Ripples 12/29/22

Posted on by December 30, 2022
Each year for the past 120 years or so, people have ventured out across North America to count birds at Christmastime- between Dec. 15 and Jan 5.  They count in specific 15 mile diameter circles, one or more to a county on one particular day, record all the birds they find, and report results to the National Audubon Society.  In Manitowoc County, there are four such circles that have been counted each year for about the last 50 years.
 
I’ve participated in 30 years or so of such counts, either alone or with others.  I’m not able to do all four each year, but usually try to do the counts for Manitowoc and Two Rivers areas.  Others from Woodland Dunes’ staff also help with the Two Rivers count, which includes our nature preserve.  We were fortunate this year- the weather on both the Manitowoc and Two Rivers count days was cool, but not windy or snowy so conditions were good for birding.
 
We found a couple dozen species on each of the counts among our group.  The count at Woodland Dunes revealed a golden-crowned kinglet, a tiny little bird which somehow is able to stay warm in winter, traveling with chickadees and nuthatches in little flocks, one of the cutest birds ever.  Out in the grasslands it was a great day for hawks- kestrel, rough-legged, red-tailed, and northern harrier.  A lot of the remaining birds were close to the feeders, including a few American tree sparrows visiting from the far north for the winter.
 
In Manitowoc, my assigned area was in and around the City itself, so I concentrated on my home property and a number of city parks.  The usual sparrows, finches, and jays were present, along with a few less common birds like a Pileated woodpecker, bald eagles, an American robin, and a Yellow-shafted flicker.  One pond which receives warm water from a nearby industrial building had hundreds of mallards and Canada geese, plus a couple of less common black ducks.  Others who were out counting found a hermit thrush, cedar waxwings, and other wonderful visitors.
 
There were additional counts in the county, centered on Collins and Menchalville, which always yield interesting birds from their forests and extensive farm fields.
 
 So what happens with all these observations?  As you can imagine, Audubon has a lot of data to analyze- millions more observations every year.  Such large amounts of data across large areas makes it possible to document changes in bird populations, although it doesn’t tell us why those changes are happening.  Some birds are increasing in our region, like red-tailed hawks, blue jays, nuthatches, cardinals, and others.  Some are declining, like red-winged blackbirds (in winter), and evening grosbeaks, which are seldom seen here anymore.  The complete table is on Audubon’s website at  https://www.audubon.org/conservation/where-have-all-birds-gone.  Its clearly important to keep counting birds so that we can be aware of their population status, so that we can make good decisions on their behalf.  The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, scientists who have assessed the populations of more than 150,000 species of plants and animals use data like this to determine how species of animals are faring.  At present, they estimate that more than 42,000 species are threatened with extinction, and more than 900 species which formerly lived are now extinct.
 

The Christmas Bird Count is a longstanding tool for tracking bird populations in winter.  It provides us with information we need to make decisions on how to manage the natural world.  Although nature precedes us, and its scope is enormous, we have a great impact upon it.  Now, for the sake of the birds and for our own sake, we need to make rational decisions and act on them.

photo: Northern cardinal by Bruce Heimerman, taken recently at Woodland Dunes

Ripples 12/21/22

Posted on by December 21, 2022
Snowstorms are special events, one of the memorable times that mark our lives.  As they approach, there is a mixture of both excitement and dread seasoning our anticipation as we make sure the snowblower runs, there’s gas in the car and the can, and enough bread and milk just in case. There is no satisfaction like the feeling that you are prepared for the worst- that you’ve anticipated every possible scenario and you are ready for whatever Nature brings.
 
Because they are so memorable and our brains are so fallible, as we age, we magnify the snowstorms of our youth. I think I now qualify as an “old-timer,” a designation which I embrace proudly simply because I have made it to at least my mid 60’s and have a few snowstorms in my personal history. And like many others, I swear that the snowstorms of my youth were much wilder than those experienced in recent years.
 
Fortunately, some people take the time to document things so that we know what is true.  And fortunately, there are scientists at the National Weather Service who for many decades have recorded all sorts of weather data to which we can refer when we are curious.  And fortunately, such information is made easily accessible to people like me who have so many questions about life and a desire to share those with others. So into the records I dove, seeking to justify the struggles of my childhood and the desire to downplay the hardiness of the generations after me. What fun to point out how hardy people used to be and how people nowadays are too soft.
 
Well, once again the certainty of my recollection is called into question by cold, hard, facts.  It turns out, that 2022 is not a very snowy year at all, but that could quickly change by the time you read this. As of today, the winter solstice, we’ve had only 20.2 inches of snow in Manitowoc, putting 2022 at 98th place out of the last 123 years of records.  A mere pittance in terms of snow! I think a lot of us would suspect that after the almost snowless winter of this year’s early months, and not much so far this winter- to date.  However, a big storm in the next couple of days could bump us up to around 60th place, right in the middle of the pack.  The middle, really?  I felt sure that recent years were much less snowy and harsh than when I was a kid. 
 
