nn3701 Earl Plato
“It’s a ‘Throw-away world’ man! “If it wears out we just get a new one.” What’s the problem? The problem mankind has in this modern world is that too many fail to realize that once we ‘throw-away’ something such as our endangered species there will be no new species available! We must care now!
Bob Chambers and I did not see any Bald eagles on our recent trip to the mouth of the Grand River. However, some miles to the west at Turkey Point “The discovery of a dead bald eagle in an abandoned nest in a tree...” Reporter Kate Barlow for Torstar news service tells us in her article entitled, Rare-species Charges Laid After Eaglet Found Dead.
I call Bob the “Eagle Man” because of his great interest in this giant raptor. He gave me the Barlow article printed in the Hamilton Spectator.
Don’t harm the eagles or their habitat is the message. Under the Endangered Species Act of Ontario five people have been charged in the Simcoe area with 18 counts after several trees near the bald eagles’ nest were felled.
Listen to this - would be offenders. The maximum penalty per charge for a conviction under the Endangered Species Act is a $50,000 fine and two years’ imprisonment! That’s per charge!
“The body of the eaglet was found ... during an investigation by Ministry Resource staff into the cutting down of several trees. The only tree left standing contained a bald eagle’s nest high in its branches.” The accused are to appear in Simcoe court on August 9th. I hope that justice is done. ***
What a Saturday! Sunshine and pleasant air conditions were ours on a day trip to Little Rock City in Little Valley, Cattaraugus County, Western New York. I have been to Panama Rocks and Rock City near Olean in that area. There you paid. This site was free! Why? Its location is difficult to reach but well worth it.
Finally after thirteen years I realized one of my goals to visit this remote natural phenomenon. I had underlined in the book by Margaret Wooster an interesting description of Rock City. The word ‘little’ did not appear on present day signs. Margaret’s description of how to get there was well detailed - too detailed for this Canadian.
Fortunately for us our cousin Tom Hansen is an officer for NYS Environmental Police. Guess where he lives? Tom has ten acres and a impressive log cabin abutting up to 6,000 acres of a State forest. We were there for our annual Anderson Reunion and Tom mentioned Rock City. Hey, that’s the place I had wanted to visit for years. Now we had a man who knew the Cattaraugus area. “Follow me,” said Tom. Off we went American and Canadian relatives.
Tom had us there in a short time. Gravel roads all the way. We passed a CCC camp site. There were a few campers in this primitive setting. Old timers do you know what CCC stands for?
All of us from ages 16-82 arrived at Rock City. We unloaded chairs for the elderly to see us take off for down the trails. Yes, bad ankle and all I was determined to see Rock City. Those who know Niagara Glen and its huge rocks, winding paths and potholes would identify with Rock City.
Years of glaciation widened the stress fractures in these gigantic rocks of Rock City splitting them apart. Two hikers emerged from one deep split beside us. What a place for hide-and-seek games! These blocks have weathered and are covered with lichen and moss. You walk under rock bridges, squeeze through rock crannies, or do as we did leap across the crevices. Exciting? Yes. I hobbled along. I need more time.
Tom Hansen told us, “Come back anytime especially in the fall when the leaves change and before the deer hunting season.” We will.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Ding Two
Ding Two Earl Plato Part Two - Ding Darling Nature Refuge, Florida - We continued and on our left were a series of poles each topped with a small platform. I thought I knew what they were, nesting platforms for one of my favourite birds of prey, the Osprey. Again with the help of other visitors I learned that the refuge staff had built artificial osprey nesting sites. Did we see any? Not one. The nesting population we were told had numbered from 35 to 50 over the past five years. We were there at the wrong time. We saw several alligators along the way. One photo I took shows a Great Blue Heron less than ten feet from a good-sized "gator." The heron seemed to sense the potential danger and moved quickly away to a safer distance. The next stop was the Shell Mound Trail where the Calusa Indians once lived. We walked along a raised boardwalk through the red mangrove jungle. We had been told by one of the volunteers back at the Center to listen for the "Witchity-witchity-witchity" loud call of the Common Yellowthroat. It is a a small, delicate bird that sings anytime of the day unlike other birds. We saw flashes of yellow but did not hear any calls. We headed on to the Bailey Tract Trail where we were told several species of birds would be found. We were fascinated by Great Rgrets and White Ibises "foot raking" in search of food. It was a great sight. Overhead I saw a bird soaring and grabbed my g;asses. Was it an osprey? No, the markings on the wing told me that it was a Red-shouldered hawk, a medium size bird. Spindly-legged sandpipers were standing feeding in the shallows. We heard some beautiful song birds in the mangrove forest behind us. We returned to the Visitor Center with a car completely coated in dust. At the center on a display board was listed 291 species of birds, over 60 reptiles and amphibians and at least 32 different mammals. We would like to come again. It had been a good ramble in a different setting. Through the Internet this February 2005 I have learned that Ding Darling has recovered and is going strong in 2005. Love nature? You’ll love Ding Darling Nature Center on Sanibel Island.
Sanibel Repeat
“How bad Jim?” I had asked next door neighbours, Jim and Mary Burrison, last fall about hurricane damaged Sanibel Island. It lies off the west coast of Lower Florida. They love the island and have vacationed there many times. You may know the story. Hurricanes had done much destruction last year to both the island and the mainland. This is a recounting of our involvement with Sanibel. My wife, Elaine, and I had spent a little time walking its pristine beaches. I had been told in the mid-nineties by an American naturalist about "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on the island. Being retired we had the opportunity to pick the time and duration of a visit to it. We planned a short trip, one week, to see some of Florida's nature spots that I had heard about and others that I had researched. For the best bargains to Florida we were told to choose November or April. We watched for bargains at peninsula travel bureaus. We found one trip at a very reasonable price and soon arrived by a flight from Toronto to Tampa. We reached our comfortable accommodations at the southern tip of St. Petersburg in a new rental Pontiac GrandAm, all part of the deal. I had mapped out the places we wanted to see and first was "Ding" Darling Refuge. We headed out Monday morning over the towering Sunshine Skyway toll bridge. We had come to see birds and I had read, "... half to three-quarters of all species pass through this part of Florida (Sanibel Island) at some point in the year." We crossed the toll bridge and entered at mid-morning the 5,014 acre sanctuary on a dry, dusty roadway. To our right and left were tidal bays and small islands covered with dense growths of mangrove trees with their tangled mass of above ground roots.We soon reached the modern Visitor Center and paid our admission. We reentered our car and followed the clearly marked road around the preserve. We took the main road called the Wildlife Drive, a five mile one-way drive. Here the posted speed was 20 m.p.h. Clouds of dust encircled our car whenever we slowed down so I pulled over to the narrow grassy shoulder. There in the tidal pool we saw our first two Roseate Spoonbills. Just think of a flamingo with a fat lip. They were swinging their spatulate-like bill from side to side as they fed. We were told that we were fortunate to see them for most had departed further south for the Florida Everglades where they nest. These two were a beautiful, bright pink with white necks and orange tails. Next Part Two: Ding Darling
Pitcher Plant
Pitcher Plant Earl Plato
I couldn’t believe it. I had in my hand a T-shirt and embossed on the front was a flowering Pitcher plant. It is the provincial flower of the province of Newfoundland! Wife, Elaine, took a photo of a group of them while on a nature walk in Gros Morne National Park. Yes, I bought the shirt.
*** My mentor, the late naturalist Bert Miller, had taken us to Wainfleet Bog. I was only a child as he showed us the unusual plant. Not too many years ago former area naturalist, Ernie Giles, lead us to that same area in the marsh. No luck. No Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia purpurea). This curious plant is found in Ontario in bogs, swamps, marshes and wet lands generally. With the systematic draining of Wainfleet marsh over the past decades the plant has not survived unless you know otherwise. Its name comes from the strange shape of the fleshy leaves that are hollowed like narrow, curving pitchers with a large pouring lip that might easily serve as a handle. The Pitcher plant is a meat-eater like the Venus Fly-trap and Sundew plants. The unlucky insect that crawls into the hollow leaves of the Pitcher Plant are unable to extricate themselves, The backward-pointing stiff hairs that line the inside of the leaves prevent any upward movement. The insect eventually dies and falls to the bottom into the water held by the leaves. As time passes the insect is absorbed as food for the Pitcher Plant. I am told the full diet of this plant is varied as its roots find nourishment in the ground. Want a challenge? Explore Wainfleet Marsh and look for meat-eating plants including the Pitcher Plant. Good luck!
***
On our ten day trip through Newfoundland recently we saw several pitcher plants but only one lonely ice berg, 12 moose, several humpback whales, and thousands of puffins. The “Rock” is a great place to visit.
I couldn’t believe it. I had in my hand a T-shirt and embossed on the front was a flowering Pitcher plant. It is the provincial flower of the province of Newfoundland! Wife, Elaine, took a photo of a group of them while on a nature walk in Gros Morne National Park. Yes, I bought the shirt.
*** My mentor, the late naturalist Bert Miller, had taken us to Wainfleet Bog. I was only a child as he showed us the unusual plant. Not too many years ago former area naturalist, Ernie Giles, lead us to that same area in the marsh. No luck. No Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia purpurea). This curious plant is found in Ontario in bogs, swamps, marshes and wet lands generally. With the systematic draining of Wainfleet marsh over the past decades the plant has not survived unless you know otherwise. Its name comes from the strange shape of the fleshy leaves that are hollowed like narrow, curving pitchers with a large pouring lip that might easily serve as a handle. The Pitcher plant is a meat-eater like the Venus Fly-trap and Sundew plants. The unlucky insect that crawls into the hollow leaves of the Pitcher Plant are unable to extricate themselves, The backward-pointing stiff hairs that line the inside of the leaves prevent any upward movement. The insect eventually dies and falls to the bottom into the water held by the leaves. As time passes the insect is absorbed as food for the Pitcher Plant. I am told the full diet of this plant is varied as its roots find nourishment in the ground. Want a challenge? Explore Wainfleet Marsh and look for meat-eating plants including the Pitcher Plant. Good luck!
***
On our ten day trip through Newfoundland recently we saw several pitcher plants but only one lonely ice berg, 12 moose, several humpback whales, and thousands of puffins. The “Rock” is a great place to visit.
Fungi Special
Fungi Special Earl Plato
Albertine Stranges knows what to say. Her vivid description of a giant fungus at the front of her Parkway home near Chippawa was too much to resist. Armed with two mushroom guides and her description I headed out on this mid-September day.
“Pie shape” was one of her descriptions. Located near the base of a pine tree it was an amazing sight. As Albertine described over the phone this huge circular growth had a double ring. The colour was a velvety brown if you can picture that. Peterson’s guide says , “very large, dingy brown, rounded to a flat cap.” What is this fungus? My guess is that it’s
a COMMANDER. They grow near coniferous trees. This one fits that description. Peterson says that the flat cap can be up to 40 cm across!
He adds it “forma a double ring.” This one does. Albertine was curious about the bumps that rose on its surface. Peterson said, ... the thick cap can be flat or humped.” This one had several bumps in the centre. Albertine will watch the progress of these ‘bumps’ and give me a call.
The Genus of this fungus is Catathelasma. Look it up. Catathelasma imperiale known as the ‘Commander.’
I lay on the ground trying to see its gills but I did not want to damage its structure. Peterson says - “Its edible.” No thanks this time.
***
Brag time. Our two Butterfly bushes with their violet-hued blooms were magnificent this year/ On my wall hangs the photo of a Silver-spangled fritillary resting on one of the bushes out front of my little retirement home. Guess what? Sure we have had Monarchs but then came a Tiger swallowtail. I zoomed in and captured its glory. Brag time Plato. Then this week a pair of Giant Swallowtails arrived. I took at least six shots and ONE turned out. Love those posing butterflies. Last night Elaine found a Monarch caterpillar nestled on a Milkweed plant on Nigh Road. She delivered it to son-in-law Ken for his classroom. What is as beautiful as a Monarch butterfly chrysalis? Jade-green studded with glistening gold it’s plump and rounded. It appears lidded. From it emerges the adult Monarch butterfly. Amazing work of the Creator as it is destined for a 2,000 mile trip to Southern Mexico.
Albertine Stranges knows what to say. Her vivid description of a giant fungus at the front of her Parkway home near Chippawa was too much to resist. Armed with two mushroom guides and her description I headed out on this mid-September day.
“Pie shape” was one of her descriptions. Located near the base of a pine tree it was an amazing sight. As Albertine described over the phone this huge circular growth had a double ring. The colour was a velvety brown if you can picture that. Peterson’s guide says , “very large, dingy brown, rounded to a flat cap.” What is this fungus? My guess is that it’s
a COMMANDER. They grow near coniferous trees. This one fits that description. Peterson says that the flat cap can be up to 40 cm across!
He adds it “forma a double ring.” This one does. Albertine was curious about the bumps that rose on its surface. Peterson said, ... the thick cap can be flat or humped.” This one had several bumps in the centre. Albertine will watch the progress of these ‘bumps’ and give me a call.
The Genus of this fungus is Catathelasma. Look it up. Catathelasma imperiale known as the ‘Commander.’
I lay on the ground trying to see its gills but I did not want to damage its structure. Peterson says - “Its edible.” No thanks this time.
***
Brag time. Our two Butterfly bushes with their violet-hued blooms were magnificent this year/ On my wall hangs the photo of a Silver-spangled fritillary resting on one of the bushes out front of my little retirement home. Guess what? Sure we have had Monarchs but then came a Tiger swallowtail. I zoomed in and captured its glory. Brag time Plato. Then this week a pair of Giant Swallowtails arrived. I took at least six shots and ONE turned out. Love those posing butterflies. Last night Elaine found a Monarch caterpillar nestled on a Milkweed plant on Nigh Road. She delivered it to son-in-law Ken for his classroom. What is as beautiful as a Monarch butterfly chrysalis? Jade-green studded with glistening gold it’s plump and rounded. It appears lidded. From it emerges the adult Monarch butterfly. Amazing work of the Creator as it is destined for a 2,000 mile trip to Southern Mexico.
Bird Feeding
Bird Feeding Earl Plato
This is a North American centred article. What was happening in Europe in he 1800’s I did not research. Here in America Henry David Thoreau around 1845 recorded some of his activities at Walden Pond in Massachusetts. I was at Walden Pond in 1954 before the building boom began. I’ve returned twice and now you can not recognize the place and his rustic cabin because of the surrounding build up. I have a Thoreau book and we read that over 150 years ago Thoreau was offering corn and bread crumbs to the birds at Walden Pond. He was feeding the birds at his beautiful, rustic setting. Read Walden Pond if you haven’t already. This philosopher loved nature and wanted to help the local songbirds. He is the first recorded bird feeder as far as I know. There were no handmade feeders as we know. Thoreau’s fellow naturalist and author John Burroughs toward the end of the 1800’s tells of feeding birds regularly at his woodland cabin. Again it seems a matter of scattering seeds and crumbs on the ground.
By 1910 we rad that there were many references to bird feeding, including two books on bird feeding: Methods of Attracting Birds, by Gilbert H. Trafton and Wild Bird Guests (1915) by Ernest H. Baynes. Three more informative books were also written at this time. Interest was growing. We learn that food was often offered in crude but practical homemade feeders. Less scattering of seed on the ground.
