Moons of the Year
As April’s full moon is overhead, let’s look at the cultural significance of moons and why we have moon phases at all!
Before colonization and calendars, Indigenous people used celestial bodies to track the flow of time throughout the year. Here in southwest Virginia, Cherokee tribes of the eastern band of the Cherokee Indians called this place home. The phases of the moon were used to show the passage of time over an approximate month. Each “year” there are approximately 12 full moons. Every tribe had different names for their moons. Take a look at the names they gave our moons- they’re based on seasonal phenomena!
January: Windy Moon
February: Hungry Moon
March: Strawberry/First leaves Moon
April: Duck/Bird Moon
May: Planting Moon
June: Sprouting Moon
July: Corn in Tassel Moon
August: End of Fruit Moon
September: Nut Moon
October: Harvest Moon
November: Hunter Moon
December: Snow Moon
To understand the moon and its cycle, we need to understand our solar system! Our Sun contains 99% of the available matter in our solar system. Having that much mass means that it has a large gravitational pull. When the sun first formed, leftover matter was trapped traveling around it. Some of that matter collided repeatedly, growing in size. At a certain point, it got its own gravity. Having gravity smoothed out its shape, and we got the planets! While the planets were forming, scientists hypothesize that a large asteroid slammed into Earth and knocked off a large chunk of material that later consolidated into our moon.
Lunar Orbit vs the Line of the Ecliptic
Because of the Sun’s gravitational pull, all the planets orbit around it in a single plane. Essentially, our solar system is flat! From Earth, all other planets, the Moon, the zodiac constellations, and the Sun, appear to rise in the east at night and set in the west. This is called the line of the ecliptic. The Moon isn’t perfectly matched up with the line of the ecliptic- it’s about 5 degrees off.
Just like the planets rotate on an axis and orbit around the sun, the moon rotates on its axis and orbits around the Earth. One popular moon myth is that there’s a “dark” side of the moon that humans never see. And to be fair, it’s partially true! Because the moon is tidally locked with the Earth, it rotates once with each orbit it completes. In other words, the same side always faces the Earth even if that side isn’t always dark.
It takes the Moon 27.3 earth days to complete one revolution, or orbit, around the Earth. This consistent cycle is what makes it such a good calendar! The cycle can even be broken down into smaller units, based on the eight major moon phases. These phases occur because the Moon cannot generate its own light, it reflects light from the sun. So its position relative to Earth and the Sun determines how much of the Moon’s surface is visible to us. As the moon orbits in a counter-clockwise direction around Earth, it will appear to grow for two weeks, and then appear to shrink for two weeks. These periods are called waxing and waning.
A new moon occurs when the moon is between the earth and the sun. That means that the moon and sun appear in the same place in the sky- during the day! We don’t get a solar eclipse every time this happens because of the tilt in the lunar orbit. As the moon grows, it reaches its first official phase, the waxing crescent. Next comes the waxing first quarter moon. It rises around noon and sets at midnight. First quarter may be accurate based on the moon’s cycle, but it feels wrong to call it that because it looks like half a moon! Lastly, we have the waxing gibbous. And then we’ve got a full moon, which rises in the east at sunset and sets in the west at dawn. It is opposite to the sun. It takes around 13.65 days for the moon to get through half its cycle. After the full moon, the moon shrinks to a waning gibbous, waning third quarter, waning crescent, and finally back to the new moon! The waning third quarter moon rises around midnight and sets at noon (opposite of the first quarter).
Wildlife Preparing for Winter: Reptiles
Snakes, lizards, and turtles all call the Blue Ridge Mountains home, but these animals are rarely seen in the cold. So, where do reptiles go during winter?
Snakes, lizards, and turtles all call the Blue Ridge Mountains home, but these animals are rarely seen in the cold. So, where do reptiles go during winter?
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, meaning that their body temperature fluctuates with the temperature of their external environment. Birds and mammals, who are warm-blooded, maintain a consistent internal temperature. As it gets colder outside, reptiles’ body temperature drops. This causes their metabolism to slow, along with other bodily functions like heart rate and respiration. To survive a long, cold winter, most reptiles have adapted a hibernation-like behavior known as brumation.
Brumation is a period of low activity exhibited by reptiles, amphibians, and other cold-blooded animals. Animals in brumation are not fully asleep, rather, they are experiencing low levels of bodily activity that results in a state of torpor. Reptiles in brumation are too cold to digest food, so they will not eat during this time. Instead, most reptiles spend fall filling up on food and finding ideal spots to shelter overwinter, when they will try to conserve as much heat and energy as possible. Different reptiles experience brumation in different ways.
Snakes often seek shelter below the frost line in underground burrows (built and abandoned by mice, rabbits, or other burrowing animals). The spots where snakes overwinter are known as hibernacula. During this time, snakes will stay hydrated by absorbing moisture from the soil through their scaly skin. Commonly, many snakes will shelter together in a single hibernacula for safety and warmth. A single hibernacula can have hundreds of snakes and multiple species. On particularly warm winter days, snakes may expend enough energy to crawl to the surface and sun themselves in order to wake up their internal systems.
Box turtles also seek shelter under the frost line. Using their strong forelimbs, they will dig their own tunnels, sometimes underneath leaf litter or fallen logs for an extra layer of insulation. At the end of their tunnels, they will create a cozy den by pushing soil aside with their shell, creating their own little microclimate. Similarly, painted turtles employ burrowing as a brumation strategy. For the aquatic painted turtle, though, burrowing takes place in the muddy bottoms of ponds and lakes. Painted turtles will bury themselves in over a foot of mud, insulated by both the wet soil and the water above. Oxygen is extremely limited in this environment, but because cold temperatures slow respiration rates for cold-blooded organisms, lack of oxygen isn’t as big of a problem for turtles in winter as it would be for humans. Painted turtles have additional adaptations for low oxygen levels too; they will no longer breathe air through their mouths, instead, they absorb oxygen directly through the thin skin of their cloaca.
As temperatures increase, reptiles will emerge from brumation seeking warmth. Turtles, snakes, and lizards can be found basking in sunny areas during spring while temperatures are still chilly, trying to warm up enough to seek food.
Journaling: A place for exploration
Journaling by definition is a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly
I have been inspired to change! I was fortunate enough to attend a wonderful lecture and demo by Lara Gastinger on botanical illustrations and journaling that left me in awe and challenged me to do a better job. We encourage it with students in our camps and programs but I myself am not practicing what I preach. With this newfound inspiration, I hope to do a better. Loaded up with micron pens and sketchbooks, I no longer have an excuse. Now I just have to use it.
Journaling by definition is a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly. It can be different things to different people. As a naturalist it is something I feel obligated to do. And each of us probably starts out with the intention of keeping one. I always have a little notebook and mechanical pencil in my pack but I rarely take the time to pull it out and draw or write in it.
So what should go in the journal? Well obviously, certain information is important as a naturalist. There are your observations that include the date, location, weather and such. Then there are observations specific to the flora or fauna you are observing. And then there may be intentional curiosities...my favorite part…”I notice…”, “I wonder…”, “It reminds me of…”, “What has changed since last time?”, “What am I missing here?”, and “What can I explore further?”. When drawing, one might include levels of scale. Focus can be on its habit, close-ups or the landscape. (credit to Lara Gastinger and her slides)
I stated earlier that I did not do a good job at keeping a journal but that is not exactly true. I do keep a journal. For four years now. It is my fishing journal. I’ve never missed an entry. It is simple really. I record the date, where I went, who I went with (if anyone), what the weather was like, what the day was like, the fish I caught and their sizes (if any), the flies I used, and the joy I felt that day. When looking back in this journal, it brings back all the joy from those experiences. Journaling is not just a record of what you did and where you did it, but how it made you feel. And in the future when you look back through the pages, you may discover something new and rediscover something from the past.
