Big Year Week 18

May 7 - 13

Spring migration is in full swing here in Northern Indiana, and making appearances to the property a a couple of first of year birds such as this Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).  Baltimore Orioles belong to the blackbird family, and they are summer residents in Indiana.  Several days prior to taking this picture, I had been hearing Orioles singing in the trees nearby, so I put some oranges out at our platform feeder, and literally 30 minutes later, a male Baltimore appeared and began pecking at the orange.  Grape jelly is another popular treat for attracting Baltimore Orioles.

Male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

The second fun bird of the week was this male Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea).  Here is another bird that summers in much of the USA, but winters in Central and Northern South America.  Indigo Buntings typically don't remain around our neighborhood in the summer months, with virtually every historical sighting that I've documented having come in the month of May.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

I suppose that one never really realizes the amount of moth diversity that exists until you actually start paying attention to what's flying around.  One trick to getting moths to willingly pose is to refrigerate them for about 30 minutes.  This puts them into a state or torpor, and when removed, you have about a minute to photograph them before they "wake up."

This little moth is The Wedgeling (Galgula partita) and it's the only species of its genus that exists north of Mexico.  Like most Lepidoptera, the Wedgeling is a larval food specialist, which means that its caterpillars can only eat a narrow range of plants.  In the case of The Wedgeling, it's larval food source is Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Sp.)

The Wedgeling (Galgula partita)

The latest in the list of non-native species that were planted by the previous owner is Grape Hyacinth (Muscari sp.)  It's another of the spring flowering Eurasion originating plants.

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari sp.)

Wow, am I ever confused by Violets.  Apparently, our first flowering Violets are the non-native Viola odorata.  Then a short while  later comes several of the native Violets including Viola sorroria (Common Blue Violet), and Confederate Violet (Viola sorroria var. priceana).  Could this Violet have been something that was a garden variety cultivar, or is it actually a naturally occurring subspecies of Viola sorroria?  My money is on the idea that it was planted.

Confederate Violet (Viola sorroria var. priceana)

Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) is a nice, albeit somewhat weedy shrub that supports a lot of wildlife.  On our property, this species grows in nearly full shade as well as in areas where other things won't grow (beneath pine trees for example). The picture below is that of a Prunus virginiana flower cluster.  It was taken on a breezy day where it was hard to focus on the entire flower cluster, which is unfortunate, because they are quite beautiful.

Flower Cluster of Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

Common Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are flowering abundantly this week.  The bane of lawns everywhere, this introduced species is actually both delicious and nutritious with leaves being high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron and Calcium.  Instead of poisoning it, why not try eating it instead?

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 

Another Eurasian lawn weed that's flowering right now is Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum).  These are not nettles at all, but rather members of the mint family.  The name "Deadnettle" is erroneously implied that they are nettles, but without stingers.   Like the Dandelion, these too are said to be delicious and nutritious.

Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpurem)

Yet another Eurasian weed, which is also part of the mint family, is the invasive Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea).  Used for centuries for various purposes in the old-world, Creeping Charlie can take over huge areas and wipe out native wildflowers.  This is one of those weeds that I'm convinced I'll never fully eradicate, but rather will have to constantly control.

Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)

Speaking of invasive plants, little exists that's more invasive than Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata).  Native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa, Garlic Mustard was introduced to North America in the 1860s, and has since spread across most of the United States.  Garlic mustard produces copious amount of seed, releases chemicals that are thought to inhibit the growth of other plants, and has no known natural enemies in the new world.  For these reasons and more, this plant has an unfair advantage over native species, which it easily out-competes. The good news is that it's easy to pull, and it can be eaten.  When we first moved to our property, we had an area that was pure garlic mustard, but through diligent pulling, I now only see five or six plants per year on our property. 

