Tracking Natures' Calendar

During this unsettling time, I find that I want to hold on to something that is constant.  In the midst of the Covid-19 news, home schooling my kids, working out of my new home office, preparing three meals a day, and so much more cleaning, I find comfort in seeing the American robin arrive in my backyard.  I am soothed by the wood frogs chorus, seeing the buds on the maple trees, and watching the blue bead lily push through the dirt.  In spite of everything, nature is still happening all around us.  Spring is an extraordinary time to observe, learn about, and enjoy nature.  It may be nature’s busiest time of year.

Wood frog. (image Ruth Forsgren)

Eastern bluebirds. (image Ruth Forsgren)

Have you ever noticed these types of natural events in your own backyard?  The owls begin hooting in February, Eastern bluebirds return in March, fireflies light up in June, and the       leaves begin to change in September.  This timing of events in nature is called phenology.  The word phenology comes from the Greek words phaino (to show or appear) and logos (to study).  Phenology means “the science of appearance”,  so it is the study of the timing of biological events.  These events include hibernation, migration, flowering, reproduction, and emergence. Scientist who study phenology look at the timing of biological events in relation to changes in season and climate.  Simply, phenology is nature’s own calendar of events.

Eastern bluebird arrival at my parent's house.

I grew up in southern Wisconsin on 15 acres of woods where my father introduced me to phenology.  He kept records in his bird book, noting the yearly date that birds arrived in the yard.  Although a bird book, my Dad’s records went beyond birds.  He included when the chipmunks began running through the yard (March 16), when the spring peepers began calling (March 24), when the mourning cloak fluttered by (April 8), or when we had to take care not to step on the shooting stars blooming on the path (May 15).

Front cover of my Dad's bird book.

My Dad used to say, “Let’s check the pond…the wood ducks should be here” (April 4) or “Come on, we have to clean out the wren boxes…they’re coming,” (April 25) and “We need to make the hummingbird food” (May 5).  I would think, “What is wrong with my Dad? The pond still has ice, there is snow on the ground, what hummingbirds?”  We would visit the pond, clean out those houses and make the food, and just like my Dad said, the birds would be there.

Male wood duck on pond. (image by Ruth Forsgren)

My Dad's hummingbird records.

As I grew up and had a better understanding of phenology, I loved visiting my parents’ land to watch the change of the seasons.  Our phenological activities changed a little through the years.  My parents would still clean out the nest boxes and make the hummingbird food, but now Dad would say to me, “Let’s go pick black raspberries for ice cream” (July 4) and possibly my favorite “Grab a bottle of wine, the bats are going to come out” (April 15).

Black raspberry perfect for picking. (image Ruth Forsgren)

     

Male red-headed woodpecker.
 (image Ruth Forsgren)

More than just the phenology, other changes in nature can be observed from keeping track of natural events.  Looking through my Dad’s book, I see the red-headed woodpeckers were a common visitor in the yard throughout the 80’s and 90’s.  The last sighting recorded in 2003 tells me how the habitat near my childhood home has changed: the savannahs are gone and the European starlings have moved in.  My parents’ records also note the exciting rarities that showed up.  A pileated woodpecker visited their yard in 1974.  Much to my parents’ delight, another pileated spent the winter of 2014-2015 eating away at my Mom’s homemade suet.


I love seeking out these seasonal changes in nature.  I now have a phenology calendar that I watch throughout the year, making observations in my own backyard.  Spring may be nature’s busiest time of year, so I check the calendar every day, anticipating what will be happening next.  Spring beauties begin to bloom April 27.  Sure enough, when I take my kids for a hike in our woods, they race to see who can be first to find the spring beauty--and they find it.  The long trill of the American toad can be heard in the evening on May 3.  I step outside, enjoying the warming spring nights and hear the chorus of the toads.  Observing a phenology calendar and keeping my own records connects me with nature.  It creates a more intimate relationship between me and the woods I call my home.  It helps me teach my kids to be aware of their surroundings, to notice, to be observant.  It gives me something to look forward to and it gives me sense that even in troubled times, nature is still a constant.