Ultimately what it all comes down to, is what you take out of that trip into the forest; along the stream; down the trail; or across the water. What did you see, hear, or feel and when. You do not have to be eloquent. You do not have to know how to draw. It is all about your personal reflections or thoughts and rendering that information on paper. It is a place for exploration.
Signs of Fall in the Blue Ridge
Seasonal changes in flowering are well known but the specific reasons for spring/summer/fall timing are not always so clear. For example, the famous witch hazel is now blooming in the woods and it is one of the few woodland trees to do so this time of year.
Witch hazel flower
Seasonal changes in flowering are well known but the specific reasons for spring/summer/fall timing are not always so clear. For example, the famous witch hazel is now blooming in the woods and it is one of the few woodland trees to do so this time of year. One obvious idea is that flowers in fall will have far fewer competitors for pollinators. But on the other hand, there will be fewer insects available for pollination. The strange one-year-old fruits are also visible.
Similarly, some asters such as this white wood aster are in full bloom in September. I noticed some bumblebees visiting the flowers; they are warm-blooded and designed for flying in cooler conditions. Another common late summer and fall bloomer along roads and paths is white snakeroot, which has here attracted a flower beetle. We sometimes forget that beetles can pollinate flowers and indeed were present earlier in evolutionary history than the later evolving bees and butterflies.
White woods aster
Flower beetle on white snakeroot flowers
While walking in the yard, our son noticed a very interesting fungus, the elegant stinkhorn or devil's dipstick. The phallic shape of this peculiar fruiting body has elicited some strange human reactions. It stinks in order to attract flies that pick up the spores and distribute them widely.
Some amazing life and death scenarios can be observed in flowers- note that in this morning glory flower a bumblebee is foraging deep in the flower, but a crab spider has caught a Zabulon skipper and is eating it.
Elegant stinkhorn
Skipper male Zabulon caught by crab spider in morning glory with bumblebee
Red eft
Occasionally on a damp day, you may be fortunate to observe one of the most beautiful salamanders in our woods- the red eft. It is an immature terrestrial stage of the aquatic red-spotted newt. Their striking color is aposematic or warning since they contain a potent toxin, tetrodotoxin. How do potential predators such as birds (most mammals are color blind) know that red on a salamander is bad but red fruits are edible? Both learning and a genetically determined component may be involved. The northern red salamander is considered to be a tasty mimic of this species.
Box turtle female
On a stroll in the fall woods, you may encounter a box turtle such as this female with a brown iris, slowly moving through the leaves. Box turtles are a very ancient lineage, far older than the dinosaurs, and they live slowly and as long as humans. You can see the numerous growth rings on the scutes, but they cannot be counted accurately in a turtle this old. Box turtles hibernate in shallow scrapes and can resist freezing by producing antifreeze in their tissues.
So enjoy the natural beauties of fall, which are considerable. But soon enough the deep freeze will be upon us and life will have to flee or hunker down for the winter.
Nature in the Blue Ridge as Summer Comes to a Close
The nights have been getting cooler but the days are still sunny and warm. Most plants have bloomed and are setting seeds and fruit. Some birds have migrated and most can hardly be heard anymore. There is a frenzy of insect activity on the remaining flowers.
The nights have been getting cooler but the days are still sunny and warm. Most plants have bloomed and are setting seeds and fruit. Some birds have migrated and most can hardly be heard anymore. There is a frenzy of insect activity on the remaining flowers.
If you walk by a pond you will notice a lot of activity among the dragonflies. The autumn meadowhawk is a species that emerges late in the season whereas the blue dasher occurs throughout the summer. Although primitive, dragonflies have complex behaviors and you can observe males fighting for territory and females, and guarding females while they lay eggs. In both of these species, the males are much brighter in coloration than the females (sexual dimorphism), which indicates that the females choose which males to mate with. More striking colors may cue the female as to which males are more virile/viable.
Blue dasher
Autumn meadowhawk
One of the striking flowers of late summer which many dislike is the thistle, a giant weed with thorns. However, it is highly favored as a butterfly plant and you will notice here a great spangled fritillary drinking nectar from a pink thistle. I used to devote some effort to cutting their seed heads off but eventually found that they are typically found only in disturbed soil and will gradually diminish with succession if you protect the soil from physical disturbance.
Great spangled fritillary on thistle
Bumblebees are quite active in late summer and early fall since they can maintain a body temperature higher than the environment by muscular contractions. They show what appears to be intelligence in forging for nectar when they bite the base of flowers such as these black and blue salvia to obtain the sweet fluid, which they cannot reach with their tongue down the narrow flower corolla tube. Although they are a large and well-protected bee they can be preyed upon by the remarkable robber fly. This predaceous fly had captured a much larger bumblebee and was in the process of eating it when I noticed the battle underway on a garden path.
Bumblebee stealing nectar from black and blue salvia
Robber fly catches a bumbleebee
Bullfrog female
This bullfrog female (note the ear drum is smaller than the eye) was sunning in a protected spot along a small creek. The male has a much larger ear drum which presumably assists in detecting the famous jug-o-rum calls that are exchanged between males and are involved in territorial disputes.
One of the common aquatic mammals that you may not often see is this muskrat which I noticed as it swam under a bridge. They are interesting as a specialized semi-aquatic mammal which feeds on herbaceous plants instead of the tree bark and shoots eaten by beavers. They have a flattened but narrow tail and webbed feet. The yellow flowers on the right are green headed cone flowers which are composites near their peak of flowering in late summer.
As the weather becomes cooler, turtles are seen basking more often along logs and rocks. This thermoregulation is useful in increasing metabolism of these reptiles that lack an internal metabolic means of heat generation. The warmth and drying also likely improve the health of their skin. These red-eared turtles are actually the result of babies that were kept as pets and released and thrived in local ponds. They are an invasive species in many places throughout the world.
Red eared turtles sunning on a log
Muskrat in Chestnut Creek
Enjoy the last days of summer since they will soon enough disappear. Already I have noticed that red leaves of black gum are falling, notifying us of the coming frosts.
An August Nature Ramble
We have enjoyed exploring the mountains around Boone for its considerable natural wonders. In August the birds have mostly finished breeding and reduced their vocalizations, so we enjoy watching insects and anything else in the natural world that draws our attention.
I was surprised to find that in August the most common large butterfly near Boone is the pipevine swallowtail.
We have enjoyed exploring the mountains around Boone for its considerable natural wonders. In August the birds have mostly finished breeding and reduced their vocalizations, so we enjoy watching insects and anything else in the natural world that draws our attention.
I was surprised to find that in August the most common large butterfly near Boone is the pipevine swallowtail. This butterfly is toxic due to consumption of pipevines by the caterpillar. It advertises this fact by a distinctive blue color on the inside of the wings and a row of bright orange spots on the outside of the hindwing. A group of butterflies including the closely related female black tiger swallowtail, and the unrelated red-spotted purple (an admiral in the brushfoot family) mimic the pipevine swallowtail and thus obtain some protection from predators. Strangely enough, only some female tiger swallowtails are black mimics; other females are yellow as are all males. This not only confuses predators, it makes it difficult for humans to identify the "black and blue" butterfly mimics.
