DEPARTMENT FIELD TRIP

Usually in the summer we have a three day camping trip together as a Department, which we combine with collecting specimens to replenish our living collections. Unfortunately this year, everyone's schedules were so crazy that we were never able to find a three day gap that suited all of us. I sent a couple of my staff out on a one day collecting trip, mainly to collect native fish species for our Riverworks Exhibit but that was about all we had done in the way of getting out in the field.
Last week we finally managed to get our entire Department together for a quick trip to Indiana Dunes State Park. As if to continue the theme from last years trips, the day started with dark skies, thunder, lightening and heavy rain. We all studied the weather sites closely and determined that at the time we had planned to arrive in Indiana, the rain would have just about stopped. So we loaded into several vehicles and headed out.


One of the local rangers had kindly agreed to meet up with us and give us a tour of an environmentally sensitive area which is usually not open to the public, Pinhook Bog. Indiana’s only true bog it is a special geologic feature of this region. The Bog is a glacial kettle. At the end of the Wisconsin Glacial epoch, (14,000-15,000 ybp) a large chunk of ice remained buried at this location as the ice retreated northward. When the ice melted, the clay soil sealed the basins. The runoff from higher ground around the bog is the only water source. There are not streams or groundwater inflow or outflow. Evaporation from the open water and plants is the only loss of moisture. A bog is different than swamps, marshes or ponds because of this limited exchange of water. The water in the bog is stagnant, acidic, and nutrient-poor.


The outstanding feature of Pinhook Bog is the tree covered mat of sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is a stringy, delicate moss of a light-green color. The mat floats on top of the water and can become three to six feet thick, yet it can have a pocket of a few inches in the middle. As the mat thickens, larger and larger plants take root and grow. Under the mat a peat bed develops. The acidic water slows the decay of the sphagnum moss and other plants. In its current state the plants that are growing there have to be tolerant of an acidic environment, like the magnificent Pitcher Plant.


Although it was a little late in the season for orchids there were still a number of Orange-fringed Orchids in bloom and their characteristic shapes and delicate blooms were very appealing.


There was also an occasional Touch-me-not or Jewelweed peeping out from amongst the foliage. Called Touch-me-not because when the seed capsule is ripe, the slightest touch will cause it to eject it's seeds.


There were very few signs of vertebrate life, except for us but this one Green Frog did hang around long enough for me to grab a quick photo.


After having walked around the bog we headed out through some dense woodland and it was then that I began to realise just how much rain we have had in recent weeks. Apart from the obvious, copious quantities of mud, there were so many fungi of every shape, size and colour.




Having left the Bog, we headed to a nearby picnic area to have some lunch. Vincent, our department culinary expert was in charge of getting us all fed and in spite of the fact that somehow none of us had remembered to pack cooking utensils (!) A solution was found and soon we were all fed.


Even the picnic area had it's own crop of fungus but don't worry, we weren't tempted to add them to the menu!


One little visitor who spent a long time hanging around was this pretty little Hackberry Butterfly.


Our boss had gone all out on the treats! We had a choice of chocolate, red velvet or vanilla! This is the real outdoor life!!!!


Before we all fell asleep from a sugar coma from the cup cakes, we decided that another walk to explore some more of the local habitat would be a good idea. By now I was on a mission - fungus hunting!



It is a fascinating life form because it really does come in a seemingly endless array of forms.



There were a lot of Stink Bugs around too but I totally failed to get a clear picture despite numerous attempts (and one or two swear words thrown in for good measure.)


After we were done with the dark, dampness of the woodland, our last stop was the shore of Lake Michigan so that some of us could roll up our trousers and wade in the water.
It wouldn't be strictly true to say that we didn't collect anything on this trip (apart from the obligatory mosquito bites of course.) I made sure that no one left the beach without carrying at least a couple of nice flat stones with them as they always come in useful when we are setting up habitats for our animals at the Museum.


All too soon it was time to head back into the city but it was lovely to have spent the day outside, and the best part of all? It didn't rain on us!!


Photo Credits - CJT

DUMPSTER RESCUE

Whenever anything animal related occurs in or around the Museum it is always the Biology Department who gets called upon to sort it out and yesterday was no exception.
We have several large metal dumpsters on the loading dock at the back of the Museum which are emptied by city workers early each morning. Around lunchtime Andrew, our seasonal gardener, discovered that a certain furry someone had got stuck in the bottom of one of them.


It was a very hot day and the heat inside the dumpster was very extreme so we knew we had to get this little guy out as promptly as possible.


Raccoons make look irresistibly cute but, as with any wild animal, they are likely to react rather unfavorably if you try to touch them! So we had to provide him with a means of getting himself out.


A wooden pallet provided a perfect raccoon step ladder! And within less than a minute out he came.


He made his way precariously around the top lip of the dumpster


Took one last look back inside his steamy prison


Before scrabbling his way down the side and trotting off to find a shady spot to cool down.


A good deed done and an unusual use found for an old wooden pallet!


Photo Credits - CJT

SKYWATCH FRIDAY (Sunrise on the Lakeshore)

I can take absolutely no credit for these photos, that all goes to my husband. A few weeks back he decided to partake in an event called 'Bike the Drive.' When the entire length of Lakeshore Drive in Chicago is closed to cars for several hours on a Sunday morning and given over completely to cyclists. Needless to say this is an early morning thing which is how he managed to capture these beautiful shots of an unusually empty beach lit by the gentle light of dawn. I, of course, was still asleep at this point!





