Birds of all shapes, sizes and colors!

Yesterday Aaron and Graham presented their bird, amphibian and reptile survey findings.

Aaron and Graham presenting to the Farm family and crew.

Throughout their two months of surveying, they spotted 73 different species of birds (including the yellow-bellied sapsucker that was posted on our Facebook page)!

A photo collage of all the birds spotted on the Farm - click here to see a labeled collage.

We have six distinct types of habitat here (mature forests, ag fields, ponds, grasslands, tree plantations and marshland), so it was interesting to learn about the species that were attracted to each area of the Farm. Our plantation areas, or stands with relatively young trees, seem to be most attractive to birds - and also offered Aaron and Graham the best opportunity to view a wide variety of birds.

They're working on a more in-depth report and management suggestions; we'll share a copy of it here once it's ready to go!

Snakes alive!

How many snakes do you see in this photo? Scroll down for the answer!

In addition to the bird survey, Graham and Aaron are also conducting reptile (snakes!) and amphibian (frogs!) surveys on the Farm this summer. All of these surveys will help us understand the different species and varieties of creatures that habitat here.

Last week I told Graham I would "love" to go along with him when he does his next snake survey. Well, not literally love it - snakes creep me out! - but interesting to see what it was all about. However this morning I was unprepared when Graham rolled up to the office and told me today was the day - my opportunity to see snakes! It's probably a good thing I forgot - likely would have kept myself awake last night, fretting about it.

A Northern redbelly getting comfy in Graham's hand. 

It's getting snappy here on the farm....

It's that time of year again here on the farm. New life is popping up all over and the rebirth is in full swing.

One species that has become a regular sight lately here on the farm is the snapping turtle.  It's not uncommon to see them on Husker Rd. as they are busy trying to find the perfect spot to lay their eggs.

 A female Snapper laying eggs.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons

In fact, a few weeks ago Arik witnessed a snapping turtle climbing to the top of our mulch pile.  He was able to capture a photo of her big adventure.  

Female Snapper here on the farm looking for a nesting spot

A week or so later, as I was shoveling mulch, I stumbled upon a large pile of ping pong shaped eggs.  I immediately covered them back up, well, after a picture of course, and have been checking daily to make sure they haven't been disturbed by predators.

My stint as a Bird Habitat Assessment intern

Aaron and Graham, students from UW-Madison, are conducting a bird and reptile habitat assessment on the Farm this summer. Early each morning, they observe birds at various points around the Farm; the inventory they're creating will help us understand what birds are using our property and how we can further enhance the habitat here. An absolute novice, I was curious about their work so on Tuesday morning joined them in the field. Here's how it all went down: 

5 AM – My alarm goes off. Snooze!

5:47 AM – I've made it to the Farm and eat a quick breakfast while the Keurig brews a hot cup of joe.

6:22 AM – Where are these dudes?? We were supposed to meet at 6 but I don't mind waiting. It's a beautiful morning on the Farm. Mist is rising off 4 Winds Pond and the bullfrogs are shouting to one another. 

4 Winds Pond, 6 AM - a little piece of heaven.

6:28 AM – Graham and Aaron arrive, offer me some binoculars and talk about the morning's agenda. They have hit the majority of the 80-some observation points plotted around the farm. I bought new rubber boots last night and am anxious to get them dirty and wet, so I request some points that are in the marsh. Request denied - they hit all those points the day before.

1 fish, 2 fish, red fish, blue fish: what's in our ponds?

As shown on our Facebook page, Dave the Pond Expert was out recently doing some testing of 4 Winds Pond and Kitchi-Manitou. This testing included chemical analysis, depth measurements and fish sampling to give us an idea of how we can better manage these water resources.

A beautiful day for pond surveying!

Dave sampled the fish by electroshocking: a pole sent an electric current through the water that temporarily stunned the fish, bringing them to the surface of the pond. Dave then used a net to catch the fish, identify them, and release them back into the water, where the fish went on their happy way.

Houses for rent!

I was able to navigate through the mud and muck to install a wood duck house overlooking one of the many ponds on Arington Tree Farm. Ideally these houses would have been installed a few weeks ago but getting into the field has been a challenge with the wet conditions.

Wood duck house on Arington Tree Farm

In the middle of the drought of 2012 the pond shown above was bone dry. However, after the heavy winter snow and the wet spring rains, this is a much different landscape than seven or eight months ago. 

We've seen a good number of wood ducks around the farm and are excited to offer them a place to nest. 

The opportunistic beaver

If you had followed my blog entries this last summer you are aware of the ongoing battles with the resident beaver. I write beaver in the singular form, because my hopes are that only ONE beaver calls the farm home. Anyway, this particular beaver found a way to clog the discharge pipe on one of our ponds. The picture below shows the pipe with the access plate on top of it.

Moving 'Fort Buck'

This isn't the way most of us would be required to handle a hunting stand. However this isn't your average hunting stand. On Arington Tree Farm we refer to this monster as Fort Buck.

A carnivorous tree?

It does look like this poplar tree is slowly consuming an old tree stand. We will make it a point to keep this tree out of the sawmill. The lazy hunter who neglected his or her responsibility of removing their tree stand sure left a footprint on the land for all to see.

Fawn on the Farm

A small population of white-tailed deer call Arington Tree Farm home. This little guy, only 1-2 months old, has been spotted around the farm drinking from the ponds and trying to keep cool in the shade!

Busy beaver indeed!

Mud Creek meanders lazily through Arington Tree Farm. The northern third of the property is accessible by crossing a ford built on Mud Creek. About two weeks ago we noticed the water levels raising at the ford. We sent Jeremy on a scouting mission dressed in hip waders. Two hundred yards downstream of the ford he found the dam. The water level in the picture is fifteen inches higher upstream of the dam. Industrious creatures, those beavers.