Author Archives: Gene

2013 cicada swarm

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You may have seen, in the national news, a story about a big swarm of cicadas expected this summer.  Here are some of the facts concerning this event.

The cicada is a large and harmless insect with 2 pairs of membranous wings and a beak for piercing and sucking.  All animals have mature and immature phases in their life cycle but, what’s unusual about this insect is that some species, in this family, spend 17 years in immature stages in the soil and a few weeks as mature adults, high in trees.  Several broods of the genus Magicicada have been identified and their life cycles recorded.  In one of the largest of them, known as brood II, a massive emergence of the adults of this brood occurred in 1996.  This means that the generation that they produced is due to emerge this year, and that has already started to happen.

The wingless nymphs have spent the last 17 years feeding on roots in the soil and growing through several instars.  Then, on a series of nights, early in the season, a bunch of them emerges from the soil.  They climb several feet up a tree.  Then, clinging to the trunk, the winged adult emerges from the nymphal skeleton.  By morning, blood has been pumped into the wing veins and they are able to fly off to near the top of the tree.  The shed nymph skeleton can still be seen, clinging to the tree trunk.  The adult males vibrate sound organs on their abdomens, making a buzzing sound to attract females.  Where there is a large emergence this year, there’s so much of this buzzing, making it so loud, that hikers have a hard time hearing each other.  The eggs drop to the ground and the little nymphs hatch out and go underground for another 17 years.

While we have cicadas here, and you might hear them and see the nymph skeletons on trees during our next few hikes, this particular brood is not known to occur in this area.  If you go to the web site, www.magicicada.org, you can bring up maps showing where they occur and where they have been seen emerging.  In case your travels take you there in the next few weeks, you can be treated to a rare and interesting natural phenomenon.

Bristol Trail

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As the late Mr. Rogers would have put it, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Temparature around 60 with a clear sky.  Exactly what we requested, showing that the Allmighty listens to his chosen people.  However, just to be sure, we rented a covered pavillion for the social and that act was sure to keep the rain away.

3 hardy souls, led by Ann, made the workout climb up Cleveland Hill and were treated to a great view at the top.  The rest of us enjoyed the gradually decending 3 mile trail. from Ontario County Park to CR 33.  The beaver pond was still there, as well as their lodge, dam and stumps of saplings that they felled.

This again proved to be the prime time of the year for wildflowers.  We were treated to a big bunch of wild azelias, something not often seen.  Trilliums are coming to the end but there were still a few faded ones.  Also blooming were wild geranium, mayapple, fringed polygala, false solomon’s seal and bellwort.

The forest was primarily hardwood.  Shadbush and maple leafed viburnum were identified as well as many saplings of mountain maple, the leaves of which make a good substitute for Charmin, should the need for it arise while hiking.  If you use any leaf for that purpose, it’s a good idea to make sure it isn’t poison ivy.

This is also the prime time to learn birds.  Cocks are in their attractive breeding plumage and are singing to proclaim their mating territory and attract hens for nesting.  If you don’t want to take the time to look for them, many can be identified by their unique songs that can be heard as you’re hiking.  We heard several red eyed vireos, who have a 2 or 3 syllable song that sounds like “see me, here I am”.  Also identified by ear were chickadee, peewee, ovenbird, redwinged blackbird, crow and tree swallows were seen over the beaver pond.

Mushrooms are also starting to come up.  Along the trail, we found a yellow morel and a batch of fresh oyster mushrooms, which were gathered and enjoyably consumed with scrambled eggs, this morning.  We also found one that we think was a deer mushroom, which was not taken.  Although the deer mushroom isn’t poisonous, it’s as tasteless as my jokes, and there are some poisonous ones that look like it.  If you’s like to try some wild mushrooms this summer, fold a small paper bag in your pocket (plastic makes them sweat, and rot).  We’ll point out ones that we know are safe and will gladly share them with you.  Never eat one that you’re not sure about.

As it got dark, in a clear sky, we were treated to the 3 planet grouping described in the nature column.  The next morning, we saw that the much anticipated frost did not come to our flower garden so we saw, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming.  Nice to be the chosen people.

Till next Sunday, may the Schwartz be with you. .   .

Rare sight in sky

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When night comes, and it’s too dark to hike,.there is still some nature to learn.  That’s the time when you can see what else is in our solar system, galaxy and universe.  Around the end of this month, there will be a once in a lifetime sight in the western sky.  This is a close grouping of the planets Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.  Using binoculars, or a telescope, you will be able to see all 3 in your field of vision.  You will easily be able to identify them by their comparative brightness.

