A vernal pond at the Learning Center Forest

At last! I have come to the place where it all started. 

In 2017, I took a tour of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center in Wolf Lake, Indiana. As I was exploring the grounds with my guide Jonathan, we passed by a vernal pond. While we were there, students were actively dipping in the pond for aquatic life. I had no clue species like this even existed. In a place that appeared so dead, there was life forms in the water- flourishing. So today, as I start to write my blog about the vernal dipping ponds, Jonathan, now my instructor, informs me that this station is a central part of the Learning Center Forest.

OBSERVATIONS:

I started down the trail from Merry Lea towards the vernal pond, I was surrounded with the buzzing and humming of busy insects & butterflies, dashing in and out of my view. I was happy to discover the Learning Center structure again. For this time it has provided me with a quite spot to sit and rest while I sit to listen and observe the sounds of the forest. I quickly tuned into the call of a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata),who didn't seem to mind that I was there and sang the whole time. The Blue Jay must have been stopping for a short break, because his common nesting habitat is usually amongst the oak trees. 

As I start to do my survey of the area, I noticed the vernal pond is dominated by one species of tree, the Red Maple tree (Acre rubrum). Red Maples thrive in moist, lowland  areas. Their decaying matter of fallen leaves and branches, blanketed the bottom of the vernal pond. To my surprise, I found only a few flowers that were in bloom. The Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata), which is part of the Parsley Family and is a typical plant found in swamps and low land meadows. And the Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris), which is also found in wet soils. 

Just then, I saw from the corner of my eye this bright red dragonfly- the Streak-winged Red Skimmer (Sympetrum illotum) or as I like to call it Big Red. Its complimentary color contrasted beautifully with vibrant shades of forest green. Big Red sat there for a long time letting me snap away picture after picture. Streak-winged Red Skimmers are found near pond edges and adults feed on small flying insects. Big Red sat there patiently for me until I captured the right shot. 

IDENTIFICATION:  

Blue Jay photograph from Audubon Society www.audubon.org

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a bright blue above with much white and black in the 

wings and tail; dingy white below; black facial markings; prominent crest. With a rich variation of calls, a raucous jay-jay, harsh cries and queedle-queedle. Although they seem to travel throughout the year, they are migratory and travel and large loose flocks and both spring and fall. They often bury seeds and acorns, and since many are never retrieved, they are in effect tree planters

Red Maple tree (Acre rubrum) is a medium to large tree with an oval, spreading crown. Leaves are opposite on twig with simple, borne singly on long red stems. Lobes 3-5, hand-like, with sharp V-shaped notches between main lobes. The bark is pale grey and smooth when young and becoming dark brown to gray, furrowed and then scaly with 

maturity. Twigs are slender, shiny red to reddish brown with numerous tiny warty bumps. Fruit is drooping, paired, propeller-like; broadly V-shaped or U-shaped and up to 1" long. Red Maples are found all throughout Indiana. 

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) has upper branches that are smooth except for scattered thorns. It is a  bushyshrubs without long arching flowering stems.  The Swamp Rose has leaflets with very fine teeth, dull green; prickles stout and usually hooked. Stipulates are very narrow. Plant is 2 to 8 feet high. 

Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is found in freshwater swamps and damp Meadows. Leaflets are lance sheet with numerous teeth; Ambrose flat, 2 to 4 inches wide. Stem 

branching, usually modeled with purple. Gross 3 to 6 feet high all parts are deadly poisonous to taste. It is found in swamps and low meadows. Grows summer and fall.

Streak-winged Red Skimmer (Sympetrum illotum) has a hairy head and thorax and is reddish brown. The thorax has two white spots on each side.The abdomen is red with a row of pale spots on each side. Wings are clear with reddish brown beans. Mated pairs fly in tandem above the water. After mating, the pairs go separately to the rest and nearby Twigs. Adults are active mid June to late July.

CREATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS:

                                          REFERENCES:

Farrand, John Jr. (2000, February) National Audubon Society Field Guide to Birds Eastern Region. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Jackson, Marion T. (2003) 101 Trees of Indiana A Field Guide. Indiana University Press.

Milne, Lorus and Margery. (2000, February) National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Newcomb, Lawrence. (1977) Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown and Company.

Photos are from the Author, unless otherwise stated

D