The changes that are most obvious are the plants that were once in bloom and are now dying or going to seed, but even the trees in the area are starting to drop some leaves. You notice leaves changing color or more insects moving in to help the leaves change. Birds are still quite active, but even they have to be thinking about what changes will soon be upon them. The days are definitely shorter. The weather has actually been cooler than I expected and as I found out, cooler than normal for this area. Excitingly enough, there are plants that are just getting ready to bloom. I assume there will be some goldenrod - a common fall flower. Will there be asters around the wetland? And what migratory birds will start passing by as they head south for the winter? I imagine some of the northern species from Canada, North Dakota and Minnesota should be arriving any minute.
New species of the week are the northern flicker, blue gill, sandbar willow and basswood.
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
 |
| Photo courtesy of naturemappingfoundation.org |
I have not been able to get a picture of these handsome
birds, but they are active around Kesling wetland. They have brown barred backs, bold white rumps
and yellowish underwings. Supposedly their calls include a loud, rapid
wik-wik-wik-wik and wick-er, wick-er, wick-er or something that sounds like a
rolling flicka-flicka-flicka,.
**********************************
Blue Gill
Lepomis
macrochirus
I got this photo
one day when Tom was doing a public program in the Kesling wetland and had just
caught the fish in a net. Bluegill is important and abundant as a sport fish
and can be found in most of the lakes around here.
The sunfish family, or Centrarchidae, includes such popular panfish as
bluegills, rock bass and large and smallmouth bass. The members of this
family resemble the perch and sea bass families, but they differ in that the sinuous
and soft portions of the dorsal fin are united and confluent. The large mouth
bass is an exception, with a deep notch between the front and rear parts of
the dorsal fin. The Centrarchidae generally prefer warm water, and are
nesting fishes. The distinguishing characteristic of the bluegill is the darkened spot that it has on the
posterior edge of the gills and base of the dorsal fin. The sides of
its head and chin are a dark shade of blue, too.
The bluegill is a native to eastern and central North America. This
fish enjoys a well-deserved popularity with anglers. Bluegills favor warm
waters (64 to 70 degrees F) with plenty of cover such as weed beds, submerged
logs, or drop-offs. They usually stay in relatively shallow water, but as
temperatures rise in the summer, large bluegills will head for deeper water.
This fish also provides good winter sport since it remains active all winter
long.
The bluegill
spawns in the shallows in the late spring or early summer when the water
temperature reaches 65 degrees F. Males build nesting colonies in gravel,
sand or mud and will guard the eggs and newly hatched fry until they reach
the swimming stage. The young fry eat algae and zooplankton. As they grow
larger, bluegills add small fish, aquatic insects and plant matter to their
diet. The bluegill feeds off the surface of the water, the midwaters and the
bottom, where it can be a serious competitor with other bottom feeding fish.
The average adult bluegill is 6 to 8 inches long, although some reach 10
inches. Sexual maturity occurs at 2 to 3 years for males and 3 to 4 years for
females. Average life span of these fish is 5 to 6 years.
|
Bluegills
play an important role in pond and lake management to keep crustacean and insect
populations low, as a single bluegill population may eat up to six times its
own weight in just one summer.
Bluegills
are delicious fish but are often overlooked due to their small size. This may
be due to the fact that their growth in ponds may become stunted due to high
populations, their small bones, and lack of a developed commercial market.
**********************************
Sandbar Willow
Salix exigua
There are so many willows and they tend to hybridize, I am
not completely sure about which species I have. But, my best deduction is that
the willow on the edge of Kesling Kove is
sandbar willow. It is a thicket-forming shrub like tree, maybe growing
up to 10’ tall with shallow, spreading roots. The leaves are relatively short
(1 ½ -4” long) and yellow-green to gray-green on both surfaces. The twigs are
yellowish-brown, while the bark is more gray. These willows are common along
streams, riverbanks and generally wet soils, thriving in full sunlight. Flowers
are catkins with hairy, yellow scales, and fruits are tiny, light brown
capsules that mature in early summer.
Uses: Native Americans use the twigs and bark to make
baskets. Medicinally, tea made from willow bark, is used to relieve pain and
inflammation in joints in tissue thanks to the acetyl salicylate in it – a natural
form of aspirin.
**********************************
Basswood
Tilia Americana
This tall tree, also called a linden, grows up to 100’ in
moist soils, including along lake and stream borders, as well as bottomlands.
It sprouts prolifically from the base of living trees or stumps either
spontaneously or when injured. It has large, alternate leaves that are
heart-shaped with one side lower than the other. They are also finely toothed.
The most unusual or distinct feature of the tree is the flowers and fruits,
which hang from long, winged stalks. The flowers are yellowish-white and
fragrant. The nut is only the size of a pea in a woody shell.
Uses: Honey from the flowers is highly valued. Native
Americans used the fibrous bark of young stems to make rope. Unopened leaf buds are slightly mucilaginous and
make an excellent trailside nibble. Dried flowers make a pleasant, mild tea.
References
Allen, T. B.,
& Hottenstein, C. (1983). Field guide to the birds of North America.
Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
Barnes, B. V.,
Wagner, W. H., & Otis, C. H. (1981). Michigan trees: a guide to the
trees of Michigan and the Great Lakes region (Rev. and enl. ed.). Ann
Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Bluegill -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Retrieved August 20, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluegill
Little, E. L.,
Bullaty, S., & Lomeo, A. (1980). The Audubon Society field guide to
North American trees (Chanticleer Press ed.). New York: Knopf : distributed
by Random House.
McCormac, J.,
& Kagume, K. (2009). Great Lakes nature guide. Auburn, WA: Lone Pine
Pub..
Ohio.gov. (n.d.). Blue
Gill Sunfish. Retrieved August 19, 2013, from
www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/species_a_to_z/SpeciesGuideIndex/bluegill/tabid/6561/Default.aspx
Peterson, L.,
& Peterson, R. T. (19781977). A field guide to edible wild plants of
Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Question of the week: How might climate change affect my ecosystem?
I can imagine that as the climate gets warmer, there will be more chances that this wetland will become drier and drier. The emergent plants along the edge of the water now will have to move to keep up with water levels. In the meantime, the herbaceous plants in the forest and on the edge will fill in what was that wetland lake bottom until the entire area is forested. Only species that tolerate the heat and less water will survive. Amphibians and birds that rely on the moist soils and water to support their habitats will follow the water sources. I wonder if the prairie on the south side will thrive extend its boundaries. Warmer temperatures will be more conducive to more frequent fires, thus helping prairie vegetation thrive.
Creative piece: I am trying to make a little mosaic-like piece that will include several shots of duckweed in various patterns. Instead, I made this collage. Enjoy.
