The Sap Is A Flowin'

It is the time of year when the days are starting to warm up and the nights are still chilly. Everyone is experiencing some sense of cabin fever and they want to get out and start moving again. It is the same for Maple trees. After their long cold winter, they need to get their "juices" flowing again and when that happens, everyone knows it is maple syrup time! It is actually not very difficult to do, just a little time consuming, but in my opinion, it is well worth it. However let me warn you it can be very addicting. A couple of friends of mine who started tapping trees this year are already planning on having a bigger operation next year!

For more information on how to tap the trees, collect the sap, and make the syrup, I would suggest contacting your local county Ohio State University extension office or reading http://ohioline.osu.edu/for-fact/0036.html

Enjoy!!!!!

A New Perspective?????

As I sit here and reflect on the work that I (and others) have done over the past few weeks as a result of the ice and snow and wind storms that have hit Adams County. Anticipation comes to mind. An anticipation of what might happen as a result of these series of storms. Let me explain.

As I am writing this I am looking at a series of brush piles that I have cut and placed along the edge of my drive. Will the tangle of branches and sticks provide enough cover for the rabbit to hide and possibly nest this coming spring? Or will the tangles help keep the wrens, sparrows, and towhees away from the eyes of the neighborhood Great Horned Owl and the various hawks that fly overhead.

What about the old oak whose top was blown over in the storms. Would the snag one day be home to the Eastern Gray and Fox squirrels that I spot performing their tightrope routines in the limbs up above? Or is it big enough for an owl or maybe a raccoon to use as a daybed or even nest in? Would these storms spell the beginning of the demise of that tree? Would I see insects start to make their home there, burrowing deep in the exposed weathered wood? And would the woodpeckers soon follow endlessly pounding to find that needed nourishment? If that all happens, I know it won’t be long before other cavity nesters start moving in: the Flying Squirrels, the Eastern Screech Owl, the Opossum, and the Little Brown Bats. Would Wood Ducks, Carolina Chickadees or White-footed Mice nest in these new cavities? Is it possible that one day a Prothonotary Warbler find the cavities and sing it’s sweet song at the edge of the nearby creek?

What about the trees that were uprooted by these storms. Now they just lie like random matchsticks thrown in the air and strewn across the forest floor. How long would it be before the massive roots are invaded by a skunk trying to dig a den to have it’s kits? Maybe it will be the Red Fox whose tracks I see disappearing on the trail ahead. Would a Ruffed Grouse use a log to drum and attract it’s mate? Or would an Wild Turkey hen scratch it’s nest along a log using it’s cover to hide it familiar silhouette from the wandering Coyotes. How long would it be before the trunk is covered in mosses and fungi attracting numerous other insects and the predators that follow them? Would the salamanders and skinks that I spot scurrying along the ground and up the tree trunks hide beneath the bark which is covered by mosses and lichens?

What about the trees that fell into the pond and the lakes? Would the branches that are underwater protect the sunfish and bass fry that will hide in there? Will the numerous snapping and painted turtles pull themselves out of the water and sun themselves on the trunk on the first warm days of Spring? Would these same trunks be a fishing spot for the Great Blue and Green herons that frequent the shoreline? Would the eagles and osprey that migrate through in the Spring and Fall one day use the branches reaching out of the water as a resting place while scanning the waters for the ripple which could be their next meal? Would the Wood Ducks and Teal utilize the cover of the branches as a shield from the watchful eye of the Gray Foxes that run through here frequently? Would the Canada Geese place their nest along the root ball or the muskrat use the trunk to hide the entry to it’s den buried deep within the bank?

And then there are the open spots on the forest floor from the falling of the trees. Are these clearings now big enough for the Woodcock to perform his aerial display in the waning light of dusk and dawn? Would the seeds that have lie dormant for many years now feel the warmth of the sun and the nourishment of the rain suddenly spring forth from the leaf litter? Would trillium and hepatica suddenly appear where I have never noticed them before? Would Morel Mushrooms shoot up next to the Beech tree over there after all of these years of fruitlessly searching for them? What kind of jewels that have been hidden by these trees will now be exposed? What kind of flora will I now need help identifying because i have never seen it before?
I will admit that when I first saw the aftermath of the storms that came through the area, I was heartbroken at the destruction. But now that I look at it and really think about it, maybe these storms were a blessing in disguise. I guess it is just a matter of time and perspective!

