The Life of Dead Trees

On a snowy day a few weeks ago, when I was walking through The Woods, I stopped by a hollow log along the trail and peered inside. Blown-in snow carpeted the inside of the log, and I could see fresh tracks, revealing that the snow within had been disturbed by some tiny creature, taking shelter or searching for food, perhaps. It reminded me of a conversation I had several years ago.

At the time I was working for a land trust in rural Pennsylvania. We had just acquired a woodland property bordered by farmland, and I was putting up a sign to identify our new preserve. The neighbor, an old farmer, stopped by to say hello and to find out more about what was going on with the ‘woodlot,’ as he called it. After talking with him for a bit, he asked me when we were going to timber the woods, because it had been a long time since the previous owner had last had it cut. If we didn't do it soon, he said, some of the trees were just going to die and go to waste.

It was an interesting moment for me: he had been a farmer his whole life, like his ancestors for generations before him, and his focus had always been about the harvest and working the land.  Yet I was coming from a different perspective, focused entirely on conserving land and protecting the natural systems. I explained that the land trust had a different point of view that: the trees had value far beyond their ‘board feet,’ and that these trees would continue to matter to everything around them, long after they had died. 

We all know that healthy trees provide lots of benefits, but once a tree reaches the end of its life, a different set of processes begin. As a tree starts to die, insects will move in, finding both food and shelter in the dead wood. Woodpeckers and other animals will arrive to feed on the insects, creating holes in the tree; next, other creatures including birds, bats, bees, and squirrels will make their homes in the larger cavities. In essence, every dead tree becomes a high-rise apartment building, garden, and supermarket, all in one. As many as 80% of the bird species in the Eastern United States depend on dead trees at some stage in their life. In time, a dead tree will fall, and the decaying log will retain moisture and become a host for mushrooms, mosses, and other plants to grow. This, in turn, provides a cool, moist home for salamanders, snakes, and toads.  Eventually, the logs will fully decay, returning the tree’s nutrients to the Earth and enriching the forest soil.  

After I said my piece, the old farmer nodded and said “I never thought of it like that, I guess it’s good to leave some trees to die for the critters.” Next time you visit The Woods, take a moment to stop and appreciate the life of the dead trees and maybe even look under a log. You never know what you might find.

Blog post by Jeff Devine, Land Manager 

The Colors of Winter

With my mind’s eye still craving the vivid palette of autumn, I set out this past week on several hikes to discover some of the Central New York Land Trust’s other preserves. (If you weren’t aware, the land trust owns most of Baltimore Woods as well as thousands of acres of key habitat and natural areas around the region – check out their website at www.cnylandtrust.org.)

I first trekked through the birch-hemlock bottomlands of Elbridge Swamp - really only accessible when winter cold freezes over the tangle of streams and seeps. Such a beautiful place! Whiskey Hollow was next on my list, with a quiet stroll along a hemlock and oak covered ridge, and a view down into a trickling stream.

As I said, my eye was still craving autumn, but winter had come with its simplified colors that can be difficult to recognize (much less appreciate) at first…ready or not!

With that, I offer a quote from Edwin Way Teale’s book, Wandering Through Winter, accompanied by some photographs that bring forth the beauty of this subdued winter palette.

The red of osier, the green of pine, the pale tan of winter leaves on sapling beeches, the blue of late afternoon shadows on the snow, and the play of sunrise and sunset tinting across the mantled fields – such are the colors of…winter.   

- Edwin Way Teale

And truly, it is beautiful…

Blog post by Tom Meier

What Does The Fox Say? And is She Red Or is She Gray?

I have only ever seen a fox in the wild a few times during my life. Sadly more often than not they are dead on the side of the road. Here at Baltimore Woods we have had sightings of Vulpes vuples or red fox and have discovered at least two dens throughout the property. As for the Urocyon cinereoargenteus (say that 5 times fast) or gray fox, we have yet to see one here at The Woods. Both species are primarily nocturnal but it is not unusual to see them out during the day, especially when they have young to feed. Although we may not actually see fox very often, we are always seeing signs of fox like tracks and dens.

Can you tell the difference between a red fox and gray fox? 

Check out the pictures below and test your skills! 

A

B

How did you do? 

