Nature article Earl Plato
I run my fingers over the back of my neck along my hairline. I have just returned from an early June week in Algonquin Park. The numerous swellings that itch on my neck are from bites of black flies. Plato, didn’t you use Off with deet? Yes, but apparently not enough applications in certain areas! May and June are the main months for this vicious little insect. What do you know about them? Any of you who have followed my articles over the years know that I have a love for Algonquin Park. Let me qualify that statement. For years I have visited the Park in the summer and Fall. I avoided Spring. However, this year in June we had the opportunity to spend some time in Algonquin. Why not? No, I didn’t forget those veracious insects.
Early June saw us alone on the trails. We had tried to protect ourselves
with ample applications of Deet. No other venturers at Spruce Bog Trail or Peck Lake Trail, two of the shorter Algonquin trails. Swarms of blackflies were there ready to make life miserable for us Niagarans. I had made a study of the life cycle of these flies some years ago while staying on the west side of the Park. I had hiked down Whiskey Run Trail and was told by a Park ranger to look for the following: Whiskey Run is a fast flowing stream on the edge of the great Park. Look for the multitudinous larvae of the Simultidae, the blackflies, attached to the rocks in the fast flowing stream. The white water of cascades provides the larvae with the extra oxygen they needed. What happenened next was that the larvae spin boot-shaped underwater cocoons, open at the downstream end. Look for the hundreds of cocoons on the water covered rocks of the rapids. These I saw but wait a few days for each cocoon forms a bubble of air. Then something I did not stay to see was that the cocoon of the blackfly splitting with each insect riding within a bubble. Each bubble shoots upwards through the tumbling water of Whiskey Run and pops to the surface amid the flying spray. The blackfly instantaneously lifts itself into the air on its tiny wings. Thus is born an adult blackfly. Hikers beware! Visit Algonquin but pick the best month to miss blackflies.
Writer’s Note: Park rangers give daily talks and walks during the summer season. Mushrooms, wild flowers, ferns, song birds and many more informative topics are available. It was a ranger who told me about blackflies. Never stop learning in nature.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Good Memories in the Smokies
Nature Earl Plato
Deep in the Smoky Mountains at Cade’s Cove I bought some CDs and a video. If you like the scenery of the Smokies you’ll love this video. Some of the great instrumental (mainly banjo} Christian folk songs accompany it. So when viewing it you are blessed both visually and spiritually. I will watch it again in 2008 and relive some great nature memories. “Make new memories but keep the old ones.” Sure, I am already planning new nature trips mainly in Ontario this spring. But why not go back these few years and reminisce in the Great Smoky and Shenandoah Mountains’ environments? That’s what this article is about. It’s a look back in order to motivate me to get out into the great outdoors.
It was not an easy hike. We were starting a 1 1/2 mile round trip to the summit of Stony Man Mountain. It’s the second highest peak in Shenandoah National Park. We were mainly in the woods and couldn’t see the mountain top that resembles the face of a man when viewed from a distance. We’ll take their word for it.
Nature’s changes can surprise and astound. That’s a Yellow birch just like the ones at Marcy’s Woods here in Fort Erie. But this yellow birch, a good foot across, was splitting a big rock in two! How could it happen? I believe that over hundreds of years cracks developed in this boulder from freezing and thawing. These cracks began to collect soil and possibly 50 to 75 years ago a yellow birch seed fell on the soil in the crack. Then the miracle of sending long roots down through the crack to find moisture and nutrients occurred. It appears that the tree is healthy and the growing roots continue to slowly pry the rock apart. Amazing!
I had talked earlier in the day with a Forest Ranger about the American chestnut. Here was a stand of grayish dead trees and logs. Sadly, a fungus disease killed these American chestnuts by the early 1930’s. The ranger had told me that the American chestnut has tannin in its inner bark. This makes the wood resistant to decay. That helps explain this stand of dead American chestnuts. Until the chestnut blight I was told that one out of every three trees here in the Shenandoah forest were the beautiful flowering American chestnuts.
Now that the chestnuts died the oaks took over. That’s a tree I like too. We entered the oak forest, mainly red oak, I believe. The acorns from these large oaks would feed many of Shenandoah’s animals. We saw squirrels, chipmunks, deer, ruffed grouse and smaller birds. We did not see any bear or wild turkeys that also feed on the acorns. We did hear though the calls of the Pileated woodpecker. No. I didn’t see any at this time but the elongated holes appeared on many of he dead trees. Only a pileated would do that!.
Across mountain streams on a marked trail. But wait! That huge log ahead was the only way to get over. No guard rails just good balance. We all made it! Then a ravine ahead. Keep going!
Now higher and higher around a bend. Down below all is green. Green? Some of the rocks here on the cliff side contain green minerals. Greenstone we are told. Take a chunk? That’s a “No! No!” This is a National Park.
I am sweating and breathing heavily. I was told that you would find yourself in a place along this Stony Man Nature Trail where there is no need to hurry. This was it! I was tuckered out. I sunk to the ground and laid back and closed my eyes. That’s all it took. I felt refreshed and ready to go on. O.K. I admit we were at the summit and now everything would be down hill. I had my newly purchased trusty Shenandoah walking staff and it really helped this old guy with his gimpy knees. We were down in good time back to the parking lot.
This was only a memory but a good one.
While Elaine and I rested, our daughter and her husband went for a horseback ride. Oh! to be young again. Much later we two went down to the dining room and then decided first to take a short walk to the Bridal Path just in time to meet our two young people returning from their ride.
Stony Mountain is just off Skyline Drive at Luray, Virginia. That’s right the famed Luray Caverns are just around the corner. But that’s another day.
Deep in the Smoky Mountains at Cade’s Cove I bought some CDs and a video. If you like the scenery of the Smokies you’ll love this video. Some of the great instrumental (mainly banjo} Christian folk songs accompany it. So when viewing it you are blessed both visually and spiritually. I will watch it again in 2008 and relive some great nature memories. “Make new memories but keep the old ones.” Sure, I am already planning new nature trips mainly in Ontario this spring. But why not go back these few years and reminisce in the Great Smoky and Shenandoah Mountains’ environments? That’s what this article is about. It’s a look back in order to motivate me to get out into the great outdoors.
It was not an easy hike. We were starting a 1 1/2 mile round trip to the summit of Stony Man Mountain. It’s the second highest peak in Shenandoah National Park. We were mainly in the woods and couldn’t see the mountain top that resembles the face of a man when viewed from a distance. We’ll take their word for it.
Nature’s changes can surprise and astound. That’s a Yellow birch just like the ones at Marcy’s Woods here in Fort Erie. But this yellow birch, a good foot across, was splitting a big rock in two! How could it happen? I believe that over hundreds of years cracks developed in this boulder from freezing and thawing. These cracks began to collect soil and possibly 50 to 75 years ago a yellow birch seed fell on the soil in the crack. Then the miracle of sending long roots down through the crack to find moisture and nutrients occurred. It appears that the tree is healthy and the growing roots continue to slowly pry the rock apart. Amazing!
I had talked earlier in the day with a Forest Ranger about the American chestnut. Here was a stand of grayish dead trees and logs. Sadly, a fungus disease killed these American chestnuts by the early 1930’s. The ranger had told me that the American chestnut has tannin in its inner bark. This makes the wood resistant to decay. That helps explain this stand of dead American chestnuts. Until the chestnut blight I was told that one out of every three trees here in the Shenandoah forest were the beautiful flowering American chestnuts.
Now that the chestnuts died the oaks took over. That’s a tree I like too. We entered the oak forest, mainly red oak, I believe. The acorns from these large oaks would feed many of Shenandoah’s animals. We saw squirrels, chipmunks, deer, ruffed grouse and smaller birds. We did not see any bear or wild turkeys that also feed on the acorns. We did hear though the calls of the Pileated woodpecker. No. I didn’t see any at this time but the elongated holes appeared on many of he dead trees. Only a pileated would do that!.
Across mountain streams on a marked trail. But wait! That huge log ahead was the only way to get over. No guard rails just good balance. We all made it! Then a ravine ahead. Keep going!
Now higher and higher around a bend. Down below all is green. Green? Some of the rocks here on the cliff side contain green minerals. Greenstone we are told. Take a chunk? That’s a “No! No!” This is a National Park.
I am sweating and breathing heavily. I was told that you would find yourself in a place along this Stony Man Nature Trail where there is no need to hurry. This was it! I was tuckered out. I sunk to the ground and laid back and closed my eyes. That’s all it took. I felt refreshed and ready to go on. O.K. I admit we were at the summit and now everything would be down hill. I had my newly purchased trusty Shenandoah walking staff and it really helped this old guy with his gimpy knees. We were down in good time back to the parking lot.
This was only a memory but a good one.
While Elaine and I rested, our daughter and her husband went for a horseback ride. Oh! to be young again. Much later we two went down to the dining room and then decided first to take a short walk to the Bridal Path just in time to meet our two young people returning from their ride.
Stony Mountain is just off Skyline Drive at Luray, Virginia. That’s right the famed Luray Caverns are just around the corner. But that’s another day.
Nature Calls Again
Springtails Earl Plato
Flea hunting? C’mon Plato. No kidding for Donald Stokes tells us, “If you continue to explore nature in winter you are bound to come across “Snow Fleas.” He’s right. It was over the Christmas season that we discovered on and near a stump at the roadway leading up to Marcy’s cabin the snow darkened with black spots. There where the sun had melted a patch of ice somethings were moving! “Springtails” said Ernie. We stepped closer and to my amazement thousands of little gray/black insects were hopping about. No kidding. Here in dead winter time insects were alive and frolicking!
Ernie Giles, naturalist informed us, “ They’re Snow Fleas we call Springtails.”
Scientifically - Achorutes nivicolus.
‘Springtails’ - why that name? Ernie said look closely. This consummate naturalist had a magnifying glass. “See the two appendages at the last body segment. They are like modified legs.” The little guys were constantly moving and ‘springing’ s few inches. All I could see was this quick movement. We were told that the two appendages are folded up against the Springtail’s abdomen and held in place by two clasps. “Look at a flea that isn’t jumping.” Easy to say. Then I could see the two clasps spring out against the ground and the flea moved a couple of inches. “Springtail” is a good name.
On this sunny winter day Springtails had come out to feed in the warmth of a microclimate. I asked Ernie if this display was a mating frenzy. No. They are just feeding on leaf mould, pollen or algae. Here at the base of the stump was plenty of leaf mould.
Look for the Springtails on a sunny winter day. They are more common than I believed. Think small. Enjoy nature.
***
Tracks? A call last month got me thinking about tracks. Mr. Nicholls of Nicholls Marine Ltd. called me to ask about Otters. He described what he saw on a road to Welland. It was an otter-like animal. He had turned around his vehicle and trailer to confirm the sighting. It had gone. No tracks but his description was that of a River otter. I told him of Diane Paonessa of House Road who saw an otter and photoed its tracks and snow slide some years ago. A beautiful animal - in Niagara Region? I hope so.
Tracks! Animal tracks in the snow. This time of year I take some time to do some tracking. Three places this week - Marcy Woods, Stevensville Conservation area and yes, The Friendship Trail.
I have some books the best of which is the Peterson Guide to Animal Tracks, Pocket size I take it along.
A new hobby for 2008 - animal tracking? Please note - if it’s skunk tracks and they are fresh - slow down, eh!
Flea hunting? C’mon Plato. No kidding for Donald Stokes tells us, “If you continue to explore nature in winter you are bound to come across “Snow Fleas.” He’s right. It was over the Christmas season that we discovered on and near a stump at the roadway leading up to Marcy’s cabin the snow darkened with black spots. There where the sun had melted a patch of ice somethings were moving! “Springtails” said Ernie. We stepped closer and to my amazement thousands of little gray/black insects were hopping about. No kidding. Here in dead winter time insects were alive and frolicking!
Ernie Giles, naturalist informed us, “ They’re Snow Fleas we call Springtails.”
Scientifically - Achorutes nivicolus.
‘Springtails’ - why that name? Ernie said look closely. This consummate naturalist had a magnifying glass. “See the two appendages at the last body segment. They are like modified legs.” The little guys were constantly moving and ‘springing’ s few inches. All I could see was this quick movement. We were told that the two appendages are folded up against the Springtail’s abdomen and held in place by two clasps. “Look at a flea that isn’t jumping.” Easy to say. Then I could see the two clasps spring out against the ground and the flea moved a couple of inches. “Springtail” is a good name.
On this sunny winter day Springtails had come out to feed in the warmth of a microclimate. I asked Ernie if this display was a mating frenzy. No. They are just feeding on leaf mould, pollen or algae. Here at the base of the stump was plenty of leaf mould.
Look for the Springtails on a sunny winter day. They are more common than I believed. Think small. Enjoy nature.
***
Tracks? A call last month got me thinking about tracks. Mr. Nicholls of Nicholls Marine Ltd. called me to ask about Otters. He described what he saw on a road to Welland. It was an otter-like animal. He had turned around his vehicle and trailer to confirm the sighting. It had gone. No tracks but his description was that of a River otter. I told him of Diane Paonessa of House Road who saw an otter and photoed its tracks and snow slide some years ago. A beautiful animal - in Niagara Region? I hope so.
Tracks! Animal tracks in the snow. This time of year I take some time to do some tracking. Three places this week - Marcy Woods, Stevensville Conservation area and yes, The Friendship Trail.
I have some books the best of which is the Peterson Guide to Animal Tracks, Pocket size I take it along.
A new hobby for 2008 - animal tracking? Please note - if it’s skunk tracks and they are fresh - slow down, eh!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Butterflies - Just Observe or Photo
Wing Time Earl Plato
My homemade movie at Marcy's Abino Woods many years ago showed naturalist, Ernie Giles, pursuing butterflies with his large homemade net. Yes, Ernie is a butterfly collector. He's always looking for perfect specimens. On my wall encased in glass are two fine specimens of the Silver-spangled Fritillary. I am thankful for the gift from my friend. However, I am not a collector of butterflies. Ernie is a natural scientist and has collected butterfly specimens over the years for examination. Sorry Ernie, I just can't appreciate catching butterflies and ending their lives. I agree with nature photographer, Phil Schappert, who says, "The current trend towards watching and photographing butterflies instead of capturing them and ki lling them is long overdue. ...a good mix might include careful netting of a specimen for close examination, then releasing it unharmed." If we learn just to enjoy watching butterflies, then there will always be more of them for us, our children and grandchildren. I have been on some great butterfly hunts with Ernie Giles at Marcy Woods, Short Hills Provincial Park and many other areas. However, local naturalist, Tim Seburn, had inspired me years ago to look for butterflies every year. Tim, I believe, is not a collector but a strongly interested observer. It was he who took me to the area where I first saw the Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies at Marcy Woods. With him I also saw there the Tiger Swallowtails that feed on the wild cherry leaves. These are two beautiful butterflies. There are many, many more species if you arrive at certain times of the year. From our Fort Erie Centennial library I took out the Peterson field guide, Eastern Butterflies and the Audubon Handbook for Butterfly Watchers. I am serious again this year as I turn the pages and read the accounts. I want to see new species in our Niagara Peninsula How about you?
***
Thanks to Teresa Forte, Niagara’s garden expert, I had cut back my butterfly bushes about six inches each spring. I now have two beautiful bushes in full bloom. Sulphurs and Whites are showing up and yesterday a Red Admiral appeared. Today Monarchs and two beautiful Tiger swallowtail landed on the bushes! More will be coming to feed on the lavender-coloured blossoms, I am sure.
My homemade movie at Marcy's Abino Woods many years ago showed naturalist, Ernie Giles, pursuing butterflies with his large homemade net. Yes, Ernie is a butterfly collector. He's always looking for perfect specimens. On my wall encased in glass are two fine specimens of the Silver-spangled Fritillary. I am thankful for the gift from my friend. However, I am not a collector of butterflies. Ernie is a natural scientist and has collected butterfly specimens over the years for examination. Sorry Ernie, I just can't appreciate catching butterflies and ending their lives. I agree with nature photographer, Phil Schappert, who says, "The current trend towards watching and photographing butterflies instead of capturing them and ki lling them is long overdue. ...a good mix might include careful netting of a specimen for close examination, then releasing it unharmed." If we learn just to enjoy watching butterflies, then there will always be more of them for us, our children and grandchildren. I have been on some great butterfly hunts with Ernie Giles at Marcy Woods, Short Hills Provincial Park and many other areas. However, local naturalist, Tim Seburn, had inspired me years ago to look for butterflies every year. Tim, I believe, is not a collector but a strongly interested observer. It was he who took me to the area where I first saw the Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies at Marcy Woods. With him I also saw there the Tiger Swallowtails that feed on the wild cherry leaves. These are two beautiful butterflies. There are many, many more species if you arrive at certain times of the year. From our Fort Erie Centennial library I took out the Peterson field guide, Eastern Butterflies and the Audubon Handbook for Butterfly Watchers. I am serious again this year as I turn the pages and read the accounts. I want to see new species in our Niagara Peninsula How about you?
