August on the Marsh
August is a great time for a visit to Collins Marsh. Although most of the migrating
birds of fall have not yet headed our way, there are many colorful residents that take
advantage of the summer insect populations, tree swallows and purple martins are
diving about, fly catchers hunt in the willows, egrets and great blue herons are looking
for prey in the shallow waters. Life is everywhere and you never know just what you will
see and experience.
One of the birds that you may see at the water’s edge is a shorebird called a
killdeer. They are often seen in farm fields and pastures, areas with short vegetation.
Killdeer are often spotted near shallow water, white and brown with distinctive dark
breast bands and amazing long legs, they always seem to be in a hurry, running here,
pecking the mud and trying to find a tasty morsel to eat. Killdeer nest on the ground,
often amid gravel and their eggs and nest are camouflaged so well that you can be
walking along the side of a road and almost step on a nest. Even their eggs are white
with brownish mottled spots.
Be aware that a fluttering parent is trying to lure you away
from the nest location. It is one of the behaviors that really set the killdeer apart from
most other birds. Kown as the “broken wing display” the adult killdeer behavior is used
to draw predators’ attention to themselves and away from their nest. Once the young
killdeer hatch, the little ones are soon up and running, their down feathers make them
look like a cotton ball on stilts as they skitter from here to there. They have a very
distinctive call and are common in our area fields. Birds are abundant but not the only
thing to enjoy at the marsh.
The butterfly garden and pollinator garden near the nature center are in full
bloom right now. Many kinds of bees and butterflies are taking advantage of that.
Activity is high during the warm summer weather. Collins Marsh has other plantings of
native flowers that bloom at this time of year in nearby fields. There are some mowed
walking paths, and it is always relaxing to view things from the nature center which
offers a great view of the water areas of the marsh. Rent a kayak or canoe to explore
the marsh or bring your own. The new kayak launch makes the water easily accessible.
August is also a great time to look up at the sky and enjoy a meteor shower. The
Perseid meteor shower peaks around August 12 th. We invite you to join us as we
look at the stars with Al Kluczinske as our star guide on Wednesday August 13 at 9:30
PM. Al has years of experience with his telescope and is a great resource in astronomy.
There is nothing like a warm summer night with clear skies in an area that offers a dark
sky. Collins Marsh has very little light pollution, so it is a great place to sky-watch, well
worth the short drive for a good location. If we live a rural lifestyle, we often take for
granted what a gift the darkness is. Although most people have yard lights of some sort,
the absence of light actually helps nighttime creatures like moths and fireflies who
depend on darkness for a normal life cycle. If we are lucky the fireflies may also be out
and offer an additional show. There is always something interesting to see at Collins
Marsh and the public is always welcome. Every day, every season holds a different
aspect of nature to enjoy. Visit soon and often, better yet consider becoming a member
of our friends group.
