The Right Clothes

   My old friend and colleague, Dick Homan, used to say about outdoor activities, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes."  He was a firm believer that winter's cold or summer's heat should not be a deterrent for outdoor fun.  He always has the best gear for all the 'Silent Sports' he participates in, such as cross-country skiing, biking and rollerblading. His words come back to me the most while I am toasty warm in the proper coat on a cold day while downhill skiing. Consequently, I've grown to feel a bit smug about how I'm usually comfortable during outdoor activities.   So, when the kids and I got caught in the wrong gear on a summer day recently, I was thoroughly de-smugged!

   It happened while exploring Vandolah Nature Preserve, just east of Tonkel Road.  The kids and I have been trying to visit as many ACRES land trust preserves as we can.  We had never been to Vandolah before and last week seemed like to perfect time to sneak in one more preserve before the start of the school year.  Anticipating a short walk on a groomed trail, we put on some old gym shorts and t-shirts.  Dogs on a leash are welcomed at these preserves, so we brought along our fabulous golden retriever, Genny.   Due to the extreme heat, it had been awhile since Genny was in the woods, so she had a doggie perma-grin as she pulled my teenage son up and down the ravines at this beautiful site.  The trail loop is 1.5 miles long, but it was such a nice day and none of us felt like that would be a long enough hike, so we decided to venture to the part of the preserve that runs under I-69 and follows the river.   On the map, it appears that this part of the preserve has a trail along the river.  The reality is that it starts out as a mere deerpath then disappears altogether.   We are adventurous and we knew enough to stay by the river so as not to get lost.  What we didn't think about are the massive amounts of poison ivy that are in the woods at this time of year.  We felt like we avoided most of the itch-producing plants and were well on our way back to the 'real' trail when we encountered the only other hiker we saw that day: our orthodontist!  He had never been to the preserve, so he asked us all about the 'unchartered' part we had just visited.  We told him it was very scenic, but there was a lot of poison ivy to avoid.  He had on some very snappy gear: thick hiking boots, all-weather pants, a breathable exercise shirt and an impressive backpack into which he said he put some weights. Oh, and he also had a pair of trekking sticks that put the ones I purchased at Walmart® to shame.  After we warned him about the poison ivy, he looked down at his own clothe covered legs and assured us he'd be fine. I felt a little embarrassed that I'd been 'caught' dragging my kids through the woods ill dressed. (NOTE: since our orthodontist is very down to earth, I'm sure he didn't even think twice about it.  It was just the crashing down of my smugness that made me feel  inadequate!)

            Back on the 'real' trail, we consulted the map and headed out.  Unknowingly, we missed a turn and we were once again in an unfamiliar woods without a trail…and with LOTS of stinging nettle (or something nearly as bad).  We had just blazed our way through a particularly nippy thatch of it when we all stopped dead.  There was absolutely nowhere else to go and we were standing in weeds that towered over our heads.  My eleven year old daughter burst into tears.  This unsettled me because she is most definitely not a crier.  Thankfully, my son held it together.  He tried to comfort his sister by saying, "It's okay, we'll just head back to the car now."   This brought more tears from my daughter because I could see that she realized that this meant we'd have to go back through that nasty nettle patch.  What else is there to do when you are over your head in weeds and somewhat lost but to turn around and re-trace your steps?  So, that's what we did.  Twenty minutes later, safely back at the car, we compared war wounds.  It turns out that my legs were the only ones with permanent red-streaks from the plants (probably because I was the trail-blazer).  Once we got the air-conditioning on in the car and showers and clothes and dog washed upon returning home, all was well again with everyone.  Now that days have passed since it happened, it has become the adventure of the summer as the story gets re-told. 

            However, I now have proof that the lesson of wearing the right clothes has sunk in more deeply with the kids and me.  While packing for a camping trip this week, we stuck our heads into each other's bedrooms and gave reminders to, at the very least, remember to pack some nice hiking pants!

Hawkins Family Farm

The Nature and Nurture group at Resurrection Lutheran Church just had a fantastic Friday night pizza experience at Hawkins Family Farm in North Manchester, Indiana.  The drive out to the farm through the ubiquitous corn and soybean fields of Indiana farm country was made all the better when I realized that there were still many old-fashioned red, hip-roofed barns along the way.  Something about seeing those red-sided buildings makes me feel that all is right with the world. 

This is their home, and you are made to feel like you just dropped by for a visit.  We had twelve people in our group, so we set up our chairs and blankets on the lawn, next to the farmhouse, which is their residence.  The old growth shade trees combined with the smells of the farm were calming.  The kids lazed in the gigantic hammock while the adults had great discussions and enjoyed adult beverages which we were able to bring in our own coolers.   Four varieties of organic pizzas were offered (all delicious!) and the Hawkins family even stuck around with us until well after dark when someone in our group locked their keys in the car.

Jeff Hawkins' grandparents purchased the 99 acre farm in 1957.   Jeff, an ordained minister, now runs the farm with his family.  Jeff provides an experience for other pastors with a ministry focused on understanding systems and their interactions and inter-dependencies creating a nature-centered venue for clergy renewal at the farm. The farm is also committed to community sustained agriculture, and as such, offers a full harvest share for 2011 which includes a weekly allotment of vegetables plus 20 chickens, a fresh Thanksgiving turkey, a half grass-fed hog, and a quarter grass-finished beef.  If you enjoyed reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, then the Hawkins Family Farm is a must-see for you. If you are looking for a unique, nature-friendly Friday night, the Farm is calling you!  

http://hawkinsfamilyfarm.com/

Nature and Nurture Group

The Nature and Nurture group will have its next gathering at Lindenwood Nature Preserve on Sunday, June 5th at 2:00 pm.  This preserve is located in the vicinity of Saint Francis University and has some beautiful trails with lots of wildflowers.  We'll meet in the parking lot and hike for about an hour.  Bring the kids!

