autumn – Discover-Nature

Spring Migration

Meteorological spring starts Sunday, and we are already starting to hear the calls of early migratory birds, heading north from southern wintering grounds, working to establish territory their among the best nesting sites available.

Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, singing by Rhododendrites, May 2023

Some birds, including red-winged blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, get their cue to start spring migration as temperatures get warmer. These species head to prairies, forests, and wetlands to claim a location they can protect, call for a mate, and establish a nesting site with good protection and food sources. Other birds, including many warbler species, return in spring when daylight hours lengthen. Generally flying at night, they use star positions and the Earth’s magnet field to guide them. If nights are stormy or heavily overcast, early morning may find hundreds of them waiting in fields for clear skies. Birds may also stop for a day or two in areas located on the southern shores of any large body of water to rest and feed before crossing.

Red-winged blackbird, *Agelaius phoeniceus,* flock at sunset by Jerry Segraves

Bird species around the world generally follow established flyways, established routes over specific locations between their southern and northern territories. Many migration routes do not follow a straight path. Some species have historical stopover or feeding locations that provide a rest point along the way. Other species may not be able to cross a mountain range; or a large body of water can act as a barrier for land birds, but may be a required food source for wetland birds.

Arctic tern, *Sterna paradisaea*, adult & juvenile by Charles J Sharp, Aug 2025

Arctic tern, *Sterna paradisaea*, in flight by Charles J Sharp, Aug 2025

Long distance migration routes are most common for birds wintering in subtropical and tropical areas and breeding in the northern hemisphere. Long migrations in the southern hemisphere are far less common because there is less land near the South Pole to support breeding activities. The record holder for migration distance is the Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea, overwintering in Antarctica and breeding in Arctic locations, a round trip between 30,000 and 55,000 miles. Some shorter migrations are between upper and lower altitudes in mountainous regions.

Penguin migration map by Fred Cooke
& Jenni Bruce, Aug 2011

Dusky grouse male, *Dendragapus obscurus*, displaying by US NPS

Most birds migrate in flocks, which reduces the energy needed to fly long distances and provides added protection against predators. Penguins migrate without flying. Most penguin species swim between locations, covering up to 1,000 miles round trip. A few species cover long distances on foot, including dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus, in the Rocky Mountains which walk from lower to higher elevations. However, a flock may encounter unfavorable weather or flying conditions that causes a large number of birds to stall in one location, introducing other risks including depleted food sources and predation by land-based animals.

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we host a nature walk every other week to observe changes in our campus including the birds that are moving through the area. There are many birding groups worldwide that provide opportunities to observe and learn about migratory birds in every location. Consider joining a group, or take your own bird walk as we have clear days and warming temperatures and see who’s on the move in your area.

Forest Floor

Two main types of forests grow in the regions between the tropics and the poles, deciduous forest and coniferous forest. A majority of energy from sunlight is captured by the canopy vegetation, with little leftover to reach the forest floor. And yet, the lowest level of the forest has an abundance of food and organisms.

Deciduous species are mainly hardwoods including oak, birch, maple, ash, beech, and hickory. These trees have leaves that are broad and flat, designed to catch sunlight. Conifer forests are made up mostly of softwood tree species from the pine and fir families. Most conifers have leaves that are long, thin, and needle-like, a compact form of leaf that is often waxy and designed to withstand the rigors of an environment that is cold and dry for long periods.

^{Green ash tree leaf in summer & autumn by Alain de Maximy}

Chlorophyll is a chemical that is synthesized by plants and gives leaves and needles their characteristic green color. Plants use chlorophyll to absorb energy from sunlight and use that energy to power the process of photosynthesis which creates carbohydrates, providing food for the rest of the plant. Senescence, the process that occurs when a plant stops making chlorophyll, happens as seasons change and day length shortens while temperatures fall. As chlorophyll is removed, leaves and needles lose their green hues and show their underlying colors of browns, reds, and oranges even as they die and fall to the forest floor.

^{Black beetle on forest floor by Undefined, Getty Images; Forest floor fungi cluster in Autumn woods by Vladimir Srajber, Pexels; Springtail on fallen log by Henrik L, Getty Images; Lush moss covering the forest floor by Doina Gherban}

Fallen leaves create a thick layer of litter, broken down by a rich variety of decomposers including mosses, fungi, insects, and other invertebrates. Decaying vegetation releases nutrients back into the soil to be used once more as food for other forest plants. The annual leaf fall adds an estimated 2,600 pounds of vegetation per acre back into forest habitats worldwide.

