Spring Flowers, Dandelions, & Fawns!

April Showers

Bring May Flowers!

And we've definitely had enough showers to help our flowers grow!  This is the perfect time for a spring flower scavenger hunt!  Can you find the plants below on your hike?  Be careful where you step, though--there are a lot of other plants just coming up out of the ground, including baby trees!

Spring woodland plants take advantage of all the sunlight that makes it to the forest floor before the trees grow their leaves!  Since they are the first to germinate and flower, they are the first to feed bees and other hungry forest-dwelling critters such as chipmunks and deer.  Their importance in the ecosystem highlights the need to remove invasive plants so they don't out-compete these native species!

Want to be able to identify more native plants?
Check out this handy little app--Picture This!  Just point and click and it will identify the plant for you!  Get the first week free!
                          

Making a case for the dandelion. 

Most people view dandelions as a pesky weed; however, they are loved by people all over the world and have been used as food and medicine for hundreds of years.  Aside from being an early spring flower loved by many pollinators (like honey bees!), they do wonders for lawns!  Their deep tap roots can grow down to depths of 15 feet reaching nutrients like calcium deep in the soil and making them available for other plants as well!  Its roots loosen packed soils, reduce erosion, and aerate the soil.  The friendly dandelion has been used medicinally to help increase the efficacy of the digestive system and to help filter toxins from the body!  They pack quite a nutritional punch--more than most of our domestic vegetables!  One plant can live for years offering all of these services and at their end, they even help fertilize the soil!  So think twice about ridding the lawn of those pretty bright yellow flowers and remember all the great things they offer us and other wildlife!

For more facts about this amazing little flower, click on the links below!

The Beautiful Dandelion

Dandelion Cookies

It's a Hoot--The Animal Joke of the Week!

What is a snake's favorite subject?

-Hissstory

Riddle Me This...

As small as your thumb,

I am light in the air.

You may hear me

Before you see me,

But trust that I am 

There.

What am I?

(A: dribgnimmuh detaorht-ybuR)

Phenomenal Phenology!

Here's what's happening in our area this week:

• Beavers are birthing their kits!
• Black-eyed Susans begin blooming!
• American Woodcock (in decline) chicks hatch!
• Monarch Butterflies (vulnerable to critically imperiled) begin arriving!
• Blanchard's Cricket Frogs (endangered) begin calling!
• Karner Blue Butterflies (endangered) begin to emerge!

                                        Critter Corner!

Last week's critter was none other than the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)!While different varieties of deer can be found all around the world, the White-tailed deer is native to North, Central, and South America!  Male deer, known as bucks, begin growing antlers in the spring and early summer.

Antlers are bones that grow from the skull of the buck and are covered in a soft fuzzy tissue known as velvet.  Velvet contains veins and arteries that deliver nutrient-rich blood to help the antlers grow.  In the fall, the velvet is scraped off when bucks rub their antlers against trees.  Bucks will use these antlers to defend their right to mate with does during rut season, which typically takes place in late October through November.  Antlers grow larger each year and can be very heavy for bucks to carry, causing the deer to use up a lot of extra energy!  Luckily, antlers fall off (like losing a tooth) during the winter months and can be found in fields and forests, usually with small teeth marks from mice chewing on them as a source of calcium.  Contrary to popular belief, the condition of the deer's teeth is a much better way of aging a deer rather than its antlers since antler size is related to diet and heredity.

This time of year, something magical is happening!  Fawns (baby deer) are being born to does (female deer)!  Fawns are born with white spots and a lack of scent to help protect them from predators.  They are also born with an instinctive behavior to lay and be still so they cannot be seen!  Does will often leave their fawns lying in thickets of tall grass and graze (eat) several hundred yards away so they do not give the location of their fawns away to predators!  On your next visit to River Bend, watch for itty bitty deer tracks in the mud--they're usually accompanied by their mother's much larger tracks!  If you find a fawn, do not go near it--you don't want to startle it!  Observe it from afar and be in awe of one of nature's amazing wonders!     

Can you guess this week's critter?

Snapshot Wisconsin & River Bend Nature Center

That's all for this week!  Enjoy your spring flower hike!

And as always...

Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!

-CT

Let's Go Birding!

