Northern Catalpa

Posted on September 23, 2013 by tspuckler

Northern Catalpa, native to a relatively small area of the central Mississippi Valley basin, has been extensively cultivated in Ohio for over 200 years. It is now naturalized in urban and rural areas and these days is primarily used as a large, ornamental shade tree.

Farmers introduced Northern Catalpa to Ohio in order to produce large amounts of relatively lightweight timber for fenceposts, since its wood is very resistant to rotting. Its rapid growth rate assisted in this need, until metal fenceposts were developed and largely replaced wooden posts.

The medium-green leaves of Northern Catalpa are large and heart-shaped. They are some of the biggest leaves on any Ohio tree.

In Spring large, white flowers form in upright clusters from the branch tips, creating a striking floral effect. The flowers are composed of fused white petals with small amounts of yellow, orange and purple.

Pollinated flowers produce long, vanilla bean-like pods in early Autumn. The seedpods are slender and green in the Summer and grow to 10-24 inches, looking similar to an exaggerated green bean.

The seedpods mature in the Fall, turn dark brown and split open lengthwise to release the seeds inside.

The size, shape and color of the mature seedpods gives rise to another common name for this plant – the “Cigar Tree.”

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American Goldfinch

Posted on September 18, 2013 by tspuckler

The brightly colored male American goldfinch is especially recognizable. In breeding season they are bright yellow with black and white markings. In the Winter, the males lose their bright yellow feathers and become dull brown.

Females are of dull coloration year-round.

American Goldfinches live in brushy thickets, weedy fields, gardens and roadsides. Since they eat mostly seeds from grasses and wildflowers, they tend to stay where there are a lot of these food sources available.

They are interesting to observe while they eat, because they have great balance and can perch on any stem while twisting their bodies to get to seeds or fruit.

American Goldfinches are very sociable, and you will often see several pairs together at the same time. You can hear them communicating with each other as they forage for food in flocks along roadsides and in brushy fields in on their quest for thistle and sunflower seeds.

Some of their other foods include ragweed, dandelions, mullein, American Elm, Eastern Redcedar, grasses and Evening Primrose. They also eat some types of insects, including caterpillars.

People tend to like these colorful birds and specific feeders are available for thistle seeds, to attract them; though at my house they seen to enjoy taking apart the Zinnias.

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Owlfly

Posted on September 13, 2013 by tspuckler

While walking through this field one morning, I came across a creature that I’ve never seen before. In fact, I didn’t know that such a thing existed. Owlflies somewhat resemble dragonflies, but have clubbed antennae and fold their wings over their backs. Like dragonflies, these insects are predatory both as larva and adults.

Adult Owlflies are aerial hunters that feed on other insects. When disturbed, some types will release a strong, musk-like chemical to deter enemies. They mimic a twig in the daytime to avoid being eaten by predators.

Owlflies get their name from their large eyes which in many species, including this one, the eye is actually divided into two by a groove. They tend to be crepuscular; that is, they’re active during the twilight hours of sunrise and sunset. A bit like an owl, actually.

Owlflies are members of a small order of insects known as the Neuroptera. The name refers to the complex parttern of the wing veins, which resembles a network of nerves.

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Cardinal Flower

Posted on September 8, 2013 by tspuckler

During this time of year, as you approach the edge of a woodland stream or the banks of a secluded pond, you may glimpse a flash of red among all the green.

By far one of the most spectacular wildflowers of Ohio, this spark of scarlet stands out in the damp places where it tends to grow – mostly along waterways.

Each flower has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals, all united into a tube at the base. Its flowers are very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

The Cardinal Flower’s blooming period corresponds with the southern migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to Mexico and Central America for the Winter.

It has 4 to 6-inch lance-shaped leaves that alternate up the 2 to 5 foot tall stems. The deep green leaves often have a reddish tint, especially on young growth.

John Burroughs, the 19th-century naturalist, wrote, “When vivid color is wanted, what can surpass or equal our Cardinal Flower? There is a glow about this flower as if color emanated from it as from a live coal.”

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Grass Spider

Posted on September 3, 2013 by tspuckler

A couple of weeks ago when I went out to get the mail and opened the back door or the mailbox, I saw a spiderweb. It was apparent that a spider was living in there.

