Shelf Fungi Pictures/Ecology/Uses/Helpful references

Shelf fungi can be found on living trees, old stumps or downed logs. They are sometimes called Bracket fungi or Polypores.  What we are able to see is actually only the fruiting body of these fungi. Shelf fungi are often thought of as valuable decomposers of downed or dying wood helping to return nutrients back to the soil. Some of these fungi are parasitic.  As parasites they may infiltrate wounds in trees, or find a way to fight the trees defenses. Some for example, may lie dormant in wounds and wait until the tree is stressed. The hyphae of the fungus is able to use enzymes to break down and  absorb nutrients from the living or dead wood. In parasitic types by the time a fruiting body appears, the mycelium that we can't see may have already caused a lot of damage to the tree internally. Ecologically, decomposition by fungi is though of as a valued and normal process in forests and wooded areas.

   These images of shelf fungi that I photographed here in the Hudson Valley Area of NY were all on trees that were down or appeared already dead.  It seems to help when trying to identify these fungi to know what trees they were growing on as some species are more tree specific than others. Some are not edible because they are too woody or crusty. Some species are poisonous. Certain species of Shelf type fungi  have been used for food, others for decorations, some for medicines, dyes, or for fire starting purposes, many countries have traditional uses for different species.

 Some Notable Species: Sulphur Shelf Fungus -Chicken of the Woods, a highly edible but parasitic shelf type fungus. Fomes fomentarius-used as a fire starter, possibly used since neolithic times, Gandoderma applantum- artist conk.

Interesting websites:  plants.alaska.gov/publications/pdf.conks -labeled pictures of shelf fungi and traditional uses by indigenous people.
biology.ewu.edu/aHerr - Fungi- Recyclers, Killers and Plant Partners for more on fungi in general, clear.
northernwoodlands.org-easy to understand, educational, helpful.
americanmushrooms.com/gallery -labeled pictures of species common in US/ also see mushroomhobby.com/gallery/polypores/index.

The Truth about Dragonflies/ A Naturalist Perspective

I did some research on the internet about dragonflies. It's been a really warm winter here and I'm expecting to see a lot of interesting bugs this year. Dragonflies can be thought of as opportunistic predators who have a wide range of dietary preferences which happen to include eating mosquitoes and some other insects we find distasteful like flies and gnats. Dragonflies are well equipped predators who have evolved over millions of years, and are able operate efficiently in both in their aquatic environment and in flight....  

Most of the life cycle of the dragonfly is spent in a predatory immature stage living in the water. There are probably  at least some 5,000 species of dragonflies or more worldwide. Dragonflies species may differ in many aspects. Depending on species for example, the immature aquatic stage for example, could last from a few months to a several years.  Dragonflies hatch from Eggs which, depending on species, will be laid on vegetation near or over water, sometimes eggs are placed  directly in the water. They will then all emerge from the eggs as nymphs.

 Nymphs ( or dragonfly larvae) look very different from the adults. They still have six legs, two antennae, but rounder more filled out bodies.  They can usually be found hiding in the rocks or in the silt under the water. Nymphs are able to launch themselves rapidly through the water through specialized gills.  They are equipped with a retractable mouth part (prehensile labium) which can be thought of as a kind of extendable jaw.  Nymphs diet includes catching and eating worms, mites or any smaller insect they can catch. Nymphs have been observed eating  tiny fish fry, tadpoles, even smaller nymphs. Thankfully their diet also includes eating mosquito larvae and other invertebrates we find harmful or annoying.

Adults will emerge after a series of several nymph growth molts. When they are ready for maturity they climb out on some vegetation, split their "skin" and the vastly different, four winged, big eyed, long bodied, six legged adult emerges. There is no intermediate metamorphic stage.

Adult dragonflies are thought to be one of our fastest flying insects, having been clocked at going 30- 35 mph hour in bursts of speed. They are agile fliers and can fly backwards, forwards and are able to hover briefly. Adults use several of their legs to make a kind of cage to capture other flying insects. They can crush and eat their prey with their well developed mouth parts. Large compound eyes enable them to sense a wide range of prey movement from many different directions. As predators, adult Dragonflies eat flying insects they can catch. Dragonflies have been reported eating butterflies and bees, for instance. Adults also eat mosquitoes and other insects we consider as "pests" as well.

 Dragonflies usually be distinguished from their close relatives the damselflies as most species of dragonflies keep their wings stretched out to the sides of their body even when at rest. They come in many colors and their wings have different patterns and spots. Dragonflies are active during sunny day time hours. The one I  found sunning itself in a field in late October, in the Hudson Valley area of NY was probably (as an adult) near the end of it's life cycle. Only the nymphs stage dragonflies can remain active in their aquatic environment during our temperate zone cold winter months. The frosts kill the adults who will have already mated and laid their eggs.

