Fall color, finally!

A gorgeous palette of colors paints a pond at Myeerah Nature Preserve in Logan County, Ohio, this morning.

Until the last few days, I'd not seen much in the way of vibrant fall foliage here in Ohio. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan was near peak a few weeks ago (GO HERE for pics), but that was about the only place I'd yet seen colorful fall foliage. Due to weather and temperature, presumably, the colorful signaling of leaves as they announce fall's end and the onset of winter has been late in coming.

The photo above was made at a little known but interesting preserve not far from Bellefontaine. I didn't have much time to explore Myeerah Preserve's 450 acres as I was in the area for something else, but hope to get back. This large pond is an excellent spot for landscape portraits, and should only get more colorful in the coming week.

Fall Enrichment Fun ... with Your Pet!

Crisp fall temperatures have arrived and you may be looking for some indoor fun with your four-legged friends. Here are some enrichment activities that are just what you need to keep your pets stimulated (both physically and mentally!) once the cool weather arrives.

Rabbit Enrichment Toys

Wheat Grass Containers
Grow wheat grass in a small plastic container – apple sauce or dressing cups work very well. Your rabbit will enjoy grazing on a healthy snack in a fun new way!

Cardboard Ball
Cut a paper towel tube into rings. Insert one ring into another to make an X. Continue to add rings to create a round ball. Add hay to the center and allow your rabbit to have fun tossing and tearing.

 

Bubbles for Cats

Everyone loves bubbles, and your cat is no exception! Bubbles can provide something new for your feline friend to look at and the fun, unpredictable movement stimulates her mind. And, the adventurous kitties will love the excitement of popping them! You can even find several different brands of bubbles that land without popping, can be easily wiped up and are safe for your pet to eat.

 

Egg Carton Puzzles

Dogs enjoy playing games to find hidden treats. A quick and easy way to give your dog a fun activity is to hide treats in a cardboard egg carton or cereal box and let him get to work! This activity will allow your dog to use his mind and his nose. And, tearing the cardboard helps to channel your dog’s energy and gives him an appropriate alternative to chewing on the sofa!

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Halloween is just around the corner! While you’re putting together your costume, stocking up on candy and transforming your yard into a spooky graveyard, remember that holidays like Halloween can be stressful times for your pets. Animals don’t understand why their best two-legged friends are wearing scary disguises or why the doorbell keeps ringing all night long.

To keep Halloween fun and safe for everyone in the family, consider the following pet safety tips ...

Sniff Test

If you or your children are going to dress up for Halloween, allow your pet to smell the costume before putting it on.

Beat the Sweets

Keep candy – especially chocolate and gum – away from your pets. Certain candies, wrappers and ingredients can be poisonous and even fatal for pets if ingested.

Leave Fido at Home

Don’t bring your dog (or other pets) trick or treating! The costumes, noise, music, bright lights and decorations could be overwhelming for them. Try finding a quiet room where your pets can curl up with their favorite scary movie instead.

Don’t Over-Decorate

Be careful when decorating your home. Festive items like corncobs, cornstalks, cobwebs, glow sticks and small plastic decorations can cause a choking hazard. Also, don’t forget to cover or hide all electrical cords.

Trick or Treat

If you’re expecting trick or treaters, you’ll want to keep your pets clear of the front door. An open door can be very inviting and the constant ringing of the doorbell by the little ghosts and ghouls could scare your pets and cause them to run.

Dress for Success

Costumes for your pets can be fun (and adorable!) but they should fit well enough to allow them to breathe normally. And, be cautious of any loose or hanging parts like fringe, stuffing or buttons that could pose a choking hazard.

Halloween should be a fun time for everyone, including your pets. And, by following these tips, you can make sure that it’s safe too!

American Robin

Flocks of Robins

American Robin

Large flocks of robins are moving through our area now in late October.  All this week almost any time I look out my window I can count 25 robins feeding on our lawns and field.  They are turning over leaves and searching among the blades of grass for insects and worms.  Often I see one pop up into the air as it is displaced by another.  They seem very busy, excited even.  They fly frequently between the ground and close-by trees.  Where are these birds coming from and where are they going?