I thought it was nice to have an insect-free mailbox, with the spider quickly ridding it of any small creature that happened to wander inside it. I mean, who wants bugs in their mailbox?

The mailman, however, had a different point of view on the subject and did not share my enthusiasm. I have a rock garden in my backyard with plenty of crickets. They sing all the time. So I removed the spider from the mailbox and released him into the garden. You have to keep the mailman happy.

I kind of missed seeing my 8-legged friend in the days that followed. But recently I went out to get the mail and guess what?

Grass Spiders are commonly seen in Ohio and are classified as funnel web weavers. The structures they build are recognized by the large, somewhat concave, mostly horizontal, sheet-like web with a funnel or tunnel located off to one side.

The webs are found on grass, weeds, ground cover and in exterior places such as fencerows, bushes, brush piles, houses and garages. Funnel weavers and grass spiders build their funnel-shaped webs close to the ground. They hide in the narrow end of the funnel, which is usually protected by leaves or rocks.

Juvenile Grass Spiders emerge from the egg case in Spring and begin constructing miniature versions of typical webs. Throughout the weeks that follow, the web is enlarged, and by late Summer it can be quite sizeable.

Sometimes the web has a thin tangle of threads above the sheet. These act as “knock-down” threads for flying insects. After hitting these threads, the flying insect tumbles onto the sheet and is attacked by the spider.

Many common funnel weavers are also characterized by having bristly legs, which may aid in sensing prey. When an insect, spider, or other small creature crosses the wide end of the funnel, the spider feels the vibration and rushes out to grab its food.

The silk of this spider’s web is not adhesive. The Grass Spider relies upon lightning reflexes to dash out and grapple with its prey on the sheet. They are valuable to humans because they keep the insect population in check.

There is an old saying about Grass Spiders: When there is dew on their webs in the morning, it will be a beautiful day.

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Northern Slimy Salamander

Posted on August 29, 2013 by tspuckler

There are several common ways a small and relatively defenseless animal might avoid being eaten by predators. One method might be blending in with the surrounding environment, thereby avoiding detection. Another tactic would be the ability to make a fast escape. Still another strategy to not be eaten is to be poisonous, or at the very least, distasteful. The Slimy Salamander, however, employs none of these techniques.

This amphibian might be better named if it were called the “Sticky Salamander,” because it secretes a glue-like substance from its skin when threatened. This substance can be very difficult to remove from hands or clothing. It prevents the animal from being eaten by some predators. It’s scientific species name glutinosus is the Latin adjective “sticky.”

The relatively cool, wet Summer we’ve been experiencing has made for ideal conditions to come across this woodland salamander and I’ve seen a few over the past several weeks. This attractive amphibian is black with a scattering of small silvery-white flecks all over it. The amount of flecking can vary among individuals; flecks may be absent on some and plentiful on others.

The Northern Slimy Salamander is found throughout much of the northeastern United States. Though slender, it is relatively long, reaching total lengths of over 7 inches. It likes to hide under rotting logs or in stumps. Although entirely land-dwelling, it needs a damp habitat. It is a lungless salamander, so wet conditions are essential, because it breathes through its moist skin.

The Slimy Salamander emerges from its burrow at dusk and retreats at dawn. It hunts insects and other small invertebrates and catches food by flicking out its tongue. It is occasionally active on rainy days. Not only is it good looking, but the Slimy Salamander is also a true original when it comes to defending itself.

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Red-headed Woodpecker

Posted on August 24, 2013 by tspuckler

Can a bird be inspirational? Adult Red-headed Woodpeckers are so striking that the sight of one motivated Alexander Wilson, the author and illustrator of the early 1800s, nine-volume work American Ornithology, to become an ornithologist.

The gorgeous Red-headed Woodpecker is so boldly patterned it’s been called a “flying checkerboard,” with its entirely crimson head, a snow-white body, and half white, half inky black wings.

Adult males and females are impossible to tell apart in the field. Immature birds have a buff-brown or “dusky” head and back.

These birds don’t act quite like most other woodpeckers. Red-headed Woodpeckers are less likely to drill for food than other species. Instead, they fly down to the ground to capture insects or they catch prey from the air.

They also eat lots of acorns and beech nuts, often hiding away extra food in tree crevices for later. They have been known to wedge live beetles or grasshoppers into cracks in wood to store them for future use.

