including cleavers, stickywilly, and “velcro plant.” It is native to North America and can be found throughout Michigan, particularly in moist, shady areas. The name itself, bedstraw is from the old days when it was used as stuffing in mattresses because the clinging nature of the prickles minimized matting and compaction of the mattress-filling and, when dried, it gave off a nice fresh scent that the ladies liked to lay their heads on. Looking around, my eyes are drawn to two colorful dragonflies perching nearby, a White-tail Skimmer and a Gray Petal-tail. Other perching insects seen include a small Two-striped Grasshopper and a Cluster Fly. This sluggish fly often invades homes in fall and turn into wintertime pests. They are particularly noticeable on warm winter days when they become active and find their way into living quarters.

 

Summer to fall

Maples turned gold

November blew cold

Fall to winter

Nights were long

Ice was strong

Winter to spring

Deer were lean

Growing green

Welcome summer

Another year

Glad you’re here

 

D. DeGraaf

June 13

With partly sunny skies, temperatures in the low 60’s and a stiff north wind, I’m 5 miles upstream from my last encounter with the Maple River, hiking east from US 127 on a grass-covered, man-made berm in the State Game with vast wetlands on my left and the gently flowing river on my right. Overhead, dozens of Barn Swallows swoop and dive for insects on the water. This swallow species (stock photo) is the most abundant and widely distributed one in the world.  Barn Swallow parents sometimes get help from other birds to feed their young. These “helpers at the nest” are usually older siblings from previous clutches, but unrelated juveniles may help as well. In the 1800’s, the millinery (hat-making) trade endangered their population leading to the founding of the first Audubon Society. Against the background of loud traffic noise, I spot a swimming muskrat and a perching male Redwing Blackbird, noisily defending its breeding territory. Not surprisingly, I come upon an active redwing nest, low in the cattails with 2 eggs. Continuing to trudge through tall, wet grass, I stir up hundreds of tiny fluttering damselflies, including a few that perch: a Citrine forktail and a male and female pair of Eastern Forktails. Looking around, I see deer scat at my feet, a patch of Stinging Nettle and Reed Canary Grass. Descending the berm to the river’s edge, I follow the muddy shore where I spot a lovely blossom of Wild Iris, some Canada Goose scat and a raccoon/mussel feasting area. Turning around, I climb back onto the berm where I spot a ½ inch Delaware Skipper Butterfly. The skipper caterpillar is bluish-green (stock photo). Nearby I see a ¼ inch Soldier Fly. These flies are harmless to humans since they have no functioning mouth parts and therefore cannot bite, nor do they have a stinging mechanism. Once they reach adulthood, they do not eat, but rely on the nutrients they gathered as larvae (stock photo). Also, they do not transfer diseases or parasites like mosquitos or ticks do. In the larva stage, they devour the larvae of other fly species, including nuisance flies. The larvae eat almost any organic waste, making them perfect for dealing with discarded foods or agricultural wastes. Nearing the car, I walk past blossoms of Dame’s Rocket and Birdfoot Trefoil. Finally, a Barn Swallow nest attached to the bottoms of the highway bridge catches my eye.

Spring to summer

Fledglings to fly

Facing the sun

Garter snakes lie 

Verdant meadow

Milkweeds green

Floating logs

Turtles seen

Canopy shades

The forest deep

Reverence for life

Covenant I keep

 

