May 2008

May is the “festive month” of springtime. Rains cleanse the earth and bright colors are prevalent in the woods and meadows. The sun rises without hesitation to illuminate and warm, wherever its rays can reach. A festive month, as life rebounds from winter’s sullen, contemplative mood. Gardeners are rewarded daily, with gifts from the soil, whether they garden for ornamental flowers, vegetables and fruits or to create wildlife habitat.

As fuel for our vehicles becomes more and more expensive, some people, the lucky ones, will decide to reside closer to their workplaces. Lucky because what they will also receive, something that can’t be easily purchased, is extra time in their lives. Will this allow more appreciation for nature, for gardening, for observation? If so, then there is at least one redeeming factor to the rise in fuel costs, the savings in time. Gardeners, spending less time on the road, now have more opportunities to view the emergence of seedlings, the blooming of fruit trees, the explosion of perennials from their beds. Better than playing on the computer, better than saturation of the mind by spectator sporting events, better than driving from one shop to another, seeking gratification in an artificial world. Yes! Much better!

Time, sunlight time, is upon us now. When the auto is put away for the evening, it’s time to check the garden, walk in the woods nearby, ride a bicycle; teasing the fat from beneath the skin as one’s body is put into use. Digging a hole in the soil, large or small is a healing event, for both mind and body. Walking a trail in the woods, with camera, sketchpad or simply making keen observations, has been limited in the past to a few, as the flurry of cheap fuel use prevailed. Now, if time is created, these activities can be realized again. And what can compare to riding bicycles with the family, seeing a long-tailed weasel, with young in tow, crossing the path just ahead?

May is a wonderful month for re-evaluation of one’s time. Nature uses time and energy quite efficiently, a model for us. May wildflowers leap toward the sky before the leaves of the oaks and maples block the sunlight. The Virginia Bluebell, a wildflower of prominence on the alluvial soils of stream terraces, is a solar sponge, taking in sunlight not only directly from the sun but also, as it is reflected off the nearby water and large, white- barked sycamores. Sunlight also reflects from the cobbled sand and gravel bars of the streams. It’s nature’s example of a reflective oven. One need only stand in the floodplain of a stream on a sunlit day in May, to realize the abundance of solar rays to be shared there.

Enjoy the festivities to be found in May by visiting a Twinsburg park. It doesn’t take a lot of fuel to visit often.
 

 April 08
There's never enough time in an April week for those who appreciate nature. Migratory birds arrive, flowers bloom, amphibians fall in and out of love within days. Action in nature is here and it's now, to be gone in just a speck of time. Nature is reveling in the increased day length, full steam ahead for all life in this time of solar enrichment.
The Stone House bluebirds have settled into a home somewhere, but they keep to themselves, as their nest is constructed. Something of a housewarming party was thrown in early April as 3 pairs of bluebirds sang and carried-on outside the Stone House. Could they have had a taste of fermented fruit? Or, maybe they, like humankind, were thrilled to enjoy blue skies and warm temperatures.
The meadowlarks, savannah sparrows, barn and tree swallows arrived this month to the meadow areas of Liberty Park. The meadowlarks are a treat, as they sing from dawn to dusk, one of the most beautiful songs of any member of the blackbird clan. I watched the first barn swallow of the season, shivering on the electrical wires one cold morning, a difficult time for an insect eating bird, when it's mostly too cold for insects. "Mostly" is the key word here, for stoneflies and midges, amongst other tiny insects do emerge in early April, often to become survival food for their predators.
A pair of American kestrels have haunted the meadows at Liberty park in early April. The smallest of our falcons, their speed surpasses the fleeting flight of tree swallows, which taunt the kestrels at every opportunity. Kestrels are not common in Twinsburg. None have nested in Liberty Park as yet but there is promise in the pair's actions. Perhaps they'll be the first, as permanent grassland now attracts this insect predator. Once called the sparrow hawk, I haven't failed to notice that the house sparrows are not attempting to use the bluebird houses in the meadow, now that the kestrels enjoy them as perches. The kestrels will occasionally take small birds but thrive on grasshoppers and small rodents, dropping upon them from above, after hovering in place to scan the grasses for morsel movement.
I was pleased to see a favorite, early springtime wildflower blooming in Center Valley Park in mid April. This plant, called pepper and salt, or harbinger of spring, is a tiny one, which requires close observation to see the beauty in its miniature white flowers. Though demure, this member of the parsley family is an appreciated bright spot on an otherwise drab, early April forest floor. This is one of the lone survivors of what once must have been woodland bedecked with wildflowers, in a time before the ravages of the overpopulated whitetail deer herd. Only its low stature seems to protect it, though a chemical substance within may do the same, as several of its' cousins have poisonous properties.
April beckons us to be outdoors; heed it's invitation. For very little gas burned, a hike awaits in the in the springtime outdoors of Twinsburg's parks. Nature's April-action can't be beat.