Only a few species of Dragonflies migrate.  Dragonflies depending on species, can often be found near bodies of water such as ponds, streams or lakes, in or near swamps and wetlands, sometimes further inland. Many species prefer fresh water habitats. Dragonflies are very susceptible to water pollution.

Some things I found helpful:
Using the Order name "Odonata" in searches. Looking at Field Guides. Surfing the internet for
State and Country websites which will often post species that are native to our areas,checking out international dragonfly organizations. I also found the website  ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthopoda/uiramia/odonata very helpful in trying to understand more about entomology.








 

Waterfalls on the Esopus Creek : A Place Worth Saving/ Hudson Valley NY Walk.

I decided to take a trip to "The Waterfall Place." It is right beside the road traveling south on 9W from Saugerties before the sign announcing Town of Ulster. A sign on the right announces that waterfall property is for sale 30+ acres. This place has been for sale as long as I can remember. It's definitely a place that is very ecologically fragile. I took pictures of two of the waterfalls and looked at the  habitat that runs along side the creek. I also walked up a tree lined path to view the Esopus from an overhanging rock above. I have gone to this place before and noticed many beautiful wildflowers and had hoped to go back in the spring to check it out.    

One first has to pass heaps of discarded garbage and shot up brought up junk on the way to the waterfalls. Part of this place has been used for years as a shooting gallery. It is rather shocking and very sad. I was looking for nature and for what I could find. Not pictures on how to abuse natural settings.  Part of the property is already suffering due to all the flooding we had last year. It's a fragile ecology struggling to survive. I made a photo collage below to give you an idea of how beautiful I think this place really is.
...... minus the trash.  

Do you like trees, plants, flowers, animals, bugs, fungi or nature photography? About my blog

I'm educating myself to be a better naturalist. I believe Nature can be found all around us. At times I'll be taking nature field trips, doing research, or just writing more in depth on things that helped me. I will be clear about when I'm just posting my opinion.  Sometimes I'll just post pictures.Today I'm trying to post a photo commentary to help explain more of what my blog is about.

I'd love to go places and show people some of the beauty that is around here. We have lakes, mountains and lots of trees. I'd like to see other pictures of other places around the world. I want to learn what other people are seeing, doing or thinking about.

I'll also be documenting and taking pictures of common things like this new growth of pine. I  like lichens, mushrooms, feathers, flowers, bugs, trees, footprints, habitats, mushrooms, birds and animals. As I get more pictures I'll post them. I like to see what I can find. Urban or rural. parks, or backyards,
 Nature is all around us.  

I think the natural world can be experienced from many different perspectives. 

  I'll try to show you the "essence" of a place from either from a naturalist or artistic viewpoint but I can't ignore reality.  It may be part of what I find. I'm also trying to
 "walk my talk" and be more environmentally conscious.
 Relax and enjoy the natural world around us. That is my goal.  

                                                     
I live in the USA in the Hudson Valley area of NY.  This blog represents my on-line journey. I want to learn more about nature, but I also want to remember to experience nature.

Wild Geese. What Can We Do? / updated

  I have been reading a lot of publications that suggest that Canadian Geese have become a problem in many suburban environments. My opinion is that we don't always think about How to Keep Goose Wild.  Here in the US we still have lots of suburban areas. There is no cover of long grass  for predators to hide in around many of our overly cultured lakes and ponds.  In many cases we've destroyed or cleaned out habitats for their natural predators....

 I learned that geese like some of the grasses we've planted. ...  Kentucky blue grass....Yum. Geese love it. As herbivores they like short, tender, succulent grasses and grains in the field or in the water. They like having their water bare and naked down to the shores. They probably think we designed these golf courses and open ponds and lakes just for them, and we did. We just didn't realize it.

 Our history has shown,  we can easily extinguish other creatures that we think are pests easily by over shooting or hunting them. I'm not for extending our hunting season. We've done it in the past. We could do it again.

 But I know I'd miss the wild goose. I don't want to have to show my grandchildren a picture of them. They are social birds..... I can often hear them honking and making different sounds as they fly by.
 
 We can often modify our human habitats and behaviors in a way that discourages animals we like to classify as pests,  whether this be Goose or any other creature. Goose for instance doesn't like tall grass or plants near the water, nor a place that has a lot of trees and shrubs. They like to be out in the open so they can watch out for common predators like skunk and raccoon and other creatures that eat their young or eggs. Adult geese have few predators except in wilder areas. They mate for life and are protective over their young.  I'd like to see more areas of wild natural habits created but I also think we are the ones who need to Start Thinking Differently if we want to co-exist with wild animals on the planet.  We can't just set up a sign saying they can't come here.