***
Thanks to Teresa Forte, Niagara’s garden expert, I had cut back my butterfly bushes about six inches each spring. I now have two beautiful bushes in full bloom. Sulphurs and Whites are showing up and yesterday a Red Admiral appeared. Today Monarchs and two beautiful Tiger swallowtail landed on the bushes! More will be coming to feed on the lavender-coloured blossoms, I am sure.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Oven Bird
Oven Bird Earl Plato
I witnessed in the 1990’s an unusual bird performance deep in both Willoughby Marsh and Marcy Woods while with naturalist Ernie Giles . Henry David Thoreau witnessed the same performance that we saw. His entry in his journal, dated June 7, 1853, provided then some of the first observations of the unusual antics of the ovenbird. He wrote the following, ”… runs from her covered nest so close to the ground under the lowest twigs and leaves, like a mouse, hat I can not get a fair view of her. She does not fly at all. Is it to attract me, or partly to protect herself?” It was deep in Willoughby Marsh that we saw this distinctive trait. Natute writer Teale tells us that this performance of the ovenbird is one of innumerable distraction displays - such as the killdeer’s broken wing diversionary performance - that birds employ to draw away danger from the vicinity of their nests.
***
My huge book - The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS - says that more than 200 species of North American birds utilize some form of feigning to divert attention to themselves and away from their eggs and young in times of peril. Great mothers.
***
My interest in this subject has me share the following: A wood thrush on one occasion was observed holding the interest of a blacksnake heading for its nest by engaging in a broken-wing display on a low lying branch. We are told loons will display this same injured wing show if their nest
And the occupants are in danger. Have you seen this? Some small birds flutter like butterflies in front of a predator. I read about “False feeding” where some warblers, woodpeckers and killdeers have been seen
carrying food to places where their nests were not while a predator observed them.
***
I walked the steps at Marcy Woods last week all alone. Something on the Upper Trail was a concern. A large maple had fallen across the trail bringing down three sections of the trail railings. Knowing the owners, Dino DiCienzo and family it will be removed. Fall is a beautiful time in Marcy Woods. I have just completed my power point presentation on the Woods. Contact me at 905-894-2417 or e-mail
Plato1@cogeco.ca if your group is interested.
Oven Bird Earl Plato
I witnessed in the 1990’s an unusual bird performance deep in both Willoughby Marsh and Marcy Woods while with naturalist Ernie Giles . Henry David Thoreau witnessed the same performance that we saw. His entry in his journal, dated June 7, 1853, provided then some of the first observations of the unusual antics of the ovenbird. He wrote the following, ”… runs from her covered nest so close to the ground under the lowest twigs and leaves, like a mouse, hat I can not get a fair view of her. She does not fly at all. Is it to attract me, or partly to protect herself?” It was deep in Willoughby Marsh that we saw this distinctive trait. Natute writer Teale tells us that this performance of the ovenbird is one of innumerable distraction displays - such as the killdeer’s broken wing diversionary performance - that birds employ to draw away danger from the vicinity of their nests.
***
My huge book - The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS - says that more than 200 species of North American birds utilize some form of feigning to divert attention to themselves and away from their eggs and young in times of peril. Great mothers.
***
My interest in this subject has me share the following: A wood thrush on one occasion was observed holding the interest of a blacksnake heading for its nest by engaging in a broken-wing display on a low lying branch. We are told loons will display this same injured wing show if their nest
And the occupants are in danger. Have you seen this? Some small birds flutter like butterflies in front of a predator. I read about “False feeding” where some warblers, woodpeckers and killdeers have been seen
carrying food to places where their nests were not while a predator observed them.
***
I walked the steps at Marcy Woods last week all alone. Something on the Upper Trail was a concern. A large maple had fallen across the trail bringing down three sections of the trail railings. Knowing the owners, Dino DiCienzo and family it will be removed. Fall is a beautiful time in Marcy Woods. I have just completed my power point presentation on the Woods.
I witnessed in the 1990’s an unusual bird performance deep in both Willoughby Marsh and Marcy Woods while with naturalist Ernie Giles . Henry David Thoreau witnessed the same performance that we saw. His entry in his journal, dated June 7, 1853, provided then some of the first observations of the unusual antics of the ovenbird. He wrote the following, ”… runs from her covered nest so close to the ground under the lowest twigs and leaves, like a mouse, hat I can not get a fair view of her. She does not fly at all. Is it to attract me, or partly to protect herself?” It was deep in Willoughby Marsh that we saw this distinctive trait. Natute writer Teale tells us that this performance of the ovenbird is one of innumerable distraction displays - such as the killdeer’s broken wing diversionary performance - that birds employ to draw away danger from the vicinity of their nests.
***
My huge book - The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS - says that more than 200 species of North American birds utilize some form of feigning to divert attention to themselves and away from their eggs and young in times of peril. Great mothers.
***
My interest in this subject has me share the following: A wood thrush on one occasion was observed holding the interest of a blacksnake heading for its nest by engaging in a broken-wing display on a low lying branch. We are told loons will display this same injured wing show if their nest
And the occupants are in danger. Have you seen this? Some small birds flutter like butterflies in front of a predator. I read about “False feeding” where some warblers, woodpeckers and killdeers have been seen
carrying food to places where their nests were not while a predator observed them.
***
I walked the steps at Marcy Woods last week all alone. Something on the Upper Trail was a concern. A large maple had fallen across the trail bringing down three sections of the trail railings. Knowing the owners, Dino DiCienzo and family it will be removed. Fall is a beautiful time in Marcy Woods. I have just completed my power point presentation on the Woods. Contact me at 905-894-2417 or e-mail
Plato1@cogeco.ca if your group is interested.
Oven Bird Earl Plato
I witnessed in the 1990’s an unusual bird performance deep in both Willoughby Marsh and Marcy Woods while with naturalist Ernie Giles . Henry David Thoreau witnessed the same performance that we saw. His entry in his journal, dated June 7, 1853, provided then some of the first observations of the unusual antics of the ovenbird. He wrote the following, ”… runs from her covered nest so close to the ground under the lowest twigs and leaves, like a mouse, hat I can not get a fair view of her. She does not fly at all. Is it to attract me, or partly to protect herself?” It was deep in Willoughby Marsh that we saw this distinctive trait. Natute writer Teale tells us that this performance of the ovenbird is one of innumerable distraction displays - such as the killdeer’s broken wing diversionary performance - that birds employ to draw away danger from the vicinity of their nests.
***
My huge book - The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS - says that more than 200 species of North American birds utilize some form of feigning to divert attention to themselves and away from their eggs and young in times of peril. Great mothers.
***
My interest in this subject has me share the following: A wood thrush on one occasion was observed holding the interest of a blacksnake heading for its nest by engaging in a broken-wing display on a low lying branch. We are told loons will display this same injured wing show if their nest
And the occupants are in danger. Have you seen this? Some small birds flutter like butterflies in front of a predator. I read about “False feeding” where some warblers, woodpeckers and killdeers have been seen
carrying food to places where their nests were not while a predator observed them.
***
I walked the steps at Marcy Woods last week all alone. Something on the Upper Trail was a concern. A large maple had fallen across the trail bringing down three sections of the trail railings. Knowing the owners, Dino DiCienzo and family it will be removed. Fall is a beautiful time in Marcy Woods. I have just completed my power point presentation on the Woods.
Friday, December 28, 2007
nature
Look Around, Eh Earl Plato
Become a nature watcher, eh? Some of us watch late model cars, some even watch young models, and some of us watch anything that moves. Most of us watch something. That’s natural to humankind. We are observers.
“Everything we know about wildlife was discovered by watching.” - Jim Arnosky, 1991. Albert Einstein was quoted, “Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” I believe in a personal Creator and a Created world. Look around and you will see what I mean. There is much to learn from your own observations.
Keep a wildlife notebook and record what you see. Wherever you go there is wildlife to watch. Even in the largest cities, squirrels are sharing trees with birds and bats. There are pigeons nesting on ledges. Spiders design intricate webs in windows and mice crisscross floors. I spent a year as a teenager in an old boarding house in Hamilton and I observed the above.
Enjoy nature by observing “It”, wherever it is. You should enjoy life more.
***
Wide open spaces on the way to Welland. Old as I am, I continue to reminisce about the fences and hedgerows that once existed in the farmers’ fields. They have almost all gone. Wide open fields now. Almost as if you are out on the prairies, eh? I know, farming is more a science now. Hedgerows and fences take up valuable farm lands. However, with their removal we lose protective areas for birds and mammals. Pheasants and other game birds found refuge in hedgerows. When is the last time you saw a fox emerging from a fence line? That’s my lead in! I want to talk about foxes, red foxes.
Point Abino and Marcy Woods is or was the home of red foxes. Yes, I admit that I once hunted foxes with my British born father-in-law, Sid Kew, of Longmeadow farm. We went to the Baird property of Point Abino with permission. Could I shoot a fox? I didn’t. Sid did. That was the year that a rabid fox came into Crystal Beach and another onto Longmeadow farm property. Both were killed and the then Dept. of Agriculture determined that they were rabid. Not a nice scenario.
I have seen active, healthy red foxes in the area. One was on Michener Road running along a hedgerow. A beautiful sight. My favourite viewing was at Marcy Woods. On the Upper trail as you walked eastwards we came upon a vixen and four kits in the vale below. She had probably taken over a groundhog hole for her den, I believe. What a lovely sight! Rusty red in colour with white underbellies and white tips on their tails and lower legs and feet black they frolicked unaware that we two were observing from high above. No camera! I returned again three more times. No foxes. Had she moved them or were they dead? Coyotes, bush wolves, coy-dogs, wild dogs all will willingly wipe out a fox family. Foxes and coyotes can’t seem to exist together. That’s the natural cycle.
***
I am basically a dog lover. However, I was also raised with farm cats. I had as a pet, a pure white cat named “Snow White.” I called her “Whitey” and she lived with us eight years until one day she disappeared. My mother had pointed out to me “Whitey’s” approach to crossing Garrison Road. Even then No.3 highway was relatively busy. My cat would go south across the road to hunt mice in Nate Goulding’s fields. It would stop at the road’s edge and look to the right and then to the left. My mother would say, “Look again at her.” Whitey would repeat the safety procedure as she crossed the road. I don’t believe that our cat was killed on the highway. Look right, then left. As a pedestrian or as a driver take time to look one more time, both ways! Thank you “Whitey” for that life-long lesson.
Become a nature watcher, eh? Some of us watch late model cars, some even watch young models, and some of us watch anything that moves. Most of us watch something. That’s natural to humankind. We are observers.
“Everything we know about wildlife was discovered by watching.” - Jim Arnosky, 1991. Albert Einstein was quoted, “Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” I believe in a personal Creator and a Created world. Look around and you will see what I mean. There is much to learn from your own observations.
Keep a wildlife notebook and record what you see. Wherever you go there is wildlife to watch. Even in the largest cities, squirrels are sharing trees with birds and bats. There are pigeons nesting on ledges. Spiders design intricate webs in windows and mice crisscross floors. I spent a year as a teenager in an old boarding house in Hamilton and I observed the above.
Enjoy nature by observing “It”, wherever it is. You should enjoy life more.
***
Wide open spaces on the way to Welland. Old as I am, I continue to reminisce about the fences and hedgerows that once existed in the farmers’ fields. They have almost all gone. Wide open fields now. Almost as if you are out on the prairies, eh? I know, farming is more a science now. Hedgerows and fences take up valuable farm lands. However, with their removal we lose protective areas for birds and mammals. Pheasants and other game birds found refuge in hedgerows. When is the last time you saw a fox emerging from a fence line? That’s my lead in! I want to talk about foxes, red foxes.
Point Abino and Marcy Woods is or was the home of red foxes. Yes, I admit that I once hunted foxes with my British born father-in-law, Sid Kew, of Longmeadow farm. We went to the Baird property of Point Abino with permission. Could I shoot a fox? I didn’t. Sid did. That was the year that a rabid fox came into Crystal Beach and another onto Longmeadow farm property. Both were killed and the then Dept. of Agriculture determined that they were rabid. Not a nice scenario.
I have seen active, healthy red foxes in the area. One was on Michener Road running along a hedgerow. A beautiful sight. My favourite viewing was at Marcy Woods. On the Upper trail as you walked eastwards we came upon a vixen and four kits in the vale below. She had probably taken over a groundhog hole for her den, I believe. What a lovely sight! Rusty red in colour with white underbellies and white tips on their tails and lower legs and feet black they frolicked unaware that we two were observing from high above. No camera! I returned again three more times. No foxes. Had she moved them or were they dead? Coyotes, bush wolves, coy-dogs, wild dogs all will willingly wipe out a fox family. Foxes and coyotes can’t seem to exist together. That’s the natural cycle.
***
I am basically a dog lover. However, I was also raised with farm cats. I had as a pet, a pure white cat named “Snow White.” I called her “Whitey” and she lived with us eight years until one day she disappeared. My mother had pointed out to me “Whitey’s” approach to crossing Garrison Road. Even then No.3 highway was relatively busy. My cat would go south across the road to hunt mice in Nate Goulding’s fields. It would stop at the road’s edge and look to the right and then to the left. My mother would say, “Look again at her.” Whitey would repeat the safety procedure as she crossed the road. I don’t believe that our cat was killed on the highway. Look right, then left. As a pedestrian or as a driver take time to look one more time, both ways! Thank you “Whitey” for that life-long lesson.
Cats Anyone?
Cats Earl Plato
For my cat loving relatives I have to write at least one article every few years. Yes, I am a dog lover. With black Labradors and a sheltie on the two farms and now a little poodle in town we have been sans cats. Don’t get me wrong. I like cats and my childhood stories confirm that.
I was told that “Whitey” was born the same year I was. She was no albino with pink eyes but still a pure white cat. She was my cat. My mother told me to watch Whitey when she crossed #3 highway. I did. Whitey looked right then left and repeated the process as she crossed busy Garrison Road. She was headed for mousing in the fields to the south. Our mailbox was also on the south side of the highway. My mother would point out to me how Whitey crossed the highway. I never forgot the lesson. Crossing a road and driving a car always look at least twice both ways before entering an intersection.
Eight years passed and Whitey disappeared. Pal, our German shepherd, was put away at that time. A few years passed and some of us had ridden our bikes up to the abandoned Good house. Young boys, we challenged each other to enter the derelict building and climb the stairs to where the ghosts were. You can imagine the scenario. The four of us mounted the steps two by two. Sam let out a yell and we all ran back down the stairs terrified. I ran out the front door and to my right. The ground cover was high tangled weeds. I was scared and anxious to get as far away as possible. Then I saw her. Whitey! I stopped. The other three came up to me. “What’s wrong, Earl?” “I saw Whitey right there!” I replied. No Whitey in sight but San stopped and shouted, “Look out! There’s an old well here.” If I had proceeded running north a few minutes before I could have plummeted into the old well with its rotted covering. Whitey or another white cat had made me stop in my tracks. Had Whitey saved my life? Quite possible. We searched the area for several minutes. No Whitey.
The Buffalo News in an article by Gina Spadafori recently tries to debunk some old cat tales. Here are a few excerpts for you cat lovers.
Cats purr when they are happy. Right? Expert cat observers know that purring isn’t just a sound of contentment. Cats also purr if they are injured, while giving birth - even when dying. British zoologist Desmond Morris has observed that purring is “a sign of friendship - either when the cat is contented with a friend or when it is in need of friendship, as with a cat in trouble.” Like the cat story? I have more to share at another time.
***
For my cat loving relatives I have to write at least one article every few years. Yes, I am a dog lover. With black Labradors and a sheltie on the two farms and now a little poodle in town we have been sans cats. Don’t get me wrong. I like cats and my childhood stories confirm that.