Birds play a very important role in every ecosystem around the world!  They help spread the seeds of plants and trees and eat lots of insects!  Right now is the perfect time to go birding at River Bend!  There are species of birds who stick around all year long while others are just passing through or staying for the summer!  Did you know that River Bend has six different types of wood peckers?  The Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied woodpeckers can be found at the feeders all year round!  Red-headed woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sap-suckers, and Northern Flickers migrate through Wisconsin, calling River Bend their home for the summer!  Can you identify our woodpeckers from the pictures below?

Here are a few hints:

The Red-headed Woodpecker has a red head!

The Yellow-bellied Sap-Sucker has a yellow belly!

The Downy and the Hairy look like twins, but the Downy is much smaller than the Hairy!

The Red-belled Woodpecker doesn't have a red belly but has some red on its head!

The Northern Flicker is the most colorful and most uniquely-designed!

Birds can sometimes be hard to identify because males, females, and juveniles (young birds) can all look different!  Males tend to be brightly colored so they can attract the attention of female birds!  Females tend to be a lot less colorful--their plumage (feathers) usually has lots of browns and grays to help them blend in--or camouflage themselves--in their surroundings.  This is very important because it keeps nests and chicks hidden behind the camouflage of their mother--protecting them from predators!  From the pictures below, can you guess which is the male and which is the female scarlet tanager?

Even with binoculars it can be difficult to identify birds if you can't see them through the leaves!  However, another great way to identify birds is by listening to their songs!  While the leaves on the trees may hide them from view, their songs help individuals of the same species find one another!  For instance, cardinals are known to mate for life.  The male and female pair find each other not just by sight but by listening for each other's song!  To hear the male cardinal's song, click the link below!

Male Cardinal Song

There are many resources available to help you become an expert birder!  The best resource is talking with other birders!  Many nature centers, including River Bend, host regularly scheduled public bird walks!  Come to walk in the woods and share your love of birds!  Here are some additional resources to help you on your way!

Smart Phone App: Merlin Bird ID  &  eBird Birds of Wisconsin Field Guides

The Birds of River Bend Pocket Field Guide

(download and print!)

Next time you're hiking at River Bend, see how many birds you can find and identify!  Then, add your birds to the outdoor kiosk at the trailhead just outside the main building.

Happy Birding!

There's a very special bird migrating to town very soon--the Ruby-throated Hummingbird!  They will be very hungry when they arrive and many flowers won't be ready for them to feed on yet.  Here's how you can help--build and hang a hummingbird feeder!  Click on the link below for easy instructions and recipes.

DIY Humming bird feeder and Recipe

It's a HOOT--Animal Joke of the Week!

Q: What do you call a girl with a frog on her head?

A: Lilly

Riddle Me This...

I create my lair

With earthen string

And dispatch my prey 

With a biting sting!

What am I?

(A: REDIPS)

Phenomenal Phenology!

These are some natural events happening this week:

• White-tailed does are giving birth to fawns!
• May apples are beginning to bloom!
• Mallard ducklings are hatching!
• Green Frogs are beginning to call!
• Morel Mushrooms are up!

Critter Corner!

Last week's critters were a mating pair of Wood Ducks!

Wood Ducks are quite possibly Wisconsin's most beautiful duck species!  In this photo, the male is on the left and the female is on the right.  Wood ducks can be found on bodies of water near forested areas around Wisconsin.  Wood ducks are so named because they make their nests in large cavities high up in the trunks of trees.  It's a cozy little nest, lined with soft down feathers, which will eventually cradle up to 15 eggs!  When the ducklings are ready, the mother will call them and they will eventually jump out of their nest into water or onto the forest floor, landing on a soft pile of leaves!  Wood ducks eat a variety of foods including aquatic plants they find while foraging in lakes and ponds as well as nuts and fruits in the woods where they live.  They especially like acorns from oak trees and will spend lots of time looking for them in the leaf litter and eating them right off the tree itself!  If you want to help wood ducks--build a wood duck nest box and hang it on the trunk of a tree or on a pole!

Video: Sounds of wood ducks!
Video: Wood Duck Ducklings jumping out of their nest!

Video: Merganser ducklings jumping out of their nests! 

Can you guess this week's critters?

River Bend Nature Center & WiDNR's SnapShot Wisconsin

That's all for this week!  To all the moms out there--Have a very happy Mother's Day!

Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!

-CT

Back Yard Invasives for Kids!

