Naming Nature

Naming is a way of knowing something. When fifth and sixth graders come here to the Schoodic Education and Research Center they learn, among other things, how to recognize spruce trees. If you say “Ouch!” when you shake hands with the tree, it’s a spruce.

Knowing that a tree is a spruce, and that another is a balsam, and yet another is a birch, and a fourth is a maple — rather than all just being plain old “trees” — gives a child a way of seeing a forest differently. Naming creates connection. (It is probably one reason that farmers raising pigs for slaughter generally call them “Pig” rather than “Charlie.”)

Carol Kaesuk Yoon, who has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from Cornell and who writes for Science Times for the New York Times, has written a new book about our human impulse to order the world by naming it. It has the title Naming Nature: The Clash Between Instinct and Science (W.W. Norton, 2009).

Riding the Winds October 13, 2009

The final HawkWatch report of the year from Jenna Dodge:

Migration season is coming to an end here in Acadia National Park, and as of Monday we had surpassed our yearly average with 2,660 passing raptors. Overall, the number of species we saw heading south for the winter was in accordance with our average, so we might assume that raptor populations are stable and healthy. However, various weather conditions can send birds past us in areas where we can’t spot them. Therefore, when scientists determine the stability of populations, they look at a many hawk-watch sites across New England for trends. Overall, we have noticed that certain species have either fallen short or exceeded our average numbers: the American kestrel and peregrine falcon, respectively.

American Kestrel (NPS photo)

This was a low year for American kestrels, with 497 individuals out of an average of 705. Once considered to be the most numerous falcon in North America, this exquisite raptor has been suffering a significant decline for the past 10 years, which has been documented in various hawk-watch sites along the Northeast Coast. There are a variety of theories to explain this alarming trend. American kestrels are obligate secondary cavity nesters, meaning that they must nest in tree cavities, crevices, abandoned building, or nest boxes that have been already excavated, and they will live at the cusp of forests and open fields. In the early 20th century, the common land practice was agriculture, which provided an ideal habitat for kestrels—clear, open fields with strips of woodland. Since humans have shifted their relationship to the land and urban sprawl is common, many of the fallow fields are becoming reforested. Loss of habitat, a strong determining factor in population health, could be a reason why American kestrels are becoming less abundant. Another factor is an
increase in predators; both northern goshawk and peregrine falcon populations have increased since the 1970s, which would cause a correlating decrease in the smaller kestrel. Furthermore, it is possible that DDT, a slow-degrading insecticide, is still prevalent in the ecosystem and inhibiting reproduction for many raptors, including kestrels. There has also been a parallel between regions with a high incidence of West Nile virus (WNV) and low American kestrel populations. These birds become infected with this deadly disease by eating insects, including WNV-contaminated mosquitoes. This theory is still not quite fully understood; however, there are many ongoing research studies hoping to solve the link between WNV and kestrel decline.

On a much lighter note, we saw 31 peregrine falcons fly through on their migratory path—more than double the average number. This is especially great to witness because it means that this once highly endangered raptor is now doing well along the East Coast. In the 1960s, the eastern subspecies actually went extinct east of the Mississippi River due to DDT preventing successful reproduction. Intensive restoration efforts were made throughout the East during the 1980s and were very successful at reinstating peregrine populations in natural cliff habitats; this achievement is clearly demonstrated through various hawk-watch sites.

a more information on raptors and migration, visit the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) website at http://www.hmana.org. Park rangers will be on Cadillac Mountain until Wednesday, October 14, so please come to HawkWatch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are located 200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not own any) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

Riding the Winds October 6, 2009

Jenna Dodge’s latest HawkWatch report:

The somber drone of a motor cuts the stillness on top of Cadillac Mountain like a chainsaw tearing through finely woven silk: a gas-hawk, or airplane, has taken to the sky. To the majority of the world this image is brazenly normal; however, when given a more careful eye, this standard mode of transportation transforms into a flying contraption that deviates from the natural world. For centuries, humans have been transfixed by the lyrical movements of birds in flight. Prior to the first successful machine flight in1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, humans had attempted to mimic birds’ natural abilities.