I was told that “Whitey” was born the same year I was. She was no albino with pink eyes but still a pure white cat. She was my cat. My mother told me to watch Whitey when she crossed #3 highway. I did. Whitey looked right then left and repeated the process as she crossed busy Garrison Road. She was headed for mousing in the fields to the south. Our mailbox was also on the south side of the highway. My mother would point out to me how Whitey crossed the highway. I never forgot the lesson. Crossing a road and driving a car always look at least twice both ways before entering an intersection.
Eight years passed and Whitey disappeared. Pal, our German shepherd, was put away at that time. A few years passed and some of us had ridden our bikes up to the abandoned Good house. Young boys, we challenged each other to enter the derelict building and climb the stairs to where the ghosts were. You can imagine the scenario. The four of us mounted the steps two by two. Sam let out a yell and we all ran back down the stairs terrified. I ran out the front door and to my right. The ground cover was high tangled weeds. I was scared and anxious to get as far away as possible. Then I saw her. Whitey! I stopped. The other three came up to me. “What’s wrong, Earl?” “I saw Whitey right there!” I replied. No Whitey in sight but San stopped and shouted, “Look out! There’s an old well here.” If I had proceeded running north a few minutes before I could have plummeted into the old well with its rotted covering. Whitey or another white cat had made me stop in my tracks. Had Whitey saved my life? Quite possible. We searched the area for several minutes. No Whitey.
The Buffalo News in an article by Gina Spadafori recently tries to debunk some old cat tales. Here are a few excerpts for you cat lovers.
Cats purr when they are happy. Right? Expert cat observers know that purring isn’t just a sound of contentment. Cats also purr if they are injured, while giving birth - even when dying. British zoologist Desmond Morris has observed that purring is “a sign of friendship - either when the cat is contented with a friend or when it is in need of friendship, as with a cat in trouble.” Like the cat story? I have more to share at another time.
***
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Albino deer? No!
White deer Earl Plato
Questions! Questions! How many Fort Erieans have asked the question - What really happened to Fort Erie’s famous white deer? Now at the end of September , 2006 we learn the truth about its demise.
Writer’s note: I had seen photos of our deer over the past
years and had written about it for the Times. It was seen and photographed mainly in the Stonemill Road area east of Ridgeway. Various people on the Friendship Trail and on or near Dominion Road had sighted our white deer. White? Not quite. I received a call recently from, Les, an area man. He said, “Earl, do you want to know the true story about the white deer? I have it. We went to his house and there it was - beautifully mounted. Remember this is a Piebald deer not a true albino. Albinos have no pigment in their system hence they are all white including their hooves. The eyes are always pink. Our piebald has brown hooves, dark eyes - a brown patch between its antlers and a few brown spots on its sides. Our piebald buck is marvellously almost all white with a great rack. A wonderfully restored and mounted animal as the photo showed in the lcal paper.
Questions! Questions! How many Fort Erieans have asked the question - What really happened to Fort Erie’s famous white deer? Now at the end of September , 2006 we learn the truth about its demise.
Writer’s note: I had seen photos of our deer over the past
years and had written about it for the Times. It was seen and photographed mainly in the Stonemill Road area east of Ridgeway. Various people on the Friendship Trail and on or near Dominion Road had sighted our white deer. White? Not quite. I received a call recently from, Les, an area man. He said, “Earl, do you want to know the true story about the white deer? I have it. We went to his house and there it was - beautifully mounted. Remember this is a Piebald deer not a true albino. Albinos have no pigment in their system hence they are all white including their hooves. The eyes are always pink. Our piebald has brown hooves, dark eyes - a brown patch between its antlers and a few brown spots on its sides. Our piebald buck is marvellously almost all white with a great rack. A wonderfully restored and mounted animal as the photo showed in the lcal paper.
Trail Wood, Connecticut
Finally, Earl by Earl Plato
On Canada’s birthday I walked the paths of Trail Wood, the preserved home and acres of famed nature writer, Edwin Way Teale and his wife, Nellie. I had planned this trip to Hampton, Connecticut for some years. Here on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 we, wife Elaine, daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Neil Cudney, on a beautiful sunny day, walked Ed Teale’s hallowed grounds. Our guide and caretaker of the 170 plus acres, Vern Pursley, showed us Teale’s study and collection of his extensive works. Vern took us outside and we walked Veery Lane to Teale’s l little writing cabin, named Summer House. With my gimpy knees I stepped carefully over the many tree roots. We walked along Fern Brook. The path here was blanketed on either side with Common ferns. We looked out on a beautiful pond. I took a snap of Vern our guide. No mosquitoes or black flies. Just a beautiful summer day. Pickerel weed was in bloom at the pond’s edge. We walked back through Firefly Meadow and ascended the hill to Teale’s cabin. A sulphur and a fritillary butterflies accompanied us. I took a shot of a huge Catalpa tree just to the north of the building. Vern took a shot of the four of us. Finally I did it.
Vern Pursley wasn’t finished with us. Kindly he lead us by his car to the Audubon Society headquarters in nearby Pomfret. Here I purchased three Teale books. Wandering Through Winter, Dune Boy, and A naturalist Buys an Old Farm. Mission accomplished, Earl.
On Canada’s birthday I walked the paths of Trail Wood, the preserved home and acres of famed nature writer, Edwin Way Teale and his wife, Nellie. I had planned this trip to Hampton, Connecticut for some years. Here on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 we, wife Elaine, daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Neil Cudney, on a beautiful sunny day, walked Ed Teale’s hallowed grounds. Our guide and caretaker of the 170 plus acres, Vern Pursley, showed us Teale’s study and collection of his extensive works. Vern took us outside and we walked Veery Lane to Teale’s l little writing cabin, named Summer House. With my gimpy knees I stepped carefully over the many tree roots. We walked along Fern Brook. The path here was blanketed on either side with Common ferns. We looked out on a beautiful pond. I took a snap of Vern our guide. No mosquitoes or black flies. Just a beautiful summer day. Pickerel weed was in bloom at the pond’s edge. We walked back through Firefly Meadow and ascended the hill to Teale’s cabin. A sulphur and a fritillary butterflies accompanied us. I took a shot of a huge Catalpa tree just to the north of the building. Vern took a shot of the four of us. Finally I did it.
Vern Pursley wasn’t finished with us. Kindly he lead us by his car to the Audubon Society headquarters in nearby Pomfret. Here I purchased three Teale books. Wandering Through Winter, Dune Boy, and A naturalist Buys an Old Farm. Mission accomplished, Earl.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Carolina Wren- Marcy Woods
Carolina Wren Earl Plato
Nature Sketches
Carolinian Canada - that’s found in Fort Erie. Marcy Woods is a great example of flora and fauna that represent
plants and animals that are normally found in the Carolinas of the United States. After the receding of the last Great Ice Age in North America some 12,000 years ago the climate here grew more temperate. The giant Tulip trees, state tree of North Carolina, now were able to grow here. Plants and animals have extended their northern most borders to Southern Ontario. I once sketched a Carolina wren that inhabits Marcy Woods. This largest of our local wrens (House and Winter ) has an unique call that you can’t miss - “Tea-kettle; tea kettle; tea kettle.” This wren sings all day long and we are told in all seasons. These Carolina wrens must like Ontario for they do not migrate south. Look for their nests in Marcy Woods. They are a neat feather-lined stick domed nest with an entrance on the side. Your chances may not be small as they will nest almost any place. Enjoy nature.
Nature Sketches
Carolinian Canada - that’s found in Fort Erie. Marcy Woods is a great example of flora and fauna that represent
plants and animals that are normally found in the Carolinas of the United States. After the receding of the last Great Ice Age in North America some 12,000 years ago the climate here grew more temperate. The giant Tulip trees, state tree of North Carolina, now were able to grow here. Plants and animals have extended their northern most borders to Southern Ontario. I once sketched a Carolina wren that inhabits Marcy Woods. This largest of our local wrens (House and Winter ) has an unique call that you can’t miss - “Tea-kettle; tea kettle; tea kettle.” This wren sings all day long and we are told in all seasons. These Carolina wrens must like Ontario for they do not migrate south. Look for their nests in Marcy Woods. They are a neat feather-lined stick domed nest with an entrance on the side. Your chances may not be small as they will nest almost any place. Enjoy nature.
The Downy
The Downy Earl Plato
The Downy is small - only a sparrow-sized woodpecker.
He’s the smallest of our woodpeckers. He’s a black and white patterned bird. Very recognizable is the red patch on the nape of his neck. Listen for the sharp ‘pik-pik-pik’ sound. In sketching this bird I noticed its short beak.
Bird watching has become the second most passive sport after gardening in North America. Many have taken the next step -setting up bird feeders. The Henninghams of Bertie Road have many great feeders. That is where I saw my latest Downy woodpecker along with Blue jays, Cardinals and mourning doves a busy but delightful scene. Note: Once you start a feeder during these cold times be faithful in supplying seed.
The Downy is small - only a sparrow-sized woodpecker.
He’s the smallest of our woodpeckers. He’s a black and white patterned bird. Very recognizable is the red patch on the nape of his neck. Listen for the sharp ‘pik-pik-pik’ sound. In sketching this bird I noticed its short beak.
Bird watching has become the second most passive sport after gardening in North America. Many have taken the next step -setting up bird feeders. The Henninghams of Bertie Road have many great feeders. That is where I saw my latest Downy woodpecker along with Blue jays, Cardinals and mourning doves a busy but delightful scene. Note: Once you start a feeder during these cold times be faithful in supplying seed.
Boneset Earl Plato
The late Dr. George Marcy while at his Abino Woods farm circa 1984 encouraged us to take the pasture walk south to the butterfly fields. He said, “There’s plenty of butterflies where there’s stands of milkweed and boneset.” “Boneset?”
It’s there in the lower pastures we found this unusual member of the sunflower family. Butterflies like this plant and feed on its flat-topped clusters of dense dull-white flowers. These plants in the Marcy meadows were over three feet tall and even taller in some places. What is so unusual about this plant? Check its scientific name - Eupatorium perfoliatum. Its name suggests that the stem appears to be growing through the leaf. Dr. Marcy was a noted orthopaedic surgeon in nearby Buffalo, N.Y. Our early doctors who worked with broken bones thought that if boneset leaves wrapped inside bandages and supported with splints would aid in setting a broken bone. No truth to this claim, however, boneset tea made from dried leaves was long used as a tonic. Our early settlers thought that it was effective in treating colds, coughs and even constipation! Look for boneset in Fort Erie.
The late Dr. George Marcy while at his Abino Woods farm circa 1984 encouraged us to take the pasture walk south to the butterfly fields. He said, “There’s plenty of butterflies where there’s stands of milkweed and boneset.” “Boneset?”
It’s there in the lower pastures we found this unusual member of the sunflower family. Butterflies like this plant and feed on its flat-topped clusters of dense dull-white flowers. These plants in the Marcy meadows were over three feet tall and even taller in some places. What is so unusual about this plant? Check its scientific name - Eupatorium perfoliatum. Its name suggests that the stem appears to be growing through the leaf. Dr. Marcy was a noted orthopaedic surgeon in nearby Buffalo, N.Y. Our early doctors who worked with broken bones thought that if boneset leaves wrapped inside bandages and supported with splints would aid in setting a broken bone. No truth to this claim, however, boneset tea made from dried leaves was long used as a tonic. Our early settlers thought that it was effective in treating colds, coughs and even constipation! Look for boneset in Fort Erie.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Fort Erie's Tulip Trees
NN1506B Earl Plato
It’s magnificent and it’s in DiCienzo’s Marcy Woods. in Fort Erie, Ontario. John Kieran, nature writer, has described this forest wonder and I quote from him. “There is a tall and stalwart tree that is not only magnificent in bulk but distinctive in almost every part.” It has a trunk like a Greek column, It has a lovely flower that late Fort Erie naturalist. Bert Miller , captured on film in 1956. Also it has an odd-shaped leaf and high up conical clusters of winged seeds that will stand out reddish-brown against the cold blue sky in late Autumn. In Winter buds will look like miniature thumbless mittens. That’s not all. Stop on the Lower Trail in Marcy Woods far down the trail and look at and up at Liriodendron tulipfera known as the Tulip Tree. The bark of this old tree is deeply fissured and a rich brown in colour. Looking up to the leafy canopy focus your binoculars on a leaf. They are in a class by themselves. We have no other tree leaf in North America with such square and broadly indented tips. Our Niagara Conservation Authority adopted this unique leaf years ago as its symbol. I have two good photos of the Tulip Tree flower - both of them have six green petals crossed by a bright orange band with yellow borders. It’s an attractive flower usually not seen too well because it grows so high up. Remember this is a Carolinian tree. There are not too many found in Ontario. Most are located in Southern Ontario in areas on the north shore of Lake Erie. Backus Woods near Long Point and Rondeau Provincial Park still have great stands. For some strange reason this tree is also called Yellow Poplar. Poplars are basically weed trees and their lumber virtually useless. Not the magnificent Tulip tree for its wood is prized in the lumber industry. The wood is light and quite strong. Protect our local Tulip trees from being cut for they are long-lived. Watch a Tulip Tree’s leaves in the Fall. They will begin to turn to gold in spots and dappled patches. The late great Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, would probably have said, “Glory to God for dappled things.”
***
In the early 1950’s that giant tulip tree of Rosehill was cut down. That tree was 16 ft. 51/2 inches in circumference. I know as a boy I helped measure it. The late Bert Miller tried to protect it. I recall how distraught he was when it fell to the lumbermen. Estimated by University of Western Ontario scientist at over 400 years old. What a shame for the citizens of our town who love trees. Be a protector of defenceless trees.
It’s magnificent and it’s in DiCienzo’s Marcy Woods. in Fort Erie, Ontario. John Kieran, nature writer, has described this forest wonder and I quote from him. “There is a tall and stalwart tree that is not only magnificent in bulk but distinctive in almost every part.” It has a trunk like a Greek column, It has a lovely flower that late Fort Erie naturalist. Bert Miller , captured on film in 1956. Also it has an odd-shaped leaf and high up conical clusters of winged seeds that will stand out reddish-brown against the cold blue sky in late Autumn. In Winter buds will look like miniature thumbless mittens. That’s not all. Stop on the Lower Trail in Marcy Woods far down the trail and look at and up at Liriodendron tulipfera known as the Tulip Tree. The bark of this old tree is deeply fissured and a rich brown in colour. Looking up to the leafy canopy focus your binoculars on a leaf. They are in a class by themselves. We have no other tree leaf in North America with such square and broadly indented tips. Our Niagara Conservation Authority adopted this unique leaf years ago as its symbol. I have two good photos of the Tulip Tree flower - both of them have six green petals crossed by a bright orange band with yellow borders. It’s an attractive flower usually not seen too well because it grows so high up. Remember this is a Carolinian tree. There are not too many found in Ontario. Most are located in Southern Ontario in areas on the north shore of Lake Erie. Backus Woods near Long Point and Rondeau Provincial Park still have great stands. For some strange reason this tree is also called Yellow Poplar. Poplars are basically weed trees and their lumber virtually useless. Not the magnificent Tulip tree for its wood is prized in the lumber industry. The wood is light and quite strong. Protect our local Tulip trees from being cut for they are long-lived. Watch a Tulip Tree’s leaves in the Fall. They will begin to turn to gold in spots and dappled patches. The late great Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, would probably have said, “Glory to God for dappled things.”
***
In the early 1950’s that giant tulip tree of Rosehill was cut down. That tree was 16 ft. 51/2 inches in circumference. I know as a boy I helped measure it. The late Bert Miller tried to protect it. I recall how distraught he was when it fell to the lumbermen. Estimated by University of Western Ontario scientist at over 400 years old. What a shame for the citizens of our town who love trees. Be a protector of defenceless trees.
