WHAT'S NEW IN NATURE?

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This Month:

Photo from freefoto.com
Question: What can I do with my Christmas tree when it is time to take it down?
Answer: You can recycle your tree as brush at the transfer station, but there are several other ways to put that tree to use!
Here are several ideas for ways you can re-purpose your tree from the UNH Cooperative Extension:
1. Place it in a corner of your yard and hang orange slices, balls of suet and other treats from the boughs to provide food for the birds. The dense boughs also offer protection for birds on cold winter nights and provide an escape from nearby hawks or cats.
2. Clip off the branches and place the boughs around marginally hardy plants, semi-hardy perennials or around recently planted trees and shrubs. Leave the branches in place until spring arrives, then cut them into small pieces and add them to your compost pile.
3. Place the tree on its side in a woodsy area to serve as a hiding place for small animals. Locate the tree so that wild creatures that take up residence don't become pests later.
4. Run the branches through a wood chipper to produce mulch for gardens, trees and shrubs. Pine mulch isn't toxic to plants, but large amounts of chips (in case you acquire a large load of Christmas trees from friends and neighbors) should be composted first or allowed to sit for about 12 months before spreading.

November:



The beaver is North America's largest rodent. Adult beavers typically weigh 45 to 60 pounds, but have been known to grow to 100 pounds. Native Americans greatly respected beavers, calling them "Little People".
The dams, canals and lodges that beavers build have gained them the reputation as "Nature's Engineers". No other animal with the exception of man so significantly alters it's habitat to suit it's own needs and desires.
Beavers build and maintain houses called lodges. There are two main types, the conical lodge and the bank lodge. The most recognized type is the conical shaped dwelling surrounded by water. It is made from sticks, mud and rocks. One of the primary reasons beavers build dams is to surround their lodge with water for protection from predators. The second type of lodge is the bank lodge. It is typically excavated into the bank of a large stream, river, or lake where the water is too deep or fast moving to build the classic conical lodge.
Each lodge contains at least two water-filled tunnels leading from the chamber to the pond so the beavers can enter and exit the lodge underwater without being spotted by predators. The walls of the conical lodge are very strong due to layers of mud and sticks, and are extremely insulated. Even with subzero outside temperatures it will not drop below freezing inside the lodge due to retained body heat from the family of beavers.
To obtain food and building materials, beavers are well known for their ability to topple large trees using nothing but their specially adapted incisor teeth and powerful lower jaw muscles. Beaver teeth never stop growing, so they do not become too worn despite years of chewing hardwoods. Their four front teeth (incisors) are self-sharpening due to hard orange enamel on the front of the tooth and a softer dentin on the back. Therefore as beavers chew wood the softer backside of the tooth wears faster, creating a chisel-like cutting surface.
In cold climates each Fall, beavers will stockpile a cache of sticks underwater because they do not hibernate. They live on these sticks because once their pond freezes they will no longer have access to trees on the land. Beavers remain inside their lodge all winter except when they swim under the ice to their food cache for a stick to nibble on.
While beavers are considered to be pests by some, scientists actually have proven that beavers are a "Keystone" species in North America. This means that beavers play a crucial role in biodiversity. Innumerable species rely either partly or entirely on beaver ponds, many of them threatened or endangered. Therefore, whenever we can coexist with beavers, we are providing the habitat necessary for supporting many other species, and protecting the web of life upon which we depend.
Where flooding from a free-standing beaver dam threatens human property, health or safety, a Flexible Pond Leveler pipe system can be an extremely effective solution. If properly designed and built, a Flexible Pond Leveler will create a permanent leak through the beaver dam that the beavers cannot stop. A Flexible Pond Leveler device is so effective that Beaver Solutions guarantee them. They eliminate the need for repeated trapping despite the presence of beavers.
All information and much more can be found at Beaver Solutions

October:

Photo from American Mushroom

Carol recently found a very large mushroom called the "Hen of the Woods" (scientific Name: Grifola frondosa). It is easily recognized by its smoky brown, wavy caps, organized in large clusters of rosettes arising from a single, branched stem structure. The name "Hen of the Woods" refers to its appearance, which strongly resembles a hen with ruffled feathers. In the Appalachian region, it is called "Sheepshead" or "Ramshead". It is also know by the name Maitake in Japan which means "dancing mushroom". They can grow very large from several pounds to over 50 pounds.
The Hen of the Woods fruits anytime from early September to late October and seems to be triggered by the first cold nights of the end of Summer. It is found growing mostly at the base of dead or dying Oak trees, though it can be found under other hardwoods and firs. "Hen of the Woods" grows from an underground tuber-like structure, about the size of a potato. Once you find one, go back the next year and you may find it again in the same spot year after year.
Hen of the Woods is a very tasty edible mushroom, but one should be careful to gather only younger specimens and trim the softer, outer portions of the caps for the table. Succulent, large and firm in texture, this mushroom has a strong earthy or musty aroma, providing a flavor that is bold, somewhat nutty and very similar to a Portobello. It is a variety of fungus that is often valued for it's health benefits due to the amount of fiber, protein, and vitamins B and C that it contains.
Warning - Use caution when trying this species for the first time; it is one of those for which "allergies" in some individuals are reported. Try only a bite or two if you have never eaten it before--and, if things go well (no stomach upset), go ahead and eat it again. The sturdy mushroom will definitely last a day or two in the refrigerator for further consumption. They are easy to store. You can chop the fronds up into what ever size pieces you like to cook with and store them in freezer bags in the freezer without any par-boiling, you can also dry in a food hydrator.
It is a very distinctive species with no dangerous "look-alikes", making it a very good choice for the novice mushroomer. Happy mushroom hunting!

September:

Photo by Mike Marchand

Snakes!!
Conservation Commission members have been spotting all kinds of snakes lately. There are actually 11 different species of snakes that are native to New Hampshire. Some of these species, such as the garter snake are very common and widespread across the state. Other species like the timber rattlesnake are extremely rare and are now state protected. Five of the 11 species, the timber rattlesnake, eastern hognose snake, northern black racer, smooth green snake, and ribbon snake, were identified as species in greatest need of conservation in New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Wildlife Action Plan completed in the fall of 2005. Overall, NH snakes are poorly studied and basic distribution and life history information is lacking. Here are links to the NH Fish and Game website for pictures and information on all 11 species of snake found in the state:
Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus)
Brown snake (Storeria dekayi dekayi)
Northern red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)
Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii)
Smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis)
Milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)
Northern black racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor)
Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)
Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) ­ State Threatened
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) State Endangered

This information found at: NH Fish and Game Snake page
More information about snakes can be found at: NH Audubon

August:




Who is that bird perched on the back of the swan in East Washington's Mill Pond? We were surprised to learn that he is a Double-Crested Cormorant! This is a bird who loves to fish. The Double-Crested Cormorant is a North American member of the Cormorant family of seabirds. He is a large black bird, 29" to 36" long, with a wingspan up to 52". He has a long tail and a yellow throat-patch with a long, hooked, yellow beak, perfect for fishing.
Breeding occurs in coastal areas as well as near inland rivers and lakes. They build stick nests in trees, on cliff edges, or on the ground on suitable islands. They are gregarious birds usually found in colonies and have a deep, guttural grunt call.
Cormorants can find food in the sea, freshwater lakes, and rivers. Like all Cormorants, the Double-Crested dives to find its prey. It mainly eats fish, but will sometimes also eat amphibians and crustaceans. Smaller fish may be eaten while the bird is still beneath the surface but bigger prey is often brought to the surface before it is eaten. After catching a fish, the cormorant surfaces, flips the fish in the air and swallows it head-first. They regurgitate pellets containing undigested parts of their meals such as bones.
The Double-Crested Cormorant swims very low in the water, often with just its neck and head visible, and dives from the surface. It uses its feet for propulsion and is able to dive to a depth of 5­25 feet for 30­70 seconds.
After diving, it spends long periods standing with its wings outstretched to allow them to dry, since they are not fully waterproofed.
Let's hope he leaves a few fish for the fishermen that like to visit Mill Pond.
Some information found at: wildernessclassroom.com
Now, about those Canada Geese, they can be a big nuisance! When geese nest on a pond or lake they spend a lot of time eating and subsequently leaving their waste in the water and on the shore (up to several pounds a day!). This can be a direct major contribution to high bacteria levels. Try to discourage them from nesting on your pond during the summer. In East Washington, swan decoys have been installed in the pond at three locations to discourage geese from nesting and habitation. The geese don't want to stay where swans live. Other methods are planting shoreline buffers of tall, native plants that make it more difficult for the geese to enter and leave the water, or just don't mow to the water's edge, let the grass grow into a vegetative buffer. Don't allow feeding of the birds at the pond. You can use a border collie to herd them away from the pond's edge and make them feel like a predator is around. But finally, if they have moved in and hatched their brood you need to leave them alone and try again next year.