There is even a reference to a young Californian woman in the early 1900’s while convalescing from an illness sprinkled some sugar water on some flowers. Soon she had attracted hummingbirds. We learn that shortly after a Caroline Soule of Brookline, Massachusetts provided hummingbirds with the first sugar-water feeder. Philanthropist B.F. Tucker began in 1926 to sell hummingbird feeders. They sold well. Another feeder that became a commercial success was invented in 1930. You know it well. I have had two of them up. Peter Kalham gave us the first modern tubular hanging feeder. John Dennis says, These were the humble beginnings of a hobby that is now among the most popular in North America. Feed the songbirds but take note: Once you start be faithful, don’t stop!
This is a North American centred article. What was happening in Europe in he 1800’s I did not research. Here in America Henry David Thoreau around 1845 recorded some of his activities at Walden Pond in Massachusetts. I was at Walden Pond in 1954 before the building boom began. I’ve returned twice and now you can not recognize the place and his rustic cabin because of the surrounding build up. I have a Thoreau book and we read that over 150 years ago Thoreau was offering corn and bread crumbs to the birds at Walden Pond. He was feeding the birds at his beautiful, rustic setting. Read Walden Pond if you haven’t already. This philosopher loved nature and wanted to help the local songbirds. He is the first recorded bird feeder as far as I know. There were no handmade feeders as we know. Thoreau’s fellow naturalist and author John Burroughs toward the end of the 1800’s tells of feeding birds regularly at his woodland cabin. Again it seems a matter of scattering seeds and crumbs on the ground.
By 1910 we rad that there were many references to bird feeding, including two books on bird feeding: Methods of Attracting Birds, by Gilbert H. Trafton and Wild Bird Guests (1915) by Ernest H. Baynes. Three more informative books were also written at this time. Interest was growing. We learn that food was often offered in crude but practical homemade feeders. Less scattering of seed on the ground.
There is even a reference to a young Californian woman in the early 1900’s while convalescing from an illness sprinkled some sugar water on some flowers. Soon she had attracted hummingbirds. We learn that shortly after a Caroline Soule of Brookline, Massachusetts provided hummingbirds with the first sugar-water feeder. Philanthropist B.F. Tucker began in 1926 to sell hummingbird feeders. They sold well. Another feeder that became a commercial success was invented in 1930. You know it well. I have had two of them up. Peter Kalham gave us the first modern tubular hanging feeder. John Dennis says, These were the humble beginnings of a hobby that is now among the most popular in North America. Feed the songbirds but take note: Once you start be faithful, don’t stop!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Newfoundland Earl & Elaine 2006
Newfoundland 2006 Earl Plato
We were told that there were no snakes or skunks in Newfoundland. During our ten days in Newfoundland we saw no road kill. Yes, they have raccoons and squirrels. We saw twelve moose mainly on the west side of the province. Most of these giant animals were in the wetlands. We saw a few near the only highway in the area. There were signs to warn us of moose crossing areas. Our big Denure tour bus meeting a bull moose circa 2,000 lb. would be quite a collision. At Twillingate in the north at the local lighthouse point we saw several Humpback whales as they jetted their sprays into the air. These are huge mammals as I found out later. At Grand Falls we visited the giant salmon ladder. The Atlantic salmon are raised there and when large enough climb the man-made ladder to reach the upper reaches of the Exploits River where they spawn. You can see these fish up close through a glassed in area. Salmon and cod were on the menu all over the island. Excellent eating. On to St. John’s where I went on a whale watching hunt on a catamaran. All ready cancelled the day before because of stormy weather we braved the elements the next day. After all we had come this far to see whales up close. I normally can take care of boat motion, however, I took a Gravol and it worked. Several people were seasick as the boat plunged into the rolling waves. Then a mother Humpback and her young came into sight. A marvellous view as they dove and emerged. The mother whale blowing her jet of water. Four dolphins passed by us as we headed for Puffin island. Hundreds of Kittiwakes and thousands of Puffins were seen and smelled. The ammonia from their droppings assailed our nostrils as we neared the cliffs. Countless nesting holes on the cliff side held these colourful Puffins called “Sea parrots.” A rare sighting of a Northern Phalarope was shown to me by one of the boatmen. As I viewed it with my binoculars he said, “That’s a female phalarope. They’re the colourful one. Brighter than the male. He’s the one who incubates the eggs,” as he chuckled. Was he kidding me? Not so. Check it out. The “Rock” is a great place to visit. However, we saw only one lonely iceberg. Plenty of flora and fauna though.
We were told that there were no snakes or skunks in Newfoundland. During our ten days in Newfoundland we saw no road kill. Yes, they have raccoons and squirrels. We saw twelve moose mainly on the west side of the province. Most of these giant animals were in the wetlands. We saw a few near the only highway in the area. There were signs to warn us of moose crossing areas. Our big Denure tour bus meeting a bull moose circa 2,000 lb. would be quite a collision. At Twillingate in the north at the local lighthouse point we saw several Humpback whales as they jetted their sprays into the air. These are huge mammals as I found out later. At Grand Falls we visited the giant salmon ladder. The Atlantic salmon are raised there and when large enough climb the man-made ladder to reach the upper reaches of the Exploits River where they spawn. You can see these fish up close through a glassed in area. Salmon and cod were on the menu all over the island. Excellent eating. On to St. John’s where I went on a whale watching hunt on a catamaran. All ready cancelled the day before because of stormy weather we braved the elements the next day. After all we had come this far to see whales up close. I normally can take care of boat motion, however, I took a Gravol and it worked. Several people were seasick as the boat plunged into the rolling waves. Then a mother Humpback and her young came into sight. A marvellous view as they dove and emerged. The mother whale blowing her jet of water. Four dolphins passed by us as we headed for Puffin island. Hundreds of Kittiwakes and thousands of Puffins were seen and smelled. The ammonia from their droppings assailed our nostrils as we neared the cliffs. Countless nesting holes on the cliff side held these colourful Puffins called “Sea parrots.” A rare sighting of a Northern Phalarope was shown to me by one of the boatmen. As I viewed it with my binoculars he said, “That’s a female phalarope. They’re the colourful one. Brighter than the male. He’s the one who incubates the eggs,” as he chuckled. Was he kidding me? Not so. Check it out. The “Rock” is a great place to visit. However, we saw only one lonely iceberg. Plenty of flora and fauna though.
Bird Feeders - Winnipeg Manitoba
NN076 Earl Plato
Flash: On January 9th, 2006 Daughter Diane and I photographed the tracks of an opossum on the Lower Trail at Marcy Woods.
***
Thanks to cousin Leanna (Plato) Stein for her nature clippings recently from their home paper the Winnipeg Free Press. Her mother, Anna, now deceased, sent me many interesting and thought-provoking clippings over the years. One of Leanna’s clippings has the intriguing headline, Are bird feeders help or hindrance? The writer, Allan Besson, states, “Is it proper to help out? You decide.” To make a long story short Besson is in favour of bird feeders. He writes, “When it is very cold birds pretty well have to eat all day to survive. They will go where they know there is food. The less energy they have to exert for food of course they are going to do that. So going to feeders would probably be their first choice. The way the winter is changing with global warming or whatever you want to call it are the birds being screwed up as well? Why are so many robins staying back? I have had reports of mourning doves, grackles, cowbirds and flickers. These are all birds that should normally not be here (in Manitoba). Should we leave them to forage on their own during the winter months? Would you lean towards feeding these little critters?” Besson does and goes on to tell you - “you should know what hey like to eat.” He recommends certain food for certain species. Once you start a bird feeder be committed to stocking it regularly with good bird seed.
***
“January 29. Twice this winter a melanistic buck has been sighted disappearing into woodland close to Trail Wood.” Those are the words of my nature writer mentor, the late Ed Teale. Melanistic? What does that word mean to you? Think ‘black’. It’s at the opposite end of the colour scale from the albino deer. Deer have been reported in Ontario that are almost coal black. The black pigment affects the colour of the deer’s hair and even the colour of its eyes. I have never seen one. Would there be some deer that are only partly melanistic? I think so. Let me know your thoughts.
Flash: On January 9th, 2006 Daughter Diane and I photographed the tracks of an opossum on the Lower Trail at Marcy Woods.
***
Thanks to cousin Leanna (Plato) Stein for her nature clippings recently from their home paper the Winnipeg Free Press. Her mother, Anna, now deceased, sent me many interesting and thought-provoking clippings over the years. One of Leanna’s clippings has the intriguing headline, Are bird feeders help or hindrance? The writer, Allan Besson, states, “Is it proper to help out? You decide.” To make a long story short Besson is in favour of bird feeders. He writes, “When it is very cold birds pretty well have to eat all day to survive. They will go where they know there is food. The less energy they have to exert for food of course they are going to do that. So going to feeders would probably be their first choice. The way the winter is changing with global warming or whatever you want to call it are the birds being screwed up as well? Why are so many robins staying back? I have had reports of mourning doves, grackles, cowbirds and flickers. These are all birds that should normally not be here (in Manitoba). Should we leave them to forage on their own during the winter months? Would you lean towards feeding these little critters?” Besson does and goes on to tell you - “you should know what hey like to eat.” He recommends certain food for certain species. Once you start a bird feeder be committed to stocking it regularly with good bird seed.
***
“January 29. Twice this winter a melanistic buck has been sighted disappearing into woodland close to Trail Wood.” Those are the words of my nature writer mentor, the late Ed Teale. Melanistic? What does that word mean to you? Think ‘black’. It’s at the opposite end of the colour scale from the albino deer. Deer have been reported in Ontario that are almost coal black. The black pigment affects the colour of the deer’s hair and even the colour of its eyes. I have never seen one. Would there be some deer that are only partly melanistic? I think so. Let me know your thoughts.
Wild Ginger
Senses Earl Plato
My smelling sense is okay. For me it’s eyesight. I need to be with some one who has good eyesight. They sight the bird and then I have a little time to focus on it. We have the Hooded warbler on the Upper Trail at Marcy Woods. My hearing is good and I have taped the call of the Hooded warbler. It’s a loud song that’s whistled - “weeta-wee-tee-o” Listen for a metallic “Chink, chink” too as it forages. I am trying to see it this weekend. Do you have good eyesight? It has a black hood and bib and a bright yellow face. I hope to see one but I may need help.
***
Rediscovered! Thanks to the University of Guelph Field Naturalists at Marcy Woods this past Saturday. We had just met owner Dino Di Cienzo who greeted us on the Lower Trail. As we walked along I told Kevin Butt, the Guelph botanist, about the Wild Ginger plant. When I was ten or so my father and I went with naturalist Bert Miller to Niagara Glen. Bert had a plan for the Woods. He removed a number of these plants. That same day we went to Abino Woods ( it was known then as Marcy Woods) and transplanted them around a large maple tree on the Lower Trail east of the cabin. There they grew for years. Lift up the heart-shaped leaves of this low lying plant and find a curious purple-brown flower. Since I have returned to Marcy Woods I couldn’t find the Wild Ginger. Thanks to Peter Foebel, a past President of the Bert Miller Nature Club, who told me recently, “Earl, they’re still there near the stump.” We stood at the huge overturned maple stump when Kevin of Guelph Field naturalists called to me. “Here they are at the back of the stump!” One of the lady naturalists found some others of them while walking up to the cabin. It’s too early for the flowers yet but a great rediscovery for plant lovers of the Woods. Be excited about nature offerings.
Writer’s note: The root has a strong ginger-like odour. Don’t dig up this rare plant or an plant on this private protected property! In the old days the late Fort Erie naturalist Bert Miller told us that when the root was cooked with brown sugar it was used by the early settlers as a confectionary. By itself it could be used as a substitute for ginger. Ginger bread cookies comes to mind. How are your taste buds?
Note: Rob Eberly, Ridgeway naturalist, has a fine growth of Wild Ginger growing at his place, Very Impressive.
My smelling sense is okay. For me it’s eyesight. I need to be with some one who has good eyesight. They sight the bird and then I have a little time to focus on it. We have the Hooded warbler on the Upper Trail at Marcy Woods. My hearing is good and I have taped the call of the Hooded warbler. It’s a loud song that’s whistled - “weeta-wee-tee-o” Listen for a metallic “Chink, chink” too as it forages. I am trying to see it this weekend. Do you have good eyesight? It has a black hood and bib and a bright yellow face. I hope to see one but I may need help.
***
Rediscovered! Thanks to the University of Guelph Field Naturalists at Marcy Woods this past Saturday. We had just met owner Dino Di Cienzo who greeted us on the Lower Trail. As we walked along I told Kevin Butt, the Guelph botanist, about the Wild Ginger plant. When I was ten or so my father and I went with naturalist Bert Miller to Niagara Glen. Bert had a plan for the Woods. He removed a number of these plants. That same day we went to Abino Woods ( it was known then as Marcy Woods) and transplanted them around a large maple tree on the Lower Trail east of the cabin. There they grew for years. Lift up the heart-shaped leaves of this low lying plant and find a curious purple-brown flower. Since I have returned to Marcy Woods I couldn’t find the Wild Ginger. Thanks to Peter Foebel, a past President of the Bert Miller Nature Club, who told me recently, “Earl, they’re still there near the stump.” We stood at the huge overturned maple stump when Kevin of Guelph Field naturalists called to me. “Here they are at the back of the stump!” One of the lady naturalists found some others of them while walking up to the cabin. It’s too early for the flowers yet but a great rediscovery for plant lovers of the Woods. Be excited about nature offerings.
Writer’s note: The root has a strong ginger-like odour. Don’t dig up this rare plant or an plant on this private protected property! In the old days the late Fort Erie naturalist Bert Miller told us that when the root was cooked with brown sugar it was used by the early settlers as a confectionary. By itself it could be used as a substitute for ginger. Ginger bread cookies comes to mind. How are your taste buds?
Note: Rob Eberly, Ridgeway naturalist, has a fine growth of Wild Ginger growing at his place, Very Impressive.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Bert 2
Bert Miller 2 Earl Plato
I came across this 1980’s article in the Fort Erie Niagara Falls Review by me and want to continue on remembering our peninsula naturalist, Bert Miller.
The late Bert Miller was member of at least two nature clubs in the 1960’s - Niagara Falls Nature Cub and Niagara Peninsula Field Naturalists in St. Catharines. Both clubs are still very active in 2006. In 1968 Frank Kingdon of St, Catharines met Bert and his wife, Annie, at a Peninsula Field Naturalist Club meeting. I interviewed Frank twenty-one years after Bert had passed away. Here is part of my interview. Frank said that Bert Miller loved to lead hikes for Niagara Falls Club members down the Niagara gorge and whirlpool areas. Back then he reminded me that Bert had just turned 80 years. Writer’s note: Amazing stamina. Frank continued and said on these gorge trips that we club members had to move along to keep up with him when he moved from one site to another. In previous writings I portrayed Bert as one of “God’s athletes.” As an octogenarian he was in excellent shape. Frank Kingdon remembered very clearly one particular gorge trip. “ One day we were coming back up from a whirlpool nature hike. Bert and the members met a cute little girl. She had a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Bert stared at her and then uncharacteristically he began to scold the girl. She had clutched in her hand at least ten harebell flowers. (Note: a rare plant with delicate blue flowers). Frank said that Bert pointed out how special these flowers were and that they should be left for others to enjoy too. He then apologized to the little girl for his outburst but gently and firmly reminded her to be considerate of those who would follow. According to Frank this was one of Bert’s consistent themes: “Remember that others will follow your steps so leave the area untouched as you came.” He said that Bert Miller was a true conservationist, a true preserver of nature.” Thanks for the memories, Frank.