Big
Really Big Earl Plato
This article is basically about "the old days", nostalgia times. I had pulled a picture from my clipping file without a date on it. Always write down on the back the date and the source of your pictures and articles. Believe me, I am looking at a giant fish hanging shark-like or marlin-like from its rear fin facing head down. What is it? Hey, yesterday I found my notes in a different file! It says that it's a 158 pound, seven foot lake sturgeon found on a beach of Lake Erie, Erie County. That's right just across the lake! From the attire of the fellow posed next to the hanging giant I would say it was taken in the last 15-20 years. I am going back in time now and share some research and memories about, The Methuselah of the Great Lakes. In an interview some years back with John Miller, son of the late Niagara Peninsula naturalist, Bert Miller, I recorded these words, "My dad always had a boat to fish with at the old homestead at MIller's Creek. He would go out into the river with his nightline. It would be several 100 feet long with 35 to 40 hooks on it and anchored at each end. While it was still light out he would have to take good land bearings so that when he went out the next day he could locate the line. Next morning he would take a grappling hook and pull up the line. Hopefully there would be sturgeons on the giant hooks. The biggest sturgeon he ever caught was about 125 pounds. That would supplement his income a little bit for he would go over to Buffalo and sell it." Note: This was in the 1920's before the Peace Bridge was built (1927). How did he get to Buffalo or Black Rock? Was it by ferry boat or did he row? The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is our longest- lived freshwater fish. Lake sturgeon once flourished in the Great Lakes with fish up to 152 years old. My source was a State of new York Conservation magazine. By the turn of this century with market demand at its highest the fish was almost eliminated. Dam construction and the degradation of its habitat didn't help. Today as an endangered species this most ancient fish should eventually become plentiful again in Lake Erie and other Great Lakes as we pursue the pure waters program. I hope so.
This article is basically about "the old days", nostalgia times. I had pulled a picture from my clipping file without a date on it. Always write down on the back the date and the source of your pictures and articles. Believe me, I am looking at a giant fish hanging shark-like or marlin-like from its rear fin facing head down. What is it? Hey, yesterday I found my notes in a different file! It says that it's a 158 pound, seven foot lake sturgeon found on a beach of Lake Erie, Erie County. That's right just across the lake! From the attire of the fellow posed next to the hanging giant I would say it was taken in the last 15-20 years. I am going back in time now and share some research and memories about, The Methuselah of the Great Lakes. In an interview some years back with John Miller, son of the late Niagara Peninsula naturalist, Bert Miller, I recorded these words, "My dad always had a boat to fish with at the old homestead at MIller's Creek. He would go out into the river with his nightline. It would be several 100 feet long with 35 to 40 hooks on it and anchored at each end. While it was still light out he would have to take good land bearings so that when he went out the next day he could locate the line. Next morning he would take a grappling hook and pull up the line. Hopefully there would be sturgeons on the giant hooks. The biggest sturgeon he ever caught was about 125 pounds. That would supplement his income a little bit for he would go over to Buffalo and sell it." Note: This was in the 1920's before the Peace Bridge was built (1927). How did he get to Buffalo or Black Rock? Was it by ferry boat or did he row? The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is our longest- lived freshwater fish. Lake sturgeon once flourished in the Great Lakes with fish up to 152 years old. My source was a State of new York Conservation magazine. By the turn of this century with market demand at its highest the fish was almost eliminated. Dam construction and the degradation of its habitat didn't help. Today as an endangered species this most ancient fish should eventually become plentiful again in Lake Erie and other Great Lakes as we pursue the pure waters program. I hope so.
Feed the Birds
NN076 Earl Plato
Flash: On January 9th, 2006 Daughter Diane and I photographed the tracks of an opossum on the Lower Trail at Marcy Woods.
***
Thanks to cousin Leanna (Plato) Stein for her nature clippings recently from their home paper the Winnipeg Free Press. Her mother, Anna, now deceased, sent me many interesting and thought-provoking clippings over the years. One of Leanna’s clippings has the intriguing headline, Are bird feeders help or hindrance? The writer, Allan Besson, states, “Is it proper to help out? You decide.” To make a long story short Besson is in favour of bird feeders. He writes, “When it is very cold birds pretty well have to eat all day to survive. They will go where they know there is food. The less energy they have to exert for food of course they are going to do that. So going to feeders would probably be their first choice. The way the winter is changing with global warming or whatever you want to call it are the birds being screwed up as well? Why are so many robins staying back? I have had reports of mourning doves, grackles, cowbirds and flickers. These are all birds that should normally not be here (in Manitoba). Should we leave them to forage on their own during the winter months? Would you lean towards feeding these little critters?” Besson does and goes on to tell you - “you should know what hey like to eat.” He recommends certain food for certain species. Once you start a bird feeder be committed to stocking it regularly with good bird seed.
***
“January 29. Twice this winter a melanistic buck has been sighted disappearing into woodland close to Trail Wood.” Those are the words of my nature writer mentor, the late Ed Teale. Melanistic? What does that word mean to you? Think ‘black’. It’s at the opposite end of the colour scale from the albino deer. Deer have been reported in Ontario that are almost coal black. The black pigment affects the colour of the deer’s hair and even the colour of its eyes. I have never seen one. Would there be some deer that are only partly melanistic? I think so.
Flash: On January 9th, 2006 Daughter Diane and I photographed the tracks of an opossum on the Lower Trail at Marcy Woods.
***
Thanks to cousin Leanna (Plato) Stein for her nature clippings recently from their home paper the Winnipeg Free Press. Her mother, Anna, now deceased, sent me many interesting and thought-provoking clippings over the years. One of Leanna’s clippings has the intriguing headline, Are bird feeders help or hindrance? The writer, Allan Besson, states, “Is it proper to help out? You decide.” To make a long story short Besson is in favour of bird feeders. He writes, “When it is very cold birds pretty well have to eat all day to survive. They will go where they know there is food. The less energy they have to exert for food of course they are going to do that. So going to feeders would probably be their first choice. The way the winter is changing with global warming or whatever you want to call it are the birds being screwed up as well? Why are so many robins staying back? I have had reports of mourning doves, grackles, cowbirds and flickers. These are all birds that should normally not be here (in Manitoba). Should we leave them to forage on their own during the winter months? Would you lean towards feeding these little critters?” Besson does and goes on to tell you - “you should know what hey like to eat.” He recommends certain food for certain species. Once you start a bird feeder be committed to stocking it regularly with good bird seed.
***
“January 29. Twice this winter a melanistic buck has been sighted disappearing into woodland close to Trail Wood.” Those are the words of my nature writer mentor, the late Ed Teale. Melanistic? What does that word mean to you? Think ‘black’. It’s at the opposite end of the colour scale from the albino deer. Deer have been reported in Ontario that are almost coal black. The black pigment affects the colour of the deer’s hair and even the colour of its eyes. I have never seen one. Would there be some deer that are only partly melanistic? I think so.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Hopefully a Winter Wonderland Walk
The photo of the Marcy cabin below was taken when
I used to walk in winter the Upper Trail to the cabin. Here in late December 2007, I don’t walk the steps to the Upper Trail. Too much snow and weak knees. The owners, the DiCienzo family, told me last week, “Go ahead Earl - walk the trails.” Should I try to mount the steps? I love Marcy Woods but common sense should prevail, eh. However, I can’t resist at least looking on that winter wonderland. Maybe during the Christmas holidays with some of my kids and grandchildren. Help grandpa is my plea.
Enjoy nature in 2008!
I used to walk in winter the Upper Trail to the cabin. Here in late December 2007, I don’t walk the steps to the Upper Trail. Too much snow and weak knees. The owners, the DiCienzo family, told me last week, “Go ahead Earl - walk the trails.” Should I try to mount the steps? I love Marcy Woods but common sense should prevail, eh. However, I can’t resist at least looking on that winter wonderland. Maybe during the Christmas holidays with some of my kids and grandchildren. Help grandpa is my plea.
Enjoy nature in 2008!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Old Squaw
Old Squaw Earl Plato
Finally! On the last day of July, 2003 wife, Elaine, accomplished it. For several years I have looked for a carving of the Old Squaw duck now called Long-Tail. More than once at Log Cabin Antiques in Fonthill I looked. Yes, we finally saw one. Too much money for the unique carving? I guess so for I didn’t buy it. I returned three days later. You know the scenario - ‘Old Squaw’ had been sold. That was 1998! We have asked local woodcarvers about the duck. “Too risky to do with the extremely long tail.” No luck here at Niagara Falls with would-be carvers or up in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Years passed. However, each year in January and February we saw and heard the Old Squaws during their mating time at Niagara-on-the-Lake. There up to 200 of these high Arctic ducks gathered on the Niagara River across from Fort Niagara. This year we counted only about sixty. I set up my bird scope and viewed these good-looking ducks. I never tire of seeing these Long-Taileds.
Now thanks to Elaine I can view my beautiful carving on this August 1st day. At a Niagara-on-the Lake store Elaine and two of my daughters spied the carving. Elaine asked, “Is that an Old Squaw?” The owner unlocked the cabinet. Inscribed on the base - “Old Squaw.” “I’ll take it!” It’s a beautiful limited edition and I am happy.
Like most other ducks Long-tails have distinctive male and female plumages. Of course my carving is that of the male with winter plumage. In my Ducks of Canada reference book I read the following about this duck: “The result is one of the most complex series of plumage patterns to be found in any bird.” Just another reason to love Old Squaw.
My carving captures this nicely proportioned duck with its neatly rounded head. It has a small bill and a short neck. My male model has the long extended tail feathers hence the name, Long-tail. Sorry, no grandchildren will handle Earl’s prize. Look but not touch, eh.
Collectors - never give up looking. You never know.
Finally! On the last day of July, 2003 wife, Elaine, accomplished it. For several years I have looked for a carving of the Old Squaw duck now called Long-Tail. More than once at Log Cabin Antiques in Fonthill I looked. Yes, we finally saw one. Too much money for the unique carving? I guess so for I didn’t buy it. I returned three days later. You know the scenario - ‘Old Squaw’ had been sold. That was 1998! We have asked local woodcarvers about the duck. “Too risky to do with the extremely long tail.” No luck here at Niagara Falls with would-be carvers or up in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Years passed. However, each year in January and February we saw and heard the Old Squaws during their mating time at Niagara-on-the-Lake. There up to 200 of these high Arctic ducks gathered on the Niagara River across from Fort Niagara. This year we counted only about sixty. I set up my bird scope and viewed these good-looking ducks. I never tire of seeing these Long-Taileds.
Now thanks to Elaine I can view my beautiful carving on this August 1st day. At a Niagara-on-the Lake store Elaine and two of my daughters spied the carving. Elaine asked, “Is that an Old Squaw?” The owner unlocked the cabinet. Inscribed on the base - “Old Squaw.” “I’ll take it!” It’s a beautiful limited edition and I am happy.
Like most other ducks Long-tails have distinctive male and female plumages. Of course my carving is that of the male with winter plumage. In my Ducks of Canada reference book I read the following about this duck: “The result is one of the most complex series of plumage patterns to be found in any bird.” Just another reason to love Old Squaw.
My carving captures this nicely proportioned duck with its neatly rounded head. It has a small bill and a short neck. My male model has the long extended tail feathers hence the name, Long-tail. Sorry, no grandchildren will handle Earl’s prize. Look but not touch, eh.
Collectors - never give up looking. You never know.
Clingman's Dome and Aussie Land
NATURE ARTICLE BY EARL PLATO
GO FOR IT!
A few weeks ago I decided to, "GO FOR IT!" A long time dream and goal of mine was to climb to the top of Clingman's Dome one of the highest mountains east of the Rockies. Nestled prominently in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park it rises over 6,000 feet. We were warned of the fact that there was less oxygen here in the rarefied air and some of us might experience some breathing difficulties.
Here I was, a man in his sixties with heart bypass surgery, wanting to take this chance to meet a goal. Lest I lead you astray it was not easy. We are talking about a mile walk on a paved path. Doesn't sound too difficult, eh? When the slope is steep as it was each step upward takes an effort. I started off with vigorous strides and found myself quickly tired. Like many others I had to rest. Daughter, Allison, and son-in-law, Ken, cautioned me, "Take small steps, dad. Take your time." Their advice worked. I gained a second breath and gradually made my way to the observation lookout. I was thrilled to reach the goal that old teacher friend, Don Michael of Sherkston, had told me about some thirty years ago. Thanks Don for that vision of Clingman's Dome.
I thanked God as I looked out at the panorama of mountain peaks. It was an unusually clear day. To the northeast just off the Blue Ridge Parkway rose the highest peak east of the Rockies, Mount Mitchell, just a few feet higher than Clingman's Dome. Down below were wooded valleys where patches of Flowering Dogwoods lingered on. A cool, refreshing breeze began to dry my soaked shirt.
The walk down was much easier despite my "Bobby Orr" knees. Ken recorded my ascent and descent on camcorder lest any one question my claim to fame. Do you have any mountains in life still to climb? The Lord gave me a second chance. Go for it!
* * * * *
Fiona McFarlane, our local Ridgeway-Crystal Beach high school student on exchange in Australia, has been faithful in reporting to me about the natural life "down under" in Australia. Unfortunately she prints very small and my excuse has been that her letters were difficult to read. No more excuses I now have a magnifying sheet so here is Fiona's most recent comments.
April 14th - Alice Springs. "Here I am on a "walk about" - a tour around most of Australia. We have visited the Great Barrier Reef, Charles Tower's cattle ranch, Devil's Marbles (Yes, he lost them here in Aus.!) There is much left to see including Ayer's Rock now known as ..... (sorry, Fiona, I can't decipher your printing.)
There are about 60 of us on tour and we are one big family. I am having the best time here and I am sad that my time here is coming to an end. We have 17 companies represented in our group.
Writer's Comment: What follows next is Fiona's open feelings about the "other side" of group travel. "The bus breaks down about once a day and the food is terrible but we survive. You'd never believe this but i awoke this morning frozen as we had to be up at 6 a.m.! It is moving into winter now.
Presently we are at Alice Springs the centre of Australia. We camp out in tents and are responsible for everything - from doing our own washing to packing the buses. (I bet Fiona misses her mom's TLC).
My mates and I have seen more of Australia than we had ever imagined. We will be finished with the tour in about 22 days and so we must entertain ourselves for hours on end. Much love and take care."
This time Fiona sent her report on a beautiful post card, entitled Wildflowers of Australia. In the centre picture was Golden Wattle, above it was Desert Rose and to the left Cooktown Orchid, all of which Fiona has had the opportunity to view in their natural beauty.
* * * * *
This next account is from a previous letter while she was in Brisbane on the east coast.
"You asked me about marsupials well that one's pretty easy. Brisbane is an expanding city and with that expansion the koalas are being threatened. There is a strong feeling of conservation here for these creatures and that they should be protected. They are debating about building a highway to the coast but it is to be built through a large koala bear habitat."
Writer's Note: Can you picture a cuddly koala bear? Listen to what Fiona reports.
"Yes, they are very cute but they smell terribly. The mother's pouch opens at the bottom so that when they climb trees they don't rip or tear their pouch on anything. The little "joey" is as big as a quarter when born and crawls up into his mother's pouch. They sleep most of the day, not because they are drunk as many people believe, but because the eucalyptus leaves that they rely on for food have very little energy in them. They sleep in the forks of these trees way up high. They prefer living in bush rather than in open areas but I have seen them near the ocean beaches.
They make a grunting noise that sounds like a wild bear. (?) I think that it is a mating call. They can be very heavy."
Writer's note: Fiona made the above observations on her own. She goes on to say," The kangaroos also belong to the marsupiials. Their young are also called "joeys." We will share some new, interesting insights by our "down under" reporter soon.
GO FOR IT!
A few weeks ago I decided to, "GO FOR IT!" A long time dream and goal of mine was to climb to the top of Clingman's Dome one of the highest mountains east of the Rockies. Nestled prominently in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park it rises over 6,000 feet. We were warned of the fact that there was less oxygen here in the rarefied air and some of us might experience some breathing difficulties.
Here I was, a man in his sixties with heart bypass surgery, wanting to take this chance to meet a goal. Lest I lead you astray it was not easy. We are talking about a mile walk on a paved path. Doesn't sound too difficult, eh? When the slope is steep as it was each step upward takes an effort. I started off with vigorous strides and found myself quickly tired. Like many others I had to rest. Daughter, Allison, and son-in-law, Ken, cautioned me, "Take small steps, dad. Take your time." Their advice worked. I gained a second breath and gradually made my way to the observation lookout. I was thrilled to reach the goal that old teacher friend, Don Michael of Sherkston, had told me about some thirty years ago. Thanks Don for that vision of Clingman's Dome.
I thanked God as I looked out at the panorama of mountain peaks. It was an unusually clear day. To the northeast just off the Blue Ridge Parkway rose the highest peak east of the Rockies, Mount Mitchell, just a few feet higher than Clingman's Dome. Down below were wooded valleys where patches of Flowering Dogwoods lingered on. A cool, refreshing breeze began to dry my soaked shirt.
The walk down was much easier despite my "Bobby Orr" knees. Ken recorded my ascent and descent on camcorder lest any one question my claim to fame. Do you have any mountains in life still to climb? The Lord gave me a second chance. Go for it!
