Friday, September 28, 2007
Mushrooms Anyone?
Below are my sketches of mushrooms found in Wainfleet in the Niagara peninsula. One of my daughters lives there. Remember that a field trip to collect mushrooms requires careful attention to the ground, logs, stumps, branches , the leaves, moss, and yes, even standing trees. I know from early experience that many mushrooms are easily overlooked. They can blend in with the vegetation or often under partially covered leaves or humus on he forest floor.Some of my friends in dense covering use a cane or stick to brush plants aside and uncover mushrooms that otherwise may go undetected. The late Doctor Fuller, noted fungi scientist, said to examine a specimen properly collect the young buttons as well as the mature ones. He used wax paper packages to take his specimens back to his laboratory, He always made field notes at the site
If he could not do his study that day he would refrigerate the specimens in their bag overnight and do his study he next day. A careful and precise mushroom scientist. He inspired many of us..
If he could not do his study that day he would refrigerate the specimens in their bag overnight and do his study he next day. A careful and precise mushroom scientist. He inspired many of us..
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Gone but not Forgotten
Gone Earl Plato
It’s gone! On this 19th of September, it’s gone. Drive on South Kaobel Road where Welland, Niagara Falls, and Port Colborne come together. Just past the chicken farm to the east stood all alone an old oak tree. With its spreading limbs it hosted many raptors over many years. Red-tailed hawks as many as five or six at a time and just a month ago Elaine and I counted 35 Turkey vultures in its lofty limbs. A great place for our raptors to rest. Alas time and probably bird “guano” did the old tree in. We headed off Netherby about 1:15 p.m. that day. No trace of the old oak. Gone forever. Only a memory.
I am a tree lover. I can recall at least three trees of my childhood. The leaning snow apple with its its interior hollow was a favorite place to throw a ball in the upper opening and run to catch it at the bottom There was the old apple tree in the yard that allowed a young boy to climb up easily into its branches. Of course the swing tied to one of its lateral branches was a favourite place to swing. The third tree was a towering maple at the edge of our property near the rail track. Climb the tree and swing out on a narrow branch and see how long you could hang. As a young boy recovering from the effects of polio I spent many hours testing my strength or lack of it.
The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, took my father and me to the Comfort maple in Pelham in the 1940’s. We had a row of maples in front of our place and some of them were towering specimens but the Comfort maple was the “Mother” of all maples. See it before it’s gone.
The old oak tree of South Koabel Road is gone.
***
Fall Migration. Marci Jacklin, our Club’s bird expert, reminded me of this time of year. Bud and I finally managed to get out to Marcy Woods this past Monday morning to collect some spicebush berries. They are still ripening. While there I heard a beautiful bird song. Some years back Rob Eberly and I had heard the song. That was in the Spring migration. Was it a Wood thrush. Guess what? At the top of the list of songbirds who like Spicebush berries are the Wood thrushes! Once you heard this thrush you won’t forget it. It’s flutelike song and the rapid “pit, pit” call is what I believed we heard. .
Marci said , yes the thrushes, warblers and others are appearing in the Point Abino area. It’s Fall migration. I’m alone on this Friday and bird glasses in hand guess where I’m going?
It’s gone! On this 19th of September, it’s gone. Drive on South Kaobel Road where Welland, Niagara Falls, and Port Colborne come together. Just past the chicken farm to the east stood all alone an old oak tree. With its spreading limbs it hosted many raptors over many years. Red-tailed hawks as many as five or six at a time and just a month ago Elaine and I counted 35 Turkey vultures in its lofty limbs. A great place for our raptors to rest. Alas time and probably bird “guano” did the old tree in. We headed off Netherby about 1:15 p.m. that day. No trace of the old oak. Gone forever. Only a memory.
I am a tree lover. I can recall at least three trees of my childhood. The leaning snow apple with its its interior hollow was a favorite place to throw a ball in the upper opening and run to catch it at the bottom There was the old apple tree in the yard that allowed a young boy to climb up easily into its branches. Of course the swing tied to one of its lateral branches was a favourite place to swing. The third tree was a towering maple at the edge of our property near the rail track. Climb the tree and swing out on a narrow branch and see how long you could hang. As a young boy recovering from the effects of polio I spent many hours testing my strength or lack of it.
The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, took my father and me to the Comfort maple in Pelham in the 1940’s. We had a row of maples in front of our place and some of them were towering specimens but the Comfort maple was the “Mother” of all maples. See it before it’s gone.
The old oak tree of South Koabel Road is gone.
***
Fall Migration. Marci Jacklin, our Club’s bird expert, reminded me of this time of year. Bud and I finally managed to get out to Marcy Woods this past Monday morning to collect some spicebush berries. They are still ripening. While there I heard a beautiful bird song. Some years back Rob Eberly and I had heard the song. That was in the Spring migration. Was it a Wood thrush. Guess what? At the top of the list of songbirds who like Spicebush berries are the Wood thrushes! Once you heard this thrush you won’t forget it. It’s flutelike song and the rapid “pit, pit” call is what I believed we heard. .
Marci said , yes the thrushes, warblers and others are appearing in the Point Abino area. It’s Fall migration. I’m alone on this Friday and bird glasses in hand guess where I’m going?
Flashback Ten Years
Take a Walk
Flash Back! On our great Owl Prowl Search back in January a few years ago I met on Ott Road some American birders from near Fredonia, New York. That’s not too far away. Guess what? They along with other service clubs have adopted an old rail line over there. The man I talked with was quite enthused about the project. Apparently it’s going quite well. All ages use the trail at all seasons. Cross-country skiers to bicyclists available themselves of the six-mile run. Here in Fort Erie we would have a much longer trail. Think about it.
I was just out on a walk in Marcy’s Woods with my Junior Naturalists. One boy found a beer bottle courtesy of snow-mobilers. I have picked up wine bottles and beer cans this winter there. So? We helped clean up the woods. The Fredonia man said that they made regular trips to clean up their stretch of trail. That’s a good idea. No Fort Erie tax money involved just supportive citizens willing to spend a few hours keeping their part of our proposed trail in shape, that includes cleaning up a little horse manure too if you think it necessary...
Don’t get me wrong about snowmobiles and dirt bikes. I have had both but a walking, hiking, riding trail should not be for motorized vehicles. I know that there other places for them to ride.
Town property - town liability insurance? I don’t know. The Americans had individual portions of their trail covered by their own liability insurance at no cost to the municipality. That sounds a little complicated but we will investigate further. It would be a shame that this old stretch of C.N.R. disused track can only be used by a few ***
We were asked about the Club’s Owl Prowl recently. I missed it last year because of church commitments. This year wife, Elaine, and I were able to make it. It’s an all day affair from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dress warmly and have good footware. It was well worth it. Thanks to birder Blayne Farnan and his wife from Port Colborne we saw a Saw-whet, a male and female Screech Owl, over 30 Short-eared Owls, a Great Horned Owl on its nest, and my first, a Long-eared Owl. This couple from Port Colborne have the uncanny ability to take you back into the woods to a special place and there they show you an owl. Amazing! Last year they found a Snowy Owl. No kidding.
There were about 25 Bert Miller Nature Club members and about the same number of birders from the Buffalo area. I believe that there were about 23 cars going from location to location all as part of the Owl Prowl. You have to love these raptors.
Flash Back! On our great Owl Prowl Search back in January a few years ago I met on Ott Road some American birders from near Fredonia, New York. That’s not too far away. Guess what? They along with other service clubs have adopted an old rail line over there. The man I talked with was quite enthused about the project. Apparently it’s going quite well. All ages use the trail at all seasons. Cross-country skiers to bicyclists available themselves of the six-mile run. Here in Fort Erie we would have a much longer trail. Think about it.
I was just out on a walk in Marcy’s Woods with my Junior Naturalists. One boy found a beer bottle courtesy of snow-mobilers. I have picked up wine bottles and beer cans this winter there. So? We helped clean up the woods. The Fredonia man said that they made regular trips to clean up their stretch of trail. That’s a good idea. No Fort Erie tax money involved just supportive citizens willing to spend a few hours keeping their part of our proposed trail in shape, that includes cleaning up a little horse manure too if you think it necessary...
Don’t get me wrong about snowmobiles and dirt bikes. I have had both but a walking, hiking, riding trail should not be for motorized vehicles. I know that there other places for them to ride.
Town property - town liability insurance? I don’t know. The Americans had individual portions of their trail covered by their own liability insurance at no cost to the municipality. That sounds a little complicated but we will investigate further. It would be a shame that this old stretch of C.N.R. disused track can only be used by a few ***
We were asked about the Club’s Owl Prowl recently. I missed it last year because of church commitments. This year wife, Elaine, and I were able to make it. It’s an all day affair from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dress warmly and have good footware. It was well worth it. Thanks to birder Blayne Farnan and his wife from Port Colborne we saw a Saw-whet, a male and female Screech Owl, over 30 Short-eared Owls, a Great Horned Owl on its nest, and my first, a Long-eared Owl. This couple from Port Colborne have the uncanny ability to take you back into the woods to a special place and there they show you an owl. Amazing! Last year they found a Snowy Owl. No kidding.
There were about 25 Bert Miller Nature Club members and about the same number of birders from the Buffalo area. I believe that there were about 23 cars going from location to location all as part of the Owl Prowl. You have to love these raptors.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
1000 Islands
One brochure says 1793 Islands another says
1846. That’s far more than 1000, eh? An island is just an island. Not so. According to the local officials both Canadian and American to qualify it must have at least two acres in area with at least one tree on it to qualify as an authentic 1000 island. We saw many non-islands on our three hour boat trip. Below is a great 1000 island probably the most famous, Heart Island with .the Boldt boat house and its unfinished castle. Worth the trip to see it. This is great fishing country for the great muskies. We saw plenty of fishermen on this trip Back in town we saw the giant muskie .sculpture. The guide said that the world’s record was caught here - over 30 pounds! Recently two muskinonges were caught at this spot - 12 and 10 pounds respectively. Boggles the mind.
An island is an island is an island. Not so. Look back above. That’s no island according to the 1000 islanders in 2007.
1846. That’s far more than 1000, eh? An island is just an island. Not so. According to the local officials both Canadian and American to qualify it must have at least two acres in area with at least one tree on it to qualify as an authentic 1000 island. We saw many non-islands on our three hour boat trip. Below is a great 1000 island probably the most famous, Heart Island with .the Boldt boat house and its unfinished castle. Worth the trip to see it. This is great fishing country for the great muskies. We saw plenty of fishermen on this trip Back in town we saw the giant muskie .sculpture. The guide said that the world’s record was caught here - over 30 pounds! Recently two muskinonges were caught at this spot - 12 and 10 pounds respectively. Boggles the mind.
An island is an island is an island. Not so. Look back above. That’s no island according to the 1000 islanders in 2007.
More about Bert Miller, Fort Erie’s late, great naturalist
Any leisure time from his youth on Bert Miller spent roaming the Niagara Peninsula identifying trees, plants and shrubs. He did such a thorough job of recording botanical discoveries that McMaster University commissioned him to do a plant survey of the Niagara Peninsula. In time he shipped more than 3,000 specimens, tagged, dried and properly scientifically identified to McMaster. They had chosen the best man for this difficult job. He was founder of the Fort Erie Horticultural Society and its first president. He belonged to many naturalist clubs. The Niagara Falls Nature Club honoured him over the years in many ways. He was a botanist, a naturalist who knew all aspects of our natural world including birds. He was a most interesting teacher and speaker. He was a field man who knew the counties of Welland, Lincoln, and Haldimand probably better than any one of his day. We are proud for our nature Club to bear his name - Bert Miller.
Any leisure time from his youth on Bert Miller spent roaming the Niagara Peninsula identifying trees, plants and shrubs. He did such a thorough job of recording botanical discoveries that McMaster University commissioned him to do a plant survey of the Niagara Peninsula. In time he shipped more than 3,000 specimens, tagged, dried and properly scientifically identified to McMaster. They had chosen the best man for this difficult job. He was founder of the Fort Erie Horticultural Society and its first president. He belonged to many naturalist clubs. The Niagara Falls Nature Club honoured him over the years in many ways. He was a botanist, a naturalist who knew all aspects of our natural world including birds. He was a most interesting teacher and speaker. He was a field man who knew the counties of Welland, Lincoln, and Haldimand probably better than any one of his day. We are proud for our nature Club to bear his name - Bert Miller.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
sketching
The Garrison Road School Gang, all five of us and our wives, just came back on September 21st from the Thousand Islands. We took the three hour boat tour. Beautiful weather and a most beautiful setting. We passed the nests of one of my favourite birds, the osprey. That’s my drawing below. Here is a flashback article.
Like to draw birds? I’ve got the perfect place. It’s the second floor of the Buffalo Museum of Science. Take your sketch pad and find an appropriate mounted bird specie and take a seat. I chose an osprey perched on a branch. ( I added the fish). I have visited this ornithological section many times over the years. It’s a usually quiet place. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, encouraged me to draw birds. I was only ten years old and that early start stayed. I still sketch when I am alone. Encourage your children to sketch in nature, why not?
Like to draw birds? I’ve got the perfect place. It’s the second floor of the Buffalo Museum of Science. Take your sketch pad and find an appropriate mounted bird specie and take a seat. I chose an osprey perched on a branch. ( I added the fish). I have visited this ornithological section many times over the years. It’s a usually quiet place. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, encouraged me to draw birds. I was only ten years old and that early start stayed. I still sketch when I am alone. Encourage your children to sketch in nature, why not?
Teale Time
Finally! I had come to Trail Wood, the home of Pulitzer Prize winning nature writer, Edwin Way Teale. The four of us Canadians walked a few of the trails there on a sunny July day this summer of 2007.I had fallen in love with Teale’s nature log, A Walk Through The Year. In almost twenty years of writing a weekly nature column for the Niagara Falls Review I had quoted Teale’s works many times. Since our trip to Trail Wood in Connecticut I purchased three more of his works. I now have five sitting on my desk. The book, A Walk Through the Year, has a map of the area and many great photos by Teale. Check your library. It’s worth reading.
Larson Lore
Bert Miller Nature Club Report Jan. 16th, 2006 by Earl Plato
Professor Doug Larson, noted botanist, of Guelph University was guest speaker for the Bert Miller Nature Club of Greater Fort Erie monthly meeting was held at the Stevensville Conservation Club House.
