Hope is Not Canceled

And then there was dawn
Cold lifting up into the heavens
Gentle breezes holding, then releasing their breath
Dampness giving way to warm golden light
Ripples sweeping across rocky shores
Songbirds restoring Earth's gentle heartbeat
Stems with rainbows pushing aside black dirt
And then there was dawn - Norma Manning

Years ago I wrote poetry for my family as a way to help them navigate the difficult trails on which they were traveling. Last week as the isolation became too much, one of my daughters confided, "I feel like I am wearing a heavy coat." This caused me to leaf through my poems. The trouble with my poems is that they won't ever sit still. Each time I read through them, I feel a restless need to edit. For example, today I began rewriting my second verse "Cold lifting up into the heavens" as it doesn't make much scientific sense, cold air after all does not rise. In the end I pushed back the urge because my poems have less to do with science and more to do with feeling. I often wonder if those who create tangible things of beauty feel the same way.

Our youngest child's first and middle name means; father's joy, first light of the sun. Born on St Patrick's day and with great debate due to only discovering her assigned gender hours before she was born, Wayne picked out Abigail and I chose Dawn. I was reminded of Abby when on my walk this morning. It had been a cold rain all day yesterday and as I made it to the back end of my neighborhood the morning sun broke through right at the spot where wildflowers were blooming. I always wonder why it is that wildflowers seemingly first appear in those places where the snow is last to melt, and why I never seem to have my camera at these moments.

I was gifted the book, Wildflowers of New England by Ted Elliman & New England WildFlower society. This is a wonderful book for people like myself as flowers are referenced by color instead of by some scientific classification. I suppose it would be just as easy to list wildflowers by habitat from my perspective; but then I'm not versed in those sorts of things. Today's find is on the edge of woods in a disturbed site. It is a tall 8 to 12 inches with smooth, oval, white spotted leaves and its flowers range from purple and blue to pink. My book has two choices, blue and red. I checked both to no avail. Seeing that it may be time to broaden my search, I fished out my Peterson Field Guides Wildflowers Northeastern/ North-Central North America by Roger Tory Perteson and Margaret McKenny. This guide isn't nearly as pretty, in other words there was real work ahead of me.

Not every poem ends with golden light and so it also seems that not every early spring bloom should grace Vermont woodlands.  Disappointingly, this pretty early bloom isn't a wildflower. After failing to find it in my field guide it became apparent that it is not a native and so I took to Google Images and found it to be Pulmonaria commonly known as Lungwort. Though not yet considered invasive, this native to Europe plant is being closely watched.

Sometimes where the spirit is involved it's best to leave field guides on the shelf; but when using your hand trowel, be sure to check the label. Secretly I hope that it's okay with my readers that I continue to admire this out of place cheery rainbow after a season of long grey days. -Norma Manning

Lungwort

Signs of hope at Miller Farm in Vernon

Signs of hope at Miller Farm in Vernon

Falcon or Hawk?

This week a friend emailed me looking for help with identifying a bird that had fatally struck her window here in Vernon. Now this friend has a massive heart for all creatures no matter their circumstance or condition and so my initial thought was poor girl. But it seemed from her email that the best way I could help, was to attempt to solve her curiosity as to what exactly the bird was.

"I think it's a Kestrel, but having trouble identifying it...It's about 12 inches long and mostly gray. Her / his underside...mostly brown and white. A lovely bird." was all that I thought I had to go on. I decided to search "Birds of VT" , I chose iNaturalist from the sites that came up and sent that to her hoping for a match. I also asked if she could send me a photograph. As it happened, she flagged me down on my walk and said none of the birds on the site had seemed a right match. I noted from her photograph that the bird was a raptor, had a hooked beak and a long tail with pronounced banding. My friend wondered if it could be a Merlin, but It also seemed that the bird's wings were broader than a falcon's. She also pointed out that the bird appeared greenish around its beak.