Is Spring on it's Way??????

While working on my place over the past weekend, I noticed a few signs of spring. Although the calender says the 2ND week of February, Mother Nature is broadcasting other signs. Red-Winged Blackbirds have started showing up. There have been reports of Woodcocks beginning their Spring Display Ritual around the state. Driving around the county i saw several groups of Wild Turkeys were males were strutting and displaying for the females in the group. Canada Geese are starting to pair up and stake their claim on the lakes around the area.

Around the flower front, I have seen Daffodils and Snowdrops pushing their green spears through the semi-frozen ground. Within a couple of weeks they will be blooming unless another hard cold spell delays them a little longer. The shrubs and the trees are starting to get buds and the grasses are starting to show just a touch of green at the base.

According to notes from previous years all of this seems a little earlier than normal. Only time will tell. But I am guessing Mother Nature knows what is best!

Check your Feeders

With the recent string of ice and snow that has come upon our area, it is a great time to watch your feeders for some of the more interesting migrants that might appear. Some of the commonly seen migrants include Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs, Pine Siskins, and Red-breasted Nuthatches. As mentioned in some of the earlier blogs, there have been numerous reports around the state of White-winged Crossbills, Red Crossbills, Common Redpolls, and even Snowy Owls. There are even some birds that normally migrate south that have been seen around the area. Just last week on Wheat Ridge Road, at one feeder along with the usual visitors there was a Common Redpoll and a Lincoln's Sparrow. As Jessica wrote in her blog a couple of weeks ago, just keep the feeders cleaned and filled and see what shows up and start a yard bird list. You might be surprised at the results!

Cute Redheads

Two Redhead ducks, Aythya americana, spent the day diving near our dock in Wrightsville today.  They were joined for a time by six Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris.  A goose, either a Greater White-fronted or a domestic Greylag goose, has been hanging out near the dock for two days as well.   A Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus, landed in a tree long enough to have these pictures taken.

River Ramblers

Icy weather, power outages, and phone disconnections caused many of us to hunker down last week.  The upshot was that we were able to bird-watch from our living room (we live near the Ohio River).  Here are some pictures of the highlights.

Winter Bird Feeding

Birds sure have it tough in winter.  Think about it: bone-chilling temperatures, no insects, frozen water sources, snow-covered vegetation... not to mention stark white backgrounds against which predators easily spot their tweety meals.  Because of these hardships, many people choose to feed birds during the winter months.  Bird feeding stations provide energy and nourishment to many species of Adams County birds.  Our simple sunflower, suet and cracked corn feeding station drew fifteen species today.  They were:

Mourning Dove

Carolina Wren

Grackle

Blue Jay

Cardinal

Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

English Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Goldfinch

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Towhee

Setting up a feeding station is easy.  The trick is keeping the station stocked with appropriate foods throughout the cold months.  Birds require good-quality feeds, such as sunflower and thistle seeds and suet.  Feeding birds items like bread and popcorn fill their bellies while doing little to nourish their bodies.  The birds feel full, but they may actually become weakened due to the lack of sustenance contained in these foods.  

Cleanliness is the next most important consideration for a feeding station.  Any large group of animals - or people - that congregates in one area day after day are capable of passing viruses to each other.  It is important to clean feeders with a dilute bleach solution every few weeks (a quarter cup of bleach per 2 gallons water).   Also rake away hulls and other leftovers on the ground to avoid trapping diseases near the feeder.

Above all, enjoy your feathered visitors!