Let’s look at the 60’s, when I was young- snowfall for the years 1960-69 ranged from 14.8 inches to 63.1 inches- a tremendous variation! The average was 38.1 inches. In the 70’s when I was in high school and college, it ranged from .6 inches to 50.6 inches- an even bigger variation, and the average was 25.7 inches. But, I remember big snowstorms back then- those totals don’t seem too impressive. What about the 1940’s- my grandfather told me how he had to ski to work at Mirro some days and how snow drifts were up to the height of the power lines in the country. Well, there does seem to be a bit more then, ranging from 25 to 50 inches, with an average of 36.1.  So, about 10 inches more than the ’70’s?  It doesn’t seem too impressive.
 
Well, recent years must certainly be different- lets look at the 2010’s- they ranged from 15 to 67.6 inches, with an average of 34.2- hardly different than the 1940’s.
 
Few of us are around to remember, but the 1920’s seem to be a snowy decade- ranging from 92.4 inches (first place) to 28.1 inches, with an average of 59.3.  That’s quite a bit higher than recent years.  But one factor may be that we know temperatures are now warmer than they were 100 years ago, and we may be receiving more rain than snow. That would be interesting to look at but is beyond the scope of this writing.
 

Perhaps it seemed like there was more snow in my youth because I was so much shorter then. I do remember seeing photos of me beside towering sidewalk snowbanks, my snowsuit looking like a cocoon, and a smile on my face.  Regardless of the amount, snow adds beauty to the landscape, protects the soil, and gives us opportunities to have fun.  I recently saw a quote that was something like “If you choose to hate snow, you’ll spend the winter being unhappy, but you’ll still have as much snow.”  Amen.

photo- a snowy Woodland Dunes by Nancy Nabak

Ripples 12/15/22

Posted on by December 19, 2022

Written by guest, Joel Trick

One of the most fascinating and unusual members of the Wisconsin fauna is the Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata). Though seldom seen by humans, this animal is widespread on Woodland Dunes properties, and can be active both day and night, year-round. A unique feature of this species is the star-shaped structure of 22 tentacles which surround the snout. As in all mole species, the animal has very poor eyesight, but uses these tentacles for navigating and finding food such as worms, insects and crustaceans.

The Star-nosed Mole is found throughout much of the northeastern United States and Canada, including most of Wisconsin. The animal is dark brown to black in color, approximately 7 to 8 inches in length, including the 2 1/2 to 3 inch long tail. The front paws are wide and adapted for digging with long, stout claws.

The species inhabits a wide range of moist soil habitats including swamp forest, wet meadow, streams, ponds and lakes. It lives mostly within a network of underground tunnels, pushing up excess earth into mounds that give away its presence. An accomplished swimmer, the species is active year-round and will even forage beneath the ice for its prey during frozen-soil periods.

The tentacles on the snout are the most sensitive touch organ of any mammal, containing over 100,000 nerve fibers in an area smaller than your fingertip. Using this sensitive organ, they can identify and eat food faster than any mammal on earth. They even have the ability to smell underwater, by blowing bubbles of air into the water and re-inhaling them to sniff for prey.

This species is also known to be above-ground more than most moles, and can fall prey to hawks, owls and snakes. Although I have never seen one alive, I have found a number of dead animals through the years. Some believe that certain mammalian predators kill them but leave them uneaten because of a foul smell or taste. At Woodland Dunes, I have seen their tell-tale earth work on Willow Trail, Conifer Trail, Goodwin Road, and on the lawn near the observation tower at the Nature Center.

Photos by Joel Trick

Ripples 12/8/22

Posted on by December 7, 2022
 
The many dark days of November and December, the result of both cloud cover and shorter day length, are a challenge for people. Personally, I feel much more inclined to move in the morning if there is at least a hint of sunrise, and even cold days are more tolerable if the sun is shining. Birds at the feeders don’t really seem to care however. Their visits are perhaps more concentrated, with about five hours less time between sunrise and sunset to fill their little bellies. Fortunately, they don’t have additional nestlings to feed this time of year, but that energy savings may be offset by constant shivering to stay warm. Some will benefit from the large chunks of beef suet a friend gave me, a calorie-filled treat for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees.
 
Raptors are very active this time of year- those which don’t migrate must hunt whenever possible to sustain themselves. When snow is scarce, small mammals can move about easily but have little cover and are susceptible to becoming prey for hawks and owls. Red-tailed hawks migrate, but some remain year round patrolling familiar fields for meadow voles and other creatures.  Later on they are joined by rough-legged hawks from the arctic, which are equally large and use similar habitats. Recently, short-eared owls have been seen here, cruising over grassland at dusk, acting more like a harrier than a typical owl.
 
