Approaching closer than about 200' drives them into the water. We counted all the butterflies seen, and identified them to species if possible. One type of butterfly, the Painted Lady, was so abundant that we could not effectively count them all, but nearly all the others seen were counted. The Song Sparrows she is studying are laying fewer eggs, later in the season, than in previous years. Perhaps the cool weather in April and May is the cause.
Insects generally thrive more and develop faster in warmer weather.
Five years ago these plants formed dense thickets on ridge tops and benches. This fall we have a big crop of tan oak acorns, the most I have seen in the five years I have lived here. The acorns are very big and are a favorite food for wildlife. I also noticed that our acorn woodpeckers are busily stuffing acorns in holes and cracks all over the reserve. Their complex social life centers on ownership and defense of these granaries, which must be protected against other colonies of woodpeckers, jays, squirrels, and other animals.