Nature Notes
After a decidedly “normal” winter, complete with a major snowstorm and extended periods of nighttime lows in the 30s, it’s understandable for folks to be excited about spring.
The natural world is excited about spring too. Birds are migrating North and it seems like new species are arriving at the park on a daily basis. It started with the first vanguard of purple martins that reached western North Carolina nearing the end of February. These large, iridescent swallows are much-beloved for their well-deserved reputation for eating harmful bugs. Humans have forged partnerships with these birds since before European colonization of the continent, when native American tribes would string hollowed out gourds between poles to attract them to nest. Martins, which nest in colonies, rely on access to some kind of cavity in which to lay their eggs. Modern bird enthusiasts still use gourds to encourage purple martins to take up residence on their properties, but they also deploy large “condo” style birdboxes to give the birds the high-density housing they prefer.
As they wing their way from the wintering territory in the Amazon, it’s the male martins that arrive first. The males will locate and claim prime nesting sites and have everything ready for the females to get there a couple of weeks later.
Ospreys are another early spring migrant that are especially visible around the lake. Although they are similar in appearance to the region’s nesting bald eagles, ospreys are decidedly smaller, with white underparts and a bold, dark stripe through their eye. Like eagles, ospreys predominantly prey on fish, which they snatch from the surface with their long and wickedly sharp talons.
The shoreline around the lake is getting greener as dormant trees and plants soak in the longer days and warming soil. Red buds and dogwoods are leading the charge, with red maples and tulips poplars filling in behind them. By mid-May, the transformation from winter grays to summer greens will be complete.
It’s time to throw off your winter coats and grab your hiking stick. What a wonderful time of year to be on the trails at Lake James State Park. Hope to see you there.