Dr. Larson, our guest speaker, was introduced by outgoing club president Rob Eberly. Dr. Larson had spoken to us some years ago about the ancient cedars of the Niagara Escarpment. We knew that we were in for a challenging power point presentation. We were not disappointed. We learned about new findings on the origins of human habitats. His new book is entitled,
The Urban Cliff Revolution. We saw ancient and modern cliff cave sites dwelling around the world. Five Canadian scientists including Dr. Larson compared the modern high-rise towers of our urban landscapes to the cave and cliffside dwellings of our ancient ancestors. Dr. Larson went on his worldwide tour to prove their theory that our sophisticated habitats owe much to the “cave men” and “cave women” of our past. A great presentation.
Next Meeting: Kevin Murphy of the Buffalo Zoo. Elusive reptiles. Public welcomed. Feb.20h at 7:00 p.m.
Professor Doug Larson, noted botanist, of Guelph University was guest speaker for the Bert Miller Nature Club of Greater Fort Erie monthly meeting was held at the Stevensville Conservation Club House.
Dr. Larson, our guest speaker, was introduced by outgoing club president Rob Eberly. Dr. Larson had spoken to us some years ago about the ancient cedars of the Niagara Escarpment. We knew that we were in for a challenging power point presentation. We were not disappointed. We learned about new findings on the origins of human habitats. His new book is entitled,
The Urban Cliff Revolution. We saw ancient and modern cliff cave sites dwelling around the world. Five Canadian scientists including Dr. Larson compared the modern high-rise towers of our urban landscapes to the cave and cliffside dwellings of our ancient ancestors. Dr. Larson went on his worldwide tour to prove their theory that our sophisticated habitats owe much to the “cave men” and “cave women” of our past. A great presentation.
Next Meeting: Kevin Murphy of the Buffalo Zoo. Elusive reptiles. Public welcomed. Feb.20h at 7:00 p.m.
Take A Walk, Eh
Nature article Earl Plato
Do you agree with this statement? “The sequence of the falling of the leaves is like the sequence of the blooming of wild flowers.” Why? It repeats itself each year. The different times that leaves-fall in Greater Fort Erie is a characteristic of the various trees found in our communities. Ash first - maple - oak last.
Take a walk with me in the last of the October days of 2006. Near the Friendship Trail first of all we see “those elongated leaves with delicate
tintings of yellow and salmon and purple that begin descending from the White ash trees.” The wind whips down the Trail and there is a sudden leaf shower.
Next morning near Buffalo Road there is an initial layer of fallen wet ash leaves on the Trail. I read in Ed teale’s nature diary the following: “The slender (ash) leaves are like the first deliberate flakes of a snowstorm.”
***
What a view from the Friendship Trail on the Lakeshore Road segment! Have you walked it from Historic Fort Erie to Bardol Street?
Open vistas of Lake Erie and the Buffalo skyline greets the eye. Ring-billed gulls and yes, those Cormorants dot the sky. Two pairs of Mallards bobble on the water near a rocky outcrop.
This cool morning the waves are rolling in and crashing continuously on the shoreline. I like the repeated sound as the waves dash on the rocky beach. I pause to give thanks for family and friends on this beginning of Fall.
Do you like the new lights? They add to the uniqueness of the Trail.
We drove to Helena Street and the Town park. We walked to the beach. The shore was completely clear from algae and debris. Here there was hardly any wave action. It was very peaceful. I sat on the bench and watched some of my grandchildren skip flat rocks. We look forward to seeing the Trail go through old Erie Beach. The plans for this connecting stretch will be outstanding when completed. You should be most pleasantly surprised. Thank you Town for seeing that the Friendship Trail meets the needs of many people.
***
After all it’s October - Some leaves are falling as a result of the overly dry summer and the inevitable increasing times of colder weather and frost.
Into Shagbark Trail this cool morning and I notice something. Is there a perceptible increase in my view in the woods? I think so. The fallen leaves are the clue. “New vistas are opening up.” Secret places are revealed to me. I see a nest to my right where the Bloodroots flower each year. Hidden to me last week I examine its finely woven nest. Nestled in the ‘V’ notch of a young ash now almost denuded I believe that it is an exquisite Goldfinch nest.
Like the opening pages of a new novel, Shagbark Woods is spreading out. As November approaches I will learn progressively something new about something old about this place. Keep searching in nature.
Do you agree with this statement? “The sequence of the falling of the leaves is like the sequence of the blooming of wild flowers.” Why? It repeats itself each year. The different times that leaves-fall in Greater Fort Erie is a characteristic of the various trees found in our communities. Ash first - maple - oak last.
Take a walk with me in the last of the October days of 2006. Near the Friendship Trail first of all we see “those elongated leaves with delicate
tintings of yellow and salmon and purple that begin descending from the White ash trees.” The wind whips down the Trail and there is a sudden leaf shower.
Next morning near Buffalo Road there is an initial layer of fallen wet ash leaves on the Trail. I read in Ed teale’s nature diary the following: “The slender (ash) leaves are like the first deliberate flakes of a snowstorm.”
***
What a view from the Friendship Trail on the Lakeshore Road segment! Have you walked it from Historic Fort Erie to Bardol Street?
Open vistas of Lake Erie and the Buffalo skyline greets the eye. Ring-billed gulls and yes, those Cormorants dot the sky. Two pairs of Mallards bobble on the water near a rocky outcrop.
This cool morning the waves are rolling in and crashing continuously on the shoreline. I like the repeated sound as the waves dash on the rocky beach. I pause to give thanks for family and friends on this beginning of Fall.
Do you like the new lights? They add to the uniqueness of the Trail.
We drove to Helena Street and the Town park. We walked to the beach. The shore was completely clear from algae and debris. Here there was hardly any wave action. It was very peaceful. I sat on the bench and watched some of my grandchildren skip flat rocks. We look forward to seeing the Trail go through old Erie Beach. The plans for this connecting stretch will be outstanding when completed. You should be most pleasantly surprised. Thank you Town for seeing that the Friendship Trail meets the needs of many people.
***
After all it’s October - Some leaves are falling as a result of the overly dry summer and the inevitable increasing times of colder weather and frost.
Into Shagbark Trail this cool morning and I notice something. Is there a perceptible increase in my view in the woods? I think so. The fallen leaves are the clue. “New vistas are opening up.” Secret places are revealed to me. I see a nest to my right where the Bloodroots flower each year. Hidden to me last week I examine its finely woven nest. Nestled in the ‘V’ notch of a young ash now almost denuded I believe that it is an exquisite Goldfinch nest.
Like the opening pages of a new novel, Shagbark Woods is spreading out. As November approaches I will learn progressively something new about something old about this place. Keep searching in nature.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Look at the Red Head below
Nature sketches Earl Plato
The old towering oak on South Kaobel Road on the most eastern boundary of Welland is gone and with it the home for some unusual birds. On the back way to Welland from Ridgeway we take this road. What a tree it was! As many as thirty of these strange large birds would roost in it. Next door to the oak was a chicken farm. We would use our binoculars and focus on one of these birds. These huge birds with their red hairless heads have a wing span up to six feet. You know what they are - Turkey vultures. These birds are carrion eaters. They have excellent sight but even more they have super sensitive smelling ability.
Watch these vultures as they float around in a “V” tilt in a circular pattern. They have detected the odour of some decaying animal. Soon more will come to the site to eat. Where do they roost at night in Greater Fort Erie?
The old towering oak on South Kaobel Road on the most eastern boundary of Welland is gone and with it the home for some unusual birds. On the back way to Welland from Ridgeway we take this road. What a tree it was! As many as thirty of these strange large birds would roost in it. Next door to the oak was a chicken farm. We would use our binoculars and focus on one of these birds. These huge birds with their red hairless heads have a wing span up to six feet. You know what they are - Turkey vultures. These birds are carrion eaters. They have excellent sight but even more they have super sensitive smelling ability.
Watch these vultures as they float around in a “V” tilt in a circular pattern. They have detected the odour of some decaying animal. Soon more will come to the site to eat. Where do they roost at night in Greater Fort Erie?
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Oak Leaves
NATURE ARTICLE - NATURE NOTES - by Earl Plato
OAK LEAVES - A NEW YEAR'S LESSON
George Foss of Sherkston and I walked the trails of the Stevensville Conservation Park in December. We passed by various oaks, red, white and two large Burr oaks. They all had one thing in common. There were varying numbers of leaves still on each of their branches. A LESSON FROM THE OAK TREE
Have you ever noticed that in late fall and winter some oak trees retain crisp, dry leaves long after maples, the elms and the walnuts have become bare skeletons? When we return to the Stevensville site in spring we will find that the strong winter winds and the early spring rains have not stripped the oak branches completely. This is what I read recently in a devotional booklet,
"As springtime progresses, something wonderful happens. Tiny little oak leaf buds start appearing at the tips of the twigs, pushing off the dried remnants of the preceding season. What the winds and rains could not do without, the forces of new life do from within."
Now you don't have to wait to spring in order to make new resolutions for 1994. We all know that at times old habits, that are not essentially good for us, cling to our lives with the same tenacity as those old oak leaves. The message is: "The best way to get rid of a bad habit is to start a good habit." The writer also says, "Rely on God and he will give you the strength to push off our old habits." That's good advice.
STEVENSVILLE CONSERVATION AREA
I had been here a few weeks before to see the Conservation Authority's new permanent display board. There's a map and some descriptions of what you'll see. George had never been to the conservation area before or walked the paths. He pointed on the map to the pickerel hatching pond and I was not sharp enough to tell him where it was. We started out. It was not the best day to do so for the sun never shone and I remind you that there were slippery spots along the trails. Black-capped chickadees greeted us and in the distance a Blue Jay hollered his recognition of us. We walked across the new bridge to Mount Stevensville ( the man made hill) and from its height looked out over the December landscape. George found some fox droppings on the hill trail. Once down the hill he asked me about one of the plants still green and growing close to the ground. Believe me, I had learned from Ernie Giles what it was but alas the old memory failed me. George identified some wild barley grass. I thought that it might be rye grass but my book on grasses failed to verify which of us was right. Looks like we will have to return again. I should have taken a sample home for study. He mentioned the pickerel pond again. I told him that the lagoon to our left was stocked with fish in May. I still hadn't caught on to where the pickerel hatchery was.
We returned and walked along the edge of the creek and crossed the bridge where the Black Creek gets one of its two main sources. This one branch had its head water from Humberstone Marsh in Port Colborne. We turned right and took the Inner Trail. This is a pleasant walk high on the bank. Below us and to our right, easily seen through the leafless trees was, the Creek Trail following the meandering of Black Creek. The two of us stirred up the debris under a large Bur Oak. Note: I apologize to the Fort Erie Conservation Club for insisting on spelling Bur with two "r's." Their sign is correct. As hard as we looked we found no acorns with the unique "bur" edges. We reached the junction of the three Trails, the Outer, Inner, and Creek. Along the way in this area someone had tied pieces of wool to the branches of trees in a haphazard fashion. Why? There is a little bench here and there once was a bird feeding station. Again chickadees flitted in the underbrush and sang their familiar song. We headed north along the outer trail. Someone had cut back the branches of encroaching evergreens. At first we thought someone had entered the Conservation area for some Christmas trees. Not.
George asked what the trees with the almost birch - like trunk colour was. I said aspen, trembling aspen. The "trembling" part was gone. I had seen these trees some weeks before when their leaves with their light under colour were plentiful and would move in the slightest breeze and give that "trembling" effect. There were three clumps of young aspens as we headed back into the evergreen growths. Now, I never admit to being lost. If we had continued and reached the inner trail we would have seen the little bridge and the way back to the car. Instead I told George we would have to backtrack. We did and reached the Creek Trail. This trail was a little slippery. The water was flowing freely. Someone had used railway ties to "shore up" the creek banks in order to slow down the erosion.
We arrived back at the little bridge and followed the hilly Cline Nature trail back to the car. Autumn olive and high bush cranberry bushes lined the creek here. A feeder station at the tree had plenty of chickadees and some slate coloured juncos.
We looked at the map on the Conservation Authority sign again and I then realized that the Pickerel Hatchery was behind the Club building. The pond was dredged and almost empty. Drain pipes from the two outer buildings led into the pond. Construction of an addition was underway.
Take some time to visit the Stevensville Conservation Authority Park. I am sure that once you enjoy the peacefulness of the setting you will return again.
THE SCHNEIDER'S HERONRY - THAT SAME DAY
I am looking at some photos I recently took of Great Blue Heron nests. I am not talking about five or ten roughly formed nests of sticks. At 11:03 a.m. on that same day of our visit to Stevensville Conservation Area we pulled into Don Schneider's old place on Bowen Road. Let me explain that the Schneiders no longer live here.
ASK PERMISSION FIRST
I asked permission to enter the wet area behind the property where the heronry was located. You can see about 18 nests from Bowen Road. Always seek permission when entering private land. A SIGHT TO BEHOLD
George walked on ahead as I fiddled with my camera and mini-tape recorder. We had to navigate bodies of water but the sight that was unfolding was amazing. I had seen perhaps 25 heron nests in the Alabama Swamp outside of Lockport, New York. George called out, "There's at least 40 here!" He was right. As we walked on we counted 20 more. I took my bird glasses and focused in on the nests. We both agreed that they were rough structures indeed and wondered how the young chicks could remain safe.
WRITER'S NOTE: Great Blue Herons have from 3-5 pale greenish-blue eggs in a nest lined with finer material on a platform of sticks.
We couldn't see this finer material in the nest but remember this was December. One tree had five nests in it. If you have had heard the hoarse, guttural squack of this giant bird you can imagine the level of noise in just this one tree if all the nests were inhabited. The question: When the herons return from the South do they use the same nest again? We hope to answer that question in Spring of 1994.
We drove down Winger Road past the Darleen Wildlife Refuge of the Schneiders. Hundreds of Canada Geese surrounded their pond. We looked to our right, eastwards, into the woods and spotted a few more heron nests. We estimated that in all there were over 60 nests. Amazing, and here in Greater Fort Erie.