Many technological advances have been inspired by the natural world: the use of echolocation by whales and bats to find food helped model sonar equipment, and birds have contributed endlessly to the study of aviation. Perhaps the first person to truly attempt to recreate a bird’s aerial triumphs was Leonardo da Vinci. As a Renaissance man in all facets of the term, his time as scientist, observer, and inventor was partially devoted to examining the behavior and flight patterns of birds and bats, after which he modeled many flying machines. In 1505, he released the Codex on the Flight of Birds, which was comprised of 18 different designs for flying contraptions, including a helicopter and a glider. When put to the test, many failed and plummeted to the ground; the glider, however, was constructed and executed with success, and its design is still pertinent to modern-day flight.

This long-lived fascination with avian creatures has enlightened artists, philosophers, scientists, and even the United States military. With names like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-4 Skyhawk, images of cunning and high speed maneuverability come to mind, not to mention the ferocity of a raptor in pursuit. In-depth examinations of the fastest creature on earth, the peregrine falcon, specifically the shape and use of its wings, provided inspiration for military aircrafts. It leaves me to wonder that without birds to inspire our creations, would they have ever been constructed? So the next time you step aboard an airplane destined for a far off place, imagine the efforts it took to create such a machine and give thanks to its muse.

HawkWatch will continue until October 14, and with little time remaining in our migration season, please join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (weather permitting), 200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail to welcome the rest of our travelling raptors. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not have any) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

Riding the Winds September 29, 2009

Read Jenna Dodge’s most recent HawkWatch report:

Since the HawkWatch season began, we have seen 2,194 passing migrants; with three weeks left, we expect to reach our yearly average of 2,560. So far we have discussed birds belonging to the falcon, accipiter, and buteo groups, but the last three migrants cannot be lumped into a single group: the osprey, northern harrier, and the bald eagle are characteristically unique from the rest and require individual  attention.

The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is widely dispersed throughout the world, inhabiting regions near bodies of water—streams, oceans, rivers, lakes, marshes, and mangroves—due to its primarily exclusive diet of fish. The osprey, or fish hawk, has several key adaptations that provide it with ample equipment to forage for fish. In flight, they have an interesting silhouette; their 5–6-foot wingspan is crooked  and appears to have a droopy “M” shape, a peculiar shape suggested to make the osprey more streamlined as it plunges up to depths of one meter below the surface of the water. Dense, oily feathers prevent the bird from getting waterlogged, and spiky pads on their feet, called spicules, help grip slippery fish. To date, we have seen 130 individuals of this intriguing species as they move to the southeastern United States and parts of Central America for their winter grounds.

The northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), once commonly referred to as marsh hawk, is found in wetlands, grasslands, and meadows of North America, Europe, and Asia. This hawk has a diverse diet and will fly low towards the ground as it hunts for small mammals, birds, reptiles, or even carrion. Atypical from most hawk species, the northern harrier relies much on hearing to locate and catch prey—owl-like facial discs are used to manipulate sound direction, and their feathers are even soft, much like owls. In flight their 42–54 inch wingspan is held in a slight dihedral, and a large white rump on their dorsal side is a strong identifying characteristic. Similar to the American kestrel, the northern harrier exhibits sexual dimorphism in plumage; the male has a blue-gray coloration whereas the female favors a more modest reddish brown. We have seen 72 individuals of this remarkable bird as they travel to their winter grounds ranging from the mid-Atlantic coast all the way to Central America.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is unique to coastal regions and other bodies of water in North America and upper Central America, perhaps making it a fitting emblem for our nation. This immense bird has an average wingspan of 6–7 feet and can live in the wild up to 30 years. Once considered to be the American fish eagle, the bald eagle has developed a more opportunistic approach to its diet as natural fish populations have decreased and will also prey upon mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their foraging technique is to first scavenge; then, if that fails, the bald eagle will pirate, or steal, food from others. It will hunt for itself as a last resort. We have seen 13 individuals migrate through, many of which have been juvenile birds. Acadia is home to a stable population of bald eagles that seems to increase during the winter months—as fresh bodies of water freeze, inland bald eagles will migrate to the open coast where food is plentiful.

