White Throated Sparrow

Yipeeeee! Look what I found after work today!
Why, it's a white throated sparrow feeding on the ground of my neighbor's yard!


Can you see him? I know it's really hard. I can only zoom 3x and I also zoomed in on the computer too! Look for the little yellow spot on the birds head, accented by a black and white stripe. See him?!?


This one is more difficult. He is facing left and is camouflaged against the dirt floor. Difficulty spotting is definitely a 9 on the scale. Don't feel bad if you can't find him, if he weren't hopping around I would have missed him too!

Let's Learn About the White Throated Sparrow:

• 6-7" bird
• Yellow spot on head called, lore.
• White or tan stripe with black on crown.
• White patch on throat.
• Migrates in the Chicago area, spends their winters in the southern part of the state.
• Eats insects, fruit, seeds, will feed on the ground beneath feeders. (where mine were)
  

I'm so lucky to have spotted them so close to my house. I haven't noticed them here before. I just wanted to share with everyone else!
Yipeee!

Camouflage Trunk

Does this look like a soldier's uniform or what?
No, this tree is not at war, but it is a young American Sycamore tree. I love the beautiful spots in different contrasts and different colors. These spots eventually peal back and fall away, reveling a beautiful smooth white trunk.

Let's Learn about the American Sycamore:

• Lives on the Central to Eastern side of the U.S.
• Massive fast growing tree can reach 100 feet.
• Leaf resembles a maple leaf.
• Bark looks like tan camouflage.
• Likes moist soil and by streams (where I found mine).
• Fruits are in the shape of round hanging 2" balls "buttonballs"

I did find some buttonballs on the ground and just a few still on the twigs at the top. The ones on the ground were very ripe and fell apart releasing thousands of little fuzzy things and made my fingers turn slightly orange. No matter, it's all in the name of nature discoveries!
I really enjoy this tree and cannot wait to see some leaves on it!

Exploding Cattail

Ooooh how I love an exploded cattail! But then again, I also love a non exploding cattail too.
This first picture is a close up of some tails I found at Country Lane Woods. It is a typical scene near any body of wetland around. This time of year you will find the seed head to have "exploded" (my term, not a smart scientific term), they start to do this in late fall and continue through winter. What a neat plant it is and with so many uses, it's very functional to humans and wildlife alike.


Here is where they live, near water. I love to watch them sway in the wind, it's very tranquil. Who uses them? Let's learn about it.

Let's Learn About Cattail:

Where does it grow? Marshes, swamps, ditches, stagnant water, ponds, lakes...clusters around any wetland, all over the Northern Hemisphere.
How tall can it be? Very tall, can be 10 feet tall!
Other names for it? Bulrush, punks, duck tails, candlewicks.
Wildlife that use it? Muskrats, beavers and geese eat it. Red-wing black birds, bitterns, coots, marsh wrens, and many others nest in it. Many birds also use the fluffy material as lining for their nests.
Humans use it? Yes, root stems are edible and early leaves, but I wouldn't touch it unless you know what your doing and I don't. Baskets can be weaved out of the leaves, the Indians also use to dry it out and make a flour.

Don't worry, there's a scientific name for the cattail which I won't make anyone know. Let's just enjoy the cattail for what it is!

Winter Bird

There are two birdies in this picture. Can you spot them? One is a winter bird and one is an all year bird. Which one do you think is the winter bird?
You're right! The one on the upper right is the dark eyed junco. He visits us only in the winter time. I really love this winter bird. They arrived in our area about a month ago, migrating from Canada. I've had a real hard time getting them to strike a pose until today....



Got you little stinker! Juncos like to feed off of the ground. That's what this guy is doing right here. While it's true they prefer the ground to feed, I did see some on my finch feeder in the backyard this morning. They're not the most graceful on the feeder, flappin' their wings a hundred times!

Let's Learn about the Dark Eyed Junco:

Migrates to Chicago in the winter only.
Small bird 5.5".
Male has black bodies with white tummies and bill.
Female lighter in color.
Outer tail is white, when in flight looks live a "V".
Likes to feed from the ground, seeds and insects.
They scratch with their feet to uncover food.
Seen in groups.
Males like to migrate further south than females, they're brave.

Enjoy them before warmer weather send them back North!

Handsome Mr. Blue Jay

You might be saying, "She really must like birds, huh?"
Well, truth is I really do like birds, that's why I talk about then all the time. I especially like the birds that don't like me, or shall I say, the birds that don't visit my feeder much.
This is my neighbor's seed feeder. Look, the blue jay likes to visit his feeder. Maybe it's because my seed feeder is on a hook and swings in the wind and his feeder is mounted on a secure, but slanted pole? Whatever the case, handsome Mr. Blue Jay NEVER visits my feeder.
That's OK, I still love him. Look, he's just as handsome from the front as his is from the back...


He will become one of my paintings one day, I'm sure.

Let's Learn About the Blue Jay:

Large bird, about 12"
Year round in Chicago area
Mid blue to dark blue with white face and black "necklace"
Very aggressive to other birds, bully actually
Eats insects, fruit, nuts, seeds, will visit your neighbor's feeder
Will alarm other birds of intruders, like hawks or owls

Interesting note, This is what God says about birds:

"I know every bird of the mountains, and every thing that moves in the field is Mine."
Ps 50:11

Wow. Every bird. I couldn't learn every bird of the world if I tried, but He made them all.
:)
I write, paint and research about nature because it keeps me awestruck. I think I learn a little more everyday about our Creator and how much He loves us. I hope I never master the subject but am always a student and continue to be dazzled my His works.