* * * * *
Fiona McFarlane, our local Ridgeway-Crystal Beach high school student on exchange in Australia, has been faithful in reporting to me about the natural life "down under" in Australia. Unfortunately she prints very small and my excuse has been that her letters were difficult to read. No more excuses I now have a magnifying sheet so here is Fiona's most recent comments.
April 14th - Alice Springs. "Here I am on a "walk about" - a tour around most of Australia. We have visited the Great Barrier Reef, Charles Tower's cattle ranch, Devil's Marbles (Yes, he lost them here in Aus.!) There is much left to see including Ayer's Rock now known as ..... (sorry, Fiona, I can't decipher your printing.)
There are about 60 of us on tour and we are one big family. I am having the best time here and I am sad that my time here is coming to an end. We have 17 companies represented in our group.
Writer's Comment: What follows next is Fiona's open feelings about the "other side" of group travel. "The bus breaks down about once a day and the food is terrible but we survive. You'd never believe this but i awoke this morning frozen as we had to be up at 6 a.m.! It is moving into winter now.
Presently we are at Alice Springs the centre of Australia. We camp out in tents and are responsible for everything - from doing our own washing to packing the buses. (I bet Fiona misses her mom's TLC).
My mates and I have seen more of Australia than we had ever imagined. We will be finished with the tour in about 22 days and so we must entertain ourselves for hours on end. Much love and take care."
This time Fiona sent her report on a beautiful post card, entitled Wildflowers of Australia. In the centre picture was Golden Wattle, above it was Desert Rose and to the left Cooktown Orchid, all of which Fiona has had the opportunity to view in their natural beauty.
* * * * *
This next account is from a previous letter while she was in Brisbane on the east coast.
"You asked me about marsupials well that one's pretty easy. Brisbane is an expanding city and with that expansion the koalas are being threatened. There is a strong feeling of conservation here for these creatures and that they should be protected. They are debating about building a highway to the coast but it is to be built through a large koala bear habitat."
Writer's Note: Can you picture a cuddly koala bear? Listen to what Fiona reports.
"Yes, they are very cute but they smell terribly. The mother's pouch opens at the bottom so that when they climb trees they don't rip or tear their pouch on anything. The little "joey" is as big as a quarter when born and crawls up into his mother's pouch. They sleep most of the day, not because they are drunk as many people believe, but because the eucalyptus leaves that they rely on for food have very little energy in them. They sleep in the forks of these trees way up high. They prefer living in bush rather than in open areas but I have seen them near the ocean beaches.
They make a grunting noise that sounds like a wild bear. (?) I think that it is a mating call. They can be very heavy."
Writer's note: Fiona made the above observations on her own. She goes on to say," The kangaroos also belong to the marsupiials. Their young are also called "joeys." We will share some new, interesting insights by our "down under" reporter soon.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
-John Lessle Nature Photographer from Buffalo N.Y.
Never Too Old Earl Plato
How old is old? In nature there are always exceptions. Some animals seem to live actively much longer than their specie’s normal average life span. This so-called anomaly occurs in humans too. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, died at 91. When he was 86 He went with me and my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. Back then we had permission to enter the Baird property. We walked the west coast to the Abino lighthouse. Along the way this remarkably alert senior would stop to share with us something from the natural surroundings. An amazing man! On Wednesday, October 27th I took a 87 year old Buffalo naturalist, John Lessle, to Short Hills Provincial Park. John was a life-long friend of the late Dr. George Marcy and walked Marcy Woods for over more than 60 decades! That is where I first met John deep in Marcy Woods in 1984. John is an excellent nature photographer. I have learned from him. Both men, Bert and John, were and are excellent walkers and at 86 and 87 years of age respectively they could put many of us to shame on a hike. I know for I have experienced their hiking prowess. Regular walking, good weather and bad, seemed to be one of their secrets to longevity. How old is old? Get walking this week on a regular basis. You’re never too old!
***
Spiders anyone? Daughter Diane called me in mid-November from her Wainfleet home. “Dad, you have to see our front fields.” Her description of the large front fields were of a blanket of spider webs glistening in the morning light. Its fall and spider time. What Order of Aranceae? We think that they are in the Orb family and specifically Grass spiders. If there are we would see two dark bands on the thorax and lighter bans on the edges. They are found in grassy areas throughout North America. Grass spiders are funnel-web weavers. There is a characteristic funnel extending off from the centre to one edge. The spider hides within. Note the web is not sticky but threads hand down over the opening. Flying insects hit one of the threads and fall down. He is an insect eater. This quick running spider depends on speed to capture its prey. The Grass spider is just one of many species of Orb spiders. Yes, Diane bought me an Audubon Field Guide to Spiders for my birthday. It’s a whole new world to explore.
How old is old? In nature there are always exceptions. Some animals seem to live actively much longer than their specie’s normal average life span. This so-called anomaly occurs in humans too. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, died at 91. When he was 86 He went with me and my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. Back then we had permission to enter the Baird property. We walked the west coast to the Abino lighthouse. Along the way this remarkably alert senior would stop to share with us something from the natural surroundings. An amazing man! On Wednesday, October 27th I took a 87 year old Buffalo naturalist, John Lessle, to Short Hills Provincial Park. John was a life-long friend of the late Dr. George Marcy and walked Marcy Woods for over more than 60 decades! That is where I first met John deep in Marcy Woods in 1984. John is an excellent nature photographer. I have learned from him. Both men, Bert and John, were and are excellent walkers and at 86 and 87 years of age respectively they could put many of us to shame on a hike. I know for I have experienced their hiking prowess. Regular walking, good weather and bad, seemed to be one of their secrets to longevity. How old is old? Get walking this week on a regular basis. You’re never too old!
***
Spiders anyone? Daughter Diane called me in mid-November from her Wainfleet home. “Dad, you have to see our front fields.” Her description of the large front fields were of a blanket of spider webs glistening in the morning light. Its fall and spider time. What Order of Aranceae? We think that they are in the Orb family and specifically Grass spiders. If there are we would see two dark bands on the thorax and lighter bans on the edges. They are found in grassy areas throughout North America. Grass spiders are funnel-web weavers. There is a characteristic funnel extending off from the centre to one edge. The spider hides within. Note the web is not sticky but threads hand down over the opening. Flying insects hit one of the threads and fall down. He is an insect eater. This quick running spider depends on speed to capture its prey. The Grass spider is just one of many species of Orb spiders. Yes, Diane bought me an Audubon Field Guide to Spiders for my birthday. It’s a whole new world to explore.
Snakes Anyone?
nn5701 Earl Plato
When will I see a snake at Marcy Woods. The fall and lowering temperatures have sent them under ground. How do you feel about snakes?
Jerome had found a snake in the backfield of the Garrison Road school playground.
He had reached under the Frost fence and caught a garter snake by the tail. What to do with it? Jerome was a Grade Four pupil as I was and he did what he thought the natural thing to do. He chased the younger girls. Brandishing his foot long reptile he pursued them. They screamed as they headed headlong for the girls’ entrance at the back of the school. We boys laughed. Back then there was little playground supervision. Bring back memories?
I had no sisters but I have four daughters. Fear of snakes in our family? 40/60 I would say. Two of them abhor snakes the other two are not afraid and are interested in serpents. So they say. Wife, Elaine, has little fear and tips the scale.
From a Federation of Ontario Naturalist booklet I raise some viewpoints.
It appears that being a snake is a thankless existence. Snakes are often disliked simply for being snakes. Although they play a vital role in rodent and insect control, this is seldom recognized. While you personally may never like snakes, I think that you can try to appreciate the part they play in the “balance of nature.”
Here’s what some of the F.O.N. booklet said:
Myth: Snakes can sting with their tongues.
Fact: The snake’s tongue is really used to “smell” the ground and air. The tongue picks up the articles in the air and brings them to a special organ on the roof of the snake’s mouth. The tongue itself is soft and sensitive.
Myth: Snakes have an hypnotic stare.
Fact: Snakes do not stare. They just do not blink. Instead of eyelids to protect their eyes snakes have transparent, immobile coverings. While their unblinking stare can be unsettling. they are really just looking - minus the blinking.
Myth: Fear of snakes is instinctive.
Fact: I didn’t mention that my four daughters had an older brother, Paul. He was and is a science enthusiast. Did he frighten his two older sisters as he brought home various animals? I saw my younger two daughters handle and even play with snakes. I saw with my Junior naturalists (boys and girls) show unabashed curiosity when a snake is found. However, often adults will react with fear and disgust and this can be contagious. Snake hysteria is contagious especially for impressionable children. I remember all of the younger girls running away and yes, some of the older ones too from Jerome’s harmless garter snakes.
To you adults, men and women, who have a fear of snakes exercise self control when around children, otherwise, the fear will be passed on.
Myth: Snakes are slimy and cold.
Fact: Snakes are dry and smooth to the touch. Being cold-blooded the body temperature of snakes depends on the temperature of the environment. If a snake has been sunning itself it will be warm to the touch. I once held a three foot Black rat snake. It was remarkably warm. If a snake has been hiding under a stone or log expect it to feel cold.
Myth: Snakes are dangerous.
Fact: Like any wild animal snakes will defend themselves if captured or cornered. Yes, a garter snake coiled itself and struck at my finger with its “teeth.” It drew a little blood. Dangerous? I had cornered it and had not expected a garter snake to attack. Lesson learned.
Only one species of Ontario’s fifteen different snakes is venomous. You know which one - the Massasauga rattlesnake. Given the opportunity this lethargic snake will flee if disturbed.
Fact: In the past 100 years in Ontario only two deaths have resulted from a rattlesnake bite.
Feel better about snakes? Next spring go looking for some, eh.
When will I see a snake at Marcy Woods. The fall and lowering temperatures have sent them under ground. How do you feel about snakes?
Jerome had found a snake in the backfield of the Garrison Road school playground.
He had reached under the Frost fence and caught a garter snake by the tail. What to do with it? Jerome was a Grade Four pupil as I was and he did what he thought the natural thing to do. He chased the younger girls. Brandishing his foot long reptile he pursued them. They screamed as they headed headlong for the girls’ entrance at the back of the school. We boys laughed. Back then there was little playground supervision. Bring back memories?
I had no sisters but I have four daughters. Fear of snakes in our family? 40/60 I would say. Two of them abhor snakes the other two are not afraid and are interested in serpents. So they say. Wife, Elaine, has little fear and tips the scale.
From a Federation of Ontario Naturalist booklet I raise some viewpoints.
It appears that being a snake is a thankless existence. Snakes are often disliked simply for being snakes. Although they play a vital role in rodent and insect control, this is seldom recognized. While you personally may never like snakes, I think that you can try to appreciate the part they play in the “balance of nature.”
Here’s what some of the F.O.N. booklet said:
Myth: Snakes can sting with their tongues.
Fact: The snake’s tongue is really used to “smell” the ground and air. The tongue picks up the articles in the air and brings them to a special organ on the roof of the snake’s mouth. The tongue itself is soft and sensitive.
Myth: Snakes have an hypnotic stare.
Fact: Snakes do not stare. They just do not blink. Instead of eyelids to protect their eyes snakes have transparent, immobile coverings. While their unblinking stare can be unsettling. they are really just looking - minus the blinking.
Myth: Fear of snakes is instinctive.
Fact: I didn’t mention that my four daughters had an older brother, Paul. He was and is a science enthusiast. Did he frighten his two older sisters as he brought home various animals? I saw my younger two daughters handle and even play with snakes. I saw with my Junior naturalists (boys and girls) show unabashed curiosity when a snake is found. However, often adults will react with fear and disgust and this can be contagious. Snake hysteria is contagious especially for impressionable children. I remember all of the younger girls running away and yes, some of the older ones too from Jerome’s harmless garter snakes.
To you adults, men and women, who have a fear of snakes exercise self control when around children, otherwise, the fear will be passed on.
Myth: Snakes are slimy and cold.
Fact: Snakes are dry and smooth to the touch. Being cold-blooded the body temperature of snakes depends on the temperature of the environment. If a snake has been sunning itself it will be warm to the touch. I once held a three foot Black rat snake. It was remarkably warm. If a snake has been hiding under a stone or log expect it to feel cold.
Myth: Snakes are dangerous.
Fact: Like any wild animal snakes will defend themselves if captured or cornered. Yes, a garter snake coiled itself and struck at my finger with its “teeth.” It drew a little blood. Dangerous? I had cornered it and had not expected a garter snake to attack. Lesson learned.
Only one species of Ontario’s fifteen different snakes is venomous. You know which one - the Massasauga rattlesnake. Given the opportunity this lethargic snake will flee if disturbed.
Fact: In the past 100 years in Ontario only two deaths have resulted from a rattlesnake bite.
Feel better about snakes? Next spring go looking for some, eh.
Eurypterids What?
Eurypterids
Giant sea scorpions in Fort Erie? True! I saw them a few Saturdays ago. In Fort Erie? Yes, I am not kidding. One thing the late Bert Miller did was to surprise you with some rare flora. We now have Rob Eberly of the Bert Miller Nature Club.
Rob has become an Eurypterid finder. How he does it? I don’t know but I was there when he found them. Uncanny.
We were in a private quarry that sunny, late September, 1999 afternoon. The four of us, Rob, Robbie Jr., Rick, and myself stood on the edge of the road leading down into the heart of the working quarry. There were two figures far down the way. The reverberations of their tapping reached us. Rob lead the way. One of them stood up to greet us. He was a tall thin man. His companion, a young woman, also equipped with a stone hammer arose.
“I am Robert Sensenstein, a paleontologist from Ottawa. This is my wife. We are on our honeymoon. We heard about the eurypterids and wanted to do some searching.”
Rob said that we were doing likewise. We parted our ways and headed some 60-70 feet east. Rick found a spot. I did too. Rob started at his own location. I followed the slabs that were piled in a trail. I would take one turn it over and on occasion hit it with my rock hammer. It would split. Nothing inside. Remember I had protective glasses on. tone chips can hurt you.
I heard Rick calling to Robbie, “Be careful, Robbie.” Robbie was the top of a pile of loose slabs and he disappeared. No problem. Robbie appeared unscathed. He headed back to where his father was systematically prying back a layer of Bertie limestone. Then the gasp. “What’s this?” Rick and I approached. There was Rob and his son looking down at the head of an Eurypterid. Carefully Rob pried back the third level. There staring at was the positive and negative form of a Sea scorpion. Stinger tail, paddles and segmented body a good eight inches in length. We yelled over to Robert and his wife. They exploded with expletives. ...what a .find! ...This is great!
The Sensensteins were in ecstasy. I recorded the paleontologist’s words and his description. “There may be more here as they are often found in a nest.” He was right. Rob found another excellent negative and positive form and a third head.
What is an eurypterid? Here is one description, “ Euypterids, also known as “sea scorpions” were marine arthopods that became extinct. Related to modern-day scorpions, they could grow to six feet long!” Giants? Ours were one-tenth the size but still it was an exciting find. I read that eurpterids rarely occur in the fossil record. So uncanny Rob Eberly, amateur paleontologist of Ridgeway, has done it again. Like Rob and I took photos of the great find. Rob graciously turned his site over to the honeymooners, the Sensensteins of Ottawa. They were grateful.
Giant sea scorpions in Fort Erie? True! I saw them a few Saturdays ago. In Fort Erie? Yes, I am not kidding. One thing the late Bert Miller did was to surprise you with some rare flora. We now have Rob Eberly of the Bert Miller Nature Club.
Rob has become an Eurypterid finder. How he does it? I don’t know but I was there when he found them. Uncanny.
We were in a private quarry that sunny, late September, 1999 afternoon. The four of us, Rob, Robbie Jr., Rick, and myself stood on the edge of the road leading down into the heart of the working quarry. There were two figures far down the way. The reverberations of their tapping reached us. Rob lead the way. One of them stood up to greet us. He was a tall thin man. His companion, a young woman, also equipped with a stone hammer arose.
“I am Robert Sensenstein, a paleontologist from Ottawa. This is my wife. We are on our honeymoon. We heard about the eurypterids and wanted to do some searching.”
Rob said that we were doing likewise. We parted our ways and headed some 60-70 feet east. Rick found a spot. I did too. Rob started at his own location. I followed the slabs that were piled in a trail. I would take one turn it over and on occasion hit it with my rock hammer. It would split. Nothing inside. Remember I had protective glasses on. tone chips can hurt you.