Many Robins Perched in Our Trees

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is our most common thrush.  They are a member of the Turdidae family which they share in this area with the Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush and others.  Yes, there are other 'robins' but most are vagrants which wander onto our continent from South  and Central America or Siberia; for example, the Clay-colored Robin, the White-throated Robin and the Rufous-backed Robin.  

American Robin

The American Robin is so familiar to us it doesn't need description.  This species' habit of living near our dwellings, its pleasing song and its generally confident nature make it one of our favourite species.  

Like many other species, the males tend to be brighter in colour and the females grayer but there is so much overlap one cannot determine genders by appearance alone.  An interesting fact is that the western race is generally lighter in colour than our eastern race.  Our birds are mostly brightly coloured.  The young show spotting on the underparts as we are all familiar with.  It is fun to watch the flocks which we are seeing now for juveniles.  They are obviously trying hard to learn 'the ropes', how to find food, how to cooperate with the rest of the flock.  

American Robin

The American Robin inhabits all of North America except the Arctic islands.  It is a short and a medium-distance migrant.  They spend their winters in most of the US states but most go to the middle and southern states and Mexico.  A few stay here in New Brunswick for the winter.  We always count a few on Christmas Count Day.  In each of 2016 and 2017 we found one in Douglas and in 2015 we counted 40 in Douglas.  Some of that large number were probably just late migrating and would move south.

American Robin

The large flocks of robins we are seeing now are migrants.  They have generally come from somewhere else and are moving through on their way south.  I have tried to speculate where they have come from.  In my opinion many of these birds are from Quebec and northern New Brunswick.  I also think some flocks are from western Newfoundland and have flown across to Gaspé and other parts of Quebec.  They then fly down the St. John River on their way south.  Birds tend to use waterways and shorelines to help direct their flight paths.  No matter how they got here and wherever they are from, we certainly enjoy their visit while they rest and refuel.  Safe journey little cheery friends!

Country Rambles

We've been having an exceptionally beautiful month of October.

The temperatures having been hovering between 18-24 Celsius (around 68 Fahrenheit)

and I've been out as much as possible, enjoying nature.

From where I live in the town of Lausanne,

I need to take the metro, the train and then another little country train

which you can see here.

It stops at every single little village and hamlet on the way!

I went with a friend, and we noticed how dry the earth was through lack of rain.

The trees were changing colour and looking beautifully seasonal.

Some autumn plantations had already been done and appeared very green

against the dried fields of ploughed earth.

The mountains took on an almost purple hue

and quite a few had been planted with a ground cover

of purple flowers which I learnt were to replenish the soil in nutrients.

Here is a group of flowers in close-up.

The bees seemed to love it.

These country roads are wonderful for walks

and I love to go here at least twice a year to see the beautiful area in different seasons.

I love the lines of fields in different colours.

After walking through the woods, we turned to go back down the hill

down to a village called Apples.

The village church steeple can be seen

and the mountains above the lake as well.

We are still high enough to see the lake

and behind the mountain to the right

is the well-known Mont Blanc Mountain which is in France.

I thought these sunlit leaves, already quite orange,

were so typical of this beautiful season.

Nearer to home, I collected fallen leaves and thought it would be fun

to create an Autumn Quilt by taking macro shots of parts of the leaves and making a collage.

A quilt inspired by nature

in this beautiful month of October.

Sadie's Story

With her face out the window and nose to the wind, it’s clear this 10-year old Labrador Retriever mix is relishing every minute of the car ride with one of her favorite volunteers. This is Sadie. And, seeing her enjoy her time away from her kennel, walking carefree with a stuffed bear in her mouth you’d never guess the past she so narrowly escaped.

Sweet Sadie was found tied up outside during a snowstorm in January without protection from the frigid elements. Once she was rescued, she was taken to a local shelter and transferred to Animal Friends. As Sadie was getting settled into her second chance, our Medical team soon discovered that she was in need of some specialized care. Sadie was diabetic and needed medication to help manage her condition. So, we jumped into action and created a plan for her. Our compassionate staff and volunteers kept a close eye on her around the clock. But sadly, Sadie’s diabetes had gone untreated for so long that it’s causing her to slowly go blind.