I don't know about my readers, but I find raptors particularly difficult to tell apart, so I decided to reach out to my daughter Helen who is an Avian Technician working in coastal and seabird bird conservation. I sent her a picture of the bird and within minutes she sent me the answer. Some things seem hardly fair, like when someone comes up within minutes, what you and a friend had been trying to do for the better part of a day.  Helen advised that I tell my friend that it is illegal to keep any part of the bird. I didn't see that as a problem, as knowing her, she had already given it a respectful and proper burial.

Now that we had the bird's identity, it was time to figure out what the heck it was doing in a wooded area in Vernon. As it turns out, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is perfectly at home here, but it hasn't had an easy time of it. According to Vermont Fish and Wildlife Rare and Uncommon Animals of Vermont, on a scale of S1 (very rare) to S5 (very common), its conservation status is S3B, S3N.  The Vermont Center for Ecostudies reports, "Population continues to rebound due to protection from shooting, banning of some pesticides..."  Those two sites can seem rather complicated for us novice birders, so I am including a more generic reader friendly article on the Sharp-shinned Hawk from the Audubon Society.

Though a bit of a sad tale this week, let's add the Sharp Shinned hawk to Vernon's list of raptors to keep an eye out for. I hope that we encounter a living one to add to our photographs. -Norma Manning

Sharp-shinned Hawk killed in a window strike

Hug a Tree

The last Friday of April is National Arbor Day. If you are missing hugs due to social distancing, today would be the perfect day to hug a tree! When it's safe to go to the nursery again, plant your tree for the next generation and most importantly with an eye towards making environmental improvements. The Vermont Tree Selection Guide is an important piece of  reading homework before choosing your tree and tree site. Another  excellent resource for learning about native trees is  the UVM Extension Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Enjoy your tree planting holiday - social distancing not required!

Bridges

When I was a young teenager living in Colorado our family went on a hike that of the many hikes I have tackled or wandered through, has clung to me like burdocks in a long haired dog's coat. We came upon what I remember as a river, but upon reflection was most probably a swift flowing stream. My family pushed on ahead of me jumping from rock to rock crossing the water. At first I  removed my shoes to wade through the water but it seemed formidable. My father growing impatient told me to jump, that he would catch me if I missed. Later I asked my father why he hadn't caught me, "I didn't want to get wet." he admitted.

It's not that my sister remembers that day differently, she doesn't remember it at all. Claire once wrote a paper in school where she explained that her scars weren't ugly, her scars were proof that she was living an active life. While I used to pretend that I had broken my leg because I wanted to seem more interesting, Claire had actually fallen out of the rear facing seat of our station wagon and chased after the car until she was noticed doing so. How was a younger sister supposed to compete with that?

My mother and I have this thing where upon my arrival in her home, she suggests, "let's have a nice cup of tea." It's code for, It's so nice to see you, let's take a minute, slow down and catch up about nothing in particular. My sister on the other hand suggests a short bike ride to Canada or perhaps a quick  hike to Manitou Springs. The funny thing is that mom who grew up in Barre, lived in and traveled all over Europe and the US. She was an avid skier, loved boating, water sports, dancing and rode bikes into her senior years when she traded in sports for grandchildren. The fact is, when I turned 40 my mom told me, "Norma, its time for you to start drinking coffee. I have been drinking one cup of morning coffee now for 16 years. 

It's Tuesday, "Wake up Cousin Norma!" Okay Cousin Corralie but it's just 6:00 I think. Instead of answering her with that, I decide to grab the dogs harnesses and go for a walk to Scott road before the rain starts. Wayne and I had a fire in the backyard last night and watched the stars come out. I had spent a lot of my weekend following a conversation on the Vernon Vermont Facebook group about Peter Brown hearing gunfire and perhaps a cannon being fired. Someone wrote, "Doesn't turkey season start soon?" Before all of that ruckus began Wayne and I went for a walk along the backside of Hatchery pond, relocated our ice shanty which caused me to do some transplanting of shrubs. Wayne installed a hundred gallon fish pond that I have been thinking about for while, we took another walk to Lily pond, this time starting from Lily Pond rd. On that walk I once again pleaded my case for acquiring chickens and instantly fell into my mother's council, "If you have chickens you'll never be able to go anywhere!" I just smile and ask Wayne, "Why would I want to go anyplace else?" Wayne having walked 35 years by my side, doesn't miss his stride and responds, "Luna and Ginny won't have them."

