tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14096370512369792192024-03-13T01:26:09.797-07:00Mountain NaturalistObservations about the natural history of the southern Appalachians.Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-31212869507935967402009-10-06T08:37:00.000-07:002009-10-07T04:03:42.359-07:00Foraging BirdsThe past few days, in little snippets of time, I have been watching some migrating songbirds find and eat their foods. Watching birds forage for their sustenance is my favorite bird watching activity. I take more notes on the behaviors of "food-finding" than probably for anything else in bird watching. And I keep a list of the foods various kinds of birds choose.<div><br /></div><div>For instance, this past Saturday (3 Oct. 2009) at Bisset Park in Radford, I heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak calling from a Water Oak. It took me over five minutes to finally see this bird, an adult male. It was cracking open acorns and eating the kernels. I haven't seen this species eating acorns before. There were Gray Squirrels and Blue Jays going for acorns in this tree also. One squirrel eased towards the grosbeak, and the the grosbeak flew to another limb. It grabbed another acorn in its bill and cracked it open, part of the hull falling down near me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday the 4th I observed an immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak perched in a weed patch about two feet above ground, near some shrubby willows and alders...this location about a mile "parkway south" of Smart View. I observed it while it munched on the seeds of Giant Ragweed, and some other plant that I have not keyed out yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on the 4th, I sat down near three Palm Warblers foraging in the yard at my parents' house. The three warblers pecked, gleaned, chased, jumped, fluttered and other actions to catch tiny insects, most of which I would just simply call gnats, but I'm not sure what the species were. One caught a moth that was about the same size as the warbler's head. It flew up to a limb of a forsythia to pound, flog and "tenderize" the moth. All this activity attracted the other warblers and also a nearby Eastern Phoebe. The warbler flew to a better hideaway to finish its meal. Another Palm Warbler spent two or three minutes foraging on tiny insects on some marigold flowers, and under the leaves of tomato plants. It was strange to see a Palm Warbler perched on top of a green tomato, but while it rested there, flicking its tail, it pecked some small critter from the tomato and ate it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-61814501821905231602009-03-25T10:11:00.000-07:002009-03-25T10:24:20.484-07:00March Migrants<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDK15up2FmXypYvQp699qiN0jX2o7C3svtc-iKB3-FlO72XXKZy6fkx41Bd7PwH9Yoivyie5ir4DyKt5bkQf0Vv8ZhbF-2DJKfRCMQcpA5vBrsSTS3LsZPxm3WXyX3bKbYuQAJCH2-XI/s1600-h/IMG_91.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDK15up2FmXypYvQp699qiN0jX2o7C3svtc-iKB3-FlO72XXKZy6fkx41Bd7PwH9Yoivyie5ir4DyKt5bkQf0Vv8ZhbF-2DJKfRCMQcpA5vBrsSTS3LsZPxm3WXyX3bKbYuQAJCH2-XI/s320/IMG_91.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317174754905006610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Double-crested Cormorant</span>. Photo by Bob Abraham<br /></div><br />Recent sightings of migrating birds in the New River Valley include Double-crested Cormorants and Bonaparte's Gulls, both common spring migrants in this part of Virginia. Early to mid April is the best time to see Bonaparte's Gulls, while mid March through mid May is great for seeing sometimes large numbers of cormorants. My favorite place to observe them is at Riverview Park in Radford.<br /><br />Most of the "Bonies" seen right now are dressed in basic or winter plumage, but in a couple of weeks many of them should be decked out in their breeding season plumage.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iOTPuXGLLXCPDbyZtN1GqdOexpi8IOAtE5IloCqobNGemh72JA9tCEfP6UADF_rwcWzqYKmAQx6jkUv1YgEDhHnM7wYMWG8w2WDtartz0xRlDwnt1eMV_68esjHnOVZoB5W3Stsf1yA/s1600-h/IMG_49.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iOTPuXGLLXCPDbyZtN1GqdOexpi8IOAtE5IloCqobNGemh72JA9tCEfP6UADF_rwcWzqYKmAQx6jkUv1YgEDhHnM7wYMWG8w2WDtartz0xRlDwnt1eMV_68esjHnOVZoB5W3Stsf1yA/s320/IMG_49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317174640159008274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winter plumaged Bonaparte's Gull feasting on an earthworm</span>. Photo by Bob Abraham<br /></div>Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-26084981123835220282009-03-17T13:16:00.000-07:002009-03-17T13:45:58.998-07:00Spring Walk<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScALUCNU7AI/AAAAAAAAAGo/ZWq6CP9XV30/s1600-h/DSCN6866.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScALUCNU7AI/AAAAAAAAAGo/ZWq6CP9XV30/s320/DSCN6866.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314259999115242498" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScAKlmR-68I/AAAAAAAAAGg/H1c3gVRY2qU/s1600-h/spring+peepers+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScAKlmR-68I/AAAAAAAAAGg/H1c3gVRY2qU/s320/spring+peepers+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314259201344596930" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScAJ5G4eoHI/AAAAAAAAAGY/VYfY6UUnmBA/s1600-h/vernal+pool+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScAJ5G4eoHI/AAAAAAAAAGY/VYfY6UUnmBA/s320/vernal+pool+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314258437001879666" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScAJi77WnWI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/VvCGRp9qwmI/s1600-h/DSCN6852.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/ScAJi77WnWI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/VvCGRp9qwmI/s320/DSCN6852.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314258056104025442" /></a><br />After work today, I headed into the woods next to my shop in search of early wildflowers, of which I found none. Below the north side of our ridge is a meadow that typically hosts a rather extensive vernal marsh, and from that emanated the certain spring sound of peepers. So, off I went, with the dogs, to investigate. Along the way I stopped for a minute to sit on a log, where I shot the picture of the moss/lichen garden. <br />Upon reaching the marsh everyone shut up, of course, especially with the dogs taking time to wallow and drink. I secured a decent spot on a high clump of grass and settled in for a wait. Eventually the spring peepers started up, and I was able to locate these two lovers. <br />Afterwards, I headed back along Bridle Creek and took the picture of what I think is a crayfish home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-29440821651417223312009-02-27T14:18:00.000-08:002009-02-27T14:56:29.454-08:00Four-lined silverfish<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SahvJBrKe5I/AAAAAAAAAFo/A-3jMrUutj8/s1600-h/silverfish+legs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SahvJBrKe5I/AAAAAAAAAFo/A-3jMrUutj8/s320/silverfish+legs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307614361715112850" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SahvDYlthRI/AAAAAAAAAFg/5LXe5EKwDQ8/s1600-h/silverfish+back.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SahvDYlthRI/AAAAAAAAAFg/5LXe5EKwDQ8/s320/silverfish+back.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307614264787043602" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/Sahu22k8irI/AAAAAAAAAFY/lHLnP6Wmp7A/s1600-h/silverfish+antennae.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/Sahu22k8irI/AAAAAAAAAFY/lHLnP6Wmp7A/s320/silverfish+antennae.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307614049498598066" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SahuFyFTWmI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/kKcWo4IMMBc/s1600-h/silverfish+1.