Changing Tides

I may be known for rolling my eyes when hearing educators describe crossword puzzles, color by number, word searches, indeed any sort of puzzle, as fun work. I have always struggled with visual spatial tasks or as I describe it to those who note my thinly vailed response, "it's not my skill set." Imagine my confusion this vacation, when I realized that Wayne had gifted to me a thousand piece Audubon puzzle. It looked as though 2020 was going to end with the same sort of enthusiasm as a student faced with a double sided page of word problems. Go ahead and just close your eyes and "visualize it."

I have always subscribed to the notion of honor the gift, so when Abby and Wayne left for an errand, I began to set up my strategy for success. I had brought in the coffee table and a TV dinner table by the time they had returned. I told Wayne that I required the large folding table as well. Sorting flat edges, words, reds, blacks, oranges, greens whites, beaks, legs....It was too much for them to stand by and watch. Abby collected the border to assemble as I explained the process. Flats before color same with words I began; but Wayne was already applying his left handed, map loving, geometric logic. To make it more confusing, Abby informed me that using the picture was cheating! "Well okay then, I'm counting light pink and pale yellow as being white." Clearly I was in over my head. 

In 2020 I visited a salt marsh and attended three online presentations on salt marshes. Two were hosted by Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells ME and one by the Southeastern Vermont  Audubon Society. I was surprised to recognize Vernon residents in attendance at the Audubon meeting and that local Biologist Cory Ross introduced the Graduate Student presenting. Each presentation discussed the status of bird species of concern that nested in the marsh, the important role that these marshes play in cleaning polluted water, protection from storm events and flood control, how the marshes were historically impacted by agricultural use and continue to be impacted by development and climate change. It was further explained how marshes are naturally created but face increasing challenges that require intervention by Ecologists.

Salt water marsh, photo credit- Helen Manning

The programs included an opportunity to ask questions and I noticed that one particular question was asked each time. Viewers wanted to know, that since they didn't live anywhere near a salt marsh, what could they do to help? "All water flows to the ocean" seemed to be a unifying theme. It seems that our inland practices impact our rivers and streams and therefore the salt marshes' interdependent ecology with the ocean. Creating impervious surfaces increases water runoff pollution. Removing native plants and installing barriers between water and plants interferes with the natural system of absorption and water filtration. Poorly managed land delivers silt pollution to our rivers and streams, creating "dead zones" and biological imbalances. The overarching issue of climate change causing rising ocean levels is another major piece of the puzzle. This is an area where tiny states like VT are attempting to lead the way by reducing fossil fuel consumption. Like approaching any giant puzzle, there are multiple strategies required to solve it and all of them require cooperation between those defining the parameters and those working the puzzle. 

Salt water marsh, photo credit Helen Manning

Taxing rural VT's major source for winter heat and transportation to reduce consumption as you can well imagine, has sparked a good deal of "conversation." Talking about other's contributions to the problem and their need to bear the brunt of the solution seems more palatable. My mother in FL and her concern for Lake Okeechobee and the shrinking Everglades for example, is the reason that I am particular about the sugar that I buy. It seems more achievable to buy select sugar than to pay taxes on my fuel consumption. Each it seems however, is an important piece in solving the puzzle. If someone were to ask which is more important, the Everglades Snail Kite or Maine's Saltmarsh Sparrow, the answer must be, both of them.

Elevation above sea level at Everglades National Park

Yesterday our walk took us past a culvert that the town had replaced. It was replaced with the much larger culvert after heavy rains overwhelmed the previous one causing a lot of damage to nearby properties. I noticed that sometime after it was replaced, someone created a swimming hole near the outlet by constructing a small stone dam. To further complicate things, a tree fell just downstream of the dam and that too has been collecting mud and other debris. I have watched over the past couple of years, the stream erode the soil around the two dams creating a new streambed to the left of the original. Now during heavy rain events and snow melts, the stream takes two paths, one over the dams and the other around them. Why I wonder, do we now require bigger culverts than were installed in the 70s? What has changed to make it financially advantageous for our state and town to redesign and install these water pathways? How is the water that flows through them connected to restoring and protecting Maine's salt marshes?

Wayne's puzzle gift isn't just another 2020 headache to work through. As it turns out, it is a deeply meaningful segway to explaining our connectedness, our attempts at organizing what is in front of us and the value of many diverse, albeit cooperative approaches to placing each equally important piece. I have a new answer to the question of, "Why should Vermont tax fossil fuels when Connecticut consumes infinitely more than we do?" Clearly the answer to the question is Maine's salt marshes. It's also important to remember that every puzzle begins by setting the first piece-Norma Manning

New culvert in Vernon, VT

The stream found a new path around the manmade and natural dams

Resources:

Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society

Rachel Carson National Refuge 

What is That Blackbird?