I think I'll fix a nice cup of tea and call my sister, Claire is learning how to garden and has asked for help. - Norma Manning

A more challenging crossing on the backside of Hatchery pond

Wayne makes his way across a makeshift bridge at the Hatchery

Footbridge trail in the town forest

Ginny and Luna in no particular hurry

An Elf in Vernon

I found an Elf in Vernon. I know, I was as shocked as you are learning that they are here in Vernon during the off season. I had always assumed that the head Elf used the Browning Strike Force Sub Micro 16 mp game camera in the months following December to track residents who are naughty or  nice, yet by pure happenstance I may have captured proof that Elves are still on the clock.

I have been struggling nearly all month whether or not to reveal my find to the general public. You see, on the one hand, I know that the North Pole Elf is not listed as a plant nor animal with the Vermont Department of Natural Resources, Vermont Fish and Wildlife, UVM Extension, or any other state entity including Act 250 that I could find. On the other hand I'm not absolutely sure that an elf would not be covered by Vermont's endangered species law (10V.S.A. Chap. 123). I suspect that when government bureaucracy finally gets up to speed, Elves will either need to be included on the 2020 Census given their year round presence, or included on the list of Vermont's 36 endangered and 16 threatened animals. It is against the rules to reveal the exact location of endangered and threatened plants and animals; but more importantly, nobody wants to get on the top Elf's naughty list for outing the exact location of an Elf.

I have however come up with a plan using approved methods for reporting. The VT Nongame and Natural Heritage program tracks native rare plants and animals general locations, so I could reach out to them by phone. Instead, I have decided to use the friendlier Citizen Reporting option on the VT Fish and Wildlife Department  site. I doubt that I could get into trouble with the North Pole for exercising my civic responsibility to help ensure the protection of natives in VT.

Oh, in case you think I've lost my good senses, I will post my picture of the heavily camouflaged Elf here. I have of course edited out anything that would reveal its exact location, so you had better be sure to be nice while out and about in Vernon! -Norma Manning

Elf profile: proof that an Elf was in Vernon, VT in May 2020

Golf Course or Dinner Course?

With all of this social distancing going on, I have noticed a flurry of people in Vernon working on their yards. I have been patiently avoiding yard cleanup however, not because I am still sporting my winter physique (I am); but because one of my friends on social media posted that yard work should wait until soil temperature is consistently fifty degrees or greater. The topic of her post was on how to preserve and encourage beneficial insects who are still overwintering under leaves and in dead plant stalks.  I am a proud owner of a, "Pardon the weeds, I'm feeding the bees" sign and don't want to appear a hypocrite. So that is my case for procrastination as I sit here typing instead of sprucing up.

It was on April 2nd that Mary Miller shared, "Mullein is out if you want to make some tea which is good for respiratory ailments...Wash and boil- Fresh. You can dry, but fresh is so much better!" Mary included a photograph which caused me to pause. This Mullein is the same wicked weed that I had been struggling to eliminate from my yard due to its prolific nature, insanely difficult to remove tap root and let's face it, less than rewarding yellow flower cluster at the tippy top of a very tall plant.  I'm not one to turn my back on volunteers especially when they are native plants, and it has been observed by casual passersby that I have an, "English garden"; but this Mullein had been on my hit list for some time. Queen Anne's Lace / wild carrot is so much easier to love; but it seems that I am in need of an attitude adjustment. I do love a nice cup of tea.