Spring beauty. (image Ruth Forsgren)

Phenology is not a new practice; in fact, there are records dating back thousands of years.  It is believed that the Chinese kept the first written phenology records, while the Japanese have over 1,000 years of records showing the peak of cherry blossoms.  Carolus Linnaeus, who is known for developing binomial nomenclature-- our modern system for the two-part naming of living organisms -- kept track of flowering times across Sweden.  Linnaeus’s work helped create our understanding of modern plant phenology.  Closer to home, Aldo Leopold, Wisconsin’s much loved naturalist and founder of the field of wildlife management, kept phenological records from his beloved “shack.”  His records helped form a better understanding of the world around him and are shared in his book A Sand County Almanac. Leopold wrote, “Keeping records enhances the pleasure of the search and the chance of finding order and meaning in these events.”

Sparrow arrival from my Dad's notes.

Now when many of us are home is a perfect time to begin observing the phenology unfolding in your own backyard.  If you have a Beaver Creek Reserve calendar, check the phenological events listed in there.  You can also search online for a Wisconsin phenology calendar or start your own with a simple notepad and a pen.  I challenge you to start recording the daily observation in nature that you view in your backyard.  Simply write down what you observe and the date.  Keep your notebook and your binoculars handy.  Next year, do the same.  I promise you: you will anxiously await the changes of the seasons, adding to your own phenological calendar every year.  Now go outside and get ready, the grosbeaks are coming!

My Dad's rose-breasted grosbeak records.

Species Spotlight: Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

A pair of Sandhill Cranes Calling (image by Ruth Forsgren)

 by Ruth Forsgren

Personally, Sandhill Cranes announce the return of spring! Here in west-central Wisconsin, come about the third week of March we can expect to start seeing these large birds flying with their long necks stretched straight out or hear their trumpet-like bugle. The return of the cranes, for a birdwatcher is just the start of something good! The birds are returning; winter will have to give up its icy grip. 

Sandhill Cranes in flight (image by Ruth Forsgren)

There are six subspecies of Sandhill Cranes in North America, Wisconsin is the nesting grounds for the Greater Sandhill Crane. Historically, thanks to over-hunting and habitat loss the Sandhill Cranes became a rare sight in Wisconsin. In 1936, Franklin S Heniker of Madison reported to the first North American Wildlife Conference that there were an estimated 25 nesting pair of Sandhills in Wisconsin. In 2019 the Greater Sandhill Crane Sanctuary, in an interview with WI Public Radio reported that the population of Greater Sandhill Cranes numbered between 70,000 to 100,000 with approximately half of the population nesting in Wisconsin.

Sandhill Cranes are large birds. Wisconsin birds on average stand between four and five feet in height, have a wingspan of six to seven feet. They have long legs, neck and beak. Males and females look alike, both exhibit red on the front part of the head from the beak up and around the eyes.

Both males and female have
red on the head.
(image by Ruth forsgren) 

Their diets are varied depending upon what is available. They will eat insects, worms, plant tubers, frogs, and seeds among other things.

Staining feathers with mud
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

When they first return from their wintering grounds the cranes are slate grey in color but as they return to their nesting territories they begin to stain each feather with mud giving them the overall brown appearance. What a great way to disguise yourself, make yourself the color of your surroundings. As a birdwatcher I know there are many times I might not have noticed the cranes in a marsh if they hadn’t moved and drawn my attention to them.

Cranes all over the world are known for their elaborate courtship dances, Sandhills are no different. The pair will take turns bowing then leaping into the air with their wings held out to their sides, during the dance they are also calling to and circling one another. The unison courtship calls are loud (click here to listen) and can be heard for up to 2 miles on a calm morning. Once they have danced the nesting takes place. Both partners help build the nest in marshes, usually near open water in a grassy or reedy area. The nest consists of piles of available plant materials such as cattails, sedges or grasses. The finished nest can reach five feet across. The female will lay one or two eggs and in northern WI they will hatch about mid-May. The colts (baby cranes) are in my opinion one of those so ugly they are cute critters. The fuzzy, yellowish-brown colts are able to leave the nest within eight hours of hatching and can even swim.

