Run to the Wild Side
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Plants found on plot
Goldenrods–about 100 species, all native to this country, most found in the East–generally 2-4 feet high–summer and fall–composite family
Queen Annes Lace–thrives in cultivated fields and exposed grounds–summer and early fall–parsley family
Yarrows–typical roadside weed, growing 1-2 feet high–summer and fall–composite family
Thistle–60 species–spiny bracts–flowers in spring and summer–fruit (seed) on plot was spiny and dry–composite family
Aster–120-150 species–open fields and roadside–late summer to late fall–composite family
Joe-pye weed–2-12 feet, habitat is roadside–Boneset, with white flowers–is most common type– late summer and fall–composite family
Live birds and animals found on plot
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)–12″, sleek gray-brown–found in the northern part of the plot with the cottonwoods and black willow–feeds on scattered seed, insects, grass and grain seed–usually nests in trees 3-30 feet high, and rarely,, on the ground–habitat is in almost any open habitat.
Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus)–thought to evolve to look like the Monarch (poisonous) butterfly, but both are bitter-tasting–lives in willows, poplars and cottonwoods–can be distinguished from the Monarch by the black stripes on the lower wings–early in the season they feed on carrion, dung and decaying fungi and late, on flowers, especially composites including aster, goldenrod, joe-pye weed, shepherds needle and Canada thistle–habitat is moist open or shrubby areas, willow thickets, valley bottoms and roadsides–found throughout most of the U.S.
Footprints on plot
Human
Canine
Shorebirds–there were several different sizes of shorebird footprints–possibilities for the larger prints might include great blue heron (Ardea herodias).–smaller prints might be from the common snipe (Gallinago gallinago)–Gulls found in this habitat might include the ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), herring gull