I heard lots of sounds, but my attention was drawn to 2 bugs joined end to end on the bench next to me...maybe assassin bugs mating? They were patterned exquisitely, with gold markings and flecks along their backs and head, amongst black, fawn and tan colourings and markings. They were joined together mating for the whole time I sat on the bench and were still connected when I left.

With reference to form and function, I wondered about how they mated and reproduced? Which of the pair was female and which was male as there appeared little difference in size or colourings, whereas there are often visible differences between male and female mammal and bird species, and also other species of insects - for example spiders. And why a simple insect took so long to mate and how they exchanged genetic material?

I'm starting to get a clearer understanding of the environment around me, but I still need to practice my observation skills. I noticed a lizard on our porch this afternoon, but the difference was that I didn't simply say "Oh, cool." I looked at it and saw the life, the struggle, and the beauty of it! I was able to sketch some of it and ask myself a few questions. During this, I could feel the true power of immersing yourself in the habitat and everything in it around you. I definitely look forward to sharpening my skills and experiencing more exciting moments!

This morning at my Sit Spot, I watched Kildeer and Piping Plovers forage and move about the river.  Both shorebirds have a similar shape and moved in similar ways.  The Plovers seemed to be a small version of the larger Kildeer.  Their movement at times reminds me of a wind-up toy and I wondered if that is related to their ovoid  body shape that has legs that are right in the center of their body front to back.

Their was a high number of both birds than I typically see at my spot and I am speculating that this may be a reflection of the fall migration - will the BirdCast Migration statistics allow me to answer that questions, or perhaps the Rowe Haikubox will shed some light on that.

There is a flock of wild turkeys that wander through my yard.  The patterns of their foraging are fun to watch .  There usually 5 young ones and 3 adults - as the wander the yard, there is always at least one adult with her head up watching over the flock.  The adults are also spread out with the youngsters within a perimeter of the adults.  When the young birds notice they have drifted out of the group, it is amusing to watch them run to get back within the group, nearer an adult, perhaps their mother.

I'm thinking back to my sit spot exercise. I noticed yellowing leaves near the tops of a caragana and an elm, while other trees around me were still green. Maybe caraganas and elms share a characteristic that makes them turn yellow earlier. Maybe there's something about the location or condition of these individual trees that caused them to start to yellow before the other trees around them. I wonder: What environmental and individual factors determine the timing of leaves yellowing and dropping? Do trees always begin to yellow at the top, or was that a coincidence? What is actually happening in a tree during the transition to fall?

It answered me when I imitated its call.

The hike was to laughing falls.🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫

Saw this yesterday.SO CUTE!!!😍

I spotted this guy on my deck railing. He was SO VERY TINY ( 1/4” or less) that I’d have never even noticed him were it not for his vicid green color and prominent orange eyes. My observation led me to many questions as to his purpose and the purpose of some strange looking bristles on his back end.

I saw this in my backyard.

I watched a woodpecker feeding the other day. I got quite close for a photograph and it did not seem bothered by my presence.  I wondered:

- Why this tree?  How does it know there are insects here? How do they pull the insects from the bark? How often do they feed? When they carry food back to the nest, do they feed it to their young as whole insects or regurgitated? What makes their beaks so strong?

I’m a birder, so it comes natural to always ask myself loads of questions about birds, especially in my usual birding spot on the hill at the end of my street. Now, I’m a big winter fan so I’m enjoying this very cold February, but part of me can’t wait for spring and all that it brings: new leaves, flowers and, of course, returning summer visitors.

I am a science teacher by training. These themes are part of the Next Generation Science Standards which guide science educators in many states. In that context, the themes are called crosscutting concepts which exist across all branches of science. I like seeing them here.  https://thewonderofscience.com/ccc

Despite our brains being wired to recognize and work with them, I think patterns is the one of the most under appreciated themes. It requires us to pay attention across multiple time scales, from being in the moment to observe in the moment to slower, more phenological observations. This is why the practice of nature journaling is so appealing to me.

 

 

 

My sketchbook is too small for all the questions I have now! I looked more closely at the autumn colors of the plants. I noticed that one branch or plant can have very different colored leaves. Why is there some red among the yellow leaves of the aspen? Could the explanation be that some leaves have a damage or disease that causes the red color? Maybe leaves grown at different times and under different conditions turn different colors. More questions: do different colored leaves release different nutrients when the leaves fall to the ground? Do the leaf decomposers or those who overwinter in their shelters prefer a certain color?

Change: Now that it’s turning fall-like I’m beginning to notice seasonal change in the bird population at my feeders. I haven’t seen house finches for a while, and today I think I saw a pine warbler for the first time. I’m wondering how long the hummingbirds will stay around before they migrate.

I notice a lot of paper birch trees that their roots are either wrapped around a close tree or run on the surface of the ground.  They really are fascinating.  There is a theme of them all over our property.  This one was particularly unique.  I am really enjoying this course it is getting me to look closer at nature and appreciate the little things more.

I wanted to make a comment on the observation of the beaver dam.  There is a beaver dam on our property and I spend a lot of time there.  Beavers are complete vegetarians and do not eat fish.  They create their ponds for safety and are very graceful swimmers.  They eat the bark of only certain trees and use the wood for their dams and lodges.  They create habitat for other species including fish.  They should be better protected, because their wetlands are vital for cooling the planet.

• July 19th, 2024, I observed the bobcat from inside. I saw him last October. He managed to kill my chickens, and thanks to the red-tailed hawk, I don't have any more chickens.  I noticed last year "Gimpy" was limping on his left front. I thought he was just hurt. I guess it is permanent. That's how I know he is the same bobcat. He was smart. He is walking to the chicken coop to check things out. He sauntered over, looked in the coop, sat in the shade, and then wandered off toward the neighbors. It was hot, mid-day 90F...I thought he might try the birdbath for water but I guess he was hydrated enough. I've seen him one time since. he came from a different direction. I tried to trap him so we could relocate him, but with no success.

Observation: In the spring, the squirrels came to our corn pile singularly or in pairs, chasing off any others that approached.  Since the temperatures have been in the high 80s and low 90s, the squirrels have been coming in groups of up to 8 at a time.

Possible Explanations:

• heat--by not chasing off the other squirrels, they do not have to expend as much energy and possibly stay cooler.


• heat-Their food supply is not growing as much as normal due to the lack of water neccesating sharing what is available.


• Are they litter mates?

Further Questions:

When the temperatures go back down, will they go back to feeding one or two squirrels at a time?

Although you can't tell from my sketch, the squirrels' coats are darker than most gray squirrels.  Is this because they have cross-bred with another type of squirrel?

As far as seeing themes, yes, I do notice them more in my writing than I did before.