In deciduous forests, all of the leaves typically fall in late autumn opening up the forest floor to sunlight in early spring. A group of plants known as spring ephemerals take advantage of this sunlight to quickly flower, bloom, and reproduce before leaves re-appear and shade once more rules the forest floor. In conifer forests, where shade is ever-present, flora is restricted to shade-loving species such as ferns and fungi. In addition, fir and pine tree needles are high in acid content and their leaf litter is only broken down by a relatively few fungi species over long periods of time.

All forest floors are rich with many organisms present throughout the year. Invertebrates including insects, fungi, and small mammals spend their entire lives living in the leaf litter. Detritus from leaf fall provides food and nutrients throughout the year to the plants and other organisms living in these wonderful habitats. As you walk the forests, no matter what the season, think about all of the life going on around you each day on the rich woodland floor.

American Asters

As we enter early autumn, it is late in the growing season for the central United States, and many insect species are still actively looking for pollen and nectar as they get ready for winter. Migrating birds and species that overwinter here are also seeking daily meals. Fall flowering plant species are much fewer in number than summer blooming species, but include varieties of American asters, Symphyotrichum spp.; goldenrod, Solidago spp.; black-eyed Susans, Rudbeckia spp.; coneflower, Echinacea spp.; sedum, Sedum spp.; and anise hyssop, Agastache spp.

^{American Aster by Andrew McKinlay, Aug 2013; Anise hyssop by Steve Guttman, Oct 2011; Black-eyed Susan by Jodi Grundig, Aug 2009; Coneflower by Bonnie Leer, Jul 2008; Goldenrod by Cathy Baird, Aug 2013; Sedum by Eleanor Martin, Jul 2009}

In this blog, we take a look at American asters, which make up a genus of over 100 species of perennial plants, all of which are native to North America. Asters like full or partial sun and reach heights of between one and six feet. They display a variety of colors from white to blue to purple. They do best in wet soils. Asters are often grown in pots or used in borders, as well as being found in a variety of wild habitats including forests, savannas, prairies, and wetlands.

^{American painted lady on Pacific aster by TJ Gehling, Oct 2023; Gulf fritillary on white aster by Vicki DeLoach, Ot 2012; Leaf cutter bee, Megachile spp, on New England aster, by GreenRavenPhotography, Sep 2016; Metallic green bee on white aster by Jacqui Trump, Oct 2021; Pecks skipper, Polites peckius, on smooth blue aster, Symphyotrichum laeve, by Tom Potterfield, Sep 2016}

These asters are an excellent source of nectar and pollen sought by both long-tongued and short-tongued bees, butterflies, wasps, and beetles. All parts of the plant are edible, although some species may contain mild toxins, making the animal eating it ill. Leaves and stems are eaten by grouse, turkey, chipmunks, mice, and deer. The abundant seeds are available long after most other flower seeds have been consumed or buried. Large quantities of seeds are eaten by migrating bird species including dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis; indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea; American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea; and American goldfinch, Spinus tristis.

^{American goldfinch, Spinus tristis, by F Delventhal, Jul 2022; American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea, by Tom Benson, Nov 2018; Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis, by Stan Lupo, Mat 2020; Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea, by Mitchell McConnell, Apr 2013}

Asters are sometimes referred to as a keystone species. Keystone species can be either plants or animals that are essential to maintaining the health and functions of the entire ecosystem to which they belong. The introduction or loss of a keystone species may significantly affect an entire ecosystem in either positive or negative ways. Populations of other organisms may be altered, habitat changes can be observed, and biodiversity can rapidly change. American asters, along with the other late blooming flower species, are an important food source late in the growing season for maintaining a healthy population of pollinators, migrating birds, and over-wintering wildlife.

To learn more about seasonal changes and how our native species are adapted to handle these conditions, consider a visit to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or a nature center near you.

Sounds of the Season

It is late summer, heading into fall, and now is the time of year that the afternoons and evenings grow noisier. Some of the loudest species we hear throughout the year are currently active, calling to maintain contact with family members, to warn of impending threats, or to seek mates.

Singing insects are out at all times of the day and night. Crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, and cicadas four insect families active from late afternoon through the nighttime hours. These species all produce calls using a process known as stridulation. The edge at the base of a front wing, called a scraper, is rubbed across the base of the opposite wing, which has a bumpy surface called a file. This movement can produce buzzing or chirping sounds as well as melodic tones.

^{Annual cicada, Neotibicen spp., by Tony Cheng, Sep 2013}

Annual cicadas, Neotibicen spp., are a large insect averaging two inches in size with brown, green, or black bodies and white undersides. Adult males find spots among the branches of trees and woody shrubs where they can hang out and call for a mate. Calls can be heard throughout the day as a loud buzzing for several seconds that slowly fades to silence. Cicadas get louder with warmer temperatures towards late afternoon but cease all calling as dusk settles.

