CHAPTER 6. MARCH: WINTER ENDS

March is the time nature lovers start to look for signs of the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This is especially true if the winter has been a bad one with lots of snow. Of course, the physical end of winter and the start of spring can vary because of the severity of the winter. But this variation is not substantial. I have heard the phrase that the timing of blooms varies so much by the weather that I now become irritated at the person making the comment. While some seem to think this variation is a major problem for the nature observer, I have never found it so. It really is not a problem if certain events are early or late, because no matter what the weather it is easy for the observer to stay "in synch" with nature. For instance, as long as one knows the order of blooms, it is easy to orient oneself as to the timing, regardless of whether that timing is "late" or "early."

As spring approaches, the number of plants and animals available for viewing starts to increase gradually. Therefore, this chapter switches from a topic approach to a journal approach to denote the first citings. Now, of course, the first citing does not mean the actual time of first bloom or first emergence from a den. It just means that this is the first time of observance of the plant or animal. If I suspect that I did not see the plant or animal until sometime after its first appearance, I make a point to carefully observe the first emergence of the species the next year.

March 9

Walking to park headquarters, I see Juncos still appearing in large groups. Farther up the trail I start to hear a cacophony of frog sounds. Approaching the pond the frogs grow quiet. But as I quietly stand by the pond, they resume their noisy renditions. There are many frogs swimming around in the pond. They are impossible for me at first to identify. But from my reading I know that the noisiest component comes from a member of the treefrog family (Hylidae), the male Northern Spring Peeper (Hyla crucifer crucifer). Its voice is a high-pitched whistle that climbs in intensity, sometimes accompanied with a short trill. Do not look for these frogs in the water of the pond itself, for you will not find them there. Rather they are calling from shrubs and trees standing in or overhanging water. Spring Peepers hibernate under logs and loose bark all winter. They await the start of warm rains before they appear, for these rains renew the vernal ponds that are essential to their reproductive cycle.

These frogs are very small and range in color from tan to brown to gray. This particular species of frog is relatively easy to identify because of a characteristic dark X on its back. This marking is an illustration of the splash principle. The dark markings spread across its back as if someone had splashed paint on the frog. This throws off any prey by making it hard to see the frog's shape.

The increasing pollution of our world has been very hard on amphibians. Water often becomes a collector of pollutants and, because frogs do much of their breathing through their skins, they are particularly susceptible to pollution's effects. The situation for the Spring Peepers rated an editorial in the New York Times, March 6, 1994. The editor mentioned that the chorus of frogs had dwindled in recent years and that the culprit seems to be too much ultraviolet radiation resulting from a thinning ozone layer. Scientists at Oregon State University found that ultraviolet rays damaged the eggs of frogs and toads in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. This has been preventing the development of the frog eggs into the familiar tadpoles we all know from early youth.

I walk down the wagon trail toward lake dock determined to find every plant that may be in bloom. This, however, is not as easy as it may seem for much of the activity of the early bloomers takes place high in the upper canopy. In fact, most of the activity occurs within the witch-hazel sub-class. The trees of this sub-class are wind pollinated. Therefore, they do not need the large attractive flowers designed to appeal to insects. Many of these trees have catkins, which are indeed flowers, but they are petalless flowers. They look like little brown or golden brown caterpillars hanging from the trees. The catkin flowers emerge before the leaves come out so that the leaves will not interfere with the wind dispersal of the pollen.

There are some trees easier to view. These include the birches, many of which have highly visible white bark. Walking through the woods, an early catkin bloomer to look for is the wintergreen-flavored Black Birch (Betula lenta) a member of the birch family (Betulaceae). The young trees are clearly marked with highly visible whitish lenticels (breathing pores) in the dark gray bark. If the tree is lucky enough to be exposed to a great deal of sun (such as those on the Palisades) the male catkins can be very long and very golden brown. In the shade of the forest, these birches are still attractive, but may require a more observant eye.

The Gray Birch (Betula populifolia) has whitish bark that peels in strips, accompanied with blackened triangles, called "knees," below the spot where the branches meet the trunk. The leaves of this species are triangular in shape. In contrast, the slightly peeling bark of the Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) has a dirty yellowish color to it. Its doubly-toothed leaves have a fat elliptical shape. The twigs and foliage have a slight odor of wintergreen. I have only found one Yellow Birch at Cranberry Lake, but there may be more. There are none of these species in the forest of the New York Botanical Garden as it is too warm in the Bronx for this tree species.

