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Spring
2002
Field
Notes
The
Winter of 2002: Frog Tracks in Snow!
It was a beautiful, sunny 55°F on January 22, 2002.
Naturalist Renae Frigo and I were exploring a fen in our
park district’s largest natural area, Campton Hills
Park, when we saw some tracks in the rapidly melting snow.
We
both enjoy tracking and were surprised to see tracks that
we didn’t recognize. In fact, these tracks looked completely
different than any we had ever seen before. Suddenly we
realized that they formed the shape of a frog and sure enough
they hopped, hopped, hopped for 10 or more feet. The tracks
then disappeared into a sedge clump. The frog was medium-sized,
not a peeper or chorus frog.
In
checking the temperature
records, I found that from January 4th through January 16th
all but one day was above freezing. The maximum temperatures
were in the 20’s on the 17th through the 19th and then
back above freezing on the 20th, 21st and 22nd. The next
day the snow was gone.
Fortunately
a photographer friend, Chuck Peterson of River Valley Photographic
Resources Ltd., was able to rush out before dark and get
a photo.
—
Mary Ochsenschlager, St. Charles Park District
 Birds
Around the Bonfire
For the last three restoration work days in early winter,
a hermit thrush has joined us around the brush pile bonfire
in the quiet time after most people have gone.
This
bird is so rare in the winter that this one was the only
one seen in the Evanston/NorthShore Christmas Bird Count
this year. The day after the main count was the first time
we saw it — picking through leaves in the bonfire area.
It’s come twice more — one time in Somme Woods
and twice in Somme Prairie Grove where it was joined by
two yellow-rumped warblers and four Eastern bluebirds.
These
are Big Woods. Why does this bird show up at the bonfires?
Just chance? Because they generate so much heat, and the
bird likes to be near it for the same reason we do? Because
the fire stirs up bugs for it to eat? Because all the dragging
of buckthorn, raking through the leaves, uncovers stuff
for it to eat? Because it’s a messenger, thanking us
for restoring good habitat? Who knows? (Probably not that
last one.) But it’s a fine companion, and we marvel
and rejoice over it every time.
—
Steve Packard,
volunteer steward for Somme Prairie Grove, Cook County
In
the early part of last year — The Winter of the Deep
Snows — we noticed flocks of robins (10-15 birds) gathering
around our MacArthur Woods bonfires. The birds seemed to
radiate around the edges of the hot coals like a covey of
quail. The robins spent much of the day near the warmth,
apparently just staying warm. They became quite tame and
approachable and were favored companions while we ate our
lunches around the same warmth. Many birds whispered their
spring song, further warming those that heard it.
—
Ken Klick,
ecologist, Lake County Forest Preserves
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