30 Days in June: Day 13, Natural Area Teaching Lab (NATL)

NATL

My relationship with the Natural Area Teaching Lab (NATL) on the University of Florida campus goes back to 2002 when I responded to an ad in the paper looking for Volunteer Docent Naturalists for the Florida Museum of Natural History. I can't remember if I had ever been to NATL before that, but after I discovered it, this special outdoor classroom quickly became an anchor for me. I wrote about this in a previous post ("Just Be"), so I won't go into the history much here, except to say that I am deeply thankful for the role NATL played in my development as a naturalist.

Four Ecosystems to Explore

Back when I started as a Docent Naturalist, NATL was much more bare bones. There were several basic paths, a picnic pavilion, PVC pipes for Treefrogs, some insect traps set out by entomologists and a kiosk where the kids could dig for ant lions. We still got a lot of use out of it with the school groups and summer camps. We caught insects in the fields, peered into the PVC pipes, peeked under logs, and played "The Thicket Game" (a Project Wild game about predators and prey) in the woods. We almost always saw or heard something wonderful. But since then it has gotten even better.

Tiny Southern Toad on the Trail

Over the years NATL has undergone some terrific changes. Interpretive signs and trails were added with very helpful labels on plants and trees. Signs with QR signs for smart phone add another educational dimension. There is a trail now around the entire SEEP Area (Stormwater Ecological Enhancement Project) with a boardwalk, where previously we could only walk to the edges of the retention pond. The staff and students who run NATL are working hard to promote the area to the whole community as a nice place to walk and learn about the environment. Social media alerts fans to new nature sightings or changes such as prescribed burns. There are scavenger hunt pages available to encourage families to visit, too.

Boardwalk through SEEP Area

Sign with QR Code for Smartphones

Welcome to NATL, from the Other Entrance

Interpretive Signs Along the Upland Pine Nature Trail

I go to NATL when I want to take photos of butterflies or other flying insects. The open, sunny fields and well maintained pine sandhill provide an excellent source for wildflowers. It's a good place to see Red Headed Woodpeckers and Bluebirds, and I have seen Pileated Woodpeckers building nests on several occasions. In the winter, the pond is a good place to see Hooded Mergansers.

Retention Pond

The wetlands around the boardwalk are teeming with dragonflies, frogs and butterflies. Occasionally I have seen turtles and snakes, and even an alligator.

Dragonflies

Snake Shed in the Forest

A few years ago an owl box was placed in a big pine tree to attract Barn Owls. I don't think they have moved in yet, but one can hope. I don't believe that I have seen an owl in NATL, but I have seen hawks and kites. There have been several interesting structures to study the habits of Native Bees. The latest one is so attractive that I think I will borrow the design and make one for our new yard in Georgia.

Owl Box

Native Bee Structure

One of my prized butterfly sightings was at NATL. I had read a Facebook post about Harvester Butterflies on the Hammock Trail, and so I went looking for them. Not only did I see one, but I also found some Harvester Caterpillars eating Wooly Aphids on a Smilax vine (Harvester Caterpillars are insectivores!). When I visited this week, I was very happy to find and photograph another Harvester. I saw Wooly Aphids, but did not find caterpillars this time. I also saw a Question Mark Butterfly, but it flitted off before I could get a photo.

Harvester Butterfly

Question Mark

I spent about 3 hours in the heat on Saturday morning walking all the trails and reliving my happy memories of NATL. I was drenched with sweat and tired when I got home, but I feel like I could have walked all day. I love this place and hope I can visit again before we leave. I am encouraged because there is a teaching forest on the University of Georgia campus, not too far from our new home and I hope it is similar to NATL. Stay tuned for further reports.

Day 13 Total: 83 (no new birds) and 17 Natural Areas

Tread-Softly (Cnidoscolus stimulosus)

Showy Milkwort (Asemeia violacea)

Man of the Earth (Ipomoea pandurata)

Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum)

Green Lynx Spider on Paleleaf Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus strumosus)

Florida Milkvine (Matelea floridana)

A Walk in the Woods Always Makes Me Feel Happy

What Just Happened?!?

I'm still scratching my head trying to piece it all together. I was wrapping up a trip through the Natural Area Teaching Lab at the UF campus this morning when I saw a Pileated Woodpecker fly over to a snag. I watched Pileated Woodpeckers excavating a nest in another snag nearby a few weeks ago and thought maybe I might get a glimpse of some woodpecker chicks. As I got closer, though, I heard a lot of bird ruckus. Bluejays were screeching out "thief, thief, thief", the Mockingbird was making a lot of noise, and Red Headed Woodpeckers and other smaller birds were diving from the tree branches. Something was wrong. Then I saw and heard the Crows sitting in branches on either side of the tree.