 A friend of mine from South Carolina posted her photograph of a mystery bird on social media recently asking us "experts" what we thought that it could be. In the old days, I being quite snarky at times might have replied, "Well it's not a turkey!" followed by several emojis. But that was before my pride was handed to me by a Birdologist (why aren't they called this anyway?). So treading politely on my friend, I instead replied, "I believe it is a Wood Stork?" As luck would have it numerous friends agreed and so it was dubbed. 

Please don't tell my Ornithologist friends this; but Wayne and I have a whole category of birds that we call farm birds. I'm not writing about chickens, ducks, geese, and the peacocks that live at the end of Lily Pond Road or even pigeons; I'm writing about those birds that flock in the spring and fall moving through the neighborhood gleaning what may. I have many a relative who has fostered in me this interest in annoying birds and to them they fall into two categories: the filthy starling and the Blue Jay. Though they dump my feeders daily, I choose to favor Blue Jays, especially in bleak November and snowless Decembers. Seeing that their greedy manner is outweighed by their flashy, blue feisty nature, I have chosen to embrace this squawky alarmist that scatters wildlife at my presence. 

I am instead, speaking to the, grackles, European Starlings, cow birds, crows and yes. I'm tossing in Redwinged- blackbirds. I include them not because they seasonally skip across fields among the noisy hoards of other blackbirds; but because, in the field I can't for the life of me, tell a female Redwinged from the shapeshifter starling! I concede the point, that breeding Redwinged-blackbirds are to my eyes,  not typically spotted among the summer field birds; but rather are found in and around wetlands (that should offer help with the task of sorting them out anyway.) To my expert oligist friends and extreme bird hobbyists, let's be honest here; farms in the valley prosper because of fertile soils brought here by the water. Our farms were once lake then river bottom; and today here in Vernon, our farms border the river and include wetlands and wet soils. So if you are a bird expert shaking your head right about now, I make no apologies for my willing lack of discernment. That turkey does in fact swim.

To those with a keen sense of this and that, who are asking "what about Ravens, birds of prey and vultures, aren't those birds seen on farm lands too?" And to those who have real life experience with grassland birds, (the actual farmers and birders) who are asking why I haven't included: Bobolink, Meadowlark or sparrows?" I invite you to be guest bloggers on Nature Finds. 

For the rest of us who most likely at one time or another searched "Wood Storks in VT" or "What is that black bird with a green head?" shall we continue with today's quest?

Welcome. Today outside of our front window, our yard became invaded by a motley crew. A casual glance would have concluded black birds; but soon some brazen chaps began hanging off of the suet feeder and revealed their dappled presence. "Starlings in the front" Wayne said. Meanwhile I was looking out the back window watching what were certainly truly farm birds, and so cast back, "Are you sure?" We've had this conversation far too many times to not attempt to get to the tail feathers of it all. 

Definitely not a blackbird and arguably much more exciting is, Judy Smith's sighting of a Wood Stork in SC. Our migratory grackles are probably hanging with the storks in Florida this time of year. 

 According to eBird, Grackles are hard to identify (oh joy) with three kinds in North America:  the Great-tailed, the Boat-tailed and the Common Grackle (of which there are two subspecies of Common).* I guess it's all in how you look at the tail?  Okay eBird nerds,  there is more on the Grackle than I can hope to understand so let's narrow this down. I'm only interested in Grackles that spend time in Vernon, so let's eliminate the Great-tailed and the Boat-tailed. This leaves the two varieties of  Common Grackles, the Bronzed and the Purple. The Bronzed being west of the Appalachians and the Purple (of which there are two varieties) being the one I have been looking for. Our Purple Grackle is purply black all over with some purples having green on their back. But of course the females aren't as iridescent as the males; so does that make them just plain old black in appearance?* They have black bills with males having yellow eyes during breeding season.  In any event, our Grackles with their long, luxurious tail feathers, fly out of here by November's end so Grackles couldn't be at my feeder this morning. 

