Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Kate Ruhrold
The sun was shining down on our already sweaty Little River Ramblers hiking party as we headed out for our morning walk on Trails 8 and 9.
Record summer temperatures and high humidity left us all rather sticky, but couldn't dampen the generally adventurous mood. The youngest of our group led the charge as adolescent frogs and toads hopped across the path. A few of us were fortunate enough to make friends with a couple of these little amphibians, who allowed us to pick them up for identification. Our hike was rather relaxed, as many humans and animals alike had retreated off the open path into the coolness of the underbrush. Monarch butterflies flitted from milkweed plant to milkweed plant while a mother duck and her ducklings swam nonchalantly around the marsh. Our hike concluded with spotting a number of recently hatched turtle nests, sporting the remains of many leathery eggs, but no actual turtles. All in all, it was a warm hike, both in temperature and in heart.
Friday, July 15, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Judy Nelsen
Admittedly 88º and sunny is not the best weather to visit Eagle Marsh, but there was a slight wind as I started out at 4 p.m. and I needed my fix of nature at my favorite preserve. My first view from the Boy Scout office parking lot was of a lovely field of bee balm and black-eyed Susans among the prairie grasses, and these persisted as I walked along the I-69 part of Trail 1. Common milkweeds were in late bloom, and a few cup plants reared their yellow heads above all the grasses. Lots of cabbage whites and several black butterflies (one with orange streaks, one with yellow) were out enjoying the feast.
Once I turned the corner and proceeded along the Graham-McCulloch Ditch, more wildlife began to show itself: frogs, lots of birds, and (later) a turtle and two muskrats. I counted 14 great blue herons, one great egret, probably 8-10 tree swallows, almost as many killdeer, one gull, numerous mallards and Canada geese, two mute swans, and two mother wood ducks with adolescent young. A woodie provided the best experience of the day as she called frantically to her offspring, one of which came to her right away and the other, lagging behind in some tall reeds, literally walked on the water in his haste to get there a few seconds later. I could almost hear his not-quite-grown-up excuse of, "Mom, I'm sorry, I was just looking for something to eat…"
Temperature: 88 °F
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Kate Ruhrold
What had started out as six Little River Ramblers slowly increased until a rambunctious 15 hikers filled the Eagle Marsh parking lot. After a quick spray with sunscreen and mosquito repellent, and a lesson on the proper attire to wear to avoid certain "creepy crawlies," our group left the barn. A chilly breeze swept across the marsh as we set out on Trail 6. A lone red-winged blackbird supervised our trek from its vantage point on a nearby telephone wire. We exchanged stories about last weekend's Walk for the Wetlands as a hunting great blue heron soared overhead. Boots got stuck and pants got dirty as we slopped through the thick mud and puddles along the trail. Mud snails, deer tracks, and crayfish burrows abounded. As our group climbed up the embankment, we got a brief lesson on the history and function of the carp fence, along with some humorous anecdotes involving a local carp's attempt to pass the barrier. Our journey ended with a safari through a jungle of reed canary grass, thorny stalks, and mosquitoes that insisted on hindering our progress. But with a little effort and a lot of bug spray, we made it back to the barn, thus concluding yet another wonderful Rambler's Hike.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Kate Ruhrold
The sun was shining down on us and the breeze was sweeping in over the marsh as we headed out on Trail 8 for this week's Little River Ramblers hike. Our group consisted of adventurers of all ages, from toddler to retiree. At the start of our hike, we stopped by to chat with some volunteers about invasive reed canary grass and the fascinating compass plant. As some of our younger members led the group out on the trail, clusters of leopard frogs hopped across our path as if to say, "welcome!" The sticky mud was ideal for finding animal prints, and before long, we were seeing white-tailed deer and raccoon tracks left and right.
As we continued our walk, some hikers found themselves playfully kicking a stray crayfish burrow, while others picked at the wild blueberries and raspberries growing just off the path. We stopped to observe some milkweed plants absent of the monarch caterpillars characteristic of the newly emergent plants. The youngest members of our group, our "trackers in training," led us through the marsh as numbers of red-winged blackbirds flew overhead.
After looping back to the Eagle Marsh barn, we started on Trail 4. The past few weeks of rain had left puddles on the driveway that made a perfect habitat for the marsh's resident snails. As we headed down the drive, we almost literally stumbled upon a garter snake who was less than happy to have visitors. After receiving a few strikes in our general direction, our group side-stepped around the reptile and continued on our way. We then heard the sheep-like cry of an aggravated leopard frog, only to see a snake dart into the weeds with the culprit in its mouth. After gawking at this example of the circle of life and snapping a few pictures, we came to realize that the frog was significantly larger than its reptilian predator, giving new meaning to the term "biting off more than you can chew." A couple of ducks decided to join the hike, but it was nearly 11:00 and time to head home. As we walked back to the barn, a pudgy leopard frog hopped across our path and we couldn't help but wonder aloud if our amphibian friend had managed to escape his captor to croak another day.