Remember nature is at your doorstep anytime of year. Best wishes for the New Year and take some time to enjoy the outdoors in '94.
OAK LEAVES - A NEW YEAR'S LESSON
George Foss of Sherkston and I walked the trails of the Stevensville Conservation Park in December. We passed by various oaks, red, white and two large Burr oaks. They all had one thing in common. There were varying numbers of leaves still on each of their branches. A LESSON FROM THE OAK TREE
Have you ever noticed that in late fall and winter some oak trees retain crisp, dry leaves long after maples, the elms and the walnuts have become bare skeletons? When we return to the Stevensville site in spring we will find that the strong winter winds and the early spring rains have not stripped the oak branches completely. This is what I read recently in a devotional booklet,
"As springtime progresses, something wonderful happens. Tiny little oak leaf buds start appearing at the tips of the twigs, pushing off the dried remnants of the preceding season. What the winds and rains could not do without, the forces of new life do from within."
Now you don't have to wait to spring in order to make new resolutions for 1994. We all know that at times old habits, that are not essentially good for us, cling to our lives with the same tenacity as those old oak leaves. The message is: "The best way to get rid of a bad habit is to start a good habit." The writer also says, "Rely on God and he will give you the strength to push off our old habits." That's good advice.
STEVENSVILLE CONSERVATION AREA
I had been here a few weeks before to see the Conservation Authority's new permanent display board. There's a map and some descriptions of what you'll see. George had never been to the conservation area before or walked the paths. He pointed on the map to the pickerel hatching pond and I was not sharp enough to tell him where it was. We started out. It was not the best day to do so for the sun never shone and I remind you that there were slippery spots along the trails. Black-capped chickadees greeted us and in the distance a Blue Jay hollered his recognition of us. We walked across the new bridge to Mount Stevensville ( the man made hill) and from its height looked out over the December landscape. George found some fox droppings on the hill trail. Once down the hill he asked me about one of the plants still green and growing close to the ground. Believe me, I had learned from Ernie Giles what it was but alas the old memory failed me. George identified some wild barley grass. I thought that it might be rye grass but my book on grasses failed to verify which of us was right. Looks like we will have to return again. I should have taken a sample home for study. He mentioned the pickerel pond again. I told him that the lagoon to our left was stocked with fish in May. I still hadn't caught on to where the pickerel hatchery was.
We returned and walked along the edge of the creek and crossed the bridge where the Black Creek gets one of its two main sources. This one branch had its head water from Humberstone Marsh in Port Colborne. We turned right and took the Inner Trail. This is a pleasant walk high on the bank. Below us and to our right, easily seen through the leafless trees was, the Creek Trail following the meandering of Black Creek. The two of us stirred up the debris under a large Bur Oak. Note: I apologize to the Fort Erie Conservation Club for insisting on spelling Bur with two "r's." Their sign is correct. As hard as we looked we found no acorns with the unique "bur" edges. We reached the junction of the three Trails, the Outer, Inner, and Creek. Along the way in this area someone had tied pieces of wool to the branches of trees in a haphazard fashion. Why? There is a little bench here and there once was a bird feeding station. Again chickadees flitted in the underbrush and sang their familiar song. We headed north along the outer trail. Someone had cut back the branches of encroaching evergreens. At first we thought someone had entered the Conservation area for some Christmas trees. Not.
George asked what the trees with the almost birch - like trunk colour was. I said aspen, trembling aspen. The "trembling" part was gone. I had seen these trees some weeks before when their leaves with their light under colour were plentiful and would move in the slightest breeze and give that "trembling" effect. There were three clumps of young aspens as we headed back into the evergreen growths. Now, I never admit to being lost. If we had continued and reached the inner trail we would have seen the little bridge and the way back to the car. Instead I told George we would have to backtrack. We did and reached the Creek Trail. This trail was a little slippery. The water was flowing freely. Someone had used railway ties to "shore up" the creek banks in order to slow down the erosion.
We arrived back at the little bridge and followed the hilly Cline Nature trail back to the car. Autumn olive and high bush cranberry bushes lined the creek here. A feeder station at the tree had plenty of chickadees and some slate coloured juncos.
We looked at the map on the Conservation Authority sign again and I then realized that the Pickerel Hatchery was behind the Club building. The pond was dredged and almost empty. Drain pipes from the two outer buildings led into the pond. Construction of an addition was underway.
Take some time to visit the Stevensville Conservation Authority Park. I am sure that once you enjoy the peacefulness of the setting you will return again.
THE SCHNEIDER'S HERONRY - THAT SAME DAY
I am looking at some photos I recently took of Great Blue Heron nests. I am not talking about five or ten roughly formed nests of sticks. At 11:03 a.m. on that same day of our visit to Stevensville Conservation Area we pulled into Don Schneider's old place on Bowen Road. Let me explain that the Schneiders no longer live here.
ASK PERMISSION FIRST
I asked permission to enter the wet area behind the property where the heronry was located. You can see about 18 nests from Bowen Road. Always seek permission when entering private land. A SIGHT TO BEHOLD
George walked on ahead as I fiddled with my camera and mini-tape recorder. We had to navigate bodies of water but the sight that was unfolding was amazing. I had seen perhaps 25 heron nests in the Alabama Swamp outside of Lockport, New York. George called out, "There's at least 40 here!" He was right. As we walked on we counted 20 more. I took my bird glasses and focused in on the nests. We both agreed that they were rough structures indeed and wondered how the young chicks could remain safe.
WRITER'S NOTE: Great Blue Herons have from 3-5 pale greenish-blue eggs in a nest lined with finer material on a platform of sticks.
We couldn't see this finer material in the nest but remember this was December. One tree had five nests in it. If you have had heard the hoarse, guttural squack of this giant bird you can imagine the level of noise in just this one tree if all the nests were inhabited. The question: When the herons return from the South do they use the same nest again? We hope to answer that question in Spring of 1994.
We drove down Winger Road past the Darleen Wildlife Refuge of the Schneiders. Hundreds of Canada Geese surrounded their pond. We looked to our right, eastwards, into the woods and spotted a few more heron nests. We estimated that in all there were over 60 nests. Amazing, and here in Greater Fort Erie.
Remember nature is at your doorstep anytime of year. Best wishes for the New Year and take some time to enjoy the outdoors in '94.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Florida Scene Boyd Hill
nature article Earl Plato
A trip to the Toronto Zoo or the Buffalo Zoo helps one to refresh memories. Here is one of those flashbacks that stand out in my nature recollections.
As we drove east from the Boyd Hill Nature Sanctuary in St. Petersburg, Florida we came to a municipal golf course. I looked to my left in the concrete floodway that ran through the course. There was an eight foot or so alligator basking in the sunlight of the shallow water. Remember this wasn’t a private course so I guess he felt at home. A police car was at the scene. Apparently the “gator’s” presence had been reported.
Why was he here? It is illegal anywhere in Florida to feed alligators. They are usually fearful of people., however, they can become attracted to people, IF FED. Once an alligator loses its natural fear of humans it becomes an aggressive and potentially dangerous nuisance. We heard later on T-V that the alligator was caged and removed to a more natural location. Can you imagine some lousy Canadian golfer like me trying to fish his ball out of that ditch! I wouldn’t be looking for just its nose, eyes and a bit of its back.
The American alligator (mississippiensis) has a record reported length of nineteen feet two inches. Wow! Most measure six to eight feet as the one we had just seen. At this point of an alligator wandering onto a golf course something had to be done to protect unsuspecting people and it was. Later in the week we drove through Ding Darling Nature Refuge on Sanibel Island in southern Florida.. This time we saw plenty of alligators as we drove through the refuge. Here is the write-up we received. “Hundreds of tough, dark-colored, rectangles form the alligator’s protective hide... Its food is fish, turtles, raccoons. egrets, herons, anhingas and other animals.” Did it say herons. My camera caught one of the Great blue herons walking around a good-sized alligator as it lay basking on the bank. I found it hard to comprehend how a “gator” could move fast enough. Read on.
“Behavior: Being able to produce speeds on land of up to 10 m.p.h. for short distances, the alligator may jump its prey or quietly stalk an unsuspecting “critter.” Do not get any closer than 15 feet to an alligator.” That blue heron was within 10 feet!
We looked for worn spots on the bank of this fresh water stream which alligators prefer. These large spots indicate a favourite sunning spot. Yes, there were a number on their “spots” sunning themselves and two floating like old logs on the surface of the calm water.
Female alligators build big mounds of vegetation in which to bury their eggs. The sun then incubates the eggs. When the young hatch, the mother protects them for several months. We looked down a side trail and found some yellow-striped baby “gators” just off the edge of the thick vegetation. We weren’t the only ones interested in seeing alligator offspring. But wait! Where was the mother? The other curious camera people stayed and I decided at my age can I run 10 m.p.h. any more? This was truly alligator country and I respect their sovereignty, eh! Back to the car.
nature article Earl Plato
A trip to the Toronto Zoo or the Buffalo Zoo helps one to refresh memories. Here is one of those flashbacks that stand out in my nature recollections.
As we drove east from the Boyd Hill Nature Sanctuary in St. Petersburg, Florida we came to a municipal golf course. I looked to my left in the concrete floodway that ran through the course. There was an eight foot or so alligator basking in the sunlight of the shallow water. Remember this wasn’t a private course so I guess he felt at home. A police car was at the scene. Apparently the “gator’s” presence had been reported.
Why was he here? It is illegal anywhere in Florida to feed alligators. They are usually fearful of people., however, they can become attracted to people, IF FED. Once an alligator loses its natural fear of humans it becomes an aggressive and potentially dangerous nuisance. We heard later on T-V that the alligator was caged and removed to a more natural location. Can you imagine some lousy Canadian golfer like me trying to fish his ball out of that ditch! I wouldn’t be looking for just its nose, eyes and a bit of its back.
The American alligator (mississippiensis) has a record reported length of nineteen feet two inches. Wow! Most measure six to eight feet as the one we had just seen. At this point of an alligator wandering onto a golf course something had to be done to protect unsuspecting people and it was.
Later in the week we drove through Ding Darling Nature Refuge on Sanibel Island in southern Florida.. This time we saw plenty of alligators as we drove through the refuge. Here is the write-up we received. “Hundreds of tough, dark-colored, rectangles form the alligator’s protective hide... Its food is fish, turtles, raccoons. egrets, herons, anhingas and other animals.” Did it say herons. My camera caught one of the Great blue herons walking around a good-sized alligator as it lay basking on the bank. I found it hard to comprehend how a “gator” could move fast enough. Read on.
“Behavior: Being able to produce speeds on land of up to 10 m.p.h. for short distances, the alligator may jump its prey or quietly stalk an unsuspecting “critter.” Do not get any closer than 15 feet to an alligator.” That blue heron was within 10 feet!
We looked for worn spots on the bank of this fresh water stream which alligators prefer. These large spots indicate a favourite sunning spot. Yes, there were a number on their “spots” sunning themselves and two floating like old logs on the surface of the calm water.
Female alligators build big mounds of vegetation in which to bury their eggs. The sun then incubates the eggs. When the young hatch, the mother protects them for several months. We looked down a side trail and found some yellow-striped baby “gators” just off the edge of the thick vegetation. We weren’t the only ones interested in seeing alligator offspring. But wait! Where was the mother? The other curious camera people stayed and I decided at my age can I run 10 m.p.h. any more? This was truly alligator country and I respect their sovereignty, eh! Back to the car.
Writer’s Note: Often the American alligator is confused with the long, pointed-nosed crocodile of Africa and South America. The alligator has a rounded nose. So?
A trip to the Toronto Zoo or the Buffalo Zoo helps one to refresh memories. Here is one of those flashbacks that stand out in my nature recollections.
As we drove east from the Boyd Hill Nature Sanctuary in St. Petersburg, Florida we came to a municipal golf course. I looked to my left in the concrete floodway that ran through the course. There was an eight foot or so alligator basking in the sunlight of the shallow water. Remember this wasn’t a private course so I guess he felt at home. A police car was at the scene. Apparently the “gator’s” presence had been reported.
Why was he here? It is illegal anywhere in Florida to feed alligators. They are usually fearful of people., however, they can become attracted to people, IF FED. Once an alligator loses its natural fear of humans it becomes an aggressive and potentially dangerous nuisance. We heard later on T-V that the alligator was caged and removed to a more natural location. Can you imagine some lousy Canadian golfer like me trying to fish his ball out of that ditch! I wouldn’t be looking for just its nose, eyes and a bit of its back.
The American alligator (mississippiensis) has a record reported length of nineteen feet two inches. Wow! Most measure six to eight feet as the one we had just seen. At this point of an alligator wandering onto a golf course something had to be done to protect unsuspecting people and it was. Later in the week we drove through Ding Darling Nature Refuge on Sanibel Island in southern Florida.. This time we saw plenty of alligators as we drove through the refuge. Here is the write-up we received. “Hundreds of tough, dark-colored, rectangles form the alligator’s protective hide... Its food is fish, turtles, raccoons. egrets, herons, anhingas and other animals.” Did it say herons. My camera caught one of the Great blue herons walking around a good-sized alligator as it lay basking on the bank. I found it hard to comprehend how a “gator” could move fast enough. Read on.
“Behavior: Being able to produce speeds on land of up to 10 m.p.h. for short distances, the alligator may jump its prey or quietly stalk an unsuspecting “critter.” Do not get any closer than 15 feet to an alligator.” That blue heron was within 10 feet!
We looked for worn spots on the bank of this fresh water stream which alligators prefer. These large spots indicate a favourite sunning spot. Yes, there were a number on their “spots” sunning themselves and two floating like old logs on the surface of the calm water.
Female alligators build big mounds of vegetation in which to bury their eggs. The sun then incubates the eggs. When the young hatch, the mother protects them for several months. We looked down a side trail and found some yellow-striped baby “gators” just off the edge of the thick vegetation. We weren’t the only ones interested in seeing alligator offspring. But wait! Where was the mother? The other curious camera people stayed and I decided at my age can I run 10 m.p.h. any more? This was truly alligator country and I respect their sovereignty, eh! Back to the car.
nature article Earl Plato
A trip to the Toronto Zoo or the Buffalo Zoo helps one to refresh memories. Here is one of those flashbacks that stand out in my nature recollections.