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Meanwhile, on the native, non-invasive front, Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is also in flower in our woodland garden (note the deep red flowers).  Unrelated to the "real" ginger, Asarum canadense contains potential carcinogens, so it shouldn't be used as a ginger substitute, but it does make a lovely ground cover, and it's one of the important, indigenous plants of the eastern deciduous forest.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Another native woodland plant is Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis).  This particular plant was purchased a couple of years ago at a native plant sale, but it has yet to flower for me.  Very similar in appearance to the closely related Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucularia), the two species are most easily separated by their flowers.  Dutchman's Breeches are said to look like small pants, whereas Squirrel Corn's flower are said to resemble lady's dresses....thus spurning other colloquial names for the two plants "boys and girls."   The common name of Squirrel Corn is thought to refer to the underground portions of the plants, which are said to resemble kernels of corn.

Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Our first flowering prairie plant of the year is Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum).  A member of the rose family, the species name "triflorum" indicates that the plant flowers in groups of three, as is evident in the photo.  The common name Prairie Smoke comes from the wispy appearance that the seed heads take on later in the season.

Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Week 18 running totals:

Birds: 27
Mammals:  4
Reptiles:  1
Insects:  9
Vascular Plants:  24

Big Year Week 17

April 30-May 6

I was out of town at the Indiana Audubon Spring Festival for three days this week, so my yard discoveries are pretty lame - just of couple of new birds, but pretty good birds at that.

Returning for the summer are Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  These birds overwinter in Central America, and they breed in the Northern US and Canada including most of Indiana.  On this particular morning, I was lucky enough to have four males stopover at our feeders.  I've never found evidence of these birds breeding on the property, but I have founds recently fledged young in nearby Rolling Prairie.

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Another returning migrant is the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).  Unlike the above bird, White-crowned Sparrows do not breed in the Midwest.  Instead they continue north to northern Canada.  Here in Indiana, we'll see them for a couple of weeks in a spring.  In the fall, they return to their wintering ground, which includes most of the United States, and we do occasionally see them foraging on the roadsides in the winter months.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Week 17 running totals:

Birds:  25
Mammals:  4
Reptiles: 1
Insects:  8
Vascular Plants:  14

Big Year Week 16

April 23-29

It seems as though every year at this time, I nearly step on a Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).  Around this time of year, Garter Snakes emerge from hibernation and can be readily found on sunny days in our lawn and garden.  This is the only snake species that I've ever found on our property, and they seem to be increasing in number, which I attribute in part to our landscaping practices, which have resulted in less mowed areas.

Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is a plant that's native to Eastern North America, and it is sold at many native plant sales.  However, it is not believed to grow naturally in our area, and I've seen it exhibit invasive like tendencies in woodlands where it has been introduced.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Here's a species that I didn't plant:  Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) is a species that is indigenous to the eastern deciduous forest, and the ancestors of these plants have probably been here on the property for hundreds and hundreds of years.  Although we live very close to the now extinct Terre Coupe Prairie, the presence of Spring Beauty (along with other species) tells me that our property would most likely historically have been wet/mesic forest.

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Field Garlic (Allium vineale) is a species that is native to Europe and Northern Africa, which has escaped cultivation and is now a common weed in disturbed areas and old fields.

Field Garlic (Allium vineale)

Plantain-leaved Pussytoes (Antennaira plantaginafolia) is a native wildflower that is often overlooked due to it's small stature.  I purchased this plant several years ago at a native plant sale.  This species is dioecious, which means that individual plants bear either male or female flowers.  I believe that this is the female or "pistillate" flower.

Plantain-leaved Pussytoes (Antennaira plantaginafolia)

Week 16 running totals:

Birds:  23
Mammals:  4
Reptiles: 1
Insects:  8
Vascular Plants:  14

Big Year Week 15

April 16-22

Moths can be really tough to identify, which I why I usually need help with them.  Such is the case with this individual. This is most likely Morrison's Sallow (Eupsilia morrisoni), which is another moth that overwinters as an adult.  I found this one attracted to the grow lights that I was using for my vegetable seedlings.