Hackberry Close Up

This is the bark of a mature hackberry tree, isn't it beautiful? Doesn't the close up remind you of canyons and valleys? The ridges are very deep and I just love the pattern it created. Caterpillars have been known to set up shop in these crevices for their transformations. How cool!
Once again, I think this picture would make a great abstract painting, go ahead abstract painters, you can use this picture for inspiration.


Here I tried to show the depth by placing my finger in the crevice of the bark. It's deep. Now, young hackberry trees have smooth grey-brown bark, so if you see these ridges, you know it's a mature tree.

Let's Learn About the Hackberry Tree:

Grows 30-40 feet tall.
Leaves are 2.5-4 inches long, with toothed edges and pointed top.
Dark red to purple fruits ripen in autumn.
Birds love the fruit.
Part of the Elm Family.
Where in the US? North Central to North Eastern states.

Red Breasted Nuthatch Beauty

Yesterday a red breasted nut hatch landed on my suet feeder. I can't prove it because I didn't have my camera, so I painted his watercolor picture! At the time he landed, a male downy woodpecker was having breakfast, so the little nuthatch hopped around excitedly, but was too impatient to wait it's turn so he flew away. Little Stinker. That's OK, I'm sure he'll be back when I still don't have my camera.

Let's Learn About the Red Breasted Nuthatch:

In Chicago, only around in winter as opposed to white breasted nuthatch (year round).
Tiny bird 4.5 inches.
Black cap on head and black bandit eyes.
Chestnut-Russet colored tummy.
Hops down a tree head first, not up a tree.
Wedges seeds in crevices to hatch with bill.
Eats seeds, insects, & suet.

Thank you little red breasted nuthatch for your visit, please come again soon and stay much longer!

Ooooo Spikenard

This is spikenard. It was spotted by my trail guides when I went on the canyon hike at Camp Sagawau, to which they became very excited. When your trail guide gets real excited, you get real excited, even though you have no clue why you're getting excited. That's what happened here. I took this picture because I heard the words, "On the rare scale, this one is a 10." Oooooo a "10".

Look at how it is growing, in between some sediment of limestone! What a challenge! I love it's autumnal color.

Let's Learn About American Spikenard:

A perennial herb with large spicy smelling roots
Part of the Ginseng family
Prefers cool shady forests
Sensitive to frost
In Chicagoland area rare, but can grow anywhere from Canada to Georgia
Roots harvested in autumn for medicinal and commercial purposes:
Medical - used to treat asthma, rheumatism, eczema, also a cough syrup
Commercial - made into oils, incense, and perfume (I love perfume!)

Spikenard has been used to calm nerves and even treat hysteria!

Some of you may be saying, "Where have I heard of Spikenard before?" Hint: Think biblical times.
Mary Magdalen used spikenard perfume to anoint the feet of Jesus and she did it with her hair!

I'm so fortunate to have been with knowledgeable trail guides who knew how to spot this beautiful spikenard, because they studied their plants, we are able to enjoy it's story today. I think I'll stop at the health food/nutrition store and see if they have any of this oil or herbs!

Be Green Like Liverwort

Today is Blog Day for the Environment. The subject is supposed to be "green". I made a commitment to do this and sign up, because, he, he, he, every time I post it's in some way about the environment, so I couldn't screw it up!
Look my subject is literally green!


This is liverwort. I found it growing on a rock in the canyon at Camp Sagawau.

If you are like a scientist, here is your definition:
1 : any of a class (Hepaticae) of bryophytic plants characterized by a thalloid gametophyte or sometimes an upright leafy gametophyte that resembles a moss. Merriam-Webster

If you are a normal person like myself, here is your definition:

1: Beautiful moss looking plant that need much moisture to grow. Can grow on the ground, or on rocks, or on decaying trees. It is non-vascular, meaning it has no veins to carry water and food. It's enemy is the sun or heat, which will kill it quickly. We just love it because it's beautiful.


Here is an up close, little blurry pic of it's beautiful green "leaves". Can you see the lighter green spots? I believe these are pores? Maybe, maybe not. Somebody need to do an abstract painting of this liverwort close up! That would look great!

Moral of today's post: If we are not careful we will lose such awesome creations with our careless lifestyles. If we take the time now and learn how to be more "green", we can preserve plants like this for the next generation to blog about, or paint, or sing about. (Is there a liverwort song out there???)

Yellow Rumped Warbler in My Yard!

Well, I didn't have my camera and I can't prove it, but a yellow rumped warbler flew right by me in his winter costume in my own back yard! Whooo Hoooo! I was going to the garage this morning where I keep birdseed in a varmint proof container, as I was walking I heard a tiny, "chup, chup, chup", which stopped me dead in my tracks because I didn't recognize it and knew it wasn't a cardinal, downy woodpecker or sparrow. I spotted this tiny little bird getting closer and closer to me. First he was on the top branches, next lower ones, then he flew and landed on my gutter about 6 feet from me. The whole time he's looking at me as if he wanted me to give him something! Getting even closer, he flew to my fence, facing me, looking at me in the eyes, then he flew away! I completely saw his yellow rump and yellow on his flank (tip of wing by his "shoulder"). I really don't know if it was a he or she because in winter, the males molt (change feather color) to a dull color, similar to the female.

Ohhh, if I only had a bug on me or berries or something!

Let's learn about the Yellow Rumped Warbler:

Small bird about 5-6"
Both male & female have distinctive yellow on head, flank, and rump
Winters south, also in southern Illinois, mine was probably on his way
Eats insects & berries
Will migrate in large flocks
Calls with a "chip" or "chup" sound

BTW: Happy Birthday Spaz!!! Also a Happy Birthday to Tom aka Monarch!!!