A Day Filled With Earthworms (and some other species)
This week in lab we got right to work taking pictures and looking at different species. I had a bit of a difficult time reaching my cube however, due to the large puddle on the other side of the bridge. I made it across but my boots filled with water during this time, leaving my feet cold and wet. As unpleasant as this was, it was still a beautiful and sunny day.
When we got to the location of our bio cube, I struggled at first to find new species. While digging through the earth I uncovered A LOT of earthworms. Every couple of scoops of dirt would have another one buried inside of it. There were so many and they were all moving around under the ground, so it may it a challenge to find other species. It was especially hard because each earthworm I pulled up, I had to put back in the soil and cover over again. My true finds began when I started peeling bark up off of the tree. I found all sorts of bugs hiding under there. I suspect that they not only gain shelter and a moist covering from living underneath dead tree bark, but also some kind of nutrients. I was able to find termite like bugs, beetles, and a long, yellow bug with pincers.
Once I felt very cold and wet, I decided to take a break and sit in silence out on the field next to our ecosystem for a few minutes to soak in the sunshine. I noticed while sitting there just how quiet the surrounding area was. I really focused in on the birds calling back and forth to one another. It was interesting to listen to one call out in the trees, and then have the other repeat that call from farther away. I was also able to watch the trees sway in the wind and examine how the world moves when no one is around to disturb it. This was a nice time for me to get away from the world, and enjoy nature.
After my quick break, I went back to hunting for new species. I was feeling sick of looking at creepy crawling things, so I decided to focus on different fungi and small plant life. I was intrigued by just how many different colors of fungus grow on trees. Their diversity on just one log is truly amazing. I also pulled up some shrubs and roots to look at them. While trying to identify these, I learned that I struggle greatly with labeling plants. It is my personal goal to have a better eye for identifying different types of wild plants.
All too soon, it was time to head back to home base. Fortunately this meant more time to watch and play with the chickens. However, unfortunately this meant that I had to make the trip back through the icy water. I made it through and was sure to pour all of the excess water out of my boots that was not already soaked into my socks. I cannot wait for next week! I hope to listen for more birds and maybe even get a chance to observe some. I assume this is the time of year when they begin to mate so they will probably become increasingly active.
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