I grew up with a father who didn't allow his five children to play or walk on the grass because, "It hurt the sidewalks feelings." I spent countless hours of my youth following him around the yard picking up after his manicuring even blades of green grass and shaping shrubs. I come by my distaste for golf course lawns honestly.  My mom was the true gardener in the family and she is the person who instilled in me the value of growing food and flowers. Cutting Chive, picking green beans and pulling beets somehow seldom felt like a chore. It is my mom who passed down my Grandma Anna's small but beautifully scented yellow irises that I have grown for thirty years. Mom is also the reason that I pot red Geraniums every spring as she still does to  honor her father.

Mom taught me to love growing things; but my gardening style is much less formal and much more welcoming of what she would label weeds and vermin. While others spread weed and feed lawn food, I spread white clover and native seeds that I gleaned from fields and ditches. Wayne has learned that when I have him stop the car, we are either gathering seeds or checking out a nice rock. I view my gardening efforts as much as a benefit to my family as I do as a benefit to wildlife and the environment. After all neighbors, birds and bees have to eat too!

I often wonder about a generation that finds that mono-crop called "the lawn" so pleasing as to spend gobs of money and time eliminating most of what is of real value to humans and wildlife. But then I think about my Grandma Anna and how she used to harvest Dandelion leaves in the spring to boil and clean out her system. My Grandfather Maurice even experimented with Dandelion wine. Anna used to pick wild strawberries from her yard to make pies, she picked wild crab apples to make jelly and always kept a patch of wild raspberries along the edge of the woods. I learned not so long ago that Juniper berries are used to make gin.  A long time ago I found out that rose hips are full of vitamin c but not very palatable right off of the bush, and last spring, I ate my first plate of Fiddleheads. I suppose what I am "driving" at is that there is little need to go to the grocery store to buy tea, pies and greens when it could already be growing in your yard. Hurray for the English garden! -Norma Manning

Mullein tea is good for respiratory ailments - by Marry Miller

Dandelion greens and roots from my yard are harvested for "cleansing".

Wild Raspberries have the most amazing smelling flowers and thickets provide wildlife shelter

Treasure in the Disease; Black Cherry Burl

Burl on a Black Cherry tree in Vernon

The backside of a burl on a Black Cherry

Side view of the burl

Sap oozing from the burl

What if I  told you that in nature, sometimes the twisted, sick and diseased can be the most prized for its beauty? That sounds pretty strange doesn't it; but it's true. Take this burl I have been passing by on my daily commute here in Vernon. I had been meaning to stop and take a closer look for a couple of years now and only recently took the time to do so. This particular oozing globular growth did not disappoint in evoking a sense of antipathy.

Though the outside of a burl is a gnarly grotesque swelling; a whole burl, burl veneer, burl jewelry,  burl sculptures and the like command a nice price on many online shopping sites.  Woodworkers prize its dense decorative grain, yet its relative structural weakness makes it of little utilitarian use with the exception of decorative bowls and vessels. When it comes to burls (and geodes), I can't help but be reminded of the old idiom, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

The thing about burls is that they can kill the tree if they become too large; and likewise, if a treasure hunter tries to remove a too large burl, that too could kill the tree. So the price of a burl could involve more than a dollar value. It is also in part their rarity that increases their value to wood worker artisans and prompts entrepreneurs to indiscriminately harvest burls.

Though its not clearly known what causes the exact burl on on any given tree, Black Knot Fungal disease is a known culprit in trees that produce fruit with pits. The fungus is spread from tree to tree in the early spring when conditions are wet and new twigs are emerging. I suspect that this is the case for the Black Cherry tree that I had stopped to investigate. Another thought is that burls are caused by a mass of dormant buds or even insects. The importance in knowing the cause involves preventing and stopping the spread of disease. Careful management of trees with Black Knot is necessary lest it rapidly spreads throughout the area damaging fruit bearing trees. -Norma Manning
sources:
ncpr Burl: by Curt Stager and Martha Foley
Black Knot: by Planet Natural Research Center

Open Season for Trout; What are They Fishing For?

