The Fallen Log PLT Activity # 23

In continuing the process of constantly learning something new during this COVID-19 pandemic, I took the challenge, from the Maine Project Learning Tree coordinator, of creating a video to showcase the Project Learning Tree Activity #23, "The Fallen Log." Well, actually, Drew created the video and I did the dialog and took the still shots. By the way, my video along with others featuring more activities are featured on the Maine Project Learning Tree website under Educator Resources, Nature at Home. They are also on a National Project Learning Tree Youtube channel. 

Update: By the way...not to brag... but as of November, 2021, I have had 2.6K views of my video!

Here is a pdf of the data sheet that I created to go along with the activity, in case you want to give it a try;-) And, here is a fallen log data sheet from the Minnesota PLT. And, here is a great little poster about lichens;-)

This little 13 minute video took 3 days to create. First, I went out into our back woods and walked around our yard to find interesting locations, and to do some close-up still shots of items of interest. Then, I looked at the PLT Pre K-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide to see the focus of the activity, and visited the Project Learning Tree website for ideas from there, as well. From this material, I wrote my script (which gave me key points to emphasize.) Did I follow it exactly? Nope.

I call this "Loghenge." The pileated woodpeckers love it, as do a variety of other organisms.

I decided on three focal points of interest. Even though the activity focuses on a fallen log, I also wanted to highlight standing logs and a rotting stump as well, all in different stages of decomposition. And, I wanted to keep it local to show kids that you can find things of interest in your own yard, a local park, or even at your school. You don't have to wander far into the woods to do your investigation. 

As far a making the video, we made sure that the sun was behind us when shooting as we didn't want any glare. We used a point and shoot camera with good video quality. We also used iMovie for the processing and assembling of the video, audio, and still photos. I hope that it will be helpful for you...

One more thing. Check out the National Science Teacher's Association's interactive e-books for some great content that is free during the pandemic. Audubon Connections  and Community Learning for Maine have some great activities as well.

Lichen series # 1 on trees

In keeping with my learning, while in isolation during the Coronovirus pandemic, I am researching and trying to identify the various lichens that I have photographed over the years. Yowzer! This is difficult to do. I currently have the following books open: Lichens of the North Woods, Lichens of North America, and Pollution monitoring with lichens. And, there is this great poster on lichens.

Common Greenshield Lichen - (Flavoparmelia caperata) is one of the most common lichens on trees. Notice the round shape it takes on trees. And, notice that it grows on many different species of trees!

Close-up view of Common Greenshield Lichen - black lower surface. It is a foliose lichen (foliose lichens look leafy with the upper surface being a different color than the lower surface.)

Fluffy Dust Lichen - (Lepraria lobificans) can look like a pale mint colored lichen. This lichen hugs the tree tightly and is termed a crustose lichen. This species is very common on both trees and rocks.

Whitewash Lichen - (Phlyctis argena) looks just like its name suggests, like paint on trees! It is a crustose lichen with a smooth, white surface.

Boreal Oakmoss Lichen - (Evernia mesomorpha) is found on both trunks and branches of a variety of trees. It is a fruticose lichen which means that it has a bushy or shrubby growth. It tends to grow in sunny sites and is tolerant of pollution. This means that you will also find it in cities.

We've got snow!!!

Last night, the snow began spritzing at around 6pm. This was the scene by midnight.

And, here  is the snow level at 6:45am this morning. All told, we received 9.5 inches of heavy snow.

SNOW TOTAL THUS FAR THIS SEASON:  48"

Keep on learning during the pandemic

Okay, now that I am out of the initial shock and panic of all of last week, I am finally settling into the new normal of life as we know it. And, I know that I have to keep my mind and body busy. So, I scanned my bookshelf and pulled out the weighty tome of all things lichen, "Lichens of North America." It is THE book of lichenology. Did I mention that it is 795 pages long??? Well, I do have 6 weeks of free time to learn, so here goes!

I randomly opened the book and lo and behold I saw a photo that the authors took in Maine! What are the odds? And, the common name of this lichen is Blue Oilskin Lichen! It is found on "bark of all kinds, especially on tree bases, on logs or mossy shaded rocks."Brodo, Irwin M. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, 2001. So, maybe I'll find some soon;-)

Then, I did another random page selection and saw lichens that I have happened upon in the past in Maine. The common name is Red-fruited Pixie Cup lichen. It is found on wood, bark and soil. I am going to search for it as well. Exciting!!

I am planning on starting to photograph the lichens of my surroundings...the ground along the pond, bark from the base of trees up to where I can reasonably reach with my camera, tree branches, rocks, gravestones, and rotten logs. It will be a fun and colorful long-term project.

Ice Out has occurred!

Looking north on Caesar Pond

 Woweee! This is an early ice out!

Looking south on Caesar Pond

It sure is good to see open water on the pond. I can't wait to get out into the boat. Somehow, we will figure out how to get me to and from the boat with my bum knee. But first, Drew will have to get the dock into the water. I think we'll wait for a couple of weeks to make sure the weather is amenable.

