As spring marches forward, a colorful collection of birds begin to find their way to the bird feeders at CWES. One of these is the rose breasted grosbeak. The colorful males are easy to spot with their bright red chests, but the females are a bit trickier with their brown and tan streaks. These unique birds are one of the few species in which both the male and female bird will sing. Their beautiful song sounds a bit like a robin's, but is sweeter and faster. Compare the two calls here: Rose breasted grosbeak and American robin.
After filling up on insects, seeds, and berries, these birds will soon be making their nests. Rose breasted grosbeaks make their nests in trees. These nests are so thin that the bottoms can almost be seen through! Both male and female will share nest duties, but not equally. Males incubate the eggs 1/3 of the time, and females 2/3.
Did you know? A group of grosbeaks is called a "gross."
Learn more: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Warmer weather means that more plants are beginning to grow and bloom. Two species that you are likely to find in the forests at CWES are wild oats and early meadow rue. Early meadow rue's blooms are not flashy, but they are unique. Its yellow stamens (the male part of the plant that makes pollen) hang down like tiny tassels. This plant is a little over a foot high and seems to like trail edges. Sessile bellwort, also called wild oats, prefers more shaded areas. These plants are a bit shorter and reach about a foot high. One good clue for identifying this plant is that the stem forks at the top. Also, if you look closely at the plant's blooms, you will find six, straw colored petals on each of them.
Learn more: Robert Freckmann Herbarium: early meadow rue or Robert Freckmann Herbarium: wild oats
The woods and feeders at CWES aren't the only places that are becoming more and more active, the pond is as well. In fact, skating across the water's surface is a very unique organism...the water strider.
Just how do water striders walk on water? They have thousands of tiny, water repellent hairs on their feet that keep their light bodies from breaking the water's surface. These insects are predators that grab their prey (smaller aquatic insects) with their short front legs. They then suck the prey's juices using a mouth that is shaped like a straw.
Did you know? Water striders hunt their prey by feeling the vibrations they make on the water's surface. Water striders have been known to walk on the surface of running water!
See a close-up of a water strider's adaptations: Creek Connections
Learn more: Buglopedia
Skip to main content