    March 08

March is a month of endings and beginnings. Heavy, wet snow and ice end the lives of trees, which have stood strong through more years than a human animal endures. Wind adds to this conclusion, uprooting trees from soggy, March soil, which cannot support the tree’s branches coated in ice and snow. In a human’s landscape plan, this is a financial concern, due to collateral damage and as well, cost to replace the tree. In the natural woodland, this is a different situation.
A scientist (one with immense time on his hands) once said that there is a greater diversity of life associated with a fallen tree, rotting away on the woodland floor than that of an upright, growing tree. While a challenging concept to the mind, certainly it makes sense. With each stage of decomposition, the fallen tree hosts different assemblages of living species. And as any fifth grader can tell us, the final role of the dead tree is to become rich, moist humus, the foundation of the woods and life-blood of it. This then is the ultimate recycling system, readily available to teach us by example, of how earth’s systems work in harmony.

As life ends now for starving animals and birds, reptiles and insects that emerge too early, it also resounds with new beginnings, heralded most prominently by bird song. A migrant bird species, the rusty blackbird, had stopped at the stone house in early March, to squeak and squawk from a nearby tree, sounding much like the early efforts of a violin student. But on this sunlit March day, amidst these harsh sounds, came a warble, soft and fluid, like a spring flowing through the boreal bog habitat where this species nests. Only once was this song emitted, and then back to squeaks and squawks. Once was enough though, to propel my mind into the wilderness which this bird inhabits, for just that moment in time, here in the tamed surroundings of the stone house. As the rusty blackbird lifted off to continue its springtime journey, the cardinal sang from the woods’ edge. Brassy and bold, cardinal song is more like that of a Dixieland trumpet player, nearly impossible to ignore, only robin song is perhaps better known to urban dwellers.

The male and female bluebirds took advantage of a recent warm March day to forage in the grasses and talk amongst themselves about high interest mortgages, as now is the time when all cavity-nesting birds seek a hollow tree or nest box somewhere to call home. They don’t worry about schools, believing in home schooling as they do but certainly the neighborhood has to be safe. No use in nesting near to house sparrows, birds which terrorize and burglarize bluebird nests. They’ll have to be very careful about making their decision; it could make all the difference in their family’s future.

As bird song becomes more commonplace and the days advance further into March, renewal will be more apparent. The first warm rains will bring earthworms to the pavement, where they swim for their lives and at the same time, nourish hungry birds and early awakening amphibians and reptiles. Mud is now readily available for later use in nest construction by both the robin and barn swallow. And increased day length applies a blush to treetops as plant growth responds to the returning solar energy. So renewal is not only apparent but as well rapid, in this month so aptly named, as the days of spring March forward. Soon, the gauntness of Twinsburg’s parks will be replaced with green and warmed by the spring’s sunlight for us to savor. Using the jargon of our time, the March springtime may hit “Pause” or it may hit “Fast Forward” but it will not hit “Skip.” Only we observers can choose that selection.

Submitted by Stanley Stine, Naturalist

February 08

I missed the courtship calls of the great-horned owls this year, though the birds will continue to call, even though their eggs are now being incubated. The low intonation of their calls may have been muffled for me by the noise of traffic and the city. Yet more likely, I simply wasn’t outside at the right time to hear them. They are, after all, well established in urban areas, a great benefit to our surroundings, eating not only rats but also skunks and anything else which this magnificent hunter can snare. And beware the pet owner, for great-horned owls have the reputation for taking a cat or small dog, as surely as they would dine on vermin. So as the public now worries about their pets and the coyote community, there has always been a danger lurking for the pint-sized pets, from silent wings above.

Winter seems harshest now and for wildlife it doesn’t just seem harsh, it is, as food supplies run thin. Both prey and predator will die during this period of relative famine. Mockingbirds, birds with only scattered populations in the Cleveland area, are seldom seen in Twinsburg. Yet, on one of the coldest days of February, just along the bike path in Center Valley Park, a mockingbird feasted on the fruits of multiflora rose, an invasive plant but one that has expanded the ranges of both cardinal and mockingbird northward. As food supplies become lean, birds like this “mocker,” must move across the terrain, seeking fruits remaining on the stems of various shrubs and small trees. A flock of robins passed by too, as the mockingbird fed, themselves seeking food in the bitter cold.

