Tagging Trees, Lots of Lichens, and Macoun Members Munching on Maple Leaves

By Julien C. (Junior)

Jan. 29^th, 2005

On January 29^th, we went on a field trip to the Study Area. We started at the southern end of the Study Area this time. There were four kids and four adults on the trip.

One of the first things we saw were tracks. They were deer, vole, and Red Fox tracks all not very far from the parking lot. We saw a den which we think was a Fisher den.

We tagged two Butternut trees (click here for an explanation of this project). Near one Butternut was a Bitternut Hickory tree. We tasted the buds. They tasted like peppery lemon. Rob tried to get a position at the trees with the GPS unit, but it did not work well because the trees were blocking access to the satellites.

We had lunch by the Study Area's newest beaver pond. We fed chickadees at lunch, and after lunch we raced Rob to get warmed up.

Then we walked out into a clearing and Rob tried the GPS again. This time we got four satellites. On the other side of the clearing we saw a deer; it looked right at Gabriel, then it ran away. A bit further we saw Redpolls – about 20 of them.

We looked at lichens and some of them were sunburst, candleflame, camouflage, helmet shield, and Script lichen. Rob collected some lichens to look at later. (Ed. note: Rob has identified one of them as Strangospora moriformis, a new record not only for Ottawa, but for all of southern Ontario. Visit Rob's Lichens of the Study Area page to learn more!)

We walked a little further and I plopped down for a little rest. Then I saw something sticking up from the snow. We dug it out. It was a deer antler!

We came to one spot were we could see wing-marks in the snow. There was rabbit fur all over too. A hawk must have caught a rabbit there, but he did not eat it there, since there was only fur around.

After that we went looking for porcupine dens. We found at least three abandoned dens. Then Barbara saw a porcupine go into his den. We looked inside and saw it. Later we saw tracks leading from a feeding tree. Francis followed the tracks right to the den. The porcupine was not home, but it was an active den.

We also saw Ruffed Grouse tracks and droppings, coyote tracks, lots of deer tracks and deer beds, and one spot where there were mouse tracks all over.

We had nature snacks along the way: Yellow Birch twigs, Basswood buds, Bitternut Hickory buds (some people ate other things–like dead leaves and evergreen needles!)

We were out about four hours. We all had a good time.

Past Trips

• Sept. 17, 2005 - Aquatic Animals Galore
  
• Jan. 29, 2005 - Tagging Trees, Lots of Lichens, and Macoun Members Munching on Maple Leaves
  
• Jan. 15, 2005 - Mystery Muskrat
  
• Dec. 4, 2004 - Animal Tracks and Tasty Trees
  
• Oct. 2, 2004 - Sand Pit Excursion in Pakenham
  
• Sept. 18, 2004 - Salamander Hunting During Another Trip to the Study Area
  
• April 24, 2004 - Stalking Snakes in the Study Area
  
• Dec. 6, 2003 - Early Winter in Pakenham
  
• Sept. 20, 2003 - An Early Autumn Trip to the Macoun Club's Nature Study Area
  

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