D. DeGraaf

June 6

Here I am, once again, in the Maple River State Game Area, about 4 miles northeast of my last encounter with the Maple River. The early morning is sunny and warm (mid-70’s) with a stiff south wind as I gaze at the flowing water while listening to a chorus of birdsongs. Nearby, a basking Painted Turtle catches my eye. Soon my attention is drawn to a resting Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly. This species is so named because they often fly close to the surface waters of rivers and lakes. Like all adult dragonflies, they eat smaller flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies but will also take down damselflies and moths. It is said that a single adult can eat over one hundred mosquitos per day. Exploring the muddy shoreline, I spot a ¼ Scorpion Fly surrounded by caterpillar-like Aspen Catkins. Despite its name, a Scorpion Fly is neither venomous nor does it bite or sting humans. Males use their curled, scorpion-like tail for reproduction, and their cone-like long mouthparts for feeding, (stock photo). Continuing to explore the mud flats, I come upon a stash of 4-inch empty Mussel shells, most likely left by a feeding raccoon. Next, I spot a large, coiled spiral shell in the mud, most likely from an invasive Chinese Mystery Snail. They are called “mystery” snails because females give birth to young, fully developed snails that suddenly and “mysteriously” appear. Native to Asia, they were imported by the aquarium trade and accidently released in the wild. They can clog water-intake pipes, transmit diseases and parasites to fish and other wildlife and compete with native snails for food and habitat. Up ahead, I pause to watch a ¼-inch Spotted Lady Beetle crawl over a log searching for food which could be pollen grains, aphids or mites. After checking out someone’s primitive shelter, I turn around and head back where I catch the tail end of a Grater Snake retreating into the underbrush. Approaching the car, I spot a 1-inch, needle-thin Stream Bluet Damselfly. After spending much of their life under water in the larval stage as a naiad (stock photo) feeding on vegetation, they molt, crawl out of the water, molt again to form wings and fly off. As carnivorous adults, they feed on small flying insects including, mosquitoes, moths and flies. Near the car, blossoms I spot include Buttercup, Wild Strawberry and Daisy Fleabane. Like other fleabane wildflowers, this one’s common name comes from the superstition that these plants could be used to rid a dwelling of fleas. In fact, they attract insects rather than repelling them. It’s an excellent host for a variety of butterflies and moths and all sorts of beetles and bugs that sip its nectar and munch its leaves.

Fluttering and flashing air

Wings of sapphire blue

Camera chase is on

Rapidly through the woods

Will it perch? Will it pose?

What a photo it could be?

Then, it’s gone!

Replaced by surrounding

Birdsongs and blossoms

Camera turned off 

Senses turned on

All around, nature reveals

 

D. DeGraaf

 

May 30

Continuing my quest to follow the Maple River from its mouth to its source, I’m on a morning hike in a section of the State Game Area just west of Clinton County’s village of Maple Rapids. With temperatures in the low 50’s, under party sunny skies, I stand on the muddy shore of the Maple River listening to a chorus of birdsongs as the water flows slowly past. Moving along the riverbank, I spot white blossoms of Foxglove Beardtongue as well as a few, 1-inch Fragile Forktail damselflies perching on blades of grass. This species, especially the females, are among those that eat other damselflies, including their own species. They will grab small flying or perched insects and have even been known to rob spider webs. Following a gravel road parallel to the river, I gaze skyward to see a perching Great Crested Flycatcher and look down to see the fresh carcass of a an 18-inch, juvenile River Otter. Up ahead, I come upon an oak sapling with leaves riddled with holes. Upon closer look, I notice tiny, ½ inch Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth) caterpillars feeding on the leaves. Called instars, these larvae go through several molts before reaching full size. Large numbers of adult caterpillars have been known to defoliate an entire stand of trees, especially oak. Back to the river’s edge, I spot an aggregation of ¼-inch Whirligig Beetles (stock photo)skating on the water while listening to the mimicking vocals of a Catbird. Next, my attention is drawn to both the lovely aroma and blossoms of Pink Honeysuckle. Turning my gaze back to the river, I notice the glittering water surface, a chorus of birds including, American Redstart and Baltimore Oriole followed by a muskrat swimming for shore. Turning around, I come upon a fisherman who shows me a recently caught, 20-inch Channel Catfish. What makes these fish so remarkable is their acute senses. Every available space on their bodies is allotted for taste-sensing. Even their whisker-like barbels are covered in taste buds. Beside taste, their sense of smell, hearing and seeing are second to none. They can smell compounds as weak as one part per billion. Their whole-body acts like an ear drum allowing them to detect the faintest noises. Even extremely low frequency sound can be detected using tiny hair-like projections inside the fish’s pores. Catfish eyesight is so good that they can spot other fish from quite a distance in clear water. In addition, these fish, much like sharks, can detect electrical fields in a sense known as electroreception. They use this when searching for their prey in mud. Approaching the car, I get a quick glimpse of a female, Baltimore Oriole looking for food.

 

Mid-morning of the day

Riverbank shows the way

Weeping willows sway

Skyward, noisy Jay

Perching, Catbird gray

Souring hawk eyes its prey

Frisky fawn wants to play

Green leaves, here to stay

Nature’s springtime display

Fond farewell to May

 