Hatchery pond is a former trout hatchery stocked and overseen by Vermont Fish and Wildlife located on Newton Rd in Vernon. The report noting the ongoing value of Hatchery pond to Vernon as well as other identified important town water resources is the 2018 Vernon Town Plan with water resources starting on page 42.

Vermont is home to two native Salmanoids or Char.-Vermont Fish and Wildlife. Though their common names are Brook Trout and Lake Trout they are in reality only close relatives of the trout. From what I could find out, the differences include that: the Char has light spots over darker bodies, their scales are smaller than a trout's, and they have, "a boat-shaped bone (vomer) that is toothed only in front, on the roof of the mouth." - Encyclopedia Britannica.

With Brook and Lake actually being Char, that leaves the Brown Trout and the Rainbow Trout on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife list of trout found in VT.  It  turns out however, that in 1989 the Rainbow Trout / Steelhead was found to not be a true trout. DNA tests identified the Rainbow as being more closely related to the Pacific Salmon. - Orvis News, Fish Facts: Rainbow Trout,  Phil Monahan / November 15, 2019/ Fly Fishing.  Further investigation into the matter however, seems to point to the jury still being out for walking the line between a Rainbow inland trout and a Rainbow Steelhead. It also seems that fish hatcheries have further muddied the genetic waters by hybridizing.

Well folks, as far as I can tell, we are down to one potential trout found in VT and I hate to tell you this, but according to MT.gov, Montana Field Guides, "The Brown Trout belongs to a different genus than our native trout species." Wait a second, what did that field guide just say? Could it be that the Brown Trout is actually a trout? VT Fish and Game says; "The Brown Trout...is one of the trout species in VT that is not native. It was introduced to Vermont in the late 1800s..."

So there you have it, the Brown trout is one trout species found in VT. At this juncture I'm not going to split hairs over whether or not it is a native fish; but I'll be darned if I can figure out what the other trout species are! Best of luck during the VT trout season, I hope that you are better at figuring out what a trout is than I am. -Norma Manning
*This article was edited on 4/15/2020
**I would be lying if I said that this blog was easy and came off the top of my head. My take away is this: We are talking about a varied group of fish placed under the category Trout.  Their reasons for being there depends upon whether or not we are hearing from fish biologists, those interested in conserving Steelhead or sportsmen. I eagerly await hearing from someone more knowledgeable on the subject.

Hatchery Pond on Newton Road - opening weekend

A full parking lot overlooking Hatchery pond

Easter Sunday on the Vernon Hatchery pond

Tamarack or not, I get Ice Cream

I have delayed creating this post for Nature Finds as Wayne and I are in the midst of a spirited debate as to the correct identity of the tree of which I am writing. While I am certain that the tree in question is a Tamarack...well sort of certain;  Wayne is certain that I have taken leave of my senses. I have decided to be brave and risk outing myself with regards to my novice tree identification skills.

When my children were young, I used to pay a nickle to the kid who first identified the tree that I pointed to. We would be wandering along the trail and I would ask, "What kind of tree is that?" It was as an adult that our eldest daughter Kayden mentioned that she never once earned a nickle in this way because her younger sister Helen always answered correctly first. Kayden apparently felt that Helen and I shared some special talent when it came to Nature Finds. I was at that time forced to fess up that I actually knew relatively few trees and had only pointed out the ones that I was certain that I knew.

Here is my case for Tamarack: Tamaracks are cold tolerant to -65 degrees and hail from Canada. Canada is close to Vermont and VT is cold. Tamaracks prefer wet soils with a high (acidic) PH. The tree in question is at the Vernon Dam picnic area which is arguably a dry site but overlooking the river near Eastern Cottonwoods which also likes wet sites. There are pines in the area too, pines like acidic soil and Tamaracks are related to pines.  Though a softwood, Tamaracks lose their needles in the winter, this tree was bare, so this tree isn't a Conifer unless it is dead. My last two pieces of evidence are just as compelling, I didn't recognize the bark on the tree and it had amber colored pitch oozing from it. Pines ooze and Tamaracks of course are related to pines.