With only a couple of weeks remaining in our migration season, please join us at HawkWatch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (weather permitting) 200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail to welcome the rest of our travelling raptors. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not have any) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

Riding the Winds September 22, 2009

Read about the flurry of hawk activity (this season nearly 1.800 hawks have already been spotted!) in Jenna Dodge’s most recent report:

Calm winds from the northeast pushed another 153 raptor migrants past HawkWatch on Monday; three of these belonged to our third most abundant species seen heading south for the winter—the broad-winged hawk. To date we have seen less than expected numbers for this species, at 191 individuals out of an average of 300. The broad-winged hawk is a member of the buteo group along with the red-tailed hawk, which we have seen flying along the Atlantic Coast migratory path this year.

Birds of prey belonging to the buteo group are similar in their broad, rounded wings and short, rounded tail that are designed to expertly soar in the air. They are particularly well made for catching and rising high up on thermals, columns of warm air. By feeding low on the food chain, both the broad-winged and red-tailed hawks escaped the seemingly ubiquitous demise of raptors in the mid-1960s as the result of pesticides, and their populations have generally stayed stable throughout the years.

Broad-winged hawk (NPS photo).

Broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus) are the smallest and most numerous North American buteos, with an average wingspan of 36 inches. They inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands of the eastern United States and Canada. Their typical diet is small mammals, snakes, and lizards that they hunt from a perched position or while soaring through the sky over a clearing. Their consistent presence in nature has captured the awe of many hawkwatch site participants as the most frequent migrant seen heading towards Central and South America for their wintering grounds. A dark-outlined wing on the ventral side is the classic characteristic of broad-winged hawks, along with their wing silhouette, for identifying them in flight.

Red-tailed hawk (NPS photo).

Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are the most widely distributed buteo, with fourteen different subspecies spanning deserts, open fields, forests, bluffs, and urban areas of North and Central America. This common hawk has a very large wingspan of 42–54 inches that they use to fly in a slight dihedral and kite, or hover, in mid-air. The red-tailed hawk not only varies in appearance—its breast color can range from pure white to stark black—but in behavior and ecology as well. They can hunt small to medium mammals either from a high soaring position in the sky, a perched branch, or a fast pursuit near the ground and will also employ a pirating strategy in which they will steal food from others. Perhaps the raptor species most adaptable to human development, the red-tail can live in most habitats and withstand a variety of climates—hence their increasing presence in human-altered arenas. Individuals of this species living in the northern ranges will be expected to migrate south as far as they need to in accordance with prey availability. At 16 individuals to
date, we have seen less than half of expected red-tail migrants, although they tend to migrate a little later in the season.

As peak migration continues through mid-September, we have seen nearly 1,800 migrants and are sure to see more! Please join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (weather permitting) 200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail at HawkWatch to welcome the rest of our travelling raptors. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not have any) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

Riding the Winds September 9, 2009

The weekly HawkWatch updates from Jenna Dodge:

The past couple of northerly wind days have helped push over 400 migrating raptors right over our heads on top of Cadillac Mountain providing HawkWatch participants with great views and memories of these passing birds of prey. The most common migrant we have seen is the sharp-shinned hawk; to date we have counted 347 different individuals of this particular species. The sharp-shinned hawk belongs to the accipiter group along with two other species, Cooper’s hawk and northern goshawk, that we expect to see fly south.

Species deemed accipiters, or true hawks, are found to dwell in dense woodland habitats wherein their short, rounded wings and long tails help them dart in and around trees whilst they are in pursuit of food. Due to a general lack of awareness and use of an infamous pesticide, DDT, accipiter populations became very threatened in the 1960s and 1970s. Thankfully, the times have changed and their numbers appear to be healthy again. This has been partly surmised from the annual migration count and is a motivating factor for HawkWatch, to determine population trends of these very important birds and to ensure that they continue to thrive.

Sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus) are the smallest of the accipiters with an average wingspan of 20-27 inches and ranges throughout North and Central America. Their diet comprises mainly of other birds (such as songbirds) but can take lizards, insects and small mammals as well. In flight, the classic sharp-shinned wing beat is very quick and described as a ‘flappity-flappity-glide’. Once they depart from their northern breeding grounds, this blue jay sized raptor will journey over hundreds of miles down to the southeastern United States where the will stay for the winter. This is a very common species and we tend to see about 1,000 migrating through annually.

Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii), or chicken hawks, are very similar in appearance to the sharp-shinned hawk and vary only slightly in size and in flight; it has a wingspan of 24-36 inches and a more pronounced head while in flight. While in flight, Cooper’s hawks tend to glide more and have a slower wing beat than the quicker sharp-shinned. They like to hunt other birds, often game fowl, as well with the occurrence of taking other prey items such as mammals, lizards and amphibians. Their preference for hunting poultry ironically made them very popular to be hunted; farmers persecuted these birds with bullets that contributed to their population downfall. Thus far we have seen just nine individuals migrating over Cadillac Mountain and can travel to parts of the southeastern U.S. as well as Caribbean Islands and parts of Central America. Acadia sits at towards the northern end of their range so we only average about 33 birds per season.

Northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) are the largest accipiter with an average wingspan of 36 to 48 inches and can weigh between 1 and 3 pounds. Its range is limited to thick forests of the northern hemisphere wherein conifer dominated habitats are much more preferred. They are formidable predators that can hunt more challenging prey: small and medium sized mammals like a quick snowshoe hare, as well as other birds. To date we have seen no northern goshawks begin their migration south, which is normal since they tend to migrate a little later in the season when the amount of prey forces them south. This is a fairly rare species for us to encounter migrating through since we only average 7 per season.

To spot the more common sharp-shinned hawk, catch a glimpse of the infrequent Cooper’s hawk or awe at the rarity of a northern goshawk please join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (weather permitting) 200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

Riding the Winds September 1, 2009

Learn how to identify the major raptor groups in Acadia National Park in Jenna Dodge’s latest HawkWatch report:

Wings are to birds as opposable thumbs are to humans: indispensable and a defining characteristic. These feathered appendages are responsible for giving birds flight and the ability to soar, dive, glide, and, in the case of raptors, the ability to hunt and overcome prey. A lot of information about a raptor can be gleaned from the size, shape, and beat of wings including species identification and type of habitat it lives in. Learning to identify raptors based on these field marks is crucial, which I have come to realize in the past two weeks of HawkWatch.

The majority of the species of migrating raptors that are expected to fly overhead Cadillac Mountain this season can be broken down in three major groupings based upon similarities in wing morphology: buteos, accipiters, and falcons.

Acciptor, buteo, and falcon wing silhouettes (NPS photo).

The classic buteo wing is long and broad and is accompanied by a short, wide tail that is designed for soaring. Buteos are experts at exploiting thermals (warm air bubbles) and rising up in circles high in the sky typically found near the edge of open fields and forested areas. They employ this type of flight while scanning below for small mammals that comprise a portion of their diet. On top of Cadillac, we can see many broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus) and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), the uncommon red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), and the rare rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus).

Accipiters have short, rounded wings and a relatively long tail that are well suited to their dense woodland habitat. These specially designed wings are highly effective in making rapid changes in direction as accipiters dart in and out of trees whilst in pursuit of their desired prey item, a small bird. Our most common accipiter seen at HawkWatch is the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus). We may also see the Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentillis).

The standard falcon wing is long and sharp with a long and narrow tail that was expertly crafted to execute great speeds in a dive while hunting in open habitats. As a peregrine falcon draws its wings close to its body, it can employ speeds of 100–200 mph as it chases other birds. American kestrels (Falco sparverius) are the most frequent falcon sighting on Cadillac with the merlin (Falco columbarius) and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) making appearances as well.

Hopefully by studying the typical silhouette of these three groups you may become a pro at identifying raptors in flight. To put your knowledge to the test and to practice with actual birds in flight, please join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (weather permitting) 200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail at HawkWatch. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

HawkWatch Kicks Off!