But, we’re determined to give Sadie the life we know she deserves. Sadie hasn’t let her diabetes or diminishing eyesight slow her down one bit. She now has a special halo harness that helps her navigate her surroundings without the risk of bumping into obstacles. While she needs a little help getting around, she is always happy to spend time cuddling with friends and is even eager to learn new commands like “sit” and “give paw” – proving that old dogs can learn new tricks! Whether it takes days, weeks, months or even years, we’ll be right here for Sadie every step of the way – for as long as she needs.

But, there are still other pets – just like Sadie – who still need your help.

To Purchase Candy

Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about Animal Friends and ask for their support through the purchase of these sweet treats. Direct them to SarrisCandiesFundraising.com and simply ask them to use Group ID#10375 and designate Animal Friends as the organization they support when placing their order. Orders can be placed online through Dec. 14.

Deadlines

To receive your chocolate in time for Christmas, please place your order by Friday, November 16 – candy will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 14 and can be picked up at Animal Friends during our regular business hours (M-F 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and S-S 10 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Nature: Monarch butterfly numbers increasing by droves

A monarch taps nectar from a swamp milkweed/Jim McCormac

Columbus Dispatch

October 21, 2018

NATURE
Jim McCormac

On Sept. 15, 2013, my Nature column covered monarch butterflies. The message was gloomy. Following is an excerpt:

“Far fewer Monarchs are making this journey (to Mexican wintering grounds). Only 20 years ago, their ranks blanketed 45 acres of Mexican fir forest. Last winter, the butterflies occupied less than three acres. Many people have commented on their absence this fall. Some authorities estimate that Monarch numbers declined by 60 percent over the past two years.”

Then, monarchs appeared to be in dire straits, and a prime factor in the butterfly’s decline was the loss of milkweed. Monarchs require these plants as hosts — milkweeds are the only flora that the caterpillars can consume.

There are 13 native milkweed species in Ohio, and monarchs probably use them all. But the two species that do most of the heavy lifting are common milkweed and swamp milkweed. The latter grows in damp soil, and as we’ve lost about 90 percent of our state’s presettlement wetlands, the milkweed has also declined.

The aptly named common milkweed is by far our most numerous monarch fuel, and it will grow in nearly any dry, open habitat. Roadside mowing, excessive herbicide use, and the proliferation of increasingly sterile agricultural landscapes has greatly decreased this plant.

Fortunately, highly nomadic monarchs are quick to capitalize on new opportunities and will readily find new places to reproduce. People heeded a call to action. No one wanted to see the iconic orange-and-black butterflies fall to the wayside, and thus began a fevered campaign of milkweed planting.

The insects have responded. Even postage-stamp-size urban yards are cranking out monarchs, and an army of human foster parents now raise and release the butterflies. Scores of conservation organizations, park districts, highway departments and others have also joined the effort for milkweed production.

On Sept. 30, some friends and I were having lunch on a balcony overlooking a gorgeous wooded valley in southern Ohio. During our hourlong respite, we estimated that 70 to 80 monarchs coursed by on an unerring southwest trajectory. I’ve probably seen more monarchs this fall than in the past five years combined.

Many people have reported similar spikes this year. Late September brought reports of several massive roosts — congregations of thousands of butterflies — along the Lake Erie shoreline. These tough monarchs were resting after an arduous flight across the lake, en route from Canada.

The most accurate assessment of monarch populations comes from evaluating the coverage of butterflies in the Mexican oyamel fir forests where they winter. There, monarchs form shimmering burnt-orange cloaks over the trees, and scientists can calculate the acreage that they occupy.

Last winter, about 6 acres of fir forest were butterfly-filled, a doubling from 2013 when I previously covered this subject. Because of this year’s bumper crop, prospects look even brighter. Chip Taylor of the butterfly-conservation organization Monarch Watch estimates that butterflies could occupy up to 12 acres of fir forest this winter. The butterflies blanketed 45 acres two decades ago, so we’re still a ways from peak numbers.