^{Common true katydid, Pterophylla camellifolia, male & female by TJWalker, U of FL}

^{Grey bush cricket, Gryllidae spp., by LHG Creative Photography, Jul 2010}

^{Grasshopper by Peter Miller, Nov 2020}

Katydids, Pterophylla camellifolia, are well-camouflaged with long, green wings that look much like the leaves of the plants they hide in. Despite their appearance, katydids along with crickets, from the family Gryllidae, and grasshoppers, from the family Acrididae, cannot fly. Katydids choose to occupy branches in tall trees, while crickets and grasshoppers prefer lower vegetation, including tall ground cover, from which to call for a mate. These insects will call well into the night on warm summer evenings, but quickly fade away once temperatures start to drop.

^{Common true katydid male, Pterophylla camellifolia, Carter County, MO, OSF-online}

^{Jumping bush cricket, Hapithus saltator, two calling by Daniel Parker, Sep 2023}

Many of these calls are among the loudest made by wildlife. A sound chamber, made by bowing out the wings from the body to create a hollow space, serves to amplify the sound. From the high-pitched melodic notes of the katydid to the chirping of crickets and grasshoppers, these calls can resonate and carry long distances.

^{Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, by Frank Lambert, Dec 2016}

^{Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops asio, by Paul Driver, Sep 2023}

Against this background, we may also hear night birds, especially owls. In northern Illinois, great horned owls, Bubo virginianus, produces a series of low-pitched hoots to warn off territorial invader, call to a young one, or attract a mate. Eastern screech owl calls, Megascops asio, utter a long trill, lasting three to six seconds. Owl’s calls are easy to recognize and can be heard over long distances, making them an effective method of communication in the dark.

^{Coyote, Canis latrans, by Paul Marvin, Apr 2012}

^{Northern Raccoon, Procyon lotor, by Paul Driver, Sep 2010}

Other sounds that you may hear at night include coyotes, Canis latrans, using yips and barks to maintain contact with other individuals, or by young when begging for food. Long, drawn out howling is used to mark territorial boundaries and is often heard in response to emergency vehicle sirens, which we think are perceived as threats by coyote populations. Raccoons, Procyon lotor, are another species that is very active during the late nighttime hours approaching dawn. If they are close by, you may hear purring or chittering sounds used between adults and their young. Whether alone or in a group, when they are startled, raccoons will aggressively defend themselves and other family members emitting loud barking noises. Screams and growls between fighting individuals are often heard.

Late summer evenings can be quiet and slow or full of noises and events. Taking time to walk or sit quietly in your own backyards and listen can be a rewarding experience. Come to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum or visit your local nature center to learn more about wild nights in your area.

^{Clockwise: Coyote, Canis latrans, by Paul Marvin, Apr 2012; Eastern screech owl-red morph, Megascops asio, by Laura M, Feb 2023; Great-horned owl, Bubo virginianus, by Don Miller, Jul 2016; Raccoon, Procyon lotor, by Alex ONeal, Aug 2010; Raccoon, Procyon lotor, by Ellya Selhub, Jan 2006}

Autumn Foods

Meteorological fall began September 1st, marking the beginning of cooling temperatures that lead into winter, the coldest time of the year in the northern hemisphere. As the days begin to cool, many plant species are producing ripe fruits and seeds and starting the process of going dormant until next spring’s warming temperatures and longer days signal a beginning of the next growing cycle. Some animals, especially birds, travel long distances, migrating to areas that stay warm throughout the year. Those who stay through the coldest months depend on having food sources available even while plants are dormant.

_{Grey-headed coneflower seed head by Laura Fischer Photography}

The best winter food sources for wildlife are native plants with berries and seeds available throughout the colder months. Birds including woodpeckers, robins, waxwings, bluebirds, thrushes, chickadees, quail, and thrashers rely on robust insect populations in summer. In winter, when insects are no longer available, having another food source such as seed heads and berries left standing in your garden fulfills this need while adding visual interest and wildlife watching opportunities for you.

^{Food items shown above: Acorns on forest floor by Liz West, Oct 2006; Shellbark hickory nuts by HeikeRau, Getty Images; Pine cones with seeds by GordonImages, Getty Images}

Several tree families including pine, hickory, oak, and cherry offer fruit and nuts lasting through the winter. Along with grass and wildflower stems, trunks and branches also provide habitat for insect eggs and larva that will emerge in the spring. Over winter, insects in these stages are available as food for foraging species that use beaks and claws to dig them out. Stems growing close together provide additional benefits as thickets that provide protection against cold winds and harsh weather and hiding places that are safe from other predators.