Adams County Amish Bird Symposium

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!  On Saturday, March 7th, 2009, bird lovers from all over southern Ohio will flock to Adams County for the Sixth Annual Amish Bird Symposium.  Join Cincinnati Museum Center, The Nature Conservancy, and the Adams County Amish Community for a day-long celebration of birds that features speakers, vendors, and activities.  This year, presentations will be given on everything from farming with grassland birds in Ohio to studying birds on the West Indies' island of Dominica.  Registration to this unique symposium has already begun, so call Cincinnati Museum Center today at 1-800-733-2077 (press zero for the operator) to sign up.  Cost is $20.00 per person.  Children 12 and under free.  Includes drinks, an Amish-made lunch, and Miller's Bakery doughnuts and coffee.  Hope to see you there.

Finally pine siskins!

Well from all the chatter about them on the bird listservs about all the pine siskins being see all over the state we finally got some. I had 15 at my feeder yesterday and maybe more today. Now we are just waiting for the redpolls and crossbills. Who knows? This may be the disadvantage of living soo far south. We have to wait for the northern guys. Beautiful snow today, hope we don't get the freezing rain they predicted.

Photo: Bill Hull

The Nesting Season Begins

Here we are in the middle of Winter with snow and ice all around. Most people would never think about hiking and exploring the woods to see what is new. That is more of a Spring, Summer, or Fall activity, yet now is the good time to observe the cycle of life that begins again.

Head out into your nearest woods and look into the fork of a tree for a big nest that you would think would be abandoned at this time of year. Or maybe try to find a big cavity or possibly a snag of a broken off tree. Take binoculars and look at it very closely. There just might be a Great Horned Owl or Barred Owl in it. Don't just assume that nothing is in the nest because it is covered with snow or ice. I have been staring at a nest covered in snow thinking that it is unoccupied when all of the sudden I realized that that are two dark eyes staring right back at me from the snow.

Late January is the beginning of nesting time for Great Horned Owls with Barred Owls following shortly after then. Now is one of the best times to observe both of these species. First while the owls are on the nest incubating the eggs and then during the fledging period that follows.

Great Horned Owls typically have a clutch size of 1-4 eggs with an incubation period of 26-35 days. Once hatched the owlets will be fully fledged about 5 -7 weeks later.

Barred Owls on the other hand typically have a clutch size of 2-3 eggs. Their incubation period is 28 -33 days with fledging coming about 6- 7 weeks later.

Great Horned Owls seem to prefer sites with a mix of mature deciduous and coniferous trees that are adjacent to waterways and open zones suitable for their hunting. The trees provide the owls with high, concealed day-time roosts and also potential nesting sites. The great horned owl does not, however, build its own nest. Instead, it typically appropriates a suitably sized nest from other owls, crows, hawks, herons, or eagles

Barred Owls prefer deep moist forests, wooded swamps, and woodlands near waterways. The habitat is sometimes characterized as heavy mature woods with nearby open country for foraging. These can vary from upland woods to lowland swamps usually near creeks, lakes or river valleys. The area should include densely foliated trees for daytime roosts, conifers or deciduous trees with year-round leaves for winter roosts, and the presence of large trees with suitable cavities for nesting. It prefers to use cavities for it's nest.

Always remember never get too close to the nest or the cavity or stay for a lengthy period of time. Like all nesting birds you do not want to make them too nervous and overstay your welcome. The best advice is to watch for a while, take note of the location and date, and return a few more times throughout the nesting and fledging period.

So if cabin fever is starting to affect you, don't fight it. Maybe that is just Mother Nature's way of telling you it is time to go out and explore!

Cold Weather sightings

It is officially cold in Adams County on this fifteenth day of January. Most of us have made plans to work indoors as temperatures were in the single digits on our way to work this morning. Even as cold as it is, there are things outdoors that are worth stepping out to see. There were multiple rafts of ducks on Ohio Brush creek this morning. Species included American Black Ducks (29), Hooded Mergansers (16) and Mallards (+/-12). Pete reported a large flock of Purple Finches (150+) working the pavement on Brush Creek road. The birds stayed put for a couple of hours at that location. Unusual to see a flock of Purple Finches that large that staying together at a site for that long. Most surprising, a juvenile Golden Eagle was spotted above Ohio Brush Creek along Waggoner Riffle Road today. The bird was slowly soaring south and might hang out near the Killen station along the Ohio River.