The upward trajectory of monarch populations is a clear example of how people can positively intervene to help an imperiled natural resource. Congratulations to everyone who has assisted in the proliferation of North America’s most fabled butterfly.

Naturalist Jim McCormac writes a column for The Dispatch on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month. He also writes about nature at www.jimmccormac.blogspot.com.

Black Squirrel

Black Squirrels in New Brunswick

Black Squirrel

 The Eastern Gray Squirrel is the largest common squirrel in eastern Canada.  The Black Squirrel is a melanistic form of this species.  We are all familiar with the commonly seen Eastern Gray Squirrel which inhabits cities, towns and parkland as well as woodlots.  While on a birding trip to Saints Rest Marsh recently we found the Black Squirrel shown above in the trees on Taylor Island.  This was shocking to me because I have never seen a Black Squirrel before in New Brunswick and I have spent a lot of time in natural areas of this province!  An inquiry to our birding and nature-loving friends revealed that many have seen Black Squirrels in New Brunswick.

Black Squirrel

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is found in eastern North America from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico north to the Great Lakes region of Ontario and westward to southern Manitoba and eastward to southern Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  From my inquiry to local naturalists I have found that most black morphs have been seen in the Saint John area especially in West Saint John (Irving Nature Park) and also in Millidgeville.  One person actually saw 3 at Irving Nature Park last year.  There have been a few reports from Fredericton from as much as 30 years ago but as stated earlier I have never seen one in the Fredericton area and I have lived here all my life and spent a lot of time in the woods.  The same is reported from another active Fredericton birder.  A wildlife rehabilitation expert for the Maritimes has never received a black morph in 23 years of practice.  It is interesting in how few there are here where in some areas (Ontario, New York State, Ohio) the black morphs are the dominant forms.  

Black Squirrel

The Eastern Gray Squirrel has a soft, dense pelage formed from an undercoat and overlying guard hairs.  The typical colour is grizzled gray on the body and a white-tipped, black-banded grey-brown tail.  The face, feet and flanks usually show a mix of browns.  The underparts are white.  The black (melanistic) morph occurs about 1 in 10,000 individuals.  There is also a much rarer red (erythristic) morph.  Occasionally there occurs a mixture of morphs showing black squirrels with red tails.  Albinos also occur.  Being a genetic aberration it is possible for there to be one black morph in a litter of grays.

The individual we saw, as shown above, is an adult black morph being all black with the characteristic small amount of brown showing on the face.  There was no white belly nor white tip on the tail. 

Black Squirrel

The largest populations of Black Squirrels occur in Ontario and Ohio, USA.  In some places they are very popular and have been made mascots for universities and sports teams. The occurrence of the black morph of the Eastern Gray Squirrel is more common in the northernmost parts of its range.  That is an intriguing fact for biologists.  It may be due to natural selection because the black morph can stand cold weather better than the gray.  The black colour absorbs more heat from the sun so the black individuals survive better.   The black colour may also be better for camouflage and thus protection from predators.  

The Black Squirrel has had an interesting history.  We are responsible for the Black Squirrels in Washington, D.C.  In 1902 and again in 1906 a number of Black Squirrels were sent from Ontario to the Smithsonian.  Those individuals are responsible for the Black Squirrel population of Washington!  Gray Squirrels were also sent to England in the 1800s and developed into a pest species there.  There are black morphs among them, too.  Black morphs also occur in the Fox Squirrel and the Red Squirrel.

Autumn Upper Peninsula

The "Big Mac", or as it's properly known, the Mackinac Bridge. This massive span links Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas, and is a gateway to true north. I made this image from the Upper Peninsula side, looking south across the Straits of Mackinac towards Mackinaw City on the south side of the bridge.

Debbie DiCarlo and I just returned from an epic scouting trip to the UP, to determine sites for a photo workshop that we'll be leading in October 2019. We'll have the details of that sorted soon, but for now HERE IS THE LINK to our workshops for 2019. They'll all be good, and we'd love to have you along on any of them. We've got dates and itineraries for most, and the Upper Peninsula trip details will appear there soon.

