As you've walked among the pines at CWES, you've probably either seen or heard a great deal of this bird.This nuthatch is a smaller and quicker cousin of the white-breasted nuthatch. It is often seen near groups of chickadees and responds almost as well to "pishing." When identifying this bird, look for a rusty red chest and a black eyestripe. The red-breasted nuthatch hops along the length of tree trunks in search of insects, spiders, and conifer seeds. It sounds like a tiny toy horn with its "annk, annk" call.
Strange Behavior: Red-breasted nuthatches are cavity nesters that excavate dead limbs to lay their eggs in. This species has a tendency to smear pine pitch around the entrance to their nest. No one knows why.
Did you know? The top of a bird's head is called a crown. Male red-breasted nuthatches have a dark black crown, while females have more of a gray colored crown.
Hear this bird's call: Macaulay Library
Learn More: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Scattered throughout the woods at CWES you'll find a few of these intriguing trees. One is on the path to Walker Lodge, and the other on the way to the challenge course. For centuries, hemlocks have been useful to humans and wildlife alike. Many creatures eat its buds and needles, and porcupines often call them home during winter. Humans can use its needles to make a vitamin C rich tea, though it tastes rather bitter. In the 1800’s, the bark of hemlock trees was used to tan leather in factories because of its high tannin content. Huge strips of bark were taken from the trees, causing them to die. Lumber from the trees wasn’t used because their lower branches often contain pitch knots that can chip saw blades!
The next time you pass by these trees take a look at the undersides of their lacy needles. You’ll see small white stripes that are full of tiny stomata (openings which control the flow of air and water in and out of the needles). Every leaf or needle contains these, but on the hemlock they are clustered together in a way that we can see. Needles from coniferous trees, like the hemlock, have a tough waxy coating and substances within their cells that prevent them from freezing. This allows them to stay on the tree year-round.
The leaves of many plants have dropped, but not all have vanished. There are two evergreen species of fern at CWES that will remain green year-round: the intermediate wood fern and the polypody fern. Intermediate wood ferns can be found near many of the forested trails at CWES, and the polypody fern can be seen clinging to the hillsides (especially near the firebowl). Flip over the fronds of both of these species and look for the tiny reproductive spores underneath.
Fern Lingo
The leaf of a fern, from tip to root, is called a frond. The small leaflets that make up the fern frond are called pinnae. Ferns reproduce using tiny clumps of spores called sori. A fern will drop millions of sori in its lifetime, but only a few will land in a spot with just the right light and moisture to grow.
(You are looking at the pinnae of a fern frond.The brown dots are the sori)
Did you know? Ferns have been around since before the time of dinosaurs!
Learn more: Ferns of Canberra
Right now, skunks are fattening up on whatever they can get. Being primarily carnivores, this includes insects, small mammals, grubs, birds' eggs, and fruit. When winter weather turns severe, skunks will hole up for a few days in a den, stump, wood pile, or cave. They then depend on their fat reserves to survive.
Most people know about this nocturnal hunter's stinky defenses. Skunks first warn their potential predators by stamping their front feet. Then, they'll raise their tail and take a stiff-legged walk. If this doesn't work, they will drop onto all fours and spray away. Their spray is aimed at a predator's face and can cause temporary blindness. A skunk can spray at only one month of age, and can accurately spray a target over six feet away!
Learn more: Animal Diversity Web
Skip to main content