Only the crows seem unscathed by the winter’s last blasts. Opportunists, they are pleased to find sustenance in the parking lot of a restaurant or chase down an unlucky vole in a meadow. Anywhere, anything, to send down their gullets, makes them the more successful of winter inhabitants. They are now reaffirming their pair bonds, preening one another and perched close to the other on branches. Our local flocks will remain in contact, even when they have paired to nest. Some will not nest but help in the overall family unit to raise the next batch of young, noisy siblings. Adaptability is the key for winter survival and the crows adapt quickly, their lives depend on it.

February days are normally bitterly cold, yet there is something very spiritual about walking amidst trees in a woodland during a sunny but brisk day during this month. The crack and pop of the trees as the sun’s rays heat the wood, send a splintered conversation through the woods, as though plans were being drawn for the springtime festival of leaves, due not far into the future.

If winter blues are overwhelming now, Twinsburg’s parks can offer respite. The cold and more often damp air to be savored in February, while walking a trail, is therapeutic. Too, the songbirds have begun to sing along with the percussion notes of the trees. A winter woodland concert, easy on the ears and nerves, will serve to seemingly make the approaching springtime arrive as an encore performance. Consider being part of the audience, while visiting Twinsburg’s parks.
 

"There are many stories in nature, but only experience allows us to read them all."

January 08

January offers the first peek at a promising solar increase. We’ve turned the corner on increasingly dark and gloomy days, which December offers. And, as we’ve already discovered this winter, occasionally January offers us a teaser day or two, when temperatures rise to unnatural highs. Times like that are good for seeking out the winter “nap-takers” such as the mourning cloak butterfly or green frog. Both of these creatures commonly emerge to sample their surroundings on warm winter days, then return to their long naps.

January often brings those birds of the far north to Twinsburg. Snow buntings, short-eared owls, northern harriers and rough-legged hawks now find our remaining open, natural areas, their havens from the certain famine which would have come, had they remained concentrated on their mild-season feeding areas. In northern Ohio, these species are attracted to tundra-like conditions, found around airports, on golf courses and hayfields. And as stark as these habitats appear to us this time of year, the silhouettes of these birds stands out easily to the observant.

While birds of the north deal with survival, some of our local birds prepare for renewal, reestablishing pair bonds. For the bald eagle, it’s time to do some refurbishing of the old nest. As January’s days pass, more and more often, our “highway hawk,” the red-tailed hawk, is seen in pairs as we drive the roadways. A walk on a cold, clear night is likely to present the soft booming call of the great horned owl, as the pair discusses plans for the theft of a red-tailed hawk’s nest, before the hawks can reestablish their claim. Renewal begins slowly, as slowly as the progress of spring in northeastern Ohio. Yet, one day soon, there will be eggs to incubate, even as snowfall continues, so that when spring arrives and provides bountiful amounts of food, young raptors will be ready, with begging mouths turned toward their parents.

January’s sun, reflected off a snow cover, burns the eyes and brightens the interior of an otherwise dark room. January’s sun reminds the brain of bird and mammal that hormones need to flow, as it’s time for early nest and den building. At the same time, there is the threat of winter starvation, bodily furnaces shutting down for lack of nutritional foods to burn. Predators and prey may both fall victim to winter’s hardships, despite the hint of better times, providing by the glaring January sun.

For the humankind who visits our natural areas in January, it is very apparent that there is much of winter ahead. But there are tracks of animals to follow and ice formations to view along the creeks and tributaries of Twinsburg’s parks, to entice us outdoors. We can more easily accept these attractions to move in harsh conditions, than can the wildlife we observe, as our food supplies are guaranteed and the most modern of outdoor apparel is available to maintain the heat of our personal furnaces. Dress warmly and experience the winter, In Twinsburg’s parks! 

December 2007

December often takes us slowly into the depths of winter. So far, as this is written, that appears to be the trend this year. By the end of December, we can expect the climatic conditions of winter’s brunt. For park visitors, the “brunt” of winter is often the most exciting. Firmly frozen tracks in the snow provide a variety of stories for those inclined to learn their vocabulary. Tufts of feathers or fur atop the snow, often mean that one life was lost so another could live. Imprints of wings in the snow, accompanying fur or down, means one of our raptors has had a meal. Bones fragmented into small pieces can mean a coyote has dined. Nature feeds all those which must remain active in winter but only if their skills and good fortune allow.

Meanwhile, under the snow at the subnivean level, the area between the snow and earth, tiny rodents make a living. Here the air temperature is about 32 degrees, as long as there is a sufficient insulating snow layer above. After a season of relatively deep snowfall, the spring thaw will show a network of tunnels, not only in natural areas but also, sometimes on lawns, especially those bordering natural areas. Prey and predator use this “subway” system; so a host of life and death stories are carried on beneath a deep snowfall, while on the surface, life is often “seemingly” nonexistent. The ears of larger predators read these snow-buried arteries very well, as we learn from watching a fox or coyote, owl or hawk, diving into the snow, to withdraw carrying a furry prize in teeth or talons.

