The Nature of Delaware

By Derek Stoner, Conservation Project Coordinator

A male House Wren sings his bubbly song at the Ashland Lodge on April 14, 2011. Image by Derek Stoner.

The past two weeks saw a flurry of activity as new animals emerged and arrived, and plants burst into full bloom.  On April 14, a male House Wren burst into song near the Ashland Lodge.  This cheerful songbird is a fantastic Sign of Spring, and became Sign #18 out of 20 for the Spring 2011 at Ashland.

Few wildflowers can match the Trout Lily for beauty and style. Image by Derek Stoner.

The next day, April 15, I received a text message from Amy White, with photo attached: Trout Lily in bloom!   Along Red Salamander Run, downstream from the Ashland Covered Bridge, these brilliant bright yellow wildflowers burst forth with color.  Sign #19 out of 20!

The only Sign left on the List? Northern Water Snake.  And on April 20, a group of school kids participating in the appropriately-named “Herp Hunters” day camp discovered Ashland’s first Water Snake of 2011.  The three-foot long snake basked in the 70-degree sunshine in the marsh, finally awakened after a long winter’s rest.

And there you have it:  20 Signs of Spring observed over the course of nine weeks.  Every week had at least one new sign emerge or appear, and the level of observation and vigilance by visitors to Ashland helped to ensure we didn’t miss anything happening in nature.   The skilled eyes and ears of many observers helped to create a unique record of Spring’s arrival in 2011 at Ashland Nature Center.   How did your Signs of Spring compare at your local park or in your own backyard?  What will next year hold?

Amy White in the field, photographing the Swallow-tailed Kite at Middle Run on April 23. Image by Derek Stoner.

Congratulations to Amy White, who correctly guessed and matched 7 out of the 20 Signs with their actual week of appearance.   This game is more of a Challenge than Contest, as it involves a good bit of luck at guessing Mother Nature’s timing in the fickle world of Spring.  Amy will receive a special framed poster of the 20 Signs of Spring 2011 at Ashland, and a copy of the poster will be displayed in the Ashland lobby for all visitors to enjoy.

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By Derek Stoner, Conservation Project Coordinator

What an unmistakeable profile the Swallow-tailed Kite cuts against the wide open sky! Image by Derek Stoner

“You are not going to believe this!”  The call came in from an excited Angel Burns, who described a bird she had seen while hiking with her daughter at Middle Run Natural Area this afternoon.   Two-year old Shay pointed out the unusual bird, and mother and daughter enjoyed a special audience with this spectacular bird for fifteen minutes as it soared effortlessly above their heads.

“You are  not going to believe this, but I think it is a Swallow-tailed Kite!”   I did not doubt her observation one bit, as the Swallow-tailed is simply known as the “Flying Fieldmark.”  That incredible shape, with long wings and a long forked tail, is unmistakeable.  The stark black and white pattern makes it evern more uniquely beautiful.

I quickly posted this incredible report to the Delaware Birds email alert, and immediately zipped down to Middle Run to see if I could re-locate this amazing bird.

Eating on the wing, a Swallow-tailed Kite devours a dragonfly freshly plucked from the pine trees. Image by Derek Stoner.

It goes without saying that a bird like this stands out, and in short order the kite was spotted in the distance.  It then looped overhead and descended back into Middle Run’s hayfields along Possum Park Road.

For over two hours, the kite soared back and forth over a grove of White Pine trees, diving dramatically into the trees and coming back up with dragonflies that it snagged with its tiny talons.  A crowd of thrilled birders gathered, savoring the sight of this fantastic rarity.

In late April into May, Swallow-tailed Kites often “over-shoot” their southern breeding grounds and wander north.  Carried by strong south winds and gliding, well, like a kite, these birds can travel tremendous distances in a short time.  just this past week in New Jersey, at least three different Swallow-tailed Kites made the bird hotline news. 

There is much more to this fascinating story of the Swallow-tailed at Middle Run.  A good bit of video showing the acrobatic flight of the kite will surely be shared soon.  Stay tuned for more on the kite report!

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By Joe Sebastiani, Seasonal Programs Team Leader

Early spring is hiking time around here.  The winter weather has eased, flowers are blooming, and hiking conditions are ideal.  Meadow grass is green, but not so high you can’t walk through it, and temperatures are not too hot, not too cold.  So, during the past few weeks, I led three of our most popular exclusive day-hikes.  I say exclusive because these walks cross private property where the Delaware Nature Society has permission to lead walks occasionally. 

The Ashland to Coverdale Farm Preserve loop hike is 4 miles through oak-hickory forest, meadows, and involves a wet-foot crossing of Burrows Run.  The Ashland to Bucktoe Creek Preserve hike is 6 miles, and crosses rolling open hills of spectacular piedmont scenery.  Finally, the Flint Woods Preserve to Granogue Estate hike is 3 miles through some of the best old-growth woods in Delaware, and ends atop the Granogue water tower where you can see north to Downingtown, PA and south to Delaware City, DE.  Enjoy the photos of these walks below.