Here are the ice out dates on Caesar Pond from over the last 20 years. Do you see the pattern? Every 4 years there is a March ice out...and those years yield snowfall totals under 65"... :

March 22, 2020
April 16, 2019
April 20, 2018
April 16, 2017
March 13, 2016 (Strongest El Nino in 18 years) - Warm winter - (51" snow)
April 18, 2015
April 15, 2014
April 6, 2013
March 20, 2012  (61" snow)
April 17, 2011
March 18, 2010  (57" snow)
April 9, 2009
April 19, 2008
April 20, 2007
March 26, 2006   (about 35" Snow)
April 11, 2005
April 8, 2004
April 16, 2003
March 31, 2002   (42" snow)
April 22, 2001
April 8, 2000

Caesar Pond and Goldeneye Ducks on a foggy day

Looking along the southern shore

There is still a good bit of ice on Caesar Pond, especially along the southern shoreline.

Looking from east to west across Caesar Pond

And, the ice is a bit thicker looking across the pond to the west. Although, you can see open water along the western shore!

Old footprints from late in the icy season on Caesar Pond

Gee...what are those tracks leading out on the ice? They are remnants of footprints from when somebody took a late season trek onto the ice.

Looking north you can see open water, kind of...such a foggy day it is!

Yahoooo! There is quite a bit of open water on Caesar Pond, and it is in a crescent shape, starting at the north end.

I spied some ducks and wanted to get a closer look, so Drew walked with me to the north end put-in, but the pond was completely fogged in by the time we arrived.

Male goldeneye with the white sides and chest. Females with dark heads and striped grey sides.

So, you will have to be satisfied with the photos I took from the dock area, about 1/4 mile away! I am so excited...These are the first Common Goldeneye ducks I have ever seen on Caesar Pond! YaaHoooooo!!!!!!!

And one more shot to show the round white circle behind the male's bill. I am hoping to get some better photos in the sunshine this weekend.

Chickadees and Robins know not of the pandemic

Even though we are in a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, it is business as usual for the wildlife population on this Spring Equinox.

We get our usual small flocks of birds to the feeder. This chickadee took its sunflower seed to a nearby branch.

Whereupon it proceeded to peck out the meat of the seed.

And, use its raspy tongue to manipulate the food. Its eyes are closed in a blink.

Ribbon of open water on Caesar Pond

The pond ice looks the same overall, but the ribbon of open water is just a bit wider today than it was a few days ago.

Caesar Pond Ice is starting to thin

It is getting to be that time of year when the pond ice starts looking a bit blue mixed with the frosty white. This signifies that ice-out isn't too far off!

So, I focused my camera on the far north end of the pond where the ice starts to open up before any other area. And, I saw what looked like a thin line of dark coloring.

I zoomed in to the maximum my camera would allow and spied this! Yahoooo! A thin ribbon of open water is starting to form near the boggy end of the pond. Ice-out won't be too long from now;-) Happy, happy, happy...

White-breasted Nuthatch eating sunflower seed

The White-breasted Nuthatch has to open the shell of each sunflower seed to pull out the meat to eat. He does this by placing the seed into a crevice of the tree's bark. You can actually see a few other seeds stashed nearby.

Communing with the birds

American Goldfinch

It was a lovely day to just chillax and commune with the birds. 

Check out the Goldfinch's bright red tongue as he manipulates a sunflower seed.

I spent a short time sitting on the front deck with camera in hand while the birds took advantage of the bird feeder.

White-breasted Nuthatch male

The White-breasted Nuthatch would grab a seed and then fly to the tree to open it. This bird is a male as identified by the black cap on his head. Female White-breasted Nuthatches have a grey cap.

The Nuthatch is getting ready to open a sunflower seed. He will place it in a crack of the bark and then pound on it to release the seed from the shell. You can see other seeds in little crevices nearby.

Chipmunk alert!

Chipmunks have emerged from their dens this week. I was reading a post from naturalist/author Mary Holland who said that "Eastern Chipmunks breed twice a year, in March and in June. If you’ve seen a chipmunk this spring, chances are it was a male, as males emerge several weeks before females. When they first come above ground, males check out female territories. When females appear they soon come into estrus, which lasts for roughly a week. However, they are only receptive to males for about a seven-hour period during this week."
Holland, Mary. “Eastern Chipmunk.” Naturally Curious  Https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/category/eastern-Chipmunk-2/, 9 Mar. 2020

I found this interesting tidbit on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website: "The young are born naked, blind and completely helpless, but grow and develop quickly. By the eighth day of life, their stripes begin to appear. After one month, their eyes open and they have become completely covered with fur. At six-weeks old, they are weaned and leave the burrow for the first time.
The full-grown chipmunks leave their parents den at eight weeks of age. Both the male and female chipmunks reach sexual maturity by the time they are one-year old. Chipmunks can live up to two years in the wild and have been known to live up to eight years in captivity."
“Eastern Chipmunk.” Https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-More/vermont-Critters/mammals/eastern-Chipmunk.

After a 31 day gestation period, females give birth to 4 to 5 pups. So, be on the lookout for adult chipsters now, and baby chipsters in late June / early July!

Weather / Snow / Tick update

Wow, the warm temperatures are continuing! And, we have only had 38.5" of snow thus far. The last time we received so little snow was the 2005-2006 winter season where we had around 30".

This warm weather had ushered in the activity of ticks as well. Drew found one on our hound, Toby, on March 5th!