Wayne's case for anything but a Tamarack: Tamaracks are shaped like a spruce tree and this tree definitely is shaped like a hardwood tree.  Wayne argues that this tree is too tall to be a Tamarack, Tamaracks are 80 feet and less. I'm terrible at judging these sorts of things so I concede the point. I once bought a sofa for my living room wall...let's just say that it didn't end up there. Wayne thinks that the Tamarack's bark should look more like a White Cedar or an Eastern Hemlock. Lastly, Wayne noted that this tree is Deciduous and dormant.

So there you have it; it's definitely a Tamarack or definitely anything but. I'm leaving it up to the readers to decide. If Wayne earns more nickles than I, then he gets to buy me ice cream at  Cold Brook store this summer, then we'll sit under that tree to enjoy it.

Update: Wayne now thinks it is a Black Cherry and I'm holding him to that guess because I still get ice cream. -Norma Manning

Bark

Absence of  lower branches, no needles or leaves

Thick amber colored pitch oozing out of a wound

Branches in the crown 

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A Particular Pair of Canada Geese

Everyone has their own story as to when, where and how their love affair with nature began. For me it started with books. I wasn't a very (shall we say) rewarded student in public school; I couldn't quite seem to figure out how to meet the expectations of teachers and peers. It was books like Wild Goose, Brother Goose by Mel Ellis that ignited my sense of place in the world. "Tonight I heard the wild goose cry Winging north in the lonely sky...Wild goose, brother goose, which is best A wandrin' foot or a heart at rest?" -Cry of the Wild Goose.  I was taken, there began my journey.

When traveling between Vernon and Brattleboro, you will pass by two setbacks from the CT River.  These flooded areas, created by the building of the Vernon Dam in 1908, have become populated with a good variety of waterfowl and on any given day birders will be perched with their spotting scopes trained to them.

For the longest time I thought that it was just me that had a love affair with a particular pair of Canada Geese that often preened near the side of the road; and much to my concern, frequently wandered over route 142 to the drainage pond on the opposite side. It was when a community member posted on social media their heartbreak over one of the pair being struck and killed by a car and the subsequent public outpouring of grief, that I realized this particular pair of wild geese had touched the hearts of many more Vernonites than myself. Given that folklore says that Canada geese  mate for life, this accident seemed particularly sad.

 In the Waterfowl Population Status 2019 - US Fish and Wildlife, there are fifteen different Canada Goose populations listed in the 2019 Primary Monitoring Survey for an estimated total population of 8,134 with each bird representing 1000 birds. Ducks Unlimited sites a much greater number including 7 subspecies. Vermont Fish and Wildlife 2019 resident Canada Goose hunting season permitted bagging 5 resident Canada Geese in the Connecticut River Zone during the first season and in the second season 2 migrating and resident geese per day in the CT River Zone.

Seemingly there are plenty of Canada geese out there, So why one particular pair of geese captured the hearts and imaginations of a small southeastern town in Vermont I can't clearly explain. Perhaps my neighbors are like myself and somehow that pair awakened a sense of place in an often challenging world. -Norma Manning

A pair of Canada Geese heads east from the Vernon setback along rout 142

Northern nesting geese are smaller and darker than those nesting out west - Ducks Unlimited

The average males weigh 3 to 13 pounds with  females weighing 3 to 11 pounds

Looking southeast from 142 on the Vernon setback 

I wrote my name throughout my copy of Wild Goose Brother Goose

Natural End

In a wetland bordered by development and known for spring amphibian and Red Winged Blackbird breeding, we found a dead bird floating in the water. Frogs and birds saturate the area with calls of  impending new life; but even in this season of promise, the cycle of life comes to its natural end. - Norma Manning

A deceased bird floats in the water

This wetland is bordered by a small farm and houses

This brook connecting to the wetland appears to be stagnant

High Point Trail at J. Maynard Miller Town Forest

The J. Maynard Miller Town Forest in Vernon is a 469 acre town forest that is " home to seven rare and uncommon plants and one rare animal." The trails throughout are extremely family friendly and provides hikers with an opportunity to experience the VT class one wetlands designation candidate - Black Gum Swamps.

