Bug Art on the Barrens
As I wander around the Barrens, NBWA, each year I often noticed those ‘pine cone’ like things on the willow plants. Indeed some plants have many of them on the upper stems! And the plant doesn’t seem to be affected by them. Then I look a little closer and I see these often red / green swellings on the willow stems and even on the leaves I will see these strange shapes growing within the leaf!
Well the experts call them ‘Willow Roses’ or ‘Stem Galls’ or ‘Leaf Galls’
But mainly I see these odd plant growths on the Willows! Why the willows. Of course they are ‘kind of cute’, thus I call them Bug Art!
So these galls are formed by worms that hatch from eggs laid by Saw Flies, midges, which are tiny mosquito like flies that often fly in swarms. The eggs hatch into worms and the interaction of the plant and the worm creates these sometimes rather elaborate ‘galls’ on their host willow plant. They grow in such a way that it appears the plant and worm ‘work together’.
Well this is another rather amazing part of the Barrens.
Remember get out of your car and walk around and look closely for your next surprise.
Mark Nupen marknupen@gmail.com
Manipulation of the phenolic chemistry of willows by gall-inducing sawflies by Tommi Nyman and Riita Julkunen-Tiitto www.pnas.org PNAS Nov. 21, 2000
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27199/
Another hidden gem
Did you know there is a Flickr repository where friends of the Namekagon Barrens have left an excellent series of high quality pictures? Web sites like FNBWA.org have to dumb down pictures because of space limitations. Flickr does not have this limitation.
Buterflies at the Barrens
While out at the barrens keep a sharp eye out for the butterflies living there.
Hear the Barrens
http://www.fnbwa.org/hear-the-barrens
Follow the link to some samples of wolf vocalizations and some other animals that you may hear or encounter while at the barrens.
Bluebirds on the Barrens
There are a series of bluebird houses on the barrens. You may see them while out there. See: http://www.fnbwa.org/p09-2-1/bluebirds
Know about the about the auto tour?
The Friends of the Namekagon Barrens created an auto tour. See this link if you want a guided tour of the barrens. You can print the tour guide using this link: http://www.fnbwa.org/at0
“Blueberries on the Barrens”
July 18, 2020
0830 Gather for picking blueberries
1030 Friends of Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area meeting begins
Later Free Lunch
More content to come soon.
5th Annual Open House at Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area
Join us for a fun, free and educational blueberry event!
Blueberries in the Barrens
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Agenda:
8:30 am Gather at the NBWA cabin for maps, 33174 Gomulak Fire Lane, Danbury, WI.
8:45 am Drive to flagged berry patches and pick to your heart’s content!
10:15 am Return to cabin (or anytime).
10:30 am Geology of the Namkekagon Barrens (Jeff Kitelinger, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA))
10:45 am Wild Blueberries from Meadow to Market (Sue Segelstrom, Local Author and Historian)
11:05 am The Amazing Variety of Native Plants in the NBWA (Paul Hlina, Wild Plant Expert)
11:30 am Fascinating History of the Barrens and Surrounds (Brian Finstad, Local Historian)
Noon Lunch
FREE Burgers, Brats, Beans, Beer and Blueberry Treats
Presentation Ongoing Progress and Future Plans for NBWA (Nancy Christel, DNR Property Manager of NBWA)
2019 Reservations for Sharp-tailed Grouse Viewing Blinds on Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area
Registration begins Jan 15th for the 2019 sharp-tailed grouse viewing blinds on the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area. Be sure to sign up early so you don’t miss the chance to observe the mating dances. Availability is limited.
Photo courtesy of Keith R. Crowley. Please visit lodgetrail.com or click the photo above.
Early Fall on the Namekagon Barrens
August 30 saw a six person group take a nature walk on the Namekagon Barrens. Friends Board members Mark Nupen, Jerry McAllister, and Dave Peters plus Dave’s wife Lisa and his brother and sister-in-law attended. We were looking for sharp-tailed grouse and fall wild flowers in the area about the Forest Home School site. Jerry’s three year-old English setter Lilly pointed and held for viewing a 5-member grouse covey. After the flush she tracked down three singles and put them up for us also.
We next hiked north from the school site to Clemons Creek identifying wild flowers. The predominant species were yellow sunflowers, purple asters, and purple blazing stars. The latter had just begun blooming and within a couple of weeks will turn the Barrens purple. At the edge of Clemons creek we were entertained by sedge wrens in the marsh grass.
A group photo from near the Clemons is submitted by Jerry, and wild flowers photos, by Mark Nupen.
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