If You Only Look

Field Observations

August 4, 2013

It was an absolutely gorgeous day as I headed out to the prairie to make my observations for this week. The skies were a brilliant blue with the occasional white fluffy cloud, and with temperatures in the mid-seventies it was neither too hot or too cold(even for me.) With bug net in hand I set out, excited for all I would potentially find.  I find it funny that each day I have a potential course of action in mind of what I will explore and the things I might find, but nature is always quick to change this for me.  This week was no exception.

Ready to catch bugs and extend on what we had learned in class I was quickly distracted by the birds.  The swallows, that I am fairly convinced are Tree Swallows because of their white undersides, were performing their beautiful aerial acrobatics.  I couldn't help but hear the now familiar "witchety-witchety-witchety" of the Common Yellowthroat, but what truly caught my attention was a new visitor to my ecosystem, the Turkey Vulture.  These huge birds with their distinctive "V" in their wings were oh so gracefully riding on the air thermals.  Their presence was a reminder that this prairie, that was overflowing with life, is also a place where death is also present.  Briefly I considered trekking to the other side of the prairie where they were circling to see if I could stumble across the unfortunate carcass, but even if the Turkey Vultures would have stayed there were so many other things that caught my eye on this day that I am sure I would have never made it that far.

I am completely convinced at this point in time that the more you know, the more you are able to see.  I amazed myself as my eyes darted everywhere, constantly settling on things I knew.   The Big Bluestem caught my eye as it had changed since last week.  As I gazed up at it on this day I couldn't help but notice the seeds ready for dispersal.  Further in the prairie I was surprised to find a patch of purple, where it seems the wind had been kinder to the Bee Balm, leaving its petals intact.  Cabbage Whites, Bumblebees, and Honeybees all flitted from the flowers with lots of pollen loading some of them down.  I was proud of myself for recognizing the Spider-wasp with its black body, and bright yellow-orange antennas.  Going further into the prairie than any other time I was surprised when I stumbled across some bright orange Butterfly Weed.  All this time as I was exploring a Common Yellowthroat was following me around, never getting close enough for me to capture his image on my camera, but he was certainly not secretive in his calls.  The Panicled Tick Trefoil takes the prize for the day for making its presence known.  By the time I made it to the edge of the prairie hundreds of little hitch-hiker seeds had attached themselves to me, making for a frustrating experience at home where I had to try and pick off all the persistent things.

Like the weeks before there were many new discoveries this week, and some mysteries left to solve in weeks to come.  Below are some of the treasures that unfolded themselves to me in my tromping through the Cup Plants this week.

Species Identification:

Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) 

This small frog, often close to two inches long can be difficult to identify from similar species.  With an ability to change color based on its physical environment its coloration can change from brown, gray, to a variation of green.  This amazing adaptation allows it to have amazing camouflage in a variety of habitats.  

Being an amphibian, water is a critical necessity to its habitat.  The swamp running adjacent to this piece of prairie, along with the Cup Plant's that allow standing water to be present make for suitable living conditions for this species.  With a diet of insects, from moths, crickets, ants, flies, grasshoppers and beetles the prairie provides a plethora of options.  

Gray Treefrog - Hyla versicolor - NatureWorks. (n.d.). New Hampshire Public Television - Engage. Connect. Celebrate.. Retrieved August 6, 2013, from http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/graytreef

Tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima)

Easily recognized by its red-purple flowers growing in a disk and its red stem this plant can grow between six and ten feet high.  This plant is widely branched at the top to create the cluster of 30 or less 1/4 inch flower heads that make up the disk.  The alternate leaves of this plant are six to ten inches long and 3 inches wide, creating a lance-shaped leaf that is pointed on the end.  These toothed leaves are hairless on top, but have hair on the underside along with a distinct white midrib.  

The damp soil near the swamp creates a perfect ecosystem for this plant along with the fertile soil of the prairie.  Although relying primarily on reproduction by way of seeds this plant will sometimes have new shoots arise from the large root crown.  Some attribute this plants name to its tough stem that makes it difficult to dig up with a shovel.  

Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide. (n.d.). Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center - Home . Retrieved August 6, 2013, from http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=980

Groundhog (Marmota monax)

This small mammal, usually weighing no more than 14 pounds and measuring around 25 inches long including tail length, is a rodent in the same family as a squirrel.  This resemblance can be seen when considering the yellowish-brown fur covering their entire body including their short legs and bushy tail.  Their short legs attribute to the fact that this species can not run fast, therefore when threatened they will defend their territory.   

A Groundhog tends to take up residence in a burrow they dig, usually into the side of a slope.  The gentle rolling hills of this prairie presented a perfect place for this to be done.  Although in the winter time a wooded area makes a better location for a burrow since they will be hibernating, in the summertime they tend to create their homes near fields that will provide a good food source.  The prairie provides such a place with the many grasses, leaves, and fruits and seeds of flowering plants.  Considering an adult Groundhog can consume over a pound of vegetation a day an ample food source is necessary.  

DNR: Woodchuck (Groundhog). (n.d.).Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved August 6, 2013, from http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5694.htm

Common Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)

This perennial plant grows between two and four feet high.  Characteristic of its growth is its stem that is unbranched with that is distinctly round.  The leaves on this plant are very grass-like in the fact that they wrap around the stem in sheaths.  The leaves are about 1 inch wide and 15 inches long alternating along the stem and tend to droop downwards.  

In late to mid-summer this plant blooms showing its blue-violet flower.  The three rounded petals measure about one inch across and surround six bright yellow anthers and fine spidery violet hairs.  Opening up in the morning the sun causes these flowers to close by mid-day, although on cloudy days they may stay open longer.  This plant needs full to partial sun which can easily be achieved within the prairie.  The yellower look of the plant specimens I found is a sign that the conditions here from other plant competition may be taking its toll on this species currently.  

weather, t. a. (n.d.). Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis). Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved August 8, 2013, from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx

Surviving Winter:

Creative Contribution:

"Urban Prairie Unveiled" by-Allison Broomhall