Morrison's Sallow (Eupsilia morrisoni)

"Oh dear, Canada, Canada, Canada" and "Sweet, sweet, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody" are two of the several mnemonics that are used to describe the song of this species:  the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).  This time of year, White-throats are stopping by for a short time while on their way to their breeding grounds in the extreme northern United States and Canada.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Our second native spring ephemeral wildflower is the Yellow-trout Lily (Erythronium americanum).  These plants are indigenous to our property, and they provide clues at to what the property would have been like prior to being developed.  It's difficult to tell from this picture, but the mature, flower producing plants have two basal leaves whereas the immature, non-flower producing plants have but one basal leaf. 

Yellow-Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

A common lawn weed, particularly in damp, disturbed areas is Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta).  A member of the mustard family, Hairy Bittercress is native to Europe and Asia, but it has now become established in most of the United States.  It is an edible plant that is popular with foragers, and is said to have a peppery, bitter flavor.

Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)

This little woodland wildflower is one that I rescued a couple of years ago from a construction site that was about to be bulldozed.  Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) is native wildflower that is a member of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family.  

Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

The final plant of the week is another of the native spring wildflowers:  Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta).  The picture is poor, but if you look closely, at the bottom left of the photo, you will see the three-lobed leaves, from which the plant takes its name as the lobes are supposed to resemble the human liver.  Because of this, Hepatica was once thought to be a cure for certain liver ailments.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta)

Week 15 running totals:

Birds:  23

Mammals:  4

Insects:  8

Vascular Plants: 10

Big Year Week 14

April 9 -15

Well, it finally looks and feels like spring, and amazingly, the spring-like weather also coincided with the kid's spring break.  We made the most of the nice weather, and for the most part, we stuck around the house to work on garden projects, which gave us a chance to really observe the emerging life around us.

Our second vascular plant/flower of the year is this Crocus. Crocus is actually a genus of many plants, all native to Europe, Northern Africa and Asia, and like the earlier mentioned "Snowdrops", this plant, which grows from underground corms, was also planted by my home's previous owner.  In addition to species, I'm sure that there are many cultivars of Crocus as well, and I have no intention on learning about them. 

Crocus sp.

When I was a child, I remember how my grandmother used to buy bags of ladybug beetles to introduce to her vegetable garden to ward off damaging insects.  These days, most people associate ladybugs with the ones that congregate in their homes in late winter, die en mass on the windowsills and smell horrible in the process.  This is not a native insect,  but rather the introduced Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis).  The easy way to distinguish the Asian Lady Beetle from our native varieties is to look for the "M" shaped marking on the thorax, the white center of the face, and the stout shaped body.  If you see these markings, you have the Asian species.

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis)

Speaking of beetles, Sarah found this striking creature crawling along one of our seed flats, which is interesting, because this is an animal that is normally found under the bark of dead trees.  This is the Red Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes), and it is the only species in its genus in North America.  Little is known about these beetles, but several sources claim that they are known to be beneficial predators of bark damaging insects. 

Red Flat Bark Beetle (Cucujus clavipes)

Nectaring on the above pictured Crocus flower was this moth.  As best as I can determine this is the Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth (Orthosia hibisci), but I haven't been able to obtain expert verification.  One of the host plants of this species is the genus Malus (apples & crabapples), which helps to support my claim as it was found in the immediate vicinity of one.

Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth (Orthosia hibisci)

Another sign of spring is the reemergence of the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).  Although they aren't not true hibernators, Chipmunks spend their winters below ground in a state of torpor.  Members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae), Chipmunks are frequent visitors to our bird feeders, and occasionally, they find their way into our home as was the case a couple of years ago when we practically ripped the house apart in an attempt to catch and release one who'd found his or her way into the kid's bedroom.  We were unsuccessful in our attempt, and we never actually did figure out what happened to it.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

The first butterfly of the year comes as no surprise, as it is one of the first three butterflies that we see every year.  Here is the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa).  The reason that it is one of the first butterflies that we see is that this species actually overwinters in its adult form.  Interestingly enough, this same species is found not only in North America, but also in Europe, and with a life span of nearly a year, it is said to be one of the longest lived butterflies.