As we drove east from the Boyd Hill Nature Sanctuary in St. Petersburg, Florida we came to a municipal golf course. I looked to my left in the concrete floodway that ran through the course. There was an eight foot or so alligator basking in the sunlight of the shallow water. Remember this wasn’t a private course so I guess he felt at home. A police car was at the scene. Apparently the “gator’s” presence had been reported.
Why was he here? It is illegal anywhere in Florida to feed alligators. They are usually fearful of people., however, they can become attracted to people, IF FED. Once an alligator loses its natural fear of humans it becomes an aggressive and potentially dangerous nuisance. We heard later on T-V that the alligator was caged and removed to a more natural location. Can you imagine some lousy Canadian golfer like me trying to fish his ball out of that ditch! I wouldn’t be looking for just its nose, eyes and a bit of its back.
The American alligator (mississippiensis) has a record reported length of nineteen feet two inches. Wow! Most measure six to eight feet as the one we had just seen. At this point of an alligator wandering onto a golf course something had to be done to protect unsuspecting people and it was.
Later in the week we drove through Ding Darling Nature Refuge on Sanibel Island in southern Florida.. This time we saw plenty of alligators as we drove through the refuge. Here is the write-up we received. “Hundreds of tough, dark-colored, rectangles form the alligator’s protective hide... Its food is fish, turtles, raccoons. egrets, herons, anhingas and other animals.” Did it say herons. My camera caught one of the Great blue herons walking around a good-sized alligator as it lay basking on the bank. I found it hard to comprehend how a “gator” could move fast enough. Read on.
“Behavior: Being able to produce speeds on land of up to 10 m.p.h. for short distances, the alligator may jump its prey or quietly stalk an unsuspecting “critter.” Do not get any closer than 15 feet to an alligator.” That blue heron was within 10 feet!
We looked for worn spots on the bank of this fresh water stream which alligators prefer. These large spots indicate a favourite sunning spot. Yes, there were a number on their “spots” sunning themselves and two floating like old logs on the surface of the calm water.
Female alligators build big mounds of vegetation in which to bury their eggs. The sun then incubates the eggs. When the young hatch, the mother protects them for several months. We looked down a side trail and found some yellow-striped baby “gators” just off the edge of the thick vegetation. We weren’t the only ones interested in seeing alligator offspring. But wait! Where was the mother? The other curious camera people stayed and I decided at my age can I run 10 m.p.h. any more? This was truly alligator country and I respect their sovereignty, eh! Back to the car.
Writer’s Note: Often the American alligator is confused with the long, pointed-nosed crocodile of Africa and South America. The alligator has a rounded nose. So?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sanibel
Sanibel Island, Florida Earl Plato
If you can’t revisit those nature places you enjoyed in the past, know someone who does. Next door neighbours, Jim and Mary Burrison, spent an October week in one of my favorite places, Sanibel Island, on Florida’s lower west coast. This was a repeat visit to this treasure island just off Fort Meyers. They returned home recently and sent over two colourful magazines for me to peruse.
Elaine and I spent time on Sanibel Island some years ago. Our goal was to visit “Ding” Darling Nature Center, a 6,000 plus acre site. In our rental car we crossed over the toll causeway. These recent magazines brought back vivid memories about “Ding “Darling Nature Center.
We searched in the brochures years ago for an inexpensive trip. We found one for a week’s stay plus a brand new rental car in Florida. Goal- visit nature centers along the state’s west coast. I know American exchange but this deal was so good that exchange was not a great factor. So we eventually arrived at Sanibel Island and “Ding” Darling Nature Visitor Center.
Today according to the Burrison’s 2001 magazines the Visitor Center is brand new. The old one was impressive enough in my estimation. What? Cost of admission is still $5 per car! That’s what we paid almost ten years ago.
My old notes say that the refuge is home to about 300 species of birds, 50 types of reptiles, and some 32 mammal species. We did not rent a narrated tape. We just drove along shell-paved Wildlife Drive and wended our way along the Everglades-type-environment. This is a “Stop and Look” drive.
Alligators everywhere! How close do you get to them? Not too close. Some avid photographers approached these reptiles up close. Now they were not monster types but 6-8 feet in length. Just the same those gaping teeth filled jaws made us be wary. I looked for one of my favourite birds, the Osprey. None in the two days we were there in mid-November. However, there was an observation tower that afforded an osprey’s-eye perspective, Down below were many Snowy egrets and yes, Blue herons. There feeding in the shallows were the beautiful Roseate spoonbills. Yes, I snapped a shot. The magazine says, “On a good day, you may spot Bald eagles, Red-shouldered hawks, white pelicans (not brown) and Pileated woodpeckers.” This is a bird heaven and well worth the trip. Fly? I think that I’ll wait a while, eh.
If you can’t revisit those nature places you enjoyed in the past, know someone who does. Next door neighbours, Jim and Mary Burrison, spent an October week in one of my favorite places, Sanibel Island, on Florida’s lower west coast. This was a repeat visit to this treasure island just off Fort Meyers. They returned home recently and sent over two colourful magazines for me to peruse.
Elaine and I spent time on Sanibel Island some years ago. Our goal was to visit “Ding” Darling Nature Center, a 6,000 plus acre site. In our rental car we crossed over the toll causeway. These recent magazines brought back vivid memories about “Ding “Darling Nature Center.
We searched in the brochures years ago for an inexpensive trip. We found one for a week’s stay plus a brand new rental car in Florida. Goal- visit nature centers along the state’s west coast. I know American exchange but this deal was so good that exchange was not a great factor. So we eventually arrived at Sanibel Island and “Ding” Darling Nature Visitor Center.
Today according to the Burrison’s 2001 magazines the Visitor Center is brand new. The old one was impressive enough in my estimation. What? Cost of admission is still $5 per car! That’s what we paid almost ten years ago.
My old notes say that the refuge is home to about 300 species of birds, 50 types of reptiles, and some 32 mammal species. We did not rent a narrated tape. We just drove along shell-paved Wildlife Drive and wended our way along the Everglades-type-environment. This is a “Stop and Look” drive.
Alligators everywhere! How close do you get to them? Not too close. Some avid photographers approached these reptiles up close. Now they were not monster types but 6-8 feet in length. Just the same those gaping teeth filled jaws made us be wary. I looked for one of my favourite birds, the Osprey. None in the two days we were there in mid-November. However, there was an observation tower that afforded an osprey’s-eye perspective, Down below were many Snowy egrets and yes, Blue herons. There feeding in the shallows were the beautiful Roseate spoonbills. Yes, I snapped a shot. The magazine says, “On a good day, you may spot Bald eagles, Red-shouldered hawks, white pelicans (not brown) and Pileated woodpeckers.” This is a bird heaven and well worth the trip. Fly? I think that I’ll wait a while, eh.
Rude? Why?
RUDE BIRD BEHAVIOUR - WHY?
We enjoyed for years watching the winter activities at our bird feeders from the farm house window. I had converted an old picnic table to a spacious bird feeder by placing plywood strips around the perimeter. I could pour large amounts of wildbird feed and cracked corn on the table and it would stay within the confines of the plywood borders. I had used chicken wire and bent it into a circular shape after putting a half pound of margarine into it. All kinds of birds came to our feeders including squirrels. Rude behaviour was commonplace. Let me explain. Part way through the feeding exertions of the smaller birds a pair of colourful bluejays would often arrive, sometimes two or three pairs of them, and muscle their way to the centre of the feeding table. We watched on occasion as a larger pair of jays landed and took over the area where most of the feed had been dumped.
In the wire cage where the margarine or suet was suspended the black-capped chickadees would flee to a nearby branch when a pair of downy woodpeckers took over. Nuthatches would await their turns. Again this was a common occurrence during the winter season but some of us as witnesses to such behaviour might say, "How rude of those larger birds!"
nuthatch at a feeder
Kevin Cook, a free lance nature writer, gives some insight as he contends two seasonal events may help to explain this phenomenon.
First, he says that many people report seeing "rude" behaviour among birds during winter months. Moreover, he continues, with the assumption that during winter people expect to see birds at feeders and thus notice bird behaviour more closely..
Secondly, seasonal flocking brings birds into proximity where they can act rudely to one another. Cook says that many bird species seasonally exchange their individual lifestyles for collective lifestyles. They flock together during winter even though they spend their spring and summer defending territories against their own kind. How come? Cook says that these behaviours contrast so starkly that one could imagine a great cosmic switch had been thrown somewhere. Switch on and the birds behave independently; switch off and the birds behave collectively. Yes, a cosmic switch does exist and is actually called photoperiodism.
WHAT IS THIS PHOTOPERIODISM?
The natural, God-given, process of photoperiodism has been recognized for countless centuries. The Bible talks about "evening being light." On about March 21st we have equal day and night and on about June 21st we have the greatest amount of daylight. Summer has arrived. Daily hours of daylight and darkness vary cyclically, and therefore predictably through a calendar year. With the exception of those species that inhabit caves and the great, dark depths of lakes and seas, earth life responds according to how much sunlight it absorbs.
With much exposure to sunlight an organism produces a certain set of hormones in higher quantities, and they dominate corresponding life functions. Make sense? As the supply of sunshine dwindles - Sept. 21st and then Dec. 21st, when the least amount of sunshine in our area is available, the hormonal balance shifts, causing changes in the bird's behaviour.
Kevin Cool contends that when you watch a pair of nesting robins chase away other robins, you are actually witnessing a cumulative response to a given supply of solar radiation. This supply steadily increases from the first day of winter. It teaches a critical point near the first day of spring, at which time the robins begin enjoying more hours of daylight time than of darkness. This flips the switch. The increasing sunlight stimulates the production of hormones that ultimately dictate a change in robin behaviour. The robins abandon their winter flocks, establish territories, mate and rear young. Think about it. After the first day of summer, the process reverses. Nights grow longer, days grow shorter. Each species maintains its own schedule in this cosmic calendar. Others respond sooner; others respond later. But they all respond one way or another.
What about some of our birds? There are many species that overwinter in our latitude that has autumn flips the flocking switch. A bird that aggressively chases its own kind gradually seeked the company of its own kind. Sometimes unrelated species flock together. A typical winter mix while I lived at the farm was downy woodpeckers. black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, ruby-crowned kinglets, juncos, tree sparrows, house finches and the occasional goldfinches.
Flocking occurs as intolerance gives way to tolerance. The European starling, red-winged blackbird, and common grackle can form flocks so large they boggle the mind. What is the largest flock of one species of birds that you have seen locally?
A few birds profit from flocking throughout the year. Locally colonies of ring-billed gulls find more survival value in being together than in being alone. I have observed turkey vultures for the past number of years and believe that when one turkey vulture is successful in finding food he attracts others to share the wealth. Perhaps in the same way that one starling at a feeder, however unwanted, nevertheless attracts other feeder birds.
You can correct me but do raptors flock? Hawks and eagles do their own thing, right? I was with Ernie Giles checking out three Great Horned Owls in a woods off Gilmore Road. Is that a flock or just parents with a young one? We know Short-eared owls do flock. Each year up to a 100 of these birds come through our Stevensville area scouring the fields for mice and voles in the daytime and dusk. As the daylight lengthens they will go their separate ways. The cycle continues on year after year.
Next time you see a bird acting "rudely" at your feeder remember "rude" behaviour may enhance survival. That's natural.
Snakes
Nature Calls by 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 scales. 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 see 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 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 scales. 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 see 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 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.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Sketch, eh
timesosprey Earl Plato
Like to sketch? Like to sketch birds? I’ve got the perfect place - the second floor of the Buffalo Museum of Science. Take your sketch pad and find an appropriate mounted bird specie and take a seat. I have sketched an osprey perched on a branch. I have visited this ornithological section many times. It’s usually a very quiet place. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, encouraged me to draw birds. I was only ten years old but that early start stayed. I still sketch. Encourage your children and grandchildren to sketch. Why not?
Like to sketch? Like to sketch birds? I’ve got the perfect place - the second floor of the Buffalo Museum of Science. Take your sketch pad and find an appropriate mounted bird specie and take a seat. I have sketched an osprey perched on a branch. I have visited this ornithological section many times. It’s usually a very quiet place. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, encouraged me to draw birds. I was only ten years old but that early start stayed. I still sketch. Encourage your children and grandchildren to sketch. Why not?
More Birds
Earl Plato
A wet Fall morning. Did I say Fall? Yes, this is the first day of autumn and it’ s raining. Despite the weather Rob Eberly had a mission. He took me along. Rob had been asked to check out a sighting of a Pileated woodpecker at Erie Beach. We drove down a dead end lane. There was the tall, dead poplar tree. If you know pileateds they excavate in trees huge rectangular or oval openings in search of carpenter ants. All we saw was a small hole twenty feet up. It was not the work of this giant woodpecker. Could have been a red-headed woodpecker. We drove on toward Ridgeway.
On the Garrison Road just east of Cherry Hill golf course and on the south side is a corn field recently harvested. I used by binoculars and started counting Canada geese. 300? So. Meanwhile Rob Eberly had spotted two anomalies. They weren’t Canadas. The closest was a Snow goose that was content to be feeding along with the others. We determined that it wasn’t a fully developed adult from our bird books. Farther back in the corn field was a large white goose. Rob said, “It’s a hybrid.” Is this the same goose that’s been seen along the Niagara River? While we watched a neighbour came across the Garrison and shared some of his insights with us. Rob invited hin to the Bert Miller nature Club offerings on the third Monday of the month. Give Rob a call at 905-894-5850 if you want to hear good speakers at the Stevensville Observation Club.
***
We drove on to Pleasant Beach Road. Rob wanted to show his handiwork at painting his brother’s out barns. Good work but as we pulled out he saw bluebirds. To the left of us as we headed south were five bluebirds in some small trees. These unused fields here are becoming a better place for our birds. On our right perched on a wire were two more bluebirds. We could see the reddish patch on the breast. This time I had a good look at their wet bodies. Still raining.
On to Matthew’s Road and the drainage ditch at Marcy Woods. Dry. Dry. Dry! No Wood ducks in sight. They were there in other years - a beautiful sight. What was there was unbeautiful garbage - paint cans - broken glass - shingles - nails. Post a sign - No dumping! This is a natural habitat! Man makes it an unnatural .