Pipevine swallowtail outer wings
Red spotted purple
Pipevine swallowtail
Tiger swallowtail black morph female basking
Milkweeds are growing in many places and not only attract monarchs but a number of other insects that specialize on these toxic plants. The caterpillars of the milkweed tussock moth are often found eating milkweeds in late summer when the leaves are tougher; their bright colors and bristles must serve to warn predators that they are toxic. The bright red milkweed beetle similarly has warning colors; it is often called the four-eyed beetle since each eye is divided by the base of the antenna.
Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars
Red milkweed beetle
Another insect that humans and predators have learned to avoid is the yellow jacket wasp. I literally ran into a nest in the woods hanging from a branch while looking at the ground and got stung on my lip; I was surprised that this marvelous hanging paper nest was not inhabited by hornets, but by aerial yellow jackets; a more common yellow jacket species nests in the ground. These intricate nests are abandoned during winter when all of the wasps except the queen die.
I have not seen many reptiles in the cooler high elevations but did find this "snake in the grass," a garter snake basking in the sun on a cool morning. It was well camouflaged except for the bright red tongue.
Garter snake
Yellowjacket nest
There is often debate/controversy about the value of exotic shrubs for native birds and this photo of a young mockingbird feeding on the fruits of an exotic Mariesii viburnum is interesting. Many birds eat fruits from such exotic plants (privet is widely utilized especially by thrushes during winter). A study in PA showed that areas containing exotic plants with fruits attracted many birds. One question that remains is whether this benefit is offset by problems with the supply of insects needed by birds to feed their young. In any case, the rigid dogma that exotic plants are all bad is unsupported by the facts. Instead, a careful evaluation of the specific value for wildlife of each plant is needed, whether native or exotic.
Mockingbird eating mariesiii viburnum fruit
So continue to enjoy the wonders of the natural world as they change during the seasons. I especially urge birders not to stop going on field trips in summer just because the exciting times of migration and breeding are at a low ebb. Not only are birds ecologically connected to the rest of their natural communities, but the insects, amphibians, reptiles, and plants are really quite interesting and beautiful.
Farewell to the Farm
We are leaving shortly for our winter home in SW FL and are reluctantly saying goodbye to our beloved Blue Ridge mountain wildlife farm. As you can see from a photo of the house and immediate surroundings (we own 107 acres) taken on Oct. 3, the prevailing colors are tending towards brownish grasses and sedges, yellow goldenrods, and white and purplish asters. There are many signs of the approaching frosty weather.
Water lily flower
We are leaving shortly for our winter home in SW FL and are reluctantly saying goodbye to our beloved Blue Ridge mountain wildlife farm. As you can see from a photo of the house and immediate surroundings (we own 107 acres) taken on Oct. 3, the prevailing colors are tending towards brownish grasses and sedges, yellow goldenrods, and white and purplish asters. There are many signs of the approaching frosty weather.
We have a very beautiful water lily that has bloomed prolifically all summer, but is now almost finished. One of the last of the flowers on Oct. 2 was still a magnificent example of floral art and of a relatively primitive floral type which is usually pollinated by beetles. You might wonder why beetle pollination would have led to development of a flower deemed exceptionally beautiful by humans.
Skipper fiery female on pea
Orange sulphur butterfly
Some butterflies remain active almost to the time of frost. This female fiery skipper has been attracted to a striking everlasting pea flower. Orange sulphur butterflies are common and engaged in searching for flower nectar and salty fluids in mud or feces.
Whirligigs New River Fries Dam
I was amazed to find huge aggregations of whirligig beetles on the New River. A closer view shows that the strangely hydro-dynamically shaped beetles gather tightly together, perhaps in response to fish predation. On some of our fishless ponds they skate around singly or in small groups, so apparently must recognize the presence or absence of fish from chemical cues.
Some animals are engaged in reproduction just prior to frost. This pair of great spreadwing damselflies are in a tandem position that is in preparation for transfer of sperm and egg laying. The male will hold the female by her head while she deposits the eggs, to prevent another male from interfering. The species will survive the winter as nymphs. Spiders, such as this golden garden orb weaver, are also quite active just before frost as the large females lay eggs that will survive the winter while the adults die.
Whirligigs in mass group New River Fries Dam
Great spreadwing damselfly pair in tandem
Golden garden spider with prey
Amphibians generally over-winter in springs or pond bottoms. This Fowler's toad is unusual since we mainly see American toads (note the characteristic presence of two or more warts per dark dorsal spot).
Toad Fowlers Pinnacle Natural Area Lebanon
The spectacular northern red salamander I found in our drinking water spring is an amphibious species; its striking red coloration is believed to be the result of mimicry of the highly toxic red eft stage of the red spotted newt. Note that the tip of the tail is regenerating, perhaps after the attack of a crayfish or other predator?
Red salamander
Palm warbler
Appearance of the palm warbler in our yard is a sure sign of the fall season. This species breeds in the great northern boreal forest of Canada and migrates south to winter in Florida (including our yard there) and the Caribbean.
So although we leave our mountain summer home with some reluctance, the coming of cold weather that signals the end of flowers and most insect life, and the migration of many birds urges us to become snowbirds ourselves and migrate to FL for the winter. We can continue to garden there all winter and enjoy the activity of many animals and the blooming of some flowers.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Signs of Fall Abound
Our weather is showing some cool night time temperatures, but frost is still 2-3 weeks away and there is lots of insect activity and still some late bird migration underway. Fall fruits are much in evidence, offering immediate snacks and some long term food supply. One of my favorites is the blue fruit of arrow wood viburnum. They are small enough for many species to eat and we have so many plants that they last into the fall. In contract, the winterberry hollies in our marshes are very bright red and seem to be a fruit that is not eaten so early as the viburnums. Isn't it interesting that such different colors are both so attractive to birds?
Our weather is showing some cool night time temperatures, but frost is still 2-3 weeks away and there is lots of insect activity and still some late bird migration underway. Fall fruits are much in evidence, offering immediate snacks and some long term food supply. One of my favorites is the blue fruit of arrow wood viburnum. They are small enough for many species to eat and we have so many plants that they last into the fall. In contract, the winterberry hollies in our marshes are very bright red and seem to be a fruit that is not eaten so early as the viburnums. Isn't it interesting that such different colors are both so attractive to birds?
Arrow wood viburnum fruit
Winterberry fruit
Caterpillars are still present in large numbers, many preparing to overwinter as pupae. This rarely seen marsh dagger moth caterpillar was especially interesting since they were present in very large numbers in the open, eating cattails, and their color is quite bright. This would normally indicate that the caterpillars were toxic but I could find no information on this topic. In distinct contrast the caterpillars of snowberry clearwing sphinx moths or hornworms are extremely well camouflaged. They can damage our coral honeysuckles severely, so I move many of them to the exotic Japanese honeysuckles where they do no harm. A few caterpillars fall prey to the very painful assassin or wheel bug which is shown here eating an army worm. You must be careful not to pick up this bug or it may inject you with a painful bite.
Marsh dagger moth caterpillar
Snoberry clearwing sphinx caterpillar
Assassin bug feeds on army worm
Monarchs are still passing through our area and here a beautiful female is finding some nectar on an aster, characteristic of the fall season. The meadowhawk or yellow legged dragonfly is the last dragonfly to emerge in the north, a beautiful "fall color" and a true indicator of the fall season.
Meadowhawk autumn yellow legged
Monarch female on aster
Bird migration is quickly passing although we are still enjoying some warblers. This Cape May male was spotted feeding on wild grapes near the Blueridge Music Center. During spring migration the same species is very fond of the flowers of sea grapes in our Florida yard. Nearby we spotted a flock of seven wild turkeys which all appeared to be young males or jakes, since their beards were of intermediate length. Some hawks are migrating through and others will remain during the winter. An immature red-tailed hawk was engaging in some amusing aerial dogfights with three ravens; it is here shown upside down as it buzzes one raven below.
