Field Notes

Monthly Weather Review:

Rainfall Total: 2.09inches
Highest Temperature: 90⁰F
Lowest Temperature: 62⁰F
Average Wind Speed: 7.57mph

4/2/24

• First flowers of (G. molle) observed in Block House Back Prairie.
• Brown Headed Cowbirds observed in and around Horse Paddocks.
• The first flowers of Tainturier’s Chervil (C. tainturieri) observed in Halfmoon.
• Spider hatchlings observed in Prairie Three on Bush Clover (L. cuneata).

4/4/24

• Lyre-Leaf Sage (S. lyrata) in flower. Observed along Halfmoon Trails, Block House Prairie Edges, Far Side Prairie Edges.
• The first active Eastern Box Turtle of the season was observed in Halfmoon near Prairie six.

4/8/24

• Partial solar eclipse observed.
• Black Cherry Tree (P. serotina) observed in flower in Halfmoon.
• Carolina Silverbell (H. Carolina) observed in flower in Halfmoon.

4/9/24

• The first Killdeer hatchlings observed, two individuals.
• The first flower of Golden Alexander (Z. aurea) observed along Halfmoon Trails.

4/12/24

• The first flower of Coral Honeysuckle (L. sempervirens) observed in Muddy Branch.
• The first flowers of Primrose Leaf Violet (V. primulifolia) observed along BJ Pond edge.

4/15/24

• Juvenile Northern Water Snake observed along Thompson Creek edge.
• The first Coreopsis (C. lanceolata) flowers observed on Halfmoon Trail.
• The first flowers of Fringe Tree (C. virginicus) observed in Halfmoon.

4/17/24

• Kayaked Thompson Creek.
  • Great Blue Heron Observed.
  • Violet Oxalis ( violacea) in flower, Golden Alexander (Z. aurea) in flower, Lyre-Leaf Sage (S. lyrata) in flower
  • Mammal Tracks sighted along banks – Deer, Racoon, Other Unidentified Tracks.
• Pearl Crescent Butterflies observed in Fireworks West

4/19/24

• The first flower of Common Yarrow (A. millefolium) observed in Redbanks Prairie.
• The first flower of Bachelor’s Button (C. cyanus) observed in Far Gate South Prairie.

4/22/24

• The first flower of False Flowering Spurge (E. pubentissima) observed in Halfmoon near Prairie Four.
• Hairy Purple Vetch (V. villosa) observed in flower in open grasslands.
• Flower buds of Small’s Ragwort observed in Firework Prairies, Steele Prairies, and Grasslands.
• Crimson Clover (T. incarnatum) in full flower throughout grassland areas.

Aerial views of 3 prairies showing April growth progression

Author: Brianna Bergamini