The group of Delaware Nature Society hikers prepares for the Ashland to Coverdale Farm Preserve loop hike. Photo by Tom Davis

The wet-foot crossing of Burrows Run is always a memorable moment. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

Some hikers opt to cross Burrows Run without the wet feet. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

Hiking from Ashland to Bucktoe Creek Preserve is a commitment of 6 miles, which was a 600-calories hike for one of our participants who had a calorie watch.  This hike features the Delaware Nature Society’s Red Clay Floodplain property, Auburn Heights State Park and Preserve (not open to the public…yet), several private properties, and finally, the 300-acre Bucktoe Creek Preserve (also private).  Luckily, after the hike, we take a van back to Ashland and don’t have to retrace our steps.

The route of the Ashland to Bucktoe hike passes this rock cut, where we are able to examine Piedmont rocks that are hundreds of millions of years old. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

The Ashland to Bucktoe hike also passes the 8th PA/DE border marker from 1892. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

Finally, the very popular Flint Woods to Granogue hike starts with a gourmet meal prepared by Michele Wales, Coverdale Farm Program Coordinator.  It ends atop a stone water tower at Granogue, one of the most famous duPont estates.

Michele Wales describes the food she has prepared for participants of the walk at the Flint Woods Preserve. Gourmet and yummy! Photo by Joe Sebastiani

Dave Pro, Ashland Property Manager, finds an old pot at a historic dump along the walk. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

Our goal is in sight. The Granogue Water Tower. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

Looking north from the tower, we gaze up the Brandywine Valley to Downingtown, PA. Photo by Joe Sebastiani

If you are more interested in the short version of these hikes, register for the Evening Walk Series which features 6 hikes at many of the above locations on Thursday evenings, May through July.  More information on these hikes can be found here.

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By Brenna Goggin, Environmental Advocate

In 1991, President George H.W Bush designated National Park Week which is being celebrated April 17^th-23^rdthis year. Thanks to the recent addition of President Clinton’s Birthplace in Hope, Arkansas, there are now 394 units, making up over 80 million acres in the National Park system. Every state and territory in the United States, including American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands all have National Parks, except Delaware. As the first state to sign the Constitution, Senator Carper has been working since 2003 to establish a Delaware National Park. The question has always been where? The process for establishing a National Park is arduous and areas of interest have to meet very stringent requirements. Many states, including Delaware, have beautiful state parks and preserves, that while may be suitable for a National Park, are already well cared for by other agencies. In 2007, President Bush signed legislation authorizing the NPS to conduct a Special Resource Study (SRS) to determine whether the creation of a NPS unit in Delaware is appropriate.

Blog contributor Joe Sebastiani (left) looks for poisonous snakes with his dad and brother in Saguaro National Park, AZ. Sebastiani photo archives.

From the beginning of our nation’s history, Delaware has played an important role. European settlers built fortifications such as Fort Christina, established in Wilmington in 1638 by settlers to protect Swedish and Finnish settlements and Fort Zwaanendael to protect the Dutch in Lewes. Additionally, we were the first state to sign the Constitution. On November 24, 2008, the NPS released a study of its SRS finding that a park in Delaware should focus on our early settlements and our lead in the “birth of a nation.” The SRS concluded that a National Historical Park would be the most appropriate kind of park in Delaware.

The Delaware Nature Society trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in 2004 was one of over 25 trips we've led to this beautiful National Park. From the left are Karen Travers, former DNS Members Program Coordinator, Bill Haldeman, former Manager of the Flint Woods Preserve, and Nancy Frederick, DNS Board Member. Photo by Joe Sebastiani.

Through conversations with land owners, non-profits, and government agencies, the National Park Service made a final recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior outlining the scope of the park. In 2011, Senator Carper and Congressman Carney released legislation in both the Senate and the House respectfully. S. 323 and H.R. 624 outline what will be included in the National Park and gives the NPS the authority to establish a park in Delaware without a monetary appropriation. Included in the proposed National Historical Site is:

New Castle County-

      The Old Sheriff’s House

      Fort Christina National Historic Landmark

      Old Swedes Church National Historic Landmark

      Old New Castle Courthouse

Kent County-

      John Dickinson Plantation National Historic Landmark

      Dover Green

Sussex County-

      Ryves Holt House

The Delaware Nature Society encourages you to enjoy anyone of the over 25 National Park sites in our area including Independence Hall, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the National Mall, or the C&O Canal. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov.

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By Derek Stoner, Conservation Project Coordinator 

On Monday, April 4th, I spotted the first Barn Swallows of the year. Circling around the Ashland Lodge, checking out their potential nest sites, four Barn Swallows chattered cheerfully on a dark, cloudy morning.  Shortly after the swallow sighting,  I observed an American Robin gathering nesting material and building her nest on a beam of the lodge.

The rest of the week held all sorts of excitement, with warm temperatures bringing a frenzy of animal activity to the grounds of Ashland.  The mating trills of American Toads spread throughout the marsh, adding to the continuing chorus of Spring Peepers.  Red-spotted Newts, Garter Snakes, and Pickerel Frogs all provided exciting sightings for Ashland visitors.

To wrap up the week, the first blooming Violet of the season was spotted on Saturday, April 9, along the floodplain near the Ashland Covered Bridge.

To begin Week 8, Mayapples are unfurling their umbrella-like leaves, the trilliums are popping up by the nature center door, and sassafras blooms are getting ready to pop.  This is likely the first “big week” of Spring where a huge amount of change happens in short amount of time.  Literally overnight, trees unfurl leaves and flowers burst into bloom.

Our two remaining Signs of Spring to be accounted for are House Wren and blooming Trout Lily.  This may be the week for their appearance at last!

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