An early bloomer is the American Elm (Ulmus americana), which is also wind pollinated. The small flowers of this member of the elm family (Ulmaceae) are on long, drooping stalks. The flowers develop into deeply-notched winged fruits before the leaves are fully grown. Birds often eat these early fruits. The bark is light gray with forking, scaly ridges. This is the tree that before the impact of the Dutch Elm disease lined many main streets of America's small towns and villages. The disease was introduced accidentally about 1930. The European and native elm bark beetles spread the disease.

There is still not very much greenery at the lake. Very few leaves have emerged from the leaf buds. By the boggy area at Cranberry Lake I find the Red Maple (Acer rubrum), a member of the maple family (Aceraceae). These trees are not blooming yet, but when they do the female flowers will be a bright red, the male flowers a duller red, and both will appear before the leaves emerge.

The pussy willow catkins of the Goat Willow (Salix caprea), a member of the willow family (Salicaceae), are out now, instead of just peeking out from their buds as was the case the last time I visited the lake. The catkins are short and broad with a firm, straight axis. This tree is not in the witch-hazel subclass, but rather the dillenia sub-class. It is both wind-pollinated and insect-pollinated, honeybees in particular pollinating the flowers. In fact, Goat Willow is an important source of nectar for bees, providing them with their first feast of the year. Tolerating both dry and wet conditions, Goat Willow grows nearly throughout Europe to northeastern Asia and northern Iran.

Often on Goat Willow branches there appears a growth that looks like a huge flower bud that is shaped like a miniature pine cone. It is not a bud, but rather a gall. The Gall Gnat (Rhabdophaga strobiloides) of the gall gnat family (Cecidomyiidae) causes this Pine Cone Willow Gall. The adult gnat fly lays an egg on the tip of a growing twig. The hatched larva burrows into the twig and this causes the plant to encapsulate the larva in a pine cone gall. The larva will stay in the gall over the winter, pupate in early spring, and emerge as an adult.

Also in the willow family are the poplars, which are primarily wind pollinated. At the quarry and by South Lake boardwalk one finds the Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata), which has large curved teeth. Like the Quaking Aspen, this tree of the willow family (Salicaceae) is a pioneer species in areas affected by fires, logging and abandonment. And, as a pioneer species, it is short-lived. The green-tinted bark is very attractive. With age this green gives way to dark brown as the bark becomes increasingly furrowed.

I hear Canada Geese and then find two of them on the dock. With my approach they jump into the water and express their displeasure with an incessant "honk-honk-honk." On the surface of the water there are hundreds of little white fleas constantly jumping. It is probably one of the 315 species of springtails found in North America. The insect order Collembola contains the springtails, which are usually no longer than one-quarter of an inch. These insects have a special leaping organ, called a furcula, that is folded forward under the insect and held by a catch. When this mechanism is released, the abdominal extension snaps back, tossing the springtail a few inches into the air. Most springtails eat molds, decaying vegetation, and algae.

At South Lake I see two turtles out on the mud sunning themselves. The upper part of the turtle's shell is known as the carapace. The most common turtle here, in fact the most widespread turtle in North America, is the Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta), a member of the pond and box turtle family (Emydidae). This turtle has an olive or black carapace, and yellow and red stripes on its neck, legs, and tail. It is fond of basking and often dozens can be observed on a single log. The young are basically carnivorous, but become herbivorous with maturity. These turtles like to live in slow-moving shallow streams, rivers, and lakes, because they like soft bottoms with vegetation and half-submerged logs.

Also living here is the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), a member of the snapping turtle family (Chelydridae) which has a ridged, rough carapace with a serrated rear edge. The unusually long tail is also toothed along the upper midline. It is the largest, and most maligned, North American turtle. It can exceed thirty pounds and has a powerful bite capable of inflicting serious injury. It is, however, more likely to retreat from confrontation than seek it. These turtles are voracious eaters of vegetation, animals, and carrion, at times even eating ducklings.

Shoots of the Day Lilies (Hemerocallis fulva) are pushing up, but their location amidst the Douglas firs provides too much shade for them to ever bloom. In fact, they do not set fertile seed, but spread vegetatively. The genera name means "beauty for a day" and refers to the fact that each individual flower lasts only one day. Many people do not notice this because there are so many flower buds on the plant. This species is a European import and has spread throughout the country. The Day Lily is edible and Chinese cooks use it to help thicken soups.

March 17 St. Patrick's Day

There has been a spell of cold weather since March 9. I very impatiently waited for the weather to warm. When I finally got out to Cranberry Lake, I found ice over the now quiet ephemeral pond. Where had all the frogs gone? No doubt most of them went back into the mud of the water, while others hid under logs and other quiet retreats.

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), a member of the aroid family (Araceae), is profuse by the stream originating from the small waterfall. The surface of the hood reminds me of egg plant, but is stringy in texture. Some of the plants grow from the top of a clump of moss. The spike, or spadix, looks like a round blackish green cactus at this point with no spines; another one covered in pollen looks yellowish. There are no pollinators as yet because there are few flowers. Around the wetter areas, sphagnum moss is greening from its winter color of pale green.

I hear the Belted King Fisher (Megaceryle alcyon) of the kingfisher family (Alcedinidae) and now I see him at the edge of a tree branch overlooking the marsh. Since there is no rufous color on its chest, it is undoubtedly the male of the species. This bird can grow to thirteen inches long. The bird nests in banks, usually of rivers. For its supper it plunges into the water, often hovering over the water in readiness for the plunge.

I also see a robin. The American Robin (Turdus migratorius), a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), likes open suburban areas. They are one of our earliest birds to nest, and their first nests are often placed in evergreens for protection, since the leaves of deciduous trees have not come out yet. Their nests are usually on a horizontal limb or building structure, five to thirty feet high. These birds tend to have two broods with from three to five blue-green eggs. After breeding the bird joins into large flocks that roost together by night and feed together by day. As the seasons progress, robins often change their habit of feeding on lawns to feeding on ripening fruits from shrubs and trees.

March 18

I came here today just to have my wife take a few pictures of Skunk Cabbage. I had been wondering when I would see the pollinators of Skunk Cabbage. While taking pictures, we notice many gnats flying around the area. On the spike of this monocot are set foul-smelling flowers. The smell of rotting meat attracts insects that then serve as pollinators. Not only do the Skunk Cabbage flowers smell like rotting meat, but the purple, white, and green splotched hood resembles rotting carrion.

I notice the turtles out sunning themselves. I never tire of this tranquil scene at South Lake. Proceeding to the boardwalk I see a raccoon by the rock crusher area at 1:15 p.m. I am not at all concerned with the animal's presence. (My next encounter with a raccoon would not be so serene, due to the increasing publicity about the spread of rabies among these black-masked mammals.)

Walking to crooked bridge, I study the Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa), a member of the birch family (Betulaceae). When I flick the catkins, masses of yellow pollen float away on the air currents. Alder roots resemble those of the pea family. Both root systems have an association with bacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen, thus making it available to neighboring plants.

In the water are the red leaves of the water lilies. There are lots of them but they are very small at this point, about the size of a quarter. The advantage of the red color in this species is that the red pigment, compared to the green, absorbs more light, so that more photosynthesis can take place, thereby, providing more energy for the young plant.

On the way back up the hill from lake dock, an American Woodcock (Philohela minor) startles us. The woodcock is an easily recognized bird because it has a long bill and is almost neckless. It is remarkable how this member of the Sandpiper family (Scolopacidae) blends with the dead leaves. In fact, its upper feathers have a "dead leaf" pattern to insure concealment. This bird has a number of exotic common names including Timber Doodle and Bogsucker. It feeds chiefly on earthworms, supplemented with insect larvae and some vegetable matter. After it feeds, the naturalist will find its "borings" where its bill has sunk deeply into the ground. To confirm the presence of the bird, look for its white excrement, known as "chalkings." The woodcock winters in the southeastern part of the country. On its return in early spring, bird enthusiasts come out to see its interesting courtship flight in which the male spirals upwards into the air, circles, and then plummets to the earth, emitting a variety of peculiar notes as he descends. Once on the ground, he begins to strut around with his tail spread like a turkey-cock. He bends his head back so far that it almost touches his upraised tail.

Maple Sugaring

A special plant activity at this time of year is the running sap of the Sugar Maple tree, which is preparing to open its buds. Even though neither the leaves nor the flowers are out on these trees, there is a great deal of activity occurring internally. The tree has to prepare to open its buds, so as the weather warms, the tree starts to convert its stored starches to sugar and then to pump this up to the branches. As this pumping goes on, the sugar collector can tap the sugary liquid and boil it down to maple syrup.

The first settlers also used trees in many other ways. They made soap from fireplace ashes boiled with fat, charcoal for their gunpowder from slowly heated lumber; tanned leather from the barks of trees containing tannic acid; and medicines from many trees of the forest.

The white settlers learned sugar mapling from the Native Americans. In fact, the first settlers learned about most tree usages from the Native Americans. The Indians taught them how to use snowshoes, how to convert animal pelts into warm winter clothing, how to make a dugout or a Paper Birch canoe, and a pair of moccasins. They also already had treenware. They would make wooden bowls from tree "burls." A burl is an abnormal wartlike growth created in response to a viral infection and occurring on the trunks of trees. They have a hard and irregular grain. By cutting the burl from the tree, shaving off the bark, and burning and scooping out the inside, they made a bowl that had no tendency to crack along the grain. These were bowls of unusual hardness and extreme luster, having a wavy "bird's-eye maple" quality to the wood grain.

The Native Americans performed maple sugaring by slashing a tree on a diagonal line. The sap would drip down onto a piece of wood pushed into a slot dug into the tree below the slash line. From this piece of wood the sap dripped into a container. In the northeast the Native Americans used birchbark containers made from the Paper or Canoe Birch (Betula papyrifera). They knew how to fold the birch bark to make a seamless box, which they then bound using the roots of tamarack.

It was not until the eighteenth century that the colonists adopted sugar mapling as a common tradition (Hawkes 1988). This was probably because of the heavy amount of human labor involved in the process. But when the colonists did make "sugaring off" a tradition, it was one that future generations could easily romanticize (Sloane 1956). Since the maple grove was usually a mile away from the farm house, the farmers would build a sugar cabin in the middle of the grove. Here the entire family and perhaps a few farmhands would live while the sugaring proceeded. The children emptied the sap buckets into large wooden barrels, which were then collected on sugar sleds drawn by oxen. The whole process lasted about three days and three nights and the fires were kept going the entire time. Sugar maplers poured the first runs of the sap into sugar molds where the sugar hardened into cakes. Subsequent runs of the sap became darker and therefore made syrup or molasses.

Early farmers were somewhat ambivalent about trees for they saw them as a nuisance. The farmer wanted the trees down so he could farm. Clearing in the Chesapeake Bay area began by girdling the trees, a technique the colonist probably learned from the Native Americans, though it was also known in England. Completely girdling a tree cuts off the flow of water through the water- conducting tubes, known as xylem. After girdling, the sunlight would filter through the withered branches and the farmer planted beneath them. Europeans saw the expanse of deadened trees, standing like ghostly sentinels, as "very singular and dreadful." After the trees died, the farmer might cut some down, leaving the stumps to rot in the field, for he had no way to yank them from the soil until he acquired oxen.

Once most of the trees were cleared from the land, the farmers were no longer ambivalent about trees. The artist and writer Eric Sloane (1956) has a beautiful description of the importance of wood to the pioneers. "Just as a child today knows the differences between aluminum and spring steel, the early American child knew the differences in the softwoods and the hardwoods. Two hundred years ago children could point out any wood or even smell it and call it by name. . . . Almost all the needs of the eighteenth-century farmer were satisfied with nothing more than a sharp tool and the right kind of wood. They could make wood hinges, locks, nails, and spikes, hooks, plows, and rakes." The artist noted that the colonist would liken such human virtues as weakness, strength, and honesty to some kind of tree. An example is "Old Hickory," the nickname for President Andrew Jackson.

When the colonies sought an emblem of independence for their flags, it was often a tree. When they sought a symbol for their first coinage, the Massachusetts Bay Colony also chose the tree; the pine tree shilling along with the willow tree and oak tree coins seemed perfect to symbolize America.