Crows at the Woodpecker Snag

It looked like the Crows were trying to get something. Probably woodpecker eggs or chicks! I hurried over, hoping that my presence would shoo them off. (I know, I know, Crows have to eat, too. But I was emotionally invested in these particular woodpeckers, so I felt duty calling.) I stood near the tree, watching the activity and feeling sad at the likelihood that the woodpeckers would lose in this particular match.

Scaring off the Crows?

But then something odd caught my eye. The Crows were focused on something on the branch. It was a Yellow Rat Snake! More drama in the Pines!

Yellow Rat Snake!

I guess I had misjudged the Crows. It appeared that they were just joining in with the other birds to chase off the snake. After a while, though, the Crows flew away, accepting the outcome. The smaller birds also left. But the Pileated Woodpecker remained, which made me think that she was protecting her nest.

Guarding the Nest?

One Good Peck!

I watched in fascination as the woodpecker hopped up and down the tree, closing in on the snake, but never getting too close. It seemed like a big bird like that with its powerful bill could just peck the snake to death. But I also know that a big snake like that can eat a squirrel, so the woodpecker was smart to keep its distance. I couldn't tell at first if the snake was trying to get into the nest or if it was finished, but when I walked to the other side of the tree I got my answer. I could see 4 distinct round lumps--presumably the woodpecker eggs. The deed was done.

4 Round Lumps

Then the snake started inching down the tree. The woodpecker seemed interested in preventing this from happening. The snake persisted, and then disappeared from my view. I thought the snake had decided to climb into the nest cavity. I figured it was either going in for more, or was settling in to digest the big meal. The drama was over and I felt sad for the woodpeckers. All that work of nest excavating and laying eggs wasted. I packed up my camera and started to walk away. Then I heard a rustle in the tree and turned just in time to see the snake drop some 60 feet from the branch to the ground with a startling "thump"! I thought for a second about walking in and trying to find it, but came quickly to my senses and decided not to trail blaze. Anyway, that snake would be long gone by the time I started walking. Now, I thought, it was really all over. But wait--there's more! With the snake out of the picture, the woodpeckers started flying around again. 2 Red Headed woodpeckers flew to the snag and scuttled up and down the branches. Then the Pileated woodpecker flew to the tree next door where I had watched the nest building in several weeks ago. She flew to the nest opening and waited.

Meanwhile, Back at the Other Tree...

A Downy woodpecker flew to an upper branch in that same snag and started drumming. Then the Pileated poked her head into the nest, then climbed inside! She stayed inside for about 30 seconds, poked her head out and then flew off.

Off in Search of Food for the Babies!?

So, there is a chance that the Pileated nest is still intact, and there may be babies inside. I believe now that the eggs the snake ate belonged to the Red Headed woodpeckers, and that the Pileated stood watch by the other snag to make sure the snake didn't get into her own nest next door. That could still happen, and the chicks will be vulnerable as long as they are in the nest, even if they are big. But the amount of bird cooperation in this episode was extraordinary! And layer upon layer of intrigue! I could still have the whole story wrong, but this is the best I can come up with. I'm tired just thinking about it!

What's Eating Me

I was going to write all about blood sucking arthropods this week. I'm one of those special people who attracts every kind of biting organism. Mosquitoes swarm me. No see 'ums see me. Fire ants used to make me get welts the size of a dinner plate, but now I'm used to them, so I just get the itchy bite with the nasty little pus cone (if you've been bit by them you know what I mean). If there's a tick anywhere nearby it will find me. Chiggers bit me all over just the other day when I was taking the owl/hawk/crow pictures. DEET doesn't help. Recently, we adopted a cute stray kitten. He's a good little guy, but he was infested with fleas. And now we have fleas in the house and I have bites all over my ankles. Between the mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and fleas, I look like I've got measles. I hate the lot of them.