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SahuFyFTWmI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/kKcWo4IMMBc/s320/silverfish+1.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307613206478543458" /></a><br />I am a woodworker who has been mostly using old planks for my projects these days. The planks are stored in a nearby barn which is not closed to the elements. When I bring these planks into my shop, I have been noticing a plethora of silverfish, sluggish at first, but when the shop begins to warm up so do the silverfish (and I). <br />The other day, I slipped a few of these guys into a baggie and left them outside overnight, where it dipped to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. <br />The next morning, they were just frozen little bits, but within a half hour after being inside, they started skittering about full of energy. That's when I got the big idea of taking a closer look at them under my microscope. Here are some poor pictures made with the cheap microscope camera.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-82966045544743206672009-02-26T06:32:00.000-08:002009-02-27T03:38:37.138-08:00A Towhee in the Snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSPKQZpvkwnuqB_UFCVhuseaQ1C3pwaRrzmuLhumPbGWj1GAA5D4XHKUvnlFwS7wkm6p95SfQ8yuZLf0BGcDCJOjE8njzYUpa8FFomQbsdUVj5iXPhjoKc9EY-GuME__UYx-b6wC6rV4/s1600-h/Towhee09S_edited-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSPKQZpvkwnuqB_UFCVhuseaQ1C3pwaRrzmuLhumPbGWj1GAA5D4XHKUvnlFwS7wkm6p95SfQ8yuZLf0BGcDCJOjE8njzYUpa8FFomQbsdUVj5iXPhjoKc9EY-GuME__UYx-b6wC6rV4/s320/Towhee09S_edited-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307118159915086482" border="0" /></a><br />Along the Riverway Trail in Radford a few mornings ago, I observed a towhee kicking a thin slush off some berries on the ground. I watched it eat a few of them, each one wrinkly and reddish and pecked up from some ratty leaves mixed in the snow. The berries had fallen from a Morrow's Bush-Honeysuckle.<br /><br />The towhee would look at the ground and keep on kicking in the leaves. I saw it peck at a snail shell. The shell crunched into several pieces, and the towhee ate these like a starved, caged sparrow.<br /><br />A couple of minutes later, a grayish cat slouched in from nowhere. The towhee fluttered to the top of a nearby hawthorn, chewinking, and making other slurred chip notes. After a moment or so, the towhee flew away past a short and wobbly stretch of rusty fence wire. I could hear it chewinking near the riverbank. The cat then began to ease away in the opposite direction towards some weeds and a ditch.<br /><br />I then walked down the trail a while to my car and went home. I hope in a few days to write more about towhees.<br /><br />Notes:<br /><br /><ul><li>1. Photo of this male Eastern Towhee is by Stan Bentley. He gave me permission to use it in this blog entry. The red berries in the picture are the fruits of Flowering Dogwood, one of the highest energy berries available for birds in the fall.</li><li>2. I wrote this entry in my journal several days ago when there was actually a little snow on the ground (a rather rare event the past couple of winters here in Radford). I had to get outside and play in the snow of course, traipsing to see what I could see. The towhee was silent and busy, and hungry, and easy to observe, until the cat showed up...then the towhee was quite vociferous for a few moments, and then invisible, but still complaining about the cat.</li><li>3. As I mentioned in a blog entry last year, I grew up calling the towhee by the name of "joreen". Stan tells me that he grew up using the very similar name, "jorink" or "jarink". I have heard a couple of other people in the NRV use this name for towhees.</li><li>4. I enjoy listening to towhees singing, and counter-singing during their declarations of territory in the spring. I have also learned that towhees will occasionally include the notes of other bird songs in their vocalizations, particularly the first note or two of a song. I have heard them imitating and including a song note or two from cardinals, the chip notes of both downy and hairy woodpeckers, and alarm chuck notes from robins, to mention a few.</li></ul>Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-53818654101702023482009-02-22T08:35:00.000-08:002009-02-22T09:00:17.528-08:00New River State Park, Alleghany Access, Mouth of Wilson, Va.Yesterday, February 21, Mica Paluzzi and I spent four morning hours hiking and birding along the New River. Mica and I have shared several years of outdoor adventures, starting when he was ten. As we entered the park I suggested to him that on this visit we would make some quiet time, moments just sitting and paying attention to whatever shows up. <br />As we neared the river our first surprise came in the form of two pair of common mergansers, not that common in spite of the name. Taking a nice walk along the river for a couple of hours, we found much evidence of beaver activity, not something either of us had before noticed. We made an attempt to locate a viable site for a beaver dam, but the only possibility, though unlikely, was a feeder stream at the big bend in the river. As this was across the river from us, we had no way to further investigate.<br />Around 11:00 we returned to the spot where we had seen the now vanished mergansers. Directly above that spot, thanks to their raucous grumblings, we found the ravens' relocated nest. As I have mentioned in a previous post, this rock face has been a dedicated raven home for who knows how long. Last February, Mica and I observed three ravens attending one nest. And so it was yesterday, with one sitting on the nest and the two others gathering and sharing food, as well as holding guard. I continue to think this quite interesting.<br />So, Mica and I were being very quiet, sitting on a bench, when a new noise interrupted our reverie. First we heard a crashing of brush, coming from the opposite side of the river, and just below the ravens. Then a piping/barking noise and a splash directed our attention to a pair of northern river otters in great spirit of play. At first it almost appeared as if they were in battle, then I considered they might be mating, but the fluidity of their motion and humorous antics made clear they were playing. And play they did, for us for over a half an hour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-51046281425000042772009-02-18T10:13:00.000-08:002009-02-18T18:01:29.432-08:00More Otters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi529lQxAlQhCUxI-FcGjwQpXggBz4wvcrY65R04l8W3jpJbcPh-NXEm8rfQmx51d8K_HnvjfwcFAIaLreaekUv_Z69iyYKKch3noe7Rl0SKfVsxr3a_kwl-59U2tIvzz8H4VKa1RE8WQg/s1600-h/IMG_0031.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi529lQxAlQhCUxI-FcGjwQpXggBz4wvcrY65R04l8W3jpJbcPh-NXEm8rfQmx51d8K_HnvjfwcFAIaLreaekUv_Z69iyYKKch3noe7Rl0SKfVsxr3a_kwl-59U2tIvzz8H4VKa1RE8WQg/s200/IMG_0031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304203214116733090" /></a><br />I have seen two otters a couple more times in the past week. They have mainly been traveling in a hurry. Bob Abraham has managed to find them a few times also & has sent me a few pictures. I will include one with this short blurb.<br /><br />I believe the otters are becoming more secretive; maybe they are starting to care for young in a den somewhere.Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-29527181100351977682009-02-08T14:33:00.000-08:002009-02-08T14:44:46.893-08:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SY9gBWzJxPI/AAAAAAAAAEo/aHbDE1s6dtY/s1600-h/DSCN6711.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300560862854628594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SY9gBWzJxPI/AAAAAAAAAEo/aHbDE1s6dtY/s320/DSCN6711.