OUT!! #30: The Humble Spittlebug

For those of you wanderers of field and meadow, you've probably noticed the globs of "spit" that are attached to the stem of certain plants. Rather than being the random oral ejections of some passing human, they are instead the unique protection device of the spittlebug nymph. The spittlebug produces this by feeding on the sap of the plant that is hosting it, while simultaneously releasing the waste product as a foaming mass of liquid.

They are most notable in the month of May after the young hatches out and begin to feed on the young stems of tall perennials and other herbaceous vegetation. After they morph into adulthood however, they shed their dribbling habits and hop at breakneck speed across their leafy habitat.

I'll be doing a series of these easy insect guides to help identify some of the commoner late spring and early summer insect life. This allows me to present good and simple info to my audience and promote awareness for these species in general. Have a great week everyone.

OUT!! #25: Herbarium

Recently in my quest to become the best naturalist ever (well that's not strictly true. I'm trying to learn other things natural that don't have feathers, fly, and possess the terminal velocity necessary to carry a coconut.), I've decided to start a herbarium. For those unfamiliar with the practice, it involved collecting, pressing, and preserving plant specimens for personal or scientific consumption. I'm making one so that I can sharpen my pressing skills (in case I get crafty and bedazzle a lampshade one of these days) and to increase my plant identification skills. Below, I've included a few photos of plants and wildflowers I've found so far.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) buds sprouting in the late evening at Bombay Hook NWR. The flowers are bunched together

Lesser Celadine (Ranunculus ficaria) carpets the ground in many places. They are an alien species that originally comes from Europe and Asia.

Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) just starting to sprout in the moist woods on the SBMWA property. These pictures were taken along the Stony Brook Trails.

Magnolia spp. Probably a cultivar or some sort. Very pretty blooms that only last about a week unfortunately

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is another alien species that is familiar to most people as the nemesis weed. The weed that people despise to have upon their monotonous greenscapes.

Spring Beauty (Claytonia spp.) is a common springtime bloom to be found on the quiet lawns and field edges of New Jersey.

Onion Grass (Allium spp.) is also a common springtime plant that can be distinguished from regular lawn grass by their tubular structure, their tall green stems, and strong onion smell when crushed in hand.

Puffballs aren't plants, but they are cool to find. These spherical fungi can be poked or prodded slightly. When you do you will notice that "smoke" appears to billow out of them. These are spores and when released from the body of the fungi will settle nearby and sprout during the next growing season.

With such a variety out there, it makes one wonder what other amazing plants there are to find out in the woods and fields in the months to come. I can't wait to see what I can find.

OUT!! #20: Signs of Spring

As I mentioned in last weeks On the Wing, I'm revamping the OUT blog by posting on here once a week. I've recently gotten an internship that allows me unlimited time outside and the ability to teach others about the environment, the natural world, and the creatures that inhabit it. However, due to not getting enough sleep last night, I am instead inside writing the first entry I've put up here in a while.

Over the past week, my roommate and I have been tasked with looking for "signs of spring" that signal the end of winter and the beginning of the slow transition from the cold, dark times to the happy, warm times. This isn't to suggest one can't have fun in the winter, but to be honest after the snow we had up north, I'm ready for the buds and blooms of spring.

Today was rainy. As such, I had to go out to do a journaling activity which involved log rolling and invertebrate investigation. It was great! Despite the puddles of water and torrents of rain soaking me from head to foot (although my Carhartt kept me nice and warm throughout), I noted several types of  invertebrates, as well as, rubs on the trees from last years deer rut and saw a flock of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) and Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) mingling together in the wooded tangles. As I traversed back, I managed to flush an American Woodcock that was roosting in a nearby thicket (Scolopax minor) and could hear the incessant peeping cries of Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) in the wet areas near the meadows. It was an entertaining walk and I look forward to our hike to another part of the property tomorrow.

Less friendly signs of a warm up were also apparent as I found my first Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis) crawling on my back today. Looks like bug spray will be a necessity from now on. Despite this little pest, much of my trips have been joyous exercises of nature observation and enjoyment. I've been fiddling with a new camera and have been putting most of the photos on my Flickr account and I've been keeping a bird list of what I've see on the property (38 so far and it isn't even migration season yet!) Most of all, I'm pleased I've found an internship that fits me so well and will hopefully provide me with the path I want to follow in life. Have a great week y'all and I'll see you over at On the Wing!