But I got a reminder today that it could be much, much worse.  I was out at the Natural Area Teaching Lab at the University of Florida hunting for good caterpillar and butterfly photos and saw something large and strange trundling along the top of a fence. When I went to investigate, I understood why it looked so strange. It was a Pine Sphinx Moth caterpillar, almost unrecognizable under the bulk of scores of Braconid Wasp cocoons. Fully grown, a Pine Sphinx Moth caterpillar will be the size of my pointer finger. They are pretty cool looking, with long white/yellow stripes, white speckles and large black ringed spiracles (breathing holes) along their sides. This one had been parasitized by a Brachonid Wasp. Braconids lay their eggs inside their hosts. In this case, just under the skin of the large caterpillar. The eggs hatch and the larvae eat the caterpillar from the inside but don't kill it right away. The caterpillar is dying slowly and probably doesn't know it. When the wasp larvae have matured, they bore holes through the caterpillar's skin and make a cocoon. They pupate as they ride around on the caterpillar. Then the wasps emerge as adults and the caterpillar dies soon after. Kind of a horrible way to go, I think. Gardeners and farmers use Braconid Wasps as biological pest control agents in organic gardens. Caterpillars are major crop pests--think tomato horn worms, for example. I guess it's better than pesticides, but it's no fun for the caterpillar. On the other hand, it's great for the wasps.

Pine Sphinx Moth with Brachonid Wasp Cocoons

So, for now I'll just be remind myself that itching is one thing, but being eaten from the inside by larvae is another. Of course, there is always West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease, as well as other horrible insect borne ailments, so I'll have to be work harder at my mosquito and tick bite prevention. But at least I'll never be covered with cocoons.

Let it Go

I had an aggravating customer service experience this morning. I left the place feeling really angry. Over and over I imagined all the smart, self righteous things I would have said in my fantasy re-do of the encounter. I got more and more worked up, ready to write letters and get people fired. I was really irritated. Luckily, since it was on my way home, I decided to stop at NATL to take photos of butterflies. This turned out to be the perfect medicine. As soon as I neared the entryway, I heard red shouldered hawks calling to each other from opposite ends of the fields and the cicadas buzzing loudly. I stepped inside the fence and was swept away into a whole new world, far away from irritating clerks. It was overcast, but it was sunny enough that the insects were very active. The paths are lined with Spanish Needles plants (Bidens alba). Besides being quite pretty, Spanish Needles are very attractive to insects (more on that another time!) and these flowers were bustling. I could feel my blood pressure lowering. My muscles relaxed and my mind had a new focus.  My irritation melted away as I was drawn into the brilliant colors and movement.

Green Fly on Bidens

Painted Lady Butterfly on Bidens

Buckeye Butterfly on Bidens

There was a tractor tilling a field near me and the air smelled like cut grass and warm soil. I breathed in that sweet smell and felt content. I continued taking pictures for about an hour. Every so often I'd recall the bad start of my morning and would start to relive the encounter. I could feel myself getting worked up. Then I would breathe in the sweet air and remind myself that I was surrounded by calm and beauty. The birds sang, the dragonflies darted, and the flowers danced in the wind. It was beautiful.

Bees and Bidens

I am slowly realizing that it is up to me whether or not I dwell on the things that bother me--on the unkind words, the hurt, the injustice, the misunderstandings. If I want to, I can think about them so much that they begin to consume me. Or I can let them go. If I choose to dwell on the past, it's so easy to find myself sucked into a vortex of hurt feelings, resentment and anger. I can pick at those wounds and let them bleed any time I choose. It can be hard to break out of the grips of a good sulk. The funny thing about this morning is that it really wasn't a big deal. "In the Big Sea of Life," as my friend Robin used to say, it didn't really matter. But caught up in my feelings, I lost perspective. When I decide not to indulge my negative feelings,  I turn to nature for an attitude readjustment. It's really hard to stay focused on yourself when you are outside, smelling, hearing, feeling and seeing. The feel of the sun or the wind on your skin is like a gentle nudge. Psst. Hey. Wake up. Look around. Come out. The nice thing about being outside when your irritated is that there are too many distractions to stay focused and nurse that anger. I am thankful for all the distractions out there. And I feel a whole lot better.

Viceroy Butterfly

Clematis reticulata Seed Head

Lady Bird Beetle on Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

Just Be

Today I went to NATL on the University of Florida campus. For those of you who don't know the place, NATL (Natural Area Teaching Lab) is an outdoor environmental education laboratory for "teaching students and the public about ecology and biodiversity" right on the UF campus. It's located behind the Performing Arts Center and the Natural History Museum, and is near campus buildings, sports facilities and busy city roads. NATL is a little gem in the middle of town. There are 4 types of habitat represented in NATL--upland pine, hammock, old-field succession, and wetlands. There is so much diversity in this little parcel, and I try to visit as often as I can. Every time I go to NATL I find something new and exciting. It's an excellent location for wildflowers, butterflies, insects and spiders. I've seen some great birds there, and recently there have been deer reported. I didn't see deer today, but I did see hoof marks!