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This will be a simple post based upon the influx of pine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">siskins</span> this winter in many southerly regions. It is my observation that the abundance of these <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">siskins</span> is large, and my speculation is that they had a good breeding season in 2008, possibly over populating their winter food resources. </div><br /><div>This is the first winter I have had to compare the various <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">plumage</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">siskins</span>, and the variety, though subtle, is quite beautiful. It has recently been brought to my attention that at least two waves have hit us, the first being lower latitudinal breeders, whose behavior indicates a familiarity with and fear of humans, and the second made up of innocents whose 'tameness' is indicated by no fear at all. What's up with that word tame anyway? I experimented with both flocks, and can verify that the second group were not at all shy of me. </div><br /><div>Hence, this photo.</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-76486255381045206212009-02-07T12:47:00.000-08:002009-02-11T03:20:19.499-08:00River Otters This WinterSince late November, it has been the winter of River Otters here in the Radford stretch of the New River. I have found them a lot of mornings just before daybreak. They'd be foraging for crayfish, or small carp and other fish. <br /><br />Most times I encounter a group of four, swimming near shore or lounging on a nearly submerged willow. Only once this winter have I seen one alone, and that one was shoving pieces of ice towards the boat landing two weeks ago. I don't know what that behavior was about. But once it saw me, it started making a strange raspy call that I heard for the first time about five months ago. I think it is a very agitated distress call of some sort.<br /><br />I have learned to imitate that call, and it sometimes makes the otters swim towards me and utter this vocalization even more frequently and louder. It sounds like someone saying the word "otter" while gargling. And it sounds a bit like Golem mouthing his name "golem" several times in the Lord of the Rings movie, though not nearly as harsh a sound.<br /><br />The loner two weeks ago made this sound, and I would say this sound back (or at least my rudimentary approximation of the vocal). I'm sure the otter considered it a poor voicing of something important. Anyway this one conversation lasted about five minutes before the otter swam away.<br /><br />Early this morning (7 February) there were two groups of otters. One group of three swam down stream, swerving and gliding in and out of the water, much like dolphins. The other group was a pair of otters that swam near the far shore and headed upstream. The pair took a brief detour and swam quickly at a Horned Grebe which dived and disappeared. The pair then continued upstream.<br /><br />I wonder if one of the group of four had left and found a mate.Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-418018484847949592008-10-09T10:28:00.000-07:002008-10-10T05:29:55.520-07:00Caterpillars, mostly<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO4_dG028RI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Yq-_M_zheFk/s1600-h/flat+green+c+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255207584469020946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO4_dG028RI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Yq-_M_zheFk/s320/flat+green+c+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5CAHTYsoI/AAAAAAAAAA0/525B7DBbvGI/s1600-h/green+caterpillar+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255210384915739266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5CAHTYsoI/AAAAAAAAAA0/525B7DBbvGI/s320/green+caterpillar+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When spring's avian migration comes to a screeching halt, and our resident birds settle down to their serious genetic prerogative, I turn to other critters. For two summers I have spent some happy hours discovering and documenting hundreds of insects, amphibians, reptiles, wildflowers, mushrooms, and so on, that inhabit our 15 acres; both as an educational exercise and something to share with my kids and theirs (one day). Here are just a few examples. To the left is a crowned slug, or 'isa textula'. And on the right, we have the familiar green-striped mapleworm ('dryocampa rubicunda'), of rosy maple moth fame.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5L4ajWmvI/AAAAAAAAAA8/4DxIBI7Jp2w/s1600-h/DSCN4132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255221247760308978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5L4ajWmvI/AAAAAAAAAA8/4DxIBI7Jp2w/s320/DSCN4132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This moth I have only seen once, and would appreciate confirmation that it is either a large or small tolype. A close look will show that this moth is comfortably perched on a chop-stick.<br /><br /><br />The banded tussock moth, ('halysidota tessellaris') below, is commonly seen in our area. Birds tend to avoid this moth, hence it is often found in conspicuous positions, out in the open.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5g2l-FDbI/AAAAAAAAACc/_9V0TJoD2As/s1600-h/DSCN4240.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255244306209639858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5g2l-FDbI/AAAAAAAAACc/_9V0TJoD2As/s320/DSCN4240.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of the most beautiful moths, the IO, is not surprisingly preceded by a spectacular caterpillar of the same name, ('automeris IO'), seen below.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5UY0DBzcI/AAAAAAAAABU/eFlR2aSSCEg/s1600-h/DSCN4185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255230600452885954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5UY0DBzcI/AAAAAAAAABU/eFlR2aSSCEg/s320/DSCN4185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And now, another slug caterpillar, the spiny oak slug, ('euclea delphinii'), found not on an oak but sunflower leaf in our garden, below.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5WfJ1mPMI/AAAAAAAAABc/5kxVbbSHHRY/s1600-h/DSCN4389.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255232908404604098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="303" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5WfJ1mPMI/AAAAAAAAABc/5kxVbbSHHRY/s320/DSCN4389.jpg" width="320" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite finds was this silver spotted skipper caterpillar, ('epargyreus clarus'), staring at the camera with its fake eyes, below.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5X2jYzPUI/AAAAAAAAABk/IkTXyni6Wpo/s1600-h/DSCN4424.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255234409911762242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5X2jYzPUI/AAAAAAAAABk/IkTXyni6Wpo/s200/DSCN4424.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5Yz0FS3nI/AAAAAAAAABs/B4Kc5Vna-1k/s1600-h/DSCN4486.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255235462365372018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5Yz0FS3nI/AAAAAAAAABs/B4Kc5Vna-1k/s200/DSCN4486.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This highly patterned one to the right<br />is known as the turbulent phosphila,<br />or 'phosphila turbulenta'.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5aBihj6uI/AAAAAAAAAB0/0qhJiKvJUtA/s1600-h/DSCN4620.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255236797681887970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5aBihj6uI/AAAAAAAAAB0/0qhJiKvJUtA/s200/DSCN4620.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one is the gold moth, or 'basilodes pepita', found in late September.