Flocks of bluebirds, robins and cedar waxwings now congregate on the wild grape vines, a treat that won’t remain for long but for now, holds bountiful clumps of fruit for the feasting. Later, when grapes and other fruits have fermented, these birds will enjoy a natural “toddy” of sorts, as they partake. How this impacts these birds hasn’t been documented to any degree but a distinct memory from many winters ago, is a line of cedar waxwings, perched shoulder to shoulder (and perhaps leaning on each other?) while passing a berry up and down the row, one winter day!

After many years of listing the common milkweed as one of Ohio’s noxious weeds, this very useful native wildflower is no longer considered as such. One no longer need feel a pang of guilt, when finding the dry pod on a December day and tossing the plumed-seeds into the air. Watching them soar or skid across a snow-covered field is a delight for both the young as well as the young at heart! And, visions of summer warmth come to mind, as the milkweed attracts such beautiful insects as the monarch butterfly.

December is a time of gift-giving and sharing. Often though, the busyness of the holidays distracts from the intent of these gifts. Sharing a walk in the woods with a loved-one or pointing out the flight of the milkweed seed to a child provides some perspective, in an otherwise often stressful time. Dress in layers, pack a snack and take a walk in December’s nature. If there’s some depth of snow on the ground, stop and listen for a squeak or a scurry… there’s life under there! 

November 07

We dig in our heels this month, trying to hold onto mild weather. But gloomy skies dominate now, so even a warm day has a bone-dampening chill to it. The fickle frog, we call the spring peeper, calls even now, as day length mimics early springtime’s. Our internal clocks are confused too, not particularly happy about the long nights and short days. Activity continues as wildlife defines winter territory and prepares for the season in other ways. The barred owls continue to call; the meadow jumping mouse, like a miniature kangaroo, hops about in woods and fields, eating, eating, eating. They will be sleeping through the winter, unlike other mice, which remain active all winter. The ears of the barred owl, can easily detect the leaf-stir of the jumping mouse, so it doesn’t stay in any one place very long.

Oaks retain their leaves even now, while most others have released theirs into the autumn winds. A few wild apples and viburnum berries still cling to branches but for the most part, the lack of rainfall has meant a poor fruit crop this season. The flocks of robins and bluebirds will have a tough winter, in that regard, relying as they do on the late clinging fruits of trees and shrubs. Another change, one of which most folks aren’t aware, is the slow demise of the oft-cursed multiflora rose. An Asian import, a favorite of farmers about fifty years ago, it created cover for game birds and rabbits. Pastures were often defined by a row of multiflora rose. In today’s world, as farming methods have changed and habitat for wildlife dwindles, this rose has become a villain. One of the top-ten invasive plant species in Ohio, its wide branching habit and ability to grow in sun or shade, has eliminated many native species by its intrusion. But today, a disease which only seems to attack it and not other members of the rose family, is striking down the multiflora rose. Though a pest plant, the rose hips (fruit of the rose) will be missed by the birds. Cardinals and mockingbirds probably made their way north into areas when they had never nested before, with the assistance of this shrub. Not only did they eat the rose hips, they also found protected nest sites within the thorny branches. It will be interesting to observe as the rose disappears, how bird species respond to this change.

Of birds, one in particular, the blue jay, highlights November. For jays busily gather acorns now, hiding them for a later meal. Of course relocating them does not always happen by the same bird but often by rodents and other birds, such as woodpeckers. Sometime they are not found at all. In fact, the blue jay has been credited with planting oak populations after the glaciers receded. Blue jays, collecting acorns and losing them, some distance away, allowed the oaks to move further and faster than would have been otherwise possible.

Signs of spring are rare at this time of year but one, the spike of the skunk cabbage, can be found now in muck areas, protruding through the leaf accumulations, a bit of color in an otherwise, mostly brown setting. The blue-green plant, the shape of a narrowly clinging water droplet, visible in November, contains the flowers, one of the earliest wildflowers visible in springtime.

November, for all those gloomy days, does provide something special, found at no other season, in the woodlands. Whether damp or dry, the November woods emits a fragrance like nothing else. People hiking along a trail; literally drink the spicy fragrances in, through their nostrils; a heady smell of fermentation and warm earth, sheltered by a leaf blanket, moist and rich with aroma. Though, not recognized by most members of our modern society, each different species of tree and shrub, have leaves which emit unique fragrances as they dry. Some will contain little odor when crushed, while others quite the opposite, as potent as the smell of a warm pumpkin pie!