***
Our final stop was at Albino Bay. I have never seen the Lake Erie this low. I lived in Bay Beach for close to twenty years. We walked the sandy shore over the years and in Septemeber sand bars, sometimes as many as five, showed up every year. Not this year. The entire bay has seen its water level greatly lowered. Take a drive and see. No sand bars just sand far out into the bay.
In the gently falling rain Rob spotted ducks. I picked up the Mallards wirh my ‘bins’ but Rob said, “The smaller ducks.” There a little closer to the shore were ten -twelve low floating ducks. “Ruddy ducks!” he exclaimed. “Blue bills” as they are known were floating there feeding on the rich water grasses. But were they. I had seen Ruddy ducks at Mud lake, Port Colborne , in the fall. Then theblue bills of the male were very evident. Not on this wet, dark day. Ruddy ducks? We thinks so. ***
Birding from your car on a rainy day? Sure. Why not. Just pullover off the road and remember to drive carefully and you may enjoy a good day despite the weather.
Continue to prayer for our good neighbours in the U.S.A. Remember we worship a good Creator.
A wet Fall morning. Did I say Fall? Yes, this is the first day of autumn and it’ s raining. Despite the weather Rob Eberly had a mission. He took me along. Rob had been asked to check out a sighting of a Pileated woodpecker at Erie Beach. We drove down a dead end lane. There was the tall, dead poplar tree. If you know pileateds they excavate in trees huge rectangular or oval openings in search of carpenter ants. All we saw was a small hole twenty feet up. It was not the work of this giant woodpecker. Could have been a red-headed woodpecker. We drove on toward Ridgeway.
On the Garrison Road just east of Cherry Hill golf course and on the south side is a corn field recently harvested. I used by binoculars and started counting Canada geese. 300? So. Meanwhile Rob Eberly had spotted two anomalies. They weren’t Canadas. The closest was a Snow goose that was content to be feeding along with the others. We determined that it wasn’t a fully developed adult from our bird books. Farther back in the corn field was a large white goose. Rob said, “It’s a hybrid.” Is this the same goose that’s been seen along the Niagara River? While we watched a neighbour came across the Garrison and shared some of his insights with us. Rob invited hin to the Bert Miller nature Club offerings on the third Monday of the month. Give Rob a call at 905-894-5850 if you want to hear good speakers at the Stevensville Observation Club.
***
We drove on to Pleasant Beach Road. Rob wanted to show his handiwork at painting his brother’s out barns. Good work but as we pulled out he saw bluebirds. To the left of us as we headed south were five bluebirds in some small trees. These unused fields here are becoming a better place for our birds. On our right perched on a wire were two more bluebirds. We could see the reddish patch on the breast. This time I had a good look at their wet bodies. Still raining.
On to Matthew’s Road and the drainage ditch at Marcy Woods. Dry. Dry. Dry! No Wood ducks in sight. They were there in other years - a beautiful sight. What was there was unbeautiful garbage - paint cans - broken glass - shingles - nails. Post a sign - No dumping! This is a natural habitat! Man makes it an unnatural .
***
Our final stop was at Albino Bay. I have never seen the Lake Erie this low. I lived in Bay Beach for close to twenty years. We walked the sandy shore over the years and in Septemeber sand bars, sometimes as many as five, showed up every year. Not this year. The entire bay has seen its water level greatly lowered. Take a drive and see. No sand bars just sand far out into the bay.
In the gently falling rain Rob spotted ducks. I picked up the Mallards wirh my ‘bins’ but Rob said, “The smaller ducks.” There a little closer to the shore were ten -twelve low floating ducks. “Ruddy ducks!” he exclaimed. “Blue bills” as they are known were floating there feeding on the rich water grasses. But were they. I had seen Ruddy ducks at Mud lake, Port Colborne , in the fall. Then theblue bills of the male were very evident. Not on this wet, dark day. Ruddy ducks? We thinks so. ***
Birding from your car on a rainy day? Sure. Why not. Just pullover off the road and remember to drive carefully and you may enjoy a good day despite the weather.
Continue to prayer for our good neighbours in the U.S.A. Remember we worship a good Creator.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Birds - blue and black-capped
Chickadee-dee-dee Earl Plato
I coined , at least I think I did, the title “Mr. Bluebird Man” years ago in a Review article referring to Rob Eberly of Ridgeway. Rob has built countless bluebird boxes over the years and placed them in various places in the peninsula. I go car birding looking for bluebirds - result? Too often ‘zippo’. Go with Rob on two trips this month and see nine of these beautiful songbirds! Last week, here in October, we saw a pair near North Fenwick building a nest. Twig in beak the male entered the bluebird box. What gives? Winter is coming!
I still miss my farm setting and my feeders. It continually amazed me and it still does that tiny birds such as the black-capped chickadee and even smaller crowned kinglets can survive our winters. Chuck Smith of Cornell Lab in a newsletter reminded me of the chickadees that huddled in the protection of our white pines at the Sherkston farm on a cold southwesterly winter gale.
Smith says take four pennies in your hand and you have the average weight of s Black-capped chickadee. That’s only four grams. Because of its small size the chickadee has a problem that it must confront every minute of every hour of every day of its life. Other small songbirds have the same problem and especially in the winter. Smaller animals lose heat from their bodies at a greater rate than larger animals. Feed the birds! Start planning now for this coming winter. Feed the songbirds. Set out your feeders now if you want to woo the early birds of winter.
You’ll experience some joy. In this day and age why not share with others even if they weigh only about four grams.
***
“Could You Help Answer This One?” That was the Subject of one of my E-Mails last week. Over the years of writing a nature column for the Review I had received calls, letters and E-Mails. Some are informative and some are questioning. This one from Dan and Carolyn Cuillerier is both. I love this kind of sharing.
Here’s what Dan E-mailed to me.
“Dear Mr. Plato, My wife and I were on a vacation just south of Timmins spending some wonderful time in the bush together, We noticed something that we had never seen before. There were plenty of Red squirrels around being very busy gathering all that they could to prepare for the cold winter months.
We had noticed that the squirrels were gathering large mushrooms and placing them about six to twelve feet off the ground on branches of the trees close to the trunk as if to dry them for future use. This was definitely a first time sight for me.”
Dan goes on and he ends with, “Have you ever seen this before?”
Dan and Carolyn have corresponded with me before so I quickly E-mailed them and said, “It rings a bell.” It did.
Craig Frank, Ecologist at Fordham University, has done much research with squirrels. He wrote an article recently under “Current Research: Red squirrels usually air dry collected sporocaps (mushrooms) in the branches of trees before storing them.” Dan Cuillerier was right with his educated guess. Dr. Frank is doing research presently on the role of air drying in the preservation of mushrooms during storage by the Red squirrels. Believe it.
Be observant in nature. Thank you Cuilleriers.
I coined , at least I think I did, the title “Mr. Bluebird Man” years ago in a Review article referring to Rob Eberly of Ridgeway. Rob has built countless bluebird boxes over the years and placed them in various places in the peninsula. I go car birding looking for bluebirds - result? Too often ‘zippo’. Go with Rob on two trips this month and see nine of these beautiful songbirds! Last week, here in October, we saw a pair near North Fenwick building a nest. Twig in beak the male entered the bluebird box. What gives? Winter is coming!
I still miss my farm setting and my feeders. It continually amazed me and it still does that tiny birds such as the black-capped chickadee and even smaller crowned kinglets can survive our winters. Chuck Smith of Cornell Lab in a newsletter reminded me of the chickadees that huddled in the protection of our white pines at the Sherkston farm on a cold southwesterly winter gale.
Smith says take four pennies in your hand and you have the average weight of s Black-capped chickadee. That’s only four grams. Because of its small size the chickadee has a problem that it must confront every minute of every hour of every day of its life. Other small songbirds have the same problem and especially in the winter. Smaller animals lose heat from their bodies at a greater rate than larger animals. Feed the birds! Start planning now for this coming winter. Feed the songbirds. Set out your feeders now if you want to woo the early birds of winter.
You’ll experience some joy. In this day and age why not share with others even if they weigh only about four grams.
***
“Could You Help Answer This One?” That was the Subject of one of my E-Mails last week. Over the years of writing a nature column for the Review I had received calls, letters and E-Mails. Some are informative and some are questioning. This one from Dan and Carolyn Cuillerier is both. I love this kind of sharing.
Here’s what Dan E-mailed to me.
“Dear Mr. Plato, My wife and I were on a vacation just south of Timmins spending some wonderful time in the bush together, We noticed something that we had never seen before. There were plenty of Red squirrels around being very busy gathering all that they could to prepare for the cold winter months.
We had noticed that the squirrels were gathering large mushrooms and placing them about six to twelve feet off the ground on branches of the trees close to the trunk as if to dry them for future use. This was definitely a first time sight for me.”
Dan goes on and he ends with, “Have you ever seen this before?”
Dan and Carolyn have corresponded with me before so I quickly E-mailed them and said, “It rings a bell.” It did.
Craig Frank, Ecologist at Fordham University, has done much research with squirrels. He wrote an article recently under “Current Research: Red squirrels usually air dry collected sporocaps (mushrooms) in the branches of trees before storing them.” Dan Cuillerier was right with his educated guess. Dr. Frank is doing research presently on the role of air drying in the preservation of mushrooms during storage by the Red squirrels. Believe it.
Be observant in nature. Thank you Cuilleriers.
Butterfly Time
Nature Article by Earl Plato
It was still butterfly time. George Sherk and I saw on September 13th a good 100 Monarchs flitting about in Marcy’s Lower fields. That night I found the old homemade movie made at Marcy's Woods. It 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.
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 killing them is long overdue. ...a good mix might include careful netting of a specimen for close examination, then releasing it unharmed."
This is what the late John McDonald of Niagara Falls did so skilfully. He truly loved butterflies.
Some of my grandchildren who saw my butterfly movie questioned me if I netted butterflies and of giving them the "death squeeze." I thought about such actions and feel that if we learn to enjoy watching butterflies, then there will always be more of them for us, our children and grandchildren. Net but don’t kill.
I have been on some great butterfly hunts with Ernie Giles at Abino Woods, Short Hills Provincial Park and many other areas. However, a local naturalist, Tim Seburn, had reinspired me to look for butterflies in the past. 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 Abino 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. Marcy’s Woods must be preserved! From our Centennial library I took out the Peterson field guide, Eastern Butterflies and the Audubon Handbook for Butterfly Watchers. I am serious this year as I turn the pages and read the accounts. I want to see new species in our Niagara Peninsula yet this fall and come spring, 2000. How about you?
It was still butterfly time. George Sherk and I saw on September 13th a good 100 Monarchs flitting about in Marcy’s Lower fields. That night I found the old homemade movie made at Marcy's Woods. It 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.
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 killing them is long overdue. ...a good mix might include careful netting of a specimen for close examination, then releasing it unharmed."
This is what the late John McDonald of Niagara Falls did so skilfully. He truly loved butterflies.
Some of my grandchildren who saw my butterfly movie questioned me if I netted butterflies and of giving them the "death squeeze." I thought about such actions and feel that if we learn to enjoy watching butterflies, then there will always be more of them for us, our children and grandchildren. Net but don’t kill.
I have been on some great butterfly hunts with Ernie Giles at Abino Woods, Short Hills Provincial Park and many other areas. However, a local naturalist, Tim Seburn, had reinspired me to look for butterflies in the past. 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 Abino 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. Marcy’s Woods must be preserved! From our Centennial library I took out the Peterson field guide, Eastern Butterflies and the Audubon Handbook for Butterfly Watchers. I am serious this year as I turn the pages and read the accounts. I want to see new species in our Niagara Peninsula yet this fall and come spring, 2000. How about you?
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Take a Shot!
nn2601 Earl Plato
When did my conversion begin? Sometime in my early thirties I put aside my .410 shot gun and my .22 and took up hunting with cameras. I have never regretted that decision.
Before my change of attitude I used to hunt foxes in Abino Hills with father-in-law, Sid Kew. Sid was from western England, Bristol to be exact. He knew all about fox hunts. Sid was a great shot. Could I kill a fox even though I am a poor shot? That was the question. No. I decided way back then I would only hunt with a camera.
I had seen red foxes at Abino with Sid and we knew in the covered sandhills where their dens were. On those successive times we had not seen any. Not a shot was fired.
Sid had been on bush wolves drives in the Sherkston area many times with Alan Beach and his crew. They had been highly successful. Foxes are much smarter than bush wolves I was told.
Since those days I have seen foxes, mostly red. My most memorable sighting was in Marcy Woods. On the higher trail we had looked down to see a red vixen and four kits frolicking in the vale below. A beautiful sight.
Have you seen a red fox hunting? My writer mentor, Ed Teale, wrote this, “The first thing I see is a hunting fox, a red fox mousing among the grass clumps of Firefly Meadow. More than the gray, the red fox is abroad in daylight, ... frequently its colour almost matches the tawny hue of clumps of weathered grass. Over and over I see it pounce with the agility of a cat, forepaws held together - sometimes apparently with success.”
Writer’s note: Teale is screened by an old stone wall and watches the red fox with his field glasses. A fox is a wary animal so Teale is careful not to alert it. To you who visit in nature, secrecy and stealth , are needed to see certain animals and insects.
“When it comes to the wild apple tree that leans over the path, I watch it give a big leap up the slanting trunk trying to snap up a gray squirrel that shoots into the upper branches.”
Teale describes that red fox jump as a “kind of graceful wingover, a catlike upward bound - contact with the tree trunk, a quick turn, and the leap down again all in a sudden, graceful flow of movement.” Get the picture?
***
It was years ago when local naturalist Rob Eberly called. “Want to go to Marcy Woods?” Doug Draper, Canadian free lance reporter, and Sharon, nature photographer for the Buffalo News, were our guests. Puddles of water adorned some of the low pockets on the trail into Marcy Woods. Time and time again the beautiful Red Admiral butterflies appeared. One eventually landed on Rob’s hand and posed for some of Sharon’s shots. Another bright glorious day in the Woods.