Sunday, June 5, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Judy Nelsen
In spite of the almost 90º temperature and bright sun, it was pleasant at Eagle Marsh today due to low humidity and a gentle breeze. As I walked the west trail (Trail 1) at about 4 p.m., the main inhabitants of the marsh I saw were the birds and, somewhat surprisingly, dragonflies. Occasional butterflies were also in evidence, and a chipmunk ran across the trail just in front of me.
Robins, mourning doves, and a bluebird sitting on the wire were the first avian residents I saw. As soon as I got further out on the trail (now nicely mowed-thanks, Thom), the red-winged blackbirds became prevalent. Some were singing their usual whirring song that probably says, "I'm virile, I have a great territory here, choose me." Others made a chipping, alert-to-danger sound that suggested their nests were near where I was walking.
As I turned the corner and proceeded along the Graham-McCulloch Ditch, I saw many native sparrows, tree swallows chasing each other, and a common yellowthroat.
Nearing the large pond along the way, I was able to observe the water birds until I got quite close to them because the grasses there are about 5 feet tall. I saw six great blue herons, three cormorants, a few mallards, a pair of mute swans, and a belted kingfisher. Further along, another swan pair and a family of Canada geese came floating by.
I must comment on the dragonflies. I don't know the species but they were certainly varied today. Small ones with black wings, another with transparent wings with black patches like delicately applied beauty spots. There were a number of a quite large variety-at first I thought they were hummingbirds. Their wings seemed transparent when viewed from below but from above, showed an iridescent gold. Wow! A pleasant sojourn on the marsh.
Temperature: 90 °F
Saturday, May 14, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Cathy Kelker
What a terrific event this morning at Eagle Marsh. A big "THANK YOU'' to Dr. Joe Steensma and his ornithology students from the University of St. Francis who shared their expertise and enthusiasm about "Basic Birding." The extra tips on calls and behavior were most interesting.
A few species spotted were: Blue-winged teal, coot, indigo bunting, Baltimore oriole, red-winged blackbird, sora, and Wilson's snipe. We all enjoyed the opportunity to try out some very good binoculars (will put on my Christmas wish list! ).
Thanks to all who participated in our event.
Saturday, May 14, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Paul McAfee
I went out on an early morning hike to see if there were any bitterns around ... least or American. However, I was distracted by too many things to stay on trail 2, which is where the bitterns have been heard in the past.
First, there was the tern. Common and Forster's terns are possibilities this time of year. Black and Caspian terns are possible too, but those are pretty distinctive, and this was clearly one of the Sterna genus of terns.
Careful examination of its "white parts" identified it as a Forster's tern. Wahoo, new for this year!
Next, the mud flats near the pump were at a level that was ideal for sandpipers. The black belly of several dunlin were easy to identify. However, there were a couple dozen "peeps"--those small sandpipers that are tricky to identify when you can see them well, let alone when they are a little too far away to see the color of their legs! By probability, I decided that at least some of them were least sandpipers and let it go at that. Next time I'll bring a spotting scope with me.
I didn't have time to go up and down trail 2, so I guess I'll have to go out on May 23 with Rodger and Jim and find the bitterns then.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 Eagle Marsh, Paul McAfee
I was one of the birders asked to help with the annual Midwest Crane Count this year. The goal of this project, put on by the International Crane Foundation, is to learn more about the nesting range of the sandhill crane in the Midwest. This is the first year that Indiana was involved.
These cranes were extirpated from the state as a nesting bird around the turn of the century and began nesting again in northern Indiana about thirty years ago. Since then, they have slowly been expanding their range back to what it was before the European settlers arrived.
The crane count this year was held at numerous locations across northern Indiana. From 6:30 - 8:30 a.m. on April 16, we were to quietly observe Eagle Marsh and listen for a specific type of crane call referred to as the "unison call." This call is done only by mated pairs, usually when one bird returns to exchange with the mate that had been sitting on the nest all night. Since the birds are very secretive about their nests and it's nearly impossible to find one in a wetland, the nest exchange combined with the unison call is taken as evidence of a nesting pair.
Rodger Rang and Carole Koos were stationed on the north side of the marsh up on the hillside by the Boy Scout office and were the lucky ones to hear the calls, but they did not see a nest exchange. This could mean a secretive nesting, or a pair that is considering nesting. Darci Zolman and I were in position at the barn but heard no cranes.
The nice thing about Eagle Marsh is its size and large trail-less areas that provide some seclusion for unique species of animals like these to breed and raise their families. However, several people have been out at the preserve since mid-April looking and listening for the birds, but haven't heard them. The most likely thing is that the pair were just checking out our habitats. Sandhill crane authorities think there is room for about three or four pairs to nest there. Keep an eye out ... sooner or later you may see a family of sandhill cranes at Eagle Marsh.