Writer’s note: Bert preserved over 3,000 pressed plant leaves and specimens for McMaster University Botanical Section and Buffalo Museum of Science. A true preserver.
I came across this 1980’s article in the Fort Erie Niagara Falls Review by me and want to continue on remembering our peninsula naturalist, Bert Miller.
The late Bert Miller was member of at least two nature clubs in the 1960’s - Niagara Falls Nature Cub and Niagara Peninsula Field Naturalists in St. Catharines. Both clubs are still very active in 2006. In 1968 Frank Kingdon of St, Catharines met Bert and his wife, Annie, at a Peninsula Field Naturalist Club meeting. I interviewed Frank twenty-one years after Bert had passed away. Here is part of my interview. Frank said that Bert Miller loved to lead hikes for Niagara Falls Club members down the Niagara gorge and whirlpool areas. Back then he reminded me that Bert had just turned 80 years. Writer’s note: Amazing stamina. Frank continued and said on these gorge trips that we club members had to move along to keep up with him when he moved from one site to another. In previous writings I portrayed Bert as one of “God’s athletes.” As an octogenarian he was in excellent shape. Frank Kingdon remembered very clearly one particular gorge trip. “ One day we were coming back up from a whirlpool nature hike. Bert and the members met a cute little girl. She had a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Bert stared at her and then uncharacteristically he began to scold the girl. She had clutched in her hand at least ten harebell flowers. (Note: a rare plant with delicate blue flowers). Frank said that Bert pointed out how special these flowers were and that they should be left for others to enjoy too. He then apologized to the little girl for his outburst but gently and firmly reminded her to be considerate of those who would follow. According to Frank this was one of Bert’s consistent themes: “Remember that others will follow your steps so leave the area untouched as you came.” He said that Bert Miller was a true conservationist, a true preserver of nature.” Thanks for the memories, Frank.
Writer’s note: Bert preserved over 3,000 pressed plant leaves and specimens for McMaster University Botanical Section and Buffalo Museum of Science. A true preserver.
The Late Bert Miller p Great Naturalist
Bert7.06 Earl Plato
Writer’s Note: The late Bert Miller was Fort Erie’s and I believe the peninsula’s foremost amateur naturalist of his time . Should we remember him? As one of many who appreciated his love for nature, Yes! Bob Goldenberg did and we continue with his close relationship with Bert.
Bob recalled, “At first I admit that it took a little getting used to his intense inquisitiveness. His keen interest in nature was so vast and wide that it was addicting in a way. My curiosity wasn’t that developed yet. It would take time, much time, to gain this intimate knowledge of plants that Bert had. Here was someone so eager to share his knowledge with others. Bert didn’t want the years of accumulated knowledge for himself. He was always asking me to go with him on a field trip. He was so enthusiastic. I couldn’t let him down. Let me say that I always returned home glad that I had gone with Bert. For years when I was teaching Biology to Grade 13 classes he went with us on fields trips in the Niagara Peninsula. We often started at Vineland Agricultural Research Station and then headed to Ball’s Falls and Rockway Falls. I always felt that it was a privilege for our young people to have Bert with us. Remember that this senior naturalist would be going strong for many more years.”
Writer’s note: I asked Bert at age 86 to accompany my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. He was informative and lively. What a man!
Bob continued, “I can’t help thinking at times that if I hadn’t met this man, Bert Miller, with all my studies at university and all my readings, I would have missed so much. …”
“ One summer I registered for a Plant Geography course at Queen’s University. One of the assignments was to make a list of 30 different native trees within 10 kilometres of where you lived. Without opening a book or looking at a map he gave the names and locations of more than 60 trees! Unusual trees like hackberry and mulberry. Amazing!”
Writer’s note: Bob Goldenberg had much more to say about Bert. I hope that this conclusion of the articles has allowed you to know something about this great area naturalist. We have named a nature club in Fort Erie after him. At Ball’s Falls there is the Bert Miller Arboretum established by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Worth remembering? Yes.
Writer’s Note: The late Bert Miller was Fort Erie’s and I believe the peninsula’s foremost amateur naturalist of his time . Should we remember him? As one of many who appreciated his love for nature, Yes! Bob Goldenberg did and we continue with his close relationship with Bert.
Bob recalled, “At first I admit that it took a little getting used to his intense inquisitiveness. His keen interest in nature was so vast and wide that it was addicting in a way. My curiosity wasn’t that developed yet. It would take time, much time, to gain this intimate knowledge of plants that Bert had. Here was someone so eager to share his knowledge with others. Bert didn’t want the years of accumulated knowledge for himself. He was always asking me to go with him on a field trip. He was so enthusiastic. I couldn’t let him down. Let me say that I always returned home glad that I had gone with Bert. For years when I was teaching Biology to Grade 13 classes he went with us on fields trips in the Niagara Peninsula. We often started at Vineland Agricultural Research Station and then headed to Ball’s Falls and Rockway Falls. I always felt that it was a privilege for our young people to have Bert with us. Remember that this senior naturalist would be going strong for many more years.”
Writer’s note: I asked Bert at age 86 to accompany my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. He was informative and lively. What a man!
Bob continued, “I can’t help thinking at times that if I hadn’t met this man, Bert Miller, with all my studies at university and all my readings, I would have missed so much. …”
“ One summer I registered for a Plant Geography course at Queen’s University. One of the assignments was to make a list of 30 different native trees within 10 kilometres of where you lived. Without opening a book or looking at a map he gave the names and locations of more than 60 trees! Unusual trees like hackberry and mulberry. Amazing!”
Writer’s note: Bob Goldenberg had much more to say about Bert. I hope that this conclusion of the articles has allowed you to know something about this great area naturalist. We have named a nature club in Fort Erie after him. At Ball’s Falls there is the Bert Miller Arboretum established by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Worth remembering? Yes.
Lost Canyon 2007
Lost Canyon - Wisconsin Dells Earl Plato
T he two percherons were a great team as we emerged from Lost Canyon at the Dells in Wisconsin. Our driver was David a veteran of eight years who was very knowledgeable. He knew the history of this unique place. He said that each layer of strata took up to a thousand years to form. Countless layers towered on either side as we wended our way through narrow passageways. Eastern hemlock appeared to be the main coniferous trees. We saw various large ferns such as the Common and Sensitive and a few towering Ostrich ferns. I asked David, “ Any Maidenhairs?” He smiled and said, “Just around the corner.” There they were. This was fern heaven for those who like ferns as there were many more to see. Cool and pleasant in the canyons on the July summer day of 2007.
T he two percherons were a great team as we emerged from Lost Canyon at the Dells in Wisconsin. Our driver was David a veteran of eight years who was very knowledgeable. He knew the history of this unique place. He said that each layer of strata took up to a thousand years to form. Countless layers towered on either side as we wended our way through narrow passageways. Eastern hemlock appeared to be the main coniferous trees. We saw various large ferns such as the Common and Sensitive and a few towering Ostrich ferns. I asked David, “ Any Maidenhairs?” He smiled and said, “Just around the corner.” There they were. This was fern heaven for those who like ferns as there were many more to see. Cool and pleasant in the canyons on the July summer day of 2007.
Another nature article
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.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Cedar Waxwings & Golden Eagle
Cedar Waxwings Earl Plato
We saw some Cedar waxwings at Marcy Woods.. Beautiful as the woods were now my winter thoughts turned to Algonquin Park. I can’t help it. I love the Park as many of you do. As we were walking in one of the side trails off the main highway waxwings passed through and some stopped for us to see. Do you know the story of Cedar waxwings? Jim Mountjoy of Algonquin Park shares this, “... the waxy feather tips of Cedar waxwings are the red badge of age, usually being well developed in birds that are two years of age or more. The matings of waxwings is not done randomly. Older, waxy winged birds mate with a similarly endowed birds, leaving the younger waxwings, inexperienced birds, to flounder along with each other as best they can. No doubt our older human males with their distinctive gray hair will be quick to see the justice here - “... the lesson is of course that the badge of age is also the badge of maturity and competence.” What about us guys who are going balder?
***
In the recent January, 2005 magazine Birder’s World there was a photo of a Golden eagle, one of my most favourite raptor. The article entitled Where to Watch Golden Eagles tells of more and more Goldens taking an eastern route south during migration. Yes, at Hawk Mountain in central Pennsylvania is a place I have visited both physically and on line. Golden eagles, those magnificent birds , are coming east. At Cummings Nature Park near Rochester, New York and at the Simcoe Fair I was up close to tethered Golden eagles. You can find out from the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website when these great birds return. The best time slots are mid-October and all of November. You can print out a daily record of the raptors returning and plan a trip. Just a warning the ascent to the top is rugged. It’s there you can best view the myriads of migrating raptors. Want an eagle fix? Plan for it.
We saw some Cedar waxwings at Marcy Woods.. Beautiful as the woods were now my winter thoughts turned to Algonquin Park. I can’t help it. I love the Park as many of you do. As we were walking in one of the side trails off the main highway waxwings passed through and some stopped for us to see. Do you know the story of Cedar waxwings? Jim Mountjoy of Algonquin Park shares this, “... the waxy feather tips of Cedar waxwings are the red badge of age, usually being well developed in birds that are two years of age or more. The matings of waxwings is not done randomly. Older, waxy winged birds mate with a similarly endowed birds, leaving the younger waxwings, inexperienced birds, to flounder along with each other as best they can. No doubt our older human males with their distinctive gray hair will be quick to see the justice here - “... the lesson is of course that the badge of age is also the badge of maturity and competence.” What about us guys who are going balder?
***
In the recent January, 2005 magazine Birder’s World there was a photo of a Golden eagle, one of my most favourite raptor. The article entitled Where to Watch Golden Eagles tells of more and more Goldens taking an eastern route south during migration. Yes, at Hawk Mountain in central Pennsylvania is a place I have visited both physically and on line. Golden eagles, those magnificent birds , are coming east. At Cummings Nature Park near Rochester, New York and at the Simcoe Fair I was up close to tethered Golden eagles. You can find out from the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary website when these great birds return. The best time slots are mid-October and all of November. You can print out a daily record of the raptors returning and plan a trip. Just a warning the ascent to the top is rugged. It’s there you can best view the myriads of migrating raptors. Want an eagle fix? Plan for it.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Marsh &- Don't Throw IT Away, eh
Earl Plato
The Marsh
Have you ever walked the back trails and followed the old rail tracks of Wainfleet Peat Marsh? You need boots preferably ‘hippers’. It was a cloudless Spring day when I followed naturalist Ernie Giles into that barren landscape. The crossing of drainage ditches caused me to lose my knee boots more than once. - “sucked right off my feet!” Ernie was on a hunt for the elusive Pitcher plant and Sundews. Then I heard it. To our right and along a low hedge row came a melodious song. Tinkling symbols as a bird flew toward us. “Horned lark,” said Ernie. “They sing as they fly,” he added. It was my first lark medley of high pitched series of what I describe as ‘tinkling’ notes. That wasn’t all. We trudged across the open peat field toward thr row of bushes. Ernie raised his hand and I stopped. Glasses up. Ernie pointed to the end of the hedgerow. Then I saw it - a Horned lark.
Not a large bird but bigger than a sparrow. Black stripe below the eyes and a black crescent on its breast. Otherwise it had a brownish body. Ernie spoke, “See its horns?” The lark had walked out of sight. I found it again and looked for the two tufts of black feathers. Ernie saw them. Did I? Not really but Ernie with much superior eyesight did. I believe him.
Writer’s Note: Our Horned lark is the only true lark in North America - Audubon source. I love Snow buntings and their aerial tactics as a flock. Listen to this - In the fall Horned larks in large groups roam the open country side with Snow buntings. I have found as many as 300 Snow buntings flying in Wainfleet fields - Horned larks too?
***
“It’s a throw away world.” Right? Ontario has clear cut more of its forests over the years than any other jurisdiction in North America!
Of pioneer stock myself I guess ‘clearing the lands’ was uppermost in those early days of the late 1700’s. So? “If it’s in the way remove it.” Is that the mind set of the typical Ontarian? Could be. However, Oaks Ridge Moraine near Toronto is an exception. Developers wanted to continue to build new houses in areas that should be protected. So? Hey, it’s a throw away world. What’s a tree or two!
I consider my self a nature preservationist. The word environmentalist has a bad connotation for some. Preserve nature-wise what’s still left. If we don’t in this “Throw away world” it will be gone and soon. What’s my motive ? No money deals, no headlines, just the satisfaction of seeing the preservation of our remaining natural sites in Niagara. The Garner Road development is an example. Be a preservationist.
The Marsh
Have you ever walked the back trails and followed the old rail tracks of Wainfleet Peat Marsh? You need boots preferably ‘hippers’. It was a cloudless Spring day when I followed naturalist Ernie Giles into that barren landscape. The crossing of drainage ditches caused me to lose my knee boots more than once. - “sucked right off my feet!” Ernie was on a hunt for the elusive Pitcher plant and Sundews. Then I heard it. To our right and along a low hedge row came a melodious song. Tinkling symbols as a bird flew toward us. “Horned lark,” said Ernie. “They sing as they fly,” he added. It was my first lark medley of high pitched series of what I describe as ‘tinkling’ notes. That wasn’t all. We trudged across the open peat field toward thr row of bushes. Ernie raised his hand and I stopped. Glasses up. Ernie pointed to the end of the hedgerow. Then I saw it - a Horned lark.
Not a large bird but bigger than a sparrow. Black stripe below the eyes and a black crescent on its breast. Otherwise it had a brownish body. Ernie spoke, “See its horns?” The lark had walked out of sight. I found it again and looked for the two tufts of black feathers. Ernie saw them. Did I? Not really but Ernie with much superior eyesight did. I believe him.
Writer’s Note: Our Horned lark is the only true lark in North America - Audubon source. I love Snow buntings and their aerial tactics as a flock. Listen to this - In the fall Horned larks in large groups roam the open country side with Snow buntings. I have found as many as 300 Snow buntings flying in Wainfleet fields - Horned larks too?
***
“It’s a throw away world.” Right? Ontario has clear cut more of its forests over the years than any other jurisdiction in North America!
Of pioneer stock myself I guess ‘clearing the lands’ was uppermost in those early days of the late 1700’s. So? “If it’s in the way remove it.” Is that the mind set of the typical Ontarian? Could be. However, Oaks Ridge Moraine near Toronto is an exception. Developers wanted to continue to build new houses in areas that should be protected. So? Hey, it’s a throw away world. What’s a tree or two!
I consider my self a nature preservationist. The word environmentalist has a bad connotation for some. Preserve nature-wise what’s still left. If we don’t in this “Throw away world” it will be gone and soon. What’s my motive ? No money deals, no headlines, just the satisfaction of seeing the preservation of our remaining natural sites in Niagara. The Garner Road development is an example. Be a preservationist.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Robins in 2008 Winter
Looking for Robins in 2008
Robins and more robins! But it was the middle of last winter, Plato. I have received calls from all over Niagara about the sightings of large numbers of robins in late January and February. I had an article written but my computer crashed and I lost it. So this is a second try.
