Changes in Nature

My assignment this week was to predict how components of nature will change over time. We were told to make three predictions, changes over one day, one season and one year.

One Day

I took this picture of a dandelion in my neighbors yard. My prediction originally was that the unopened flowers will bloom. I will alter that prediction as I later saw him spray it with Roundup.

One Season

This a picture of an old farm that was burned out in early April. I predict that by the end of spring it will  be greened up with lush growth and attractive to the local herbivores. This was taken one week after the fire

Although it wasn't part of the assignment, I will include this follow up of the field that I took last Sunday about 6 weeks later. It is filled with beautiful green plants.

One Year

I believe that this log will almost gone by next year, the top part has almost already decomposed. The rest of it should be gone by next year.

Nature Unknown

This week's assignment was to photograph something unknown in nature. I spent some time walking the edges of a farm field in southern Illinois noticing all sorts of animal tracks. Most of them were deer or coyote but I did see some that I was not familiar with.

Both sets of tracks were in a muddy drainage of a unplanted farm field. The drainage ran parallel to the woods in a transition area between the field and the woodland canopy.




The first set of prints were approximately 2.5 inches in length and in width with five distinct appendages. It was about 9-12 inches between the pairs of prints.

The second set were only about 1 inch in length with a spacing of 4-6 inches between pairs.

Biological Interactions

We were given the task of finding examples of a biological interaction and to take photos. I came across some bumblebees visiting various flowers in the backyard of my in-laws.

This is an example of the biological interaction called mutualism, where two species benefit from the interaction with the other organism.





In this case, the bee is feeding on the nectar provided by the flower. While doing so it helps complete the pollination process for the plants.



















This one is a little out of focus as there were several bees on the flowers and they were getting agitated at my presence so I rushed this one to leave them alone

Energy Flow

This week's assignment was to depict a food chain to illustrate the flow of energy from one organism to the next.

A Producer

The Producer

Producers create energy through photosynthesis that not only sustains themselves but makes energy available for the consumers. I zoomed in on this plant that is starting to push it's way out from underneath the leaf layer to reach the sunlight.







Primary Consumer

Primary Consumer

The consumers depend upon the producers as a energy source. The primary consumers feed upon the green plants to meet their nutritional needs. This photo of a doe was taken from a camouflaged blind as it was browsing across a logging road. It was near dusk when this was taken and I needed to lighten it a little bit. The click of the camera, although it is very quiet, sent her running off to safety.





Secondary Consumers


Secondary consumers receive their energy by feeding on the primary consumers. With each step of the food chain, energy is lost due to the needs of the prey species, only a small portion of the initial energy reaches the higher level consumers. While I could not get a photo of a living coyote, I did come across evidence of the interaction between predator and prey in the form of the remains of a fawn killed by a coyote. There were coyote tracks all around the site, they appeared to be of different sizes.

Adaptations

This week's photography assignment was to illustrate three forms of adaptations in nature. Two of my three submissions were random sightings while doing ordinary things. I suppose the lesson is to always be aware of the nature all around us.





Submission one was a small rabbit in out back yard that I saw while lighting the grill. The mottled variation in color helped it blend into the background, helping it to hide from predators. I almost missed this one myself.










Submission was a pair of turkey vultures I saw in a field on my way to Home Depot. The field is right next to a busy road but the birds did not seem to mind. The shape/form of the animal with it's bare head is an adaptation to help it feed.  I only had my phone to photograph so it is hard to see the bare head that allows it to feed deep into animal carcasses without blood and bacteria clinging to it's head. I also found out an interesting fact in that they will urinate on their legs to sterilize the bacteria present.

















The last photograph illustrates the adaptation of a showy display for the purposes of breeding. The full strut and display of the male turkey is intended to both intimidate other males and also to attract hens for which to mate. The more dominant birds will have more opportunity for mating.

The tom in front was in full strut until I raised my camera. I did manage to capture the pair but the noise of the camera sent them running.

Nature Photo Scavenger Hunt

These are a few photos that are part of an assignment from an class I am taking through the Missouri Department of Conservation. The assignment was a photo scavenger hunt of something colorful, something important, something camouflaged, something small and something gross. Here are my submissions.

Something Colorful
Since the assignment was given in very early spring, there were not very many colorful plants available, so I improvised by using my kids to add color to what was already a beautiful creek scene. I like how the light and shadow help define and separate the foreground and background.







Something Important         

This old road leads down to a creek that cuts through two farm fields. The trees and brush are the start of about 90 yards of riparian zone that protects the creek from the runoff from the agricultural fields. It also contains an amazing diversity of wildlife habitat. I have seen deer, turkey, squirrel, coyote and quail along this road.

 Something camouflaged

 The white spots on the back of this fawn blend in with the spots of light as it makes it's way to a mudhole for a drink of water. This mudhole is sheltered on all sides by thick brush and is heavily used by many species of wildlife.

                                                                                      
       

Something Small

 I found these small fungi on an old log while exploring a branch of the creek at the south end of my friend's farm. Each one was about the size of a dime and I would have missed them had I not stopped to pick some thorns out of my shirt. Even a rotten log plays a part in nature's grand scheme.






Something Gross

While I would not consider a dead bird to be something gross, my wife and kids did proclaim it to be gross. I will be guided by their judgement on this. We found this bird on the side of our house, thankfully before the dogs found it. I do like the way the bird, twig and landscape fabric all guide the eye around the photo. Maybe I should get a print made to hang in the living room.  ; )    

Ethics and Safety

What a great day! A beautiful Saturday afternoon at the farm. Windy enough to be cool but sunny enough to be warm. The kids explored the creek and shot their BB guns, the adults shot some clay pigeons. We found plenty of deer and coyote tracks and one set that looked like bobcat.

I used this as an opportunity to talk to my kids up litter and how we should take care of our natural world. We picked up all of the cans and plastic bottles we used as targets and made a game of who could pick up the most shotgun shells.

My son took on the challenge as soon gathered the lion's share and was easily declared the winner. My daughter was less enthusiastic but scored some extra points by picking up some trash that was left by someone else. Since she often refuses to pick up after someone else while at home, I asked her why she did that at the farm and she simply said "I don't want any animals to get sick."

I could not have said it better myself.