^{Berries & Seeds above: Aster seeds by David Hansche, Getty Images; Sunflower at sunset by Hazal Ak, Getty Images; Wild elderberries by StargateChris, Getty Images; Thistle seeds by JTCanada, Getty Images}

Sunflowers, elderberries, and serviceberries are important food sources for fall migrators and winter inhabitants, providing fat and energy to stay warm and active. Aster, thistle, and conifer seeds released throughout the colder months are a favorite food source for finches and other small perching birds. Oak acorns, beechnuts, and hickory nuts are eaten by many woodland animals including squirrel, chipmunk, deer, wild turkey, fox, and quail.

^{Wildlife enjoying an offering: Blue tit on suet by Hedera.Baltica, Dec 2022; Lunch by Audrey, Feb 2008; Pine siskins on thistle by Yooperann, May 2015; Purple finches by Stan Lupo, Oct 2016}

Some of these animals also forage through our backyards in winter as many berry producing plants in the wild are stripped bare during late autumn and early winter. Backyard plantings and feeders provide important supplementary food sources for these animals. A variety of species to consider planting include American persimmon, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry, raspberry, cranberry, paw-paw , and prickly pear cactus, holly, sumac, hackberry, viburnum, hawthorn, bayberry, red cedar, and juniper. You can learn more under Garden For Wildlife on the National Wildlife Federation website at https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Food.

Nature journaling is a great way to track your observations and learn more through later research

Opportunities to observe wildlife in your own backyard can be an exciting way to learn. Try tracking which plants are being eaten and at what times during the changing seasons. Record the weather conditions during those periods to learn what foods are relied upon during colder, harsher winter weather. Try a variety of suet, seed and nut varieties in feeders to attract a range of animals to your backyard for fun wildlife watching and education.

Hummingbirds

It is getting to the end of summer, and many bird species that winter in Central and South America will soon be starting their migrations. Of the 320 species of hummingbirds, 15 spend the summer breeding in North America, from the Gulf Coast states to southern Canada, before returning to winter habitat farther south. Only one species, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, breeds east of the Mississippi River.

7 of the 15 hummers that breed in North America:
- Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Mar 2007
- Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilobus alexandri, by Paul Crook-USFWS, Jun 2024
- Blue-throated Hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae, by Alan Schmierer-USFWS, Jun 2024
- Broad-billed Hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Mar 2022
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Jan 2010
- Broad-Tailed Hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus, by Tom Koerner-USFWS, Feb 2024
- Allen’s Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin, by Wendy Miller-USFWS, Jun 2024

Hummingbirds have a very high metabolism with a normal heart rate of 250 beats per minute that accelerates to almost 1250 beats per minute when in flight. They consume large amounts of nectar each day to get enough sugar to support their energy requirements. Several small grooves running the length of their tongue funnel nectar into their throat by capillary action, a force that causes liquid to rise in a small tube without needing to use air to suck the liquid in. They also eat any small invertebrate to fulfill protein, vitamin, and mineral needs. Hummingbirds snatch insects mid-air while in flight, poach them from spider webs, and glean tiny moth caterpillars from new leaves and branch tips. Another foraging method uses the blast of air beneath their powerful wings to roll over leaves on the forest floor, revealing the insect life below.

^{Anna’s hummingbird catching insects by Stan Lupo, Jul 2023}

Hummingbirds do not bond with a mate. Females establish a territory that optimizes the available nectar and offers multiple nest sites. Males establish a territory based on encountering as many females as possible. Both will defend their areas from other hummingbirds, as well as other nectar feeders including butterflies and bees. Daily feeding starts on the outer edge of their territory to chase out any overnight interlopers and ends with nectar sources deep inside the area’s interior. Males will breed with as many females as possible. Females may have more than one brood of eggs each year, either concurrently or one brood following another.

Nests are about 2″ in diameter, built of small twigs, lined with soft plant material, and covered on the outside with greenish-gray lichens. Nests are bound to branches with spider silk, usually in a forest clearing. The lichens provide camouflage by making the nest appear as a large knot when seen from below. Females reach breeding age at the end of their first year, and can breed throughout their lifetimes. They construct one or more nests, each containing two white eggs, the size of peas, which are incubated by only the female for 14 to 16 days. The male takes no part in raising the young birds, coming together with the female only during mating.