Cape May warbler male eating grapes
Yound male turkey or jake
Redtail and raven in aerial dogfight
So fall with all of its beauties is here with a vengeance- there is no stopping the seasons and we would not want to. Enjoy the changing parade of nature and savor each moment.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
A September Nature Ramble
As summer draws to a close, there is still a great deal of animal activity and a different group of late blooming flowers. I seem to appreciate the sunrises and sunsets more in part because I am tired of working on the yard and want to sit and enjoy the view!
As summer draws to a close, there is still a great deal of animal activity and a different group of late blooming flowers. I seem to appreciate the sunrises and sunsets more in part because I am tired of working on the yard and want to sit and enjoy the view!
One of my favorite late blooming flowers is the monkshood, which is a classic blue, bumblebee pollinated, flower. Its shape, downwards orientation and color tells us that it specializes in attracting bumblebees. In contrast the upwards facing and easily accessible yellow flowers of wing stem attract a wide variety of insects such as this yellow/orange collared scape moth. This day-flying moth is believed to be protected against predation by its resemblance to a wasp. It also reminds me of the distasteful lightning bug/beetle. Such a variation in strategy of pollination between extreme specialization and generalization is quite remarkable and illustrates how evolution seems to explore all options that could be possible.
Scape yellow collared moth on wingstem
Monkshood flowers Crooked Creek WMA
Fruits are appearing on many plants and this nannyberry virburnum is a good illustration of how some plants advertise their ripe fruits by color changes to black. The plant does not want its unripe fruits eaten since the seeds are not mature, so they protect them with toxins and show birds they are not ready by the green color.
We had a period of very wet weather and one result was a profusion of fungi in the woods. This Jack o-lantern is a spectacular example that not only is colored like a pumpkin but glows at night with bioluminescence. The purpose of such light production is unknown but the resulting "foxfire" is mysterious and impressive on a very dark night. But do not eat these surface fruiting bodies of the underground mycelium, since they are poisonous.
Nannyberry viburnum fruit
Fungus Jack O'Lantern Omphalotus olearius
Goldfinches are looking for seeds on many plants, including this Maximillian sunflower which we planted in our fields. The males are losing their bright yellow color after breeding season is over making them less visible to predators. Such a "bright male" phenomenon usually indicates that the females are choosing mates based on the brilliance of their colors, which could indicate health and vigor which they would want to impart to their offspring.
Goldfimch on Maximillian sunflower
As herbivores, butterflies are often deficient in sodium salts which are more common in animal prey than in plant food. So when I hung out my sweaty socks after a long hot hike, this pearl crescent landed on the sock and started drinking the salty fluid ! Butterflies must detect the odor of such garments since they target them so quickly. This is a variant of puddling behavior in which butterflies drink fluids from feces or salty damp soil.
I came across this spectacular viceroy butterfly sunning on a gravel path on a cool day. Two things are interesting about this- the sunning behavior to raise its body temperature, and the fact that it did not fear predation when so exposed. The viceroy is partially protected by the toxins it caterpillar ingested from its larval food of willow. But it also gains protection by its mimicry of the even more toxic monarch butterfly.
Viceroy butterfly at Buck Dam on New River Trail
Pearl crescent on sweaty sock
One of the reliable seasonal changes in late summer is the southern migration of the large common green darner dragonfly from our ponds. They are replaced by an equally large shadow darner (shown here) which is quite tolerant of cool weather in the fall and seems to assume the role of large insect predator patrolling the pond edges. This is an excellent example of temporal partitioning of the habitat by species that otherwise would compete with one another.
Shadow darner
For many months now the predominant sound from our ponds has been the booming call of the bullfrog. But now these dominant amphibians are virtually silent. I still see them around the ponds, especially finding a sunny spot to enjoy the warmth before the advent of frosts to come. This is a male as shown by its very large eardrum and the yellow throat. In the bullfrog world, bigger is better and the larger you are and the deeper your call, the better your territory can be and the more females you can attract to lay eggs.
Bullfrog male
Although fall is upon us, there is still a very active natural world out there. But in many cases the flowers and animals that are now most active are a different group than we would have observed in previous months. Bird migration is in full swing and there is no doubt that other striking seasonal changes are occurring. So go forth into the natural world and enjoy the spectacle!
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Copperhead or Not?
On a recent bike ride along the New River Trail in VA I was more or less in auto-pilot and was paying less attention to my surroundings than I should have. My biking companion Mason suddenly shouted that he had run over a copperhead! I was shocked that I had been so careless to have not noticed the rare snake and also doubted that it was really a copperhead.
Copperhead on gravel along New River Trail
On a recent bike ride along the New River Trail in VA I was more or less in auto-pilot and was paying less attention to my surroundings than I should have. My biking companion Mason suddenly shouted that he had run over a copperhead! I was shocked that I had been so careless to have not noticed the rare snake and also doubted that it was really a copperhead. Humans have a very strained relationship with snakes and often misidentify them. But to my surprise and delight, it was indeed a copperhead. Against the gravel background of the trail the copperhead stood out in stark relief. When I moved it off into the adjacent leaves it blended in magnificently. Aside from a very beautiful camouflage pattern, copperheads have an elliptical pupil and a distinctive pit organ between the eye and nose. This is a most remarkable sensory structure that allows for the snake to detect infrared radiation and to distinguish a tiny difference in temperature between an object and the background. This seemed to be a female snake that was gravid, so I am hoping she did not suffer serious damage from being hit by the bike tire.
Copperhead against leaf background
Copperhead closeup of head and pit organ
Although copperheads are venomous, they are not generally lethal. But what are some other local snakes that might be confused with copperheads? Probably the number one common snake that is often misidentified is the northern water snake, which is blotched, but has a very different look or "giz" and lacks the vertical pupil and pit.
The milk snake is also blotched but is much thinner and has a very different head shape. Some other blotched snakes are the juvenile pilot black snake and the black racer (not shown). Both have a much thinner shape than young copperheads and lack a yellow tail tip.
Milksnake on New River Trail bridge
Milksnake
N water snake Beaverdam Trail
Black rat snake
Northern water snake Chesnut Creek
So why do people have so much trouble distinguishing the dangerous copperhead from a number of common non-venomous snakes? Partly it is a matter of unfamiliarity and inattention to detail. The differences are quite clear and perhaps many people simply see any snake as a danger and kill it. This seems to be a learned response since babies show no fear of snakes. Let's try to teach our kids and grandkids to show more respect for a beautiful and rarely seen member of our biosphere.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Late Summer Flowers Bring Butterflies
Late summer is a time in our area of southwest Virginia for flowering of natives such as goldenrod, ironweed, impatiens, virgins bower, wing stem, green headed cone flower, great lobelia, thistles and others. Many of these flowers are an important nectar source for the beautiful butterflies we enjoy in our fields. Just as different flowers bloom during different months, different kinds of butterflies also emerge in seasonal patterns.
Late summer is a time in our area of southwest Virginia for flowering of natives such as goldenrod, ironweed, impatiens, virgins bower, wing stem, green headed cone flower, great lobelia, thistles and others. Many of these flowers are an important nectar source for the beautiful butterflies we enjoy in our fields. Just as different flowers bloom during different months, different kinds of butterflies also emerge in seasonal patterns. For example the early great spangled fritillaries are replaced by tiger swallowtails and now monarchs are the dominant large butterfly in our yard and fields.
