Ten Canada South Land Trust friends and members gathered at Penelope Potter's property at 3:30 p.m. on June 11, 2005 for a guided tour lead by naturalist Paul DesJardins. Penelope welcomed everyone, mentioning that the property has two new, rather shy residents, a pair of Green Herons, which have been observed at the pond nearest Penelope's home, and which appear to have built their nest in a small tree across the concession road.
Paul provided us with some comments on the current state of butterfly and dragonfly watching. Today, butterfly watchers catch and release the individual butterflies that they are seeking to identify. Enhanced butterfly viewing is provided by binoculars that are able to close focus.
Dragonfly watching is just beginning to catch up with butterfly watching. In the 1950's only hard to use technical books were available but now a whole group of books have appeared which are easier to use. Paul suggested that the publication Dragonflies of Wisconsin is particularly useful as it contains great identification and pictures. Also recommended by Paul are the Golden guides and Stokes Guide to the Dragonflies of which 75 percent of the dragonflies described are found in our area. The Ojibway Nature Centre's website has comprehensive lists for our area. In summary, Paul suggested taking advantage of courses as they are offered by the Ojibway Nature Centre as well as courses offered in Michigan. Locally there are nine butterfly counts which provide good exposure but no counts yet devoted solely to dragonflies.
Penelope maintains a mowed pathway through her fifty acre meadow which extends from the Fifth concession through to the Sixth Concession in the Town of Essex. This habitat provides a good opportunity to observe a number of damselflies and dragonflies. Paul told us dragonflies have been around for 250 000 000 years. These fascinating insects are wonderful fliers with direct flight muscle which is an excellent wing design, enabling dragonflies to fly backward, forward, up and down.
During their life cycle the majority of dragonflies live as an aquatic insect with each species having its own distinct life cycle. Some species migrate such as the Saddlebacks and Common Green Darner, indicating these species have a longer non-aquatic life. Paul suggested that dragonfly watchers should learn the characteristics of three or four species well, then add other species. Dragonfly species observed on the walk included Blue Dasher, Dot-tailed White-face Dragonfly, Common Whitetail, the strong flier Black Saddlebags, Common Green Darner, Twelve Spot, and Widow Skimmer.
Paul elaborated on the life cycle of the Widow Skimmer. The individual we observed was likely a female as her black wing markings didn't extend to the halfway node like the wings of immature males. Adult males also have white pruinosity covering the outer half of their wings. Both males and females travel away from the pond from which they have emerged, allowing time for their wings to harden. Males travel back to the pond as soon as possible to guard and fight over their territories.
Paul pointed out a damselfly called the Eastern Forktail which has four forms, depending upon age and sex. A delicate damselfly, likely a Familiar Bluet, was also seen.
Butterflies spotted included two Skippers at the bright yellow blossoms of Birdfoot Trefoil, Summer Azures, Orange Sulphur, Crescent species, American Copper, Bronze Copper, Red Admiral, and Cabbage White. A Giant Swallowtail had visited Prickly Ash earlier in the day.
A variety of birds species were seen. A Chipping Sparrow was observed carrying nesting material just beside Penelope's home. Other bird species included Great Egret overhead, Mallards, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Cedar Waxwing carrying nesting material, Yellow Warbler, Field Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and American Goldfinch. Several pairs of Eastern Bluebirds have chosen to nest in nesting boxes provided for cavity nesters. One nest presently contains two eggs each of Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow, with incubation underway by the Eastern Bluebirds. The outcome of this nesting will be monitored closely.
Penelope's property has a twenty-five acre area off to the east in which we glimpsed four Bobolinks. Last year good numbers of this species returned to nest near the Fifth Concession, but that did not occur this year. Eastern Meadowlarks have again returned to nest on the property.
Penelope's property contains three ponds to which wildlife is attracted. The latest wetlands were designed to be ephemeral ponds, especially attractive to amphibians. We found tiny American Toads nearby, attesting to the success of these shallow frog ponds. The pond nearest to Penelope's home is home to a muskrat and at least one Green Frog and Leopard Frogs. Bill Balkwill identified Shumard Oaks among the trees close to this pond.
Following our walk, Penelope served refreshing iced tea, then it was off to Holiday Beach Conservation Area for an early evening supper. Our meal included Cannelloni with Tomato Eggplant Sauce, Mushroom and Artichoke Lasagna, Greek Salad, Arctic Salad Slices, Moors and Christians Salad, Cranberry Banana Bread, Nutty Seed Bread, Granny Green Apple Crisp Cheesecake, and Carrot Cake with Creamy Cheese Icing.
Thank you to Penelope, our hostess for this Land Trust fund raising event, and to Paul who interpreted for us, opening our eyes to the abundance of wildlife in Penelope's wonderful meadow.