A. Gray Fox

B. Red Fox

Here are some characteristics to help with identifying the two:

Red fox (8-12lbs 48-57 inches)                                                            

• Deep red to orange coat all year round
• Black boots and ears
• Big bushy tail with white tip

Gray Fox (7-13lbs 31-44 inches)

• Grizzled gray coat with reddish underbelly
• White, black and reddish colors on the face
• Grayish white tail with a black tip

Another big difference between these two beautiful creatures is habitat.

Red fox prefer edge of forest habitat with a mixture of fields and grasslands where they can hunt and still have some cover. They do not make their own dens opting to take over small mammal burrows or within the root systems of large trees usually near water.

Gray fox are known as the forest fox because of their preference to build dens in hollow logs or trees in deciduous forests as well as nooks with thick cover that are ideal for blending in. This nickname is also due to the cool adaptation they possess for climbing trees, something their red colored cousins cannot do. With curved claws on their front paws as well as being able to rotate their arms, gray fox are able to climb up trees fast and jump from branch to branch. This helps them to evade predators like coyotes.

When it comes to food however, these two carnivores are opportunists and eat pretty much anything they can get their paws on! Both fox enjoy delicious meals that include rabbits, mice, squirrels and some birds and their eggs.

Check out this video of the red fox hunting technique of pouncing!

Now that I’ve held you in suspense I will answer the age-old question: what does the fox say?

Like most animals there is not just one call the fox makes. It’s said that dogs say “bark” but any dog owner knows they have more than one call. Fox, especially the red, are very vocal, keeping in constant contact with their family. They have a range of high-pitched yips and barks, even eerie screaming yelps that the vixens (female fox) use as a mating call.

Check out this website for a variety of calls the fox make. This site also has a lot of cool information on fox! If you’re interested in the location of the fox dens at Baltimore Woods stop by and ask one of our naturalists, you may be able to find some tracks and traces!

Blog post by Becky Lynch

Let's Talk Turkey

In Search of the (Real) Turkeys

In middle school, our strict British-born social studies teacher seemed to have no trouble finding the turkeys in the classroom. If anyone dared give a sub-standard answer to one of her questions we would immediately get pegged with an eraser or piece of chalk, whichever she could grab first. While attempting to dodge the chosen object, we would hear a thickly-accented voice booming, “You turkey! No! You know better than that!”

The point here is not the questionable teaching practices of Mrs. Davis (not her real name), obviously what we are all wondering now is how difficult it is to find a REAL turkey. We were sitting ducks, I mean sitting turkeys. Children actually. She must have been very confused. Where would Mrs. Davis, or anyone, go to find the real turkeys?

Domestic vs. Wild Turkeys

I’m not going to make this easy – a turkey farm is not an option. Domestic turkeys have been bred for captivity. They are twice the weight of wild turkeys, cannot fly, and can barely run – they can almost walk fast. In contrast, wild turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 mph, and can fly up to 55 mph. Wild male turkeys are notably quieter than their domestic counterparts, having learned that making too much noise is pretty much ringing the dinner bell for any nearby coyote, fox, or human hunter. Survival instincts are generally stronger in wild turkeys; I once heard about a domestic turkey named Einstein whose companions all drowned in two inches of water in a toddler’s pool. Clearly, Mrs. Davis MUST have been referring to the domestic turkey when she called us out for a response lacking in intelligence.

Wild Turkey

So where are the wild turkeys?

The best places to find wild turkeys are where they are finding food. This time of year, an excellent place to look is in forests where acorns, beech nuts or hickory nuts are abundant. The edges along such a forest are also a good bet, as are farm fields where wild turkeys are busy gleaning seeds. At Baltimore Woods, wild turkeys are often found at Peanut Hill (ask a camper or at the front desk how to get there), or in the farm fields on the Boundary Trail. Turkeys are early risers and do most of their feeding from dawn until mid-morning, though they can also be found feeding in the afternoons. In between feedings and at night, turkeys will roost up in trees. You may need to look up!

Turkey traces

Miss the early feeding session? Look for turkey tracks, with their three long pronounced toes and a possible dot or line where there is evidence of the tiny fourth toe behind the heel (the track is 3-4 in. long). Turkeys seasonally will feed in the same areas so if you see the track one day, check back during feeding time the next day.