The Red-headed Woodpecker has declined severely in the past half-century because of habitat loss and changes to its food supply. It can be found open woodlands and forest edges and clearings, river bottoms and wooded swamps. It especially likes areas with dead or dying trees.

This year was my first year to have seen these magnificant birds and I’ve been lucky enough to find them several different times throughout the year in different locations.

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Staghorn Sumac

Posted on August 19, 2013 by tspuckler

The common name for this tree is derived from the fine, felt-like hairs on young stems, giving them the texture of a deer’s antlers.

“Back in the day” Native American Indians made a lemonade-like drink from its crushed fruit. And tannery workers used the tannin-rich bark and foliage as a tanning agent.

This is a small (15-30 foot) colony-forming, tree with crooked, leaning trunks, picturesque branches and velvety twigs.

On female plants, yellow-green flowers are followed by fuzzy, bright red berries in erect, pyramidal clusters which last throughout winter.

Many species of birds have been observed eating the fruits of Staghorn Sumac, especially during the Winter months.

This is one of the first trees to change color. Vibrant orange, vermilion, vivid yellow and sometimes purple may be seen all together on a single tree. I’ve noticed that the leaves on some trees start turning in late July.

Staghorn Sumac is shade intolerant, so is most often found along the edges of forests, in forest openings, on the edges of grasslands and fields and along roadsides.

With appealing features that can be enjoyed year-round, Staghorn Sumac is indeed a tree for all seasons.

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Eastern Cottontail

Posted on August 14, 2013 by tspuckler

This is a very adaptable mammal. I’ve seen them at school, work and occasionally in my backyard. The rabbits in this post were all seen near the Lake Erie shore while on a recent trip to Pennslyvania. Eastern Cottontails communicate with each other by thumping with their back feet against the ground.

Historically, the Eastern Cottontail inhabited fields, swamps and hardwood forests. These days it prefers “edge environments” between woody vegetation and open land. Its range of habitats includes meadows, orchards, farmlands and hedgerows.

They can be seen year-round. At this time of the year they browse in the evening and at night on grasses and herbs (they are also fond of garden fare). In Winter their diet consists of bark, twigs and buds.

During the day, cottontails often remain hidden in vegetation. Cottontails have keen eyesight and hearing. When danger is sensed, a rabbit will usually freeze in place until danger has passed. If approached too closely, they flee, running in a zigzag pattern, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 18 miles per hour.

This animal is an essential element of the food chain, serving as prime prey for many predators. As a result, Eastern Cottontail life expectancy is extremely short – one year or less – requiring the prolific reproduction so often attributed to rabbit species. Adaptability pays off; Eastern Cottontail is one of the most common mammals of both the natural and the human-generated ecosystems in North America.

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Indian Pipe

Posted on August 9, 2013 by tspuckler

This white apparition has appropriately been called Ghost Flower, Corpse Plant, or more commonly, Indian Pipe. “Indian pipe” is descriptive of the shape of the plant, with its flower curved downward, so that it faces the ground.

The scientific name, Monotropa uniflora, means “once-turned, single flower.” Each stalk bears a solitary flower that turns upward after pollination and remains that way as the fruit develops. The flower turns black with age or if picked.

Indian Pipe is a plant that lacks the green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis, the process which allows plants manufacture their own food in the presence of sunlight.

Lacking chlorophyll, Indian Pipe is unable to produce its own food and therefore has no need for true leaves, which are replaced by small scales along the stem. It is able to inhabit the darkest areas of the forest where sunlight is in short supply.

Indian Pipe fulfills its nutritional needs through the services of an intermediary fungus. The fungus forms a connection with Indian Pipe and nearby trees and transfers some of the photosynthate it derives from the tree roots to the Indian Pipe.

The ethereal appearance of the Indian Pipe, with its pallid stem topped by a nodding, white flower makes this “Summer ghost of the forest” perhaps the most easily identifiable wildflower.

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Tim Spuckler's Blog

Reptile Ramblings and More

Northern Catalpa

American Goldfinch

Owlfly

Cardinal Flower

Grass Spider

Northern Slimy Salamander

Red-headed Woodpecker

Staghorn Sumac

Eastern Cottontail

Indian Pipe