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another oak loving caterpillar, to the right, was found in full sun on the edge of a field also in late<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5bAtlYLJI/AAAAAAAAAB8/bK4lQZ-cF9E/s1600-h/DSCN4781.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255237882982444178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5bAtlYLJI/AAAAAAAAAB8/bK4lQZ-cF9E/s200/DSCN4781.jpg" border="0" /></a>September. It is known as the variable oakleaf caterpillar, ('lochmaeus manteo').<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Directly below, the most acrobatic of the caterpillars, 'datana ministra', more commonly known as the yellow-necked caterpillar, is feasting on a birch leaf.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5cJdEi1BI/AAAAAAAAACE/cNHsBLbwbas/s1600-h/DSCN4652.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255239132680213522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5cJdEi1BI/AAAAAAAAACE/cNHsBLbwbas/s320/DSCN4652.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My photo of this caterpillar does not do justice to its vibrant green. The spotted apatelodes, ('apatelodes torrefacta'), seen below the acrobat was another late September find.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5dYig39ZI/AAAAAAAAACM/TXmPJHFk80U/s1600-h/DSCN4873.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255240491350881682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5dYig39ZI/AAAAAAAAACM/TXmPJHFk80U/s320/DSCN4873.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And last, but not least, our Eastern swallowtail,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5jbppSu9I/AAAAAAAAACk/CeGJgrBs2Fo/s1600-h/DSCN4946.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255247141874613202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m34xWsL2VsI/SO5jbppSu9I/AAAAAAAAACk/CeGJgrBs2Fo/s320/DSCN4946.jpg" border="0" /></a>('papilo glaucus'), may be familiar to many, with<br />its scary 'false' face.<br /><br />Most if not all of these pix were taken last summer and fall. This year, I found far fewer caterpillars, but many more spiders. Anyone have any theories?<br /><br />My apologies for the choppy layout. For your information, this was my very first attempt at anything remotely this challenging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-20371278151468185712008-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:002009-02-11T03:24:13.791-08:00Two local critter namesOver the past few mornings, I have met fishermen and waterfowl hunters at the boat landing in Riverview Park in Radford. We talk about most anything, weather, crowds, work situations, and eventually about the kinds of birds, fish, and other animals we have recently seen along the New River.<br /><br />One waterfowl hunter was checking the area for Canada Geese. We watched one long skein of geese fly by us. The geese honked a little and circled towards a farm field. We talked about geese, and he mentioned that he had seen speckled bellies a couple of times between Radford and Parrott on the river. I asked him to describe the geese, and I realized that he was talking about Greater White-fronted Geese, a species quite rare in this part of Virginia.<br /><br />Another morning a fishermen asked me what I was looking at...I was just watching a few tree swallows perched on the electric line that crosses the river near the boat landing. I told him that earlier in the day I had seen an otter. He mentioned that he saw otters frequently and sometimes river weasels. The latter was his name for mink.<br /><br />For me it is a blessing to learn local names of plants and animals. In the past week, I have learned two:<br /><br />Speckled Belly<br />River WeaselClyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-29343683691791778872008-08-25T08:19:00.000-07:002009-02-11T03:26:36.918-08:00Rocky Knob Migration, 24 August 2008I watched for migrating hawks yesterday at Rocky Knob. One female American Kestrel flew south just above the trees at 11:55 EST. Other than that I saw no migrating raptors. There were a few local Black & Turkey Vultures, and three local Red-tailed Hawks.<br /><br />Some other birds were heading south, too. These included several Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts, three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, one Black-throated Green Warbler and two Scarlet Tanagers.<br /><br />Other migrants were two Cloudless Sulphurs, one Red Admiral, one Common Buckeye, one Monarch plus three species of dragonfly (28 Common Green Darners, mostly adult males, plus at least three tenerals; one Wandering Glider; five Black Saddlebags).<br /><br />The most unusual sighting for the day was a plane piloted wildly over Panther Knob. The plane flew a few loopity-loops, a few complete rolls, and a couple of times sallied upside down, then headed east and northeast right-side-up, eventually beyond my view.<br /><br />The whole area looks way too dry. I don't know how the ongoing drought will affect migration of dragonflies since many of the species heading southward past Rocky Knob are pond dwellers as nymphs.<br /><br />The thistles in the field mostly look rather stunted except those nearest a shady area on the west side of the field. I saw zero honeybees, but at least two species of bumblebees were nectaring on the blossoms. Tiger Swallowtails, and Great Spangled Fritillaries were also nectaring on the thistle flowers. I found no species of grass skippers there; usually there are Sachems and Peck's Skippers.<br /><br />One of the more common insects of the day was a species of "June Bug" scarab beetle ambling over the area. There were also a few Dog Day Cicadas.Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-79987665844910513542008-08-20T04:13:00.000-07:002009-02-11T03:27:49.103-08:00Rocky Knob Migration WatchThe term "migration" is often applied to the periodical or irregular movements of all animals; but it may be questioned whether there are any regular migrants but birds and fishes.<br /><br />---A.R. Wallace, 1876.<br /><br />By mid to late August at Rocky Knob some of us gather to witness whatever seems to be migrating. This menagerie of creatures includes hawks, waterfowl, cormorants, nighthawks, swifts, hummingbirds, swallows, Red-headed Woodpeckers and a host of passerines, most heading to the southwest of our location. Some of these birds travel unbelievable distances. Some are considered mere short distance migrants.<br /><br />We also gather to see dragonflies and butterflies "migrating" to the south. Except for perhaps some monarch butterflies, the migration of these insects is inter-generational, i.e. the individuals we see in late summer and fall journeying southward are not the same ones we might find the following spring.<br /><br />I hope some folks reading this short blurb will stop by and visit and see for yourself how marvelous the migration can be. Anyway, you're invited. We'll watch sometimes, and we'll hear dog day cicadas (what I grew up calling "Jar Flies") and katydids chorusing in the woods by the cow pasture.<br /><br />BTW, our watch is at milepost 168 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, on the border of Patrick & Floyd Counties.Clyde Kesslerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00448384315131216064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-21531610047472134032008-05-30T14:32:00.000-07:002008-05-30T15:36:42.494-07:00Dawn chorusFrom the noted by absence Mountain Naturalist blog entries, I assume everyone is busy chasing wildflowers and birds of spring. Arizona pulled me away for two weeks in April, with my first experience of the sky-islands southeast of Tucson. I will never be the same.