This month begins a major holiday season and so often, sees fewer numbers of people enjoying natural areas, as they bustle through many an unnatural setting, preparing for feasts and gift giving. Too bad really, as there are so many gifts and feasts for the senses, within nature’s store. 

October 2007

Due to the drought of 2007, several authorities have predicted less colorful leaves and an early leaf-drop this autumn. However, as is commonly the fact, predictions about nature are often incorrect. As this is written, the trees are vividly colored, and after an extreme rain, they still cling to the branches, though we’ve entered the last week of October.

The last of the migrating monarch butterflies pass through now. If I’m lucky, I may see a single monarch each day, wondering if it will be the last of the season. The fiery orange of their wings match the similar orange of the sugar maple’s leaves. In a few places at Liberty Park and around the stone house, we’ve been able to grow prairie grasses, native plants which also display a bright orange tone as they end their growing time. The birds have already stripped the seeds from these tall plants, which concerns me, as the drought hindered much of the overall ability of plants to produce fruits and seeds this past season. It could easily be a winter of famine for wild creatures, a result of the drought.

While not a brilliantly colored bird, the turkey vulture kept the skies above Twinsburg lively this summer. Their soaring silhouettes were far more commonly viewed this past season, with so many dry, heated, thermal-winds during the drought. The bulk of these birds have made their way south now but we should continue to see them until the land freezes, when these macabre-looking birds are kept from that most useful contribution of removing carrion from our landscape.

Crickets and katydids sing much slower trills now. The cicadas have died, their grubs, now feeding beneath the trees, will emerge next summer. Depending on the butterfly species, some are moving south; some, have of course, perished but others are finding a space under the bark of trees or fallen logs, to ride-out winter’s blasts. These latter species must count on being overlooked by the diligent winter bird species. Most if not all the hibernating butterflies have bark-colored underwings, which camouflage them from predation, maybe!

October, in the Twinsburg parks is a month of reminders. Memories of singing birds and buzzing insects are still fresh in the mind. Here and there, a late-blooming flower can yet be seen as well. It is also a time when the values of this habitat should be reflected upon, not only for wildlife but for the human community as well. Less often considered are some of the obscure but very important benefits these natural areas provide to us. They allow for storm water retention and filter runoff, cool and filter the air, lessen noise pollution and simply put, they beautify Twinsburg. The old agrarian myth that such places are wastelands is still voiced in our society. Too bad really, in that looking to the future, these areas will increase in value as natural areas, for all the reasons above and for others which haven’t been listed. Fortunate is this community, to have set aside such very valuable land for the numerous benefits to its citizens, both now and into the future.

September 2007

September brings gold to the meadows at Liberty Park as well as Center Valley Park.  Center Valley’s two demonstration prairies, along the bike path, have responded to their sloping, southwesterly orientation by providing brilliant color throughout the summer.  But September is the big month for native sunflower and goldenrod species, all presenting brilliant yellow flowers on these last of summer’s days.  This year as always, the deer have taken more than their share of tops off these plants and the drought has served to stunt their re-growth severely.  The rains in August and then again in September have repaired some of the damage to the plants; in fact, plants which normally bloom in June and July are now blooming… a very interesting phenomena.

Nature’s version of the military’s “Blue Angels,” the barn swallows have now departed for the south.  I’ll miss their company as I mow the grounds around the stone house and the meadow trails.  Their flying displays, as I kicked-up insects for them with the mower, were thrilling!  Gone also are the bobolinks, on their way to Argentina, the longest journey of any of our songbirds.  But soon, northern birds will arrive, using Twinsburg as their winter “retreat.”  In fact, as I write, waves of warblers, waterfowl and raptors are moving south, as a cold front out of Canada, drifts through our area.  Most will not reside here, especially the neotropical birds, such as the warblers.  These are insect eaters and move to lands where insects are always available for the winter.  Some, like the tree sparrow, a far north nesting bird, will travel to Ohio to take shelter in the meadows and brushy areas of Twinsburg until springtime.

For the photographer, September provides the biggest and perhaps most beautiful spiders of the season.  Their webs, often seen coated with fine dew are design marvels.  An insect that is very common now and could find itself snared in one of these webs is the monarch butterfly.  They seem to be everywhere, soaring and sipping nectar as they forge ahead toward Mexico.  Two other butterflies, the checkered white and white-m hairstreak, are uncommon in Twinsburg but may be seen in September, especially as they seek nectar from the goldenrods.

Flocks of bird, swarms of dragonflies, hoards of smallish frogs plopping into the streams or ponds at your approach; these are all part of this time of plenty in nature.  Twinsburg’s preserved natural areas offer food and habitat for all these creatures, whether they are passing through or are permanent residents.  There’s no better time to visit Twinsburg’s parks than the month of September, if observing nature is high on your list of things to do.   