Doug wanted to see Marcy Woods first hand. For two plus hours we walked the trails down to the beach and back up again. We stopped at the famed cabin. Here Rob told the story of the Marcy legacy. Dr. George and Elizabeth Marcy wanted a legacy of preservation of this Carolinian gem. Rob had given Doug a number of studies of Marcy Woods by imminent scientists. The message was clear. Save the Woods for future generations of nature lovers, Canadian and American. Rob and I wait for Doug’s article. I am sure it will be a very good one.
When did my conversion begin? Sometime in my early thirties I put aside my .410 shot gun and my .22 and took up hunting with cameras. I have never regretted that decision.
Before my change of attitude I used to hunt foxes in Abino Hills with father-in-law, Sid Kew. Sid was from western England, Bristol to be exact. He knew all about fox hunts. Sid was a great shot. Could I kill a fox even though I am a poor shot? That was the question. No. I decided way back then I would only hunt with a camera.
I had seen red foxes at Abino with Sid and we knew in the covered sandhills where their dens were. On those successive times we had not seen any. Not a shot was fired.
Sid had been on bush wolves drives in the Sherkston area many times with Alan Beach and his crew. They had been highly successful. Foxes are much smarter than bush wolves I was told.
Since those days I have seen foxes, mostly red. My most memorable sighting was in Marcy Woods. On the higher trail we had looked down to see a red vixen and four kits frolicking in the vale below. A beautiful sight.
Have you seen a red fox hunting? My writer mentor, Ed Teale, wrote this, “The first thing I see is a hunting fox, a red fox mousing among the grass clumps of Firefly Meadow. More than the gray, the red fox is abroad in daylight, ... frequently its colour almost matches the tawny hue of clumps of weathered grass. Over and over I see it pounce with the agility of a cat, forepaws held together - sometimes apparently with success.”
Writer’s note: Teale is screened by an old stone wall and watches the red fox with his field glasses. A fox is a wary animal so Teale is careful not to alert it. To you who visit in nature, secrecy and stealth , are needed to see certain animals and insects.
“When it comes to the wild apple tree that leans over the path, I watch it give a big leap up the slanting trunk trying to snap up a gray squirrel that shoots into the upper branches.”
Teale describes that red fox jump as a “kind of graceful wingover, a catlike upward bound - contact with the tree trunk, a quick turn, and the leap down again all in a sudden, graceful flow of movement.” Get the picture?
***
It was years ago when local naturalist Rob Eberly called. “Want to go to Marcy Woods?” Doug Draper, Canadian free lance reporter, and Sharon, nature photographer for the Buffalo News, were our guests. Puddles of water adorned some of the low pockets on the trail into Marcy Woods. Time and time again the beautiful Red Admiral butterflies appeared. One eventually landed on Rob’s hand and posed for some of Sharon’s shots. Another bright glorious day in the Woods.
Doug wanted to see Marcy Woods first hand. For two plus hours we walked the trails down to the beach and back up again. We stopped at the famed cabin. Here Rob told the story of the Marcy legacy. Dr. George and Elizabeth Marcy wanted a legacy of preservation of this Carolinian gem. Rob had given Doug a number of studies of Marcy Woods by imminent scientists. The message was clear. Save the Woods for future generations of nature lovers, Canadian and American. Rob and I wait for Doug’s article. I am sure it will be a very good one.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Snapper
Time to Go Again ` Earl Plato
Take ‘slices of life’ when you can. Elaine and I and six others from Fort Erie headed to Mackinac Island in Upper Michigan. This would be a look at the natural and historical views of this gem of an island. If you have been there you know what I mean. I will have a few nature views from our bus trip there in mid-June.
***
A Seburn is a Seburn? Could be. Tim Seburn of Fort Erie has a life time interest in reptiles and amphibians. I consider him one of the more knowledgeable local people in this environmentally concerned area.
Dave Seburn is a working Canadian biologist. Any relation? I don’t know. It is Dave whose research is cited in an intertview by Margaret Munro in the National Post. The header says, “Silence of the frogs spooks ecologists.”
Dave travelled this spring to 20 locations in Southeastern Ontario looking for and listening for the peeps of the Western chorus frog. Guess what? Not a peep!
“It’s very strange,” says Seburn, who like many biologists, worries about the decline of the world’s amphibians.
Ask Tim Seburn and he might say that habitat destruction and pollution are two of the main causes of the increasing deaths of our frogs and toads. Remember, because these amphibians have both water and land life stages they are among the most sensitive living environmental indicators. Folks, they are disappearing around the world.
Dave Seburn closed the informative article with, “If it affects frogs, there is a good chance it affects us too,” he says, “We’re all biochemical beings.”
Ontario, strengthen our anti-pollution laws and crack down on industrial air polluters! What’s the alternative?
***
Record heat at Marcy Woods? Mid- 30 degrees C. I think so. Rob Eberly, local naturalist, picked me up about 9:30 a.m. Out to Point Abino Road where Rob had seen a snapping turtle lay eggs the day before on the gravel roadside. No snapper now but a little Eastern mud turtle. Rob stopped and picked it up and placed safely beyond the stone wall. We could see where the snapper had disturbed the gravel.
Where was Rob taking me? I was just glad to be along. You younger naturalists don’t forget us old timers when you go for a ramble. I know I appreciate any opportunities.
Next to Matthew Road and a deadend. Into the wetlands and the high grasses. Warblers? Common yellowthroats, yes but Rob was on the lookout for the rare Prothonatory warbler. I followed him to the drainage ditch and walked west to the old bridge. We listened for any warblers. Rob scared up a female Wood duck but there were few birds. We heard a Phoebe in the distance. Getting warmer and warmer. Wait until Elaine sees my clean pants. More and more rich black mud on the cuffs but that’s nature.
On to Marcy Woods and the cabin. Bird Studies Canada were here looking for the nesting sites of the Hooded warblers. Later on we met them. They’re professionals but just the same it was hard work under these conditions of heat and humidity.
Rob is a birder but his goal this day was to see a Hog-nosed snake! No kidding. On the dunes and along the crests we plodded. Would a Hog-nose be sunning itself? That was Rob’s desire. This was not an easy walk. We eventually came to the Malick’s. This was one location where Hog-nosed had been seen. We talked with Ken Malick and then Rob walked westwards on the lawn area. No Hog-nosed this day.
Later Rob talked with the ornithologists before we left and headed for a cooler place. One of them told us how secretive the nests of the Hooded warblers can be. I hope that they can find the nests of these rare birds. Marcy Woods is a great place to be.
Take ‘slices of life’ when you can. Elaine and I and six others from Fort Erie headed to Mackinac Island in Upper Michigan. This would be a look at the natural and historical views of this gem of an island. If you have been there you know what I mean. I will have a few nature views from our bus trip there in mid-June.
***
A Seburn is a Seburn? Could be. Tim Seburn of Fort Erie has a life time interest in reptiles and amphibians. I consider him one of the more knowledgeable local people in this environmentally concerned area.
Dave Seburn is a working Canadian biologist. Any relation? I don’t know. It is Dave whose research is cited in an intertview by Margaret Munro in the National Post. The header says, “Silence of the frogs spooks ecologists.”
Dave travelled this spring to 20 locations in Southeastern Ontario looking for and listening for the peeps of the Western chorus frog. Guess what? Not a peep!
“It’s very strange,” says Seburn, who like many biologists, worries about the decline of the world’s amphibians.
Ask Tim Seburn and he might say that habitat destruction and pollution are two of the main causes of the increasing deaths of our frogs and toads. Remember, because these amphibians have both water and land life stages they are among the most sensitive living environmental indicators. Folks, they are disappearing around the world.
Dave Seburn closed the informative article with, “If it affects frogs, there is a good chance it affects us too,” he says, “We’re all biochemical beings.”
Ontario, strengthen our anti-pollution laws and crack down on industrial air polluters! What’s the alternative?
***
Record heat at Marcy Woods? Mid- 30 degrees C. I think so. Rob Eberly, local naturalist, picked me up about 9:30 a.m. Out to Point Abino Road where Rob had seen a snapping turtle lay eggs the day before on the gravel roadside. No snapper now but a little Eastern mud turtle. Rob stopped and picked it up and placed safely beyond the stone wall. We could see where the snapper had disturbed the gravel.
Where was Rob taking me? I was just glad to be along. You younger naturalists don’t forget us old timers when you go for a ramble. I know I appreciate any opportunities.
Next to Matthew Road and a deadend. Into the wetlands and the high grasses. Warblers? Common yellowthroats, yes but Rob was on the lookout for the rare Prothonatory warbler. I followed him to the drainage ditch and walked west to the old bridge. We listened for any warblers. Rob scared up a female Wood duck but there were few birds. We heard a Phoebe in the distance. Getting warmer and warmer. Wait until Elaine sees my clean pants. More and more rich black mud on the cuffs but that’s nature.
On to Marcy Woods and the cabin. Bird Studies Canada were here looking for the nesting sites of the Hooded warblers. Later on we met them. They’re professionals but just the same it was hard work under these conditions of heat and humidity.
Rob is a birder but his goal this day was to see a Hog-nosed snake! No kidding. On the dunes and along the crests we plodded. Would a Hog-nose be sunning itself? That was Rob’s desire. This was not an easy walk. We eventually came to the Malick’s. This was one location where Hog-nosed had been seen. We talked with Ken Malick and then Rob walked westwards on the lawn area. No Hog-nosed this day.
Later Rob talked with the ornithologists before we left and headed for a cooler place. One of them told us how secretive the nests of the Hooded warblers can be. I hope that they can find the nests of these rare birds. Marcy Woods is a great place to be.
Go West
nn4301 Earl Plato
Western Ontario - the Plains of the West. What are you talking about Plato?
Elaine and I on our days in Southwestern Ontario this past summer had to visit Ojibway Prairie. Do you know where it is? It’s a pocket of prairie grass within the boundaries of the city of Windsor. No kidding. Continue on our good old Highway 3 from Leamington. Turn left on Highway 6 and you’re there. Wait!
Have you driven to Windsor lately? This is casino and bridge country. It was almost ten a.m. when we arrived but the traffic was unreal. We couldn’t find any signs for Ojibway Prairie. My map wasn’t detailed enough.. Finally as a reluctant male who doesn’t want to admit he’s lost I pulled into a gas station. Elaine insisted. Good move. The station owner’s brother was about to head home. “I live on Ojibway Park Way. I’ll take you there.” We followed him as he twisted and turned down side streets. This is out in the ‘boonies’. He turned into a driveway and we were there - Ojibway Prairie! We thanked him. The Centre had just opened up. Entrance was free in this city park. It was a learning centre for the local schools. There were displays on the walls. In the one corner there was a live Fox snake over a metre long. Above it pinned to a board was a shed Fox snake skin even longer! This is a beautifully marked snake and a beneficial one too. I had seen this reptile before in Virginia and that one was even longer - close to five feet! The Ranger at the Center there told us that it is called the “hardwood rattler” because it will coil, rattle its tail sideways in leaf litter and take a strike when startled. Elaine said, “It looks like a rattler.” This big snake with solid brown spots down its body would make you react. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, cautioned us to back off from any snake that coils and strikes out, even a Garter. We read that much to its detriment the Fox snake is completely innocuous and beneficial.
We left the Ojibway Prairie Centre with a trail map. We would take the inner trail. No one around as we took the gravel based trail. The grasses and plants looked differently. Blue grass? We came to a fork when a helmeted bicyclist approached from behind, We asked the way back to the Centre. In his clipped English accent he pointed left. “I ride all the trails here,” he said and then proceeded on his way. We needed more time here but it was hot - very hot. I took a few more shots of the Tick flowers at the Centre and we headed out for Rondeau Park and the Hog-nosed snake.
***
Abino Bay on a Thursday early August morning Bob Chambers and I pulled into the public boat launch area. We were looking for shore birds. There were killdeers flitting around.
Mallards and Canadas were down the way. Bob spotted a white goose among them.
A car pulled up and two ladies and two girls emerged with a pail. We watched as they waded into the shallow water. The one mother turned the pail up side down. Somethings fell out. Bob said, “ Hello”. They asked what birds we were looking at. We said that we were looking for shore birds. They told us that the girls had collected some frogs yesterday and were now returning them to their home. That’s good. Frogs need to be returned to their natural setting. These two ladies from New York State asked about Marcy Woods. No kidding. They had read the good article in the Buffalo News. We expressed our concern for the Marcy Woods property. Small world, eh?
Western Ontario - the Plains of the West. What are you talking about Plato?
Elaine and I on our days in Southwestern Ontario this past summer had to visit Ojibway Prairie. Do you know where it is? It’s a pocket of prairie grass within the boundaries of the city of Windsor. No kidding. Continue on our good old Highway 3 from Leamington. Turn left on Highway 6 and you’re there. Wait!
Have you driven to Windsor lately? This is casino and bridge country. It was almost ten a.m. when we arrived but the traffic was unreal. We couldn’t find any signs for Ojibway Prairie. My map wasn’t detailed enough.. Finally as a reluctant male who doesn’t want to admit he’s lost I pulled into a gas station. Elaine insisted. Good move. The station owner’s brother was about to head home. “I live on Ojibway Park Way. I’ll take you there.” We followed him as he twisted and turned down side streets. This is out in the ‘boonies’. He turned into a driveway and we were there - Ojibway Prairie! We thanked him. The Centre had just opened up. Entrance was free in this city park. It was a learning centre for the local schools. There were displays on the walls. In the one corner there was a live Fox snake over a metre long. Above it pinned to a board was a shed Fox snake skin even longer! This is a beautifully marked snake and a beneficial one too. I had seen this reptile before in Virginia and that one was even longer - close to five feet! The Ranger at the Center there told us that it is called the “hardwood rattler” because it will coil, rattle its tail sideways in leaf litter and take a strike when startled. Elaine said, “It looks like a rattler.” This big snake with solid brown spots down its body would make you react. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, cautioned us to back off from any snake that coils and strikes out, even a Garter. We read that much to its detriment the Fox snake is completely innocuous and beneficial.
We left the Ojibway Prairie Centre with a trail map. We would take the inner trail. No one around as we took the gravel based trail. The grasses and plants looked differently. Blue grass? We came to a fork when a helmeted bicyclist approached from behind, We asked the way back to the Centre. In his clipped English accent he pointed left. “I ride all the trails here,” he said and then proceeded on his way. We needed more time here but it was hot - very hot. I took a few more shots of the Tick flowers at the Centre and we headed out for Rondeau Park and the Hog-nosed snake.