Other than tracks, you may find evidence of the wild turkey in fall leaf litter. Have you heard of the turkey trot? No, it’s not the latest dance craze. Turkeys scratch through the leaf litter looking for insects or seeds, scratching once with one foot, twice with the other, and once again with the first. If you find areas of leaves where light digging was clearly present, a turkey could easily have been the culprit.

Calling all turkeys!

Finally, you could try to listen for turkeys or even give them a (turkey) call. Wild turkeys have a fairly complex system of vocalizations including (but not limited to) clucks, gobbles, cackles, yelps, purrs, putts, kee kees, and whispers. (All of these from animals that have parts of their body with Seussian names like snood, wattle, and caruncles!) Anyways, each of these calls have a purpose such as attracting a mate, calling the flock together, or setting off the alarm for a predator. Here’s some great sites to listen to and learn about turkey vocalizations:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• National Wild Turkey Federation

Or, here’s an idea, make your own turkey caller! This is an easy, fun family project that requires only a couple items you probably have in your home already. Our own suitably named Tom (Meier) will show you how.

For added fun, do the turkey trot while trying them out. Get a bunch of people together and pretend to be a flock of wild turkeys. Just watch out for Mrs. Davis.

CAUTION: Please be safe in the woods during hunting season. If looking for turkeys, do not wear red, white, blue (the colors of the male turkeys’ neck and head when courting or aggressive), or dark colors. 


Blog post by Julia Maum

The Changing Landscape

I recently enjoyed one of the last warm days before the autumn chill really kicks in by going birding at Barry Park in Syracuse, NY.  The park was full of people enjoying the changing season -- it was also full of birds!

The first birds I spotted were the ducks and geese on the pond.  Then I saw an entire flock of starlings gathered in bushes near the pond and taking short trips to the edge to drink some water. I wondered if they were preparing for migration.  By this point I had the choice of taking a wooded path, or staying along the edge of the pond.  Since I was feeling adventurous I headed toward the trees.  Robins were foraging in the brush, and there was a pair of cardinals chasing each other.  As I emerged from the trees I saw a Belted King Fisher fly overhead and land on a naked branch over the water.  As I was watching the King Fisher surveying his kingdom I heard a chip.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

 Photos courtesy of D. A. Saunders

Up to this point I had felt pretty good about my birding skills. I hadn’t needed to open my Sibley’s Guide once, but now I was stumped.  Pretty quickly I was able to spot the LBB (Little Brown Bird) but had no idea what it was.  By checking the field markings in the guide I could tell it was a sparrow, but I still was not 100% sure of which sparrow it was.  “If only I could hear the songs!” I lamented, since this little bird had not stopped calling once since I found it.

Then I remembered that I had the answer right in my pocket; my cell phone!  I recently downloaded the Sibley’s Bird App and I really love this app!  It has a setting that it will only show you birds you will see in your area, so I don’t need to worry about spending a lot of time deciding on a bird only to realize that according to its range map it lives primarily on the west coast.  The app still contains all the great illustrations and information the hard copy has, but it also includes the bird calls and songs. After listening to the songs I was sure this was the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

I know many people would have been horrified if I pulled my phone out of my pocket during a bird walk, but I think we need to realize that just as the landscape around us is always changing, so is technology.  This app is just one example of technology that can help me feel more connected to the nature around me.  Now I vividly remember the triumph of identifying the Song Sparrow on my own, and not needing to remember details when I tried looking it up later.  I also could have visited the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website and explored all the bird song recordings they have there to see if there is a regional dialect for Song Sparrows like there is for people.   

Did you know that birds from different places have different calls?  Sometimes humans can hear the differences, but sometimes only other birds can.  There is a great article about this phenomenon from the Stanford University, check itout to learn more about bird dialects.

The next time you are near the beaver pond in the Griffith’s Flat area use the Sibley’s app to identify the many birds found there!

What apps do you like to use when out exploring nature? 


Blog post by Katie Mulverhill

If Trees Give You Walnuts, Make Pie.

When the leaves are starting to fall, so are the black walnuts. The nuts seem to be everywhere: stuck in your lawn, speed bumps on your driveway, ankle breakers on the sidewalk, or maybe just the husks are  piled up after a squirrel's feast like the one I found along the Pioneer Trail (shown below). And when they fall, boy do they fall hard. If you have a black walnut tree growing near your house, don't be alarmed by the occasional loud - THUMP of a walnut dropping on your roof. Sometimes these nuts can be a nuisance but they do a whole lot more.