August 2007

Nature constantly offers new adventures and new challenges for those who observe.  This year I’ve challenged myself to identify a few of the tiny singers in nature.  Crickets, grasshoppers, katydids and cicadas have all registered in my ears but until recently, there wasn’t all that much in the way of books to assist in their individual identifications.  Then too, today’s cameras and binoculars have become much better suited to observing and photographing tiny singers nearby.  The month of August offers the student of insect sound, a rich and diverse opportunity to learn more about them.

For the bird watcher, August can be a month of frustration, as young birds, oblivious to danger, often allow for close views but their plumage is not always like that of an adult.  Not so easy, identifying some of them!  August is also the month when late nesting birds such as the goldfinch and cedar waxwing are busy raising their broods.  As both species are seed-eaters, this late nesting plan allows for a harvest-time feast for the young.  Sadly, the barn swallows that entertained us while walking in the meadows and the comical bobolinks will soon depart for their southward migration.  Though at about the same time, the meadow will attract some unusual species too, as snipe and rails take a break from their migrations to dine on chunky grasshoppers and other invertebrates living in the open areas.  Both rails and snipe are wetland birds but food and cover are valuable to them here along their southward flight, so a somewhat drier, meadow habitat provides just what is necessary.

Birds are not the only group of creatures to head south, the monarch butterfly being one of the most famous non-bird migrants.  An early frost could greatly impact the genetic mix of these large, orange butterflies, so the August batch of monarch caterpillars will be cuing up for the flight southward as August ends.  Meanwhile, large “flocks” of dragonflies will ride the wind currents, working southward too.  The green darner is perhaps the most famous of the dragonflies to migrate.

The close of August is a busy time for wildlife, food stores are created by some but for others, raiding the nests of ground dwelling hornets and bumblebees will provide increased fat reserves.  It doesn’t seem as frantic a time as does springtime though.  Food is very available, as is habitat.  In springtime, both are in short supply.  As August ends, nature seems more deliberate in its actions.  There’s always an exception however, and the family of mammals which we call bats are indeed becoming more and more frantic as summer wanes.  Mating season will be occurring soon for the bats.  But besides the search for mates, these little creatures must develop potbellies before it’s time for their winter nap.  Eating, drinking and mating push these animals into frantic flights called swarms.  Nothing about their actions seem deliberate as they frantically flutter through the tree canopy.

August is a time of nature’s concentrations… a good time to be outdoors in one of Twinsburg’s parks.

July 2007

June 2007

Springtime comes to a close in June and with every passing of a year, this season seems to be shorter and shorter. I know I took the time to visit some very beautiful wildflower areas earlier this spring but now those memories seem so distant. Same with bird migration; I plan to and do go to special migratory spots but now that time is past. Currently birds have hungry young mouths to feed and are moving only as far as they must to find food. 

May 2007 By Stanley Stine

May can be the “glamour” month of the year, with nature’s beauty demanded of the eyes of the beholder. This year, as I write, we have almost reached the mid-point in the month and it has been one of the best ever for outdoor observation. Just about the time the wildflowers began to wane, in came waves of warblers to change our gaze from ground level to the treetops. Springtime wildflower displays or flocks of brilliant warblers can mean bursts of color, this year’s being spectacular, due to the cooperative weather.

There are subtle beauties to be found too. The unfurling of the buckeye or hickory tree bud is not only beautiful but something of an engineering marvel. The reflection of forest trees on the surface of a vernal pool is another of those subtle beauties. A number of photographers have captured this moment on a sunny day in their prints. The viewer of these photos has difficulty in figuring out which side is up, the clarity so vivid on the still water’s surface! While the next observation is largely missed by visitors to our parks, the sheen of a newly emerged dragonfly’s wings rivals the prismatic colors of a CD in the sunlight. Subtle beauty is appreciated now, to add diversity to the otherwise gaudy sights of nature’s springtime.

For many of the bird species, the time is now to find a mate and go about nest building and chick rearing. Some start with little camouflage available but soon the nests become invisible as the vegetation becomes denser. Other bird species will nest later, when concealment by the greenery is secured. Predator species, for the most part, have youngsters now growing, a timely situation that provides copious sources of food for the young predators. Birds, mice and other prey species become food for the developing, young predators, as nature’s plan would have it.

Our technology has made it even more likely that we can observe both the beauty and tragedies (to us) in nature. Digital cameras now provide shots of nature at close range without the distortion of a film camera’s short depth of field. Likewise, modern binoculars allow for a clear focus of such things as a beautiful snake, basking in the sun, just a few feet away. Never before have we had the opportunity to enjoy nature, as we can today, either in a photograph or simply as a memory. For the citizens of Twinsburg, high gasoline prices need not hinder them from enjoying an enriching time in nature, during this very brief moment in the season, with so much to see. A short drive offers nature in springtime to every resident in the community.

