This week in the woods, we took a walk along the Ompompanoosuc River, where this winter’s ongoing temperature swings have created debris fields of ice shards. These start during a thaw as the surface ice breaks into floes and the river floods its banks. The chunks of ice pile up where there are constrictions in the river, for example, where the river bends. As temperatures plummet again, the broken sections of ice freeze together into a jagged landscape. It’s hard to believe that fish can survive repeated exposure to this icy churn, but most do. Woody debris, boulders, and other objects in the water offer shelter, allowing fish to wait out the most turbulent periods.
Closer to home, the barred owl who appeared in last week’s posting has taken on a side gig shoveling out walkways and driveways. (In fact, this snow shovel made an excellent low perch from which to hunt yard squirrels.)
Finally, if you’re out wandering along a roadside or field edge, keep an eye out for birds feeding on sumac fruits. Both smooth sumac (shown here) and staghorn sumac are common in our region, and their fruits are a critical winter survival food for birds, rodents and other wildlife.
What have you noticed in the woods this week? Submit a recent photo for possible inclusion in our monthly online Reader Photo Gallery.