*Grackles are you getting them right?: eBird

According to All About Birds, European Starlings were purposefully introduced to NYC by fans of Shakespeare. Clearly it's been awhile since high school and so I haven't a clue as to their importance in Shakespeare; but if it's anything like the popularity of Harry Potter's Hedwig, then I can relate. Truth be told, I would rather the owl than starling. The starling might have been a better match for the Potter books however, as they are true shapeshifters and can imitate up to twenty bird calls.* In the fall, these birds sport white tipped feathers giving them a speckled appearance. By summer, the white tips of the feathers have worn away leaving them glossy black with a dazzling purple and green sheen. Their tails are short and their bills long. Their bills are yellow during breeding season and in my estimation are woodpecker shaped.  Immature starlings are brownish with heavy speckling on their back and underneath with a brown bill. 

*European Starling Overview: The Cornell Lab

The Brown Headed Cowbird is another introduced bird with a breeding plan that gives it a bad reputation. Females lay their eggs in other birds nests where the offspring out compete their host's for resources. Clever or lazy, it's a great propagation strategy as it frees the Cowbird up to lay more eggs. The males, thankfully are easily identified with their black body, brown head and finch like beak (think ice cream cone). Females are another matter as I would assuredly confuse females with finches. They are dull brown with soulful black eyes. All About Birds states that she has white streaking on her belly (is this a unique quality?) Juveniles are brown "with scaly-looking back and streaked underparts."* Oh good grief, I hope that all my cowbird sightings are male!

Brown-headed Cowbird Identification; The Cornell Lab

Male Red-winged Blackbirds are thankfully easy to identify with their shiny black body and red then yellow shoulder feathers. They remind me of "look at me" Army Generals donning their dress uniform shoulder boards. I sure am grateful that male Red-winged can tell females apart from the other girls; because I find it near impossible to! They too have a cone shaped bill with dull brown feathers. It seems they differ from the female Cowbird because their streaking is all over and they have a hint of yellow around the bill. Better visit the Optometrist before attempting an in the field identification.  Isn't it fun that these birds all flock together by the hundreds if not tens of thousands once breeding season is over?

Red-winged Blackbird Identification; The Cornell Lab

Red-winged Blackbird: American Bird Conservancy

Black from bill, to tail, to feet, American Crows " are almost as large as a chicken."* I assume we are talking Plymouth Rock and not the bantam variety of chicken. They are intelligent, adaptable and like teenage humans, they tend to congregate and raise a racket. It's no leap to learn that colonists, farmers and recreational sharpshooters (to no avail), have made a concerted effort to eradicate them.  Humans are odd ducks don't you think? We introduce and bolster one species due to some fanciful invented literary worth, and in the same instance attempt to wipe out another species that predates our own arrival on the continent. I learned today that the American black Crow's population has dropped by 45% since the introduction of West Nile Virus to the US in 1999.* 

American Crow; Wikipedia

Mystery black birds with cone shaped bills, sweep my deck for seed. 

A project worth learning more about:

Vermont: Protect Grassland Birds by Mowing Later; The Outdoor Wire 

Hat tip to Cheryl who stopped to hear me chat one fall day. I began asking if she had seen any hawks and soon I was talking about the blackbirds sitting atop the dead trees between the farm field and Lily pond. This week I chatted it up again lamenting (droning on really) the failure of this soon to be published (or not) crazy long and boring blog entry. Cheryl with a straight face expressed that she likes the ones with all the detail...we shall see my friend. - Norma Manning

Residents in Nature

 I often run into residents while out and about in Vernon. Here is a sample of a few gracious residents who allowed me to capture them, or shared with me their own pictures of them enjoying outdoor activities in town. I hope to continue this project as it highlights how we embrace the natural offerings in town.  So if I see you on the snowy trail this winter, I would appreciate your smile for Nature Finds - Norma Manning

Ana collecting oak leaves to place around her blueberry bushes. This is her only soil amendment for her berries. 

She was removing a spreading juniper shrub and found this Garter snake just as I walked by. She placed it off to the side after posing for a picture. I'm sorry that I didn't get her name as she was very impressive with landscaping tools and the snake.

Ian, "Everyday is Greenup day for me." While we were chatting, Ian dug up a soda can and dropped it into his bag.

Vaughn and Alex ride down to Lily Pond at sunset. 

Paul photographing birds- picture by Mary Miller

Mary capturing the river valley- Picture by Paul Miller 

Seth with his 172lb, 7 point buck harvested on November 22. He wouldn't tell me where in Vernon he had harvested it; but his daughter did...

Joshua finishing up a five mile run to the Vernon Historical Society's museum. He used to run marathons and is trying to get back into it.

Jessica, Elliana, Silvia, Marcella and furry friend Charlotte were out for a walk on a mild November afternoon