In addition to using native plants you can attract butterflies and other insects to your yard by planting non-natives in your flower beds. Such mini-butterfly gardens can indeed be a major source of nectar for your butterflies and hummingbirds, and a delight to the eye. Here is one small example from our yard that primarily includes five species: Brazilian verbena, orange cosmos, zinnia, bouncing bet and Russian sage. Such a display does of course require a lot of work from the gardener!
Butterfly mini garden
Monarch on cosmos
Monarchs have catholic tastes when it comes to flowers, one is feeding on an orange cosmos, one of the longer blooming species. Your mini-garden will also attract other insects such as the snowberry sphinx moth which hovers at flowers like a hummingbird. Unlike monarch caterpillars which require milkweed, adult monarchs are not particular and enjoy feeding on "weeds" such as this wing stem. Some "weeds" are indeed remarkably beautiful as well as attractive to butterflies, as shown by a skipper feeding on ironweed.
One of the smaller butterflies that is common in late summer is the eastern tailed blue, which requires magnification to be appreciated for its delicate beauty. The "tails" and spots on the posterior edge of the hindwing are apparently a device that mimics a head to divert attacks of jumping spiders and other predators away from the vulnerable head and body. The eastern comma is hard to separate from its close relative the question mark, both of which are extremely well camouflaged when their wings are closed.
Monarch on wingstem
Skipper on ironweed
Skipper on ironweed
Eastern comma butterfly
Eastern tailed blue
I have recently seen a very few great spangled fritillaries, whose larvae feed on violets, and who are just at the end of their seasonal abundance. The end of summer is a time when you will encounter many flies and wasps, and sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. For example I recently heard a loud buzzing noise and looked around with some alarm suspecting that a hornet was nearby. Instead I saw this syrphid fly which is an amazing mimic of a yellow jacket wasp.
Great spangled fritillary
Yellowjacket mimic Syrphid fly
So enjoy the final days of summer, the flowers and the insects, and the exciting beginning of an intense period of bird migration prior to late autumn and the oncoming winter months.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Signs of Late Summer
It is possible to judge the approximate time of year at a certain location by looking at what is flowering and what the animals are doing. Here I show some typical signs of middle to late summer in SW VA at elevations of about 2000 feet.
It is possible to judge the approximate time of year at a certain location by looking at what is flowering and what the animals are doing. Here I show some typical signs of middle to late summer in SW VA at elevations of about 2000 feet.
The Turk's cap lily which has a spectacular flower is found predominantly along riparian zones of creeks in late July and early August. A much more common flower in our area is the beautiful ironweed, which flourishes in damp meadows and seems to be avoided by herbivores such as cows. It is a favorite nectar source of many butterflies and a tiger swallowtail is shown here. Another "weed" that graces our meadow edges is the green headed coneflower (Rudbeckia) that attracts many bumblebees and is quite striking when present in large groups. These species and others produce flowers of surpassing beauty completely without human intervention, except for us to leave them alone.
Turks cap lily Chesnut Creek NRT
A flower that appears in late July through middle August, the virgin's bower, a type of Clematis, has white flowers that are extremely attractive to bees and wasps. But the apparent bee here is actually a Tachinid fly (Trichopoda) which mimics bees as a protection against predators. The "Field Guide to Insects of North America" by Eaton and Kaufman (pages 308-309) describes this remarkable fly which parasitizes leaf, squash and stink bugs. So despite the fact that this native vine is rather invasive, it provides some great opportunities to watch insects.
Bee mimic Tachinid fly Trichopoda on virgins bower
During summer I am always watching for dragonflies at our ponds and on Aug. 16 was fortunate to photograph a pair of common green darners in the "wheel" position. The male (blue abdomen) first places his sperm in the accessory genitalia on the second abdominal segment. He then grasps a female by her head with the tip of his abdomen, and she curls the tip of her abdomen up to the accessory genitalia of the male, resulting in this wheel configuration. The complexity of this and other aspects of reproduction in such primitive insects always impresses me.
Common green darners wheel position pond eight
Solitary sandpiper
Although most bird breeding is finished, there is still a great deal of avian activity. We are always excited to see a solitary sandpiper pass through on its annual migration from its breeding grounds in the wetlands of boreal forests in Canada to Central and South America. This bird was seen Aug. 3, 2016, and in one previous fall migration in 2014 a solitary was seen on Aug. 27. The value of even small "islands" in ponds is shown here as the sandpiper likes to perch on some rocks in our yard pond.
Although bald eagles may be seen any time of year, this bird seen July 29 along the New River in silhouette against a bright sky is apparently a juvenile, possibly about five months old. It is unclear whether it is a local eagle from a nest nearby or migrating from Florida. The young age (designated Basic 1) of the eagle is known since the ends of the secondary feathers on the back of the wings are pointed and all the same length. In the second year these feathers will be gradually molted, leading to a "saw toothed" edge, and eventually and show a smoother edge. So to identify the age of an eagle, take a photo of the extended wings from underneath.
Bald eagle juvenile Fries Junction bridge New River
Goldfinches eating thistle seeds are a clear sign of late summer. This time of year our willow flycatchers become quiet and are often seen feeding around the edges of pastures. Grasshopper sparrows prefer our neighbor's pastures and are one of the few bird species to benefit from the harsh effects of cattle grazing.
So enjoy the presence and actions of our late summer biota. Every season has its joys and it is amusing to match our predictions of seasonal changes with the actual observations.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Deciphering Nature's Signs
So much is happening in nature and in our human constructed world that we tend to ignore some of the most obvious events of the natural world. Plus there are literally thousands of sights and sounds vying for our attention and it takes a significant effort of will to focus and be observant. A certain training of the mind helps in watching even subconsciously for important clues and selecting them from the background "noise."
So much is happening in nature and in our human constructed world that we tend to ignore some of the most obvious events of the natural world. Plus there are literally thousands of sights and sounds vying for our attention and it takes a significant effort of will to focus and be observant. A certain training of the mind helps in watching even subconsciously for important clues and selecting them from the background "noise."
Here are a few examples of what you might see while walking around our VA farm in the middle of summer. As I was toiling up a steep hill along my neighbor's barbed wire cow fence, I was shocked to notice three green June beetles impaled on the wire! This was exciting since it was unexpected, and because I knew immediately what this must mean. It revealed that a loggerhead shrike was feeding in the vicinity; they are famous for impaling their extra prey on thorns and barbed wire. Yet I had not seen the bird, only interpreted its presence by this sign.
Green June bug impaled on barb wire
Shrike loggerhead
Our common milkweeds are in bloom in large numbers and I am on alert for signs that monarch caterpillars are present. Caterpillars are eating machines so the best indication they occur is the presence of their feces or "frass" and bite marks on the leaves. Since caterpillars often hide under the leaves, these two signs are crucial in finding them.
Monarch frass
Monarch caterpillar
In June and July I often see strange white foamy patches in certain of our ponds. I know from experience that these are the remnants of bullfrog breeding from the previous night and there will be hundreds of embryos in these areas. They quickly dissipate as the eggs hatch and tadpoles disperse into the pond.
Bullfrog egg mass
Bullfrog male
Within a mile of our farm there is the New River, which is said to be the second oldest river in the world (after the Nile). It has different aquatic fauna than our small spring fed streams and ponds and I often go there to see new species. This cobra clubtail dragonfly is a fierce predator on small insects; on a hot summer day it was "obelisking" or holding its abdomen in a vertical position to minimize heat gain from the sun. Nearby there was a damselfly that I never see on our ponds, a ruby spot damselfly. The male is much more brilliant than the female and is quite a spectacular fellow. Both of these species are characteristic of larger streams and rivers, presumably due to some specific but generally unknown requirements for the larvae and/or adults.