Instead of golf courses....Let's plant fields of trees... We could plant fields with tall grasses and wildflowers...

Keep the Goose Wild is my own opinion . Thank goodness I'm not on a board of directors there are many things to consider when making decisions about wildlife management. For those readers  that do have a problem with geese, some habitat environmental management ideas( including how to alter golf courses in a less radical way than I have suggested) can be gleaned from many different publications. I found that one does not have to agree with everything any one publication offers to stimulate thoughts and ideas for environmentally friendly solutions......

Wildlife signs walk - Hudson Valley NY- January

It's amazing what one can see on a warm winter's day in late January. I decided to keep to exploring the pasture land near where I live, in anticipation of moving soon. I was hoping to see some hawks as I wanted to try to identify them. We actually had at least three different types here over the summer but most seem to have migrated. The Coopers hawk was the only one who stayed this far north for the  winter.

   Looking up as an observer from below, the hawk could be described as a much whiter looking bird.   The over all appearance of the hawk when seen from the ground level is a vision in tan bands on a background of mostly cream color. Probably a juvenile.  The hawks I saw were at least the size of a crow. I found out that Cooper's hawks live all over the US and into Canada.   It is an excellent flyer, thought to be very adaptable to human activity and can often be found in places where other hawk's are not able to survive.  Cooper's hawk is adept at catching it's prey in the air, and seems to prefer birds. They were once extensively hunted or shot because chicken farmers believed they ate their birds and are still commonly called in some places" the chicken hawk".   Cooper's hawks also eats rodents such as mice, squirrels, and chipmunks. It will eat rabbits, fish, insects, and other animals including amphibians and reptiles. It's definitely not only adaptable but a predator with keen eyesight, and sharp talons that can crush it's prey.The males are the ones who will build the nest, and help to provide most of the food for nesting females and young.

The field looked something like this picture but much longer and broader.  After the two hawks circled high overhead a couple of times, one suddenly flew over my head while the other circled off in the other direction toward the woods. ...... Such quick and efficient fliers! Even though we have a lot of other birds around including some of this type of hawk's favorite foods. I can't help but notice the other birds seem to know where to hide, are overwintering, and chose to remain here. Despite the two hawks, this area is rich in bird life. Must be lots of food and cover for everyone.

 I heard a scuffling sound. Suddenly two doves flew out of this cover at a bend in the field. A rabbit raced off at my approach. I could only identify the rabbit by that unmistakable cotton tail.

The bark was eaten off of two of the birches in thin strips. About as high as my knee.Too low to the ground for deer. A small mammal perhaps a porcupine could have eaten this bark. It would be about the right height.

This tree in another part of the field, ends in a mass of shaggy vines. Doesn't look like the classic outline of a walnut tree but then again its covered with vines. That or someone dragged a lot of walnuts under it.

  Many walnuts are open or empty in this setting and the black round thing, which I first thought was something else, is the tough outer walnut shell that is green when fresh, but turns darker later. Turns out squirrels, raccoon, bear and turkey will all eat walnuts... how the turkey cracks it open, I don't know. I have seen squirrels, turkeys and raccoon around here.

Near by the pile of walnuts is an ear of corn.  The corn field has been cut now and isn't too far away. I've seen some whole ears of corn dragged to some strange places around here. Perhaps a raccoon was feeding on this one, or some other critter feeling safer in the thickets and brambles.

This one could be a hut for me. It's got an opening that is smooth and clear of brambles inside.

Some animals prefer to just live in a hole in the ground. It works for them. Nice and warmer below the surface away from the cold winds and freezing temperatures outside during the winter. Not hard to imagine this burrow could have different chambers, maybe some for eating and others for sleeping.


Like to thank:
Wikipedia for picture of the Cooper's Hawk. This hawk picture was taken in Toronto Canada in November of 2004. See 2004 (Nov) file Accipiter- Cooperii- O1.jpg. ... I got some info on hawks from Audubon. org and Peregrine.org if anyone is interested in more information on different types of hawks.

Some Trees I'll Remember - Hudson Valley NY Pictures

One thing I'll really miss about living here when I move are the trees and the open spaces. I haven't been here that long and I'm just moving to the other side of town, but it's the citified part of town. It's not the part with fields and farms and pasture land.  I decided to post some pictures of some of the trees on the property that I really like and talk about why I like them. I decided to take a walk so many of these pictures were taken in late January.  Today was warm, the sun was shining so I was able to run out and take a few pictures, as usual birds were singing everywhere.

