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 It's autumn at Springbrook…
Autumn has come whispering into the forest…
The ground is almost hidden, tucked in under a thick, cozy blanket. Fox squirrels dive in and stockpile stores of nuts that have dropped from oaks, walnuts and hickories. Congregating robins search for insects and berries in an attempt to build up some extra reserves for the migration that lies ahead. There are hundreds of them in the woods today, making so much noise in the crunching leaves that I whirl around, expecting to see a much larger animal. Buck rubs have begun to appear, a clear signal of territory claimed seemingly just before we arrived, fresh shreds of bark still moist. After quite a lull, activity at the birdfeeders is increasing. While there is still an abundance of wild food available throughout the area, the impending weather change will bring a steady supply of Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches to observe and band. Dark-eyed Juncos began arriving in mid-October, this being one of the "warm" places that they fly South to. They will remain throughout the winter, frequenting the feeders and mist nets.
Students have filled the agenda, taking full advantage of the mild temperatures to explore the creeks, lake, ponds and surrounding watersheds. Creek exploration with Maria Koshmeder, Iowa County naturalist, proved to be more than a "hands-on" experience. Kids returned from those sessions looking as if they had been surviving in the wild for weeks! We have kayaked and canoed through late October, most of us staying within the boats. (First aid to prevent hypothermia was an add-on to a few of the lessons!) It is amazing to see a 4th grader transform from someone reluctant to get into a kayak to a participant in a race across the lake, all in an hour's time. What a feeling of accomplishment!
While bird banding has always been one of our most popular activities, this year we were able to participate in Monarch tagging, thanks to Rene Straud, Sac County naturalist. We learned how to carefully "pass" a butterfly, determine its gender, and tag it with a special sticker before releasing it. Imagine such a fragile creature making it all the way to Mexico on wings as thin as paper! Follow this link to check and see if 2 of the butterflies that we banded are recaptured south of the border or somewhere along the way: www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/recoveries.htm Here are their ID numbers: LHZ116 and LHZ111 In checking the recovery site, I recognize the names of teachers and naturalists from Iowa whose tagged butterflies have been recaptured over the years. We will definitely become more involved in this intriguing activity in the future. I can't wait to order our tags! After an amazing week of temperatures in the 70's, we are expecting the first flurries of snow in the next couple of days. While the number of visiting groups is waning, those that arrive come prepared for crisp early morning hikes, moonlight owl calling and unbelievable star-gazing as the prairies give way to the sky.
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