Cobra clubtail on New River, Fries
Rubyspot American
This tiger swallowtail was perching on dung and extending its proboscis, a clear sign of "puddling" behavior. This is well known to represent drinking of fluids from vertebrate digestion and excretion that contain needed salts, especially sodium, which are scarce in the diets of herbivores. I have become a big fan of horses on trails since their poop attracts beautiful butterflies and holds them for close observation.
Tiger swallowtail puddling on feces
We have planted cup plants (Silphium) which have large yellow blossoms in mid-summer attractive to butterflies. Here a pipevine swallowtail is finding nectar in the flowers while being protected from the attacks of birds by its black and blue coloration which advertises toxicity obtained as a caterpillar from its food plant (Aristolochia species). There are many other butterflies that mimic this coloration in an apparent bid to inhibit birds from attacking them. One of the most beautiful is this red spotted purple, a type of brushfoot butterfly (kin to admirals and buckeyes).
Pipevine swallowtail on cup plant
Red spotted purple
So remain alert in nature and you will observe a tiny fraction of what is actually happening, and be awe struck by the intricate and complex lives that our fellow creatures are engaged in. Trying to understand some of these remarkable stories enriches and enlarges our own existence beyond measure.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Lepidopteras on Display
In late July on our VA farm, the predominant color of the landscape is GREEN! But our 10 year old pollinator field is now predominantly yellow with the blooms of oxeye sunflower. This is a table set for the multitude of mouths of the lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), which are a prime food for birds.
In late July on our VA farm, the predominant color of the landscape is GREEN! But our 10 year old pollinator field is now predominantly yellow with the blooms of oxeye sunflower. This is a table set for the multitude of mouths of the lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), which are a prime food for birds. While some of these insects may be considered pests, many are spectacularly colored and have very interesting habits for study by the naturalist.
Aphrodite fritillary Whitetop
There are three beautiful species of large fritillary butterflies in this area. The Aphrodite from higher altitudes is only slightly different from the more common great spangled, which has a broader white band on the margins of the outer hindwing, and one less spot on the inside margin of the forewing. A third member of the genus Speyeria , the Diana fritillary, is rare in our area but a friend, Cecelia Mathis, has obtained a wonderful photo of two male Dianas with a great spangled on the flowers of a common milkweed along a remote forest road. In contrast with most sexual differences in which the male is more showy, the male Dianas are a relatively dull brown and orange color compared with the brighter black and blue female. The color of the female is even more remarkable since it appears to be a case of mimicry of the toxic pipevine swallowtail.
Diana fritillaries
Some of the moths can be quite spectacular. The hummingbird clearwing sphinx moth hovers as it drinks nectar from flowers. The yellow collared scape moth lands on flowers and is apparently mimicking a wasp and thus avoiding some predation during its daytime feeding. The brown hooded owlet moth is very inconspicuous as an adult, but its caterpillar is absolutely gorgeous in yellow, black and red stripes; such advertisement usually accompanies toxicity but little is known about such chemical warfare in this species. It also appears to have head/tail mimicry by calling attention to the tail rather than the head to divert attacks by birds.
Hummingbird clearwing sphiinx moth at bergamot
Buttonbush flower with yellow collared scape moth
Caterpillar brown hooded owlet moth Cucullia convexipennis on wingstem
An examination of the numerous flowers in bloom will reveal a wide variety of butterflies visiting them. Some examples are the silver spotted skipper on wild bergamot, a white morph orange/clouded sulphur on red clover, and a red admiral on purple coneflower. I have also noticed a number of monarchs mating in our fields where we have thousands of common milkweeds ready for them to lay eggs. The leaves of many of these milkweeds are tender and thus attractive to monarch caterpillars since the fields were mowed for hay about six weeks ago and the plants have regrown. This is an example of how careful timing of mowing can benefit monarchs.
Silver spotted skipper on bergamot
White morph sulphur orange or clouded
Red admiral
Monarchs mating
So in late July bird song is definitely waning, but the insects and especially lepidopterans are abundant and active for you to observe and enjoy.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Pollinator Fields in Their Glory
In general I do not recommend trying to improve on nature beyond the boundaries of the yard since the beauty of natural scenes is often incomparable. However creation of a Pollinator Field from a portion of hay fields or pastures or even yards can provide habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees, while also providing enjoyment to the land owner.
Swallowtail female black tiger
Orange sulphur
In general I do not recommend trying to improve on nature beyond the boundaries of the yard since the beauty of natural scenes is often incomparable. However creation of a Pollinator Field from a portion of hay fields or pastures or even yards can provide habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees, while also providing enjoyment to the land owner. Such fields may be funded by USDA (US Department of Agriculture) and NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). One method is to burn existing grass and weeds in late winter, then the re-growth is killed with herbicides. In May, wildflowers and native warm season grasses (NWSG) are planted with a no-till seed drill. The field pictured was planted four years ago with 4 species of grasses and 16 kinds of flowers. Some of these did not thrive, but others have done well and produce a spectacle of flowers in early to mid-July as well as a lesser display during May and later summer months.
The classic pollinators come to such flower meadows and just two examples are the orange sulphur and female black tiger swallowtail butterflies. The adults are likely mainly obtaining nectar there but the Sulphur caterpillars feed on alfalfa which is present, whereas the tiger swallowtail caterpillars likely feed on nearby black cherry and tulip trees. Bumblebees (on light lavender bergamot in photo) forage extensively in the pollinator field on the abundant wild bergamot and purple coneflowers. There are also honeybees (on purple cone flower in photo) present which is not generally a good thing. Honeybees are actually a non-native species from Europe, and as domesticated hives used to pollinate crops or produce honey can be very valuable. But wild or feral hives are in competition with native pollinators and are not desirable. In our particular setting far from crops that require pollination, honeybees are less abundant than the native bees and thus are not a major problem.
Bumblebee on beebalm
Honeybee on purple coneflower
Some of the most interesting pollinators are insects such as the syrphid flies (on yellow ox-eye sunflower in photo) which mimic yellow jackets and gain protection from their predators. Other insects which utilize the field habitat range from green camouflaged katydids, to dragonflies such as the widow skimmer, to the fig or green June beetles. The katydid and June beetle are herbivores whereas the dragonfly is a predator on flying insects. So quite a community of creatures populate the pollinator field and provide a real oasis of life.
Fly Syrphid yellow jacket mimic on heliopsis
Katydid on heliopsis
Fig beetle on blackberry
Widow skimmer male
So despite the fact that the planting of a pollinator field provides only an ephemeral burst of flowers over a short period of years, it is a significant source of food and cover for a wide variety of creatures and is a valuable tool in maintaining biodiversity within the pasture/hayfield habitat.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Summer Marches On
As July starts, the nature lover can continue to enjoy some breeding birds and observe an increasing number of interesting insects.
Sam catches bass at farm pond
As July starts, the nature lover can continue to enjoy some breeding birds and observe an increasing number of interesting insects.
New flowers are blooming, such as day lilies and catalpa trees and we are starting to be bothered by some of the less desirable critters such as Japanese beetles and ticks.
I spend a lot of time watching our ponds, some with and some without fish. The pond in the first two photos is next to our house and our grandson Sam enjoys catch and release of our "pet" bass and sunfish.
Fish pond at farm with grandsons fishing
A second pond I watch has no fish but far more species of dragonflies and damselflies. For example a type of clubtail dragonfly, the black-shouldered spinyleg (note long spines on the third leg- the better to hold prey) is somewhat of a generalist and is found in both the fish and non-fish ponds. In contrast the beautiful azure bluet damselfly is primarily found at ponds lacking fish.