^{Allen’s Hummingbird nest, by Mike’s Birds, Mar 2013}

^{Ruby-throated hummingbird on nest with lichen, by Lorie Shaull, Jul 2020}

Hummingbirds found in the western portions of North America travel overland migration routes. However, midwestern and eastern birds fly non-stop over the Gulf Of Mexico. A hummingbird can increase its fat reserves and double its body weight in the 7 to 10 days prior to the overseas trip. Through studies using banded birds, we have learned that they fly alone, normally at night, along with large flocks of other birds. Young birds, making the trip for the first time, can successfully navigate the migration route with no prior training. Their guidance system, how it works, and how it is learned are all still a mystery.

No hummingbird species are listed as endangered. However, hybridization among species is common, and their small size and great speed make them very difficult to count and track. Little data is available about population size changes and movements; however, more birds have been found over-wintering as far north as the Gulf Coast states of North America.

At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we have numerous bird specimens on display, including hummingbirds. We welcome you to come in and learn more about these amazing creatures.

Remaining 8 species that breed in North America:
Calliope Hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope, by Barbara Wheeler-USFWS, Nov 2021
Costa’s Hummingbird, Calypte costae, by Wendy Miller-USFWS, May 2020
Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens by Doug Greenberg-USFWS, Aug 2017
Lucifer Hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer, by Jim Gain-USFWS, Mar 2022
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilobus colubris, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Jun 2024
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus, USFWS, Jun 2024
Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps, by budgora, Mar 2014
White-eared Hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis, by Alan Scmierer-USFWS, Mar 2022

Oak Tree Habitat, pt.1

Oak trees, genus Quercus, have over 400 species worldwide, but almost one-third are threatened with extinction. They are a keystone species, playing a central role in supporting the entire habitat in which they live. They maintain the structure and stability within their ecosystem, substantially affecting the types and abundance of other species. Oaks make up only 2% of plant species, but they directly support more than 30% of all plants and animals.

^{A great oak in Nottingham Forest by Peter Shaw, Getty Images}

Oak trees live from a few decades to several centuries. The Great Oak, Quercus agrifola, a species of Coast Live oak in California, is estimated to be over 2,000 years old. Oaks clean the air by absorbing pollution and sequestering carbon. They provide shelter, food, shade, and help to reduce erosion. Humans get food from the acorns, dyes from the tannin, and wood for construction, ships, and barrels, plus cork for stoppers and oak chips for smoking meat, fish, and cheese.

^{Red oak with new leaves, Quercus rubra, by aleroy4, Getty Images}

^{Oak forest leaf litter in winter by Whiteway, Getty Images Signature}

In spring, tender new leaves containing fresh sap are consumed by a variety of insects. In fall, older leaves will fall to the ground, but are slow to decompose, building up many layers of leaves over time which provide shelter for small woodland ground dwellers and food for decomposers.

^{Branches of red oak with catkins, Quercus rubra,}
^{by anmbph, Getty Images}

^{Texas Red Oak female flowers, Quercus buckleyi by Doug Goldman, USDA-NRCS National Plants Data Team}

Oak trees have both male and female flowers. Male flowers grow in early spring in long clusters hanging from tree limbs. The pollen is a favorite food for a large variety of insects, especially bees. Pollen is released slowly, over several weeks, to be blown by the wind to the female flowers, which appear as tiny, red flowers near the tips of twigs and new shoots. Female flowers are eaten by insects and are a favorite of red and gray squirrels. Oak flowers are one of the earliest food sources for animals in spring, and must be abundant on every tree so that some are able to survive to produce acorns, the seeds of the oak tree.

^{Bur Oak acorns, Quercus macrocarpa; Northern Red Oak acorns, Quercus rubra; Live Oak acorns, Quercus virginiana by Steve Hurst, ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database;}

In late summer, after pollination, the female flower will produce a large, green nut called an acorn, which will mature in autumn, turn brown, and fall from the tree. Acorns are a nutritious food source for many animals, being high in energy, carbohydrates, and fat. In the eastern U.S., many species are dependent on acorn production, and the amount of available acorns significantly influences population sizes. Some acorns will find suitable ground for sending out a root and starting a new tree, but most will be eaten. Masting, an over-abundance of acorns, occurs every few years. It is thought that masting creates a better chance for new oak trees to grow by overwhelming the animal populations’ need for food. As a secondary result, animal populations may expand immediately following a mast year, only to have higher than normal mortality when food resources return to normal for the following years.