April 2007

Temporary pools, within the woods, are filled with signs of rapidity. Eggs must be laid and… eaten! Births and deaths occur rapidly, in this tiny, wet world, where time is fleeting. The chance of complete evaporation of these pools, means “no critter left behind” is not just a catchy phrase but a lesson in reality. It is critical that the life processes be expedited. The Spotted Salamander will not eat until after courtship and production of eggs completed. The eggs must transform into small, mosquito eating carnivores, then into adult salamanders, all before the vernal pool evaporates. This is a time of grand successes and extreme failures, within each species’ community.

The maple tree community, of the earliest trees to flower, may successfully produce bountiful seeds early which germinate and take charge of the forest floor because of this early production or… may fall victim to freezing temperatures that halts seed production entirely. In the woodlands of Twinsburg, this is a very workable system both for the maples and other trees species, which must compete with them. Young maples tolerate shade very well and can reduce or eliminate other species of trees from growing, especially those that require more sunlight and increased growing time. So the tug-of-war between tree species is often built upon chance, with weather weighing in heavily on the outcome.

April is a time of butterfly species, though we don’t actually think of it in that regard. Most of us consider mid to late summer as the butterfly months. However, this is a time to see woodland butterflies, more easily than at later times. The Mourning Cloak, a butterfly that hibernates beneath tree bark and amongst the logs in our woodpiles, is a large, beautiful butterfly that glides through the woodlands, along with the scalloped-winged group of butterflies, generally called “angle-winged” butterflies. Two of the angle-wings, the Question Mark and the Comma, display a deep, vivid orange when the wings are open but this dissolves into a bark-colored camouflage when the wings snap closed. Perhaps the most delicate beauty of our springtime butterflies is that of the West Virginia White. Like a fluff of down, gliding here and there, this small butterfly visits the toothwort flowers in our spring woodlands. Toothwort is a spring ephemeral wildflower, which means it doesn’t persist for long, so the butterfly must deposit its eggs on the plant in a short period of time. Fortunate is the hiker that observes the mating flight of these butterflies in the springtime woodland.

April is a month when we as humans, have many tasks to do, preparing in a variety of ways for approaching, mild weather activities. And as in nature, time is precious. Hiking in the woods of Twinsburg’s parks, is one way to reduce the springtime angst and create fond memories of nature’s beauty before it is gone.

March 2007

Another noisy resident bird, becomes even more so in March, as the Red-shouldered Hawk begins nest-building duties. Unlike the Red-tailed Hawk, this smaller bird is comfortable with nesting in woodlots, close to human inhabitation. This hawk’s call is commonly imitated by the blue jay, which sometimes fools the most proficient bird watcher. The Red-shouldered Hawk feeds on small prey, such as mice, snakes and frogs. It’s very at home, hunting in wetland areas in Twinsburg.

As the Xs on the calendar reach the midpoint of March, the possibility of amphibian movement becomes more likely. The Spring Peepers, usually the first, begin their songs, mostly in small numbers, until the masses have thawed from their frozen state. When this occurs, the peeper songs merge into a loud and if you’re close enough, deafening chorus. The spring peeper is a member of the tree frog family and climbs quite well. Though more appropriately, they are actually “shrub” frogs, rarely going very high into the vegetation.

Not all of spring’s arrivals are noisy, though they are exciting in their own way. A better indicator of spring’s approach than either of our two thrushes, the robin and bluebird, is the much larger Turkey Vulture. Some years, an occasional few vultures will remain in northeast Ohio but for the most part, they move to areas south of our region. As snow melts and carcasses appear, the vultures return. Our modest records indicate mid-February is a normal time for them to return to Twinsburg. The deep snow cover this year however has restrained them, even as March arrives. (Vultures apparently arrived the weekend of March 3rd this year, reported by two observers.)

Perhaps the earliest wildflower, the Harbinger of Spring or Pepper and Salt plant is one we can still find growing in our Twinsburg parks. Too small for a deer’s grasp and too insignificant for human plant “borrowers,” this unique white-flowered plant is a pleasant surprise while walking in the early spring woodlands. But look carefully, as the plant stands only 2-10 inches high!

Silent amphibians, unlike the noisy frogs in springtime, are the various salamanders we find in Twinsburg. As the first warm (relatively speaking) rains arrive, herds of mole salamanders move out of their earthen homes to make way to their favorite breeding sites. Beautifully marked, the colors warn predators that these creatures are distasteful.