Black shouldered spinyleg
Azure bluet
Another example of how a small change in habitat conditions supports a new species is the eruption of Jimson weeds on the soil around our landscape debris burn pile. The seeds in the ground perhaps were stimulated to germinate by the recent burning of the debris. Jimson weed flowers are striking examples of the nightshade family and are quite toxic due to the presence of atropine and scopolamine. The flowers are pollinated by night flying sphinx moths.
Jimsonweed around burn pile
Jimsonweed flower
A very different flower of the catalpa tree was blooming nearby. I planted these to observe the "bean worms" or catalpa sphinx moth caterpillars which are used as bait by fishermen. The unusual flowers are primarily pollinated by large bees and the resulting long seed pods are the "beans."
Catalpa flowers
A toxic insect that gains protection from its poisonous food is the red milkweed long-horned beetle which is now common in our grasslands. If you look carefully you may notice why this is called the four-eyed beetle, since the antennae on both sides bisect the eyes into two parts. Milkweeds support a number of such interesting specialist insects in addition to the monarch butterfly. A second aposematic long-horn is now found on our elderberries, the elderberry borer, and is also brightly colored to advertise that it is toxic due to its diet. Few realize that aside from the edible flowers and fruit, the rest of the elderberry plant is dangerously poisonous.
Red milkweed beetles mating on common milkweed
Elderberry borer
So as summer progresses, birds will complete their breeding, new flowers will appear, and insects will generally become more prevalent. Observe and enjoy the changing panorama of life.
Bill Dunson
A June Nature Ramble
Here on our Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain farm we are still having some cool nights in the 50's, but many days are sunny and warm and nature is in full growth and reproduction mode.
Here on our Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain farm we are still having some cool nights in the 50's, but many days are sunny and warm and nature is in full growth and reproduction mode.
I enjoy re-acquainting myself with the resident odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) and lepidopterans (butterflies). One of my favorite damselflies is the ebony jewelwing in which the male has black wings and a spectacular iridescent blue/green body, the color depending on the angle of the sunlight. When I was growing up in Georgia, these were called "snake doctors" since they sometimes landed on basking water snakes. The remarkable metamorphosis of dragonflies, from aquatic nymph to flying adult, is not fully appreciated until you observe the process as seen in the photo below. All dragonflies are highly carnivorous, but the impressive dragonhunter actually feeds on other dragonflies and must appear as a miniature T rex to its prey.
Dragonfly metamorphosis from aquatic nymph to flying adult
Ebony jewelwing damselfly male
Dragonhunter
Butterflies are appearing in our fields in increasing numbers and this male black swallowtail was attracted to a patch of white clover along a trail. When grass is mowed repeatedly in our hay fields, the result is often a dense patch of white clover which is beneficial to butterflies. The black swallowtail is one of the confusing "black and blue" butterflies which appear to mimic the toxic pipevine swallowtail. The "tails" are likely to be a head mimicry trick to appear to be antennae and divert the strike of predators away from the real head. Great spangled fritillary butterflies are out in numbers and are strongly attracted to the first common milkweeds to bloom, as well as to orange butterfly milkweeds.
Black swallowtail male butterfly on clover
Great spangled fritillary on common milkweed flower
Spring is of course a time of considerable amphibian breeding, but it is now time for summer breeders such as bullfrogs to lay their eggs. The early spring breeders such as wood frogs lay large globular clusters of eggs communally in a sunny area of the pond to elevate the temperature for development. In contrast, bullfrogs lay a thin surface sheet of eggs and jelly from one female which maximizes the oxygen available in warm water and leads to quick hatching. Warm rains encourage the movement of the terrestrial phase of the aquatic red spotted newt, the red eft. These brilliantly colored salamanders are advertising that they are very toxic due to the presence of tetrodotoxin in their tissues.
Bullfrog embryos in pond
Red eft salamander
Bright colors in a male box turtle, however, seem to be instead a species identification mechanism. Although there is an anecdotal report that box turtles can be toxic after they have eaten poisonous toadstools.
Box turtle male
Many birds have completed raising one brood already, perhaps the case with this mockingbird nest with three hungry babies on June 18. So the rush to reproduce in some species continues at a frantic pace.
Mockingbird babies in nest
Middle June symbolizes the end of the springtime magic of wildflowers and overwhelming bird song. Get ready for the long hot summer of equally exciting but different natural wonders.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
June is a Frenzy of Life
Here on our VA Blue Ridge Mountain farm, June is a time of rebirth and renewal in nature. Creatures seem to be in a rush to breed and of course must consume many resources to raise their young. It is a life and death struggle but an absolutely spectacular show for the nature lover.
Here on our VA Blue Ridge Mountain farm, June is a time of rebirth and renewal in nature. Creatures seem to be in a rush to breed and of course must consume many resources to raise their young. It is a life and death struggle but an absolutely spectacular show for the nature lover.
This is haying time on the farm since if you want to have fields, they must be cut periodically to stop woody succession back to a forest community. As a "wildlife farmer" I must consider the trade-offs that contribute to an intelligent management strategy, but the choices are rarely definitive. I am trying to allow our beautiful meadowlarks to breed once before mowing, but not wait so long that the fields will not rejuvenate before fall when we sometimes welcome migrating bobolinks which stop to feed. In other fields which we have allowed to become early successional with blackberries and other woody plants growing in an old pasture, we have breeding blue grosbeaks (which is unusual) plus willow flycatchers, indigo buntings, field sparrows, orchard orioles and other desirable birds.
The nests of birds breeding in grasslands are rarely seen but this bluebird nest in one of our boxes epitomizes the mad rush of all birds to breed. It also illustrates the fixity of avian reproduction in that birds have a certain nest behavior that rarely varies. Thus bluebirds nest in cavities but meadowlarks nest on the ground in grasslands of a certain grass height. Such rigid behavior must have been selected through evolution but seems sometimes to be problematic as humans dominate global ecosystems. Birds that are more flexible in their behavior have a greater chance of success as the pace of change in habitats varies with human influences.
I especially enjoy watching some of my ponds which are fishless and thus have a number of insect and amphibian species that cannot survive around fish. The amber winged spreadwing damselfly is one such species and it thrives only in one of our larger ponds from which fish have been excluded. The males and females pair up and form into the wheel position during which the male grasps the female by her neck and she reaches forward with her abdomen and receives sperm from the accessory genitalia of the male. It is remarkable how complex this and other reproductive processes are in such primitive insects. Life for aquatic insects is not without risk despite the absence of fish, as shown by this photo of a fishing spider which has captured an azure bluet damselfly adult. These ponds also contain amphibian predators as adult frogs; the anuran larvae are herbivorous and tadpoles from last year are now metamorphosing. I show a photo of a green frog that is beginning to reabsorb its larval tail and transition from aquatic to aerial respiration.
During one of my frequent bike trips on the New River Trail I observed the attraction of a red spotted purple butterfly and a Nessus sphinx moth to carnivorous mammalian feces. Such "puddling" behavior is due to the need of herbivores for sodium salts. So what seems disgusting to us is simply filling of a nutritional requirement. The red spotted purple's distinctive coloration is believed to be mimicry of the toxic pipevine swallowtail. The sphinx moth is remarkable in its ability to hover like a hummingbird while extending a long proboscis to extract nectar from flowers with long and narrow corolla tubes.