Pay attention to your feeders as this cold weather may bring in some unusual birds. A Common Redpoll was seen at a feeder in Pike county this morning along with several Pine Siskins. Most unusual, a male Baltimore Oriole has been seen several times in the Columbus, Ohio area. Pay attention during this cold weather and share the cool or unusual stuff that you see out there.

Hey Folks - We have been negligent in our postings! This season is just getting to be interesting. There seems to be a hiatus between fall and winter when things are just leaving and nothing is showing up yet from the north. We hear about the crowds of siskins coming down (none seen at my feeders yet!) and the redpolls, white-winged and red crossbills heading this way (again not at my feeders). However, in the last two weeks I have seen two merlins in West Union (chasing pigeons) and have heard that some of our field staff saw one heading over the creek towards my house (must be eating those siskins, crossbills and redpolls!). Regardless, the winter finches, sparrows, hawks and owls should be on their way. Good birding!

Pete

winter birds

Today's weather offers wind chills in the teens and probably does not bring bird watching to the top of the list of activities you have planned. But the cold finally arriving here might provide the opportunity to see a few birds that you might not normally see. If you have not yet cleaned your feeders and put them out, now would be a great time to get started. Reports from the listserves hint that we might have pine siskins in good numbers this year. Look for them along with the goldfinches at your feeder. Many species of waterfowl continue to migrate through. We have seen both "hoodies" and "woodies" on Ohio Brush Creek in the last two weeks. A single American Widgeon was present south of the 125 bridge this morning. Its also time to watch for Eagles that might be passing through. Typically, along the Ohio River and Ohio Brush creek we have sightings of eagles during the winter months. Winter offers the hope of Northern Harriers and possible short eared owls over the overgrown fields in the county. The sparrows that we might expect to see include white crowned sparrows, white throated sparrows, tree sparrows and fox sparrows among the song, field and swamp sparrows that reside here. There are other sparrow posibilities out the so be sure and take a close look at those sparrows. If you have the opportunity, remember to sign up and participate in the Christmas bird count that will occur in December in Adams or Scioto county. Keep your binoculars close and share those unusual bird sightings.

Cicad's & crayfish

I was fishing on Ohio Brush Creek a couple of days over the long weekend, and I observed three things (beside the bass biting pretty good), the crayfish are finally starting to emerge from under the rocks, the smallmouth are spawning late (at least in the main branch), and the cicadas are coming out of the ground. The ground around the area I was fishing was full of small holes from the emerging cicadas. 

A Good Day's Birding

On May 10th as part of the celebration of International Migratory Bird Day a group of us went birding in Adams County. Over a course of about an 8 hours we ended up seeing 96 different species (98 if you count the Whip o will and Chucks Will Widow he heard the night before). Birds that were seen included: 12 types of waterfowl and shorebirds ,19 types of warblers, 5 types of hawks and accipiters and 8 types of sparrows. There were numerous migrants that were just passing through

All of the birding was done along the Appalachian Discovery Birding Trail http://www.appalachiandiscovery.com/Birding_Trail.htm

We started out along State Route 41, birded the Wheat Ridge fields, headed down to Adams Lake State Park and ten went down the river and birded along it. I would recommend the trip to anyone who wants to experience the diversity of the county.

They're Heeeere

While out walking along the Ohio River yesterday, I came across this ADULT periodical cicada.  This means that the other million-or-so of his fellow insects are not far behind.  Soon the air will be filled with the buzz of their calls, and the ground beneath our feet will crunch as we tread over their cast-off skins and bodies.  

Here are few interesting cicada facts to pass along:

Cicadas are NOT locusts; in fact, locusts are more closely related to grasshoppers than to cicadas.  The cicada is a member of the leafhopper family of insects.

Only male cicadas sing.  

