Shhhh, turtle egg nest just ahead

I’ve always said everyday at Marsh Haven brings a new surprise. Today was no different. While going through my morning opening chores, I headed outside with a bucket of birdseed for the feeders, but was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a very large Common Snapping Turtle digging next to the drive. She was digging a hole to lay her eggs and I quickly backed away to leave her to business. 

Since we were about to open the nature center to visitors, I brought out a few chairs to use as barricades so that no one ran over her, or stumbled across her as I almost did. It was about 9:30 am when I first discovered the turtle and she was hard at work scooping out dirt, using her hind legs as a backhoe. One leg would go into the hole and come up with dirt clutched around the claws, and then the other hind leg would disappear into the hole and return with more dirt. This digging process went on for quite awhile and during that time some visitors arrived, watched, and took pictures. She did not seem to be distracted by the coming and going of people. 

Finally, the digging seemed to be done and the snapping turtle lay over the hole for another length of time, where I assume she was depositing her eggs. Common Snapping Turtles can lay 20 to 40 eggs in a clutch and they are the size of a ping-pong ball. When the young emerge 80-90 days later, they will be about the size of a quarter. The sex of the hatchlings are determined by temperature – cooler temperatures produce all females, while warmer temperatures produce all males – just right temperatures (70 to 72 degrees)  produces males and females.

She then covered the hole using those hind legs again and at about 11:15 am, started across the parking lot heading to Lake LaPresto, the pond on Marsh Haven’s property. By now there were several spectators watching, taking pictures and video. She kept marching on through the parking lot, under the fence, into the grass, and headed down the hiking trail, ever closer to the pond. 

Now that I know the location, we will try to keep it safe from traffic and will do our best against predators, but I read that up to 90 percent of Common Snapping Turtle eggs are destroyed by predators each year.

What a great experience to be part of, I do like turtles a lot and have a great respect for the snapping turtle. We have the two non-releasable Common Snapping Turtles here at Marsh Haven – Chompy and George – and I’ve learned a lot about this species just by observing and interacting with them. 

Another interesting day at Marsh Haven Nature Center, I wonder what surprises tomorrow will bring?

What is that bird?

A common question every spring has been, “What is that yellow headed black bird at the feeder?” We are always happy to answer, “A Yellow-headed Blackbird.” They are large beautiful birds with a striking yellow head that contrasts with a black body. We are fortunate that they are frequent visitors to the feeders at Marsh Haven Nature Center. 

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is very distinct and not easily confused with other birds. The mature males have the yellow head and chest and white wing patches that are easier to see while in flight. The immature males and females are more brown than black with a dull yellow head, and the females do not have the white wing bars. 

As beautiful as these birds are, their call or song is quite harsh, sounding similar to the opening of a rusty gate. Just this week, one of our dedicated volunteers was out cleaning and filling the bird feeders. We were chatting and two Yellow-headed Blackbirds were up in the tree creaking away as if demanding that we get a move on filling those feeders. That call is very distinct and can be easily picked out among the many other bird songs.

I read that the female Yellow-headed Blackbird will build her nest directly over water, weaving wet strands of aquatic vegetation around reeds and grasses. The nest measures about five to six inches across and the inside is about three inches wide. That wet material dries, which then makes the nest tight and strong. Because the nest is over the water, sometimes the young will fall in and they need to swim to shore. This makes sense, because I’ve observed that the Yellow-headed Blackbirds are one of the few bird species to still be at the feeders during an all-day or even heavy rain. They certainly do not seem to mind getting wet. I’ve seen raindrops rolling off their heads as they feed.

It is said that the males are very territorial, protecting their area and attracting up to eight females during the breeding season. During their visits to the feeders at Marsh Haven, they seem to have nothing but eating on their minds, because I have witnessed up to ten males at one feeder all at the same time. Very little squabbling goes on, occasionally they will chase a Red-winged Blackbird out of the way. They are ravenous eaters and enjoy the donated Kaytee Wild Bird Blend. They eat out of our hanging feeders, the large bunk feeder, off the ground, and I’ve even seen a few attempt to perch on a small hanging window feeder.

The excellent online resource, Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds, states that Yellow-headed Blackbirds breed in freshwater wetlands with dense vegetation such as cattails, in prairies, mountain meadows, quaking aspen parklands, and shallow areas of marshes, ponds, and rivers. They often forage in fields, but during the breeding season, they eat insects and aquatic invertebrates. 

The female Yellow-headed Blackbird will lay three to five eggs and it will take about 11-13 days to hatch. They generally have one brood per season. While the male may breed with numerous females, he may only help feed the first nest established in his territory. The other females have to feed their young all by themselves.

In the winter the Yellow-headed Blackbirds form large flocks, some numbering in the thousands. These large groupings may also include other members of the blackbird family. They will forage in farm fields and farmyards throughout the southwest and most of Mexico. The females tend to travel further south, while the males can be found in the northernmost part of their winter territory. 

While the experts say that the population of the Yellow-headed Blackbird is stable and quite plentiful, I have witnessed many visitors seeing this beautiful bird for the very first time in their life. I so enjoy being part of their surprise and excitement as they discover this beautiful yellow headed black bird at Marsh Haven Nature Center.

Reprinted from Summer 2015 Marsh Haven Monarch
Photos by Bree Tillema