From Jerry at the Leisureplex where he sighted fifty or so to Ross Bearss on the Ridge Road - a hundred! I went to the Bearss’s home and on either end of their house are berry trees. There was still dried up fruit on the branches, On this relatively warm day the host of robins were eating the berries. Many of you know the story. The warming sun heated up the juice in each exposed berry and fermentation caused alcohol to be formed. These robins were having a party! They whizzed around often in an erratic way. Over half of Ross’s visiting robins had flown when I arrived but I confirmed his call. Invitations calls from Chippawa and Niagara Falls I did not follow up but I believe the callers. Wintering robins? A few tell me that could be the case. However, such large groups at one time - ten, twenty. fifty and even 100 means to me that they have come north as a group this early. Food? One caller said to me, “They only eat worms.” Not so. Robins like many songbirds will adjust their diet according to the availability of winter food. Drop me a line if you have any large robin sightings. Observe what they are eating. You may surprised.
***
Yes, I’ve been reminiscing at the end of this winter month. Times are slow when you’re cooped inside. What to do? I was cleaning up three big boxes of family records. There in the middle of one of these mass of papers et al was one of my long Review nature articles of years ago. I had placed five copies of the story entitled, I Finally Saw the Elusive Pileated Woodpecker. There it was - my drawing of the giant woodpecker at the bottom of the piece. Wrong box, yes, but then memories flooded back. Let me share in 2005 part of that memory from that old article. “The day was cold and cloudy. Not long into the hike in Reinstein’s Woods, a private entity in Erie County, N.Y. we heard the unmistakable sound “Cuk! Cuk! Cuk!” of a pileated woodpecker. Bert Miller Nature Club naturalists, Rob Eberly and Tim Seburn, have far better eyesight than I do. They were able to see a male pileated back in the woods. Finally I saw the flash of red of the bird’s head crest. What a thrill for this guy! This woodpecker had red under its throat. “That’s an identifying mark of a male pileated,” said Tim. We next visited Stiglemeyer Public Patk that abuts Reinsteins. There are boardwalks that lead into a partial wetlands. We saw cardinals, and almost tame chickadees and white throated nuthatches. The tapping! Have you heard the tapping of local woodpeckers? Magnify them many times and you know you have a pileated. Rob pointed to a large beech tree and there were the unmistakable pile of wood chips at the base of the tree. Rob estimated the excavation high in the beech as about 2 1/2 feet long, six inches wide and 5 inches deep. The largest of our woodpeckers in their pursuit of carpenter ants had made the huge beech tree cavity.”
Writer’s Note: Back up the trail we saw a female pileated perched high on the limb of a beech tree. We zeroed in with our bird glasses. This was better sighting than the first time. Enjoy bird watching in 2008. Join a nature club - Peninsula Field Naturalists, Niagara Falls Nature Club or the Bert Miller Nature Club. Great ‘birders’ in those organizations.
Robins and more robins! But it was the middle of last winter, Plato. I have received calls from all over Niagara about the sightings of large numbers of robins in late January and February. I had an article written but my computer crashed and I lost it. So this is a second try.
From Jerry at the Leisureplex where he sighted fifty or so to Ross Bearss on the Ridge Road - a hundred! I went to the Bearss’s home and on either end of their house are berry trees. There was still dried up fruit on the branches, On this relatively warm day the host of robins were eating the berries. Many of you know the story. The warming sun heated up the juice in each exposed berry and fermentation caused alcohol to be formed. These robins were having a party! They whizzed around often in an erratic way. Over half of Ross’s visiting robins had flown when I arrived but I confirmed his call. Invitations calls from Chippawa and Niagara Falls I did not follow up but I believe the callers. Wintering robins? A few tell me that could be the case. However, such large groups at one time - ten, twenty. fifty and even 100 means to me that they have come north as a group this early. Food? One caller said to me, “They only eat worms.” Not so. Robins like many songbirds will adjust their diet according to the availability of winter food. Drop me a line if you have any large robin sightings. Observe what they are eating. You may surprised.
***
Yes, I’ve been reminiscing at the end of this winter month. Times are slow when you’re cooped inside. What to do? I was cleaning up three big boxes of family records. There in the middle of one of these mass of papers et al was one of my long Review nature articles of years ago. I had placed five copies of the story entitled, I Finally Saw the Elusive Pileated Woodpecker. There it was - my drawing of the giant woodpecker at the bottom of the piece. Wrong box, yes, but then memories flooded back. Let me share in 2005 part of that memory from that old article. “The day was cold and cloudy. Not long into the hike in Reinstein’s Woods, a private entity in Erie County, N.Y. we heard the unmistakable sound “Cuk! Cuk! Cuk!” of a pileated woodpecker. Bert Miller Nature Club naturalists, Rob Eberly and Tim Seburn, have far better eyesight than I do. They were able to see a male pileated back in the woods. Finally I saw the flash of red of the bird’s head crest. What a thrill for this guy! This woodpecker had red under its throat. “That’s an identifying mark of a male pileated,” said Tim. We next visited Stiglemeyer Public Patk that abuts Reinsteins. There are boardwalks that lead into a partial wetlands. We saw cardinals, and almost tame chickadees and white throated nuthatches. The tapping! Have you heard the tapping of local woodpeckers? Magnify them many times and you know you have a pileated. Rob pointed to a large beech tree and there were the unmistakable pile of wood chips at the base of the tree. Rob estimated the excavation high in the beech as about 2 1/2 feet long, six inches wide and 5 inches deep. The largest of our woodpeckers in their pursuit of carpenter ants had made the huge beech tree cavity.”
Writer’s Note: Back up the trail we saw a female pileated perched high on the limb of a beech tree. We zeroed in with our bird glasses. This was better sighting than the first time. Enjoy bird watching in 2008. Join a nature club - Peninsula Field Naturalists, Niagara Falls Nature Club or the Bert Miller Nature Club. Great ‘birders’ in those organizations.
Hooded Warbler - Marcy Woods
nature article by earl Plato
What does the bird, Hooded warbler, mean to you? We are at the northern extreme of its range during its summer season. That means it is not overly plentiful in Niagara. If you’re a birder you would appreciate seeing its colourful appearance whenever you can. I am a bird watcher and was thrilled to see two pairs in Marcy’s Woods. If they would nest here what a prize that would be! Such a happening would once again prove that Marcy’s Woods is unique and should be preserved before would-be developers destroy this pristine area. Marcy Nature Reserve, that sounds nice to the ear. Back to the birds, Yes, I am an ordinary naturalist which can mean that I know a little about a lot of things in nature and alas, one who doesn’t know very much in depth. However, I am fortunate to know some several nature enthusiasts who do.
I was able, thanks to resident Ridgeway “birder,” Rob Eberly, to ramble with him on a June evening out to Marcy’s Woods. There we met two great “birders,” Dr. Richard Knapton and Blayne Farnan of Port Colborne accompanied by their wives. Blayne and his wife had their son, daughter-in-law and six month old granddaughter on this pleasant walk. Rob wanted them to hear and see Hooded warblers. If you’re only a bird watcher like me keep quiet! I didn’t always remain silent and probably won’t be invited again. However, I am a confirmed bird watcher and appreciated the opportunity to see Hooded warblers in Marcy’s woods.
Amazing these men and their wives for they hear and see so well. We were only at the start of the trail near the stairs in Marcy’s forest undergrowth when this warbler seemed to call attention to itself by frequently fanning its tail quickly open and shut, flashing the white outer tail feathers. I confess I didn’t see this motion, however, Blayne, Richard and Rod had brought their bird call tapes of the Hooded warbler, I did too but on my little micro-cassette recorder the sound was not too loud so I did not mention my taping..
Blayne held his recorder up and the played the call of the Hooded warbler and it permeated the understory. A reply came and the scenario was repeated. Then a flash of yellow. On a tall maple the bird landed and even Earl focused his glasses on this beautiful warbler. Add to my 200 plus Bird list the Hooded warbler. Now that helps prove I am not a “birder” just a bird watcher. A real “birder” would have three or four times that length. But anyone can have a list. Why not start one?
I taped Rob Eberly’s list of what we saw as follows: “Common yellowthroat, Towhees, two pairs of Hooded warblers, which is a great thing, flickers,Turkey vultures, male and female Scarlet tanagers copulating, and Northern Baltimore oriole.”
What a great night. However, I think I talked too much. Will these “birders” invite me again? I promise to be quiet for I love watching birds with “birders.”
What does the bird, Hooded warbler, mean to you? We are at the northern extreme of its range during its summer season. That means it is not overly plentiful in Niagara. If you’re a birder you would appreciate seeing its colourful appearance whenever you can. I am a bird watcher and was thrilled to see two pairs in Marcy’s Woods. If they would nest here what a prize that would be! Such a happening would once again prove that Marcy’s Woods is unique and should be preserved before would-be developers destroy this pristine area. Marcy Nature Reserve, that sounds nice to the ear. Back to the birds, Yes, I am an ordinary naturalist which can mean that I know a little about a lot of things in nature and alas, one who doesn’t know very much in depth. However, I am fortunate to know some several nature enthusiasts who do.
I was able, thanks to resident Ridgeway “birder,” Rob Eberly, to ramble with him on a June evening out to Marcy’s Woods. There we met two great “birders,” Dr. Richard Knapton and Blayne Farnan of Port Colborne accompanied by their wives. Blayne and his wife had their son, daughter-in-law and six month old granddaughter on this pleasant walk. Rob wanted them to hear and see Hooded warblers. If you’re only a bird watcher like me keep quiet! I didn’t always remain silent and probably won’t be invited again. However, I am a confirmed bird watcher and appreciated the opportunity to see Hooded warblers in Marcy’s woods.
Amazing these men and their wives for they hear and see so well. We were only at the start of the trail near the stairs in Marcy’s forest undergrowth when this warbler seemed to call attention to itself by frequently fanning its tail quickly open and shut, flashing the white outer tail feathers. I confess I didn’t see this motion, however, Blayne, Richard and Rod had brought their bird call tapes of the Hooded warbler, I did too but on my little micro-cassette recorder the sound was not too loud so I did not mention my taping..
Blayne held his recorder up and the played the call of the Hooded warbler and it permeated the understory. A reply came and the scenario was repeated. Then a flash of yellow. On a tall maple the bird landed and even Earl focused his glasses on this beautiful warbler. Add to my 200 plus Bird list the Hooded warbler. Now that helps prove I am not a “birder” just a bird watcher. A real “birder” would have three or four times that length. But anyone can have a list. Why not start one?
I taped Rob Eberly’s list of what we saw as follows: “Common yellowthroat, Towhees, two pairs of Hooded warblers, which is a great thing, flickers,Turkey vultures, male and female Scarlet tanagers copulating, and Northern Baltimore oriole.”
What a great night. However, I think I talked too much. Will these “birders” invite me again? I promise to be quiet for I love watching birds with “birders.”
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Short Hils & Ospreys
Short Hills Earl Plato
It’s a long hike to the elevated southeast corner of Short Hills Ontario Provincial Park. It was a crisp November day. Ahead of us were the giant hydro tower lines. Ernie took his bearings. “We’ll enter here.” We stepped from the sunlight into the dark recesses of the hardwood forest of maple, beech and some yellow birch. We were close near the southern border of the great park. “Look at them!” Ernie exclaimed. Covering the dry forest ground were a myriad of plants I knew as Doll’s eyes. Everywhere bunches of Doll’s eyes stared out boldly from their reddish-purple stalks. Do you know what I mean? Picture a bright white berry with a single black dot at the tip. The Doll’s eyes are borne in a cluster on stout stocks that turn from red to purple as the berries ripen. This day Doll’s eyes were everywhere in the forest glade ranging from half a metre to a metre in height. Ernie took a berry and pealed back the skin revealing several seeds tightly packed inside. Ernie Giles can and has lived off the wilderness environment at times. He would often sample seeds, leaves and fruits in nature. Ernie is a knowledgeable naturalist. No sampling this time. I remember him saying, “Don’t try these berries. First they are very bitter and poisonous!” These large white black-eyed berries are not to be fooled with. I researched some and quote this statement, “Doll’s eyes are reputed to be deadly poisonous. They’re also known as White baneberries, from the Old English word bana, meaning killer.” Enough said. Do not sample plants in the great outdoors that you don’t know about. Better safe than sorry.
***
The headline reads “In Praise of Ospreys.” One of my favourite raptors is the ‘fish hawk’ or the osprey. In the latest magazine issue of Scotland under the heading Scottish Wildlife is a beautiful full page photo of an osprey. The writer of the article, Graham Holliday, begins with the following: “The Osprey is one of Scotland’s most remarkable conservation success stories. Persecuted to extinction...the bird disappeared in 1916.” 1916! We have travelled through Scotland some 25 years ago. A bird watcher then as now, No ospreys in sight back then. We saw kites and a eagle north of Loch Ness but none of the ospreys. They were recovering Holliday tells us. Recovery of the species has been gradual but royalty helped out. In cooperation with the Countess of Seafield the area around Loch Garten was declared a protected bird sanctuary. Between 1990 and 2001 twenty-three osprey chicks were raised. The osprey has returned to Scotland and is well established. Good news for a great bird.
It’s a long hike to the elevated southeast corner of Short Hills Ontario Provincial Park. It was a crisp November day. Ahead of us were the giant hydro tower lines. Ernie took his bearings. “We’ll enter here.” We stepped from the sunlight into the dark recesses of the hardwood forest of maple, beech and some yellow birch. We were close near the southern border of the great park. “Look at them!” Ernie exclaimed. Covering the dry forest ground were a myriad of plants I knew as Doll’s eyes. Everywhere bunches of Doll’s eyes stared out boldly from their reddish-purple stalks. Do you know what I mean? Picture a bright white berry with a single black dot at the tip. The Doll’s eyes are borne in a cluster on stout stocks that turn from red to purple as the berries ripen. This day Doll’s eyes were everywhere in the forest glade ranging from half a metre to a metre in height. Ernie took a berry and pealed back the skin revealing several seeds tightly packed inside. Ernie Giles can and has lived off the wilderness environment at times. He would often sample seeds, leaves and fruits in nature. Ernie is a knowledgeable naturalist. No sampling this time. I remember him saying, “Don’t try these berries. First they are very bitter and poisonous!” These large white black-eyed berries are not to be fooled with. I researched some and quote this statement, “Doll’s eyes are reputed to be deadly poisonous. They’re also known as White baneberries, from the Old English word bana, meaning killer.” Enough said. Do not sample plants in the great outdoors that you don’t know about. Better safe than sorry.
***
The headline reads “In Praise of Ospreys.” One of my favourite raptors is the ‘fish hawk’ or the osprey. In the latest magazine issue of Scotland under the heading Scottish Wildlife is a beautiful full page photo of an osprey. The writer of the article, Graham Holliday, begins with the following: “The Osprey is one of Scotland’s most remarkable conservation success stories. Persecuted to extinction...the bird disappeared in 1916.” 1916! We have travelled through Scotland some 25 years ago. A bird watcher then as now, No ospreys in sight back then. We saw kites and a eagle north of Loch Ness but none of the ospreys. They were recovering Holliday tells us. Recovery of the species has been gradual but royalty helped out. In cooperation with the Countess of Seafield the area around Loch Garten was declared a protected bird sanctuary. Between 1990 and 2001 twenty-three osprey chicks were raised. The osprey has returned to Scotland and is well established. Good news for a great bird.