I heard Rick calling to Robbie, “Be careful, Robbie.” Robbie was the top of a pile of loose slabs and he disappeared. No problem. Robbie appeared unscathed. He headed back to where his father was systematically prying back a layer of Bertie limestone. Then the gasp. “What’s this?” Rick and I approached. There was Rob and his son looking down at the head of an Eurypterid. Carefully Rob pried back the third level. There staring at was the positive and negative form of a Sea scorpion. Stinger tail, paddles and segmented body a good eight inches in length. We yelled over to Robert and his wife. They exploded with expletives. ...what a .find! ...This is great!
The Sensensteins were in ecstasy. I recorded the paleontologist’s words and his description. “There may be more here as they are often found in a nest.” He was right. Rob found another excellent negative and positive form and a third head.
What is an eurypterid? Here is one description, “ Euypterids, also known as “sea scorpions” were marine arthopods that became extinct. Related to modern-day scorpions, they could grow to six feet long!” Giants? Ours were one-tenth the size but still it was an exciting find. I read that eurpterids rarely occur in the fossil record. So uncanny Rob Eberly, amateur paleontologist of Ridgeway, has done it again. Like Rob and I took photos of the great find. Rob graciously turned his site over to the honeymooners, the Sensensteins of Ottawa. They were grateful.
Hawk Mountain
A Revisit to Hawk Mountain When retirement comes you should have a plan for enjoying each day the Lord has given you. I know enjoyment comes in many forms. Some retired people I know find joy some days in visiting the sick at home or in the hospital. That's great. Others play a game of golf with friends. Many retirees I know just like to take a good walk. One of the things I enjoy is walking in nature and trying to share some of the wonders with you in my articles. The important thing is to be active. Be useful while you can. I am on a "hawk watch" again this year. Certain days I have marked on my weekly planning sheet as nature oriented. Yes, retired people should plan a weekly or monthly schedule for time slips by so quickly. Like many of you I have watched for area hawks in the Niagara Peninsula. I have seen many red-tailed, some sharp-shinned, cooper's, and sparrow hawks. I have been to Beamer's Point at Grimsby many times this year. Each time we visited there were birders from Stony Creek and Hamilton Nature Clubs. These dedicated raptor watchers don't miss much. Take time, old and young, to visit this site this fall and especially in spring, We visited famous Hawk Mountain in northeastern Pennsylvania on this date in October five years ago (1994). However, the weather didn't cooperate. We had had a beautiful fall, one of the best in years. However, our trip was marred by just a few days of bad weather. That happens. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is both remote and accessible. We drove divided highway almost all the way from Buffalo and toll free. We stayed nine miles from the center. We drove that same day past neat farms nestled among the wooded hills, crossed the Little Schuyhill River bubbling over the boulders and we crossed a country bridge and turned and headed up into the wooded hills. The road is steep here for you are driving part way up Hawk Mountain. The center is outstanding with displays and helpful attendants. I hope to return. The weekly count at the Sanctuary had totaled 2,536 hawks! They were totaled by species. I was excited. There had been ospreys, American kestrels, broad-winged hawks, red-tails, golden eagles, rough-legged and yes, two peregrine falcons. That was from the previous week, Sunday to Saturday. This was a Sunday, the beginning of a new week and only four hawks had been sighted all day. Why? There was absolutely no wind and it is necessary for these great flying birds to have thermals to soar. Tough luck! We would return tomorrow for our climb up the mountain. Next day was a wet one. Yes, brother, Ed ,and sister-in-law, Rosie, and I were equipped with raincoats. Again the parking lots were almost filled. It was obvious the public like Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. A Grade 6 school bus was there with kids dressed in rain slickers. The weather was lousy with waves of torrential rain pelting the mountain. We decided to head into the city of Reading about 20 miles away. We came back in mid-afternoon as the sun burst through at times. We met the Grade Six class as they were boarding their bus and my brother spoke to one girl in a leg cast dragging behind the others. She appeared in good spirits. She had made it to the lower lookout. "See any hawks?" "No." Part Two - Later
A Natural Way
The scene below is that of the shoreline of the Marcy Woods property. The photo is deceiving. Why? The absence of trees. Dr. George Marcy and friends planted more than 10,000 trees over the years. While other beach landowners paid thousands to build rock barriers the good doctor did it naturally. Visit the property today in 2007 and see a wide, beautiful beach. East and west from the property you see narrow beaches in front of the huge stone man made walls. Thank you Dr. Marcy.
You need a nature hobby in 2008
nn2901 Earl Plato
I know I am a Fort Erie boy and I used to wonder if there were readers of my column in other parts of the peninsula. For years now I have had calls, letters and E-mails from Niagara Falls readers and the environs. I appreciate their continued interest. After all, as you have discerned, I am only an amateur naturalist. Yes, I love all aspects of the natural world and one of my hopes is to get you more interested in the great outdoors.
Dan and Carolyn Cuillenier walk the Beechwood Road area on a regular basis.
They have corresponded with me by E-mail and in a previous message marveled about seeing wild turkeys. In their latest account on June 2nd they say, “I feel we were greatly blessed with the following: Three Northern harriers, two Indigo buntings, male and female yellow warblers, an Eastern bluebird,” and then he adds. “the wild turkeys again and as to put icing on the cake, one deer. We are still quite thrilled with our outing.” I guess so,Cuilleniers. That’s a great ramble!
I would like to hear from you about your particular nature outings. Let’s share our joys in nature, eh?
***
A natural hobby is a hobby. Agree? On a visit to Niagara Falls recently Bob Chambers took me to the home of Wayne and Sue Martin. Wayne has a special hobby and it involves animals and plants. So. These are unique specimens. The animals make up a living coral reef in a great setting. .Wayne meticulously told of his love for this unusual hobby.
We looked at his huge aquarium. What a beautiful sight of living marine animals and plants. Wayne said “ I bought a new lamp.” He pointed to it and added that there was something not quite right with it. He showed Bob a used original light bulb. “It still works but it has more of a yellow light, more of an incandescent light in colour.” He explained to Bob how these lights worked. HID - High Intensity Discharge. Quite technical.
“Light is the food. The better the light the better the growth.” The new lamp over the aquarium was 250 Watts - 10000 K. The old one was 4000 K. Improvement? I think so. Ask Wayne what ‘K’ means. Cost of the new lamp? Over a $100. Not an inexpensive hobby. Wayne emphasized, “Don’t cheat on the light sources or you won’t have a hobby!” He stated how important instrumentation is. With his electronic and scientific background he has his own setup for controlling water temperature. Amazing! I want to tell you more about the animals that live in Wayne’s world of the deep in another article. I asked Wayne what he calls himself in reference to his hobby. He calls himself the Reef Keeper. That’s what he is.
***
Thirty one of us of the Bert Miller Nature Club and fellow bird enthusiasts led by Bill Burch of New York State met at the Blue Jade Restaurant in Port Colborne. That Friday evening, June 8th, after late dinner we headed out to Minor Road and Wilson Road for a chance to hear the plaintive calls of the Whip-poor-wills. This was my chance. I had missed the previous outings.
We headed first to Minor Road and headed north in caravan style. Bob Chambers led our contingent. Open fields here on the outskirts of Port Colborne. The light was fading. We saw a Marsh hawk floating over to the north. No meadowlarks or bob-o-links. A Savannah sparrow was sighted and we had a good look through a scope. On to Wilson Road and the Wainfleet marsh. This was whip-poor-will country!
North on he gravel road past the rich, black marsh soil of an onion farm. At least that’s what Dave Mitchell said and I agree, We came to an intersection where a road entered from the west. This was it. Get out and wait as the light grew fainter and fainter. We heard the calls of the Common yellowthroat warblers. “Witchety- witchety” and other birds.
Some of us had tapes of the whip-poor-will calls. Not needed. To the south of us we heard loud and clear a whip-poor-will call then another. Great!
I recall as a youth sleeping outside in a Muskoka setting, The calls of the whip-poor-wills sounded all night. C’mon Plato - all night? That’s my teenage recollection. Possible? To this day I believed that they never stopped calling.
Now here in Wainfleet I heard that same call repeated again and again.
This bird is a great insect eater catching them on the fly. Look him up.
I know I am a Fort Erie boy and I used to wonder if there were readers of my column in other parts of the peninsula. For years now I have had calls, letters and E-mails from Niagara Falls readers and the environs. I appreciate their continued interest. After all, as you have discerned, I am only an amateur naturalist. Yes, I love all aspects of the natural world and one of my hopes is to get you more interested in the great outdoors.
Dan and Carolyn Cuillenier walk the Beechwood Road area on a regular basis.
They have corresponded with me by E-mail and in a previous message marveled about seeing wild turkeys. In their latest account on June 2nd they say, “I feel we were greatly blessed with the following: Three Northern harriers, two Indigo buntings, male and female yellow warblers, an Eastern bluebird,” and then he adds. “the wild turkeys again and as to put icing on the cake, one deer. We are still quite thrilled with our outing.” I guess so,Cuilleniers. That’s a great ramble!
I would like to hear from you about your particular nature outings. Let’s share our joys in nature, eh?
***
A natural hobby is a hobby. Agree? On a visit to Niagara Falls recently Bob Chambers took me to the home of Wayne and Sue Martin. Wayne has a special hobby and it involves animals and plants. So. These are unique specimens. The animals make up a living coral reef in a great setting. .Wayne meticulously told of his love for this unusual hobby.
We looked at his huge aquarium. What a beautiful sight of living marine animals and plants. Wayne said “ I bought a new lamp.” He pointed to it and added that there was something not quite right with it. He showed Bob a used original light bulb. “It still works but it has more of a yellow light, more of an incandescent light in colour.” He explained to Bob how these lights worked. HID - High Intensity Discharge. Quite technical.
“Light is the food. The better the light the better the growth.” The new lamp over the aquarium was 250 Watts - 10000 K. The old one was 4000 K. Improvement? I think so. Ask Wayne what ‘K’ means. Cost of the new lamp? Over a $100. Not an inexpensive hobby. Wayne emphasized, “Don’t cheat on the light sources or you won’t have a hobby!” He stated how important instrumentation is. With his electronic and scientific background he has his own setup for controlling water temperature. Amazing! I want to tell you more about the animals that live in Wayne’s world of the deep in another article. I asked Wayne what he calls himself in reference to his hobby. He calls himself the Reef Keeper. That’s what he is.
***
Thirty one of us of the Bert Miller Nature Club and fellow bird enthusiasts led by Bill Burch of New York State met at the Blue Jade Restaurant in Port Colborne. That Friday evening, June 8th, after late dinner we headed out to Minor Road and Wilson Road for a chance to hear the plaintive calls of the Whip-poor-wills. This was my chance. I had missed the previous outings.
We headed first to Minor Road and headed north in caravan style. Bob Chambers led our contingent. Open fields here on the outskirts of Port Colborne. The light was fading. We saw a Marsh hawk floating over to the north. No meadowlarks or bob-o-links. A Savannah sparrow was sighted and we had a good look through a scope. On to Wilson Road and the Wainfleet marsh. This was whip-poor-will country!
North on he gravel road past the rich, black marsh soil of an onion farm. At least that’s what Dave Mitchell said and I agree, We came to an intersection where a road entered from the west. This was it. Get out and wait as the light grew fainter and fainter. We heard the calls of the Common yellowthroat warblers. “Witchety- witchety” and other birds.
Some of us had tapes of the whip-poor-will calls. Not needed. To the south of us we heard loud and clear a whip-poor-will call then another. Great!
I recall as a youth sleeping outside in a Muskoka setting, The calls of the whip-poor-wills sounded all night. C’mon Plato - all night? That’s my teenage recollection. Possible? To this day I believed that they never stopped calling.
Now here in Wainfleet I heard that same call repeated again and again.
This bird is a great insect eater catching them on the fly. Look him up.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
nature article
Nature article Earl Plato
Yes, I still travel north on Wilhelm Road then west on Forks Road. Then we turn right onto Kaobel Road. We are headed for Welland the back way from Ridgeway. This route has been my hawk route. We have seen up to eight hawks mostly Red-tails. The old tree is gone but hawks are still around perched on telephone posts and on limbs at the top of trees. Wait I went too far. There resting on a telephone wire about three poles back was one of the prettiest little birds I know. This little bird was no hawk. That smallest of the falcons, the Kestrel or Sparrow hawk had flown down to the snow covered ground. Its wings were outspread and downbent. It had its prey for this is a falcon, an assassin of songbirds. The male Kestrel is the spectacular one. If you haven’t seen this bird look it up in your bird book for they are in our Niagara area.
The following is Ed Teale’s January 27th encounter and his observations of that colourful, male bird such as I saw on Kaobel Road, the American Kestrel.
“The Sparrow hawk bends down its head. Small black feathers, torn from its prey, begin littering the snow. I change my position and come out into the open. In so doing I learn again the importance of leaving a feeding hawk undisturbed.. To frighten it away not only is likely to prolong the suffering of the victim but may contribute to the death of another bird because it leaves the hawk with its hunger unsatisfied. As soon as I came to sight, even though some distance away, the nervous little raptor takes flight.. It leaves the starling too heavy to transport through the air. For some time the Kestrel remains on its perch, watching me and turning its head from side to side. Then it lifts into the air in quick and buoyant flight and speeds away.”
What about the victim? Teale tells us that the starling had not died. Although mortally wounded with the flesh torn from its back and neck until the vertebrae are fully exposed. Not a pleasant sight. The bird had pushed itself more than two feet into the edge of a tangle of weeds, Its end would have been more mercifully quicker if the Sparrow hawk had had its way.
Every year I seem to write about people interfering in the fate of wild creatures. Taking sides in nature is an instinctive thing we do for we tend to emphasize with the victim fighting for its life. Comments? E-mail me at earplato@enore.on.ca
***
Another Niagara Falls nature observer phoned me recently with this anomaly. 100 - 150 Purple martins near the Hydro Canal and Portage were sighted. Purple martins? Their winter home is South America! The caller knows martins and their forked tails and their circling and swooping acrobatics. He and two others were amazed at this January sight. How come? This flock was seen just that one day. How come in Niagara? Great storms on the Atlantic Ocean may have driven them inland. This time of year? Any explanations? Call me at 894-2417.
Yes, I still travel north on Wilhelm Road then west on Forks Road. Then we turn right onto Kaobel Road. We are headed for Welland the back way from Ridgeway. This route has been my hawk route. We have seen up to eight hawks mostly Red-tails. The old tree is gone but hawks are still around perched on telephone posts and on limbs at the top of trees. Wait I went too far. There resting on a telephone wire about three poles back was one of the prettiest little birds I know. This little bird was no hawk. That smallest of the falcons, the Kestrel or Sparrow hawk had flown down to the snow covered ground. Its wings were outspread and downbent. It had its prey for this is a falcon, an assassin of songbirds. The male Kestrel is the spectacular one. If you haven’t seen this bird look it up in your bird book for they are in our Niagara area.
The following is Ed Teale’s January 27th encounter and his observations of that colourful, male bird such as I saw on Kaobel Road, the American Kestrel.
“The Sparrow hawk bends down its head. Small black feathers, torn from its prey, begin littering the snow. I change my position and come out into the open. In so doing I learn again the importance of leaving a feeding hawk undisturbed.. To frighten it away not only is likely to prolong the suffering of the victim but may contribute to the death of another bird because it leaves the hawk with its hunger unsatisfied. As soon as I came to sight, even though some distance away, the nervous little raptor takes flight.. It leaves the starling too heavy to transport through the air. For some time the Kestrel remains on its perch, watching me and turning its head from side to side. Then it lifts into the air in quick and buoyant flight and speeds away.”
What about the victim? Teale tells us that the starling had not died. Although mortally wounded with the flesh torn from its back and neck until the vertebrae are fully exposed. Not a pleasant sight. The bird had pushed itself more than two feet into the edge of a tangle of weeds, Its end would have been more mercifully quicker if the Sparrow hawk had had its way.
Every year I seem to write about people interfering in the fate of wild creatures. Taking sides in nature is an instinctive thing we do for we tend to emphasize with the victim fighting for its life. Comments? E-mail me at earplato@enore.on.ca
***
Another Niagara Falls nature observer phoned me recently with this anomaly. 100 - 150 Purple martins near the Hydro Canal and Portage were sighted. Purple martins? Their winter home is South America! The caller knows martins and their forked tails and their circling and swooping acrobatics. He and two others were amazed at this January sight. How come? This flock was seen just that one day. How come in Niagara? Great storms on the Atlantic Ocean may have driven them inland. This time of year? Any explanations? Call me at 894-2417.