<br /><br />Though I intend to get back to Watts, etc., I have another thing in mind at the moment. Since returning from the hugely irresponsible trip to Arizona, I have not had time to scurry about as I would like. For my consolation, I have worked an early morning pattern into my schedule, awakening at 5:00, and keeping my ear near the open window as the birds begin to sing. After about an hour, I sleep for another 45 minutes or so. Birding by ear is not something I could do even five years ago...but especially with the familiar birds, I have grown quite proficient. Here is what I have learned.<br /><br />We start out with a two piece band, usually the towhee breaking the silence with odd chirps and squeaks, tuning up, soon followed by one robin. Once the robin has cleared his throat, it becomes increasingly difficult to hear the details of the towhee, but they seem to be paying attention to one another. In the background, a wood thrush gargles off in the woods, laying down a nice bass line, and encouraging the need for a score. These three can go on for five minutes before the local cardinals add punctuation, and the rhythm section begins. Later, the cardinals also add to the melodic phrasing, but at first, they beat the drums.<br />During this early part, I can hear at least two towhees, robins, and cardinals, in noisy competition. I try to learn the difference between the singers, and have confidence that the earlier soloists are consistent. They hold the first seats in this orchestra, and will prevail by their earned posts.<br />From here on things get confusing, but Carolina wrens seem to be the next loud crowd, and sound like they are a bit mad at the avian alarm clock. When they start to rattle, they go at it with a vengeance. House wrens are not far behind, then blue jays start scratching at their most treble best, with harsh complaints. The robin ups his volume, but is beginning to be drowned out, and eventually looses enthusiasm. Cardinals are now becoming more prominent in their oratorios, with their metallic refrains setting the stage for the indigo bunting, who can put a hurting on that heavy metal. <br />Down the south facing slope from my propped head, the field sparrow practices his descending scale, and right outside in the tree the titmouse drones. Overhead, crows take over the percussion section and pileated woodpeckers laugh above the other ridge, and the crows.<br />By the time goldfinches, red-eyed vireos, red-winged blackbirds, downies, and chickadees decide to add to the cacophony, I return to sleep with phoebes announcing the fullness of the sun. <br /><br />At the spring VSO meeting a couple of years ago, I made the acquaintance of Donald Kroodsma, the celebrity guest speaker, and widely known for his studies on bird song. His Book, 'The Singing Life of Birds', should be on every birder worth-her-salt's bookshelf, and dogeared. On Sunday morning a few hardy individuals awoke well before first light and met Donald in a cold drizzle for the awakening of woodland birds. With Donald's guidance we all realized a deeper appreciation for details of bird song, personalities, regional dialects, and just paying attention more closely to what most of us love, and some of us regard as 'just noise'. I had a friend write me recently asking 'how do you turn off the birds?' He must have had a long night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-85767533905515226002008-04-07T14:20:00.000-07:002008-04-08T13:58:52.527-07:00May Theilgaard Watts, and the thread that runs through itIt has long been a comfort to me that things easily relate to other things in ways we would not immediately expect. But then it happens, and the light goes off in the head. I want to develope this idea within the context of three books, and through the fullness of time. It would be great if readers of this blog would contribute their reactions and ideas to not only these specific books and authors, but share similar reading experiences. Seth's offering of Godfrey's "Field Guide to the Piedmont" was on the mark.<br />My story starts with the term 'Wolf Trees', which are trees formerly allowed to grow in pastures for various reasons, and then rediscovered within a wooded area, in full spreading of branches among the neighboring straight trunked. Though I had always noticed this and wondered, I did not grasp the reason until I lucked upon the book "Reading the Forested Landscape" by Tom Wessels. I recommend this book.<br />Then, as I was preparing to share a walk in the woods with some kids, I decided to Google 'wolf tree', and came upon Anne Whiston Spirn's book, "The Language of Landscape", which is one of the most amazing books I have ever held in my trembling hands. She is a landscape architect with a keen interest in deep history.<br />As it turns out, an early and abiding inspiration for her is an earlier writer, May Watts, who also is mentioned in Wessels book.<br />I have only begun to look into Watts' classic "Reading the Landscape", but have already fallen in love. Allow me digress a moment. Last week, while delivering some books to a WONDERFUL used book store, "Books 'N Friends", in Sparta, N.C., I took a glance at their nature section, and found Watts' book, for 50 cents, signed by the author no less.<br /><br />What we have here is not simply a coincidence. It is about paying attention, becoming involved with the thread of learning. For any naturalist, I can whole heartedly endorse all three of these books. When I finish Watts' book, and go back over Spirn's, I intend to offer a more in depth comparison of these three books. Meanwhile, my hope is that some of the rest of us can compare our notes after looking at one or more of my suggestions.<br /><br />Yes, winter is over, and it is time to be outside, learning from our own observations, and books can wait. And that is what I will be doing for the near future.<br /><br />Scott Jackson-Ricketts<br />Grayson County, Va.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-2398065532838431822008-03-22T08:35:00.000-07:002008-12-08T20:44:26.283-08:00Boy Scout Resource Ramble<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQtYnMR9GFrk2wQvEXNnWCF4CkU6Raw63XfyaS0ALzz92We_dfveRnpR_Y4tAPP3y0E7ZxLWttsZJdcDB9GBBY8F8iOo_j69POfcr7QQD9QXi9m3VzUFiQ5wNjrnQ4ymog-oCiXIw-gDG/s1600-h/boy_scout.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQtYnMR9GFrk2wQvEXNnWCF4CkU6Raw63XfyaS0ALzz92We_dfveRnpR_Y4tAPP3y0E7ZxLWttsZJdcDB9GBBY8F8iOo_j69POfcr7QQD9QXi9m3VzUFiQ5wNjrnQ4ymog-oCiXIw-gDG/s320/boy_scout.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180593769079199186" border="0" /></a><br />For the second year, the Boy Scouts will hold what they call a "resource ramble" on the scout reservation at Camp Powhatan in Pulaski County. The event, scheduled for Saturday, June 14, resembles a bio-blitz, except that elements of geology and cultural resources are included in the survey.<br /><br />The 17,000-acre reservation covers parts of the watersheds of Little Laurel and Big Mack Creeks, as well as two ponds. Elevation ranges from 1900 to 3348 feet. Base rock is sandstone, quartzite, shale and dolomite. Forest cover includes mainly dry hardwoods interspersed with pine, hemlock and other conifers.<br /><br />You can participate in a team or as an individual. The scouts are looking for experts to guide teams in various aspects of natural history, geology and archaeology. Veteran naturalist Clyde Kessler (a contributor to this blog) is already on board to help the scouts with bird identification.<br /><br />The main event takes place Saturday, but what is described as "rustic accommodations" are available for those arriving Friday evening or staying over Saturday night. Breakfast is available both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Participants are also invited to dinner Saturday evening prior to the Ramble reports and wrap-up session. (Participants are asked to bring lunch for Saturday in the field). You can register as late as the morning of the event, but organizers ask that you register as early as possible so an accurate estimate of the food needed can be made.