In northeastern Ohio, sometimes it seems that winter continues into May. Yet, there is a threshold for wildlife and once day-length and temperatures become satisfactory, our wildlife respond as they have for long before there was a Twinsburg! In this fast paced and congested part of Ohio, isn’t it special, that the citizens of Twinsburg can even contemplate such natural events within a few minutes drive, or for some, a leisurely walk, to view these occurrences? It has been said that Akron is a city within parks. It is no longer alone is that regard.

February 2007 

The door swings closed on winter, as February concludes. Certainly, there will be more snows, freezing rain and reasons to keep the winter clothing ready, at least till mid-May in northern Ohio. But day-length increases substantially in February, providing additional time to explore the outdoors in Twinsburg’s parks. One wintertime activity that lends itself to the outdoor experience is that of noting wildlife signs in the snow.

There are several good field guides to tracks and sign available and all will provide a fine introduction to the activity. However, the characters of snow challenge the nature student, as it thaws, refreezes and drifts. Deer and coyote tracks have a similar pattern when slightly obscured as do squirrel and rabbit. The task then is to note other clues, which help to resolve these mysteries in the snow.

Just as a young student learns to read the written word with practice, the novice outdoors person will eventually unravel the natural world’s stories by continued observations. Scatology, the study of animal droppings, is another manner in which these stories can be read. Add yellow snow, a feather or fur, a nibbled branch or bone, and you have more clues to the identification of the creature you are tracking. As winter moves toward spring, the number of such signs to be observed will increase. Couple this activity with photography or sketching and you’ve found a sure cure for late winter’s bouts of cabin fever.

I’ve always thought of February as the month in which the trees begin to shout! On a cold sunny day, amidst the trees, the sound of groaning, moaning trees can be heard. The occasional, loud “pop,” nearly as loud as a gunshot, can be heard as well. It is a “tree party;” time for them to stretch and awaken as their fluid begins to flow again. The celebration will continue into the warmer months as flowers and leaves emerge to applaud another season of growth.

Life in our modern society dulls or depresses our senses. Whether listening to the trees or looking for fox scat, wintertime can awaken the senses and brighten our days, even in the depths of one of our coldest months. Twinsburg’s parks are not simply examples of land set-aside. They are places to explore and recreate us through observations and use of the senses. And the truly wonderful thing about them is that they are not far from everyone’s front door!

January 2007

About ten days before Christmas I received a gift that will be locked away in my memory forever! As I left my office at dusk, a motion caught my eye from the meadow behind the stone house. There was enough light to see a large bird hunting just above the grasses. Hastily returning with my binoculars, I was treated to the view of a new bird species using Liberty Park for food and shelter. The Short-eared Owl, an uncommon visitor and rare nesting species in Ohio, was nabbing meadow voles on this particular evening. The choppy wing-beat of the owl created a bobbing motion that is especially unique to this raptor. All others that hunt the field either glide or hover, with certainty in their flight performance. This bird appeared to be in need of a tune-up! I misjudged its awkward appearance, as first one vole was captured, then another. The vole or “field mouse” has a sausage or corndog silhouette when carried by a raptor, so I smiled to myself, thinking of this bird’s full belly and was glad it had stopped by for supper.

Entering the month of January, no matter what the weather conditions may be, means that naturalists begin looking and listening for signs of spring. One of the first of those, beginning in January, is the booming courtship call of the Great Horned Owl. These large birds have an innovative nesting plan. By mating earlier than hawks, the owls can select from last year’s hawk nests before the hawks become reestablished. The parent owls do not build nests or repair them, so it’s not uncommon for young owls to move onto nearby secure branches as time goes on. The timing of the young owl’s development coincides with bountiful populations of prey species in springtime, another plus in this nesting plan. So while our calendar tells us this is wintertime, for these great owls, spring is in the air!

On January 6th, more than five years ago, Twinsburg had one of those rare winter days when the temperature reached sixty degrees. On that day, while in Center Valley Park I was treated to a not so rare observation of a Mourning Cloak Butterfly flying through the woods. This butterfly is known to hibernate beneath tree bark and finds a log pile to its liking as well. When one considers the amount of bark damage done in fall and winter by squirrels, deer, beaver, woodpeckers and storms, it’s easy to understand how this woodland butterfly survives, sipping on tree sap flowing from these wounds during occasional warm-ups in wintertime. If the sap is not flowing, then thawed, rotted fruit provides a tangy fruit-punch for these insects.

Whether encountering rare wildlife or hearing the haunting but common “hoot” of the Great Horned Owl, natural areas within Twinsburg’s parks provide habitat for our wintering species. And, it isn’t necessary to wait for the holidays to come around again, to find a special gift from nature, either heard or seen while visiting our parks.