Venus is the brightest one, due to the reflection of the sun from the sulfuric acid cloud that always surrounds this planet.  It is the brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon.  Nothing else even comes close.  Once you recognize it, you will know it for life, every time it’s in the sky.  Jupiter is the second brightest, slightly brighter than some of the brightest stars.  Mercury is the dimmest one but, you should still be able to see it if you’re in a dark area, or through binoculars.

The trio will be the most compact on Sunday, May 26.  The best time to see them, is about 45 minutes after sunset, around 9:20.  Go where you have a clear view of the western horizon.  Look slightly to the north, just above the horizon.  You can also see them a few days before and after Sunday, if you have a clear night.

Because it’s close to the sun, Mercury is seldom seen.  When it’s in the night sky, it’s close to the horizon and, as previously mentioned, not conspicuously bright, so, this will be a good opportunity.  The last week of this month, it will actually be higher than Venus, and in the same field of vision.

Because they are inferior planets, Mercury and Venus appear in the western sky in the evening, or in the eastern sky in the morning.  In a telescope, they can be seen going through phases, like the moon.  The superior planets, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, can be in any part of the sky.  Over 60 moons have been discovered around Jupiter.  In a telescope, you can see the 4 large ones, that Galeleo saw, and named.  Saturn, with its rings, and large moon, Titan, is now visible in the eastern sky.

Also, this week, you have a good opportunity to learn about our sun, and other stars like it, by watching the PBS science program, Nova, this Wednesday (5/22), at 9 PM, on WXXI.

Bristol Trail, Sunday May 26, 2013 – 2 PM – (42.6863,-77.417)

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Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.  Those days of soda and pretzels and beer.

Hey climbers, feel up to a good vertical challenge, with a great view at the top?  Oy, do we have a hike for you!  The horizontal distance is only 3.2 miles but, don’t let that fool you because the vertical is about 600 feet, and steep, first up, then down.  If this is for you, then follow Jerri in a carpool, from the meeting area south, then right on Clement Rd.  You will see a sign for the south entrance to Camp Cutler, where you can park a few cars.  Then, a short walk west, past a black mailbox, to a post with 2 vertical orange blazes, is your trailhead.  The trail is well marked with orange blazes and Jerri, and her sweep, will be provided with maps.  Your hike will end at our meeting place lot.  Just one bit of bad news.  The hike is through boy scout Camp Cutler and state regulations prohibit dogs in children’s camps.  Mac and Duffy won’t be on this hike so, don’t tell them, or they won’t love me any more.

So, if this climb isn’t for you, or if your poochie makes you an offer you can’t refuse, then carpool to Ontario County Park, Take the park road to the west side, where you will see several parking areas near the “Jumpoff” sign.  Follow the orange blazed trail, to the meeting lot, about 3 miles.  Leaders will have maps.  It’s mostly downhill, and gradual, with an interesting beaver pond near the end.  When you get to CR 33, you will need to walk a short ways north to get to the lot. If there is anyone who would rather not do this hike, I will be glad to lead a nature walk on the park trails where we will try to identify birds, flowers, trees, or whatever we may encounter.

Festivities will start at 2 PM in our meeting place, the large parking lot by Access 2, on CR 33.  From Main St. in Naples, look for the Bristol Valley Theater and fire station, on the west side.  Turn on the street going west, then, an immediate right.  Carefully follow the green CR 33 signs, turning where indicated, and proceed on 33.  When you pass Porter Rd, on the right, you have 1.2 miles.  A glance to your left will show you the climber’s hill.  When you see a dark red barn on yourt right, slow down.  The parking lot, where we’re meeting, is on your left.  We’ll try to have our sign out around 1:30.

After our enjoyable hikes, bring your soda, pretzels and beer to pavillion 4, in Ontario County Park.  Our generous social committee has rented a covered pavillion, in case any of you tried to feed margerine to Mother Nature.  There are 3 picnic tables under the pavillion, and 1 outside of it, where we can put our food, if it isn’t raining.  Should be enough seating but, wouldn’t hurt to bring a lawn chair.  There is also a grill and we’ll bring a bag of charcoal, in case any of you would like to use it.  From the parking area mentioned above, walk down the road blocked by the huge rock.  Turn to your right and look for the most cheerful group in the park, by the second pavillion.  There is a water faucet nearby and, if there’s a need for relief, plumbing facilities are a short walk away, as well as lots of trees.

You’ll wish that summer would always be here.

Directions: Please view the Google directions here.