Never Too Old
Never Too Old Earl Plato
How old is old? In nature there are always exceptions. Some animals seem to live actively much longer than their specie’s normal average life span. This so-called anomaly occurs in humans too. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, died at 91. When he was 86 He went with me and my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. Back then we had permission to enter the Baird property. We walked the west coast to the Abino lighthouse. Along the way this remarkably alert senior would stop to share with us something from the natural surroundings. An amazing man! On Wednesday, October 27th I took a 87 year old Buffalo naturalist, John Lessle, to Short Hills Provincial Park. John was a life-long friend of the late Dr. George Marcy and walked Marcy Woods for over more than 60 decades! That is where I first met John deep in Marcy Woods in 1984. John is an excellent nature photographer. I have learned from him. Both men, Bert and John, were and are excellent walkers and at 86 and 87 years of age respectively they could put many of us to shame on a hike. I know for I have experienced their hiking prowess. Regular walking, good weather and bad, seemed to be one of their secrets to longevity. How old is old? Get walking this week on a regular basis. You’re never too old!
***
Spiders anyone? Daughter Diane called me in mid-November from her Wainfleet home. “Dad, you have to see our front fields.” Her description of the large front fields were of a blanket of spider webs glistening in the morning light. Its fall and spider time. What Order of Aranceae? We think that they are in the Orb family and specifically Grass spiders. If there are we would see two dark bands on the thorax and lighter bans on the edges. They are found in grassy areas throughout North America. Grass spiders are funnel-web weavers. There is a characteristic funnel extending off from the centre to one edge. The spider hides within. Note the web is not sticky but threads hand down over the opening. Flying insects hit one of the threads and fall down. He is an insect eater. This quick running spider depends on speed to capture its prey. The Grass spider is just one of many species of Orb spiders. Yes, Diane bought me an Audubon Field Guide to Spiders for my birthday. It’s a whole new world to explore.
How old is old? In nature there are always exceptions. Some animals seem to live actively much longer than their specie’s normal average life span. This so-called anomaly occurs in humans too. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, died at 91. When he was 86 He went with me and my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. Back then we had permission to enter the Baird property. We walked the west coast to the Abino lighthouse. Along the way this remarkably alert senior would stop to share with us something from the natural surroundings. An amazing man! On Wednesday, October 27th I took a 87 year old Buffalo naturalist, John Lessle, to Short Hills Provincial Park. John was a life-long friend of the late Dr. George Marcy and walked Marcy Woods for over more than 60 decades! That is where I first met John deep in Marcy Woods in 1984. John is an excellent nature photographer. I have learned from him. Both men, Bert and John, were and are excellent walkers and at 86 and 87 years of age respectively they could put many of us to shame on a hike. I know for I have experienced their hiking prowess. Regular walking, good weather and bad, seemed to be one of their secrets to longevity. How old is old? Get walking this week on a regular basis. You’re never too old!
***
Spiders anyone? Daughter Diane called me in mid-November from her Wainfleet home. “Dad, you have to see our front fields.” Her description of the large front fields were of a blanket of spider webs glistening in the morning light. Its fall and spider time. What Order of Aranceae? We think that they are in the Orb family and specifically Grass spiders. If there are we would see two dark bands on the thorax and lighter bans on the edges. They are found in grassy areas throughout North America. Grass spiders are funnel-web weavers. There is a characteristic funnel extending off from the centre to one edge. The spider hides within. Note the web is not sticky but threads hand down over the opening. Flying insects hit one of the threads and fall down. He is an insect eater. This quick running spider depends on speed to capture its prey. The Grass spider is just one of many species of Orb spiders. Yes, Diane bought me an Audubon Field Guide to Spiders for my birthday. It’s a whole new world to explore.
Care For the Birds
Care for Our Birds Earl Plato
Ruth Zimmerman-Klopka called a few years ago and shared this little bird anecdote. While shopping in a local mall Ruth and a friend went for a bite of eat. There flying around was a little sparrow looking for a handout. Ruth is a bird lover. The bird seemed entrapped. She called the manager for some help. He told Ruth this was the second sparrow hanging around the food area. “This bird flies to the bird feed section at night and feeds there.” Best of two worlds for the little but smart English sparrow.
Ruth reminds us of water for the feeder birds. A rock heated in the micro wave and placed in the frozen bird bath can do the job. Be careful handling! She advocates rolled oatmeal for the feeders. First juncos and chickadees, squirrels, then cardinals and the mourning doves arrive for the feast.
It’s a “throw-away” world. We can often throw away friends and relationships, aging machines and yes, automobiles. It’s the thing to do in 2008. No. Wait! Do you have some old macaroni, cooked or uncooked, that you were going to throw out? Ruth says, “Put it on your feeder. ”She did and it disappeared. Feed your birds on a regular basis, in the good weather and bad.
Ruth Zimmerman-Klopka called a few years ago and shared this little bird anecdote. While shopping in a local mall Ruth and a friend went for a bite of eat. There flying around was a little sparrow looking for a handout. Ruth is a bird lover. The bird seemed entrapped. She called the manager for some help. He told Ruth this was the second sparrow hanging around the food area. “This bird flies to the bird feed section at night and feeds there.” Best of two worlds for the little but smart English sparrow.
Ruth reminds us of water for the feeder birds. A rock heated in the micro wave and placed in the frozen bird bath can do the job. Be careful handling! She advocates rolled oatmeal for the feeders. First juncos and chickadees, squirrels, then cardinals and the mourning doves arrive for the feast.
It’s a “throw-away” world. We can often throw away friends and relationships, aging machines and yes, automobiles. It’s the thing to do in 2008. No. Wait! Do you have some old macaroni, cooked or uncooked, that you were going to throw out? Ruth says, “Put it on your feeder. ”She did and it disappeared. Feed your birds on a regular basis, in the good weather and bad.
Bird Feeders
nature article Earl Plato
We heard Jerry Farrell at the Bert Miller Nature Club Club Meeting some years ago.. Jerry from Western New York is a dynamic speaker. He bands birds and loves them. He has goldfinches at his feeders all year long. Yes, to him niger seed is the answer. But don’t look for the familiar breeding colours- black and yellow in wintertime. You may have goldfinches at your feeder and not know it. Sparrow-sized they change their colours from bright to drab. Here is part of an article I wrote from 2000.
I am no longer the bird feeding person I once was! Not that I want to slip to lower levels but that’s reality when you move from farm to town. Fewer wild birds, fewer opportunities to feed. This article is an historical one about bird feeding and its beginnings as told by nature writer, John Dennis and myself.
It is only recently that bird feeding has achieved its overwhelming popularity here and the USA When was songbird feeding begun? Dennis and I agree that Henry David Thoreau around 1845 recorded some of his activities at Walden Pond in Massachusetts. I was at Walden Pond in 1954 before the building boom began. I’ve returned twice and now you can not recognize the place and his rustic cabin because of the surrounding buildup. I have a Thoreau book and we read that over 150 years ago Thoreau was offering corn and bread crumbs to the birds at Walden Pond. He was feeding the birds at his beautiful, rustic setting. Read Walden Pond if you haven’t already. This philosopher loved nature and wanted to help the local songbirds. He is the first recorded bird feeder as far as I know. There were no handmade feeders as we know. Thoreau’s fellow naturalist and author John Burroughs toward the end of the 1800’s tells of feeding birds regularly at his woodland cabin. Again it seems a matter of scattering seeds and crumbs on the ground.
By 1910 Dennis tells us that there were many references to bird feeding, including two books on bird feeding: Methods of Attracting Birds, by Gilbert H. Trafton and Wild Bird Guests (1915) by Ernest H. Baynes. Three more informative books were also written at this time. Interest was growing. We learn that food was often offered in crude but practical homemade feeders. Less scattering of seed on the ground.
There is even a reference to a young Californian woman in the early 1900’s while convalescing from an illness sprinkled some sugar water on some flowers. Soon she had attracted hummingbirds. We learn that shortly after a Caroline Soule of Brookline, Massachusetts provided hummingbirds with the first sugar-water feeder.
Philanthropist B.F. Tucker began in 1926 to sell hummingbird feeders. They sold well.
Another feeder that became a commercial success was invented in 1930. You know it well. I have had two of them up. Peter Kalham gave us the first modern tubular hanging feeder. John Dennis says, These were the humble beginnings of a hobby that is now among the most popular in North America.
Feed the songbirds this winter but take note: Once you start be faithful, don’t stop!
We heard Jerry Farrell at the Bert Miller Nature Club Club Meeting some years ago.. Jerry from Western New York is a dynamic speaker. He bands birds and loves them. He has goldfinches at his feeders all year long. Yes, to him niger seed is the answer. But don’t look for the familiar breeding colours- black and yellow in wintertime. You may have goldfinches at your feeder and not know it. Sparrow-sized they change their colours from bright to drab. Here is part of an article I wrote from 2000.
I am no longer the bird feeding person I once was! Not that I want to slip to lower levels but that’s reality when you move from farm to town. Fewer wild birds, fewer opportunities to feed. This article is an historical one about bird feeding and its beginnings as told by nature writer, John Dennis and myself.
It is only recently that bird feeding has achieved its overwhelming popularity here and the USA When was songbird feeding begun? Dennis and I agree that Henry David Thoreau around 1845 recorded some of his activities at Walden Pond in Massachusetts. I was at Walden Pond in 1954 before the building boom began. I’ve returned twice and now you can not recognize the place and his rustic cabin because of the surrounding buildup. I have a Thoreau book and we read that over 150 years ago Thoreau was offering corn and bread crumbs to the birds at Walden Pond. He was feeding the birds at his beautiful, rustic setting. Read Walden Pond if you haven’t already. This philosopher loved nature and wanted to help the local songbirds. He is the first recorded bird feeder as far as I know. There were no handmade feeders as we know. Thoreau’s fellow naturalist and author John Burroughs toward the end of the 1800’s tells of feeding birds regularly at his woodland cabin. Again it seems a matter of scattering seeds and crumbs on the ground.
By 1910 Dennis tells us that there were many references to bird feeding, including two books on bird feeding: Methods of Attracting Birds, by Gilbert H. Trafton and Wild Bird Guests (1915) by Ernest H. Baynes. Three more informative books were also written at this time. Interest was growing. We learn that food was often offered in crude but practical homemade feeders. Less scattering of seed on the ground.
There is even a reference to a young Californian woman in the early 1900’s while convalescing from an illness sprinkled some sugar water on some flowers. Soon she had attracted hummingbirds. We learn that shortly after a Caroline Soule of Brookline, Massachusetts provided hummingbirds with the first sugar-water feeder.
Philanthropist B.F. Tucker began in 1926 to sell hummingbird feeders. They sold well.
Another feeder that became a commercial success was invented in 1930. You know it well. I have had two of them up. Peter Kalham gave us the first modern tubular hanging feeder. John Dennis says, These were the humble beginnings of a hobby that is now among the most popular in North America.
Feed the songbirds this winter but take note: Once you start be faithful, don’t stop!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Erie Beach Walk
Erie Beach -2007 Earl Plato
Eighty years ago in the “Roaring Twenties” Erie Beach was the place to be on the shores of Lake Erie. It boasted the world’s largest man made outdoor swimming pool, an ample Dance Hall and Casino, and countless thrill rides - of which the remnants still remain. There was even an airfield. Boat piers now in various levels of poor condition allowed ferry boats from Buffalo to take picnickers to The Erie Grove. The Sandfly Express from Fort Erie South puffed its way to Erie Beach laden with joy seekers. Erie Beach was a bustling active centre in those days. Then it happened - The Great Depression of 1929! Erie Beach died. To the west Crystal Beach became the new centre of public amusement sources. Decay came to Erie Beach. The paved walkways still exist in some places but tree roots and weeds have taken over. The Dance Hall was demolished years ago. The evidence of the great outdoor pool still exist despite the growth of vegetation. Many of us grew up in the presence of ruin and decay at Erie Beach.
Then the Town had a vision of creating a link between the Friendship Trail a d the Niagara River Recreational Trail.
It’s reality here in November 2007. What a beautiful walk from Bardol Avenue to Waverly Beach. It’s wheel chair friendly and has a wide smooth surface. The lake views are tremendous. The Buffalo skyline is easily seen. Giant cottonwood trees border the walk. Want a pleasant walk in a peaceful setting? Go to the Town’s Erie Beach and enjoy nature. Thank you Signe and the Town.
Eighty years ago in the “Roaring Twenties” Erie Beach was the place to be on the shores of Lake Erie. It boasted the world’s largest man made outdoor swimming pool, an ample Dance Hall and Casino, and countless thrill rides - of which the remnants still remain. There was even an airfield. Boat piers now in various levels of poor condition allowed ferry boats from Buffalo to take picnickers to The Erie Grove. The Sandfly Express from Fort Erie South puffed its way to Erie Beach laden with joy seekers. Erie Beach was a bustling active centre in those days. Then it happened - The Great Depression of 1929! Erie Beach died. To the west Crystal Beach became the new centre of public amusement sources. Decay came to Erie Beach. The paved walkways still exist in some places but tree roots and weeds have taken over. The Dance Hall was demolished years ago. The evidence of the great outdoor pool still exist despite the growth of vegetation. Many of us grew up in the presence of ruin and decay at Erie Beach.
Then the Town had a vision of creating a link between the Friendship Trail a d the Niagara River Recreational Trail.
It’s reality here in November 2007. What a beautiful walk from Bardol Avenue to Waverly Beach. It’s wheel chair friendly and has a wide smooth surface. The lake views are tremendous. The Buffalo skyline is easily seen. Giant cottonwood trees border the walk. Want a pleasant walk in a peaceful setting? Go to the Town’s Erie Beach and enjoy nature. Thank you Signe and the Town.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Owl Prowl
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.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Fox Trot Trail
Earl Plato
It’s been at least four years since I walked Fox Trot Trail at Marcy Woods. Bud and I rediscovered this old pathway this November. I wanted to update my map of the DiCienzo’s property made by Neil Reichelt . I had forgotten that it was beyond the eastern gate of the boundary of Marcy Woods but still part of the Woods. We did not enter the grown over path. We had spent two hours already. We would return another day. Good memories of this trail with naturalist Ernie Giles. Memories of Giant swallowtail and Spicebush butterflies, of young Tulip trees, and a pond with a different growth of duckweed. Beyond to the north was a trail leading into the wetlands and who knows where. We named the trail “Fox Trot” because of the numerous fox feces on the trail. The map has been redrawn by Neil.
***
Last year we were away for two weeks out west. Did we have an Indian Summer while away? No one I asked seemed to know. At Marcy Woods this past week I saw chipmunks still scampering up and down fallen trees. To my right a gray squirrel launched itself from limb to limb and peered down at us. Were these the last days of a departing Indian Summer? It was a bright crisp morning in the Woods. I reflected on the Marcy family. The late Dr. George Marcy and his wife Elizabeth could have been enjoying American Thanksgiving at their Abino Hills farm. I can picture roast turkey - light meat and dark- the dressing, gravy, the sweet potatoes, the cranberry sauce, and the pumpkin pie. Back to reality, eh. What is your definition of Indian Summer? Some say that those few sunny days after a heavy killing frost is an Indian Summer? Let me know if we already had it.
***
My nature writer mentor, Ed Teale, asked the question. Have you ever seen a red squirrel scampering on the ground? Gray and black squirrels I have seen often on the ground but the smaller red guys always seem to be up in trees. Teale said that except at the time when nuts are ripening at their peak do you see the red squirrel in awe-inspiring nervous energy racing up and down the trunk of a home nest. He’s only on the ground briefly as he is collecting food for the winter. He is always on defence of his territory. Grays and blacks look out!