Black walnut husks gathered on a stump.

What does a black walnut look like?

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) trees have a tall straight trunk and leaves that can have over a dozen leaflets. The walnuts hang in clusters of two or by themselves. This time of year, just look for nuts on the ground that are about the size of a tennis ball and about the same color, too. Just don't try to bounce one. It won't work. Trust me, I've tried.

I've found a black walnut nut. Now what?

Pick one up and take a good whiff. They usually have a bit of a lemon-like scent, but if you pick one up after its been lying on the ground for a while, it may smell like a rotting lemon. This is normal. 

The first layer is very fleshy and green, called the husk. Peel away the husk to reveal the nut. You may have noticed as you peel away the husk that now your fingers are getting a little discolored. Now they may smell like a rotting lemon. I suppose I should have warned you about this first. Black walnut husks contain a powerful dye. I might suggest wearing gloves before you hull your next walnut. Black walnut husks also contain an herbicide.

An herbicide, eh?

To other plants and some animals, yes it is but to humans it is generally non-toxic. This herbicide is called juglone and is found is the husk of the fruit and in the roots of the tree. If you have a black walnut tree, it's very likely that it's standing alone or among more black walnuts. The herbicide will prevent certain other plants from growing around the tree, therefore reducing competition for nutrients and space. This clever technique is called allelopathy.

What about the pie?

Inside those thick husks are delicious walnuts. One tree can produce about 100 pounds of nuts, that's equal to about 400 nuts per tree per season. That's a lot of nuts! Squirrels especially love these nuts but you can enjoy them, too. You can remove the husk and wash the nuts. Leave them out to dry for a few weeks and then you can crack open the shell and extract the meat of the nut. You can then use these nuts in whatever way you wish. How does black walnut pie sound?

Learn how to crack your own black walnuts:

Then make your own black walnut pie.


Blog post by Anna Leiss

More Than Monarchs Take Flight from Cold CNY Winters

As the leaves begin to change, so does the wildlife in Central New York.  The temperatures drop and food gets scarce, big and small animals need to adapt to these seasonal changes. Many animals choose to migrate to warmer areas, including insects. The most charismatic insect to do this is the Monarch butterfly.  From when we're in grade school, we learn about the Monarch butterfly and its triumphant journey to Mexico but Monarchs aren't the only butterflies that migrate.

How many other butterflies migrate?
The North American Butterfly Association has listed about a dozen butterflies that fly south in the fall and back north in the spring.

Which butterflies at Baltimore Woods migrate?
Of the butterflies that are seen at Baltimore Woods, the Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Painted Lady, and Red Admiral all migrate south in the fall in addition to the Monarch. They may not fly as far as Mexico but they will still fly to the southern United States and will often migrate in very large numbers.

     

Question Mark Polygonia interrogationis

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Baltimore Woods has a fantastic selection of nectar plants for these butterflies, especially near the log cabin. Take a walk on one of these warm fall days and see which butterflies you can find. Not much is known about the migration of other butterflies because they're not as heavily researched as Monarchs. What I do know is that I'm still seeing Mourning Cloaks and Clouded Sulphur butterflies around Baltimore Woods on the sunny days we've been having.

Where do butterflies go if they don't migrate?
Most butterflies do not overwinter as adults. Swallowtails, for example, can be found as pupae buried underground and will emerge as adults in the spring. For those butterflies that do withstand winter, they seek shelter and go into diapause.

Woolly Bear caterpillars

Woolly Bears are not butterflies (they are the Isabella Tiger Moth Psyrrharctia isabella), they are still one of those familiar fuzzy bodies that are often seen crossing roads and paths this time of year. At some point in your life (probably when you were young enough to believe it) you may have been told a legend that the larger the orange band on woolly bear caterpillars, the longer the coming winter will be and vice versa.

What the large orange band actually means is how close the caterpillar is to overwintering. The orange band grows with each molt so instead of getting worried about how you're going to survive another frigid winter, you can determine if the woolly bear is ready for winter or not, depending on the length of its band. They will freeze solid throughout winter, producing a cryoprotectant in their tissues so they can continue feeding in the spring. From there the life cycle moves quickly and the larva hatches from an egg again in the fall.


What butterflies and caterpillars have you seen this fall?


Blog post by Anna Leiss