<br /><br />After you register, you'll get a topo map of the Reservation along with directions to Camp Powhatan, a schedule and a list of what to bring.<br /><br />To find out more, direct questions to either <a href="http://www.blogger.com/williamshiner@earthlink.net">Dr. Bill Shiner</a> or <a href="http://www.blogger.com/harmongw@earthlink.net">Greg Harmon</a>, Program Director of the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation.Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-19689933477963831572008-03-10T13:24:00.000-07:002008-12-08T20:44:26.436-08:00Summer course in the natural history of the Smokies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRlomWLWGVP3tf0ngBD8ycG6kohytPpvebUGtgzvZZueTZqebiHbFSFrGTI-9Vx-T2VRxVlL2RVCA9ZGnRYoZl6vw4TrytDJk4Z0mN04lXu3ukyvY0y8pEDP7wrwueeMC5zyq5CHZBzWX/s1600-h/great_smokies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRlomWLWGVP3tf0ngBD8ycG6kohytPpvebUGtgzvZZueTZqebiHbFSFrGTI-9Vx-T2VRxVlL2RVCA9ZGnRYoZl6vw4TrytDJk4Z0mN04lXu3ukyvY0y8pEDP7wrwueeMC5zyq5CHZBzWX/s320/great_smokies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176215363682879634" border="0" /></a><br />This summer from July 28 through August 2, Dr. Donald Linzey will again teach his popular course on the natural history of the Great Smoky Mountains.<br /><br />Dr. Linzey, who is professor of biology at Wytheville Community College, has published five books on verterbrates of the eastern United States, and he's been associated with the Great Smokies National Park since the early 60s. The course is titled "Bio 270 General Ecology: Natural History of the Great Smoky Mountains," and it's a three-to-four credit course, depending on particpation.<br /><br />Students will study the interrelationships between organisms and their natural and cultural environments with emphasis on the wildlife, plant life, geology, and environmental problems unique to the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a six-day residential experience based at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute near Townsend, Tennessee. There will be one pre-trip and one post-trip meeting at WCC. Needless to say, there will be field experience.<br /><br />Registration for the course begins in April. For more information, call toll-free: 800-468-1195. Reach Dr. Linzey at <a href="wclinzd@wcc.vccs.edu">wclinzd@wcc.vccs.edu</a>.Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-45492013653400951242008-02-13T17:59:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:26.555-08:00You need this book [addendum at bottom]<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoONL-5Omftk6MQaKYVl_ZuJNDoSlNCbiocd3UZ3VSqFr6hLO6flHu-mz0EU-iye6sETdj285bTxvKdYDXLM6WKXX0zXIP_nfvMEHrohiXmsCVAnU0OPwrcWoqtvH_DABdkRYU5vSCTHki/s1600-h/piedmont.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoONL-5Omftk6MQaKYVl_ZuJNDoSlNCbiocd3UZ3VSqFr6hLO6flHu-mz0EU-iye6sETdj285bTxvKdYDXLM6WKXX0zXIP_nfvMEHrohiXmsCVAnU0OPwrcWoqtvH_DABdkRYU5vSCTHki/s320/piedmont.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166650037057093906" border="0" /></a><br />I'd like to recommend one of the two or three best books of natural history I've ever read. Despite the word "piedmont" in its title, I can assure you that nearly everything in it applies to the plant and animal communities of the southern Appalachians.<br /><br />It's not new, but its excellence and usefulness is such that I've been evangelizing for it since the day it was published. The book is the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/22n2xu">"Field Guide to the Piedmont"</a> by Michael Godfrey, who (I think but I'm not positive) is the son of the old radio and TV entertainer Arthur Godfrey. I first got this book when it was part of the Sierra Club field guide series. Later it was reissued in a handsome trade paperback format by the University of North Carolina Press, with revisions and over a hundred new illustrations.<br /><br />I don't often encounter a book whose quality is such that I am stumped for superlatives. But this book taught me more about the land -- and the plant and animal communties on it -- than any other book I've read. I am tempted to apply to it the overused and now weakened word "classic," because if any such book deserves it, this one does.<br /><br />In describing the plant and animal associations of the Piedmont (and to repeat, nearly everything he says of the Piedmont applies to the Appalachians), Godfrey uses two ruling schema. First is the moisture content of a community and the drainage regime that produced it.<br /><br />There are three of these: xeric, hydric, and mesic; basically dry, wet and somewhere in between.<br /><br />The other ruling idea is the concept of plant succession: the collection of transitional communities that occupy a given plot of ground, each with a different set of dominant species, from bare or nearly bare earth to mature climax forest. The progression of communities from first to last is known as a sere. Each drainage regime has a different sere, with a predictable series of plants, insects and larger animals associated with its various stages.<br /><br />Within these seres are microhabitats at various stages. One of the most interesting, and most typical of our region, is the community associated with woody, fence-line hedgerows, a familiar sight to anyone driving through the Blue Ridge and Alleghenies.<br /><br />Different drainage regimes produce different kinds of forest. There's a similar division in hydric, or wet, areas: one community is associated with lotic, or flowing water; another with lentic, or still water. We learn, for example, why ponds are, geologically speaking, short-lived phenomena, due to the rapid deposit of organic and mineral sediments in the impounded area. Thus, a pond becomes a marshy field and eventually a grassland and forest as plant sediment piles up and increases the local elevation.<br /><br />In xeric environments, western Virginia hawkwatchers will be familiar with early colonizers of old fields: bull thistle, hawthorn and cedar, all familiar companions at Rocky Knob and other high pasture environments.<br /><br />There are few books I feel safe in recommending to all amateur naturalists in the southern Appalachians. One is "The Field Guide to the Piedmont" by Michael Godfrey. I've persuaded many people to buy copies, but none regretted adding it to their library.<br /><br /><br />ADDENDUM: I should have made clear when I first wrote this piece that "field guide" is not quite the phrase I'd use for this book. Godfrey identifies quite a few species of all types. But it would not be my first choice when going out in the field after birds or trees or flowers or mammals or herps.<br /><br />Rather, its excellence lies in the clarity of Godfrey's exposition about how animal and plant communities are related to each other and to different landforms. Stick with this volume from start to finish and I guarantee you'll come away with a new awareness of the multifarious connectedness of plants and animals in the mountains and piedmont.Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-86090729871771044822008-02-08T16:55:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:26.687-08:00Tech biologist on the mystery bat disease<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhKNqgaS8uBQ2NWn0swxedNBAB72_AEu784Uji5YeYS6bn6n5DRz3-UVZC6oF5LPnxUWWnNFHOtvx39sPm28N9aO19lpTGcHox5VyFbi7nqlRcgjygaoNF1DrIb0Tmco-TStRn1e2fxoe/s1600-h/Parkhurst.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhKNqgaS8uBQ2NWn0swxedNBAB72_AEu784Uji5YeYS6bn6n5DRz3-UVZC6oF5LPnxUWWnNFHOtvx39sPm28N9aO19lpTGcHox5VyFbi7nqlRcgjygaoNF1DrIb0Tmco-TStRn1e2fxoe/s320/Parkhurst.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164785649605258962" border="0" /></a><br />This note below was just forwarded to me. My thanks to Mike Purdy for the heads-up. It's a letter from Dr. James Parkhurst, wildlife biologist at Virginia Tech. We've already noted the issue on this blog.