D. DeGraaf

May 23

Little over a year ago, Dave Shepherd and I were halted by fallen trees in our attempt to access Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s 3-acre, Riverbank Preserve by canoeing on the south Branch of the Pine River west from the Rolland Rd. bridge in Isabella County. Under sunny skies with mid-morning temperatures in the mid 50’s, a stiff north wind and Dave’s chainsaw, we try again. Before heading out, I notice a pile of branches that were first cut and gathered by beaver to dam up the road culvert and later removed by workers to prevent flooding of the roadway. Moving slowly upstream through a narrow, greening riverscape, we perk up to the sound of a Yellowthroat and the sight of what appears to be a perching Willow Flycatcher. Flycatchers don’t learn their songs from their parents, as many other birds do. Instead they hatch knowing their songs. Scientists tested this by raising Willow Flycatchers in captivity while letting them listen to an Alder Flycatcher sing its song. Despite hearing only this song all day, Willow chicks grew up to sing their own song. After Dave clears away a large branch, we move ahead where I notice that the floating florae include, Wooly algae and a mixture of Curly-leaf Pondweed, Narrow-leaf Pondweed and Duckweed. Near shore, I spot flowering Pennsylvania Sedge and sprouting cattail shoots. After about a half mile, we paddle through an extreme meandering section of the river that makes up the Riverbank Preserve where I look skyward to see a perching Tree Swallow and look near shore to see a basking Blanding’s Turtle, distinguished by its helmetlike shell and mustard-yellow throat. Though not listed as an endangered species, it is one of special concern in Michigan where its habitats have been fragmented by roads and development. Pioneer physician William Blanding first stumbled onto this beautiful turtle while exploring the Fox River in Illinois in 1830. His pickled specimen still resides in the collections of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. In 1838, herpetologist John Holbrook published its formal description, which included this statement: “first observed by Dr. William Blanding of Philadelphia, an accurate naturalist, whose name I have given this species.” Turning around to head back, we take a narrow side channel northward that curves into a wide, oxbow-like lake where I spot a pair of perching Yellow Warblers and an active nest of a Canada Goose containing 6, 3-inch white eggs. Turning around again, we paddle back to the car, pleased to have finally explored this remote, scenic preserve.

 

From a very hectic pace

To calm and quiet place

From acres of concrete

To a riparian retreat

From busy urban scene

To verdant meadow green

From over-crowded rooms

To fields of colored blooms

From loud sirens sound

To birdsongs surround

When life cages you and me

Mother Nature sets us free

 

D. DeGraaf

May 16

It’s mid-morning near Ionia County’s village of Muir as I pause on a muddy bank to watch the Maple River flow from left to right and empty into the Grand River. Thus begins a new adventure as I hope to explore the natural environment of this meandering watercourse upstream. The Maple River is a 74-mile-long tributary of the Grand River flowing east to west through central Michigan.  It begins in Shiawassee County, south of the city of Corunna and flows west through Clinton and Gratiot Counties before emptying into the Grand River where I stand. Other villages it flows through include Bannister, Ovid, Elsie and Maple Rapids. Part of its watershed make up the massive Maple River State Game Area. Also, from the muddy bank, I notice some Coyote tracks. The sky is partly sunny with temperatures in the upper 60’s as I hike along the riverside on the paved Meijer bike trail and pause to hear the steady, purring, mating calls of several male American toads. Up ahead, I spot a patch Trillium on my left and a floral combination on my right that includes, yellow Dandelion, pink Dead Nettle and white Garlic Mustard. Nearby, just off the trail, I notice a Catbird and a rarely-seen Lincoln’s Sparrow. John James Audubon named this bird after his travel companion Thomas Lincoln, who accompanied him on an expedition to the coast of Labrador. The expedition found the sparrow in a valley in Quebec, and Mr. Lincoln was the only person who managed to bring back a specimen for study. Continuing my hike, tree blossoms of Pin Cherry and Wild Cherry catch my eye. Turning my attention to the river, I see a couple of Painted Turtles basking on a log. Moving toward the car, I observe patches of Trout Lilly,  Wood Anemone and Wild Geraniums. Finally, near the trailhead, I pause to look at a patch of Wild Ginger, with their distinctive kidney-shaped leaves. Stooping down, I lift one of the leaves to expose tiny, purple blossoms. This unusual growth is believed to have evolved to help early spring insects locate the flower for food and pollinating. Later, ants will carry seeds back to their colony where they will eat the fleshy nodules and discard the actual seed, which is then left to grow in the nutrient-rich plant waste underground. While it is not to be confused with the more common type of Ginger that is used to season food, there are still some recipes that call for using Wild Ginger as a spice substitute. Because of its antibiotic contents, Native Americans and early Euro-American settlers used it as a topical treatment for wounds. 

 

Verdant banks

Muddy shore

New watercourse

For me to explore

Gentle current

Flowing corridor

Flora aplenty

Fauna galore

Not just a river

So much more

 

D. DeGraaf