Calling all detectives!  We're on the search for a few culprits who have stirred up a lot of trouble in our backyards!  These rascals are known as 'invasive species' and are wanted for their mischief!  They bully the other native plants and sometimes they even kick them out of the backyard altogether!  This is a terrible thing because native plants are an important part of the forest ecosystem--other species rely on them for food and they perform important jobs such as cleaning or purifying water, ridding it of nasty chemicals!  Sometimes these invasive species--if they're not removed quickly--can take over an entire habitat and destroy the biodiversity of the ecosystem.  That means animals and other plants won't be able to survive in the habitat and they leave to find a place they can live in.  This is very bad because without biodiversity, the ecosystem isn't as resilient or tough and won't be able to heal after disaster strikes!  These are the big three invasive baddies below!

Garlic mustard is a master of deception!  It grows small and seemingly harmless during its first year collecting energy from the sun and storing it!  The next spring, it re-emerges and uses this energy to grow small white flowers and seeds, which will spread like crazy by the wind and water!  Before you know it, an entire area is covered with garlic mustard and there's no room for the other plants!  It's very easy to pull out of the ground, however, but it must be placed in a garbage bag and thrown out or it will come back!

Don't let the beauty of multiflora rose distract you!  She bites!  If you get too close she'll prick you with her thorns!  She looks and smells lovely with her small white and pale pink flowers but she'll spread throughout the habitat in a blink of an eye, pushing out all other plants!  This wolf in sheep's clothing must be dug up and thrown out!  But be careful, wear thick gloves or she'll leave her mark on you!

Finally, the leader of the pack--Buckthorn--is a devil in disguise!  It looks a lot like a young cherry tree and before you know it, it's formed a dense, impenetrable patch that's grown 25 feet tall!  Unfortunately, this dense thicket blocks wildlife from passing through the forest freely and blocks sunlight from reaching the forest floor, killing other plants and young trees!  Like its partner, multiflora rose, it also grows nasty thorns that will do plenty of damage if you cross its path!  If that wasn't enough, it produces toxic berries that make birds sick and kills the helpful 'fun-guys' (aka: fungi) in the soil that help keep other plants and trees healthy!  Luckily, he can be easily spotted--buckthorn is the first to grow leaves in the spring and the last to let them fall, which means he can be found even in winter!  This one's hard to manage, though!  It either needs to be dug up or girdled--removing the bark in a ring shape around the tree will certainly eliminate it for good!

Although we have a terrific team of land restoration specialists at River Bend who dedicate themselves to removing invasives and planting natives, we still have a lot left to eradicate!  This is an on-going battle that will last forever as long as species continue to move into new territories and try to take them over!  On your next hike, see if you can spot any of our invasive culprits--can you remember what they are and why they need to be taken out?  What about your backyard--is it free of invasives?  If you find an invasive in your yard, make sure you've identified it correctly and tell a parent or guardian so they can help you take care of it--many hands make light work!  Good luck on your search and destroy mission!

It's a Hoot--The Animal Joke of the Week!
Q: Where did the sheep go on vacation?
A: The Baaaaahamas!

Riddle Me This...
I travel very slowly
When gliding along the ground
Maybe my shell weighs me down
In your garden I am found
What am I?
(A: LIANS)


Phenomenal Phenology!
It's going to be quite a week!  Look for these springtime changes this week:

Jack-in-the-pulpit

• Little brown bats arrive!
• Whooping cranes lay their eggs!
• Jack-in-the-pulpit blooms!
• Wild geranium blooms!
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive!
• Orioles begin arriving so put out that grape jelly and orange halves!
• Purple Martins arrive!

Critter Corner!
Last week's animal was the American Mink (Neovison vison)

This tough little mustelid (weasel family relative) is a semi-aquatic species spending time both on land and in fresh water near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes!  It has a dense coat that is specially designed to repel water and keep the mink warm both in and out of the water!  Minks are carnivorous mammals that eat a variety of animals including frogs, fish, muskrats, birds, rodents, and crustaceans!  This is a very intelligent species that can be trained to hunt muskrats for fur trappers!  The next time you're out on the Root River, keep an eye on the trunks of downed trees stretching into the water--you might just spot a mink hunting for its next meal!

Can you guess this week's mystery critter?

River Bend & SnapShot WI DNR

That's it for this week!
Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!
-CT

Back Yard Invasives for Adults!