Turkeys and Robins

            There are a few spots I can always count on for some good nature viewing while I am in the car.  Two locations are along stretches of highway here in Indiana.  Highway 24 between Fort Wayne and Toledo and I-69 between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis are always good for some wild turkey spotting.   When we first moved to Fort Wayne from California, I could hardly believe my eyes when we saw wild turkeys grazing in a winter-plowed corn field along I-69.   I had to do a triple take to make sure I wasn't confusing some turkey vultures for the genuine article.   I thought the wow factor would fade, but seven years later, I still get such a kick when I spot some.

            Another spot which has not failed me once this spring is the northeast corner of Auburn and Union Chapel Roads in Fort Wayne.  Every single time I drive by there is ALWAYS a robin in the yard.  Every time! No kidding.   Usually, there are several and one time I counted thirteen.   I learned that I need to stop counting the robins while driving because it is nearly as dangerous as texting.  I keep thinking that this bird phenomena will end now that spring is well underway, but so far I've not seen a decrease in the flocking.  There must be a mighty fine crop of worms living in that soil.  

            Where do you consistently see wildlife as you travel your daily routes?   If you don't see any, make it a point to look for something and you'll find that wildlife suddenly appears everywhere you travel.  However, like texting, I recommend that you don't count and drive.

Spring Peepers and Woodpeckers

I heard the first Spring Peepers today!  I was out in our local environmental center yesterday teaching three classes and I heard not a sign of them.  Today I took my own children out to enjoy the warmer weather and we were greeted by quite a chorus of them. Peepers are found in woodland pools and ponds, preferably without fish to prey on their eggs, tadpoles and adults.  Males gather in these small pools by the hundreds, or even thousands.  Their chorus begins the first warm evenings of the season, starting in late February into late summer.  Only the male frogs call, averaging a peep per second.  They usually call in trios, with the lowest-pitched male starting the competition.  Those that sing the loudest and fastest are most likely to attract mates.  These nocturnal amphibians can be heard loud and clear up to a half-mile away. 

Another creature that is out in full-force is the woodpecker.  We have been seeing and hearing a very persistent

downy woodpecker the last few weeks.  It is the one bird that children have to be asked to listen for, but when they do hear it, a smile always spreads across their face.  Children often say that it sounds just like you think it should.   Today we visited Bicentennial Woods and as we parked the car, a crow size bird with a red-head flew by. 
“Mom, mom, what was that?” my son asked. 

I haven’t seen a pileated recently, but the size of the bird we saw made it unmistakable.  It was a pileated woodpecker.  We listened to his ardent pecking during most of our hour long nature walk.  It made us feel really connected to nature to hear that bird busily pecking away while we meandered through the forest.  It seemed like all was right with the world.

            The Nature and Nurture Club will meet for a group hike at Bicentennial Woods in two weeks.  On Sunday, March 27^th, plan on meeting us in the parking lot at 3:00 pm for a great spring hike.

Birds of Feather

      I know that starlings are considered a ‘nuisance’ bird and an invasive, but I can’t help but be amused by them.  They still swarm my pear tree on occasion to get the last of the little, brown mushy fruits that cling to the branches.   They also seem to love the suet cake I have at my feeder.  Watching the flock swirl and swarm in unison as they move from tree to feeder is like watching a synchronized swimming event.  Mesmerizing!

      While hunting online for more information about these maligned creatures, I discovered that a flock of them is called a “chatter” or an “affliction”.  So interesting.  Even their flock name is amusing.   I discovered many flocks go by another name.  Here are a few: 

·  Birds of Prey (hawks, falcons): Cast, cauldron, kettle

·  Cormorants: Flight

·  Crows: Murder, congress, horde

·  Ducks: Raft, team, paddling

·  Eagles: Convocation, congregation

·  Finches: Charm

·  Flamingos: Flamboyance

·  Game Birds (quail, grouse, ptarmigan): Covey, pack, bevy

·  Geese: Skein, wedge, gaggle, plump

·  Gulls: Colony

·  Herons: Siege, sedge, scattering

·  Hummingbirds: Charm

      Now, come up with a flock name for your family or group.  It should suit you as the starlings’ does.   Extend the activity to other creatures.  For example, a group of golden retrievers could be called a ‘love’.   There are more storms still ahead, so this topic could be a way to pass a snowy afternoon.  You may come up with a name that will stick for years! 

Winter Thaw

         The temperatures are supposed to climb to nearly 40° this week.  This promises to make things soggy and damp.   Usually, this is my least favorite kind of weather.  In an effort to be upbeat about it, I tried to think about something positive for gray, drippy days.  One thing I came up with is that every winter I notice that during a thaw, I see the animals acting, well, a little crazy!   I distinctly remember last year seeing no less than nine squirrels gathering at the edge of a playground, chowing down on tidbits that had been covered by snow for months. They were so absorbed in their eating, that I got within three feet of them before they scattered.  I was mesmerized by the tiny little knob-like thumbs they deftly use to hold their food.  I also saw a flock of about 60 starlings swarming the decorative pear tree in my yard.  They were gobbling up the tiny, decayed brown fruits as if it were a Vegas buffet! After gorging, the birds were flying in crazy patterns.  I think the pears were  fermented.  

            While teaching a class outdoors last week, it was only 12°, up from -3° earlier that day.  We didn’t think we’d see much, due to the cold, so when the group spotted two obvious kill sites…a bird and a rabbit probably killed by a bird of prey, it was very exciting.  I am taking a group of students out to the same spot this Wednesday, which has a forecast of 41°.   While it will be hard to beat the circle of life we witnessed on the 12° day, now I am looking forward to maybe witnessing a little animal lunacy!