Muller Field Station's Journal

Alli, Chelsea and I led the first Wednesday Walk. The intention of these walks is to see, observe, document, and share the ever-changing natural world of Muller Field Station. Three community members joined us. It was cold and sunny with almost two feet of snow. Alli and Chelsea had cleared two paths along the channel with the gator prior to the walk.

Highlights- On this walk with sat with a flock of American robins, wondered over the might of the American beaver chewing and pulling honeysuckle apart from a tangle of multiflora rose, marveled over the magnificent architecture of a Virgin's bower seed head, and eavesdropped on a Black-capped Chickadee pecking away at meal of cattail seeds and tidying up afterwards.

Another cold, bright sunny day. Plenty of snow. Bigger crowd this week with six guests, one was a repeat visitor, and Alli, Chelsea and Maura. We were enthralled by lots of fox sign- tracks, scat and maybe urine.
We took a few sniffs but did not get a super strong skunk smell. Once guests pointed out blood splots on the trail as well. We stopped at the beaver chews and another guest noticed that in the tangle of honeysuckle and multliflora rose is also AUTUMN OLIVE, a nother non-native species, and that the beaver is actually chewing down this shrub in this tangle. Must be tasty! An our return trip along the channel, the group saw three Eastern Bluebirds that landed in some winterberry along the trail and two red-tailed hawks were sighted soaring above the station as the guests were leaving.

What a crew we had! Alli, Chelsea, Maura and John Van Niel for staff than we also had seven guests including one current student (Cris Kenney), two alumni, and three community members. Day started off at 34deg F with hazy clouds (stratus maybe?). So many rich observations and conversations. As we gathered, some a chickadee sang to us and then our first discovery was a couple small (~2inch) holes poking out of the snow. John Van Niel excitedly led a discussion of the top three possibliities (mouse, vole, and mole) but then led us to a fourth, and perhaps most probable- the shrew, based the diameter of the opening. A quick Google revealed that there are seven species of shrew in NYS (https://www.esf.edu/efb/lomolino/courses/MammalDiversity/labs/NYS1.pdf). We also observed squirrel tracks and were reminded that all rodents have three middle digits parallel and two outer digits radiate out diagonally. Also and opportunity to discuss how the back feet of rodents and lagamorphs register ahead of their front feet but that the lagamorphs front feet are offset causing a "Y"-like arrangement. While stopped observing some blonding on an ash tree, a cavitity about 20ft up the tree caught our eye. We discussed the difference between nesting cavitities and feeding holes. The height of this cavitity, its size, and the diameter of the tree lead us to conclude that this was a feeding hole, not a nesting cavitity. As we discussed this we could hear the drumming of a woodpecker in the distance. A little early, my friend? We also stopped and looked at the red maple flower buds, so plumb but probably still far from bursting. John Van Niel shared that once they do burst they loose their wildlife value. The hike ended in sunshine, perhaps 10 degrees warmer, with the discover of some excellent otter tracks and tail slap signs. Otter and fisher were the top two guesses. John shared that when in doubt, follow the track and if it goes up a tree you can confirm it is a fisher. Sidenote: both fisher and otter slide so that does not always work. The hefty tail sign in this case was the confirming factor. An exciting way to end the walk!

It was warmer, overcast and the snow had melted just enough for great tracking. It was a smaller group than last week. Jane has been our consistent participant every week which is lovely! And then we had another couple and a gentlemen who joined us just for the beginning. Lots of red fox tracks and for the first time really saw the bar at the back that Chelsea has always been referrring too. I think we could actually see some of the shrew's subnivean tunnels. Great discussion about feather and warmth and regulating heat. Thinking about nests and mother's love in the world of waterfowl (plucking feathers from their breast to keep their babes warm in their nest).