In this edition of Turtle Talk, we'll be discussing invasive plant species and what you can do in your own backyard to manage them successfully!  If you are looking for the children's edition--please check out the "Back Yard Invasives for Kids!' for related activities and more outdoor fun at the link below!

https://turtletalkrbnc.blogspot.com/2020/04/back-yard-invasives-for-kids.html

Invasive species can be a real nuisance if not consistently managed--their ability to spread, push out native plants, and the fact that, for the most part, they don't support area wildlife make invasive plants hazardous to everyone's health!  In short, they kill the diversity of an ecosystem, which destroys its resilience--its ability to 'bounce back' after a threat has wreaked havoc on it--and diminishes its capacity to provide ecosystem services!

Lately, I've been getting a lot of questions from neighbors trying to identify and manage invasives on their properties.  Unfortunately, ignorance of the ecology of a forest ecosystem and the inability to identify and properly manage invasives will do a lot more damage long-term.  So here's a run-down of the top three invasive species you're libel to see in our neck of the woods and what you can do about it.  Get ready to roll up your sleeves--I guarantee they're going to put up a fight and this isn't going to be easy!

Before we get too in-depth, let's take a look at some terms that commonly describe both animal and plant species around the world.

Native-This species can be found either locally or regionally (including whole continents) and is firmly apart of the ecosystem in some way or another.  It is important that these species remain in the ecosystem as they supports a link in the food web and, again, provide ecosystem services (pollination, water filtration, etc.) in some capacity.
Endemic-In addition to being native to the area/region/continent, it cannot be found anywhere else in the world.  Typically this is a very specialized species that it is designed to live within the confines of the habitat's physical characteristics such as climate, amount of annual precipitation, elevation, and latitude (amount of sunlight).  Furthermore, it most likely plays an equally specialized role in supporting the ecosystem.
Naturalized-This describes an introduced species or migrant who was able to establish itself within the ecosystem without placing pressures on other organisms and actually adds to the support and diversity of the ecosystem.
Invasive-These organisms, like naturalized species, were either introduced to or migrated to the current ecosystem in which they can be found.  Unlike naturalized species, these species stress other organisms within the ecosystem and can be either generalists (surviving on several different food resources) or specialists that feed on only one species, such as the Emerald Ash Borer.  Invasive species can have a small effect on an ecosystem or completely dismantle it by unraveling a delicate food chain or completely eliminating a link altogether.

As the climate continues to change, we are seeing a north-easterly migration by many different plant and animal species.  This invasion of new species can make distinguishing a species from something that will merely naturalize itself into the environment from a species that will really pose a significant risk and damage the ecosystem--very, very difficult.  For the most part, the species naturally migrating out of their native habitat are doing so because their native ecosystem is no longer suitable to support it.  In short, they are migrants looking for a better life in a more suitable habitat!

Enemy #1: Garlic Mustard
While the leaves of this plant might be tasty on salads, don't be fooled--this species can spread like fire over a habitat!  The tricky thing about this particular invasive plant is that it has developed ways around herbivory (or plant predation)--remember, if you're treating this plant, that's like preying on it so you might not be successful the first time around!  Garlic mustard rears its ugly head in early April where it appears to be a small plant growing low to the ground.  It has a shortened two-year life cycle where first-season plants do not seed but rather store energy from the sun in order to seed during their second year!  This plant likes disturbed soils and shade, which is why it is often found in wooded habitats.  One of the difficulties in identifying invasives (or any organism for that matter) is that they look different as they mature.  Additionally, they can look a lot like native species causing accidental takes to be more frequent.  This is also true of garlic mustard--while it may appear small at first, it can grow to be 2-4 feet tall, produce small white flowers in its second year followed by seed pods that break open and spread seeds via wind and water.  

Unfortunately, this plant is guilty of pushing out native plants and pumping antifungals into the soil, thus destroying the fungal connections between plants and trees within the habitat.  While spraying weed-killer can be an effective way of treating an area of first-year plants, it can also have a devastating affect on the soil and native plants as well.  Additionally, if the plant has already flowered and gone to seed, it's really too late to spot treat with spray.  I've also seen folks take a trimmer (or weed-wacker) to a grove of first- and second-year plants.  While that might improve the aesthetics of the forest, this is a very short-term disruption to the plant's maturity and it will just regenerate leaves within a few weeks.  

