East Fork

     A little warmer day, a chance to go for a walk.

     During late fall and early winter you can count on several cars being parked along the roadside. Often you'll see the bright orange outfits of hunters. As a rule I feel it's best not to venture into the woods during this time. However I think it's now safe to explore. I've noticed a trail that leads down the bank into a marshy area across from the Mazomanie Oak Barrens. I was curious as to what winter activities might be happening in this area, so a few days ago after a phone call a friend and I made a trip to that spot. We slid down the short bank into the wooded area. The well-traveled but slightly icy trailed zigzagged toward the north. Along the way the trees vary in size from huge ones on the higher ground to a multitude of tall thin trees along the edges where water pools during the wet months.

  This day the sun filtered through the long thin trees, and the whispering breeze set the tree tops in motion. 

  We soon learned that it wasn't wise to watch this action for too long – it could bring on a dizzy spell.

   

               

  Along the way, there were signs of a pileated woodpecker looking for a meal; some of the holes it created were large enough to build a nest in.                                             

        

   Next came a tall stand of amber colored marsh grass. Just beyond this we reached a now partially frozen body, an off-shoot of the East Fork (Second River to some people). It's sheltered from the winter wind and out in the open enough to be bathed in the warmth of the sun. Earlier we had been passed by four teenage ice fishermen they now were on a wide stretch of frozen ice that reached far out of sight. They were busy setting their pop-ups in hopes of leaving with some fresh fish.

 

 

      It was easy walking so we took an eastward trek along the bank away from the fisherman. Soon our path was blocked by a patch of prickly ash. A couple years ago on a trip here I discovered that this protective patch of brambles was home to a wintering flock of robins. There was some fruit dangling from the branches of wild apple trees, providing a source of food. At the edge of the bank it looked like a spring feeding into the pond had created a spot of open water for drinking.

     This area could naturally have places where the water would be deep enough that it wouldn't freeze down to the bottom. But it's my belief that the beaver dams built in this area help to create this winter oasis. This could be one instance where humans are benefiting from the activities of the beaver. The beavers are plant-eaters so the fish are of no value to them. The ponds created by beavers building lodges provide the colonies protection from predators such as coyotes, wolves and bears. In the winter the beavers don't hibernate, so the water behind these dams has to be deep enough so that it won't freeze and cover the underwater entrances to their dens. Being herbivores, all their winter food of tree limbs and pond plant material needs to be stored under the ice.

     In early spring this should be a good spot for viewing migrating ducks. I can also imagine that this is a haven for all types of song birds during the summer.

Note to self --- This may not be a good walk in the summer. The other “Wisconsin State Bird” (I've hear this term use for large mosquitoes) could be abundant in this wetland marsh.