***
Abino Bay on a Thursday early August morning Bob Chambers and I pulled into the public boat launch area. We were looking for shore birds. There were killdeers flitting around.
Mallards and Canadas were down the way. Bob spotted a white goose among them.
A car pulled up and two ladies and two girls emerged with a pail. We watched as they waded into the shallow water. The one mother turned the pail up side down. Somethings fell out. Bob said, “ Hello”. They asked what birds we were looking at. We said that we were looking for shore birds. They told us that the girls had collected some frogs yesterday and were now returning them to their home. That’s good. Frogs need to be returned to their natural setting. These two ladies from New York State asked about Marcy Woods. No kidding. They had read the good article in the Buffalo News. We expressed our concern for the Marcy Woods property. Small world, eh?
Monday, September 3, 2007
Butterflies Anyone?
Butterflies Anyone? Earl Plato
Lepidopterist? I don’t think so. Like many of you I have always been fascinated with butterflies. After all these years you think I would remember the names of the more common species. We have two thriving butterfly bushes in front of out little retirement home. Elaine called out as she stepped out the front door “Earl, look at this butterfly!” Sister-in-law Rosie and Elaine looked at the beautiful specimen perched on the long flower head. “I know what it is?” I do. Then name it. I couldn’t. I went to my little office and brought out three butterfly reference books. My Audubon Butterfly Field Guide had the obvious answer. There staring me in my face - on the cover was - the Red Admiral! Once again I quote Audubon - “Unmistakable and unforgettable.” It reads, “The Red Admiral is the butterfly that will alight on your shoulder day after day in your garden.” This is one of our friendliest butterflies.
“Red” I would say its bars are black with orange-red. More orange to me but still one of more attractive ones. I know. I have been to the Butterfly Conservatory but they’re imports, eh.
***
On this Tuesday in late August I walked alone on the nature trail at Westfield Heritage Village. My wife and other relatives had decided to head back to the the village. Earl was determined to photograph the big Black Oak and the farm ruins mentioned in the brochure. This is a three mile walk but it seemed much longer. It was sunny but still cool. I saw a young Basswood with its large leaves, three species of Goldenrod including the Zig-Zag. On my left of the gravel path was a line of Black-eyed Susans interspersed among Purple asters. Probably seeded there. I stopped and framed a shot.
I had passed through the rows of Red pine where mosquitos had first attacked. Now they were back. I had my spray with me and it sufficed. I looked ahead. No end to the trail it seemed. No one around. All was peaceful. Then the butterflies appeared. First a Mourning Cloak then four Common Sulphurs. They seemed to follow me. The Sulphurs are a pretty, yellow butterfly with sharp black borders. I guess this was the mating season for the two frollicking pair moved along with me for some time.
Finally I came to a bend in the road. The main trail turned westwards. Decision time. I looked at my CAA 44 Country Trails booklet, page 68. I must go due south. Yes, this time I had my compass with me! I had no sooner walked a few hundred feet along a much narrower path and there straight ahead loomed a giant Black Oak. This was almost as far as I would go. I snapped the towering oak from a few angles and then moved on to the meadow area and took a shot of the farm ruins.
Note: We came to Westfield Heritage Village (formerly Wentworth Pioneer Village) to see the 35 original pioneer buildings. We did and saw the natural setting used for the Anne of Green Gables and the Road to Avonlea episodes. That alone is worth the visit. But you know me I had to track the back trails for a nature fix. For information on Westfield call (519) 621-6897 or E-mail: westfield@worldchat.com
Lepidopterist? I don’t think so. Like many of you I have always been fascinated with butterflies. After all these years you think I would remember the names of the more common species. We have two thriving butterfly bushes in front of out little retirement home. Elaine called out as she stepped out the front door “Earl, look at this butterfly!” Sister-in-law Rosie and Elaine looked at the beautiful specimen perched on the long flower head. “I know what it is?” I do. Then name it. I couldn’t. I went to my little office and brought out three butterfly reference books. My Audubon Butterfly Field Guide had the obvious answer. There staring me in my face - on the cover was - the Red Admiral! Once again I quote Audubon - “Unmistakable and unforgettable.” It reads, “The Red Admiral is the butterfly that will alight on your shoulder day after day in your garden.” This is one of our friendliest butterflies.
“Red” I would say its bars are black with orange-red. More orange to me but still one of more attractive ones. I know. I have been to the Butterfly Conservatory but they’re imports, eh.
***
On this Tuesday in late August I walked alone on the nature trail at Westfield Heritage Village. My wife and other relatives had decided to head back to the the village. Earl was determined to photograph the big Black Oak and the farm ruins mentioned in the brochure. This is a three mile walk but it seemed much longer. It was sunny but still cool. I saw a young Basswood with its large leaves, three species of Goldenrod including the Zig-Zag. On my left of the gravel path was a line of Black-eyed Susans interspersed among Purple asters. Probably seeded there. I stopped and framed a shot.
I had passed through the rows of Red pine where mosquitos had first attacked. Now they were back. I had my spray with me and it sufficed. I looked ahead. No end to the trail it seemed. No one around. All was peaceful. Then the butterflies appeared. First a Mourning Cloak then four Common Sulphurs. They seemed to follow me. The Sulphurs are a pretty, yellow butterfly with sharp black borders. I guess this was the mating season for the two frollicking pair moved along with me for some time.
Finally I came to a bend in the road. The main trail turned westwards. Decision time. I looked at my CAA 44 Country Trails booklet, page 68. I must go due south. Yes, this time I had my compass with me! I had no sooner walked a few hundred feet along a much narrower path and there straight ahead loomed a giant Black Oak. This was almost as far as I would go. I snapped the towering oak from a few angles and then moved on to the meadow area and took a shot of the farm ruins.
Note: We came to Westfield Heritage Village (formerly Wentworth Pioneer Village) to see the 35 original pioneer buildings. We did and saw the natural setting used for the Anne of Green Gables and the Road to Avonlea episodes. That alone is worth the visit. But you know me I had to track the back trails for a nature fix. For information on Westfield call (519) 621-6897 or E-mail: westfield@worldchat.com
A Vision
nature article Earl Plato
“That’s boring.” That’s a daily comment among many of our young people. I’ve heard it for years. As an old educator I say, “get them hooked.” Hooked! Perhaps that’s not the best word. But think about it. Young people today are bombarded from all sides with scenes of violence, sexual explicitness, drug addiction from peer pressure and so-called alcoholic pleasures.. Why? These forces are determined to get them “hooked.” Yes, this is not an easy world as we approach 2000 A.D. for our young people to grow up in. Mass killings in the high schools in North America shocking? Sickening? Yes. These youths had headed the wrong way in life. They were bored with the wholesome and ordinary life of a teenager that the great percentage of our young people have accepted. At Backus Woods near Long Point, Ontario I saw fifty plus high school students being “hooked.” They waded into the stream collecting frogs and salamanders and water insects. They were fascinated with their discoveries. Some entered Backus Woods to study mammals, trees and wildflowers. No boredom here. I know you might say, “These are exceptional students.” Not so, according to Gwen, the coordinator. This was an ordinary Grade Ten class who had come to the Outdoor Centre each year since Grade Six. They were being “hooked” on nature. You know what? I believe that their general outlook on life as a result of involvement in nature will be affected for the good. Personally the fact that the late Bert Miller, great Fort Erie naturalist, influenced many of us in our youth by encouraging us to uncover the mysteries of our natural Creation. He made a lifelong positive influence on us. The forming of the Bert Miller nature Club of Greater Fort Erie is one result.
There are many ways to get your children “hooked” on positive things and ideas. We sent our children to church camps for years and now our grandchildren are going. The pluses from such involvement is great. I have never heard from them the words, “We were bored.” This writer has a great love for history and specifically local history. Get your child hooked” on exploring the past. Become bored? I don’t think so. Team sports, properly coached, are always character builders in our youth. Do something this summer that will have a positive effect on your children or grandchildren for life. Get them “hooked” for “Good.!”
***
Older men have visions, eh? I can picture the Marcy cabin in Marcy’s Woods as a nature learning centre. Actually this vision was given to me years ago by Dr. Marcy’s older daughter. In a call from Saranac Lake, New York, she made that revelation. Young persons from schools on both sides of the border would avail themselves in a challenging study of the great flora and fauna found in these woods. Microscopes and learning materials would be made available using the cabin as a base. Since that call I have been “hooked” on the concept of using that beautiful rustic log cabin of Marcy’s Woods for good.
“That’s boring.” That’s a daily comment among many of our young people. I’ve heard it for years. As an old educator I say, “get them hooked.” Hooked! Perhaps that’s not the best word. But think about it. Young people today are bombarded from all sides with scenes of violence, sexual explicitness, drug addiction from peer pressure and so-called alcoholic pleasures.. Why? These forces are determined to get them “hooked.” Yes, this is not an easy world as we approach 2000 A.D. for our young people to grow up in. Mass killings in the high schools in North America shocking? Sickening? Yes. These youths had headed the wrong way in life. They were bored with the wholesome and ordinary life of a teenager that the great percentage of our young people have accepted. At Backus Woods near Long Point, Ontario I saw fifty plus high school students being “hooked.” They waded into the stream collecting frogs and salamanders and water insects. They were fascinated with their discoveries. Some entered Backus Woods to study mammals, trees and wildflowers. No boredom here. I know you might say, “These are exceptional students.” Not so, according to Gwen, the coordinator. This was an ordinary Grade Ten class who had come to the Outdoor Centre each year since Grade Six. They were being “hooked” on nature. You know what? I believe that their general outlook on life as a result of involvement in nature will be affected for the good. Personally the fact that the late Bert Miller, great Fort Erie naturalist, influenced many of us in our youth by encouraging us to uncover the mysteries of our natural Creation. He made a lifelong positive influence on us. The forming of the Bert Miller nature Club of Greater Fort Erie is one result.
There are many ways to get your children “hooked” on positive things and ideas. We sent our children to church camps for years and now our grandchildren are going. The pluses from such involvement is great. I have never heard from them the words, “We were bored.” This writer has a great love for history and specifically local history. Get your child hooked” on exploring the past. Become bored? I don’t think so. Team sports, properly coached, are always character builders in our youth. Do something this summer that will have a positive effect on your children or grandchildren for life. Get them “hooked” for “Good.!”
***
Older men have visions, eh? I can picture the Marcy cabin in Marcy’s Woods as a nature learning centre. Actually this vision was given to me years ago by Dr. Marcy’s older daughter. In a call from Saranac Lake, New York, she made that revelation. Young persons from schools on both sides of the border would avail themselves in a challenging study of the great flora and fauna found in these woods. Microscopes and learning materials would be made available using the cabin as a base. Since that call I have been “hooked” on the concept of using that beautiful rustic log cabin of Marcy’s Woods for good.
Different Views - birds
Different Views Earl Plato
I read it again. It makes 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. A few weeks ago I gained a new perspective. High up in the canopy of white pines on Our Walk in the Clouds 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 end of Wainfleet Marsh at the north end of Biederman Road is a deer run. Every so often there are hunter platforms spaced used during deer season. This was spring and I climbed up to one platform and there nestled among the row of alders came the songs of birds. No kidding. Ernie can testify. 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. Remember it’s a new century. Try a new perspective in your nature endeavours.
***
I receive calls about anomalies in the colouring of our birds every so often. Al Spear of Fort Erie recently called to report the sighting of two strangely coloured cardinals. Feeding at his daughter Gail’s bird feeders they both, male and female, were observed and photographed. The conspicuous crests of the birds were non-existent. Their heads were not red for the male or buff for the female but very darkly coloured, A Black-hooded cardinal? They don’t exist. These were cardinals we were assured. We will keep you posted. Be observant in nature.
Remember the White Crow of Pelham? Talking with a fellow nature lover while on a trip up north we discussed albino birds. He was familiar with albino robins and bluebirds that he had seen. Here are two shortened versions from bird observers Mary Clay and Rob Tucker.
Mary glanced outside her kitchen window to see a white robin on her bird bath. “Its breast was the same rusty colour but pale. The rest of its feathers were definitely white. Its legs were a sort of pinkish-orange but its eyes were dark.”
Note: True albinos are missing pigment in the eyes hence the red looking eyes caused by the blood vessels in the retina. This was a partial albino. I have learned that Albinism in robins is fairly common. How many have you seen?
Rob reported a single pair of Eastern bluebirds that produced two albino offspring! He was lucky to photograph the two. “... their plumage was startlingly all white, its eyes like shimmering red marbles.”
Note: Rob’s two birds were true albinos. Out on Fort Erie’s Friendship Trail this morning. Lots of walkers. I am looking for white birds, eh?
I read it again. It makes 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. A few weeks ago I gained a new perspective. High up in the canopy of white pines on Our Walk in the Clouds 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 end of Wainfleet Marsh at the north end of Biederman Road is a deer run. Every so often there are hunter platforms spaced used during deer season. This was spring and I climbed up to one platform and there nestled among the row of alders came the songs of birds. No kidding. Ernie can testify. 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. Remember it’s a new century. Try a new perspective in your nature endeavours.
***
I receive calls about anomalies in the colouring of our birds every so often. Al Spear of Fort Erie recently called to report the sighting of two strangely coloured cardinals. Feeding at his daughter Gail’s bird feeders they both, male and female, were observed and photographed. The conspicuous crests of the birds were non-existent. Their heads were not red for the male or buff for the female but very darkly coloured, A Black-hooded cardinal? They don’t exist. These were cardinals we were assured. We will keep you posted. Be observant in nature.
Remember the White Crow of Pelham? Talking with a fellow nature lover while on a trip up north we discussed albino birds. He was familiar with albino robins and bluebirds that he had seen. Here are two shortened versions from bird observers Mary Clay and Rob Tucker.
Mary glanced outside her kitchen window to see a white robin on her bird bath. “Its breast was the same rusty colour but pale. The rest of its feathers were definitely white. Its legs were a sort of pinkish-orange but its eyes were dark.”
Note: True albinos are missing pigment in the eyes hence the red looking eyes caused by the blood vessels in the retina. This was a partial albino. I have learned that Albinism in robins is fairly common. How many have you seen?