Garlic mustard wages a multi-year war, so if you're serious about getting rid of it (and making your management easier for years to come) the only way to truly control the plant is by pulling, bagging, and dumping it in the trash.  They should not be left in the forest as they may root back into the soil and seeds will drop from dried pods.  The success of this method comes from not only removing the above-ground parts of the plant, but by also removing the roots of the plant as well.  Typically these plants are very easy to pull from the ground by grasping it low at the base of the plant, beneath leaves and any stems, wiggling it a little, and then pulling upward.  Many hands make light work--this is where kids come in!  They tend to be excellent garlic mustard detectives and, if turned into a contest, great and eager 'pullers'--especially if there's a reward involved.  And, yes, I speak from experience here!  

The picture above is of a lot line near my house--on the left is a property that has managed its garlic mustard for more than 30 years.  The property to the right of the fence line is covered with early first- and second-year garlic mustard plants that have been allowed to grow and establish over several years where management was absent.  Obviously, this poses a problem for the property owner on the left as they will see a 'spill over' affect from the neighboring plants making it increasingly more difficult to manage in coming years.  (On a side note, if you are actively removing sticks and downed tree limbs from your wooded area--STOP!  As these twigs and limbs are broken down by various species of fungi, they return nutrients to the soil and strengthen fungal relationships between soil and plant/tree life, thus combating the effects of garlic mustard!)

Enemy #2 Wanted Dead (not alive!): Multiflora Rose
If you're a hiker that likes to get off the beaten path like I do, then you'll understand the horrors of walking past one of these thorny beasts!  While not as prolific as garlic mustard, multiflora rose prefers well-drained soils to spread its 500,000 seeds per year in a multitude of habitat types ranging from open forest to prairies to roadsides.  What's worse is these seeds stay viable in the soil for 10-20 years!  Unfortunately, as with many invasives, this one was introduced through the garden market as a shrubby fence, to help with soil erosion, and even to provide food and cover for wildlife.  This last point is funny because that's also one of its biggest problems--it can grow so thickly that it prohibits wildlife from entering and pushes out native plant life.

It's a short little shrub with an attitude sporting husky thorns to prevent herbivory.  However, birds and other animals do eat and distribute its seed-bearing berries, which develop after producing showy little white-to-pale pink flowers.  When managing this beauty of a beast, it's best to wear thick gloves.  There are several effective ways of managing this invasive--the best being to dig it up, roots and all or it will regenerate its stems.  Continuously mowing over the plant for 3-4 years will effectively eliminate the plant as well.  Additionally, performing prescribed burns will also work, however, roses may tolerate this management technique and resprout in communities where fire is common on the landscapes (ie: prairies and grasslands).

Enemy #3: Buckthorn
You may be familiar with this nasty invasive--it grows thorns in its early years and develops into a large shrub (or small tree) growing up to 25 feet tall.  It takes advantage of the growing season by being the first to leaf out in the spring and the last to lose its leaves, making it relatively easy to identify in early winter.  Its small round bluish-black berries look deceptively delicious to hungry birds late in the winter but it packs a dangerous punch causing diarrhea and ultimately weakening birds already struggling to survive harsh winters.  This is why there are few birds where large patches of buckthorn have taken over.

Like multiflora rose, it prefers well-drained soils and will establish itself quickly in the same environments.  While it is easy to identify female buckthorn by its berries, it can be difficult to correctly ID their male counterparts.  Additionally, buckthorn is commonly mistaken for young cherry trees; however, a small cut into the bark will reveal an orangish tint to the cambium wood just inside the bark, whereas cherries will show a reddish color.  Unfortunately, this species is highly prolific and, when allowed to spread and establish, can block wildlife routes and sunlight from reaching the forest floor, killing tree seedlings and other plant life.  If that wasn't enough, it releases toxic chemical compounds that hinder the growth of nearby plant and tree life, changing the growing conditions of the soil in which it grows, and effectively eliminating any and all competing species.  

So how do we get rid of this one?  It's number three on the list for a reason--it's one of the most difficult to manage successfully.  The cut and treat method applies after identifying the species in early winter and involves cutting it at the base and reapplying a strong stump treatment (with glyphosate) several times.  Other techniques involve digging it up, grinding up the stem and roots, or performing prescribed burns to eliminate seedlings.  Finally, girdling the larger trees by removing at least six inches of bark in the form of a ring around the trunk will also be effective and can be done anytime throughout the year. 