^{Bur Oak bark, Quercus macrocarpa by Herman, D.E., ND State Soil Conservation Committee, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database}

^{Dead oak log in Bialowieza Forest by Nirian, Getty Images Signature}

Oak roots grow close to the ground’s surface and extend well beyond the circumference of the tree’s crown. A complex network of fungi live on the roots and provide additional nutrients to the tree, keeping both species healthy. As the trees grow and age, roots and bark develop crevices and holes in their surfaces, or chunks may become loose, providing niches for plants and animals to shelter and grow. Exposed wood gradually dies and decays providing even more habitat and food for decomposers and the other wildlife that live on them.

In our next post, we will take a look at some of the many species that oak trees directly and indirectly support with shelter, food, and breeding opportunities.

The Woodlands at the Turning, an Illinois oak savannah, by Justin Kern, Nov 4, 2013

Midwestern Prairie

Grasslands make up the largest habitat in North America and cover about one-quarter of the Earth’s surface. There are many different types of grasslands, each with its own descriptive name. Prairie, found in North America, is from the French word for “meadow;” steppes, found in Asia, is Russian for “flat, grassy plain;” pampas, found in South America, is from Quechua meaning “flat surface;” and veldt, found in Africa, is from Afrikaans meaning “field.” In all of these areas, grasslands are characterized by flat or gently rolling countryside.

From upper left: The African veldt by Cello8, May 2007; Sunrise on the Mongolian steppes by Nicolas Mirguet, Apr 2011; Pampas grasslands, Uruguay, South America by Guilherme Boettcher, May 2010; Nachusa Grasslands, Lee County, Illinois by Justin Meissen, Jul 2007

Prairies in Illinois were formed by the action of glaciers retreating northward at the end of the last ice age. Massive ice fields compacted the soils and flattened the landscape. Many areas retained much of the melting ice in ponds, creeks, and rivers. These provided much needed moisture to help establish the new flush of vegetation that moved in as the climate warmed.

White River Prairie, Wisconsin by Joshua Mayer, Aug 2016

Several different types of prairies can be found, differentiated by the mixture of grasses and flowering plants, called forbs. We classify prairies as wet, mesic, meaning moderately moist, or dry. The determination is made based on how much water is retained in soil layers, but can be greatly influenced by temperature, rainfall amounts, and fire. Grasses have narrow leaves, can grow in drier environments, and are the dominant plant type in most prairies. Forbs have broad leaves and require more moisture than grasses. Prairie plants often have deep root systems to access water and nutrients.

From upper left: Big Bluestem, Andropogon gerardii by Matt Lavin, Sep 2019; Rattlesnake master, Eryngium yuccifolium by Adam B, Jan 2017; Grey coneflower seed heads, Ratabida pinnata by JanetandPhil, Nov 2010; Frosty Prairie dock, Silphium terebinthinaceum by Anne McCormack, Dec 2010; Indian grass, Sorghastrum nutans by Douglas Mills, Sep 2015

Animals that inhabit midwestern prairies are adapted to this habitat. They are able to find water and food in drier conditions, when water is scarce. They avoid the hazards of fire sweeping across the landscape. They keep warm during cold winter months. They avoid predators in a landscape with few hiding spaces. Many species are able to burrow underground for warmth, to avoid fire, and to escape predators. Others live near the ground in thicker vegetation that provides cover from wind, cold, and attack.

From upper left: American toad, Bufo americanus by Alan Huett, Jul 2008; Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis by Joshua Mayer, Jul 2015; Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus by ChristaR., Nov 2016; Prairie kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster by Peter Paplanus, May 2022; Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius by Wendy Miller, Dec 2010

At this time of year, prairie plants are starting to go dormant and many bird species are migrating southward to warmer climates where food and water is abundant. It is a great time to get out and observe plants as they set seed and surprise us with the many hues of autumn. Birds are abundant as flocks fly overhead on their migration. Birds that spend the winter here are searching for areas that will provide seed and cover during the coming cooler months. Other animals are out to gather plants for insulation in their winter dens or seeds to store in their larder. Keep your eyes and ears open as you walk the prairie paths this month.

Midewin tallgrass prairie preserve, Wilmington, IL by CheapShot, Jun 2012

Night Buzzers

Have you had your windows open in the evenings and heard the night noises? Chirping, trilling, and buzzing sounds all provide a delightful background to quiet evenings in autumn. The sounds come from a variety of insect species including crickets, katydids, and cicadas.

^{Riley’s Tree cricket by EdwardSnow, Getty Images}

One method insects use to produce these unique songs is called stridulation. Crickets have a scraper on the edge of one wing and a serrated ridge on the opposite wing. When the scraper is moved across the ridge, a chirp can be heard. Crickets may move their wings slowly creating a continuous chirping sound, or more rapidly, creating a smoother and higher-pitched trilling. Katydid also uses this method with a row of stridulatory veins on the undersides of both forewings. Each row has small teeth-like protrusions. When the wings are rubbed together and the teeth slide over each other, a similar clicking sound can be heard.