Sandhill cranes with colts (image by Ruth Forsgern)

The family will stay together for nine to ten months. From Wisconsin, the young migrate south to Florida or southern Georgia with their parents. The family may even make the return flight together before the parents chase off the youngsters. Cranes will usually mate when they are between four and five years old. When they are forced out by the parents young cranes will form flocks of about 20 individuals and these are known as bachelor flocks. The bachelor flocks will hang out, feed and rest together but usually in fields away from the marsh nest sites.

In fall, before migration the cranes will stage. This means that they gather in huge flocks numbering into the thousands. It is quite an awesome sight and in Wisconsin there are a few areas known for these large gatherings. A few areas in Wisconsin where you can witness this spectacle are: Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, White River Marsh and Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.

So as you visit marshy areas this spring keep your eyes peeled for movement among the reeds, you just might find a Sandhill Crane. 

Sandhill Cranes staging during migration, Platte River, NE. (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Sandhill Crane catching frogs  (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Sandhill Cranes at dawn, Nebraska  (image by Ruth Forsgren)

Make Your Own Bingo Search Game

Species Spotlight: Wood Frog ( Lithobates sylvaticus)

By Ruth Forsgren

Wood Frog on the forest floor at Brunet Island State Park
(image by Ruth Forsgren)

For me personally, Wood Frogs and their friends Spring Peepers and Chorus Frogs are the true harbingers of spring. Robins, Bluebirds and some other early migrants will return at approximately the same time each year regardless of the weather. The frogs on the other hand must wait for temperatures that are warm enough. Starting in late March as the ice leaves the area waterways I look for a string of three days in a row with temperatures in the upper 50’s (or higher) and especially if the temperatures are accompanied by sunshine, then I will start listening for frogs in the evenings. When listening for frogs remember that only Kermit and his west coast, Hollywood friends will speak “Ribbit”. The Wood Frog’s song is described as sounding like ducks when they are feeding. I think if you listen carefully and use a little imagination you will hear them saying “lick it up”, but they say it very, very quickly. They do not project their voice as well as some frogs so you have to be pretty close to hear them.

When Wood Frogs sing you can see the inflated air sacs on
both sides of the head, behind the ear. (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Of the early frogs, I especially like the Wood Frog. They have such an interesting way to get through the winter and I’ll get to that in a second. First off let me more properly introduce you to the Wood Frog. As frogs go they are a small to medium sized frog, reaching a snout to vent (where an animal goes to the bathroom) length between 1.5 to 3 inches. Their skin is usually a brown to red-brown color but can vary to gray or green. Wood Frogs look like they are wearing a dark mask that extends from their nose, over the eyes, ears and then curves down to the front leg. The back legs are usually striped and these stripes in combination with the mask reminds me of a raccoon.

Their preferred habitat is right in their name, Wood Frogs can be found in wet wooded areas, bogs, wet meadows and on the tundra. (They are one of the only frogs that can survive on the tundra). Even their scientific name gives away their habitat. Lithobates comes from the Greek words: litho, meaning stone and bates, which means that walks or haunts; sylvaticus comes from Latin and means pertaining to the woods or forest.

Back to my favorite thing about Wood Frogs and the reason that they are the one of the only frogs that live in the Arctic is their ability to freeze during hibernation.(click for video) During hibernation Wood Frogs enter a state of suspended animation where their heart stops beating and they stop breathing. They do this by making changes at the cellular level as weather gets colder, in a sense they produce their own anti-freeze. The liver makes a glucose product that helps to support the body’s cells by preventing cell collapse from water loss. After spending what can be several months frozen, the Wood Frogs body “wakes up” and is ready to go without any muscle loss or atrophy. It boggles my mind that if scientists can unlock this secret we may be able to freeze people that need a heart transplant until there is a suitable one available. Total game changer!

Once they come out of hibernation the Wood Frogs are ready to mate. They will move from the forest floor to woodland pools, flooded ditches, marshes or other water areas that are mainly fish free. (Wood Frogs are tasty little snacks for fish.) The females lay egg masses that can contain between 1,000 and 2,000 eggs. They attach the mass to a plant stem or stick if there is one available.  