For sky views the world over, go to Skywatch Friday.


Photo Credits - DominickV

THE DIESEL FAN CLUB

The vast majority of my work day to day involves animals of numerous different species and that is just fine with me. One species I am not so keen on is Homo sapiens so I tend to avoid spending too much time with them if at all possible. In particular I find the juvenile form of this species particularly daunting but such is the nature of my job, occasionally I have to step into the spotlight and actually talk to groups of children about my work. I would far rather spend my morning working with my venomous snakes and spiders than do this but sometimes it just can't be avoided. Luckily I can usually rely on some pretty cool back-up troops to help me out on these occasions. Last week I had to go to a summer camp on the west side of Chicago to do a presentation for a couple of groups so I packed up some Hissing Cockroaches, a Hermit Crab, an American Toad, a Box Turtle, a Corn Snake and my little buddy Diesel, the Rat.


Diesel is still very much a celebrity in training and this was actually his first trip off site to see a large group of children, although truth be known he was probably far less apprehensive than I was! Anyway we traveled to the site and did our 'thing'. All the animals behaved impeccably, no one pooped or bit or did anything untoward and the kids all seemed pretty happy and so it was with a large sigh of relief that I headed back to the Museum with my mini menagerie, quite happy to have got that task behind me.
A few days later I was checking my mail box which rarely has anything in it except for bills and was astonished to find it bulging with mail. What a surprise!


Dozens and dozens of notes and pictures from all the children! I read through them all and although I would like to show them all that would just go on for ever so I just tried to select some of my favorites.
The Hissing Cockroaches


The Hermit Crab


The American Toad


And the Corn Snake


And the group pictures


But of course there is always one mega-star in any group who gets a disproportionate amount of the fan mail and that was our little rodent friend Diesel.


But just in case he gets too full of himself, in amongst all the wonderful letters that the children wrote there was one from a little girl who very sweetly explained that her favorite animal is a giraffe and that rats make her throw-up! Hmmm how come I didn't notice that happening during my presentation!!??


Photo Credits - CJT

SUMMER IN THE CITY

I took a walk in the park at lunchtime to see what I could find in the way of nature, not an easy task when surrounded by concrete and steel. But I did pretty well, fish, bugs, birds, butterflies and even a sunbathing turtle.
The prairie plantings around the Museum are looking beautiful now and with so many plants in flower the butterflies are spoilt for choice. As usual though, the milkweed family always sees the most activity with the iconic Monarch Butterfly taking precedence.


When the Monarch moves off the beautiful Tiger Swallowtail gently flutters in to feed briefly before being moved on by the more dominant Monarch.


Although much smaller, the Red Admiral uses its speed and agility to grab a quick drink of nectar before being chased away too.


It beats a hasty retreat to a nearby Purple Coneflower.


Tent caterpillars are considered a pest by many but their unique structures which are believed to serve a number of purposes including thermal regulation and communication centres, are certainly eye-catching.


Moving away from the prairie and down to the edge of the pond it is spawning time for the numerous Blue Gills. They work hard to clear a little area of open ground on the pond bottom and then fiercely defend it from all comers (although the neighbours are pretty close!)



Of course a condensed food source like this does not go unnoticed!


Our little pond is usually only big enough to accommodate one or at most two, Great Blue Herons but we have Black-crowned Night Herons and Green Herons by the score.
I am not sure if a pair of Green Herons bred successfully somewhere around the pond this year or whether the juveniles just found their way here after fledging but I have noticed a number of small fluffy individuals who are clearly just getting rid of their last vestiges of downy baby feathers. (Check out the top of this ones head.)


I watched this particular individual for quite sometime


I couldn't quite work out why he kept pointing his beak straight up in the air. I know Bitterns will take a similar posture when they are amongst tall reeds in order to make themselves less conspicuous but I had not heard of herons doing it.


I finally worked out that he was actually watching the numerous dragonflies that were buzzing over his head. I watched him make a few random grabs at them but not with any degree of success.
Most other birds have fledged and grown now but there was this single Mallard chick that was obviously a late hatchling and as always they walk away with the cuteness award.


And then of course there are the Night Herons, which I can just never take enough pictures of


I don't know what it is about this particular species, I just find them so photogenic


and we certainly have no shortage of them around the pond. Maybe it is the stunning ruby red eyes


or the fancy yellow stockings.


Whatever it is I always end up with far more pictures than I could ever post!


and while we are on the topic of footwear fashions for the summer (?) Don't forget the more practical option for those rainy days!


The array of dragonfly species continues to impress although most of the really bright coloured ones refuse to land anywhere near the strange lady with the camera who keeps creeping about in the undergrowth at the waters edge!
This is the underside view of a male Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa


I would have loved to have got a good shot of the top side but short of wading out into the pond which I just didn't feel inclined to do (!) I had to make do with a very blurry maximum zoomed image at an angle from Terra firma.


The only other member of the Odonata order that was prepared to be photographed was this Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia which gave me about two seconds to get a shot before flying away and of course I managed to chop the edge of the image off! But you get the general idea I hope.


And finally, as promised, just to confirm that it is summer, the sunbathing turtle!




Photo Credits - CJT