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

Another sign of spring is the return of the Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura).  Turkey Vultures are scavengers who migrate south for the winter, and although I've never had one actually perch on our property, we do often see them flying overhead using their keen sense of smell in attempt to locate decomposing flesh.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Yet another spring arrival is the Eastern Phoebe (Sayoris phoebe).  Phoebes belong the family Tyrranidae or "tyrant flycatchers", and they too migrate south when there is no available sources of food.  This particular Phoebe was photographed by Sarah Sass while beginning to build a nest atop one of our flood lights.  Seeing this, I quickly built a proper Phoebe nesting platform and attached it to the house, but the Phoebes continued to construct their nest on the light anyway.  For the first time ever, we may have a successful Phoebe nest on the property.

Eastern Phoebe (Sayoris phoebe)

Everyone knows the common Daffodill (Narcisscus sp.)  Native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa, they were brought to North America as ornamentals, and are presumably very long lived.  I have a great deal of these plants growing along the property - none of which were planted by me, but rather by the previous owner, who lived here from 1960 to 1995.  If anyone wants some, please feel free to come by and dig them up!

Daffodill, aka Johnquill aka Narcisscus (Narcissus Sp.)

For years, I though these early flowering violets to be our native Common Blue Violet (Viola sorroria) until Scott Namestnik correctly identified them as being Viola odorata, which is a European plant that's sold in the garden trade.  No doubt these were also planted prior to 1995, and have naturalized on the property.

Wood Violet aka Sweet Violet aka English Violet (Viola odorata)

I'm beginning to see the trend of having the non-native plants green up and flower prior to the native plants.  Here's another one.  Glory-of-the-Snow (Chinodoxa forbessii) is a plant that's native to Turkey, but widely planted as a garden ornamental.  Again, not by me.

Glory-of-the-Snow (Chinodoxa forbessii)

Finally a native plant emerges!  Here is Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and this one was planted by me.  In fact, just last year, we received a couple of clumps of Bloodroot from our friends Vic and Marge Riemenschneider, and they obviously took.  Note how the delicate flower (which last for only a few days) emerge from the curled up leaf.  It's as if the leaf is helping to shield the flower from the cold early spring days.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Next is a tiny moth that I confess having to get identification help with.  This is the Featherduster Agonopterix (Agonopterix pulvipennella).  I don't know much about this species aside from its larval host plants are goldenrods and nettle (both of which we have plenty of), and (like the aforementioned Mourning Cloak) it overwinters as an adult, so most likely, this little guy has been keeping me company in my office all winter.

Featherduster Agonopterix (Agonopterix pulvipennella)

 Week 14 running totals:

Birds:  22
Mammals:  5
Insects:  8
Vascular Plants:  6

Big Year Week 13

April 2-8

While perusing the dormant vegetable garden, I happened to notice an unusual clump of grayish hair.  Upon further investigation, it was an Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) nest that was full of baby bunnies.  

Eastern Cottontails are the only rabbit species that are indigenous to Indiana.  Strict herbivores, they do consume a fair amount of my vegetable garden annually.  In the wild they are short lived and are the target of many predators such as coyotes and hawks, which possibly explains their ability to reproduce abundantly.  

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) Nest with Babies

Flies are not something that I'm good with, and sawflies can be particularly mind boggling, but thanks to the folks at bugguide.net, the consensus is that this individual is of the genus Dolerus.  Of the 11 North American species in the genus Dolerus, only one is pure black, and that is Dolerus nitens, which is actually an introduced species from Europe.  

Dolerus nitens is said to be one of the earliest emerging flying insects, and since its larvae feed off of grasses and sedges, it is often found close to ground.  The name "sawfly" comes from the saw-like resemblance of the female's ovipositor, which acts like a saw to create a hole in the blades of grasses where its eggs are laid.  I don't claim with 100% certainty that this photograph is actually Dolerus nitens.  It seems to fit the bill, but I'm certainly open to expert opinion.

