From the Field - Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary

Swallows Leave - Bluebirds Return

With Nature Day Camp last week, and playing catch-up this week; I have had little time to post an update on the nest boxes.  Last week, I did find time to check boxes.  Both broods of tree swallows had fledged out.  That means there are 11 more swallows eating insects and performing aerial acrobatics.  The house wrens in the yard also fledged out.  But the big news was that I found the beginnings of grass nests in two boxes.

This week when I checked, I could confirm that both nests were bluebirds.  Each nest held 3 eggs!  It has been a long time since bluebirds have produced two broods at Mariton in one summer.  These second nests are in boxes within 100 feet of the boxes used earlier this spring.  Also, neither of the boxes had been occupied by any species this year.  On the left is the nest in Box #9. On the right Box #19.  (I realize they both look the same, but two pairs of bluebirds renesting is a big deal to me.)

Butterfly Census On Saturday

Because of the rain on Saturday morning, I postponed the Butterfly Census to this Saturday, July 1, from 9 a.m.to noon.  Hopefully, the weather will be a little more cooperative.  There will definitely be more flowers in bloom to attract butterflies.  If you plan to attend, bring binoculars if you have them.

Day Camp - Friday

We wrapped things up at Nature Day Camp.  After a quick review of how we use wood products in our personal lives, we took a walk to the Chimney Rock.  Along the way, there were quizzes about different plants.  The kids like sitting on the Chimney Rock and it is a great place for a group photo. 

When we returned to the Nature Center, we mounted the pressed plants.  Then we went downstairs to look at the herbarium.  Polly Ivenz, Mariton's original Program Director, did a wonderful job collecting and cataloging the plants of Mariton.  That collection now resides in the herbarium.  The herbarium specimens are very similar to the plants the children mounted.  One key difference is the identificaiton card.  That card not only identifies the plant, but also where it was found, when, and other pertinent facts.  The kids were very interested in that, and asked to see the herbarium specimens of many of the plants that they had learned during the week.  They wanted to see where Polly had collected the plant, compared to where they had found it during the week.  They also wanted to check to make sure that there were specimens of the plants they had connected to. 

After they left, I readied the Nature Center for the evening picnic and program.  I like the idea of ending the week with a picnic.  Parents have a chance to look at the photos, and relax in a great setting. 

Sue Tantsits of Edge of the Woods Nursery was our program speaker.  The nursery specializes in native plants for the landscape.  She brought two tables of potted plants and cuttings.  Then, she engaged the children talking about the plants and what makes them special and interesting.  Adults were easily sucked in by Sue's enthusiasm, and I think a few will experiment with natives in their own yards.

The second Nature Day Camp for children entering Grades 1 - 3 will be held July 10 - 14.  We still have openings.

Day Camp - Wood Products

This morning, the plan was to mill lumber using Natural Lands Trust's portable saw mill.  We wanted the children to make the connection between the wood products that they use every day, and the trees that these products come from.  Many children understand that paper and lumber come from trees, but  they don't comprehend that trees were actually cut down in order to make those products.  Their gut reaction when they hear a chainsaw is that there is a crime being committed.

Over the years I have milled quite a bit of lumber at Mariton.  Trees that blow down or have to be cut because they pose a hazard are generally milled if they are accessable with the tractor, have straight trunks, and are large enough in diameter.  We have used this lumber for projects like sheathing the bird blind, paneling the nature center and bluebird boxes. 

Using the portable saw mill and a hemlock log (that had been a hazard tree), we demonstrated how boards are cut out of a tree.  Then I showed the children the lumber piles from past milling projects.  I explained how I stack lumber to allow it to air dry.

Then the kids built little planter boxes from tulip poplar from trees that had blown down at Mariton.  The construction process was more difficult than the kids had imagined (another good lesson).  In the wooden boxes we added plastic pots, soil, water and sunflower seeds.  Following construction, we hiked to the section of woods where the trees had blown down, so the children could see how the forest was responding to this mini natural disaster. 

Photos by Carole Mebus.

Day Camp - Ferns

We explored the world of ferns in Nature Day Camp.  Virginia Derbyshire presented a great lesson in the Nature Center on the structures of these plants that are used for identification purposes.  Then  we went onto the trails and looked at several different fern species to compare similarities and differences.  In all, we saw 8 different ferns.