<br /><br />________________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />I wanted to call to your attention an emerging and potentially serious situation involving bat populations throughout the Northeast that experts here in Virginia currently are monitoring. I have provided a <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/07/die_off_of_bats_could_hurt_area_crops/">link to an article</a> that recently appeared in the Boston Globe, near where the epicenter of this problem currently exists (predominantly in New York and Vermont so far) that provides some useful background information on the situation as it now exists.<br /><br />To the best of our knowledge at this time, the disease has not yet been documented or confirmed in Virginia, but efforts to validate that are underway. Therefore, for now, this is only a cautionary note to get this situation on your "radar screen." As you will note in the article, this outbreak is having serious consequences on bat populations in the affected states, where tens of thousands of bats have succumbed to the disease. In an effort to avoid the potential spread of the disease, should it come to this area or already be present in our area, experts are recommending that people refrain from entering any caves or abandoned mines over the next several months, primarily as a means to avoid further taxing the energy stores of hibernating bats. Bats very often are disturbed by intruders, which forces them to expend important energy reserves needed to get them through the full winter hibernation cycle.<br /><br />If you know of any individuals or groups in your area who frequent caves, please pass along this notice. If anyone has visited a cave recently and witnessed what appeared to be an unusually large number of<br />dead or sick bats, or bats that may have displayed the characteristic "white frosting" about the nasal area, please have them contact one of two individuals within the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries: Rick Reynolds, Non-Game Biologist and bat specialist (rick.reynolds@dgif.virginia.gov), or Jonathan Sleeman, wildlife veterinarian for the agency (jonathan.sleeman@dgif.virginia.gov). Specific details of the cave(s) involved, dates of contact, and description of symptoms witnessed would be most helpful.<br /><br />I will keep you posted on any new twists as they become available. To reiterate, there is no immediate threat or danger to most residents, but special caution would be advised for those who are active spelunkers.<br /><br />James A. Parkhurst, Ph.D.<br />Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist<br />144 Cheatham Hall<br />Virginia TechSeth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-19187844601546363682008-02-05T05:45:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:26.780-08:00The impact of rural gentrification<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q8zgigl6c0DZZtwtDnIeBtuLRw6Cb0iK0-iH8K89xd8DASUnqNlb5RP1XBThWZkMMpwZxo6Y5ewlCfV5fC0b9jGv1fDTPuGG3xR0EMs9USOiGj9gfHWpU1ogoGzfm_UhtjU2wxiWYcFz/s1600-h/Starbucks.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q8zgigl6c0DZZtwtDnIeBtuLRw6Cb0iK0-iH8K89xd8DASUnqNlb5RP1XBThWZkMMpwZxo6Y5ewlCfV5fC0b9jGv1fDTPuGG3xR0EMs9USOiGj9gfHWpU1ogoGzfm_UhtjU2wxiWYcFz/s320/Starbucks.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163494161529286338" border="0" /></a><br />Another friend of mine on this blog shares my concern about rich outlanders moving into these mountains, driving up taxes, and making it impossible for natives to afford the very land they were born on.<br /><br />It's hard to write about such a topic without sounding hostile to people who have done me no harm. But <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/104333/The-New-American-Gentry?mod=retirement-lifestyle">here is a story</a> at Yahoo Finance on how the process is affecting communities out west. It specifically mentions "social tensions," which is certainly a factor.<br /><br />The other factor is the accompanying development, which inevitably destroys habitat for neotropical migrants and other species. I think of what's happening to Belcher Mountain in Patrick County and it almost makes me ill.<br /><br />What to do? I have no idea. Maybe nothing. Personally I'm a libertarian, who believes that if you want liberty yourself, you have to allow it to the other guy.<br /><br />But I confess there are days when I wake up and wonder: Will we not be satisfied until we have paved over everything and there is a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere you look?Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-34268642205525750662008-02-04T14:54:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:26.912-08:00Raven redux<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DvuLHegQl9a4q2Au3gLeCHgVObaW5W7C_G2LfZ21UPqjBqmSyWgrIpd8yR2iOwp3PhvfuGrh7ZfZtXCjM1lQNqDi4SoZZZvwMnABYalybsPqO0C81tHGBXRxaZarSuFIJJdMC4cP0ES_/s1600-h/raven.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DvuLHegQl9a4q2Au3gLeCHgVObaW5W7C_G2LfZ21UPqjBqmSyWgrIpd8yR2iOwp3PhvfuGrh7ZfZtXCjM1lQNqDi4SoZZZvwMnABYalybsPqO0C81tHGBXRxaZarSuFIJJdMC4cP0ES_/s320/raven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163307497955634866" border="0" /></a><br />According to William Roberts, our local wildlife rehabber (along with his wife Joyce), Bernd Heinrich (known for his studies of ravens and a book titled, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Raven-Investigations-Adventures-Wolf-Birds/dp/0061136050/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202175915&sr=1-1"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="sans">Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds</span></a>) was surprised when on one or two occasions, cooperative family groups did participate in the rearing of next generation young. This behavior is apparently rare and unexpected in the wild.<br /><br />Occasionally groups of breeding pairs nest in close proximity, but breeding success is less than that of the more common solitary pair. Heinrich speculates that the group breeding event may have to do with added protection from perceived dangers in the neighborhood.<br /><br />According to William, there are nesting ravens in a warehouse in Winston-Salem, which is very strange. Historically and today as well, ravens are more common farther north, and are full-time residents within the Arctic circle. Typically, the farthest south they have been seen until recent years has been around here, in our mountains. But more reports of ravens are coming from places like Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina, for instance, with widespread anticipation of imminent breeding documentation. I read last night that ravens, once considered to be intolerant of human activity, are learning to adjust. Opportunism does indicate intelligence, for good or ill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-14205629409678020022008-02-03T16:28:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:27.080-08:00New River State Park, Alleghany Access, Mouth of Wilson, Va.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaznCHXLTYV6A79EIXm96ppJwGStWFsZh5gUaQjMnoQVSAjD3fe3CpKmAAdoiWf_k6geiG3Bf9yheKUTWI9ufFQ4bXb_UL6open6BXtG9Q_sfetpyvD55hAg9sXa7jispwl6kuQC3aZTC_/s1600-h/new_river_state_park.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163180826485173922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaznCHXLTYV6A79EIXm96ppJwGStWFsZh5gUaQjMnoQVSAjD3fe3CpKmAAdoiWf_k6geiG3Bf9yheKUTWI9ufFQ4bXb_UL6open6BXtG9Q_sfetpyvD55hAg9sXa7jispwl6kuQC3aZTC_/s320/new_river_state_park.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There is a North Carolina state park nearby, an old farm given to the park by the old farmer, down on the New River. I go there often, formerly with Aaron Floyd, and now with Mica Paluzzi, a 13-year-old friend who has taken to birding.