Acadia’s annual fall HawkWatch has begun atop Cadillac Mountain; Jenna Dodge will write weekly updates, which I will post here. Here her first “Riding the Winds” report:

As summer fades into autumn, it is accompanied by many important changes like the shortening of available daylight and a drop in temperature. These two key features of seasonal shift are a strong cue for many animals; it may trigger the return to school for humans or the preparation for hibernation for black bears, but for raptors or birds of prey, it means migration.
This annual southward movement is initiated by an abundance of food, temperature, and, predominately, the amount of available daylight. A decrease in the photoperiod plays a key role in prompting certain hormones that signal raptors it is time to get ready for their seasonal journey. To prepare, raptors will consume ample amounts of food to bulk up their fat, or fuel, reserves needed to fly great distances. They can often be observed acting in a very restless manner as if they were itching to get on the “road,” or, in their case, the wind.

Strong gusts of wind from the north help push raptors to their desired destination along the eastern coast; this jagged North American boundary acts as a map for migrating birds and provides key landmarks to keep them on course. Furthermore, updrafts, vertical movements of warm air, form along mountainsides and are very favorable to birds that exploit them for a free ride. Due to this, each year raptors by the thousands fly over Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the eastern seaboard, which makes it an excellent site to view their journey. Since 1995, employees of Acadia National Park have watched the sky; recorded the particular raptor species and correlating abundance as the birds soar overhead; and related information to the public. HawkWatch is a vital component in assessing raptor populations throughout the nation, and there are many sites where hawk-watching is performed. Data are submitted to the nonprofit organization Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) and provide researchers with a notion of the health of the population.

Since its inception in Acadia, HawkWatch has entertained numerous visitors with about eleven different species of raptors, averaging about 2,600 sightings per season. We can expect to see a variety of birds of prey atop Cadillac—falcons, accipiters, buteos, eagles, osprey, and harriers, which all possess unique physical characteristics, as well as the ecological and intrinsic importance that we will discuss in later issues of Riding the Winds.

Over the next couple of months, the fall sky will become heavily spotted with migrating raptors, and with your help we may contribute to the pool of knowledge surrounding migration. Please join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (weather permitting)~200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail to take part in HawkWatch. Bring your binoculars (the park may provide some if you do not have any) and an eager curiosity for raptors and their splendor.

Dramatic shifts in shell size of dogwhelks

Nucella lapillus. Image by Manfred Heyde. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.

On Tuesday, August 18, 2009, Dr. Peter Petraitis, Professor of Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, will present his research on dogwhelks at Maren Auditorium at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory at 7:30 p.m.  Dr. Petraitis’ talk titled, “Dramatic shifts in shell size of dogwhelks (Nucella lapillus) in Maine over the last century” is part of the Acadia Science Seminar Series, co-sponsored by Acadia National Park, the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and Friends of Acadia.  The talk is free and open to the public.

A summer resident of Swans Island, Dr. Petraitis has been studying the rocky intertidal zone of Maine since 1981.  His most recent work, done in collaboration with Jon Fisher, Erika Rhile, and Harrison Liu, has shown a 20% increase in the size of dogwhelks over the last century.  Dr. Petraitis and his colleagues studied dogwhelk shells collected by Harold Sellers Colton from 1915-1922 at more than sixty locations around Mount Desert Island and catalogued in the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. They compared them to modern populations at nineteen of Colton’s collection sites.  The study team determined that modern dogwhelks found in sheltered locations around Mt. Desert Island had on average 27% longer shells than their predecessors.  Dogwhelks found at exposed collection locations also showed an 8% average increase in shell length, and semi-exposed locations contained dogwhelks with shell length on average 23% longer.  Dr. Petraitis will also discuss several possible causes for this dramatic increase in shell size at his lecture.

Acadia Minor Order of Insect BioBlitz – August 7-10, 2009

A total of 46 people participated in the 7th annual BioBlitz held at Acadia National Park’s Schoodic Education and Research Center. Both professional and amateur entomologists spent 1,308 hours searching for and collecting insects from 16 orders that have relatively few species in Maine.

Bioblitz participants.

Institutions represented at the event included: Maine Entomological Society, Maine Forest Service, New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, University of Southern Maine, Illinois State University, University of North Alabama, Texas A&M University, Colby College, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. In addition, a taxonomist from the University of Tennessee has agreed to identify the Collembola species not identified at the BioBlitz.