Wood Frog egg mass
(image from Flickr)

After a few days the mass will flatten out, turn green from algae and float on the surface looking like pond scum. Depending upon temperature the eggs will hatch in as little as 10 days if it is warm or in a month if it is cooler. Tadpoles take about 2 months to metamorphose into a frog. After mating the adult frogs will leave the ponds and return to the woods in search of their prey, which includes beetles, spiders, worms and other invertebrates. During the warmer summer months, they are primarily nocturnal (active/hunting at night) but during the cooler nights of spring and fall they become diurnal (active during the day).

So during the first warmer days of spring be sure to keep an ear open for the “lick it up” call of the Wood Frog.    

Wisconsin Swans

by Ruth Forsgren

Trumpeter Swan, Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Tundra Swans (Flickr image) 

If you are doing outside activities in the Chippewa Valley anytime starting in mid-March through April, you may see or hear swans flying high overhead. Given the time of year these will most likely be the migrating Tundra Swans, returning to their nesting grounds in the Arctic.  A majority of them spent the winter on the Atlantic coast in an area roughly reaching from Chesapeake Bay to North Carolina. Thirty or more years ago Tundra Swans would have been the only swan species you would see in Wisconsin, but things are different today.

In 2020, there are three species of swans found in Wisconsin; Trumpeter, Tundra and Mute.

Mute Swans have an orange bill,with a black knob on top,
and hold the head and neck in an "s" shape, (Flickr image) 

The Mute Swan is introduced and considered an invasive species because it is one of the most aggressive waterfowl in the world, driving everything else from the wetland during its nesting season.  They are a large swan with an orange bill that has a black knobby bump on the top. When Mute Swans swim they hold their necks in a curved “s” shape. And that is the last I shall speak of them in this article.

The two native species of Wisconsin swans are the Trumpeter and the Tundra Swan. The fact that we can find Trumpeter Swans in Wisconsin at all in 2020 is amazing. Trumpeter Swans, once found over much of North America were severely over-hunted, and also suffered great habitat losses which took them to the brink of extinction. By the mid-1930’s there were only 69 known Trumpeter Swans in the lower 48 states, and they all lived in Yellowstone National Park and another small area in Montana. Thanks to re-introduction, education and conservation efforts, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service reported over 63,000 individuals in 2015.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources survey reported close to 6000 birds in Wisconsin as of July 2019.   

Trumpeter Swan (image by Ruth Forsgren) 

So how do we tell the difference between the Trumpeter and Tundra Swans? 

First thing to consider is what time of year you are seeing them. We only see Tundra Swans during their spring and fall migrations. The two time windows that we can see them is roughly from mid-March through first week of May and then again from Mid-October through November (keep in mind the birds cannot read a calendar and can be here outside of those time frames).  Since Trumpeter Swans nest and can overwinter here in Wisconsin they are considered year round residents. So, if you are seeing a swan here in January or July then it’s a good bet that it is a Trumpeter.

I think the next easiest way to distinguish between Trumpeter and Tundra Swans is by learning their calls. Trumpeter as their name implies has a very trumpet-like quality to their call. The Tundra Swans used to be known as the Whistling Swan because of their higher pitched whistle-like call. I don’t think of whistling when I hear them, to me they sound like a far off crowd cheering (think high school football game from several blocks away). 

There are physical differences between the two species. Trumpeter Swans are larger, in fact they are the largest waterfowl species in North America and also our heaviest flier. Trumpeters have a 7 to 8-foot wingspan, stand 4 feet tall and on average weigh between 20 to 30 pounds (some of the males, AKA cobs can weigh over 35 pounds).  Tundra Swans on the other hand; have a 6 to 7-foot wingspan, stand 3 feet tall and on average weigh between 13 to 30 pounds.

Tundra Swan (Flickr image) 

If you are close enough to use binoculars and can see the head and bill there are some differences.  The Trumpeter Swan’s head is overall more wedged shaped, where the Tundra has more of a rounded head and upturned bill. In about 80% of the adult Tundra Swans there will be yellow on the bill just under the eye. The amount of yellow can vary and some don’t have yellow at all. 

