Nature Connection: A Changing Of The Guard

It’s the time of year when there are lots of things in the air, not the least of which is change. Leaves and puffy seeds are blowing in the wind, birds are on the wing and leaving for the south, and our little animal friends are dropping acorns and pinecones from the trees.

Once the temperature drops and stays below 50 degrees Fahrenheit all our reptile and amphibian neighbors will head for safe places to spend the winter. Although their dormant states resemble hibernation, we call it brumation. They are able to slow their metabolisms down to a near-death state, even tolerating some freezing and thawing as winter progresses.

Insects and other arthropods will also seemingly disappear when the temperatures dip below 50 for good, though in many cases, they are simply out of sight, out of mind. Some migrate and some hibernate, but most make it through the winter as eggs, larvae, or pupae. This is why it is so important to tell your landscapers to stop with the leaf blowers. Insect populations are crashing, and leaf blowers are major players, along with pesticides, in their demise. 

We need insects, even the ones that annoy us. They all have their places in the ecology of our earth, even if those places aren’t always obvious to us. Insects are pollinators, decomposers, and food for multitudes of birds, fish and other wildlife. In some parts of the world insects are food for humans as well.

Now that our calendars have turned to fall, many of our thoughts are turning to pumpkins and squash, ghosts and ghoulies. We may have ignored these things in September, but it’s nearly impossible to avoid them now so we might as well give in and enjoy them. 

Nature herself gets a little spooky in October. Blackbirds line up on power lines, the ocean changes hue to a darker, almost gray color on many days, and the naked branches of trees stand like skeletal strangers in the dusky sky, whether it is night or the hours just before or after. The wind blows through the woods, moaning and whistling, the last bats of the season swoop low looking for the last insects and owls hoot mournfully as the moon shines through the clouds. It’s not hard to imagine how spooky holidays coincided with this somewhat spooky season.

On a recent wander that took in multiple beaches and salt marshes, I saw dozens and dozens of egrets and herons feeding. In some areas there were as many as 40 spread across a fairly small area. They fussed and chattered between feeding sessions, and I wondered how long it would be before they would be gone. With stormy forecasts for our southern states, I hoped they would wait a bit before flying into potentially dangerous areas.

Migration is a dangerous enterprise and yet birds do it every year. They run into all sorts of natural weather events but also man-made obstacles. The numbers of birds killed each year by collisions with buildings and windows is monumental. The trend toward buildings with glass and mirror-like outer coverings has been devastating for birds who cannot distinguish the real landscape from the reflected one. This is happening worldwide, and millions and millions of birds are killed each year.

Flocks of birds can be swept up in weather events, especially those with fierce winds and rainfall. Many die in hurricanes and tornadoes, wildfires and flooding. Birds that travel alone run into predators, vehicles, and human hunters. Here in the U.S. we have protected migratory birds, but in other areas of the world this is not true and is affecting populations of both songbirds and shorebirds, many of which are netted in huge numbers to put on the table as delicacies for the wealthy.

Soon the diving ducks will arrive. These will include the scoters, eiders, mergansers, and buffleheads. These hardy souls will spend the winter here in ponds and bays where they will feed in open water. Most come from up north where the winter freeze would mean starvation and death for them. Some winters they can get caught here if we have a sudden cold snap that persists and freezes the ponds, lakes, and ocean bays as well. Those that can fly further south will do so, but not all will make it.

Hunting seasons are now beginning. Please check with your town to see what is in season where and when. Remember that much of the National Seashore is open to hunters and so are many conservation areas that have recreational waivers written in. I know hunting season upsets a lot of people, but remember that most hunters are decent, law-abiding people who are actually conservation minded. They eat the animals they kill and are respectful of the rules and regulations concerning bag limits and safety. If you are a walker, maybe consider getting an orange or bright yellow vest and hat. Although most hunters are super careful, we all know there are always a few that may not be.

The summer crowds have thinned, the beaches are quiet, the swallows are almost ready to leave, and the poison ivy is putting on quite a show, along with the last of the goldenrod. Change is all around us. Let’s enjoy these lovely days of early fall when there are still a few catbirds around, the asters are in bloom, and the whales are still swimming, breaching and feeding offshore.

It’s tempting to clean all the leaves out of our gardens but please consider leaving some dead plants standing, especially those with seedheads, and leave some leaves as well. Nature will thank you.