Nature's Ways.....

Story starts below....

Follow this Killdeer (notice the bold dark bands on the white chest...a good ID field mark) through the next three photos. I first spotted this one running through the grass near Lake George, no doubt searching for a snack. Next I saw it near the water's edge, still as a stone. As I slowly approached (within about 75'), the bird flattened it's posture into the pose shown...belly on the ground, neck extended, hoping to go unnoticed behind the grass.

The Ox-Eye Daisy....one of many area members of Compositae....the 'daisies'.

The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit...Sylvilagus floridanus....a species that is a key component of many wildlife food chains. A common species, this rabbit is the one you may see along the roadside, at the edge of a field, or your yard, especially in the late afternoon or early morning. When I see one (the one shown, a large adult, is in my yard), the first sensation I get is one of sadness....as few rabbits live to see the end of their first year. Hawks, weasels, snakes, owls, foxes, coyotes, eagles, dogs....all chase the rabbit. The death rate vies with the birth rate...it is not uncommon for rabbits to produce 3-4 litters per year. Within hours of giving birth, the female rabbit mates again. Litters are typically quite large, with average being 4-6.

Let's Hear It For The Oaks......

- In the shade of an oak, down by the river, sat an old man and a boy...settin' sails, spinnin' tales, and fishin' for whales..." Willie Nelson....Yes, the oaks, genus Quercus, play a part in all our lives, whether acknowledged or not. Oaks make up a large percentage of the southeast Tennessee deciduous forests. They occupy a prominent role in our natural ecosystems as well as being utilized by man in a variety of ways, most notably those related to the furniture/home building industry. ID of the various species in this genus is not easy. Taxonomists often group them into two general groups....The White Oak Group and the Red Oak Group. Below are photos/general comments that might help in appreciating and identifying some of the Oaks. Featured are the common species in this area. Others of this group I have seen around the region include: Bur Oak - Chinkapin Oak (rarely on The Plateau) - Willow Oak - Scarlet Oak - Turkey Oak - Pin Oak.

Northern Red Oak...common in our area. Often tall and stately with an open crown, distinctive striping on the trunk. Leaves moderately lobed, thin, dull above and hairless. To 80'.

The Blackjack Oak....not a tall tree. Leaves leathery and thick, often shiny.

The Chestnut Oak....common on the Cumberland Plateau, not so much off it. The acorns are large and visibly appealing, to humans....but not to the wildlife. Some years, the ground is covered with acorns beneath an adult tree, and 60 days later the ground will most likely still be covered, as very few inhabitants of Kingdom Animalia can tolerate the bitter taste. Only other similar leaf belongs to the Chinkapin Oak.

The White Oak... easily identified by the rounded lobes of the leaf, much like the pattern formed by your 4 fingers together (unlike the Red Oak group) and gray scaly bark. Mature trees often have large limbs near the top of the tree in a broad, spreading pattern. This tree does not take domestication well....as many transplanted specimens die due to the stress of leaving the native leaf-covered, moist forests for open yards of suburbia. Acorns are relatively 'sweet' and palatable...cherished by wildlife.

Post Oak....similar to Blackjack. Seldom gets to 50'. Leaves often large, with a relatively thick cuticle... and shiny.

Southern Red Oak. Also tall and stately with an open crown. Leaf deeply lobed, with narrow central spine, sharp points. Similar species are the Scarlet Oak and Turkey Oak.

Black Oak. Darker trunk, often with deeper furrows than Red Oak, otherwise similar. Foliage is typically more dense than the Red Oak, especially in younger trees. Leaves often glossy above....mostly hairless beneath. Another distinguishing mark is the orange inner bark. Can reach 75'.