^{Tree cricket from Pixabay}

^{Katydid by Pixabay}

^{Cicadas in the forest from Pixabay}

Cicadas use another method involving an organ called a tymbal to creating their unique night buzzing. The tymbal, located on their abdomen, is a pair of ribbed membranes that can be flexed against each other. When they are engaged, a ticking sound is created. When moved rapidly, the continual ticking is heard as a buzzing sound. Behind the tymbal, a hollow chamber in the body is used to amplify the sounds.

^{Speckled Bush Cricket by EVO GT, Aug 2012}

^{Common tree cricket nymph by Vinicius Rodrigues de Souza}

Stridulation in cricket species can only be performed by male crickets. Each species has a unique set of sounds, and there are songs for attracting a mate over a distance as well as a courtship song when she draws near. He may also use a warning sound to ward off any other males infringing on his territory. Tree crickets have long, skinny bodies, live in trees, are nocturnal, and their color is adapted to their habitat. In order to project their call further, they may pull a leaf together around themselves to amplify the sound.

^{Katydid by ElizabethPack, Getty Images}

^{Katydid by Macroworld, Getty Images Signature}

Katydids are nocturnal, from 1/2 to 5 inches in length with a leaf-like appearance that provides excellent camouflage for this tree-dweller. There are over 8000 species in the United States, each with its own distinctive song. Katydids can create everything from soft to loud, harsh sounds. Both sexes can create sound and it is used for many forms of communication. There are songs to attract a mate, songs to warn off potential competitors, songs that provide information about a potential mate, and songs that warn the nearby community of danger.

^{Cicada exoskeleton by GrigoriosMoraitis, Getty Images Signature}

Cicadas create a buzzing sound that can be heard across short distances. Much of the buzzing we attribute to them comes from several individuals together in one area. Songs are unique among each species and used similarly for attracting mates and establishing territory. In addition, a large group of cicadas will use buzzing to drive away potential insect predators who are intimidated by louder sounds including robber flies, mantises, and spiders.

Maybe you will take a stroll this evening, or open your windows for some nighttime air. Be sure to listen for the music in the background of the evening.

^{A night chorus from Pixabay}

Maple Trees

Maple trees in the northern U.S. are coming into bloom at this time of year. Maples bloom in late winter and early spring, and the flowers come in green, yellow, orange, and red hues. There are about 130 species worldwide, and except for one species, all are found in the northern hemisphere across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. Thirteen maple trees are native to North America, and we will take a look at a few of the more common ones.

^{Holland Red Maple Swamp, Wisconsin State Natural Area by Joshua Mayer, May 2012}

Several species are large trees, reaching from 40′ to 65′ in height with 20″ to 60″ diameter trunks. Trunks are dark grayish-brown with ridged bark. Crowns appear generally rounded and root systems are widely spread. Maple trees do well in most habitats, particularly moist to wet soil, along streams or in bottomlands.

^{Sugar maple in spring by J Stephen Conn, Jul 2007}

Sugar maple, Acer saccharum, is well known for its maple syrup, marketed world-wide. When temperatures drop below 40˚, maple trees stop growing and excess starch is stored until temperatures start to rise again. Enzymes in the tree change the starch into sugar which is carried by tree sap flowing through the xylem and phloem cells, located just beneath the bark. A tap gently pounded through the bark intercepts some of the sap and collects it into buckets. It takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup. Historically, the wood was used for railroad rails, plow blades, and wagon wheels. After burning, its ashes are rich in potash and make excellent fertilizer as well as an additive for soap and pottery glazing.

^{Maple tree tapping by PublicDomainPictures , Pixabay}

Black maple, Acer nigrum, is a close relative to the sugar maple, and these two species easily hybridize. Both species are shade tolerant, often found growing together for several years as understory trees. Sap from black maple trees may also be used in maple syrup production. Black and sugar maples are hardwoods, stronger and harder than other maple species, and valued for use as basketball court and bowling alley floors, workbenches, cutting boards, and baseball bats.

^{Bowling alley by vtwinpixel, Getty Images; Maple & other baseball bats by Comstock Images: Maple workbenches from thelinke, Getty Images Signature}

Red maple, Acer rubrum, provides food from seeds, buds, and flowers for squirrels, chipmunks, deer, moose, and elk. In winter, stumps and small twigs are an important food source for rabbits. Pollen is produced early in the spring and is a much needed food source at this time of year for bees and other pollinators. Red maple is also attractive to insects and fungi, which invade the wood and create many open cavities in trunks and large branches, favored as nesting sites for wood ducks and other species.

