NATURE NOTE – Number 96 July 14, 2024
Introduction:
Recently the minister gave a sermon on “look up”. I’m pretty sure he was speaking from a spiritual point of view, but it got me thinking about a topic for a NATURE NOTE…after the sermon of course. So…
Our Current Topic: Look Up!
Although I am no anthropologist, I pretty sure man has been looking down as he traveled by foot through nature for a long, long time. In the earliest day, he was looking down for potential food sources such as berries, edible plants, bugs and other small animals, as well as all of the dangers that he could encounter –rocks, snakes, holes, etc. Many years ago when I went through the U.S. Army’s Jungle Warfare School in Panama, instructors emphasized looking up…as well as down and all around. There are lots of things in the jungle above you that you need to aware of, including booby traps, snipers, and other combat-zone hazards. But today, in general, we normally stroll through the forest, or down the street, or across our living room looking down, or eye-level. This is probably a good idea in order to avoid hazards, such as a rattlesnake, an uneven sidewalk or the dog’s dish. But what if during your walk in the woods you made it point to LOOK UP? This is an idea you could try with your scouts or cubs the next time you are on an outing. Encourage them to look up into whatever is overhead. And what could we expect to see about nature as we look up? Here are some random thoughts on nature things that might be up there that could easily be missed if you didn’t look up:
Scarlet oak and the dead limbs: Scarlet oak and Pin oak leaves are similar. Look up in the top of the tree. If you see several dead branches at the top that is a strong clue that it’s a Scarlet oak.
Flowers of oaks and maples: In the early spring time, these flowers are there but often overlooked. Later watch for Tulip poplar or black locust blooms. Many people don’t realize trees bloom, because they don’t look up and see the flowers.
Sourwood bending over: Look for those small trees that seem to gently arch over the trail for no apparent reason. Check out the leaf and see if it is a sourwood. This is a species trait that is a good identifying mark.
Different shape and color of pines: Scouts seem to be surprised that there are different kinds of pine trees. Show them the different shades of greens of white pine and pitch pine, as well as the shapes of the tall open branches of the Virginia pine, vs. the full, soft branches of the white pine. Look for the cones also, which are identifying marks.
Vines: Look in the trees above to find grape vines, poison ivy, Virginia creeper, and other vines. See NN#72.
The tree canopy: Is it open, or very closed, and keeping sun light from reaching the forest floor? If it’s open, what caused this? Is there thick vegetation growing on the floor of that open space? Why?
Leaf color at different elevations: If you live in the western part of the BRMC, you’ll be able to see the trees at the top of mountains turn to fall colors before those trees on the lower slopes. Why is this? Has anyone ever pointed this out to scouts? The same happens in the spring as the tops of mountains are still bare while the bottom slopes are turning green.
Tree bark and shapes: compare the bark of white oak with the darker red oaks; notice the unique scaling property of sycamore; look for the “cat-eyes” on the long, tall poplars. Just point out the differences. Many scouts have never considered this.
Fruits and nuts on the trees: Walnuts, acorns, persimmons, wild cherries, pine cones, etc. are usually above eye level and may be overlooked. What do these fruits do? How are they dispersed? Make them think.
That solitary red leaf in the summer? Probably a Black gum tree that will produce a few bright leaves in mid-summer. Gotta look up to see them.
Birds: Overhead are hawks and vultures, but look up into the canopy. Some species, like warblers, vireos, and flycatchers will most likely be found high in the tree. Woodpeckers can be found on high limbs. Look for their holes. The long, oval ones belong to the Pileated woodpecker. Many other nests will be high up.
Insects or their signs: These are often in the upper parts of the tree. Look for hornet nests (look only), bag worm nests, leaves with chewed parts missing or skeletonized, galls, creeping caterpillars, and other small insects are often among the foliage. Is this related to finding birds in the tree branches?
Squirrel nests: These become more visible when leaves fall from the trees in the fall. Usually made of leaves, they large and different from bird nests.
Note the clouds: Their shape, their movement, their height. Weather Merit Badge requires some knowledge of clouds. How about the fog along the mountain tops. Why is it there? Where does this fog go?
Geographical features: See the lay of the land, note the slope. Notice the shape of the ridges. Any rock out-croppings? Can you figure out which watershed you are in? Relate to map reading.
The sun: Where is it? What time of day is it? Can you determine which way is north? Does this change with the season? Some navigation skill opportunities here.
The night sky: The moon and stars can be a real nature show-place. Have they ever seen the Milky Way?
And there are many, many other nature things that occur “up there”. So look up.
Opportunities:
This could be an interesting thing to do on a hike or outing. What nature can you find by looking up? Nature is all around you, not just at your feet, so teach scouts to look all around for things they may see. Be ready for them to see things you have not noticed, and for them to ask questions. Maybe you can’t answer their question, but that’s Ok. They took an interest. YOU ask the questions to make them think.
Encourage them to look for the answer and share it. Now we’re getting into nature study. Show them what you can and let them explore. Good luck with looking up.
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Bob Garst