Trumpeter Swan (image Ruth Forsgren) 

The Trumpeter Swans usually show a red or dark pink stripe along the lower bill that looks a little like they are wearing lipstick. The Trumpeter Swans eyes are within the black mask of the bill, making it tough to distinguish the eye from the bill. Tundra Swans eyes are a little more separated from the bill making the eye a little more distinct.

Both of these swan species eat aquatic vegetation and require wetlands with a variety of emergent (sticking out of the water) plants.They also use the wetlands for nesting.  Tundra Swans typically lay from 3 to 5 eggs; the larger Trumpeters can lay from 5 to 9 eggs. The young of both species are known as cygnets. Cygnets are grey for their first year. The young will stay with the adults until the next nesting season has begun.

Trumpeter Swans with cygnets, Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge
(image Ruth Forsgen)

So when you are outside in the spring taking a walk, visiting Beaver Creek or maybe working in the yard keep an eye and ear to the sky for the large flocks of Tundra Swans moving through the area. 

Animals That are Scary Good for Nature

By: Macey VanDenMeerendonk

The weather is changing in Wisconsin and the leaves are starting to fall. With Halloween right around the corner, the decorations of scary animals like spiders, bats, wolves, crows, and ravens are appearing around neighborhoods and stores. Giant spiders hanging on houses with fake spider webs caught in the front yard's trees and bushes, plastic bats hanging from the ceiling, pictures of crows and ravens guarding tombstones can all be seen down every street. Movies with werewolves and graveyards and creepy crawlies on TV networks that are meant to give people a fright. While these iconic creatures scare and creep during this spooky season, they serve a greater purpose that nature benefits from.

Fishing Spider
Photo by: Mark Musselman,
National Audubon Society

While spiders make most people paranoid and grossed out, they are big help with pest control. According to Rove Pest Control, Mike MacDonald wrote, Spiders eat other spiders and pests such as flies, moths, centipedes, fleas, and even cockroaches. 

They are a natural pest control solution for organic crops which helps reduce famine and food shortages." They may look scary and with some being harmful to humans, they have been given a bad reputation. They contribute to the health and safety of the food the world produces to feed the people in it. Next time you see one hanging out in a corner of your house, don't squish it in a napkin, instead capture it and let it go outside!

Little Brown Bats
Photo by: John and Karen Hollingsworth,
USFWS

Bats have a mysterious persona and tend to be misunderstood because of it. The way they hang upside down, that they have beady eyes and big ears, and their nocturnal lifestyle adds to the spooky character they're cast as in October. There are seven to eight types of bats in Wisconsin. In a document published by the Wisconsin DNR, the Little Brown, Big Brown, Eastern Pipistrelle, Northern Long-Eared, and Indiana bats are classified as cave bats. The Silver-Haired, Eastern Red, and Hoary bats are classified as tree bats. According to Wisconsin Bat Program, "bats are important consumers for agricultural, forestry and human pest insects. It is estimated that bats in Wisconsin save farmers up to $658 million every year in the form of pest control services." Like spiders, they are helping hands in protecting human food sources. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wrote on their website that worldwide, bats are pollinators and seed-dispensers for many plants. The Wisconsin DNR says, "Bats in Wisconsin are insectivorous and are major predators of night-flying insects. A single bat can consume up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in an hour and a pregnant female can consume her weight in insects every night."

 They are active in helping wildlife  while helping to control pest populations. Bat populations have been threatened with a disease called White-nose Syndrome (WNS). According to the Wisconsin DNR, "The disease is a fungus that was discovered growing on the muzzles and wings of hibernating bats. As the fungus spreads, it leaves a massive number of dead bats: up to 99 percent of bats can die in an infected hibernaculum." The Wisconsin DNR bat program has been inventorying and monitoring bat populations across the state to help stop the spread, study the disease and possible treatments for it, and helps further education of WNS. 