But even though winter is just getting started, some large raptors are already thinking about spring. While some hawks like ospreys and red-shouldered might be enjoying the warmth of the south, others are already preparing for spring in a romantic sense.
 
Some bald eagles migrate into Wisconsin and spend the winter near open water where they congregate and fish. This happens in places along Lake Michigan, but even more so along the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, where a hundred or more may be seen together. For those which nest in this area, there are already reports of nest-building happening, and here at Woodland Dunes a pair is being seen daily seemingly eyeing the nest across the river, which has been in use for years. Eagles can be seen this time of year breaking off and hauling large branches for nest construction, which they can do for a couple of months before seriously nesting in February and March. It takes a long time to raise young as large as an eagle chick, so they lay eggs early. Their young leave the nest in late spring and early summer and have plenty of time to learn how to survive before winter comes around again. Not all eagles begin this early, but don’t be surprised to see some nest building or fancy flying among eagle pairs.
 
Most evenings at my house, great horned owls can be heard hooting in the darkness. Sometimes they are close enough that we hear them when we are inside with the television on. They hoot like that pretty much year round, but it becomes even more noticeable in late fall and early winter as they reaffirm to each other their desire to be partners, calling back and forth to one another. They, too, are looking at an early nesting season, like the eagles.  And they, too, are large raptors which raise large young which take a long time to mature.  They also lay eggs in February and March, and their young leave the nest in May and June.  Unlike the eagles which spend a lot of time nest building and improving, Great horned owls find someone else’s nest, often a hawk’s, and take it over after the other species has left, improving it to their liking.
 
We think in terms of distinct seasons, but in nature there is a continuum which proceeds slowly and deliberately, constantly changing in small ways. Even in what we perceive is the onset of winter, the seeds of spring are already sown, and they will continue to grow until the world is green once again.

Photo of mature Bald eagle

 
 

Ripples 12/1/22

Posted on by December 7, 2022

Written by Kennedy Zittell, Assistant Naturalist

The other day I heard quite a commotion coming from my backyard. I opened up the door with enough time to witness my nearly 100 pound puppy racing away from a grey squirrel that was chattering at him from the top of our fence. As Gus raced towards the safety of the house, the squirrel flicked its tail at him, angry that a dog was ruining his dinner time at the bird feeder. Like dogs, squirrels use their tails to communicate. Unlike my dog that only uses his tail to knock things off of my coffee table, squirrels use their tails for a variety of really useful things in addition to helping them to communicate. 

Squirrels use their tail to help them communicate with other squirrels. What they are trying to say can sometimes be determined by what motion their tail is making. 

Warning to other squirrels: squirrels will rapidly flick their tails to warn other squirrels about various threats or bad situations. The threat could be that a predator is nearby, or perhaps the squirrel is warning the others to stay away from the food it found. In fact, a squirrel will even flick their tail in the direction of the predator, to let other squirrels know where the predator is. They are more likely to flick their tails at ground predators because those predators are less likely to be able to catch them while the squirrels are up high. If there was an aerial predator the squirrel is more likely to hide to avoid being seen but will still give off a high-pitched warning call (the high pitch calls are harder for aerial predators to locate) so if you hear a high-pitched call but cannot see the squirrel it could be a sign that they saw an aerial predator (like an owl or hawk) nearby.

Startled: a squirrel may flick their tail if they are alarmed or startled by something, even if another squirrel is not around. This is a warning to the predator (or whatever they deem as a threat) that they see it and will gladly run away if they get too close. 

Mating season: during mating season a squirrel will tremble its tail to try and attract a mate.

In addition to communication, squirrels will use their tail for a variety of other things such as: 

Balance: Their tails help them balance as they race across tree branches or power lines. As they walk across the narrow surfaces they will continuously move their tail to counterbalance them as they go.

Falling: Perhaps they didn’t balance all that well (which happens) and the squirrel falls from up high… well they are likely to be perfectly fine as their tails act as a parachute to slow their fall. The tail can even be used as a soft crash pad for when they land. 

Warmth: Squirrels don’t hibernate, so they are up and about during even the very cold winter months so their tail is used to help keep them warm. When they are in their nest, they wrap their tail around their body like a fluffy blanket. If a squirrel is laying on a tree branch (where it can’t curl into a ball), it will lay flat and put its tails over its back like covering up with a blanket (how cute is that?). 

Cooling: Their tail can also be used to help cool them down in the summer. Their bodies are designed to divert blood to their tails which then causes their body to cool down. Because squirrels are constantly on the move, they do not want to overheat, so this feature is critical in helping them avoid capture by predators. 

Swimming: Though it is not their ideal situation, squirrels can actually swim! They use their tails to help them steer and stay afloat.

Besides just looking cute and fluffy, the squirrel’s tail helps them survive by helping them warn each other of threats, find love, warm and cool down, balance, and even swim. 

photo by Pixabay