Natural Lands Trust Preserve Blog

Mariton - Bluebirds still doing well

Right now, there are three active bluebird nests at Mariton.  One nest, near the Nature Center has 3 chicks that will be leaving the box within days.  Another box has 4 young that look healthy and should fledge out in two weeks.  The third box has 5 eggs.  The timing and location of this last nest could be better, but we will hope for the best.  Mariton has had a lot of bluebird nesting activity - along with a lot of nests lost this year.  In the end, the same amount of bluebirds will probably fledge as in past years. 

Mariton - Butterfly Walk

It wasn't on the schedule, but after the Pipevine Swallowtail last week several wanted a chance to look at butterflies again.  We had several special treats.  Valerie brought a pair (male and female) of Luna Moths that she captured at her home.  (Thank goodness Show and Tell doesn't end when you leave grade school.)  She plans to release them after the female lays its eggs, and then rear caterpillars for release it suitable habitats.  It was a real treat for me to see Luna moths again, I haven't seen one in several years.  Not only did I get the treat of seeing them, but I learned so much about them.  Thanks Valerie.

One of the first butterflies we saw when we reached the meadows was the Pipevine Swallowtail.  It is a week older and little faded, but still a rare treat.  Other great finds of the morning included a Pearl Crescent, Eastern Tailed Blue, and some brand new Monarchs.  Carole stopped and discovered this Coral Hairstreak.  A really fabulous find and beautiful photo to accompany it.  (Photo by Carole Mebus).  There is still a little milkweed in bloom.  The butterfly bush (as you can see from the photo) is still very much in bloom.  Monarda is just beginning to bloom.  It is a great time to look for butterflies.

Giant Brain Lands at Crow's Nest

The tabloid headline above needs some explanation. Summer camp starts next week and the counselors are busy preparing.

The theme this summer is "senses": how we experience nature and how animals are adapted to sense their surroundings. Without giving away too much, there is a miniature golf course built in the top of the barn representing aspects of the five senses, all tied to... the brain.

We hope the kids have half as much fun as the counselors have had planning camp. Special thanks go to Natural Lands Trust's Building Stewardship Staff for building the golf course, and additionally to Bob Johnson for building the "brain."

Mariton - Pipevine Swallowtail

We spotted a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) butterfly on the Tuesday Morning Butterfly Walk.  As most of the readers know I am still struggling when it comes to butterflies.  This is one of the "black" swallowtails that I didn't think I would have to learn when I set that as one of my goals for this year.  So, when we saw a pair of these zipping around the first field, I did look at them for practice, but assumed they were Spicebush Swallowtails.  (I am still working on the jiz of butterfly ID and that comes from repeated practice.)  Fortunately, the butterfly in the photo stopped to feed on nectar when Virginia noticed the markings were that of a Pipevine Swallowtail. 

We were pretty excited as this would be considered a very uncommon sighting for Mariton (possibly rare?)  That is one of the joys of the the Tuesday Butterfly Walks for me.  It gives me more practice, and we see the variety of butterflies that inhabit the meadows during the whole butterfly season, instead of just a small window.  Very exciting.