Marcescence

Do you want to increase your woodsy vocabulary? Here is a word you might not have heard before: "Marcescence". Marcescence refers to plants that retain their leaves all winter long even after the leaves have withered and died. If you live in a northern state such as Maine, go outside and peer into the woods. No doubt you will see a smattering of young trees that still have crispy, browned leaves hanging on (even though we are now into mid April!) What species do you see? 

Mostly oak, beech, and hornbeam are my guess! (Down south, palm trees show marcescence.) 

Scientists don't know the reason for this retention of dead leaves, but some theories exist. For example, deer and moose prefer tender buds and not crinkly leaves for browse, thus allowing the tree to retain their branch tips. Another theory is that the leaves are shed by wind and storms and as spring advances, some of the leaves drop and provide moisture trapping around the base of the tree. The list of possibilities goes on... And, as new leaves start to form you might see the old leaves still hanging on. I have seen this occur with young beech trees. Interesting stuff!

Loon arrival at Caesar Pond

I awakened to a loon calling on Caesar Pond. Yahhhhoooooeeeee!!! I need to renew my boat registration and Drew needs to get the dock in the water. Let the season of pond birding begin! 

2025 Maine Big Night #2

 We had a very good Maine Big Night. The rain stopped before we arrived at our survey location and there was just a drizzle left over. There were so many spotted salamanders (and most were of good size). The spring peepers are so difficult to see on the road as they are so small, although Paul found the biggest one that he had ever surveyed. The pickerel frogs were very energetic and are large. And, in the pond we heard a cacophony of mainly spring peepers calling with the occasional wood frog. (Photo courtesy of team member Caroline)

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LH1Bowd (This year's participants are me, Paul, and Caroline)

April 15 - Start time: 7:55pm.     End Time: 9:15pm

Certified Volunteers - 3 (Paul, Laurie, Caroline)

Uncertified Volunteers - 0

Starting Temp: 46F.      Ending Temp:  45F

Precipitation: Drizzle

The road is wet.

Traffic Tally:  21 vehicles

Species Live: 34 Spring Peepers, 3 Pickerel Frogs, 1 Wood Frog, 13 Spotted Salamanders, 2 Newts

Species Dead: 6 Spring Peepers, 2 Spotted Salamanders

Species Injured: 0

Unruffled Ruffed Grouse

Drew parked the car, got out, and was getting ready to take one of our dog nephews for a walk today, when an unruffled ruffed grouse casually walked past Drew, around the car and then entered the woods. Look how well the grouse blends into the sand at the side of the road. They are so well camouflaged that we rarely see them in the woods.

Lesser House Fly

Today, we saw the first flying insects on our woodsy walks. We saw were a swarm of Lesser House Flies flying all around us over at Hix Small Cemetery, especially as we entered a somewhat shady section. They were so annoying.

I am not a fan of these flies, although they and their larvae do a service of feeding on feces and rotten foods. Unfortunately, they may be disease vectors as they move from feces to human food, Yuck.

We also saw several small bees flying around us as well. I couldn't get close enough to identify them as they were quite skittish.

Snow Total for 2024-2025 Season

 We had 59" of snow for the season. Even though the snow total is low, we had a colder than normal (for the last few years) season which allowed the snow to stay on the ground for longer periods of time and not ice up. Drew got to go snowshoeing many times, whereas last year he only got out once.

A walk along Center Point Preserve

Today was a picture perfect day with the temperature rising to almost 60F. We have had so much cloudy, rainy, snowy weather of late that my mood was increasingly dark. Today was a short reprieve as we are getting another 4 days of rain/snow/clouds starting again tomorrow. So, we celebrated today with a 3 mile walk at the Center Point Preserve, in Bowdoinham. Such a joyful day.

The trail was surprisingly dry, even after all the rain and snow we have had. And, all the snow had melted in the forest.

I just had to take a selfie to show my happiness during this gorgeous, sunshiny day. I also reached the top of the trail at Center Point which overlooks Merrymeeting Bay. It was so windy, which was nice as the heat from the sun warmed us up in sheltered areas.

The view from Center Point. This is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours.

Eastern Skunk Cabbage

 We went on a lovely 3 mile walk at Center Point Preserve today. The trail was surprisingly dry even after all the snow and rain of late. We are always thrilled to see skunk cabbage in one small wet area on the trail.

Eastern Skunk Cabbage is a native wildflower in the eastern part of North America. It is one of the first plants to flower in springtime and is found mostly in wetlands. It is thermogenic, which means that it can produce its own heat, and indeed can melt snow surrounding it. What you see in early springtime are just the flowers. The red "leaves" you see in these photos are called spathes (which are modified leaves associated with reproductive organs.) The flowers are inside. As far as the name Skunk Cabbage, these plants produce a strong odor that increases as the plant matures. This odor attracts pollinators like beetles and flies.

The plants arise from rhizomes underground. The species name is foetidus meaning "bad smelling."

The spadix is the structure that develops the flowers. Female flowers develop first, followed by male flowers. The female flowers become unreceptive by the time the male flowers form to prevent self-fertilization. By the way, it is the spadix that generates the heat.

2025 Maine Big Night #1

LH1Bowd (This year's participants are me, Paul, and Caroline)

March 17 - Start time: 7pm.     End Time: 8pm

Certified Volunteers - 1 (Paul)

Uncertified Volunteers - 0

Starting Temp: 44F.      Ending Temp:  42F

Precipitation: Light Rain

The road is wet.

Traffic Tally:  14 vehicles

Species Live: 4 Spring Peepers

Species Dead: 0

Species Injured: 0

Earthquake with magnitude 3.8

 

We had an earthquake this morning at 10:22am. Its epicenter was located offshore of York, Maine. Because it was a shallow quake, its epicenter being only 8.2 miles beneath Earth's surface, there was a lot of shaking going 'round from Maine to Massachusetts, and further down into New England.

Here is a description from the USGS's Earthquake Hazards Program website. If you want to participate in citizen's science, fill out the "Felt Report - Tell Us!" that you see on the right side of the page in this link.

The experience was varied depending on where you live. It even varied whether you were in the basement of your home or on an upper level. At our house, for instance, I felt the quake as the upstairs shook gently. At first, I thought that the nearby gravel pit had done some blasting, but that is usually accompanied by a loud noise and a quick shake. This shaking was too prolonged, so I figured it was a mile earthquake. I did not hear any noise associated with the quake. Drew was in the basement and did not notice it at all. Another friend, just five houses down from us, also did not detect the quake.

Our friend, Veronica, only lives 1.65 miles from us, as the crow flies, yet she felt the quake shake and heard what sounded like a big truck racing out of control down the street. She said a friend in southern Maine heard what sounded like a freight train associated with the quake.