<br /><br />Surrounding the park are huge vacation home developments, gated, growing like fungi. So this part of the park is an oasis, lots of trails, primitive canoe camping areas provided. Aaron and I discovered the endangered golden-winged warbler breeding here three years ago, fully documenting the process from building the nest, to bringing caterpillars to the young. But deer have pretty much destroyed their preferred fragile habitat, so no warblers of that kind have been seen breeding here since.<br /><br />In the summer, the undergrowth makes off-path walking a challenge -- but, ah, in the winter, everything opens up. Today Mica and I spent half of our time just rambling about, and though it was warm, there was ice, making trudging through the marshy areas a solidified breeze. We discovered an old farm road, found an old foundation, saw remnants of fence rows, etc. I pointed out the various signs of how successional field-to-forest events were happening before our eyes.<br /><br />Across from the park, below a new house, there is an enormous rock face that has played host to generations of nesting ravens. Three years ago was the last time anyone had seen activity there, but today we not only saw a raven on her nest, but two others nearby playing on the rock face and soaring, depending on their mood. This is great news, and I intend to monitor the site throughout our late winter. This is the typical time for ravens to nest, for they must tend to their offspring for nearly a year, and they need a jump start on things.<br /><br />Aaron's father knew the old farmer, who had one of the most amazing arrowhead collections known in these parts, picked up from the fields after spring plowing. When Aaron was a lad, he visited the farmer and was shown the wonderful array of chiseled beauties. Aaron and his brother have a pretty good collection they drew on for comparison.<br /><br />The raven show suggested some questions regarding their behavior. We watched off and on through the four hours there, and never saw four. Just the one on the nest, and those other two, often picking at the hardy plants clinging to the sheer face of the rock, and otherwise flying around and joking in raven.<br /><br />It is possible that there are two couples, and possibly another nest not detected. This afternoon after returning to my library, I could not find any documentation of second-generation ravens aiding in the rearing of the next, helping their parents as some corvids do. So, anybody out there that might have some closer knowledge would be of great help to us.<br /><br />Mica is working on his bird-watching merit badge, and after only a year of our sharing these jaunts, he has become, shall we say, daunting. My abiding advocacy is: get those kids outside, mentor, share, and have fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-11392775018747369842008-02-03T16:22:00.000-08:002008-02-03T16:29:25.938-08:00More on the bat diseaseScientific American has <a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=news-bytes-mystery-illness-strikes-bats">taken note</a> of the mysterious bat illness.<br /><br />There's a sad photo of four bats whose faces show the signs of the fungus from which the syndrome gets its name.Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-42343129412510926532008-02-02T07:53:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:27.278-08:00First bees, now bats?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKpSK_ITI7pIloHc8O9-ZQAOgKkolPh_z5NiFoP221hAgLpk0Cp9yInBM8JX7sTA8G_tAQLcha_a_9MrftuJvnBlNIo9W04y2VA8QnA4JJYERWv4RrZsdIQ1kD8voHkfXMQfAEUNAdIre/s1600-h/bat"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKpSK_ITI7pIloHc8O9-ZQAOgKkolPh_z5NiFoP221hAgLpk0Cp9yInBM8JX7sTA8G_tAQLcha_a_9MrftuJvnBlNIo9W04y2VA8QnA4JJYERWv4RrZsdIQ1kD8voHkfXMQfAEUNAdIre/s320/bat" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162414015909047954" border="0" /></a><br />There was <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jglXh1LrwpTZZW0QjCD_H91BgVYwD8UGF9101">a troubling AP story</a> earlier this week about a mysterious disease that's killing bats as they hibernate. It's been spotted to the north of us, in Vermont and New York state.<br /><br />Dubbed, for lack of a better name, "white nose syndrome," it has killed as many as 90 percent of the bats in some caves. The species hardest hit is what I think of as the "default bat" in our area, the little brown bat. It causes migrating bats to burn up their fat reserves long before they would ordinarily emerge from hibernation.<br /><br />The bat infection has been compared to "colony collapse disorder," a viral infection that decimated honeybees in North America. If it's really that bad, it may well migrate south down the spine of the Appalachians in our direction.<br /><br />This story jumped out at me because it was in the past year that a friend of mine told me about a mass bat die-off from a roost in a horse barn. At the time I suspected rabies, but could it have been white nose syndrome?Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409637051236979219.post-20368701386560667242008-02-01T10:15:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:44:27.348-08:00The beautiful vanishing bobwhite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kU3JX2PS1gFlqu83uID9W4FsXeZdcNItLKHHsQbmMcVlklQN93UUn3en6UOB4-GBHE0s7nY9mKWj3HDOu5rlTmgmrkAlRlPbswGvBQLpxecExtPmAvjOuBxW1vbbbmrnBWMWfFttSaT7/s1600-h/bobwhite.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kU3JX2PS1gFlqu83uID9W4FsXeZdcNItLKHHsQbmMcVlklQN93UUn3en6UOB4-GBHE0s7nY9mKWj3HDOu5rlTmgmrkAlRlPbswGvBQLpxecExtPmAvjOuBxW1vbbbmrnBWMWfFttSaT7/s320/bobwhite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162083316312157826" border="0" /></a><br />Mark Taylor has <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/wb/149134">a piece today</a> in the Roanoke Times about a new state initiative to save habitat for <span style="font-style: italic;">Colinus virginianus</span>, the bobwhite quail.<br /><br />This little bird has always been dear to my heart, from my childhood in Texas when I'd sit on my granddad's front porch in the evening and watch a bobwhite mama lead her young ones across the yard, til right now, when I have a hard time finding any at all.<br /><br />When I moved to Floyd County back in the '70s, I saw and heard bobwhite all the time without any effort. A stretch of Woods Gap Road between the town of Floyd and the Blue Ridge Parkway had prime bobwhite habitat on both sides of the road. It was hard to drive down that road in the spring and NOT hear a bobwhite calling. Clyde Kessler tells me that the bird was once, if not dirt-common, at least plentiful in Floyd and Patrick and Franklin Counties.<br /><br />But for every four birds that existed in Virginia four decades ago, today there's only one.<br /><br />Why have bobwhite numbers collapsed? It's the old story: vanishing habitat. The quail require early successional growth, brushy areas that are interspersed with fallow fields and small stands of pine and hardwoods. To someone intent on maximizing income from land, such habitat looks like a mess. Nowadays, less and less land is allowed to remain in such an "unproductive" state. Instead, it's likely to be either pasture, farmland or developed for housing.<br /><br />There are groups devoted to saving the bobwhite quail, such as <a href="http://www.quailforever.org/">Quail Forever</a> and Quail Unlimited, which has a central Virginia chapter <a href="http://www.qu.org/quis2/Chapter_Site.cfm?Chapter_ID=280&State_ID=0">here</a>. Both are organized mainly by and for hunters.<br /><br />At any rate, a focus group has recommended to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries that a "Bobwhite Quail Action Plan" be developed, and DGIF agrees. Let's hope it bears fruit.Seth Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02257477357228183603noreply@blogger.com0