Dolerus nitens?  (No Common Name)

  

Week 13 running totals:

Birds:  20

Mammals:  4

Insects: 3

Vascular Plants:  1

Big Year Week 12

March 26-April 1

I've been a complete slacker for the past couple of weeks, but I did manage to grab a few new species in this the first week of spring.  The photo below was taking in my kitchen.  This is the Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella).  This South American native is the adult form of the pesky wax-worm like caterpillar that frequents your flour containers.

Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

Our second species of the week comes to us via one of my house cats who left this White-Footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) as a present for us.  

White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)

Thanks to some baiting with bread, I was finally able to get an American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) to come to near the window.  Said to be one of the most intelligent of all birds, American Crows appear to be making a comeback after being hit hard with outbreaks of West Nile Virus.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

The first flower of the year appeared on March 30.  Here is the Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). A member of the lily family, this is a species that is native to northern Europe, but I think that it's fairly common product in gardening centers.  These bulbs were presumably planted my home's previous owner sometime in the 1960's-80's, and they are the first thing to flower every spring.

Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

Another sure sign that spring has arrived is the return of the Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis).  Although we don't have habitat for Sandhills to use as a stopping point, I do see and hear them flying overhead every spring on their way back northward for the summer.

Migrating Flock of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)

Week 12 running totals:

Birds:  20
Mammals:  3
Insects:  2
Vascular Plants:  1

Big Year Week 9

March 5 - 11

Finally on March 11, the first Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) arrived at our feeders.  Like Robins, most Red-wings migrate south for the winter, and typically in late February, the males will arrive back in Indiana in large numbers and establish breeding territories ahead of the females.  According to several sources, Red-winged Blackbirds are currently the most abundant bird species in North America.

Male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Week nine running totals:

Birds:  18
Mammals:  2
Insects:  1

Big Year Week 8

February 25 - March 4

The ridiculous winter weather coupled with the misplacement of a certain camera battery caused a bit of Big Year down time.  

However, this week brought with it a few much welcome signs of spring such as a flock of American Robins that arrived on February 27th.  Every year, I overhear someone worriedly comment about seeing a Robin early in the year while snow is still present. The fact of the matter is that many Robins do overwinter in our area, but they're largely unseen as they are typically foraging fruit trees and not looking for grubs and worms in frozen lawns.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Our second mammal of the year showed up below our bird feeders on March 4th.  The only North American marsupial, do you find the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginianacute) or ugly?  I was surprised to find out that the Virginia Opossum or "possum" for short, only lives on average about two years in the wild and about four years in captivity.  Several days after this shot was taken, I noticed a dead possum in the road in front of the house.  I'd like t think that it wasn't this little guy, but it may have been.

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginianacute)

Week eight running totals:

Birds:  17
Mammals:  2
Insects: 1

Big Year Week 6

February 5 -11

It's hard to imagine that the creature pictured below didn't exist in North America until 1998 when it was accidentally released in Pennsylvania in a shipping crate from China for Japan, but since then it has spread to at least 40 states and counting.  This creature is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys), and they're now virtually everywhere.

Since coming to America, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug has become a major agricultural pest - having been found to cause damage to several fruit crops including apples, peaches and citrus. The stink bug family (Pentatomidae), are "true-bugs", and they comprise one of largest families in the suborder Heteroptera (true bugs) with 220 species in 64 genera.

The name "stink bug" comes from a scent gland that is located in the abdomen, which is used as a defense mechanism that produces a pungent odor that predators find distasteful.   One of key ways of separating the BMSB from other stink bugs is the white bands on the antennae.

Stink bugs overwinter as adults, often in dwelling (such as my house)!

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys)

Week six running total:

Birds:  16
Mammals: 1
Insects: 1