Rob reported a single pair of Eastern bluebirds that produced two albino offspring! He was lucky to photograph the two. “... their plumage was startlingly all white, its eyes like shimmering red marbles.”
Note: Rob’s two birds were true albinos. Out on Fort Erie’s Friendship Trail this morning. Lots of walkers. I am looking for white birds, eh?
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Hawk Mountain - hawks?
nature article Earl Plato
Hawk Mountain? Yes, it’s one of the great centres of North America’s bird migration flyways. It’s located thirty miles or so north of Reading, Pennsylvania. I’ve made the trip in 1996 and would like to repeat it. However, I have the latest issue of Hawk Mountain News, Fall 1998. So tell us about the birds, Earl. Sorry. Not this time. I want to tell you about a strange little creature I met on that tortuous climb up the mountain. This meeting took place half way up Hawk Mountain in a thickly forested area in between torrential downpours. What was it? Marcia Bonta of the Hawk Mountain News shares this, ‘To my surprise the tiny rodent nosing under the forest leaf duff did not run off when I came near.” That’s almost exactly what I experienced.
It did not come nearer to me but began circling rapidly and jerking its head. It disappeared under the leaves as if it was searching for food and reappeared doing its shivering dance. This was repeated over the next few minutes. I was looking at a chubby red-backed vole that lives on the mountain. Back at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Center there was a diorama and information about this most common small mammal found on the Mountain. Its full name is Gapper’s red-backed vole. Gapper? The origin of that label I missed but I imagine the scientific name (Clethrionomys gapperi) indicates who named the little guy.. The paintings and photos show the red back but out on the mountain in the wet I couldn’t distinguish the red back.
Marcia Bonta reveals what that shivering and dancing is all about. “The vole produces its own body heat by non-shivering thermogenesis.” What? “Between its shoulder blades, near its spinal cord, the vole has high energy, heat producing tissue called brown adipose or brown fat, which acts like a blanket to keep the vole warm.” That helps to explain the gyrating of the little guy. He was shaking up his fat. That’s it. Be alert for our little mammals. There’s interesting things to learn.
***
You could hear me coming a mile away. I walked the terrazzo halls of Niagara Square and Penn Centre the other day. Squeak! squeak! squeak! My favourite old white Reebok walking shoes are noisy. If I walk on my tiptoes or heels in these shoes not so bad. Out in the paths of Marcy’s Woods - no noise normally - but that’s not in the Fall. Walking in the woods in autumn nothing creeps up silently on anything in Marcy’s Woods these days.
Ed Teale, late nature writer, in a late October entry in his log gives a good picture of this time of year. I add to his description. The carpet of fallen oak, maple and beech leaves in Marcy’s Woods become more crisp and dry.providing an early warning system for the wildlife there. No one , I believe, not even the native Indians, could walk in silence through these woods. No resident red fox could stalk its prey noiselessly here. Stealth is impossible. Even a Marcy chipmunk broadcasts its every hop as it moves in the leaves on the hillside of the Lower Trail. A gray squirrel burying an acorn attracts our attention as it scatters the leaves.
We humans scuffle along and we have to stand still when we want to listen to the birds.
Several years ago at this time of year an unseen Ruffed grouse took off in the wetlands to our left. The dry leaves went flying by the violent downdraft of its beating wings. These game birds have a special stake in the dryness of leaf cover in the autumn woods. I think you know why. A few Saturdays ago Rob Eberly, son, Robbie, and I walked some rough underbrush in the area We heard the reverberations of shotguns. We stopped and listened. No rustling of fallen leaves broadcasted the approach of dogs and hunters.The shots had occurred some distance away. It is when the leaves are wet from rain, when they are soggy and silent underfoot, that a grouse or some ones such as we three are more likely to be surprised.
Personally I like the sound that comes from the scuffling of leaves underfoot on a sunny October day. I can’t describe how it sounds but it’s a pleasant reminder of Fall.
Hawk Mountain? Yes, it’s one of the great centres of North America’s bird migration flyways. It’s located thirty miles or so north of Reading, Pennsylvania. I’ve made the trip in 1996 and would like to repeat it. However, I have the latest issue of Hawk Mountain News, Fall 1998. So tell us about the birds, Earl. Sorry. Not this time. I want to tell you about a strange little creature I met on that tortuous climb up the mountain. This meeting took place half way up Hawk Mountain in a thickly forested area in between torrential downpours. What was it? Marcia Bonta of the Hawk Mountain News shares this, ‘To my surprise the tiny rodent nosing under the forest leaf duff did not run off when I came near.” That’s almost exactly what I experienced.
It did not come nearer to me but began circling rapidly and jerking its head. It disappeared under the leaves as if it was searching for food and reappeared doing its shivering dance. This was repeated over the next few minutes. I was looking at a chubby red-backed vole that lives on the mountain. Back at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Center there was a diorama and information about this most common small mammal found on the Mountain. Its full name is Gapper’s red-backed vole. Gapper? The origin of that label I missed but I imagine the scientific name (Clethrionomys gapperi) indicates who named the little guy.. The paintings and photos show the red back but out on the mountain in the wet I couldn’t distinguish the red back.
Marcia Bonta reveals what that shivering and dancing is all about. “The vole produces its own body heat by non-shivering thermogenesis.” What? “Between its shoulder blades, near its spinal cord, the vole has high energy, heat producing tissue called brown adipose or brown fat, which acts like a blanket to keep the vole warm.” That helps to explain the gyrating of the little guy. He was shaking up his fat. That’s it. Be alert for our little mammals. There’s interesting things to learn.
***
You could hear me coming a mile away. I walked the terrazzo halls of Niagara Square and Penn Centre the other day. Squeak! squeak! squeak! My favourite old white Reebok walking shoes are noisy. If I walk on my tiptoes or heels in these shoes not so bad. Out in the paths of Marcy’s Woods - no noise normally - but that’s not in the Fall. Walking in the woods in autumn nothing creeps up silently on anything in Marcy’s Woods these days.
Ed Teale, late nature writer, in a late October entry in his log gives a good picture of this time of year. I add to his description. The carpet of fallen oak, maple and beech leaves in Marcy’s Woods become more crisp and dry.providing an early warning system for the wildlife there. No one , I believe, not even the native Indians, could walk in silence through these woods. No resident red fox could stalk its prey noiselessly here. Stealth is impossible. Even a Marcy chipmunk broadcasts its every hop as it moves in the leaves on the hillside of the Lower Trail. A gray squirrel burying an acorn attracts our attention as it scatters the leaves.
We humans scuffle along and we have to stand still when we want to listen to the birds.
Several years ago at this time of year an unseen Ruffed grouse took off in the wetlands to our left. The dry leaves went flying by the violent downdraft of its beating wings. These game birds have a special stake in the dryness of leaf cover in the autumn woods. I think you know why. A few Saturdays ago Rob Eberly, son, Robbie, and I walked some rough underbrush in the area We heard the reverberations of shotguns. We stopped and listened. No rustling of fallen leaves broadcasted the approach of dogs and hunters.The shots had occurred some distance away. It is when the leaves are wet from rain, when they are soggy and silent underfoot, that a grouse or some ones such as we three are more likely to be surprised.
Personally I like the sound that comes from the scuffling of leaves underfoot on a sunny October day. I can’t describe how it sounds but it’s a pleasant reminder of Fall.
Teale Time
We have just returned from Ed Teale's cabin in Connecticut. It was a great thrill for me.
Teale Time Earl Plato
Amazing lady was the late 102 year old Fort Erie resident, Leona LeJeune. Always sharp and interested in what you were doing she affected the lives of many who knew her. I was one. Her son, Jim Lejeune, stopped over and handed a book to me. “Mom, wanted you to have this.” As I took the 360 page book I smiled. A precious book for this nature writer - Journey Into Summer - by Edwin Way Teale. That’s my man - Ed Teale! I have quoted him and used nature themes from his other book- A Walk Through the Year. For over fourteen years of nature writing for the Times and Review I have ‘leaned’ on Ed Teale for inspiration. Now thanks to Leona I have a further source. Already I will be producing an article from a paragraph in my gift book on the whip-poor-will, a bird found in Wainfleet Marsh. Thanks again, Leona.
***
I started reading my gift book from Leona LeJeune and there it was!
Ed Teale had visited Niagara Falls, Canada! I quote as follows: “When I talked to A.R. Muma, Chief Game Protector for the Niagara Region, he expressed the opinion that most of the birds found dead below the falls have taken off in the gorge, have become blinded and confused in the driving rain and mist near the cataract and have flown into the plunging water.” A.R. Muma - that’s Roy Muma that many of us older people grew up with. Ed Teale talked with Roy Muma about Navy Island. Again we read: “On Navy Island he showed me a Bald eagle’s nest, now deserted.” Old timers remember that nest at the north end of the island. A few years ago Roy’s son, Gene Muma, took Bud Henningham and I to that old nesting site. No more nest now but a nesting platform near that original location was put up by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Unfortunately no resident eagles yet. On page 29 of Ed Teale’s - Journey Into Summer - we found this 1960 observation. “In recent years the only eagles seen in the vicinity have been transients.” Still true today. “ Great horned owls raised a brood in the abandoned eagle’s nest on Navy Island one year. Later on it was occupied by raccoons.” Noted nature writer, Edwin Way Teale, had been in Niagara! I wish that I could have met him. Thank goodness I have his books. I still ‘lean’ on his words.
Teale Time Earl Plato
Amazing lady was the late 102 year old Fort Erie resident, Leona LeJeune. Always sharp and interested in what you were doing she affected the lives of many who knew her. I was one. Her son, Jim Lejeune, stopped over and handed a book to me. “Mom, wanted you to have this.” As I took the 360 page book I smiled. A precious book for this nature writer - Journey Into Summer - by Edwin Way Teale. That’s my man - Ed Teale! I have quoted him and used nature themes from his other book- A Walk Through the Year. For over fourteen years of nature writing for the Times and Review I have ‘leaned’ on Ed Teale for inspiration. Now thanks to Leona I have a further source. Already I will be producing an article from a paragraph in my gift book on the whip-poor-will, a bird found in Wainfleet Marsh. Thanks again, Leona.
***
I started reading my gift book from Leona LeJeune and there it was!
Ed Teale had visited Niagara Falls, Canada! I quote as follows: “When I talked to A.R. Muma, Chief Game Protector for the Niagara Region, he expressed the opinion that most of the birds found dead below the falls have taken off in the gorge, have become blinded and confused in the driving rain and mist near the cataract and have flown into the plunging water.” A.R. Muma - that’s Roy Muma that many of us older people grew up with. Ed Teale talked with Roy Muma about Navy Island. Again we read: “On Navy Island he showed me a Bald eagle’s nest, now deserted.” Old timers remember that nest at the north end of the island. A few years ago Roy’s son, Gene Muma, took Bud Henningham and I to that old nesting site. No more nest now but a nesting platform near that original location was put up by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Unfortunately no resident eagles yet. On page 29 of Ed Teale’s - Journey Into Summer - we found this 1960 observation. “In recent years the only eagles seen in the vicinity have been transients.” Still true today. “ Great horned owls raised a brood in the abandoned eagle’s nest on Navy Island one year. Later on it was occupied by raccoons.” Noted nature writer, Edwin Way Teale, had been in Niagara! I wish that I could have met him. Thank goodness I have his books. I still ‘lean’ on his words.
coyotes need a home
Nature Article by Earl Plato If you want to be a naturalist I think you should always be asking questions. That's a good way to learn. Naturalist writer Ed teale asked his wife, "Why do baby birds have such short tails?" They were both looking down at a small cardinal crouching in the grass. It had fluttered down from its nest hidden among the massed pillar roses blooming beside the house. When the young cardinal had become alarmed it launched itself on its whirring little wings for a downward course. It seemed to have no tail at all. What do you think about Teale's question? One answer I thought of was that the shorter the tails of fledglings, the less they will get in the way in the cramped confines of a nest. Long tails are unneeded until flight begins. They can and do develop their tails last of all. Makes sense, eh? Any other questions?***We were at Crystal Ridge Library one evening some years ago when the Royal Astronomical Society, Niagara Chapter, reopened at least to me the mysteries of star gazing. It was a great slide presentation and then we went outside in the cool, crisp night air. It was not the best night for viewing Jupiter through their telescopes.I wrote an article for the review back then, well I actually had my son, Paul, do the article for he has much more knowledge about astronomy than I do. Time passed.Ever since I saw the amazing Hale-Bopp comet this year at Paonessa's farm outside of Ridgeway with spotting scope and naked eye, I have become interested in astronomy again.Comets are now the most visually interesting of the non-planetary objects that you can see. Composed mainly of frozen water and particles of other material, these "dirty snowballs" are believed to represent the most pristine material in the solar system. When will we see another comet? Perhaps sooner than we think according to some scientists.Take some time this summer to view the night sky preferably in a place where there are not city lights. Good binoculars can do a reasonable job if you can keep your hands steady. A telescope on a sturdy tripod is where it is at if you have the money. Naked eye? Why not, if you have average vision try to count all the stars in the Little Dipper. I can't anymore. Elaine I need a telescope. Keep looking up!***It was July 26th a few years back when Rob Eberly and I walked down Dr. Marcy's farm lane. On our right and frolicking ,as only baby animals can, were three or four young coyotes. They were having a great time and seemingly oblivious to us. No adults present? Probably.Here it is soon approaching another July 26th and my late mother's birthdate. I'll take another walk down Marcy's lane. Who knows what I will see.I would have loved to have a place like Ed Teale's farm. He and his wife Nellie observed young foxes over the years. here is some of their observations ironically written on July 26th in his log."Evening has come. And so have the little foxes, an adult and three cubs, have appeared suddenly at the northeastern corner of our yard. They are attracted by the bits of suet and scraps from meals we scatter beneath the apple tree.Tonight Nellie and I watch the three small foxed playing like kittens on the lawn, They chase each other. They make flying leaps. They race in circles. They are bowled over and jump to their feet again. Then abruptly the frolic stops and they all begin to pounce on small crickets in the grass."Did they know Ed and his wife were watching? I believe so. What a great movie that the playful antics of these animals would provide. I would have liked to capture that scene of the coyotes at Marcys. Be prepared.
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