Thanks Bill
nn1701 Earl Plato
No, we didn’t make it to Florida this year but Bill Morkem of Ridgeway did. Bill presented me with some nature pamphlets. That was all it took to reminisce about certain nature spots in the Sunshine state.
Most of our nature rambles have been on the Gulf side of the state. Bill’s travel south took them to the east side. Cape kennedy or Cape Canaveral are one and the same. Have you been to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge?
Memories began to flow. The Refuge is located just east of Titusville and shares a common boundary with the John F. Kennedy Space Center (Centre). Why a refuge here? Bill’s pamphlet cites these reasons -coastal location, tropic-like climate, and a wide variety of habitats. I walked this area in the ‘80’s and was impressed with the variety of bird species. We read “to date, 310 species have been identified on the refuge.”
I recall seeing bald eagles there and was enthralled with their size and beauty. They are there today on Merritt Island in growing numbers. Only they call them Southern bald eagles. Makes sense, eh? There are eight species of herons and egrets including the Great blue heron. I was told that they are there all year around. That’s my lead in for the blue herons in our area. Thanks Bill for the info.
***
‘Bizarre?’ That’s the word John Therberge, nature scientist, uses to describe the nests and nesting places of the Great blue heron. All this winter I have had calls about seeing this great bird. In fact on a few occasions I have seen a sole bird flying in slow motion against the background of a setting sun. That picture of its flight you know. Its unhurried wing beats and long trailing legs ‘bestow upon it elegance and grace.’
Why ‘bizarre?’ Have you seen a colony of nesting Great blue herons? The closest to us was behind and east of Don Schneiders’s home on Bowen Road, Stevensville. I counted over 60 plus nests some years ago. Don said, “ A lot more than that!” He should know having lived there for so many years. Some of the larger trees have been cut down and hence many nests have disappeared. How many left? I don’t know.
Across the river in Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge east of Lockport I saw my first large Great blue heron colony called a heronry. Far across the shallow waters we viewed the heronry from the Lookout parking lot we saw a stand of dead oak trees. In front of them feeding in the shallow waters were 17 or 18 herons. Behind them the oak trees which were standing in the water contained these large nests. This was my first heronry. These nest clumps located well out on the branches give the trees a cypress-like appearance. Bizarre? I think so.
Therberge tells us that a number of these large bulky stick nests be as many as eighteen existing in one tree!
What kind of tree is ideal for a colony of herons/ We are told that they can be deciduous or coniferous, live or dead. My first colony stood out so well. The white, coloured surface of the dead oak trees and those bizarre nests are a sight I won’t forget. All trees in a heronry have one most necessary criterion - horizontal limbs for nest support.
Raccoons like to visit Great blue herons’ nests. Eggs are their quest. When a colony is located in water it makes it difficult for these predators. Not all heronaries are located in water. Locally the Schneider heronry is found away from water
George Foss and I visited the Bowen Road heronry some years ago. The odour arising from the bird filth that washed the trees and covered the ground was more present near the trees that had the most nests. What else would you expect when so many birds congregate together?
A beautiful bird, they remain a picturesque symbol of wetlands and the need for wetland conservation. Look for them this spring.
***
Ken and Norma Benner of Sunset Drive, Fort Erie are long time Killdeer enthusiasts. Ken called to report on March 15 the return of their favourite bird. They have these beautiful birds nest on their property year after year. When did your killdeers return?
No, we didn’t make it to Florida this year but Bill Morkem of Ridgeway did. Bill presented me with some nature pamphlets. That was all it took to reminisce about certain nature spots in the Sunshine state.
Most of our nature rambles have been on the Gulf side of the state. Bill’s travel south took them to the east side. Cape kennedy or Cape Canaveral are one and the same. Have you been to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge?
Memories began to flow. The Refuge is located just east of Titusville and shares a common boundary with the John F. Kennedy Space Center (Centre). Why a refuge here? Bill’s pamphlet cites these reasons -coastal location, tropic-like climate, and a wide variety of habitats. I walked this area in the ‘80’s and was impressed with the variety of bird species. We read “to date, 310 species have been identified on the refuge.”
I recall seeing bald eagles there and was enthralled with their size and beauty. They are there today on Merritt Island in growing numbers. Only they call them Southern bald eagles. Makes sense, eh? There are eight species of herons and egrets including the Great blue heron. I was told that they are there all year around. That’s my lead in for the blue herons in our area. Thanks Bill for the info.
***
‘Bizarre?’ That’s the word John Therberge, nature scientist, uses to describe the nests and nesting places of the Great blue heron. All this winter I have had calls about seeing this great bird. In fact on a few occasions I have seen a sole bird flying in slow motion against the background of a setting sun. That picture of its flight you know. Its unhurried wing beats and long trailing legs ‘bestow upon it elegance and grace.’
Why ‘bizarre?’ Have you seen a colony of nesting Great blue herons? The closest to us was behind and east of Don Schneiders’s home on Bowen Road, Stevensville. I counted over 60 plus nests some years ago. Don said, “ A lot more than that!” He should know having lived there for so many years. Some of the larger trees have been cut down and hence many nests have disappeared. How many left? I don’t know.
Across the river in Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge east of Lockport I saw my first large Great blue heron colony called a heronry. Far across the shallow waters we viewed the heronry from the Lookout parking lot we saw a stand of dead oak trees. In front of them feeding in the shallow waters were 17 or 18 herons. Behind them the oak trees which were standing in the water contained these large nests. This was my first heronry. These nest clumps located well out on the branches give the trees a cypress-like appearance. Bizarre? I think so.
Therberge tells us that a number of these large bulky stick nests be as many as eighteen existing in one tree!
What kind of tree is ideal for a colony of herons/ We are told that they can be deciduous or coniferous, live or dead. My first colony stood out so well. The white, coloured surface of the dead oak trees and those bizarre nests are a sight I won’t forget. All trees in a heronry have one most necessary criterion - horizontal limbs for nest support.
Raccoons like to visit Great blue herons’ nests. Eggs are their quest. When a colony is located in water it makes it difficult for these predators. Not all heronaries are located in water. Locally the Schneider heronry is found away from water
George Foss and I visited the Bowen Road heronry some years ago. The odour arising from the bird filth that washed the trees and covered the ground was more present near the trees that had the most nests. What else would you expect when so many birds congregate together?
A beautiful bird, they remain a picturesque symbol of wetlands and the need for wetland conservation. Look for them this spring.
***
Ken and Norma Benner of Sunset Drive, Fort Erie are long time Killdeer enthusiasts. Ken called to report on March 15 the return of their favourite bird. They have these beautiful birds nest on their property year after year. When did your killdeers return?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Spring in Marcy Woods. Why not?
nature article by Earl Plato
The time of bird singing has come to Marcy’s Woods in Greater Fort Erie. It’s been another four consecutive mornings we walked the upper and lower trails of these woods. Local people, friends and new acquaintances, nature lovers from Niagara Falls and environs were treated to great late April weather. Did I say “bird singing time?” This is trillium time too on the Marcy’s. hills and vales. On this particular morning the Van Hornes, Bud and his dog,Ursa, and I ramble along the Upper Trail. On either side of us the Large-Flowered White trilliums fill the hillsides. It is a magnificent view that surround us. We drink in the beauty. I recall the intense love that the late Dave Marr had for this photogenic setting. I like others who have come here for many years can’t get enough of this nature setting. I will return tomorrow with another group. That’s one of the joys of retirement. As we leave this day the cry of a red-tail hawk permeates the air. Then a flurry of wing beating is heard high in the trees. Milt, Fay and Bud check out the threesome of woodpeckers. “Looks too large for downies.” Milt takes out his Peterson Guide and they agree that it has to be a “Harry.” It’s been a good ramble. ***
If April is the month of promise then May is fulfillment. May is the month when everything seems to happen in nature. At Marcy’s Woods, at least to me, it is the time life in the great outdoors rises to a peak. I have said it before and repeat - May is the Birdsong Month out here. Here’s one of my flashbacks to May, 1990. “ Bird Heaven - This May day was especially good for bird watching and bird songs. Naturalist Ernie Giles has the keen ability to see birds well and has the long practiced skills to talk to many of our feathered friends. On the way to the trails we saw many rose-breasted grosbeaks. In rapid succession colours flashed by us of northern orioles, yellow warbler, pewee and most spectacular were the bright red markings of a scarlet tanager.
Once on the Bird Trail we heard the “meow” of the catbird. High in a tree below us came the repeated sound “Peter-peter” of the titmouse. Yellow warblers were passing through. We stopped for a break and Ernie stated making bird calls. There scratching its way in the underbrush was a solitary bird dressed in yellow. Ernie had called it and there just a few yards away was a Wilson’s Warbler. Remarkable skills this Ernie!
Cardinals and chickadees serenaded us. Heading back on the lower trail we heard the beautiful song of the wood thrush and then saw it. Ernie focused his glasses on a brown thrasher then on a red-eyed vireo. With a little help from him. The raucous calls of the ever present bluejay ended our May Day bird walk. Enjoy May all you nature lovers. Yes, May and then October are two my most favourite nature months.
The time of bird singing has come to Marcy’s Woods in Greater Fort Erie. It’s been another four consecutive mornings we walked the upper and lower trails of these woods. Local people, friends and new acquaintances, nature lovers from Niagara Falls and environs were treated to great late April weather. Did I say “bird singing time?” This is trillium time too on the Marcy’s. hills and vales. On this particular morning the Van Hornes, Bud and his dog,Ursa, and I ramble along the Upper Trail. On either side of us the Large-Flowered White trilliums fill the hillsides. It is a magnificent view that surround us. We drink in the beauty. I recall the intense love that the late Dave Marr had for this photogenic setting. I like others who have come here for many years can’t get enough of this nature setting. I will return tomorrow with another group. That’s one of the joys of retirement. As we leave this day the cry of a red-tail hawk permeates the air. Then a flurry of wing beating is heard high in the trees. Milt, Fay and Bud check out the threesome of woodpeckers. “Looks too large for downies.” Milt takes out his Peterson Guide and they agree that it has to be a “Harry.” It’s been a good ramble. ***
If April is the month of promise then May is fulfillment. May is the month when everything seems to happen in nature. At Marcy’s Woods, at least to me, it is the time life in the great outdoors rises to a peak. I have said it before and repeat - May is the Birdsong Month out here. Here’s one of my flashbacks to May, 1990. “ Bird Heaven - This May day was especially good for bird watching and bird songs. Naturalist Ernie Giles has the keen ability to see birds well and has the long practiced skills to talk to many of our feathered friends. On the way to the trails we saw many rose-breasted grosbeaks. In rapid succession colours flashed by us of northern orioles, yellow warbler, pewee and most spectacular were the bright red markings of a scarlet tanager.
Once on the Bird Trail we heard the “meow” of the catbird. High in a tree below us came the repeated sound “Peter-peter” of the titmouse. Yellow warblers were passing through. We stopped for a break and Ernie stated making bird calls. There scratching its way in the underbrush was a solitary bird dressed in yellow. Ernie had called it and there just a few yards away was a Wilson’s Warbler. Remarkable skills this Ernie!
Cardinals and chickadees serenaded us. Heading back on the lower trail we heard the beautiful song of the wood thrush and then saw it. Ernie focused his glasses on a brown thrasher then on a red-eyed vireo. With a little help from him. The raucous calls of the ever present bluejay ended our May Day bird walk. Enjoy May all you nature lovers. Yes, May and then October are two my most favourite nature months.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Yes, Marcy Woods
Marcy Woods. That’s a place dear to many of us. I have been “Marcyized”. My little office is replete with shots of the precious woods. I have my favourite pics enlarged and plaqued. There’s the cabin, two of my grand daughters sitting in a bed of Marcy trilliums, the pristine lake front, the bridge, the twin oaks of he Lower Trail, the Marcy steps to the higher level, and many more adorn the walls. Friend, Neil Reichelt, made a little sign for me to put on the wall, Marcy Woods 1985-2002. Why 2002?
I visited Marcy Woods (Abino Woods) with the late Fort Erie naturalist Bert Miller as a ten year old kid. I was with him when he transplanted Wild ginger at the base of some of those trees. The years passed. Then in 1985 I met Dr. George Marcy on the Halloway Bay Road. He invited me to sign in at the farm and tour the woods. Friend, Tim Seburn, told me shortly after to ramble Marcy (Abino) Woods as he had been doing. He said, “You’ll love it.” I did and a love affair for me began with a special place, Marcy Woods.
Why 2002? I thought we, the nature loving public, had lost the Woods that year. Spring 2003 will bring the answer. Theres’s room for more than 100 plus Marcy Woods lovers on Saturday, April 26th at 2:00 p.m.
Where? In Stevensville, at the Fort Erie Conservation Club, 2555 Ott Road. Bob McDonald of CBC’s “Quirks and Quarks” will speak. Bertie Elementary students, who made the excellent video on Marcy Woods, will be recognized along with political dignitaries who have supported the purchase of this Carolinian gem.
If the sale turns out for the good I’ll have Neil make a new sign.
***
Like Juncos? For curiosity sake try to find some of the other feeding sites of your flock. Watching your birds is a great hobby.
***
Bob Foley, area historian, called me this past winter to ask why the paucity of songbirds at his feeder. This appears to be a common occurrence this severe winter. West Nile virus has decimated the raptors (Owls and hawks) in the area. Why so few Cardinals and Blue jays? I haven’t seen just a few Purple finches. Have any answers?
I visited Marcy Woods (Abino Woods) with the late Fort Erie naturalist Bert Miller as a ten year old kid. I was with him when he transplanted Wild ginger at the base of some of those trees. The years passed. Then in 1985 I met Dr. George Marcy on the Halloway Bay Road. He invited me to sign in at the farm and tour the woods. Friend, Tim Seburn, told me shortly after to ramble Marcy (Abino) Woods as he had been doing. He said, “You’ll love it.” I did and a love affair for me began with a special place, Marcy Woods.
Why 2002? I thought we, the nature loving public, had lost the Woods that year. Spring 2003 will bring the answer. Theres’s room for more than 100 plus Marcy Woods lovers on Saturday, April 26th at 2:00 p.m.
Where? In Stevensville, at the Fort Erie Conservation Club, 2555 Ott Road. Bob McDonald of CBC’s “Quirks and Quarks” will speak. Bertie Elementary students, who made the excellent video on Marcy Woods, will be recognized along with political dignitaries who have supported the purchase of this Carolinian gem.
If the sale turns out for the good I’ll have Neil make a new sign.
***
Like Juncos? For curiosity sake try to find some of the other feeding sites of your flock. Watching your birds is a great hobby.
***
Bob Foley, area historian, called me this past winter to ask why the paucity of songbirds at his feeder. This appears to be a common occurrence this severe winter. West Nile virus has decimated the raptors (Owls and hawks) in the area. Why so few Cardinals and Blue jays? I haven’t seen just a few Purple finches. Have any answers?
Interfere?
Interfere? No! Earl Plato
Watching animals this past summer? What happened when one species suddenly confronted another of the same species? Did you observe how each reacted to the presence of the other? Did they act friendly, indifferent, frightened or hostile? On the family farm where we had more than ample feeders a host of a variety of bird species would eat often paying little attention to one another. But wait! Remember the pairs of Blue jays! One pair of jays would take over the feeder then a second pair would appear. “Get out of here!” Then the dominating third pair of jays would arrive and for the next ten minutes they ruled. That’s a “pecking order” and we should not interfere.
What if the animals you were observing were natural enemies? My advice is the same as Jim Arnosky, free lance writer. When you see such enemies confronting or even fighting in a natural setting, observe and don’t interfere.
Different animals react to the sight of their natural enemies differently. So? Most flee. Still some react in rage especially at nest making and raising young times. At Stevensville Conservation area I saw angry crows circling and diving at a Great horned owl resting in a tree. The noise was tremendous. I watched with my glasses as the owl perched blinking at the black birds as they tormented him. Then suddenly the owl flew east and the crows followed him. “Get out of our territory!” And it did.
Watching animals this past summer? What happened when one species suddenly confronted another of the same species? Did you observe how each reacted to the presence of the other? Did they act friendly, indifferent, frightened or hostile? On the family farm where we had more than ample feeders a host of a variety of bird species would eat often paying little attention to one another. But wait! Remember the pairs of Blue jays! One pair of jays would take over the feeder then a second pair would appear. “Get out of here!” Then the dominating third pair of jays would arrive and for the next ten minutes they ruled. That’s a “pecking order” and we should not interfere.