Unfortunately, it's not enough to eliminate these species--we need to immediately plant native species in their place, otherwise invasives will merely see the open space as a vacancy and attempt to fill it!  In other words, managing for invasives is a full-time job and involves two phases: extraction/elimination and planting.

So there you have it--the three big baddies of Wisconsin's invasive species!  As the climate changes and our population continues to develop land and travel outside of our own ecosystems, more and more invasives will emerge.  Only time will tell which species will be a nuisance and which will be accepted in their new homes.

Thank you for reading!
Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!
-CT 

Bugs!

Now that it's warming up outside, you may have noticed a few bugs flying and scurrying around!  This is an important aspect of Spring--everything that comes back does so in a very specific order based on food availability.  For example, as the temperature rises, bugs become more active.  Migrating birds and other small animals, like bats, eat these bugs.  As plants emerge and leaves unfurl, bugs will lay their eggs on leaves, which will become food for the larvae when they hatch.  The leaves and sprouts of plants are eaten by many animals, as spring progresses.  Did you know that bugs make up the largest group of species in the Animal Kingdom?!  As you can see, bugs play a very important role in the food chain for organisms active both during the day (diurnal) and at night (nocturnal)!

Last week we talked about nests and how every organism has a home!  Every bug has a home as well!  Dragonflies have two homes!  They will spend three-to-four years as a nymph under water and then transform into its adult stage, taking to the skies to eat smaller insects!  Other insects like to stay hidden beneath forest leaf litter or underneath logs.  Logs are very important to forest animals--they provide refuge to hide from predators and create a microclimate (that is, they have their own temperature and moisture!) that many animals favor!

Here's your chance to be a bug detective on your next hike!  Use a magnifying glass to find as many different insects as you can!  Roll over a log and see how many bugs call it home!  Be quick, though, they're fast and they will scurry for cover when you move their house!  Sketch your bugs and tally them in a journal to keep track of how many you find!  On a side note, it is important to roll the log and not drag it as other animals such as salamanders like to hide under them as well.  Remember to roll the log back into place for these cool critters and don't forget, they have a very important job to do so leave them be so they can get back to work!

There's another special insect buzzing around right now--do you know what it is?  Here's a clue... it's black and yellow and... that's right!  It's a bee!  These busy bees are important pollinators visiting flowers and helping plants make seeds for the next year!  Bees depend on early spring flowers such as dandy lions, crocuses, Grecian windflowers, wild tulips, puschkinias, and snowdrops to survive during the spring!  Some bees live together in hives while others are solitary and live alone.  Want to help bees visit your flowers?  Build a bee hotel!  See the links below for ideas!

DIY Bee Hotels:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_5rntNexo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9-gJuDgKnU (The English Version!)

It's a Hoot--The Animal Joke of the Week!
Q: Where do fish keep their money?
A: In a river bank!

Riddle Me This...
I have a face like a tree,
And skin like the sea.
A great beast am I,
Yet small vermin frighten me!
What am I?
(A: TNAHPELE)

Phenomenal Phenology!
This week in phenology, expect to hear and see:

• Pickerel frogs begin calling
• Wood thrushes, scarlet tanagers, and catbirds arriving
• Large trilliums begin to bloom
• American Toads begin to sing
• Eastern Cottontail does are birthing kits!

Critter Corner!

Last Week's Critter: a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 

FACT: Great Blue Herons are incredible hunters often fishing for small fish, frogs, and even small mammals!  Their eyes have evolved to help them hunt during the day and at night thanks to incredible night vision!  Additionally, the great blue heron's neck vertebrae (portion of the spine) are specially shaped to allow it to strike lightning fast at its prey!  The oldest great blue heron on record lived to be 24 years and 6 months old!

Can you guess this week's critter from our trail camera pictures below?

River Bend Nature Center & SnapShot Wisconsin (WiDNR)

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more outdoor fun next week!

And as always-- stay wild and free and healthy as can be!
~CT

Nests!

Let's talk nests!  Every animal has a home--some are below ground in burrows and dens and some are above ground in huts and tree cavities!  Many, however, are high up on the branches of trees among the leaves!  Both birds and many squirrels build nests in trees to keep hidden from and out of reach of predators.  When squirrels cannot find a tree cavity to nest in, they will build their nests in the crook of a tree's trunk and a branch using small twigs loosely woven into a mat and then covered with lots and lots of leaves!  Birds, on the other hand, build their nests on tree branches using many different building materials including moss, sticks, feathers, dried grasses, and mud, just to name a few!  Below are pictures of nests--can you figure out which nest belongs to a squirrel and which belongs to a bird?