^{Red maple buds & flowers by Martin LaBar, March 2010}

^{Baby squirrel in maple tree by William Krumpelman, Getty Images}

Red maple has several qualities that have made it a widely used ornamental tree. It grows well in shady sites; it is tolerant of flooding and water-logged soils; it is one of the first to colonize disturbed sites and anchor the soil, and it has a rapid growth rate, colorful flowers and foliage, and lives 75 to 100 years. Maple flavored drinks, such as tea, are made from inner bark scrapings. Bark is also used in the production of ink and black or brown dyes. The wood is used for smoking meat and in the production of some whisky varieties.

Silver maple, Acer saccharinum, is a fast growing tree with a root system attracted to any source of water. It is easily grown in shady areas and wet soils, make it a well-liked ornamental tree. However, it causes many sewer and drain issues in urban settings in its search for water. The wood is hard but very brittle, and branches easily break in heavy winds. This often results in trunks having hollow cavities used for shelter by various animal species including wood ducks and squirrels. Seeds are abundant and are a favorite for birds and small mammals. The sap makes a delicious syrup, but requires twice as much volume as sugar maple trees, making it not commercially viable.

Box elder, Acer negundo, is another maple species that is often found near water. This tree easily tolerates drought and extreme cold, although the wood is weak compared to other maple species, and branches often break when subjected to heavy loads of snow and ice. Box elder produces abundant seeds late in the year that provide a great winter food source for mice, squirrels, and seed-eating birds. Branches are small in diameter, so it is not often used for lumber, but it has several uses as pulp wood for producing crates, boxes, and composite wood panels.

^{Under the spreading maple by Jo Zimny, Oct 2020}

As you are out walking in your area, be sure to look for the many species of maple trees that grow in yards and woodlands, often distinguished by bright flowers, abundant seeds, and lively green foliage. Also, be sure to take the chance to observe their spectacular fall foliage later in the year.

The Hunter’s Moon

The Hunter’s Moon will be appearing in the northern hemisphere on Sunday, October 9th this year. It always follows the Harvest Moon, the full moon that appears closest to the autumnal equinox.

Hunter’s Moon; 120 stacked shots for color and depth by Luis Argerich, Nov 2012

Full moons occur when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the Earth. A full moon is almost 12 times brighter than a first or third quarter moon. The Harvest Moon’s name signifies that farmers working to bring in their crops will have enough light in the evening to work a few additional hours each day. After the harvest is complete, and fields are more open and easier to hunt in, the Hunter’s Moon will provide a few extra hours to kill enough prey to stockpile a family’s winter larder.

Hunter’s Moon in the afternoon by Jeffery Grandy, Oct 2015

In autumn, the path of the moon, known as the ecliptic, makes a narrow angle with the horizon and shortens the amount of time between the setting sun and the rising moon. At this time of year, the moon rises 30 minutes later each evening instead of 50 minutes later as it does the rest of the year. It will be particularly bright for several nights before and after the actual full moon, providing about two weeks of extra harvesting or hunting time.

The moon takes 27.3 days to orbit the Earth, but with the Earth orbiting the sun in the same direction, it actually takes 2.2 days longer for the moon to get back to the same point in the sky. A lunar month, 29.5 days long, is the time it takes for the moon to return to the same place. In our calendar, only February is shorter than 29.5 days, so each month typically has one full moon. A second full moon in one month, called a blue moon, occurs every 2.7 years, and no full moon in February occurs every 19.5 years. The next time there will be a month without a full moon will be in 2037.

Hunter’s Moon over Cleveland by Erick Drost, Oct 2019

When the moon rises, it looks huge, but this is only an illusion. To prove this to yourself, take a small object, such as a bottle cap and with one eye closed, hold it at arm’s length in front of you, covering the moon. Note how small or large the object is in relation to the moon. Do this when the moon is on the horizon and later when the moon is high in the sky. The object and moon will be the same size relative to each other at both viewing times. A full moon covers the same area of sky at all times during the night and no one full moon is any bigger or brighter than any other.

Hunter’s Moon while we sleep by Rebecca Suchland, Oct 2013

A full moon may have a reddish-orange tinge when it is close to the horizon. This is due to the extra amount of atmosphere between you and the moon compared to when it is straight over your head. The Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light, but it lets red light waves through, giving the moon a reddish tinge.

I hope you all have a clear night sometime this week and get out to see this monthly phenomena. For more moon names and history, take a look at https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/full-moon-names.html