While working in the forest today we heard shots ring out from the deer hunters. In one plot we found fresh blood at the base of a tree. Then we found a spent shell. We were glad to have on our orange vests.

There are several pictures and videos about nature today that I thought you might enjoy.

Jeff has been with us in the forest each day. He works at SERC as a tech for the project. I really like his relaxed manner and intelligence. He knows a great deal about plants and trees. In this video he is explaining about the microhabitat created by a fallen tree. You are looking at the uplifted root bed of a large fallen tree. Where it had been standing is now referred to as the pit. When the tree completely decays it's roots leave behind a mound of enriched soil. Listen carefully.

After our work was finished today, 3 teachers went for a hike to the estuary or saltwater marsh. Watch the video below.
The second video is of a rotting log. Decay keeps the forest alive, and I enjoy looking for fungi while I'm walking..

This video is sideways but still you can see that even birds can be obsessive/compulsive! A yellow-bellied sapsucker went to town on this tulip poplar. He pecked holes in neat, tight rows up the entire trunk. And then he died! (I made that part up!)

One more video about an old grassed-in beaver pond. (The Eagles' nest is not in the center as I say on the video but up near the top of the picture.)

I call this my elephant tree. It is four trees that have grown together in an odd manner. A challenging one to measure.
Well, that's all for now. I am hoping after seeing these pictures you will think of questions to ask me.