This one was taken earlier but I like how it looks like an eye on the trunk. Reminds me of a "tree dragon".

There are lines of trees, shrubbery and fencing that separate some parts of the pasture land. This is part of the line that protected  the crop land. I like to call this picture "tree in chains."

This picture was taken in one of the open areas of the fence. You can see the cut corn crop in the distance.

Even the downed trees are showing new life forming on top of the old.

Going up to the pasture land part, I can't help but admire what's left of this tree. Looks like some woodpeckers have been having a field day.

This  is one of my favorite trees, It's right near the area where I found a deer skull once.

Some geese flew over as I was taking these pictures, so I turned to try and take their picture but they were gone. I'll have to imagine one in the sky I guess! You can see the pasture land,  and our very old mountains that look like "humps" in the distance.

Muskrat Habitat? Wildlife walk. NY

 I decided to take this walk to try an explore an area I was somewhat familiar with. This year we had a lot of rain all the way up into the fall. Formerly marshy areas like this one in a pasture are still flooded with water even in December.  I was interested in just seeing what I could find.

I've seen ducks swimming there this year, unlike last. What is hard to notice in the picture is that there are banks on either side making it more of ravine. There is a strip of vegetation around the edges and a corn field nearby.

It's amazing how many times I crossed this point where on one end the flooded area slowly drains across and out, never dreaming a muskrat lodge might be some twenty feet away!

This is more of what the habitat looks like up closer. Lots of reeds and plants growing out of the water on the end nearest the mud patch. More than the picture was able to capture.

Lots of cattails on the other long end which are some of foods the muskrats like to eat. These cattails  slowly proceed toward someone else pond. I found another possible muskrat lodge which I didn't capture on film.

                                    This looks like just another heap of material from a distance.

On closer inspection, "the hump of materials" takes on a new look. It does not seem to me to be randomly fallen together, but " looks constructed". I can see dirt mixed in with the original materials.  Probably stands about three feet tall. I know that muskrats need at least three feet of water to over winter since they don't hibernate. There was no way for me to get close enough to this lodge type area due to the "swampy" nature of the surroundings near the possible lodge. I wasn't able to actually measure the depth of the water. It sure looked like it could be a muskrat lodge.

I tried to confirm my findings by looking around the edges of the ravine for possible muskrat sign. But all I found was this deer skull. Which I flipped over.

Lichen Pictures / Hudson Valley NY Lichens

 Sometimes in the spring, summer, and fall I find that I get distracted by all of the plants, the colors and sounds of nature.  I find I often forget to look for the smaller or less conspicuous things like lichens. After learning more about lichens which I discussed more in depth in an earlier post in January of this year, I decided to go and look for different types of lichens to photograph.  Here are some images of lichens I took on different walks. The first is a view of a mountain framed with trees that have lichens growing on them.

I found an older grave yard that had a lot of lichens growing on the stones there. Out of respect for families didn't want to post their last names on this one. I think it depends on the type of stone, lichens might have and easier time colonizing some types of stones than others.

More lichen on trees.

Why I'm looking for lichens/ Some lichen info on air quality, habitat etc..

 As epiphytes, lichens have evolved to depend on being able utilize many of the chemicals they process from the moisture and the air around them. Most species of lichens prefer a cleaner, more natural air and often thrive better in places that are not industrially polluted. Some species of lichens can tolerate a greater degree of pollution  than others. A lack of diversity of lichens, or a scarcity of lichens of where they were once found, can be one indicator that can be explored to see if air pollution is contributing to this scarcity. Lichens can be interesting to people concerned about monitoring air pollution because some of the chemicals they have stored can be analyzed by using living samples.

Lichens range over most of the natural places in the world. Although many species of lichens appear to me to prefer places with a lot of moisture, lichens are able to shut down some of their processes so that they can adapt to a climate with more or less moisture. They can tolerate temperatures that range from having permafrost to places that one would consider much hotter, if not just as dry. Lichens can be found in artic tundra regions and although they may not tolerate heat to the extremes they can of cold or moisture,some lichens can even be found in the dryer areas like deserts for instance, by gathering the moisture that they need in the form of dew. Lichens can go tropical.  Lichens have been found the the ocean and can be observed at inter-tidal zones, they can be seen in many different and varying climates around the world, of forests, on hill sides, on mountains, fields, beside rivers, and many other varied and interesting places.