Recreation Director, Seth Deyo contacted me recently and asked if I had hiked on the new High Point trail which has an elevation of 1150 feet.  Seth and his brother Ian have been clearing a vista on the .25 mile trail giving  hikers the chance to rise above the swamps for an impressive view of Mount Snow in Dover, VT.

If you go, there is plenty of trail head parking on Basin rd along with a place to pick up a trail map and read about the history and environmental significance of the area. Your hike begins at 910 feet with a choice of accessing the Yellow/ High Point trail by either the White tail loop to the right or the Red and White trail to the left.

Let's go for a hike shall we? -Norma Manning

Addendum by Seth Deyo: Jeff Nugent from the Windham Regional Commission has been our mapping/ GPS expert throughout the entire project including the High Point Trail (yellow trail).  As far as construction of that specific trail...The Recreation Department seasonal staff also played a big role.  There are a few trees left that are larger than my comfort level cutting.  As always the Highway Department has been kind enough to lend us a hand...

Quarts is commonly found along the trails

A seasonal stream on the Red and White trail

It's uncommon to find trees and brush across this family friendly trail

Ledge makes for interesting tree stands

Taking the white trail to the yellow at the junction

The edge of the upper swamp

The Yellow trail is the High Point Trail

Hikers will see forest at various stages of growth

The change in elevation from the parking lot to the high point is 240 ft

Picnic tables available at the high point - 1150 ft

On a clear day Mt Snow is visible

The Yellow trail above, the Blue trail to the right below

Eagle Proud by Paul Miller

Paul got a call from Tina Franklin who lives across from the farm about noon today. He grabbed his camera and got a couple of pictures before these birds took off. Tina said they had been feeding on something - Paul didn't see what. (Mary Miller)

Bald Eagle at the farm by Paul Miller

Female Bald Eagles are larger than males by Paul Miller

American Beech Trees; Vital Importance for Wildlife

For most, the easiest way to identify the American Beech tree is by looking for the names of sweethearts carved into its gray smooth bark. For my children however, "The Birthday Tree." was a large  tree that dominated our backyard and shaded the family picnic table. When birthday balloons were tied to its lower branches, they knew cake was sure to follow. There is nothing quite like positive reinforcement when learning new things.

Aside from marking moments of joy like a calendar in the woods, the American Beech is an important member of mast producing trees. While acorns may be revered by those wanting a big healthy deer population; the beechnut is vital for buffering the acorn crop and creating a diversified food source for a wide range of animals. Birds, fox, bear, rodents and of course deer, all depend on the beechnut for its high protein and fat content. A black bear study by VT Fish and Wildlife concerning the impact of development and clearing of a major American Beech stand in Deerfield is ongoing.

The problem for landowners and woodlot managers comes in when taking into consideration that the American Beech is a large densely crowned shade tree without much timber value. The beech not only shades out its competition, it propagates primarily by its roots. Anyone with a beech on their property knows to be careful of surface roots lest you stub a toe and toss the cake. For these reasons the American Beech has lost favor with landowners which in turn is creating a food desert for wildlife.

National Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April. The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today. It takes forty years before a beech tree produces large amounts of nuts, so for those of you who hate raking up nuts in your yard, your safe if you plant a beech tree today.

Claw marks on the right side

Beech at different stages of growth

Logging provides light and space for new growth

Buds are alternate, long and pointed

Leaf retention during winter months