The sound male cicadas create comes from their abdomens, and scientists still aren't 100% sure how such a loud sound (120+ decibels) can come from such a small creature.  The noise of even one male cicada singing is enough to hurt the human ear at close range.  It is even more painful to the sensitive ears of birds and other wildlife (which is why singing is a good predator defense strategy for the cicada).  Cicadas have ears, too, so they must protect their version of an eardrum by creasing it as they sing, which keeps it from vibrating and injuring the ear.

Female cicadas mate then lay their fertilized eggs on the branches of trees.  They do this by piercing the bark with a special egg-laying device called an ovipositor.  The ovipositor can cause damage to trees by exposing them to disease, which is why we should cover our most vulnerable ornamental and fruit trees with netting BEFORE the cicadas arrive.  In Maysville, trees in the downtown area have been protected with green netting (not to be crass, but the locals are calling the netting "tree condoms").  

Once the eggs are laid, they will develop for about 6 weeks before dropping from the trees to the ground.  They will then burrow into the soil and remain there for  until they emerge to change into adults years later, sucking juices from plant roots for nourishment.  

There are many "broods" of periodical cicadas.  Broods emerge in different areas at different times.  Some broods emerge every 13 years, while others emerge every 17 years.  Some brood ranges overlap.  In Cincinnati, for example, Brood X emerged in 2004, and this year's brood (Brood XIV) will emerge there as well.  To add to the confusion, more than one species of cicada can make up a brood.  Brood XIV is made up of Magicada septendecim (85%), M. septendecula (13%), and M. cassini (5%).  

For more information on Brood XIV, please visit the University of Michigan's Cicada web site by clicking HERE.  In the meantime, enjoy this rare natural phenomenon, and keep an eye out for rare white-eyed cicadas!

Smallmouth fishing on Brush Creek

On a rainy Thursday evening, (May 8), I took my flyrod and waders and did a little smallmouth fishing on Ohio Brush Creek. I probably caught nearly a dozen ranging in all sizes from 5 to 15 inches. All were caught on olive, brown, or black, bead-head wooly buggers. Most fish were taken from the tail end of pools. Water was very clear with about 3' of visibility. I think I'll give the West Branch a try tonight or Saturday afternoon.

Black Vultures

The local West Union newspaper, The People's Defender, recently published an article about black vultures, Coragyps atratus, that was less than flattering to the species. Though black vultures are known to prey on weak or newborn animals, including calves and lambs, their greater role in the scheme of nature far outwieghs this negative character trait.

Vultures are scavengers. Their main niche is that of "clean-up crew". Consider the countless hapless creatures who lose their lives to our poor response time along the roads of America. If we imagine the reek of all of those decaying bodies lying in the humid Ohio River valley, we can finally appreciate the service vultures provide by clearing away that carnage. C.J. Maynard is quoted in "Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey" (Bent, 1961) as saying, "[Black Vultures] will seldom eat fresh meat but prefer to wait until decomposition has set in before beginning their feast... when the odor from the decaying mass became insufferable to human nostrils, they would eat to repletion."

Black vultures also possess traits normally attributed to better-loved species. Black vultures are extremely attentive parents. Both male and female help incubate the speckled eggs, which are laid on the ground in old buildings or in caves. The adults keep their young "gorged with food continually, the distended stomachs being plainly visible" (Bent, 1961). After fourteen weeks, the young vultures are finally able to fly. Until then, their best defense is to feign death if approached by a possible predator. If harrassed, vultures will regurgitate half-digested food. Considering the state of such food when it was eaten, the shock of its reappearance would certainly be enough to frighten away most creatures.

Black vultures are fascinating birds undeserving of their grotesque reputation. Hopefully, others will be able to forgive this bird its flaws and accept it for the natural - and helpful - janitor it is.

- Jessie Huxmann

First Box turtles 4/23/08

 

While turkey hunting I came upon three box turtles this morning. I actually saw one drinking water from a hillside seep. I never saw a box turtle drink before and these were the first box turtles I have observed this year. I suspect they have just come out of hibernation.

Barn Owls in Adams County?

On Monday evening I received a phone call from a local farmer who had observed a barn owl in his barn this afternoon while getting out hay. Possible nesting? I'll check it out later this week. Stay tuned.