July:

Picture by cinnabon1, taken at Millen Pond

The name loon comes from the bird's haunting, yodelling cry. Their unusual cries, which vary from wails to tremolos to yodels, are distinct to the individuals and can be heard at great distances. Loon cries are most prevalent during breeding season as pairs aggressively defend their territories.
The type of loon found here in Washington is called the "Common Loon". These loons are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble in shape when swimming. Loons have striking red eyes, black heads and necks, and white striping, checkering, and spotting on their back and have a spear-shaped bill. They ride low in the water and are excellent divers.
Loons find their prey by sight. They eat fish, amphibians and crustaceans. Specifically, they eat crayfish, frogs, snails, salamanders and leeches. They prefer clear lakes because they can see their prey more easily through the water. The loon uses its pointy bill to stab or grasp prey. They eat vertebrate prey headfirst to help with swallowing, and swallow all their prey whole.
To help digestion, loons swallow small pebbles from the bottoms of lakes. This assists the loon in crushing the hard parts of their food such as the exoskeletons of crustaceans and the bones of frogs and salamanders. The pebbles may also be involved in stomach cleaning as an aid to regurgitation of indigestible food parts.
Loons may inadvertently ingest small lead pellets, released by anglers and hunters, which will slowly lead to the loon's death by lead poisoning. New Hampshire is one of the states that has banned lead sinkers and shot to help protect loons and other wild water birds.
During the summer, loons nest on fresh water lakes and/or large ponds. Smaller bodies of water will usually only have one pair. Larger lakes may have more than one pair, with each pair occupying a bay or section of the lake.
Loons are excellent swimmers, using their feet to propel themselves above and under water and their wings for assistance. Because their feet are far back on the body, loons are poorly adapted to moving on land. They usually avoid going onto land, except when nesting.
Loons build their nests close to the water, preferring sites that are completely surrounded by water. They may use the same site from year to year. Loons will use a variety of materials found nearby to build their nests including pine tree needles, leaves, grass, moss, and sometimes clumps of mud. Both the male and female help with nest building and incubation, which usually lasts 26-31 days. If the eggs are lost, the pair may re-nest, often in the same general location.
Usually one or two eggs are laid in June. Loon chicks are able to swim right away, but are often seen riding on their parents' back. This behavior allows the chicks to rest, conserve heat, and avoid predators such as large carnivorous fish, snapping turtles, gulls, eagles, and crows. After a day or two, chicks cease returning to the nest but remain in their parent's company.
Chicks remain with and are fed exclusively by their parents for about eight weeks. After eight weeks, chicks will begin to dive for some of their own food. By 11 or 12 weeks of age, chicks are able to gather almost all of their own food and may be able to fly.
A loon pair may mate for life, although banding studies have shown that loons will sometimes switch mates after a failed nesting attempt and even between nesting attempts in the same season. Male loons appear more faithful to breeding territories than to mates.
Come fall Loons migrate to the ocean coast to stay for the winter.
Watch and listen for these wonderful birds in many of Washington's ponds and lakes. We are fortunate to have them visit each summer. The Loon Preservation Committee in Moultonborough NH has worked to preserve loons and their habitats in New Hampshire through research, management and education activities. They conduct a loon count each summer to monitor their population numbers.
Most information from: Wikipedia

June:

USFWS picture

The Karner blue butterfly depends for survival on wild lupine plants, which once thrived in pine barrens and oak savannahs in 12 northern states from New England to Minnesota and in Ontario, Canada. Twenty years ago there were an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Karner blue butterflies in the Concord Pine Barrens area. By 1995, that number had plummeted to less than 50, because of the coinciding decline of wild lupine in the area. The Karner blue butterfly was federally listed in 1992 as endangered throughout its entire range.
Both male and female have a wingspan of about an inch. The upper side of the female's wings are bluish brown to blue with orange crescents along the lower part of the hind wing, while the male's are violet blue with unmarked narrow black borders. In April, caterpillars hatch from eggs laid on wild lupine plants the previous year. The caterpillars feed only on wild lupine leaves. In mid May they form a cocoon-like chrysalis from which they emerge as butterflies by the end of May or early June. The adults mate and in June lay eggs on or near wild lupine. The eggs hatch in about a week, and the caterpillars enter the chrysalis stage about three weeks later, appearing as a second generation of butterflies in July. These adults mate and lay a second brood of eggs that does not hatch until the following April. Adults feed on the nectar of a variety of plant species. Wild lupine grows in open pine barrens and oak savannahs, where sunlight reaches the ground. These habitats often depend on fire to keep them open. When fire is suppressed, as is often the case in areas managed under traditional forestry techniques, the canopies can close, and the lupine dies off.
The Karner blue butterfly is both New Hampshire's State Butterfly and the Concord City Butterfly. Its restoration to the remaining pine barrens plant community in the Concord, N.H., area has involved a collaborative effort between state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, private businesses and civic groups. Restoration efforts are focused at the Karner Blue Butterfly Conservation Easement, part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Great Bay Wildlife Refuge, located at the end of Chenell Drive (an educational kiosk near the site explains the Karner project).
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program oversees Karner blue restoration efforts in the state. A variety of partners are involved in the restoration efforts, including N.H. Fish and Game, the N.H. Army National Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the city of Concord and others. Core funding for captive rearing and habitat restoration comes from the N.H. Army National Guard, the moose Conservation License Plate and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wildlife biologists from N.H. Fish and Game release hundreds of captive-reared Karner blue butterflies into the restored habitat in June. The second of two annual broods will emerge in July. Concord's school children and New England Zoo Conservation Collaborative play an important role by helping to plant the native lupines and other nectar-producing plants that the endangered Karner blue butterflies rely on to survive. The public is welcome to visit the easement at the end of Chenell Drive in East Concord, where a trailhead kiosk describes the Karner restoration project. Visitors are asked to try to not step on any wild lupine plants -- there may be Karner blue butterfly larvae on them.
For more information on Karner blue Butterflies and the restoration project:
NH State Wildlife Karner blue News
NH State Wildlife Butterfly News
Roger Williams Park Zoo News
National Wildlife Federation Information on Karner blue Butterflies
FederalWildlife Service Karner blue Factsheet


May:

National Geographic picture

The only hummingbird we have in New Hampshire is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, although an occasional vagrant species turns up every once in a while. The male ruby-throated has a red throat that will appear black if it is not in the sun. The female has a whitish-gray breast and both have a greenish back. The young resemble the female during their first year. Capable of sustained hovering, hummingbirds also have the ability to fly backward, vertically, sideways and even upside down!
Hummingbirds return to our state in late April or early May. Put up your feeder when the first really warm weather arrives during that time. Feeders should be placed in partial shade.
To make your own nectar, bring to a boil a mixture of one part sugar to 4-8 parts water and allow to cool. Hummingbirds will investigate anything that is red, so if your feeder has some red on it you do not need to put red dye in the nectar. Do not use honey in your nectar because it can grow a fungus fatal to hummingbirds. Change the nectar in your feeder and put in fresh nectar every 3-4 days or more often in the hottest days of summer. You should also clean the feeder at this time. Store extra nectar in the refrigerator. Hummingbirds will continue to feed on insects and other flowers in addition to your feeder so they will get the diet they need. Hummingbirds visit bee balm, wild columbine and cardinal flower and other nectar bearing plants and bushes if you have planted them in your yard.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are among the tiniest birds on the planet, but they're also among the biggest eaters. They need to take in enough energy to supply wings that can beat 20 to 80 times per second and hearts that can beat more than one thousand times per minute. They weigh about 1/10 of an ounce and need to eat about every 10 minutes. Hummingbirds have long thin bills adapted for specialized feeding. The bill combined with an extendable, forked tongue, has evolved in order to allow the bird to feed upon nectar deep within flowers.
Hummingbirds migrate south at summer's end. Adults will usually migrate first, often as early as the beginning of August. The young usually stay longer and are gone by the end of September. Research has shown that hummingbirds will migrate regardless of whether there is food present, so you can leave your feeder up until the weather turns colder and the hummingbirds are gone.
Listen for the hum of the Hummingbird's wings and you will be able to observe this tiny, jewel- like bird up close.
Most information found at: NH Audubon Society

April:

National Geographic picture

The Spotted Salamander is one of the larger members of the mole salamander family reaching lengths of 9 inches (23 centimeters) in length and are prevalent in mature deciduous forests from eastern Canada throughout the eastern and midwestern United States. But these secretive salamanders spend almost their entire lives hidden under rocks or logs or in the burrows of other forest animals.
They will populate upland forests and mountainous regions, but are most common in moist, low-lying forests near floodplains. They emerge from their subterranean hiding spots only at night to feed and during spring mating. They will actually travel long distances over land after a heavy rain to mate and lay their eggs in vernal pools and ponds without fish. They return to the same mating pool via the same route every year. They lay up to 200 eggs in a single mass in early spring/late winter, ususally after the first warm rain.
Visually striking, these stout salamanders are bluish-black with two irregular rows of yellow or orange spots extending from head to tail. Like many other salamanders, they secrete a noxious, milky toxin from glands on their backs and tails to dissuade predators. Their diet includes insects, worms, slugs, spiders, and millipedes.
Spotted salamanders' numbers are generally stable throughout their range, but they are very sensitive to changes in their ecology, and rising water acidity in certain habitats is negatively affecting their population. They may live 20 to 30 years.
Most information found at:
National Geographic website

March:


Birds! There are lots of birds around this month as our winter birds are joined by those that migrate in the spring. Johanna reports seeing Cedar Waxwings in Concord early this month and was able to snap this wonderful picture. A large flock was busy feasting on some rotten apples left on the tree since last fall.
Carol mentioned that bird watchers are seeing Pine Grosbeaks feeding on the ground under their feeders. These are not normally seen in NH; they are normally further north but have come down to find food. As much snow as we have had this winter, they have had even more up north, so maybe their food is hard to find. Carol also reports hearing a Redwing Blackbird; so spring can’t be too far away!
Here are a few links for those interested in watching birds:
NH birding information
NH Rare Bird alert
For Kids: Explore the World of NH birds
Don't forget to take down, clean and put away your bird feeders by April 1 so you won't have trouble with bears. Store your bird feeder until late fall when you can hang and fill it again. Let us know what interesting birds you have seen lately!

February:


Wanted Alive: American Chestnut Trees!
Don wants everyone to be on the lookout for the American Chestnut Tree in the woods of Washington. He has contacted the Chestnut Society about his chestnut trees and he thinks he may have a significant mother tree. A blight-free tree would be a wonderful find. Anyone who has seen one in Washington should let Don know where it was found. He wants to remind people to think twice before cutting a tree for firewood. See our wanted poster above to help identify all the different parts of the tree. The chestnut can look similar to an oak; so make sure of what you are cutting. All chestnut trees should be left to grow and propagate. Hopefully there will be a comeback of this magnificent tree. More information about the Chestnut can be found in our "New in Nature" yearly archives (link found below). Look at year - 2007.

January:

What's that bug and why is it walking in the snow?
There are a surprising number of six-legged creatures that are active when it is cold. While it may seem strange that an insect would evolve to finish their development during winter, they certainly have the advantage of having few predators around.
So whether you are out cross country skiing, snow shoeing, fishing, or maybe just walking through your front yard, be on the watch for these fascinating insects.
The most familiar winter insect is the Snow Flea commonly known as a springtail. They are only 1/10th inch long, so they look like pepper on the snow and can become so abundant they turn the snow black.
Another winter insect is the Snow Scorpionfly, family Boreidae. Scorpionflies have pronounced beaks and are wingless. They are easy to see when they're on top of snow; they also found in moss where both adults and larvae feed.
Another is the Snow Fly, genus Chionea.They are wingless, spider-like, and active during cold weather. They are dark colored and measure about 1/8 - 3/16 inch long. Snow flies are most closely related to crane flies (those things that look like huge, clumsy mosquitoes with enormously long legs that normally fly around in the summer). The larvae live somewhere in the leaf debris or topsoil or who-knows where over the warm part of the year. Then, after the snow falls, the adults come out and stride over the snow looking for mates and a good place to lay their eggs. Most insects, being cold-blooded animals, are active according to the temperature of their environment. So these bugs have developed a cold adaptation that is actually pretty extensive. They have significantly altered biochemistry to allow them to not only avoid freezing in the ice and snow, but still be able to function when their body fluids are supercooled below the freezing point of water. They only really run around when it is, literally, freezing outside.
Find this information and more about snow bugs at:
University of Minnesota Extension Service

To view yearly archives of our "New In Nature" series click on year you wish to see.