The Nature of Delaware

By Helen Fischel, Associate Director, Education

Once the rain subsided last weekend, I ventured out to my Delaware Nature Society-certified backyard habitat to begin the fall clean-up.  I was surprised to find several trees that were rubbed by deer in the side yard. Ugly scars in vertical stripes adorned the trees. Since the damage was only done on one side of each of the trees, there is a good chance that they will survive.   I responded to this assault by sheathing the trees in wire caging, but the damage has been done and the cambium tissue was violated.

A White-tailed Deer buck in velvet. Photo by Derek Stoner.

Bucks rub their antlers on the trunks of small trees in late summer to remove their velvet but this does not usually result in much damage to the tree.  During the autumn rut, Bucks rub trees to mark their territory and to practice sparring, which they will do in earnest with rival bucks.  This is when you will see that your backyard trees have been molested and mangled.  Small trees up to 3 or 4 inches in diameter truly are the White-tailed Deer punching bag. 

In order to prevent deer from rubbing your backyard trees, some homeowners spray the area with predator urine while others use solar-powered electric fences to deter encroachment.  My low-tech method was to whip out some chicken wire and garden fencing to protect the individual trees for now.  Hey deer…go pick on somebody else’s trees!

My trees were rubbed by the neighborhood bucks. I responded by wrapping them with chicken wire and garden fencing. Hey deer...go pick on someone else's trees! Photo by Helen Fischel.

Resources: Tree Injury From Deer Antler Rubbing; Branden Schiess, Graduate Student
University of Idaho and Derek Stoner, Delaware Nature Society.

By Derek Stoner, Education Program Assistant and Sheila Vincent, Group Programs Coordinator

A crowd of elk-aholics gather to watch their favorite show: Battling Bulls! Photo by Derek Stoner.

After a spectacular sunset and good views of a bull elk and his harem of cows the first evening, what would our second evening bring?

Once again our DNS van navigated the steep hills above the village of Benezette to arrive at the legendary Winslow Hill wildlife viewing area.  A long procession of vehicles and camera-toting tourists soon signaled our quarry’s presence.    

A mature bull elk bugles in defiance! Photo by trip participant Molly Daly.

The 6X6 bull heads back to be with his harem of cow elk. Photo by trip participant Molly Daly.

The distant bugle of another bull captured the attention of the 6X6 and riveted the dozens of viewers along the field edge.  From the valley below, the interloper emerged. 

Amazingly, the new arrival sported an even-larger rack (7X7) and larger body.  The two bulls postured and bugled, slowly approaching each other.  With the moment of truth arriving, the viewer’s held their collective breath.  Would they clash and lock antlers?

Heads turned sideways to guage each others size, the bulls circled round like a couple of heavyweights unwilling to fight.  The more-energetic 6X6 would make short charges towards the interloper, who did not seem to have much aggressive drive.  The showdown lasted nearly an hour.  As dusk fell, the 7X7 finally backed off and left the scene.

Our group felt priveleged to witness such a display of nature’s wild side.  While difficult to fully convey the feeling of the moment, this compilation of video clips from the bull encounter may give you an idea of  the power of this experience:    http://animoto.com/play/PDFHo3NjExcdCm1y0DC0sw?autostart=true  (Click on “Full Screen” for best viewing)

By Derek Stoner, Education Program Assistant and Sheila Vincent, Group Programs Coordinator

Brightly-hued maples color up the hillside on a rainy day at Parker Dam State Park.

Part of the large colony of White Birch at Marion Brooks Natural Area, the largest such stand in Pennsylvania.

On our first venture into the Quehanna Wilderness, we visited the largest colony of White Birch known to exist in Pennsylvania.   Primarily a northern species, these tree thrive in areas of disturbance.  In fact, this section of wilderness is part of the vast Allegheny Plateau, created by the grinding of glaciers during the last Ice Age.  The birches are part of the Marion Brooks Natural Area, a preserve that also features unique plants such as Cucumber Magnolia,  Lady’s Slippers, and an array of ferns.  

A cluster of Redcoats or British Soldiers, a type of fruticose lichen.

In the disturbed soil around a man-made pond, we encountered a tremendous concentration of Redcoats, a striking lichen.  A lichen is the pairing of a fungus and algae in a mutualistic relationship.   Most lichens are gray or dull green– few are as vivid as the Redcoat.

A blooming Gall-of-the-Earth, also known as Tall Rattlesnake Root.

A mysterious wildflower drew our attention.  With purple stems, asymetrical leaves, and straw-colored blossoms, the Gall-of-the-Earth is a distinctive member of the Aster family.  There is disagreement as to the origin of the plant’s name.  One camp holds that the drooping flowers look away from the sun, thus symbolizing the bitter descent of fall into winter.   The other camp suggests that the bitter-tasting roots, used to treat dysentery and rattlesnake bite,  gave the plant both its names.

A paper wasp nest seemingly impaled on a hawthorn bush.

For a bunch of naturalists exploring an unusual ecosystem, every discovery seemed noteworthy.  This bizarre paper wasp nest, built just a foot above the ground, had the extra protection of hawthorn spikes.   

An incredible sunset greeted us on our first evening in elk country. The elk grazed in the misty valley below while we watched.

The botanical diversions were great, but of course the big attraction up here is of the four-legged variety.   Would we see any elk?  Would we get to hear the haunting bugle of battling bulls?  Stay tuned for the second half of our story…

Photos by Derek Stoner

By Derek Stoner, Education Program Assistant

A lovely waterfall cascades over an old mill dam on Burrows Run.

Walking along the beautiful Burrows Run, with its clean and clear water, we admired the cascade flowing over the remnants of a dam.  Past activities of humans still slow the flow of the stream, long after the mill has disappeared.

On Wednesday our birding group visited a lovely estate just two miles north of Ashland Nature Center, where Burrows Run flows through before entering the Delaware Nature Society’s Burrows Run Preserve.  We found colorful migrant birds like Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, and American Redstart, but the creature that stole the show wore a black mask.

A raccoon reclines high in its hollow tree home.

A Broad-winged Hawk circles low overhead, after leaving its morning roost.

A small flock, or "kettle" of four Broad-winged Hawks rises in the sky.

By Derek Stoner, Education Program Assistant

The past few evenings, cooling temperatures and a crisp breeze from the north caused my thoughts to jog ahead into fall.  Somewhere on a mountain in northern Pennsylvania, herds of elk are grazing peacefully.

As dusk settles, a pair of huge bull elk bugle and battle atop legendary Winslow Hill.

A cow elk and her calf join a herd grazing in a field near Benezette, PA.

Maple and Sassafras trees ablaze with fall color in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Watching herds of elk against a backdrop of fall color and mountain mist.

By Joe Sebastiani, Members Program Team Leader

Last week, I shot some videos of wildlife at Ashland Nature Center, Mt. Cuba Center, and the Bucktoe Creek Preserve.  The Sharp-shinned Hawk segment is of one of the adults from the pair that raised two young at Ashland this summer.  The young were flying around and screeching last week, and were impossible to capture on video.  The Kestrel is the male of the pair that nested at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve and raised two young. Also, notice the very small insect that the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is holding and the downy fuzz on the top of the Green Heron’s head. Enjoy!