What if the animals you were observing were natural enemies? My advice is the same as Jim Arnosky, free lance writer. When you see such enemies confronting or even fighting in a natural setting, observe and don’t interfere.
Different animals react to the sight of their natural enemies differently. So? Most flee. Still some react in rage especially at nest making and raising young times. At Stevensville Conservation area I saw angry crows circling and diving at a Great horned owl resting in a tree. The noise was tremendous. I watched with my glasses as the owl perched blinking at the black birds as they tormented him. Then suddenly the owl flew east and the crows followed him. “Get out of our territory!” And it did.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
The Rock
Finally - the Rock Earl Plato
a repeat - Have you been to the Rock? Elaine and I finally made it to Newfoundland. For ten days we saw the flora and the fauna all across our tenth province. Gros Morne National Park provided most of the flora. July is Orchid Month in Newfoundland. Plenty of them were in this amazing and spectacular park. We spent two days at Gros Morne. You could spend easily two weeks there. I first saw the orchids of the west coast of Newfoundland via the late Dave Marr’s slides at Fort Erie Centennial Library. They were world class shots. Now we saw them first hand at Gros Morne Park. Western Brook Pond Trail starts at the large parking lot. In the far distance were the fjords nestled in the 2,000 foot high mountains. The boardwalk trail crosses bogs and low limestone ridges to the shore of the Pond. Just into the Trail were beautiful White-fringed orchids. At the top of each leafy stalk was a dense cluster of pure white flowers with deeply fringed petals. Just then a call went up for out in the tableland a bull moose and cow were seen feeding. Two other orchids that grow here are the Yellow lady’s slipper and my favourite the Showy lady’s slipper. Beautiful specimens. Back at the new Interpretive Centre we were told again that the first three weeks of July were the best weeks for orchid sightings. It was July 10th a perfect time. I stayed at the Centre to see two informative movies. Elaine took the 45 minute hike up the rocky hillside where my gimpy knees might find some difficulties. Her guide was very informative. Elaine took photos of Pitcher plants, the province’s official flowering plant. Yes, I had to buy a t-shirt with the Pitcher plant embossed on it. Further on up the coast at the Norse settlement of L‘ans aux Meadows we saw three small bog flowering plants. The guide pointed out Partridgeberry also called Mountain cranberry, Black crowberry, and Bakeapple or Cloudberry. This last plant would soon have bright yellow berries we were told. Easy to see the various colours - red, blue/black, and bright yellow. All of their fruits were edible and must have provided those Norse people of 1000 A.D. some necessary sustenance during the rugged winters. The bog areas here along the interpretive trail were covered with our traditional blueberries not yet ripe. Earl, don’t eat them if they were. It too is a national heritage site.
Next: The fauna of Newfoundland
a repeat - Have you been to the Rock? Elaine and I finally made it to Newfoundland. For ten days we saw the flora and the fauna all across our tenth province. Gros Morne National Park provided most of the flora. July is Orchid Month in Newfoundland. Plenty of them were in this amazing and spectacular park. We spent two days at Gros Morne. You could spend easily two weeks there. I first saw the orchids of the west coast of Newfoundland via the late Dave Marr’s slides at Fort Erie Centennial Library. They were world class shots. Now we saw them first hand at Gros Morne Park. Western Brook Pond Trail starts at the large parking lot. In the far distance were the fjords nestled in the 2,000 foot high mountains. The boardwalk trail crosses bogs and low limestone ridges to the shore of the Pond. Just into the Trail were beautiful White-fringed orchids. At the top of each leafy stalk was a dense cluster of pure white flowers with deeply fringed petals. Just then a call went up for out in the tableland a bull moose and cow were seen feeding. Two other orchids that grow here are the Yellow lady’s slipper and my favourite the Showy lady’s slipper. Beautiful specimens. Back at the new Interpretive Centre we were told again that the first three weeks of July were the best weeks for orchid sightings. It was July 10th a perfect time. I stayed at the Centre to see two informative movies. Elaine took the 45 minute hike up the rocky hillside where my gimpy knees might find some difficulties. Her guide was very informative. Elaine took photos of Pitcher plants, the province’s official flowering plant. Yes, I had to buy a t-shirt with the Pitcher plant embossed on it. Further on up the coast at the Norse settlement of L‘ans aux Meadows we saw three small bog flowering plants. The guide pointed out Partridgeberry also called Mountain cranberry, Black crowberry, and Bakeapple or Cloudberry. This last plant would soon have bright yellow berries we were told. Easy to see the various colours - red, blue/black, and bright yellow. All of their fruits were edible and must have provided those Norse people of 1000 A.D. some necessary sustenance during the rugged winters. The bog areas here along the interpretive trail were covered with our traditional blueberries not yet ripe. Earl, don’t eat them if they were. It too is a national heritage site.
Next: The fauna of Newfoundland
nature article
Pill Bug Earl Plato
Six year old grand daughter Ashlyn Kells is fascinated with bugs. I found her this past Saturday digging bare handed in her back yard. She was looking for bugs in the dark, rich earth and she found one. It was a dark little pill bug. I like bugs too. The pile of old and decaying cut wood just east of the Marcy cabin is gone. It was on the surface of one log that a bug was moving. It was a pill bug. It is a small and primitive creature. Ed Teale, naturalist called it , “ a terrestrial isopod crustracean..” Looking at it it suggests a prehistoric trilobite in miniature. On this May day at Marcy Woods Ashlyn and I are looking for a pill bug in a mouldering pile of logs on the Lower Trail. No luck today. The name pill bug comes from its ability to roll its brownish-gray body into a round pill-like ball. The internet tells us that it resembles an armadillo in its curling up in a ball. I learned that its scientific name of the pill bug’s family is Armadillidae! I remember seeing a white spot on that old log near the cabin. Fellow naturalist, Ernie Giles, said that it was chitin from the pill bug that had just emerged. It was the almost translucent shell of the insect. This outer coating is the exoskeleton that takes the place of the internal framework in mammals. The sequence on that May day long ago was that the pill bug free of its old covering saw its new chitin rapidly hardening. It moved slowly across the log. Look for bugs on your walks. Ashlyn and I will too.
***
I read it again. It made sense. Here it is. “Perspective colours our lives as much, if not more than other fundamentals. Keep the same old perspective and our lives devolve to a gray routine. Change our perspective and our lives take on new colour and excitement.” Do you know what I mean? Especially us seniors! Almost all of my life I have done bird watching from the ground. I gained a new perspective. High up in the canopy of white pines on Our Walk in the Clouds in Haliburton we looked down into a Red-eyed vireo nest. Down from 50 feet in the air! A new and thrilling perspective? I guess so. Don’t get me wrong I will not be climbing too many trees for these unique views of bird nests. However, I can suggest a new setting just for sighting birds that I experienced years ago. In he east side of Wainfleet Marsh at the north end of Biederman Road is a deer run. Every so often there are hunter platforms used during deer hunting season. This was spring and I climbed up to one platform and there nestled among the row of alders came the songs of birds. There just a short distance away, 20 feet above the ground, was a RED EYED VIREO looking me in the eye. Try something different in nature this year. Have a different perspective. Who knows what new outlooks you will experience. Try a new perspective in your nature endeavours.
Six year old grand daughter Ashlyn Kells is fascinated with bugs. I found her this past Saturday digging bare handed in her back yard. She was looking for bugs in the dark, rich earth and she found one. It was a dark little pill bug. I like bugs too. The pile of old and decaying cut wood just east of the Marcy cabin is gone. It was on the surface of one log that a bug was moving. It was a pill bug. It is a small and primitive creature. Ed Teale, naturalist called it , “ a terrestrial isopod crustracean..” Looking at it it suggests a prehistoric trilobite in miniature. On this May day at Marcy Woods Ashlyn and I are looking for a pill bug in a mouldering pile of logs on the Lower Trail. No luck today. The name pill bug comes from its ability to roll its brownish-gray body into a round pill-like ball. The internet tells us that it resembles an armadillo in its curling up in a ball. I learned that its scientific name of the pill bug’s family is Armadillidae! I remember seeing a white spot on that old log near the cabin. Fellow naturalist, Ernie Giles, said that it was chitin from the pill bug that had just emerged. It was the almost translucent shell of the insect. This outer coating is the exoskeleton that takes the place of the internal framework in mammals. The sequence on that May day long ago was that the pill bug free of its old covering saw its new chitin rapidly hardening. It moved slowly across the log. Look for bugs on your walks. Ashlyn and I will too.
***
I read it again. It made sense. Here it is. “Perspective colours our lives as much, if not more than other fundamentals. Keep the same old perspective and our lives devolve to a gray routine. Change our perspective and our lives take on new colour and excitement.” Do you know what I mean? Especially us seniors! Almost all of my life I have done bird watching from the ground. I gained a new perspective. High up in the canopy of white pines on Our Walk in the Clouds in Haliburton we looked down into a Red-eyed vireo nest. Down from 50 feet in the air! A new and thrilling perspective? I guess so. Don’t get me wrong I will not be climbing too many trees for these unique views of bird nests. However, I can suggest a new setting just for sighting birds that I experienced years ago. In he east side of Wainfleet Marsh at the north end of Biederman Road is a deer run. Every so often there are hunter platforms used during deer hunting season. This was spring and I climbed up to one platform and there nestled among the row of alders came the songs of birds. There just a short distance away, 20 feet above the ground, was a RED EYED VIREO looking me in the eye. Try something different in nature this year. Have a different perspective. Who knows what new outlooks you will experience. Try a new perspective in your nature endeavours.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Falcon?
Nature article Earl Plato
Tracking times - behind Ross Bearss’s place one winter day - we were walking the narrow snow covered trails in the fields to the west. Besides the obvious track prints of rabbits there were other signs to search for as we rambled. Here just off the trail was a small pile of feathers and drops of blood on the snow. A kestrel (Sparrow hawk) or some other accipiter had made a kill of a small bird. In nature in winter look for the signs such as urine markings and scat. Scat? My Peterson Guide shows drawings of the different droppings of mammals - that’s scat! They are tell tale signs. Here in Ross’s back fields we could see bushes with twigs chewed and in the woods trees with bark gnawed. Near the ponds we saw den holes in the banks and diggings in the ground where tracks led up to one. Skunk tracks? I think so. Remember this mammal on a warm winter day might wander outside for a little stroll.
Look for unusual signs not just tracks.
***
E-mails are wonderful for the most part. They let you contact relations in other countries. For example, wife, Elaine, heard from her cousin, Diane, in Bristol, England. I have heard from my cousin’s son, Irvind, from Tromso, Norway. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and then ... Earl couldn’t resist asking the young Tromso University cousin ... what about the Eagle owl?
It’s scientific name for its home in Scandinavia is Bubo bubo bubo. No kidding! According to the avian scientists this is the original setting for this owl hence the extra Bubo.
Want to hear about this giant raptor? I am fascinated with this giant owl, the world’s largest. Daughter Diane, and I saw a captive young one at Pelham Library. The Stoney Creek Raptor group had a display of raptors. This young Eagle owl was as large as our largest resident owl, the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). When you think that our largest hawk in the peninsula is the Red-tailed hawk which weighs about 2-3 lbs then learn that a male Eagle Owl can weigh up to twenty pounds you begin to picture this most enormous raptor.
I wrote in the Review some years ago about this bird. My cousin Irvind is studying to become a doctor at the University of Tromso which is at the northern range of Bubo. Irvind has been with me to Marcy Woods. He has seen the Great Blue Heron and other large birds in the Niagara Peninsula. I have sailed the fjords of Norway and have seen the huge Ravens but no Bubo bubo. My hope is that Irvind might see this giant bird. Today, January 3rd, 2003 I received an E-mail from young cousin, Irvind. He has been in the north of Norway only a few months and has not seen a Bubo bubo. Yes, he has seen the Eagle owl - several of them in a very big zoo outside of Christiansund in southern Norway. His comment - “They’re huge.” Look up the Eagle Owl on the Internet if you are interested. With Irvind in Norway willing to do a little research on Bubo bubo too, I will share what we find in a later article, eh.
***
Peregrine falcon back in Fort Erie?. That’s the report received from birder, Marci Jacklin. She says, “ ... a group of Buffleheads taking flight to avoid a PEREGRINE FALCON.” (We watched this happen from the parking lot at the mouth of the Niagara River.) That’s across from historic Fort Erie. Welcome back peregrines in 2003! Ten Tundra swans still floating in Abino Bay on January 4th. Ice shelves starting to build up along the shore. Two of the swans are immature - notice the grayish-brown colouring. As the Wild celery beds have increasing ice cover over them will the Tunrdas stay?
Tracking times - behind Ross Bearss’s place one winter day - we were walking the narrow snow covered trails in the fields to the west. Besides the obvious track prints of rabbits there were other signs to search for as we rambled. Here just off the trail was a small pile of feathers and drops of blood on the snow. A kestrel (Sparrow hawk) or some other accipiter had made a kill of a small bird. In nature in winter look for the signs such as urine markings and scat. Scat? My Peterson Guide shows drawings of the different droppings of mammals - that’s scat! They are tell tale signs. Here in Ross’s back fields we could see bushes with twigs chewed and in the woods trees with bark gnawed. Near the ponds we saw den holes in the banks and diggings in the ground where tracks led up to one. Skunk tracks? I think so. Remember this mammal on a warm winter day might wander outside for a little stroll.
Look for unusual signs not just tracks.
***
E-mails are wonderful for the most part. They let you contact relations in other countries. For example, wife, Elaine, heard from her cousin, Diane, in Bristol, England. I have heard from my cousin’s son, Irvind, from Tromso, Norway. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and then ... Earl couldn’t resist asking the young Tromso University cousin ... what about the Eagle owl?
It’s scientific name for its home in Scandinavia is Bubo bubo bubo. No kidding! According to the avian scientists this is the original setting for this owl hence the extra Bubo.
Want to hear about this giant raptor? I am fascinated with this giant owl, the world’s largest. Daughter Diane, and I saw a captive young one at Pelham Library. The Stoney Creek Raptor group had a display of raptors. This young Eagle owl was as large as our largest resident owl, the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). When you think that our largest hawk in the peninsula is the Red-tailed hawk which weighs about 2-3 lbs then learn that a male Eagle Owl can weigh up to twenty pounds you begin to picture this most enormous raptor.
I wrote in the Review some years ago about this bird. My cousin Irvind is studying to become a doctor at the University of Tromso which is at the northern range of Bubo. Irvind has been with me to Marcy Woods. He has seen the Great Blue Heron and other large birds in the Niagara Peninsula. I have sailed the fjords of Norway and have seen the huge Ravens but no Bubo bubo. My hope is that Irvind might see this giant bird. Today, January 3rd, 2003 I received an E-mail from young cousin, Irvind. He has been in the north of Norway only a few months and has not seen a Bubo bubo. Yes, he has seen the Eagle owl - several of them in a very big zoo outside of Christiansund in southern Norway. His comment - “They’re huge.” Look up the Eagle Owl on the Internet if you are interested. With Irvind in Norway willing to do a little research on Bubo bubo too, I will share what we find in a later article, eh.
***
Peregrine falcon back in Fort Erie?. That’s the report received from birder, Marci Jacklin. She says, “ ... a group of Buffleheads taking flight to avoid a PEREGRINE FALCON.” (We watched this happen from the parking lot at the mouth of the Niagara River.) That’s across from historic Fort Erie. Welcome back peregrines in 2003! Ten Tundra swans still floating in Abino Bay on January 4th. Ice shelves starting to build up along the shore. Two of the swans are immature - notice the grayish-brown colouring. As the Wild celery beds have increasing ice cover over them will the Tunrdas stay?
Best Wishes, Eh
It’s almost Christmas. 2007has been an eventful
year for this old nature blogger. Almost 300 of my
1000 pubished nature articles have been blogged
so far. I know they don’t seem to follow any pattern
time wise or subject wise. I am just sharing some of
my articles on a random basis. Hope you understand
and you will continue to read my offerings.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year! I am a believer in the Prince of Peace.
Earl Norman Plato
year for this old nature blogger. Almost 300 of my
1000 pubished nature articles have been blogged
so far. I know they don’t seem to follow any pattern
time wise or subject wise. I am just sharing some of
my articles on a random basis. Hope you understand
and you will continue to read my offerings.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year! I am a believer in the Prince of Peace.
Earl Norman Plato
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