NATL has a very special place in my heart because this is where I found my calling and love for natural history and environmental education. Many years ago, I responded to an ad in the Gainesville Sun. The Florida Museum of Natural History was seeking Docent Naturalists to lead children in outdoor nature programs. I didn't have a background in nature education, but somehow this seemed like a perfect description of what I wanted to do. The nature programs were taught in NATL and over time I became very familiar with it. We taught hundreds of school children and summer campers about insects, trees, habitats and other aspects of the natural world. I was a docent naturalist with the Museum for many years and loved it. This morphed into many more years working professionally as an environmental educator at the Museum and at Morningside Nature Center. Along the way, I learned that I am fascinated by the natural world and want to know as much about it as I can. Through work and my time as a volunteer, I learned more about the natural history of Florida.  I took classes and became a Florida Master Naturalist. I began to take photographs to record what I saw and to help me learn. And I found that I love to share what I've learned. So I keep returning to NATL because it fuels my jets. Every time I visit, I come home tired, sweaty, bug bitten (today it was fire ants), and full to the brim with wonder and excitement for what I've seen that day.

I arrived at the boardwalk of SEEP (the Stormwater Ecological Enhancement Project--a retention basin project that represents the wetlands portion of NATL) at about 9am. I didn't know what I'd see today. It was a little too early to see many butterflies, so I kept walking until I was on the boardwalk over the deeper water. We've had a lot of rain in the last 2 months, and the wetlands are full of water and insect life. As I looked around, it became clear that today's theme would be dragonflies! Dragonflies of every size, shape and color whizzed around me. Some stopped and perched on grass stems plants sticking out of the water. Others, like the Common Green Darners, patrolled back and forth. There was a lot of mating going on, too, and pairs of joined dragonflies would zoom by, dip into the water, and fly off again. Often the pairs were chased off by the territorial Darners. It was all moving so fast that I could hardly see it, let alone focus the camera. But I decided that my goal for today would be to get a photo of a dragonfly hovering. I also wanted to catch a photo of one of the mating pairs in mid air or dipping in the water. They were everywhere, how hard could it be?

Roseate Skimmer Perching

As it turns out, it was really hard. I stood for 15-20 minutes, tracking and missing whizzing dragonflies. After a while my head started to hurt. It was hot and sunny. I was so frustrated. Every time I aimed, it was too late. They are so fast! Then I got an idea. I'd sit on the edge of the boardwalk, focus on one spot in the water and just keep the camera aimed there and would snap anything that flew into my frame. I snapped a lot, but nothing was working. The dragonflies were everywhere and I had zero pictures. Just then, after watching my spot through the viewfinder for 10 minutes, I realized that all along there had been smaller dragonflies buzzing and hovering 3 inches from my head and arms. They zoomed all around me. It was almost as if they were teasing. I could feel the wind of their wings on my arms. It was then that I had a revelation. I was never going to capture a photo of a dragonfly by hunting it. Dragonflies move fast. They are the hunters. That's how they work. The little dragonflies were sending me a message. I had to be open to what was around me, and not try to determine ahead of time what I wanted to happen. As hard as I might try, I cannot control nature. If I go out with the intention that I will achieve a certain outcome, in this case, catch dragonflies in mid air, I'm going to be disappointed and will also miss all the wonderful things going on around me. I realized that I would get the best pictures by being open to the opportunities as they arose, not by forcing a situation. After this realization, I felt more relaxed and happy. I looked up and saw a tiny turtle slip into the water. I looked over the pond a saw a Tiger Swallowtail in the Pickerel Weed.  Instead of feeling pressure and disappointment, I saw opportunities. 

Isn't this just the way of life? When we can give up that need to control, and instead just accept what comes, things are always so much better. This is also a good lesson in being present. By focusing so much on where I wanted to end up, I was neglecting what was right in front of me.

Tiger Swallowtail in the Pickerel Weeds

I walked back on the boardwalk with new eyes and passed another arm of the wetland buzzing with dragonflies. And these ones stayed put. I took lots of the pictures I'd been struggling so hard to catch only moments before. I'd just happened on them. I turned my head and saw a hawk sitting in the trees. Butterflies, frogs and bugs in the bushes. Red tailed hawks overhead. And just up the walkway I saw a Florida Mud Turtle trotting down the trail. All I had to do was be in the moment, and everything came together. Another lesson from the earth.

Mating Common Green Darners

Hawk in the Bushes

Giant Swallowtail

Green Treefrog

Mating Delta Flower Scarab Beetles

Red Tailed Hawks

Florida Mud Turtle