It’s been at least four years since I walked Fox Trot Trail at Marcy Woods. Bud and I rediscovered this old pathway this November. I wanted to update my map of the DiCienzo’s property made by Neil Reichelt . I had forgotten that it was beyond the eastern gate of the boundary of Marcy Woods but still part of the Woods. We did not enter the grown over path. We had spent two hours already. We would return another day. Good memories of this trail with naturalist Ernie Giles. Memories of Giant swallowtail and Spicebush butterflies, of young Tulip trees, and a pond with a different growth of duckweed. Beyond to the north was a trail leading into the wetlands and who knows where. We named the trail “Fox Trot” because of the numerous fox feces on the trail. The map has been redrawn by Neil.
***
Last year we were away for two weeks out west. Did we have an Indian Summer while away? No one I asked seemed to know. At Marcy Woods this past week I saw chipmunks still scampering up and down fallen trees. To my right a gray squirrel launched itself from limb to limb and peered down at us. Were these the last days of a departing Indian Summer? It was a bright crisp morning in the Woods. I reflected on the Marcy family. The late Dr. George Marcy and his wife Elizabeth could have been enjoying American Thanksgiving at their Abino Hills farm. I can picture roast turkey - light meat and dark- the dressing, gravy, the sweet potatoes, the cranberry sauce, and the pumpkin pie. Back to reality, eh. What is your definition of Indian Summer? Some say that those few sunny days after a heavy killing frost is an Indian Summer? Let me know if we already had it.
***
My nature writer mentor, Ed Teale, asked the question. Have you ever seen a red squirrel scampering on the ground? Gray and black squirrels I have seen often on the ground but the smaller red guys always seem to be up in trees. Teale said that except at the time when nuts are ripening at their peak do you see the red squirrel in awe-inspiring nervous energy racing up and down the trunk of a home nest. He’s only on the ground briefly as he is collecting food for the winter. He is always on defence of his territory. Grays and blacks look out!
Trees
Trees Earl Plato
I stood with the Park Ranger in Shenandoah National Park several summers ago. We were standing on the Blue Ridge in the northern mountains of Virginia. The cheerful, rotund park officer commented, “Isn’t it a shame?” I knew what he was talking about. All along the ridge we viewed young healthy, seemingly thriving, American chestnut trees. The ranger said, “That one there looks like a good specimen but it will start dying soon. See those stumps down the way? What magnificent trees they once were. Probably 60-70% of the trees on the Blue Ridge were chestnuts. First happened back in the thirties when the blight hit.” I inquired about chestnut blight resistance trees being grown presently. “They are.” he said. “I can hardly wait to see their return.” He had photos of those magnificent chestnut trees in the late 1920’s. The spreading chestnut tree was a great sight as is the towering elm which has suffered greatly in Eastern North America from the Dutch Elm disease. The University of Guelph arboreal scientists are working on developing disease free elms and they are succeeding. The late, famed Guelph scientist Dr. Henry Kock‘s notable research work there still goes on. Great!
Note: Sadly Dr. Koch has passed away. Hopefully his work still goes on.
***
To walk in the woods such as Marcy’s brings peace of mind.
“Cast cares aside and solace find.
This is no place to plot and scheme
But place to think perchance to dream.”
No Hamlet I, but on walks in Marcy Woods I often stop and look and perchance to dream. One blustery spring day the winds sweep down through beginning leafing tree to tree along the edge of the great sand dune to my right. The big hemlocks to my left hardly move despite the increasing force.
The trees around me and above on the slopes and crest are still virtually leafless skeletons. The maples, beeches, and oaks reveal all their differences. I look to my left on that Lower trail of Marcy Woods as I trudge along then I stop. I recognize all around me at Twin oak Hill the stolid black and red oaks standing in their structural poses, seemingly oblivious to the winds. As I round the bend and head southerly there are the leaning trunks of the great, gray birches. The sound of the winds dies away in this protective part of the trail. This is the time of budding leaves. It is still time to see the framework of each deciduous tree that was once lost in its clothing of green in summer. Stop and scan each tree as it takes on new individuality through curve of limb, tilt of trunk or openings or subtle markings. I love this opportunity to see the deciduous trees in this spring setting. Yes, I stop for a moment at the towering Tulip tree. One of my favourites. I look up. High in the branches in the maze of the topmost twigs are remnants (calyxes) of the base of its distinctive flowers. Many are still clinging tightly. Soon new buds will emerge and force their stubborn hold and they too fall.
Perchance to reflect in this peaceful setting. I believe that some of these great oaks have been here before the coming of the European settlers. Those earlier trees in Niagara provided the settlers with shade and lumber, firewood and material for a thousand-and- one home-crafted aids from axe handles to bobsleds. But two of the largest and most valued trees are all but gone. Those were the American elm and American chestnut. All but wiped out by the Dutch elm disease and the chestnut blight we are told of their weathered remnants forming stark landmarks in area fields and woods. 2006 will see the gradual return of these two of the most beautiful trees of Niagara, the American elm and American chestnut. Believe it! Think about it. I should live so long.
I stood with the Park Ranger in Shenandoah National Park several summers ago. We were standing on the Blue Ridge in the northern mountains of Virginia. The cheerful, rotund park officer commented, “Isn’t it a shame?” I knew what he was talking about. All along the ridge we viewed young healthy, seemingly thriving, American chestnut trees. The ranger said, “That one there looks like a good specimen but it will start dying soon. See those stumps down the way? What magnificent trees they once were. Probably 60-70% of the trees on the Blue Ridge were chestnuts. First happened back in the thirties when the blight hit.” I inquired about chestnut blight resistance trees being grown presently. “They are.” he said. “I can hardly wait to see their return.” He had photos of those magnificent chestnut trees in the late 1920’s. The spreading chestnut tree was a great sight as is the towering elm which has suffered greatly in Eastern North America from the Dutch Elm disease. The University of Guelph arboreal scientists are working on developing disease free elms and they are succeeding. The late, famed Guelph scientist Dr. Henry Kock‘s notable research work there still goes on. Great!
Note: Sadly Dr. Koch has passed away. Hopefully his work still goes on.
***
To walk in the woods such as Marcy’s brings peace of mind.
“Cast cares aside and solace find.
This is no place to plot and scheme
But place to think perchance to dream.”
No Hamlet I, but on walks in Marcy Woods I often stop and look and perchance to dream. One blustery spring day the winds sweep down through beginning leafing tree to tree along the edge of the great sand dune to my right. The big hemlocks to my left hardly move despite the increasing force.
The trees around me and above on the slopes and crest are still virtually leafless skeletons. The maples, beeches, and oaks reveal all their differences. I look to my left on that Lower trail of Marcy Woods as I trudge along then I stop. I recognize all around me at Twin oak Hill the stolid black and red oaks standing in their structural poses, seemingly oblivious to the winds. As I round the bend and head southerly there are the leaning trunks of the great, gray birches. The sound of the winds dies away in this protective part of the trail. This is the time of budding leaves. It is still time to see the framework of each deciduous tree that was once lost in its clothing of green in summer. Stop and scan each tree as it takes on new individuality through curve of limb, tilt of trunk or openings or subtle markings. I love this opportunity to see the deciduous trees in this spring setting. Yes, I stop for a moment at the towering Tulip tree. One of my favourites. I look up. High in the branches in the maze of the topmost twigs are remnants (calyxes) of the base of its distinctive flowers. Many are still clinging tightly. Soon new buds will emerge and force their stubborn hold and they too fall.
Perchance to reflect in this peaceful setting. I believe that some of these great oaks have been here before the coming of the European settlers. Those earlier trees in Niagara provided the settlers with shade and lumber, firewood and material for a thousand-and- one home-crafted aids from axe handles to bobsleds. But two of the largest and most valued trees are all but gone. Those were the American elm and American chestnut. All but wiped out by the Dutch elm disease and the chestnut blight we are told of their weathered remnants forming stark landmarks in area fields and woods. 2006 will see the gradual return of these two of the most beautiful trees of Niagara, the American elm and American chestnut. Believe it! Think about it. I should live so long.
Love the Doves
Love the Doves Earl Plato
I normally get up early. We were living at the family farm in the 1980’s. It was in the gray light of dawn that I saw mourning doves alight in the pines. A few minutes later they fluttered down in twos to the cracked corn and bird feed we had scattered under and around our feeding table. In all, the most that we had seen at our table at any one time were only six. Readers of my articles let me know that they had much greater numbers at their feeding stations.
Think big. Read what this nature writer said about these fascinating birds.
“We scatter feed on the packed snow of the lane outside the entry door. They descend in threes and fours, then a dozen at a time, until the mass of grayish bodied fuse into a shifting, unstable carpet over several square yards of the ground.”
Get the picture? He continued, “As the light grew stronger I count the feeding birds. They are continually in motion making it difficult to determine the number. I count as swiftly as I can. ... my tally of doves shows more than 150 feeding in the yard this third day of January!” 150! Anyone top that count?
“ We scattered some more seed on the other side of the house around an old apple tree. While the larger doves were feeding, smaller doves found the food at the tree. About twelve ranged around the ring of seeds, their heads inward and their pointed tails projecting outwards.” What a photo shot, eh?
Watch a mourning dove when it lands. It immediately falls to snatching up food with rapid, piston-like up-and-down movements of his head. It’s an eating machine.
With winter only a few weeks old it’s not hard for me to predict a “real” winter. Real in the sense that there will be heavy drifting and thick icy sheets covering the ground. Doves are not strong birds. My observations are that they can’t scratch through the crusted snow. Break the crust and scatter the feed especially during poor weather conditions. Feed the doves!
***
I normally get up early. We were living at the family farm in the 1980’s. It was in the gray light of dawn that I saw mourning doves alight in the pines. A few minutes later they fluttered down in twos to the cracked corn and bird feed we had scattered under and around our feeding table. In all, the most that we had seen at our table at any one time were only six. Readers of my articles let me know that they had much greater numbers at their feeding stations.
Think big. Read what this nature writer said about these fascinating birds.
“We scatter feed on the packed snow of the lane outside the entry door. They descend in threes and fours, then a dozen at a time, until the mass of grayish bodied fuse into a shifting, unstable carpet over several square yards of the ground.”
Get the picture? He continued, “As the light grew stronger I count the feeding birds. They are continually in motion making it difficult to determine the number. I count as swiftly as I can. ... my tally of doves shows more than 150 feeding in the yard this third day of January!” 150! Anyone top that count?
“ We scattered some more seed on the other side of the house around an old apple tree. While the larger doves were feeding, smaller doves found the food at the tree. About twelve ranged around the ring of seeds, their heads inward and their pointed tails projecting outwards.” What a photo shot, eh?
Watch a mourning dove when it lands. It immediately falls to snatching up food with rapid, piston-like up-and-down movements of his head. It’s an eating machine.
With winter only a few weeks old it’s not hard for me to predict a “real” winter. Real in the sense that there will be heavy drifting and thick icy sheets covering the ground. Doves are not strong birds. My observations are that they can’t scratch through the crusted snow. Break the crust and scatter the feed especially during poor weather conditions. Feed the doves!
***
Keep Tracking Eh?
Keep tracking, eh! Earl Plato
Hurt my foot. X-rayed it. Not broken so out to Marcy Woods we go. Not alone Plato take a friend on this Christmas week winter day. This is the kind of a winter that I remember as a youth. Snow and more snow.
I admire skiers. To down hill ski again is out of the question. “Bobby Orr” knees for me. Actually I liked cross-country skiing in earlier days. Had a call from an old friend, Keith Seeber. He called from Fort Plain, New York to apologize that he had missed us on our family camping trip out West. When? 30 years ago! I recalled my back field cross-country skiing to his place as a youth. His mother would make a mug of steaming hot chocolate and give me a plate of homemade cookies. I still can picture those times. Just one of the benefits of skiing.
Try cross-country skiing this winter. It’s not too hard on the knees and it’s a chance to enjoy the outdoors. I used to follow the tracks of rabbits until they disappeared into a bush or woods. It’s track time this winter. However, I would advise you not to follow the large paw tracks of a certain cat, especially in Fort Erie. Bobcat. Lynx or mountain lion?
Hurt my foot. X-rayed it. Not broken so out to Marcy Woods we go. Not alone Plato take a friend on this Christmas week winter day. This is the kind of a winter that I remember as a youth. Snow and more snow.
I admire skiers. To down hill ski again is out of the question. “Bobby Orr” knees for me. Actually I liked cross-country skiing in earlier days. Had a call from an old friend, Keith Seeber. He called from Fort Plain, New York to apologize that he had missed us on our family camping trip out West. When? 30 years ago! I recalled my back field cross-country skiing to his place as a youth. His mother would make a mug of steaming hot chocolate and give me a plate of homemade cookies. I still can picture those times. Just one of the benefits of skiing.
Try cross-country skiing this winter. It’s not too hard on the knees and it’s a chance to enjoy the outdoors. I used to follow the tracks of rabbits until they disappeared into a bush or woods. It’s track time this winter. However, I would advise you not to follow the large paw tracks of a certain cat, especially in Fort Erie. Bobcat. Lynx or mountain lion?
Chukars?
nature article Earl Plato
“Chukar! Chukar!” That’s their sound and that’s their name. I had several phone calls and two visits all because of this little bird. A lot of you know about the Chukar game bird. Leroy Fretz called first. His father, Howard, on the old Fretz farm used to raise these beautiful little partridges. Leroy checked his father’s records going back many years. He had many comments about Chukars. Calls from various people confirmed that indeed Chukars are in the area. Although he is not a hunter, George Dalby called and stated that this past October he saw Chukars at a Game farm west of St. Catharines. Yes, they are used as game birds for training retrievers.
Bob Chambers showed surprise that I wasn’t aware that Jim Claus, next door to the Schneiders where the eagle did his deeds, raises Chukars. We went there a few days later and saw the Chukars. Jim raises various exotic birds. He took us first to the Chukar pen. There they were. Now I know about this burd. ***
Wilf Edwards of Willoughby recently checked out his bluebird box and found two dead ones. One male was still around. From the orginal 10-12 birds only one was left. Where did they go? To Ray Willwerth‘s place? He has recently reporting seeing his bluebirds around. How many Ray? Between 7 to 9?
Wilf checked his Wood duck box. Surprise a Screech owl!
***
“Eagle man,” Bob Chambers, was talking to Aileen Schneider.at the Doneen Pond when Ray Willwerth and I drove up. The dead Canada geese were gone. We walked over to the frozen pond area where we saw brown spots, some feathers and the tracks of a coyote or “coydog.” Aileen and Bob confirmed that our killer bird was indeed an immature Bald eagle. This bird was a dusky black and within a year would attain the full white form that we recognize as the Bald agle. Remember the Old English word for white is “Balde.”.
Bob Chambers reports later that as he drove eastwards down Bowen Road toward Ridgemount Road he saw a strange sight. Crows, lots of them, as many as sixty Bob estimates wereon the ground in a circle around a tree in the field. There perched on a limb was a large black bird, The young eagle was getting a lesson early in life - Being Mobbed!