Gray Wolves
Photo by: Scott Flaherty,
USFWS

The classic howl of a wolf in front of a big, bright full moon is a common image associated with these animals. Movies and children's stories turn these wild canines into menacing werewolves that are vicious and mythically exciting. While fantasy transforms them into something harmful, they are important to the circle of life in nature. According to Defenders of Wildlife, wolves play a key role in keeping ecosystems healthy and balanced. They said, "They help keep deer and elk populations in check, which can benefit many other plant and animal species. The carcasses of their prey also help to redistribute nutrients and provide food for other wildlife species, like grizzly bears and scavengers." An article by Wolf Country says that wolves hunt the sick, weak, old, and injured prey animals like elk, deer, moose, and caribou to help those populations remain strong so they don't swelter. "The wolf helps keep them healthy by ensuring the breeding of the strong," the article states. Wolves are powerful and intimidating animals who do a lot to sustain wildlife.

American Crow
Photo by: Picasa

Crows and Ravens have a bad reputation this time of year. Like a black cat, they are thought to be a bad omen if you come across them. While their calls and the flocks of them that hang out in branchy trees can be uneasy to hear and see, they happen to be very intelligent animals. Nature Mentoring said, "There’s evidence to suggest that Ravens are better at pure intelligence-based problem solving, while Crows perform better when there’s a social element to the task (like facial recognition, and deciding who to trust)." Try to stay on these birds' good side because they'll remember who you are, they're that smart. 

Common Raven
Photo by: Piotr Krzeslak

Bad reputations may give this season it's spooky and creepy theme for the people who enjoy a good scare, but it's necessary to know the importance of these animals. Their contributions to the greater good for wildlife should be protected by humans while being appreciated for their spooky and haunting characteristics. So is you happen to see one of these animals in the wild, try not to be frightened.  Instead, remember all the great things they do for the environment.  

Have a Happy Halloween from your friends at BCR! 

Monarchs Ready to Take Flight!

 

Volunteers helping in the tagging
process before monarchs start to migrate.

The Butterfly House, a summer fan favorite here at Beaver Creek Reserve, has now come to a close, which means the Monarchs are getting ready to make the long journey south. Each year at the start of migration our naturalist staff and volunteers help tag monarchs. 

Between two tagging periods on August 29 and September 4, 200 monarchs were tagged. Any monarchs still hanging around from the butterfly house will be tagged and released. If you're still seeing monarchs in the area they are moving south from farther north to stop and rest.

Naturalist, Jim Schwiebert, on
top of the butterfly house gazebo
to reach butterflies for tagging. 

In our last post, we discussed, Raising Monarch that Migrate. Tagging is another way that we can track and protect the monarch population, with limited human interference.   “It [tagging] provides insight into the habitats they use for reproduction, and allows researchers to associate the location of original capture with the point of recovery for each butterfly,” said BCR Naturalist, Jim Schwiebert. Data collected from the tagged butterflies provides information on migration patterns of returning butterflies, how weather influences these patterns and survival rates each year. The data collected at Beaver Creek is part of a larger effort to conduct research on this population.

A Painted Lady resting on
naturalist, Jim Schwiebert’s, shoulder.

The Great Lakes population of monarchs have been tracked at 12 sites in Mexico, to date. They can travel to these southern sites in as little as a few miles a day or as many as 40 to 50 miles per day. Research shows from past tagging, that travel time is highly dependent on weather conditions. Wind, rain, and cooler weather can stall their migration for days at a time. 

Monarch with a tagged wing so
     BCR can track its migration to Mexico.

The majority of migrating Monarchs reach their overwintering site in Mexico by the end of November. Tag returns indicate that the Monarchs we tag, reside in the mountains west of Mexico City.  “The monarchs roost in stands of Oyamel Fir trees, and that is where they spend the winter, only leaving their roosts to visit a mountain stream to rehydrate on warmer days,” commented Jim Schwiebert.

After the warm winter they spend in Mexico, while the rest of us freeze in the Midwest, they start their journey northward in March. The generation of Monarchs that migrated will mate and lay eggs in southern states, until the end of their lives. The migrated Monarchs progeny will then move towards the Great Lakes region and will produce another generation. This third generation are the Monarchs seen in June and July, in time for another summer of Butterfly House fun here at Beaver Creak Reserve!