Up until this point, we have been discussing flowering plants.  Ferns evolved before flowering plants, and so reporduce using spores (instead of seeds).  Each type of reproduction has its advantages.  This is a rattlesnake fern with its characteristic fertile frond.

Photos by Carole Mebus.

Day Camp - Farm Produce

Today, we took a field trip to Trauger's Farm Market, in Kintnersville.  Myron Kressman took us on a hay ride around the 60 acres that make up Trauger's Farm.  He showed us how they start much of their produce in greenhouses, and then transplant it into the fields.  This allows him to have produce early and late into the season.

He also demonstrated the importance of flowers to his career.  Much of the produce that he grows and sells requires that flowers be pollinated in order to grow into a crop.  He used male and female cucumber flowers for a demonstration.  On the female flower, the kids could actually see what part of the flower would develop into the cucumber when it was pollinated. 

Part of the goal of our Nature Day Camp is to help kids learn how plants function.  But we also hope that they gain a better understanding of how these functions (like pollination and photosynthesis) have an impact on their personal lives, beside just answers on a test.  Understanding what is involved in growing the food that we eat is also part of being a better world citizen.  I was encouraged that the children had visited Trauger's Farm with their families to purchase food.  I was pleased and surprised that they were willing to try the different vegetables that Myron gave us to take back to the Nature Center.

Our thanks to Myron Kressman.  He is someone who is also resolute that children understand our relationship with plants, and thus is willing to devote a protion of his time to education.  We think that Myron is a person who is outstanding in his field.

Photos by Carole Mebus.

Nature Day Camp - Day One

Our first day of Nature Day Camp got off to a great start.  Virginia Derbyshire showed a great slide show of wildflowers.  After the slide show, we headed onto the trails.  As always, I am impressed by what children retain and what catches their attention.  There were lots of questions about just about every plant we passed.

It was hot, but not as dire as had been predicted.  The woods were still cool, and there was a breeze in the fields.  We collected some specimens of abundant plants to dry in the plant press.  Later this week, we hope to mount them as artwork. 

Here is a wonderful photo of a eastern tiger swallowtail feeding on nectar of a common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).  All photos by Carole Mebus.

Rhodies and Mountain Laurel

I haven't reported on flowers in awhile.  A single mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) has been in bloom along the Chimney Rock Trail for a couple weeks.  There are only a handful of mountain laurels on the preserve, and they all have a lollipop shape from past deer browsing.  This is the first time that I have seen any of them in bloom in many years. 

I also saw a couple blooms on a rhododendron (Rhodendron maximum) this week.  These are the native rhododendron with lovely white blossoms.  They usually peak around the last week of June.  That said, blooming at Mariton can be sporadic.  Last year, there were plenty of blooms on almost every bush.  But there are years where there are very few blossoms at all.  It is still too early to tell what kind of year this will be.  The best place to see these blossoms is on the River Lookout Trail, and along the Main Trail.

The meadows are also beginning to show color from milkweed, daisies, hawkweed, etc.

Nature Day Camp

Mariton's Day Camp will be opening on Monday (6/19).  This session is for children entering grades 4 - 6 in the fall.  We still have several spots open, so it is not too late to sign up a youngster.  This year's theme is Plants, and we will be exploring plants and their uses (by both humans and wildlife).  We have some great activities planned.  Camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day.  We end the camp with a picnic followed by a special program on Friday evening.  For more information contact the Center at 610-258-6574.  Also watch next week for photos from camp.

Counting Butterflies

Our Annual Butterfly Census is on Saturday, June 24, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  This is a great way to learn at least 3 or 4 species of butterflies.  They are everywhere in the meadows right now.  I have been seeing Monarchs (a little earlier than usual).  There are lots of spicebush swallowtails and eastern tiger swallowtails.  The great-spangled frittilaries are beginning to grow in number.  There should be pleny of frittilaries by next weekend (they are one of the most common species on the count).  Silver-spotted skippers are also common. Come Wednesday, spring azures will magically be transformed into summer azures.  (That is a joke.)  Photo of red admiral by Carole Mebus.

The stage of the milkweed blossoms can have a big effect on the count.  Right now, flowers are just starting to open.  There should be some in blossom for the count, but I am not sure the meadows will be filled with blossoms.  Binoculars that can focus to about 10 feet or less are great tools.  We don't need to catch (and possibly damage) any of the butterflies we count, because we use binoculars.