  Lichens are not technically a plant. They are classified under the fungi. This fungus exists most commonly  with a photosynthetic algae and/ or a photosynthetic bacteria. I found that their relationship is currently being explored more in depth to try and understand their relationship. It may not be quite so symbiotic as we once believed. Some scientists describe their relationship as being a lot more favorable to the fungi.  Lichens may grow slower compared to many of the plants that we see around us. They also need time to establish themselves.

 I have found lichens on some of the trees in my area, by looking at tree trunks and on the branches. Lichens can also be found on the soil. I have looked for them on bare rocks, downed trees and on wood debris. I have read that Lichens have been found on many unusual substances and places including animal bones, plastic, metal and other materials. Old buildings, older stone fences, and older stone grave markers can be good places to think about when trying to find an assortment of lichens to photograph. Rock cliffs, rock slides and standing rocks are also good places to explore.

 An amazing variety of animals eat lichens. Some owls and other birds will eat lichens. I found through looking on the internet that birds can use lichens as part of their nesting materials.I discovered that lichens can be a valuable food source for wild life that live in my area and can help some animals to find subsistence food particularly in the winter.

For more on air quality monitoring see
Environment Canada. Monitoring Lichens. from ec.gc.ca/
Natural History Museum .nhm.ac.uk/ nature-online/plants/fungi/lichens
nasce.org. National Lichens and Air Quality Database.
fs.fed.us. National Forest Service, USA,

Downsizing my home : 5 Things that Worked for Me

I went from three rooms down to two. It has been a very long process and has taken almost a year for me to feel really comfortable. A large part of that year has also been trying to donate and find "good homes" for the stuff that someone else might want. I'm really glad now that I engaged in Voluntary Simplicity early. Soon because of need, I may be living in an even smaller space.These five simple steps involved quite a bit of work but most of it was fun along the way. The 5 things that have worked for me so far:

1. Time, determination and a continuing commitment  to do something about my beliefs and values, and to not forget that I'm supposed to be getting rid of stuff, not replacing it with new stuff. 

2. Setting aside extra space to store things that were going to be given away, or donated so that I could pack them up and transport to donation sites, or have friend's choose what they wanted from the heap.

3. Setting aside another area to store things I'm not sure whether I'm giving them away or keeping so that I didn't throw or give away away things that were important to me. 

4. Learning how to organize the stuff I do want to keep so that it's accessible, labeled and put neatly in cabinets  drawers and containers so that it does not clutter up my smaller living space.

5. Exploring different ways of thinking about  things to help me determine what I think is important to keep and what I find meaningful or useful for me as an individual to have in my living space.

5 Tips for Keeping Warmer Indoors in the Winter

Save money. Help the planet by conserving resources. Tips I use to save money on heating costs as a renter.
Heating costs are a big concern to many who live in colder climates. I live in an apartment on a fixed income but I have discovered some low tech ideas, that might be useful to others that have helped me and would be interested in hearing what other people do to keep warm.

1. I shut off rooms I'm not using much during the day by shutting doors or putting up curtains between living spaces. I have electric heat, so I turn down the thermostats in the rooms I'm not using for a few hours to 60 degrees. I can easily tell if my curtain is working as a heat/cold barrier by checking the temperature in the curtained off rooms. The barrier is thick enough if the room behind the curtain is significantly cooler. Doors are best, but curtains work surprisingly well. I have bought fabric and made my own curtains before but sheets and blankets work surprisingly well.  Sheets may have to be doubled, blankets usually provide good coverage, and I imagine a simple tarp might work.  I hang my "curtain" so that it is only about one inch from the floor so that cold drafts of air don't escape from the bottom.
2. I wear at least two or three layers of clothing inside my house. Like many hikers and campers in cooler weather, I have found that investing in long underwear and sweaters helps keep me comfortable and I can take off a layer if I'm exercising or feel overheated.
3. For activities where I'm sitting for longer periods of time, I keep "lap" blankets to cover my legs and belly. I  try to let people know in advance that my house is kept cooler in the winter. I also keep extra lap blankets for guests. Older people seem to especially appreciate also having a shawl over their shoulders.
3. I experimented with the idea of seeing "how low can I turn down the heat and still feel comfortable." Everyone seems to have different warmth and comfort levels.
4. I drink lots warm fluids in the winter to help keep me hydrated in the cooler, dryer air.  Eating nutritious foods at regular meal times even if they are the old fashioned "stretch the food dollar" with homemade soups and stews, seems to help me maintain a higher body heat balance.
5. Keeping an electric portable heater near sitting areas seems to help keep my feet and legs warmer and I can place it near where I'm sitting doing crafts, reading or working on the computer. The small electric heater does seem to raise the overall temperature of the room somewhat but most importantly the heat source is where I need it, closer to where I do activities that involve sitting or resting.