While crossing the New River on an old railroad bridge I noticed a basking milk snake, which is a rare sight in this area in my experience. The cool nights and warm days make basking an important means of regulation of metabolic rate in animals lacking internal means of heat generation. This species is remarkable since on the southeastern coastal plain it has bright red bands and apparently advertises a resemblance to the highly poisonous coral snake, which does not occur in VA. Yet in my area of the mountains it is cryptic in coloration with brownish blotches. This would seem to be another example, like that of the red spotted purple butterfly above, of Batesian mimicry of a toxic species by a tasty one. Although there is much we do not understand about this process, it does indicate the amazing effects that evolution can create in coloration.
When the red hot pokers we have planted come into flower in June, we can count on seeing our local orchard orioles feeding on the nectar. These orioles have a sharp bill that is suited for drinking nectar from short broad flowers or piercing the base of flowers that are too long or twisted for direct drinking of nectar. They are adept in utilizing flowers of many types, both native and introduced, which is quite useful since they migrate between South/Central America and North America and come in contact with many different species of flowers.
In June there is so much happening in the natural world that your head can virtually spin around from watching the frenzied activities of the critters around you. Enjoy it while it lasts since soon enough it will be over for another year.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
The Blue Ridge Turning Green
The predominant color of middle May in the Blue Ridge mountains of SW VA is green.
Painted Trillium
The predominant color of middle May in the Blue Ridge mountains of SW VA is green.
There is an explosion in growth of plant life so an overall view of our farm shows a verdant landscape. Of course the re-awakening of the ecosystem after a winter's slumber first requires that plants provide the base of the food pyramid. In the fields this is predominantly grass, but in the woods spring wildflowers such as painted trillium are in bloom and trees are leafing out.
Herbivores take advantage of the new growth by breeding as these cecropia moths are doing. This largest of the North American moths is a generalist herbivore. Note that the antennae of the male and female are different- the male has larger ones to detect the pheromones released by the female, making it possible for him to locate her from miles away. The life cycle is strange in that the adults do not feed, but live only a short time to reproduce.
Cecropia moths mating
Catbird eggs
Birds are also breeding and it is interesting to try and locate their nests and follow their progress. I was fortunate to find this catbird nest in a viburnum bush and was impressed by its beautiful blue eggs. Some thrushes such as robins and bluebirds also have blue eggs with no apparent relation to the type of nesting site (open nest or in a cavity).
There were two "shorebirds" in our yard this week, the killdeer, which breeds here and feeds on land, and the solitary sandpiper which is migrating north to Canada and Alaska to breed. It is interesting that the killdeer, a type of plover which nests openly on the ground, has a very dark line which camouflages the eye, whereas the solitary sandpiper has a whitish ring around the eye which accentuates it. The solitary sandpiper nests in trees in old nests of other species and is obviously exposed to different types of predators. But don't such variations in the adaptations of animals test our knowledge and make nature study so more interesting?
Savannah Sparrow
The savannah sparrow is common in Florida in winter but relatively uncommon as a breeder here in VA. It thrives in grasslands throughout middle and northern North America and must have benefitted greatly by the clearing of the original forests by early settlers. Other field specialists present at this time are grasshopper sparrows, meadowlarks and bobolinks. We are experimenting with plantings and mowing schedules to improve our field habitats for these birds and especially to try and encourage bobolinks to remain and breed here.
The elevation of our farm is about 1800-2000 feet; nearby mountains extend up to 5700 feet and a different community of birds is present at the higher elevations. In a recent visit to nearby Grayson Highlands State Park we enjoyed listening to the songs and watching these birds such as rose breasted grosbeaks, least flycatchers and the highly prized cerulean and blackburnian warblers. We are hoping that this adult male cerulean and several other nearby males will remain and breed.
Spring is such a special time of year when everything seems new and fresh and life is just bursting out all over. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL
Signs of Spring
Spring is a wonderful time of year, with leaves and blooms emerging, birds singing, and amphibian reproduction in full swing. But breeding occurs over a prolonged period since different species have distinct tolerances and adaptations for seasonal progression in temperature and related habitat changes.
Red bud blooming at 1931 RR bridge on the New River Trail. Photo by Bill Dunson
Ruby throated hummiingbird at Galax farm. Photo by Bill Dunson
Spring is a wonderful time of year, with leaves and blooms emerging, birds singing, and amphibian reproduction in full swing. But breeding occurs over a prolonged period since different species have distinct tolerances and adaptations for seasonal progression in temperature and related habitat changes. So for example as I write this on May 2, the bluebirds on our farm near Galax, VA, are already sitting on eggs, but we just heard the first of the season willow flycatchers which will soon be breeding here.
The arrival of ruby throated hummingbirds is a joyous occasion since they are so active and come readily to feeders. We have coral honeysuckle vines and red buckeyes in bloom to offer them some natural food.
Fire pink with swallowtail (possibly spicebush swallowtail) along the New River Trail. Photo by Bill Dunson
One of my favorite ways to assess seasonal changes is to bike down a rail trail to the New River. The view of a red bud tree in bloom next to one of the old 1931 bridges shows one attractive spring scene. A fire pink flower along the trail was being visited by a spicebush swallowtail butterfly, eager to obtain nectar to fuel its activities. This species is interesting since the underside of the wings is brightly marked with orange spots and a blue wash; this is believed to mimic the coloration of the toxic pipevine swallowtail and thus confer protection against bird predators.
Bullfrog in spring pond. Photo by Bill Dunson
Amphibians are of course very active in spring time. In late April bullfrogs are just beginning to be active and the males start calling to defend their territories. This male is distinctive due to its very large eardrum behind the eye and a bright yellow throat.
The booming call of the male attracts females to lay floating egg masses in his territory. Bullfrogs are a dominant predator along the pond bank but remain close to water, unlike toads which migrate to water only to breed. Bullfrogs also differ from toads in that their tadpoles can co-exist with fish, which toads generally do not. I have been careful to keep some of my wetlands fish free for this reason, that numbers of aquatic invertebrates and amphibians cannot live with fish predators.
Baltimore oriole male at Galax farm. Photo by Bill Dunson
One predominant sound of spring in our front yard is the song of Baltimore and orchard orioles which nest in a large maple tree. The showy orange male Baltimore is strutting and singing his stuff while the dull yellowish female was just beginning to weave a nest on April 26. They choose the very end of tiny branches, presumably to discourage snakes and squirrels from reaching the nest. But it is remarkable that any nests escape predation and my wife constantly hounds me to remove the numerous black rat snakes from our property to increase the chances that the young will survive.
Rose breasted grosbeak male along the New River Trail. Photo by Bill Dunson
Tree swallows are very active in setting up nests in our boxes and are constantly squabbling over ownership of a box. The backs of the males have a structural color that refracts light, either green or blue depending on the angle, which contrasts nicely with pink dogwoods in the background. There is intense rivalry with bluebirds over nest box cavities and the swallows often win the first round. But the bluebirds will nest up to three times whereas our tree swallows normally only nest once.
If you are lucky you may hear a "chink" sound and see a bird high in a tree which is the spectacular rose breasted grosbeak. The female is a dull brown pattern but the male has a striking patch of red on its breast. These do not nest at our lower elevation but we enjoy watching them pass by on their way to the higher ridges.
Bald eagle at Fries Juunction New River. Photo by Bill Dunson
In Florida we would hardly pay attention to a bald eagle since they are relatively common. But here in Virginia they are uncommon and I noticed one while biking across the New River. This was a "dirty bird" with a mottled head and a whitish tail, showing that it is about four years old and nearing maturity. There are a small number of nests in western VA and young birds also migrate north from FL. It would be wonderful if this eagle would settle down and raise a family!
So treasure these golden days of spring; each of us is only permitted a limited number of these marvelous spring experiences so savor them well.
Bill Dunson
Galax, VA and Englewood, FL