Following is a visual feast of fall in the Upper Peninsula from our recent reconnaissance trip.

The fall color in the UP is breathtaking. Early to mid-October is peak, and nearly everywhere one goes there are numerous photo ops. "Tree Tunnels" such as this abound. This one was deep in the Hiawatha National Forest south of Munising.

A red maple sapling glows as if it's been plugged in. Ashy-white reindeer lichen punctuate the foreground and a foggy red pine forest provides the backdrop.

Brightly bicolored red maple leaves accent an old white birch log on a frosty morning, nestled in a bed of haircap moss and reindeer lichens.

An amazing - as in stop the car! - white birch forest in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We spent quite a while here, before dragging ourselves away. There were gale warnings on this day, and even a half-mile inland from Lake Superior the winds were powerful. That ended up working to my advantage as the stout breeze shook the leaves to create a blurred painterly look to the photograph.

Coffee-colored water rushes over a set of falls at Tahquamenon Falls. There are several tiers of falls here, and numerous compositional opportunities. This is the largest set of falls in Michigan, and when at peak spring flow, Tahquamenon facilitates the third largest volume of water of any falls east of the Mississippi River.

Bridalveil Falls, cascading 140 feet down a colorful cliff in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This is Michigan's tallest falls, and it can be seen from a LONG ways away. The regular boat tours here probably offer the best and closest perspective of Bridalveil. There is no way to get near the falls on the ground, except at the summit where the view is not great and the situation is hazardous. I made this image from about one-half mile away, using a 500mm telephoto with 1.4x extender for a 700mm reach.

Memorial Falls, within the city limits of Munising and one of many waterfalls in the area. This one is reminiscent of the sandstone recess cave waterfalls in the Hocking Hills of southeastern Ohio.

The shores of Lake Superior are renowned for colorful cobble beaches, and this is a prime example. This shoreline is along Au Train Bay, about 15 minutes west of Munising. Various rocks - basalt, rhyolite, gneiss, granite and others - provide for stunning photo ops.

One could spend half the day with these rocks and a camera. I spent some time standing in the wave zone with my camera pointed down at the cobble, trying to time shots with incoming waves.

Upon arrival to this magical Au Train Bay beach, I noticed a trio of Lapland longspurs foraging in the wrack line. So I rushed back to the Jeep, grabbed a telephoto lens, and rushed back down the beach to get in front of the birds. Tame as they tend to be, the longspurs ignored me and advanced right by my position as I crouched in the sand.

The sunsets and sunrises over Lake Superior can be incredible and we were lucky in that we caught several showy ones. Here, the setting sun lights the horizon on fire, as seem from Miners Beach in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore.

This was a sunrise of epic scope, viewed from one of the most remarkable lookouts along Lake Superior, Sugarloaf Mountain just west of Marquette. Making it even better is an unusual solar flare known as a "Sun Pillar" The sun was still below the horizon when I made this photo, but is telegraphing a columnar yellow reflection into the sky.

We'll be going to all of the above locales, and numerous others, on next fall's photo tour. Again, for details CLICK HERE.

Balmy October Days

Autumn Camellia

This first half of the month of October

is giving us beautiful clear skies and deliciously warm temperatures,

anything between 19 and 24 Celsius.

Vibrant Dahlia

I've been going out for lots of walks,

especially down by the lake and in the country.

The hibiscus down by the lake were in full, glorious bloom.

Taken in Montreux.

Perfection

This bud is still wet from watering.

An American Oak leaf

well and truly caught in the spikes of a bush below the tree.

Fallen from this beautiful Oak Tree where the colours are starting to turn.

Deep blue skies and colourful branches.

This one was taken in my neighbourhood.

I love this garden gate with the geranium flowers coming out to greet the next visitor.

They seem to say: "Welcome, we're expecting you!"

I do my weekly marketing downtown on Saturdays

and this is the latest bouquet I brought home with me. 

I do love the mixture of fresh colours.

I hope that you are also having a beautiful month of October

with generous sunshine and clear autumn skies.