You will see many nests when you hike River Bend's trails!  Here's a challenge for you on your next visit: how many bird and squirrel nests can you find on your hike!  Then, return a couple of weeks later--can you still find as many nests?  Before the leaves begin to unfurl, you may see an increase in the number of bird and squirrel nests!  As birds migrate back to Wisconsin from their over-wintering grounds in the south, they will need to build nests to live in!  Additionally, as young squirrels leave their birth nests, they will also need to build nests for themselves to keep hidden and out of the elements.  Once the leaves come out, however, it will be harder to find these nests because the leaves will hide them, keeping them safe!

Many animals are hungry this time of year--especially birds returning from their spring migration and squirrels who have run out of their food caches (where they've hidden their food).  Do you want to help the birds and squirrels at your house?  Make some feeders!  Check out the links below for great ideas on bird and squirrel feeders to hang outside.  Remember to keep your feeders safe--place them well away from your windows to avoid bird strikes and away from large trees to avoid predators like cats!

Bird Feeders--Be sure to check out the pine cone bird feeders!
https://happyhooligans.ca/32-homemade-bird-feeders/ 

Squirrel Feeders
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499618152382188475/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/50454458295327969/

It's a Hooot--The Animal Joke of the Week
Q: Where do mice park their boats?
A: At the hickory dickory dock!

Riddle Me This...
I'm armored but not a knight.
I'm snapping but not a twig.
I'm always at home, even when I'm on the move!
What am I?
(A: ELTRUT)

Phenomenal Phenology!
This week in phenology:

• Great Blue Herons arrive
• Canada geese lay eggs
• House Wrens return
• Prairie Smoke blooms

Critter Corner!

Last Week's Answer: North American Raccoon! (AKA: Procyon lotor)
FACT: There are seven species of raccoon all over the world and Christopher Columbus was one of the first to write about them!  Many people believed that raccoons were related to dogs, cats, badgers, and even bears!  Then, Carl Linnaeus, the 'father of modern taxonomy', named it Ursus lotor, which means 'washer bear' because he believed raccoons were related to bears (Ursus) and because raccoons like to 'wash' (lotor) their food in water before they eat!  Later, scientists decided raccoons were not related to bears and placed them in their own genus Procyon, which means 'before the dog' or 'doglike'.

Can you name this week's mystery animal below?  Hint: River Bend's Root River is home to a large rookery of nests where parents raise their chicks together until they fledge and leave the nests! The answer will be posted in next week's edition!

That's all for this week--thanks for reading!
Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!
-CT

Springtime Hikes at River Bend!

It's springtime here at River Bend and our trails are open and showing signs of life once again!  In addition to the arrival of birds migrating back from their southern over-wintering grounds, early spring flowers are emerging, frogs are calling, and insects are buzzing!  This is also a great time to track your favorite forest animal as they leave prints behind in the mud!  If you're looking for something to do, stop over and see if you can find the following on your hike:

Deer and Raccoon Tracks

Pinecones

Skunk Cabbages

Tree Buds

"TIBS" (AKA: The Infamous Black Squirrel)

Acorns (that the squirrels forgot about!)

Rocks covered in lichen

Moss a the base of a tree

Ducks on the Root River

Looking for something to do at home?  Try mini gardening!  All you need are Dixie cups, dirt, water, seeds, and a small cardboard box.  Directions: Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with dirt.  Using your finger, push a hole in the dirt about 1/2 an inch down in each cup.  Drop one-to-two seeds in each hole and sprinkle more dirt over the hole so it is covered.  Place each cup into the cardboard box (AKA: your garden bed!) and place near a window for ample sunlight.  Don't forget to write the names of the flowers or vegetables you planted on the side of the box!  Give each cup a little water (a couple of tablespoons every couple of days or when the soil feels dry to the touch should do the trick!) and watch your garden grow!  This is exactly what's happening at River Bend--all our plants and trees are beginning to emerge, sprout, and wake up from their long winter's nap!  Enjoy!

Check out our Critter Corner below--can you identify the animal in our trail camera photo?
We'll post the answer in next week's edition!

Stop back next week and discover more fun ideas for your hike and at home!  

Next week's topic is: Nests

Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!

-CT

Critter Corner