***
Natalie Barton of Niagara Falls called saying my little article on the opossum was timely. A cold, hungry opossum had found a temporaty home and food in their compost bucket. She has two cats and so far everything has been copacetic. “Pasquale” is its name. When Natalie approached it the animal gave that hissing sound and bared its many teeth. I have heard about rabid skunks and raccoons who checkout our garbage cans. I have nevert heard of rabid opossum, have you?
“Chukar! Chukar!” That’s their sound and that’s their name. I had several phone calls and two visits all because of this little bird. A lot of you know about the Chukar game bird. Leroy Fretz called first. His father, Howard, on the old Fretz farm used to raise these beautiful little partridges. Leroy checked his father’s records going back many years. He had many comments about Chukars. Calls from various people confirmed that indeed Chukars are in the area. Although he is not a hunter, George Dalby called and stated that this past October he saw Chukars at a Game farm west of St. Catharines. Yes, they are used as game birds for training retrievers.
Bob Chambers showed surprise that I wasn’t aware that Jim Claus, next door to the Schneiders where the eagle did his deeds, raises Chukars. We went there a few days later and saw the Chukars. Jim raises various exotic birds. He took us first to the Chukar pen. There they were. Now I know about this burd. ***
Wilf Edwards of Willoughby recently checked out his bluebird box and found two dead ones. One male was still around. From the orginal 10-12 birds only one was left. Where did they go? To Ray Willwerth‘s place? He has recently reporting seeing his bluebirds around. How many Ray? Between 7 to 9?
Wilf checked his Wood duck box. Surprise a Screech owl!
***
“Eagle man,” Bob Chambers, was talking to Aileen Schneider.at the Doneen Pond when Ray Willwerth and I drove up. The dead Canada geese were gone. We walked over to the frozen pond area where we saw brown spots, some feathers and the tracks of a coyote or “coydog.” Aileen and Bob confirmed that our killer bird was indeed an immature Bald eagle. This bird was a dusky black and within a year would attain the full white form that we recognize as the Bald agle. Remember the Old English word for white is “Balde.”.
Bob Chambers reports later that as he drove eastwards down Bowen Road toward Ridgemount Road he saw a strange sight. Crows, lots of them, as many as sixty Bob estimates wereon the ground in a circle around a tree in the field. There perched on a limb was a large black bird, The young eagle was getting a lesson early in life - Being Mobbed!
***
Natalie Barton of Niagara Falls called saying my little article on the opossum was timely. A cold, hungry opossum had found a temporaty home and food in their compost bucket. She has two cats and so far everything has been copacetic. “Pasquale” is its name. When Natalie approached it the animal gave that hissing sound and bared its many teeth. I have heard about rabid skunks and raccoons who checkout our garbage cans. I have nevert heard of rabid opossum, have you?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Describe It, Please
Describe it, please Earl Plato
“Describe it again, Lucas.” My grandson Lucas O’Brien had just returned from a week in Quebec on the Ottawa River. His family had had a great time boating, fishing and enjoying nature near Renfrew. “Luke” is an observant eight year old.
He imitated the call of this unknown bird. It was a repeated ‘shriek’. I couldn’t identify it. Ospreys were present as were hawks but their calls I knew.
What about herons and bitterns? Luke said it’s black and a had a wide wing spread.
Turkey vulture? Too big and have you heard the strange call of Turkey vultures?
Thank goodness for the Peterson CD on North American Birds put out by Houghton Mifflin Interactive.
I went through the CD for Raptors. “What about a falcon, grandpa?” This great CD brings up a photo of a bird. You can enlarge it to full screen and then play its call. Not our bird. It was not a raptor.
I brought up the herons, cranes and bitterns too as Luke watched. “That looks like it!” It was a Little Blue heron. “Can’t be,” I said, “they’re from the southern U.S.A.”
Diane and her boys went home. Had I heard that call that Luke had made? I went back to the Little Blue heron page. I enlarged the picture. It was a black-bluish bird as Luke had remembered. I should have played the call then. Now I did and the shrieking call was repeated again and again. I taped it.
I checked the bird’s Range and yes, in summertime it comes this far north even to the Ottawa River area. I called Diane and Luke answered. “Listen to this Luke.” I played the tape call of the Little Blue heron over the phone. “That’s it grandpa!” He had seen and now identified it as a Little Blue Heron.
If you like birds and have a computer buy this Peterson CD. I have had my money’s worth many times.
***
One of my Butterfly bushes is flourishing with its purple bottle brush -like flowers. The other is coming along. Last week saw a butterfly alight on my flowered bush. “That’s a Tiger Swallowtail!” It was and another one returned today. An excellent specimen this one. I have a few butterfly books and one I bought a few years ago told the story. Do you have the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory Guide? In the section - Butterflies of Southern Ontario - pages 6 and 7 tell the story. All these years I have mistaken the Canada Tiger Swallowtail for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. The eastern is not common here in Niagara and it is much larger than the Canadian. The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is the common species in our area. Heading out to Marcy Woods for my favourite, the Spicebush Swallowtail. The Guide says on page 4 - locally common - Habitat - Carolinian forest edges - that’s Marcy Woods!
“Describe it again, Lucas.” My grandson Lucas O’Brien had just returned from a week in Quebec on the Ottawa River. His family had had a great time boating, fishing and enjoying nature near Renfrew. “Luke” is an observant eight year old.
He imitated the call of this unknown bird. It was a repeated ‘shriek’. I couldn’t identify it. Ospreys were present as were hawks but their calls I knew.
What about herons and bitterns? Luke said it’s black and a had a wide wing spread.
Turkey vulture? Too big and have you heard the strange call of Turkey vultures?
Thank goodness for the Peterson CD on North American Birds put out by Houghton Mifflin Interactive.
I went through the CD for Raptors. “What about a falcon, grandpa?” This great CD brings up a photo of a bird. You can enlarge it to full screen and then play its call. Not our bird. It was not a raptor.
I brought up the herons, cranes and bitterns too as Luke watched. “That looks like it!” It was a Little Blue heron. “Can’t be,” I said, “they’re from the southern U.S.A.”
Diane and her boys went home. Had I heard that call that Luke had made? I went back to the Little Blue heron page. I enlarged the picture. It was a black-bluish bird as Luke had remembered. I should have played the call then. Now I did and the shrieking call was repeated again and again. I taped it.
I checked the bird’s Range and yes, in summertime it comes this far north even to the Ottawa River area. I called Diane and Luke answered. “Listen to this Luke.” I played the tape call of the Little Blue heron over the phone. “That’s it grandpa!” He had seen and now identified it as a Little Blue Heron.
If you like birds and have a computer buy this Peterson CD. I have had my money’s worth many times.
***
One of my Butterfly bushes is flourishing with its purple bottle brush -like flowers. The other is coming along. Last week saw a butterfly alight on my flowered bush. “That’s a Tiger Swallowtail!” It was and another one returned today. An excellent specimen this one. I have a few butterfly books and one I bought a few years ago told the story. Do you have the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory Guide? In the section - Butterflies of Southern Ontario - pages 6 and 7 tell the story. All these years I have mistaken the Canada Tiger Swallowtail for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. The eastern is not common here in Niagara and it is much larger than the Canadian. The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is the common species in our area. Heading out to Marcy Woods for my favourite, the Spicebush Swallowtail. The Guide says on page 4 - locally common - Habitat - Carolinian forest edges - that’s Marcy Woods!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Rob's Marcy Woods
Rob’s Marcy Woods Earl Plato
Autumn - what better place to spend it - in Marcy Woods. It was a nine o’clock ramble lead by Rob Eberly. We set off on the Lower Trail. Rob has been a long time fellow naturalist who has matured in his knowledge of our Creative world. We would walk a few steps and Rob would point out some plant or tree. Sure I have done this on Marcy walks but Rob really impressed me with his botanical knowledge. This old naturalist picked up some new knowledge. I know why. Rob has taken some of the best natural scientists on walks here and has assimilated some of their expertise. Great!
Brian, a young computer expert from Pennsylvania, shared with us. He has walked from the southern end of the Appalachian Trail circa Mt. Mitchell in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Six months it took him from late March to August! I quipped, “I walked the Trail too - a mile here and two miles there in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.”
Rob explained the uniqueness of Marcy’s with its wooded sand dunes.
More trees down from the winds. One new one for me was a giant rare Black maple. With the future of the Woods at stake no attempt has been made, as in the past, to clear the trails. Sad.
George and I followed the three as they climbed the sand hill to the overlook of the pristine beach. This time I had my camera. I took a good shot from the dune top that I will have enlarged.
Rob pointed out the long time plan of the late Dr. Marcy of saving the forested dunes. Year after year he and Dr. Rick Stockton planted trees on the dune slopes in an effort to preserve them. They succeeded.
Go west to Point Pelee along the north Lake Erie shore. How many forested sand dunes along the way do you find? Marcy Woods is unique, citizens of the Niagara Peninsula! George and I heard the news from Rob. “We’ll climb back up the dune the way we came and head for the cabin.” Back up the dune! We two seniors did make it back up but with some effort. Brian was impressed with the cabin.
Rob explained the movie made by Bruce Kershner about Marcy Woods to the two. What great views of this Carolinian gem. I want to see it again and again. Without a notebook or tape recorder I missed a great chance to record Rob Eberly’s vast knowledge. From the anomaly of the Witch’s Broom to the giant fallen Black maple to the stands of yellow and orange Jewel weeds (“Touch-me-nots”) to the Hop and Bladder Nut trees and the fragrant smell of the Spice bush leaves along the Lower Trail - again it was worth the effort.
Visit Marcy Woods this fall, eh.
Autumn - what better place to spend it - in Marcy Woods. It was a nine o’clock ramble lead by Rob Eberly. We set off on the Lower Trail. Rob has been a long time fellow naturalist who has matured in his knowledge of our Creative world. We would walk a few steps and Rob would point out some plant or tree. Sure I have done this on Marcy walks but Rob really impressed me with his botanical knowledge. This old naturalist picked up some new knowledge. I know why. Rob has taken some of the best natural scientists on walks here and has assimilated some of their expertise. Great!
Brian, a young computer expert from Pennsylvania, shared with us. He has walked from the southern end of the Appalachian Trail circa Mt. Mitchell in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Six months it took him from late March to August! I quipped, “I walked the Trail too - a mile here and two miles there in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.”
Rob explained the uniqueness of Marcy’s with its wooded sand dunes.
More trees down from the winds. One new one for me was a giant rare Black maple. With the future of the Woods at stake no attempt has been made, as in the past, to clear the trails. Sad.
George and I followed the three as they climbed the sand hill to the overlook of the pristine beach. This time I had my camera. I took a good shot from the dune top that I will have enlarged.
Rob pointed out the long time plan of the late Dr. Marcy of saving the forested dunes. Year after year he and Dr. Rick Stockton planted trees on the dune slopes in an effort to preserve them. They succeeded.
Go west to Point Pelee along the north Lake Erie shore. How many forested sand dunes along the way do you find? Marcy Woods is unique, citizens of the Niagara Peninsula! George and I heard the news from Rob. “We’ll climb back up the dune the way we came and head for the cabin.” Back up the dune! We two seniors did make it back up but with some effort. Brian was impressed with the cabin.
Rob explained the movie made by Bruce Kershner about Marcy Woods to the two. What great views of this Carolinian gem. I want to see it again and again. Without a notebook or tape recorder I missed a great chance to record Rob Eberly’s vast knowledge. From the anomaly of the Witch’s Broom to the giant fallen Black maple to the stands of yellow and orange Jewel weeds (“Touch-me-nots”) to the Hop and Bladder Nut trees and the fragrant smell of the Spice bush leaves along the Lower Trail - again it was worth the effort.
Visit Marcy Woods this fall, eh.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
White Anyone?
nature article Earl Plato.
The White Crow of Pelham! The White skunk of Sherkston! Now the White squirrel of Dufferin Islands? Yes!
Gene D’Agostino of Niagara Falls called to report a white squirrel on the Dufferin Islands. To Gene it was a true albino animal, devoid of any pigment. He and his wife first thought that it was a white paper suspended high in the trees. Not so it was a white animal. It acted as a squirrel would. It was a squirrel, the “White squirrel of Dufferin.” You know what albino means.
Curious - Bob Chambers and I tried to go last week - too cold - too windy. We went this week. The bridges were blocked off by signs saying “Danger - High Voltage” Remember the Festival Lights and the great display around the Dufferin Islands? What to do? We drove around the park and saw people on the east side feeding the mallards. We parked at the top end - no signs there and entered into the trails. We meet a lady carrying some corn and feed for the feeders. I asked. “Have you seen the white squirrel?’ “Yes, but not for ten days. It’s name is “Angel.” We met this lady again on the trail. She identified “Angel” as “she.” So our white squirrel is now officially an albino Eastern squirrel.
Bob and I saw black and the inevitable gray squirrels on our walk. We walked to the east end of the island and the small woods. This is where Gene and his wife had first sighted “Angel.” We saw three globular leafy squirrel nests there. I used my glasses to see if there was any movement in the nests. None. On the way out Bob saw another nest. One of them is the home of “Angel!”
We shall return as Gene will and others. Seeing the “White squirrel of Dufferin” will be worth the effort. Bob Chambers and his telescopic camera should get a great shot, I want to be along.
***
Roxann Kells is my reporter in the Grand Cayman Islands. She is a teacher there and loves the place. At Christmas time she let me read one of the colourful books about the islands, however, she had to take it back when she flew back. However, thanks to a Niagara Falls resident, Elizabeth Daniels, I don’t have to wait for a copy of my own.
Elizabeth, a visitor of Grand Cayman has loaned me two other books - both excellent reading. They are entitled - Beautiful Isles - Cayman by Paul Humann and a great little bird book - Birds of Cayman Island by Patricia Bradley.
Elizabeth is an interesting person. She is a lover of nature, a concerned naturalist. She shared with Bob Chambers, an old scouting friend, and I about the disturbing plight of the Green turtles. Not all on Grand Cayman is paradise. However, Elizabeth enjoyed the island for many reasons. Thanks to her I have read her books and will share some reasons in another article why this Caribbean British possession is well worth the visit of course as a naturalist first.
The White Crow of Pelham! The White skunk of Sherkston! Now the White squirrel of Dufferin Islands? Yes!
Gene D’Agostino of Niagara Falls called to report a white squirrel on the Dufferin Islands. To Gene it was a true albino animal, devoid of any pigment. He and his wife first thought that it was a white paper suspended high in the trees. Not so it was a white animal. It acted as a squirrel would. It was a squirrel, the “White squirrel of Dufferin.” You know what albino means.
Curious - Bob Chambers and I tried to go last week - too cold - too windy. We went this week. The bridges were blocked off by signs saying “Danger - High Voltage” Remember the Festival Lights and the great display around the Dufferin Islands? What to do? We drove around the park and saw people on the east side feeding the mallards. We parked at the top end - no signs there and entered into the trails. We meet a lady carrying some corn and feed for the feeders. I asked. “Have you seen the white squirrel?’ “Yes, but not for ten days. It’s name is “Angel.” We met this lady again on the trail. She identified “Angel” as “she.” So our white squirrel is now officially an albino Eastern squirrel.
Bob and I saw black and the inevitable gray squirrels on our walk. We walked to the east end of the island and the small woods. This is where Gene and his wife had first sighted “Angel.” We saw three globular leafy squirrel nests there. I used my glasses to see if there was any movement in the nests. None. On the way out Bob saw another nest. One of them is the home of “Angel!”
