FRIENDS OF THE LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog

Along the Phenology Trail, Blog 1

4/1/2016

4 Comments

 
PictureMariah Myers and Sandi
Mariah Myers is sharing her experiences in the Preserve with us. Read her bio at the end of this post, and enjoy spring coming to the Preserve. Mariah writes: "On Monday (March 28), I met with Gisela Kutzbach and we hiked the Big Oak Trail from Frautschi Point to the Biocore Prairie.  Of course, I brought my almost 13-year old partner in crime (golden retriever), Sandi along for the morning. I often tell people that Sandi gets most of the credit for any nature-related observations that I make. Between Sandi's stopping every 10 feet to investigate a new smell and me stopping every 15 feet to take a picture or do my own investigating, our short distance walks can take two to three hours.
     There were many new and exciting signs of spring to take note of on our walk. One of the first things that we saw was a sea of green moss covering the forest floor. Mixed in with the fresh green moss were the minute sprouts of various woodland wildflowers. We had to observe carefully at times, to be sure not to miss anything. Some of the more obvious signs of spring which started a few weeks ago, were the serenading songs of cardinals, robins, and song sparrows.

We stopped at a grove of conifer (cone-bearing) trees along the trail to look for one of the barred owls that I have frequently observed in the area. No luck with the owl so we continued on and found ourselves paying close attention to the forest's deciduous (leaf-bearing) trees and using a key to identify some of the trees. We found silver maple trees, standing so tall that it was almost easy to miss the presence of their flowers hanging in the canopy. Mature silver maples have bark made of shaggy flakes that often curl at the end, and are one of two Acer (maple) species to flower in the spring. Paying attention to the bark of trees, Gisela and I also identified several oaks which were a bit more difficult to ID for me without seeing the leaves.  The best ways to identify deciduous trees in winter and early spring are by the bark, forming buds, and presence of flowers. Another way to identify an oak species from other oaks is to compare the seeds (acorns). Red oak acorns do not have hairs or fringe on the cap and the cap is very shallow. In contrast, bur oaks (Quercus macrocarpa) have hairy caps that cover more than half of the fruit. The hackberry trees we saw were easy to ID with their characteristically warty bark with prominent ridges.  
    Gisela pointed out young bur oaks along the edge of the forest paralleling the Biocore Prairie. She informed me that these trees are part of a restoration project to re-establish the presence of open grown trees in order to re-create a more natural oak savanna type habitat. I have many times walked past these trees and stopped to check out the galls all along the branches and leaves.

Picture
Some of the new buds allow the imagination to run, in this case, I see a lobster claw. What do you see?
Picture
A close up of a Polyporaceae fungus
    At the intersection of the trail which enters the prairie, I pointed out a soft and spongy part of the trail which in turn was a trail of its own. About a week ago, I noticed what appeared to be a mole tunnel along the side of the trail. It has since expanded further onto the hiking path.
    We took note of what is left of a decomposing stump and decided this would be an excellent example of nature to periodically observe the rate of decomposition as well as, signs of animals and other natural occurrences. We paused near the manmade shelter on the trail and I made a mental note of how different it looks when not covered in snow.  Near the shelter, I showed Gisela the area where I saw a coyote crossing my path last month heading towards the prairie from the Big Oak Trail.
    Eventually, we made it to the Biocore Prairie and walked over to the picnic table by a bluebird box. While there, we were serenaded by a song sparrow singing at the top of his vocal cords and to the best of his ability. We didn't see any bluebirds but, I told Gisela that I witnessed a pair of bluebirds entering/exiting the box and fending off unwanted house guests (house sparrows, chickadees, etc) two weeks ago.
   At this point, Gisela and I parted ways. Sandi and I proceeded to walk from the Biocore Prairie out to The Narrows, hiking the trail along the lake. Passing the wetland, there were a few pairs of mallards and Canada geese, and many red-winged blackbirds making their presence known.  On the lake, I saw a group of about 10 buffleheads and a grebe trying to stay afloat the rough water. Upon the hike back to Frautschi Point, I stopped once more at the bluebird box and sure enough, there was a male bluebird in the tree calling and ready to fend off unwanted visitors. I did also see my first of the year tree swallow swooping through the air, catching insects.
Picture
A male Eastern bluebird keeping a watchful eye for unwanted house guests in the Biocore Prairie, near Bluebird Box #7
Mariah Myers: I am a Naturalist at Aldo Leopold Nature Center and a frequent visitor of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. I have a B.S. in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and nature photography is not just a fun hobby but, it is how I find peace. I moved to Madison from west central Illinois 1.5 years ago with my now almost 13 year old Golden Retriever, Sandi. I discovered the Preserve last spring and immediately fell in love. First with Picnic Point, a very popular destination in Madison. Then, one day I decided to walk further than before and we ended up at Frautschi Point. Sandi and I try to walk the Big Oak Trail at least once a week, sometimes three or four times a week. I give Sandi most of the credit for our discoveries because while she stops frequently to smell everything, it forces me to slow down and take in nature as I see and feel it, becoming more observant with each stop.

4 Comments
Rod Myers
4/1/2016 01:18:15 pm

Excellent job, daughter dear!!

Reply
Arlene Koziol
4/1/2016 03:10:26 pm

I too am in love with the Preserve, especially Frautschi Point, Big Oak trail and the Biocore prairie. Like your dog that makes you slow down, so does my camera. I like waiting around for the light to change or observing bird behavior. I truly enjoyed reading your blog.

Reply
Glenda Denniston
4/1/2016 07:31:36 pm

Just a few more phenological notes: in Bill's Woods, violets and Hepatica are in full bloom (as of March 29, when I also saw my first butterfly of the season - a Mourning Cloak). False Rue anemone, Twinleaf, Dutchman's breeches, Mertensia and Cutleaf Toothwort are in bud, and today (April 1 there were two flowers fully out on a Bloodroot. Pennsylvania sedges are forming their flowers.
Many Flickers can be found in the Old Field and Biocore Prairie. Song and Fox sparrows and one Phoebe let themselves be found. Spring is truly here (even though we had a brief hailstorm and some freezing rain this afternoon.

Reply
Angela myers
4/6/2016 07:25:26 pm

We really enjoy your pictures, especially the blue bird

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Gisela Kutzbach and contributors

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
 P.O. Box 5534
 Madison, WI 53705 

UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website

Documents
Picture
Related websites:
UW Nelson Institute
UW Arboretum
Clean Lakes Alliance
Groundswell Conservancy
Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
​
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog