4/3
Zimmerman Farm's wildflowers, growing along the creek bottom:

Hepatica! There were clumps of blue, purple and white flowers. The old leaves from last year are a dark burgundy color and deeply lobed.

Dutchman's Breeches! They were growing in patches all over, with their wispy, light green leaves and beautiful flowers that look like little pants hanging out to dry on the line.

Bloodroot! There were only a few of these, but the bright white flowers always stand out. If you break off the stem or dig up the root and break it, you'll see where the name comes from. It's amazing to watch the root pores leak the red liquid.

3/20 First day of Spring!!

It was a beautiful day at PEEC. Beautiful and busy with bird chirps, whistles and tweets. Flocks of Robins and Juncos cover the ground, searching the warming ground for worms and insects. Canada Geese fly north in large groups.

The warm temperatures have brought out the reptiles. Painted Turtles at the swamp and Garter Snakes around campus.

Amphibians are also warming up and making some noise. Peepers have been peeping loudly for almost a week at the swamp. Red-Spotted Newts and Green Frogs have been found in the ponds and Red Efts are stirring on the forest floor.

Chipmunks are active and chasing each other all over in front in the main building. The nooks in the rock wall provide shelter and the nearby birdfeeder must be advantageous as well.

Insects are buzzing and flying. Enjoy the first mosquitos while you can, for their rarity.

3/18
Painted turtles were seen at the swamp, sunning themselves on logs and floating on the water's surface

March 2010 (part 2)

3/16
Garter snake!
Beaver swimming around Front Pond!
Spring Peeper peeping in the evening at swampside!

3/17
Bluebird perched on post on lower campus - darting down to ground for insects

March 2010 (part 1)

Spring has sprung! Or - at the very least - it's on it's way. The month started out with warm temperatures and sunny days. Red-tailed hawks and Red-shouldered hawks can be seen perched around campus and soaring high in the sky on warm days. Skunk cabbage - the first wildflower - has broken through the frozen ground and is growing along the creek. Mallards are swimming around our swamp and Canada Geese can be heard honking as they continually fly overhead in large groups.

Early season "Stream Ecology" classes have already found amphibians, including small, young salamanders and some very cold frogs.

Robins continue to pull worms up from the thawing ground and woodcocks have been seen in the forest - although noone has witnessed their unusual and fascinating mating dance yet.

The mammals are moving around more, which results in some great wildlife encounters. Virginia oppossum, red fox and bobcat have all been seen in the area, and some lucky staff members have seen the first black bear tracks of the season!

February 2010

The plentiful snow throughout February provided many great opportunities for tracking around the PEEC campus. The fresh snow showed tracks of white-tail deer, squirrels, coyotes and numerous rodents almost daily. Despite the heavy snows, the first flock of robins were seen in the third week of February. These birds return to our northern climates in search of thawing ground and squirming earthworms to eat.

The full moon that occurred on February 28 was historically called the "Sugar" or "Sap" moon, and marks the warming season that starts the maple tree sap flowing. PEEC staff tapped over 30 sugar maple trees (outside of the DEWA park) and are still collecting sap that will be boiled down into delicious maple syrup!

January 2010

The PEEC campus has been busy with wildlife this month!

Coyotes were heard howling and yipping throughout the night and into the early morning. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders and survive through the cold winter by eating a variety of food. They have been known to eat small mammals, fruits, insects, birds, frogs, snakes, bird eggs, invertebrates and carrion.

Pileated woodpeckers were heard flying through the woods and seen perched on mature trees. Their winter diet consists largely of carpenter ants, which they chisel out of the trees with their powerful bills.

Red-tailed hawks have been seen in plenty - especially with the warmer temperatures of mid-January. PEEC staff have reported seeing a Red-shouldered hawk as well, and we are all hoping that our resident nesting pair will return again this year. Our nearby ponds provide the feeding opportunities they prefer, and their courtship display is a sight to be seen - conspicuous circling flights, accompanied by loud screaming, over their territory.

Wild turkeys were just spotted yesterday, in a group of 20, foraging for fresh blades of grass. In winter, with a lot of snow on the ground, turkeys may fast for up to a week. Their "gobbling" season is triggered by increasing day length and warming temperatures, and the courtship and breeding will begin by March or April.

Signs of Spring are everywhere, even if the calendar doesn't agree quite yet. Groups of Canada geese have been sighted flying at dusk. They are one of the earliest migrants of spring - especially those that have wintered farthest south. Another heralder of warmer temperatures - the Spring Peeper - was heard peeping at a local pond. Although it seems too early for amphibians to be out, a few days of heavy rain and warmer weather must have woken this one up a little early!