We shall return as Gene will and others. Seeing the “White squirrel of Dufferin” will be worth the effort. Bob Chambers and his telescopic camera should get a great shot, I want to be along.
***
Roxann Kells is my reporter in the Grand Cayman Islands. She is a teacher there and loves the place. At Christmas time she let me read one of the colourful books about the islands, however, she had to take it back when she flew back. However, thanks to a Niagara Falls resident, Elizabeth Daniels, I don’t have to wait for a copy of my own.
Elizabeth, a visitor of Grand Cayman has loaned me two other books - both excellent reading. They are entitled - Beautiful Isles - Cayman by Paul Humann and a great little bird book - Birds of Cayman Island by Patricia Bradley.
Elizabeth is an interesting person. She is a lover of nature, a concerned naturalist. She shared with Bob Chambers, an old scouting friend, and I about the disturbing plight of the Green turtles. Not all on Grand Cayman is paradise. However, Elizabeth enjoyed the island for many reasons. Thanks to her I have read her books and will share some reasons in another article why this Caribbean British possession is well worth the visit of course as a naturalist first.
Thoreau Walked
nature article by Earl Plato
Every year in January and February for the past several years I dig up old records of my nature trips. Why? You’ve got it. I don’t brave the cold as well as I once did. Why not reminisce in the comfort of my little home? Thus, these next few articles are memory ones plus some accompanying research via the NET. At the same time think ahead - Spring 1999 is coming!
Nature lovers know the legacy of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). Thoreau was a dedicated walker with an unsurpassed passion for the outdoors. He was a gifted observer of the natural world and an accomplished surveyor who kept detailed records of where he went and what he saw. His nature classic, Cape Cod, is widely considered even to this day as the best book ever written about this “Sandy Hook.” .
You know where Cape Cod, Massachusetts is. I want to revisit it (at least in my 1997 memories) on this cold evening in late January. Thoreau walked along Cape Cod’s shorelines as recorded in his journals. Thoreau could walk as far as you would want to go. Thirty-five miles on the east shore? Sure. We spent most of our time at Wellfleet on the west side. We walked the Wellfleet trails three consecutive days.
Thoreau writes in his journal dated April 8, 1859. That’s 140 years ago yet his question of the protection of birds could have been written today. He correctly assumes that man will not protect the birds if left alone to his own devices. He advocated legislation and enforcement to protect endangered species. His voice in the wilderness was not heard for within fifty years the Passenger pigeon had become extinct.
Thoreau walked through the southwest corner of Wellfleet right past the present location of today’s Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on his first visit there in 1857 We now walked those same pathways.
On that first visit to Wellfleet (Nature Center is found here) on Cape Cod Thoreau tells us about the unique way the native Indians caught gulls. This man observed and reported what he saw. He writes, “ The “Gull House,” it is said is built with crochets fixed in the ground on the beach with poles being stretched across the top and the sides made close with stakes and seaweed. The poles on the top are covered with lean whale meat. The man hides inside while the gulls contend for the feast on the old whale flesh. He draws them in, one by one, between the poles, until he has collected forty or fifty.”
This is the way they hunted gulls. Who would want to eat gulls?
The Cape Cod expression “To be gulled” means to be taken in. Don’t be gulled!
***
Wilf Edwards of Willoughby reported seeing twenty or so Snow Buntings in mid-January. He viewed some up close. The synchronized flight of these snow birds is what enthralled Wilf. l
Bluebirds! Yes, bluebirds here in the cold winter. Sightings of ten or so together in Willougby, Stevensville and Ridgeway this January. How do these mainly insect eating birds survive? Some don’t. We are told that berries such as High bush cranberry supply food. Even insects can be found under loose bark.
Robins? Yes, Brigitte and others in the Ridgeway area are seeing small flocks of our “Spring” bird. Did our unusually warm fall fool these birds? Hopefully they too will survive.
Every year in January and February for the past several years I dig up old records of my nature trips. Why? You’ve got it. I don’t brave the cold as well as I once did. Why not reminisce in the comfort of my little home? Thus, these next few articles are memory ones plus some accompanying research via the NET. At the same time think ahead - Spring 1999 is coming!
Nature lovers know the legacy of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). Thoreau was a dedicated walker with an unsurpassed passion for the outdoors. He was a gifted observer of the natural world and an accomplished surveyor who kept detailed records of where he went and what he saw. His nature classic, Cape Cod, is widely considered even to this day as the best book ever written about this “Sandy Hook.” .
You know where Cape Cod, Massachusetts is. I want to revisit it (at least in my 1997 memories) on this cold evening in late January. Thoreau walked along Cape Cod’s shorelines as recorded in his journals. Thoreau could walk as far as you would want to go. Thirty-five miles on the east shore? Sure. We spent most of our time at Wellfleet on the west side. We walked the Wellfleet trails three consecutive days.
Thoreau writes in his journal dated April 8, 1859. That’s 140 years ago yet his question of the protection of birds could have been written today. He correctly assumes that man will not protect the birds if left alone to his own devices. He advocated legislation and enforcement to protect endangered species. His voice in the wilderness was not heard for within fifty years the Passenger pigeon had become extinct.
Thoreau walked through the southwest corner of Wellfleet right past the present location of today’s Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on his first visit there in 1857 We now walked those same pathways.
On that first visit to Wellfleet (Nature Center is found here) on Cape Cod Thoreau tells us about the unique way the native Indians caught gulls. This man observed and reported what he saw. He writes, “ The “Gull House,” it is said is built with crochets fixed in the ground on the beach with poles being stretched across the top and the sides made close with stakes and seaweed. The poles on the top are covered with lean whale meat. The man hides inside while the gulls contend for the feast on the old whale flesh. He draws them in, one by one, between the poles, until he has collected forty or fifty.”
This is the way they hunted gulls. Who would want to eat gulls?
The Cape Cod expression “To be gulled” means to be taken in. Don’t be gulled!
***
Wilf Edwards of Willoughby reported seeing twenty or so Snow Buntings in mid-January. He viewed some up close. The synchronized flight of these snow birds is what enthralled Wilf. l
Bluebirds! Yes, bluebirds here in the cold winter. Sightings of ten or so together in Willougby, Stevensville and Ridgeway this January. How do these mainly insect eating birds survive? Some don’t. We are told that berries such as High bush cranberry supply food. Even insects can be found under loose bark.
Robins? Yes, Brigitte and others in the Ridgeway area are seeing small flocks of our “Spring” bird. Did our unusually warm fall fool these birds? Hopefully they too will survive.
Wood frogs - Marcy Woods
Wood frogs Earl Plato
An answer to the scarcity of frogs at Marcy Woods this year. Thanks to Dino DiCienzo Jr. I received this e-mail from nature scientist, James Kamstra, that helps us understand the scarcity of frogs at Marcy Woods. I quote as follows: “Not sure why the frogs seem to have declined. Wood frogs have a very narrow calling period which is only about two weeks in any one area. April warmed up very quickly this year and my impression was that their calling period was even more compressed than usual. Also their peak calling period coincides with warm night temperatures, and it is hard to hit their peak right on. Perhaps the writer (That’s me) hit the peak in a previous year and then was not quite at peak during his visits this year. I have been monitoring one site in Oshawa for more than 15 years. Some years I hit the peak and other years I don’t. I doubt that the Wood Frogs have declined significantly in Marcy Woods.”
Writer’s note: Remember this is the first spring for me in Marcy Woods for four years. That’s good news that next year I will probably hear the Wood frogs again.
***
Scientist James Kamstra continued with his e-mail message. “ The other two species have longer calling periods. Chorus Frogs typically breed in very open temporary ponded (vernal pools) areas. They were quite common in the open field/ thicket area north of Marcy’s Woods when I did the surveys in 2004 but I don’t think they were in the Woods proper. As for Spring Peepers, they were common in fields and swamps in the Woods. They have the longest calling period. Not sure why they would have disappeared. Maybe the writer (That’s me) was out on a cold night when they were less active.”
James Kamstra.
***
Kamstra is right. The sound of Chorus frogs were always in the fields just to the north of Marcy Woods and south of Abino Woods farm. There are vernal (spring time) pools there. The collected trilling calls of these frogs was very loud in certain years. Yes, the high pitched sounds of the Spring Peepers were nearer to the Marcy Pond but in the Woods just to the north in the string of vernal pools. Great sounds to a nature lovers ears. Learn more about nature this year.
An answer to the scarcity of frogs at Marcy Woods this year. Thanks to Dino DiCienzo Jr. I received this e-mail from nature scientist, James Kamstra, that helps us understand the scarcity of frogs at Marcy Woods. I quote as follows: “Not sure why the frogs seem to have declined. Wood frogs have a very narrow calling period which is only about two weeks in any one area. April warmed up very quickly this year and my impression was that their calling period was even more compressed than usual. Also their peak calling period coincides with warm night temperatures, and it is hard to hit their peak right on. Perhaps the writer (That’s me) hit the peak in a previous year and then was not quite at peak during his visits this year. I have been monitoring one site in Oshawa for more than 15 years. Some years I hit the peak and other years I don’t. I doubt that the Wood Frogs have declined significantly in Marcy Woods.”
Writer’s note: Remember this is the first spring for me in Marcy Woods for four years. That’s good news that next year I will probably hear the Wood frogs again.
***
Scientist James Kamstra continued with his e-mail message. “ The other two species have longer calling periods. Chorus Frogs typically breed in very open temporary ponded (vernal pools) areas. They were quite common in the open field/ thicket area north of Marcy’s Woods when I did the surveys in 2004 but I don’t think they were in the Woods proper. As for Spring Peepers, they were common in fields and swamps in the Woods. They have the longest calling period. Not sure why they would have disappeared. Maybe the writer (That’s me) was out on a cold night when they were less active.”
James Kamstra.
***
Kamstra is right. The sound of Chorus frogs were always in the fields just to the north of Marcy Woods and south of Abino Woods farm. There are vernal (spring time) pools there. The collected trilling calls of these frogs was very loud in certain years. Yes, the high pitched sounds of the Spring Peepers were nearer to the Marcy Pond but in the Woods just to the north in the string of vernal pools. Great sounds to a nature lovers ears. Learn more about nature this year.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Lessle - One
John Lessle walked Marcy Woods throughout the years and
throughout any given year. The Buffalo, New York native walked the trails of the Fort Erie Carolinian site armed with his cameras. He walked all the seasons of the year. I received from his wife, Dorothy, over a hundred of his best winter slides of Marcy Woods. I will include many of John’s works in my Blog in the months ahead. They speak for themselves. The slide below shows evidence of the giant woodpecker found in the Woods. Of course it’s the work of a Pileated woodpecker done on a yellow birch.You can hear its mighty pecking in the Woods and hear its cry. Quite a sight to hear and see!
throughout any given year. The Buffalo, New York native walked the trails of the Fort Erie Carolinian site armed with his cameras. He walked all the seasons of the year. I received from his wife, Dorothy, over a hundred of his best winter slides of Marcy Woods. I will include many of John’s works in my Blog in the months ahead. They speak for themselves. The slide below shows evidence of the giant woodpecker found in the Woods. Of course it’s the work of a Pileated woodpecker done on a yellow birch.You can hear its mighty pecking in the Woods and hear its cry. Quite a sight to hear and see!
John Lessle
John Lessle Nature phoographer Earl Plato
Do you mind if I recall an earlier day at Marcy Woods? It was early spring 1997. “The days were getting longer now. I was up early waiting for dawn on another clear early May day. I love spring for it is again the special beginning-of-the-world freshness and beauty.This day I received a call from old friend, Buffalonian, John Lessle, What can 85 year olds do? They can walk up the steep stairs at Marcy’s Woods with me and take the high trail that I simply call the Bird Trail. John and I met out there and headed for the Bird Trail. John is an expert nature photographer but this day we each had only our binoculars, mine were the little Nikon bird glasses and his were old World War II big but powerful and with remarkably clear definition. We had a three hour walk on a beautiful Easter Monday. This was my fourth trip here in four days. Why not? The hepaticas were out in full bloom up here and the dutchman’s breeches were coming out. Here and there trilliums were close to opening their blooms. On this day there were few song birds but that will change. They didn’t call this Bird Trail for naught. With no cameras present John gave me some valuable lessons on nature photography that day. John’s portfolio of photographs taken over the years and throughout the year at Marcy’s are outstanding. John is an artist with the camera. He simply says that he did it by doing. “You’ll make mistakes, Earl, but remember that all artists do.” I had taken photos the day before with my closeup lens and I wondered how good or bad they will turn out. I had done some things that John told me not to do. I have to remember next time. We met a number of people on this day. John is a very friendly person. We met Jim from Niagara falls and he recognized my name. He said that he reads my nature articles. Jim had seen a rufous-sided towhee near the start of the trail. He was excited about Marcy’s. We pointed up to the Bird Trail and John said to Jim, “Take it on your way out.” Remember to make new friends but keep the old.. I will John.
***
John Lessle, nature phtographer, has turned 87. On April 19th Ray and I took him to Swayze Falls at Short Hills Provincial Park. Amazing man! I had taken him there last fall. He wanted to see the giant old Oak tree there again, We did. Two venerable living creations. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `Here in 2007 I am looking at over a 100 slides that John took of a winter in Marcy Woods. Great photos. John passed away in his 90th yrat. We miss him.
Do you mind if I recall an earlier day at Marcy Woods? It was early spring 1997. “The days were getting longer now. I was up early waiting for dawn on another clear early May day. I love spring for it is again the special beginning-of-the-world freshness and beauty.This day I received a call from old friend, Buffalonian, John Lessle, What can 85 year olds do? They can walk up the steep stairs at Marcy’s Woods with me and take the high trail that I simply call the Bird Trail. John and I met out there and headed for the Bird Trail. John is an expert nature photographer but this day we each had only our binoculars, mine were the little Nikon bird glasses and his were old World War II big but powerful and with remarkably clear definition. We had a three hour walk on a beautiful Easter Monday. This was my fourth trip here in four days. Why not? The hepaticas were out in full bloom up here and the dutchman’s breeches were coming out. Here and there trilliums were close to opening their blooms. On this day there were few song birds but that will change. They didn’t call this Bird Trail for naught. With no cameras present John gave me some valuable lessons on nature photography that day. John’s portfolio of photographs taken over the years and throughout the year at Marcy’s are outstanding. John is an artist with the camera. He simply says that he did it by doing. “You’ll make mistakes, Earl, but remember that all artists do.” I had taken photos the day before with my closeup lens and I wondered how good or bad they will turn out. I had done some things that John told me not to do. I have to remember next time. We met a number of people on this day. John is a very friendly person. We met Jim from Niagara falls and he recognized my name. He said that he reads my nature articles. Jim had seen a rufous-sided towhee near the start of the trail. He was excited about Marcy’s. We pointed up to the Bird Trail and John said to Jim, “Take it on your way out.” Remember to make new friends but keep the old.. I will John.
***
John Lessle, nature phtographer, has turned 87. On April 19th Ray and I took him to Swayze Falls at Short Hills Provincial Park. Amazing man! I had taken him there last fall. He wanted to see the giant old Oak tree there again, We did. Two venerable living creations. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `Here in 2007 I am looking at over a 100 slides that John took of a winter in Marcy Woods. Great photos. John passed away in his 90th yrat. We miss him.
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