A Rare Gull, A Moon Crater, and a Pine Tree

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Sabine Gull

Meadville, PA photographer Shawn Collins took the photograph above and throughout this post of a rare Sabine Gull near the spillway at Pymatuning State Park in early September.

“I’ve been a birder for years,” he said. “This gull is just amazing and very rare for our region. There was quite a bit of excitement and a rather large group of people watching this unusual gull.”

There are numerous fun facts about this small gull. For example, the Sabine Gull was first discovered by explorer and scientist  Sir Edward Sabine in 1818. He sent the bird to his brother Joseph, a naturalist, who named it, Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabini) in honor of his brother. Edward Sabine was born in Dublin, Ireland on October 14, 1788.  He was a very accomplished explorer and scientist; he died June 26, 1883.

Sources and some additional good reading: Alaska Seabird Information and  Edward Sabine

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Sabine Gull is an unusual and distinctive gull which breeds in arctic areas but likes to winter in warmer climates. It can be identified by it’s unusual forked tail, long pointed wings and a short black bill with a yellow tip. It is a striking gull, according to Cornell, because of it’s striking plumage at either time.

Many local observers believe the gull was pushed into the northwestern Pennsylvania region because of very stormy conditions in the Arctic and western regions of it’s habitat.

Shawn Collins is sharing more photos of this rare gull at his photo album

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pghdjshawn/sets/72157647314128636   

and you can also get more news and photos on his Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/Shawncollinsphotography

Last Winter, Another Rare Visit

The discovery of the Sabine Gull at Pymatuning is not the only guest visitor within the year. Last winter, observers also reported a snowy owl, another rare bird which also drew crowds of observers. Shawn Collins was able to get the above photograph in a field in southern Erie County,as well as other at the spillway at Pymatuning. Both the gull and the snowy owls are residents of the Arctic, Alaska and northern Canada.

Some Hummers are Coming

According to Sarah Sargent of the Meadville Audubon, another unusual bird could soon be in the region so keep the hummingbird feeders up until the end of October.

“We get some late migrants including the Rufous Hummingbird that now seems to be migrating through Pennsylvania more frequently in the fall,” she said. “So it’s best to keep the hummingbird feeders up for a few weeks in the late fall.”

Linda Armstrong, the environmental specialist at Pymatuning State Park, who is aware of the Sabine Gull is uncertain if the snowy owls will migrate through the region this winter again.

“Anyone’s guess is as good as the next one,” she said.
Pymatuning State Park offers a whole range of opportunities and Linda Armstrong always has some fascinating fun events planned. If your unfamiliar with the park, Pymatuning.

Audubon Climate Change Report

Just weeks after the sad anniversary of the death of the last remaining passenger pigeon, Martha, 100 years ago on September 1, the National Audubon Society release a rather grim report. According to the new report, nearly half of the bird species in North America, and in our region of northwestern Pennsylvania, could disappear. The culprit is basically climate change. For a National Geographic summary of the study which used 30 years of Audubon citizen-scientist observations and climate data, click, Extinction.

The Audubon report can be found here at Bleak Future.

The photograph of the trumpet swan posted above was taken by Shawn Collins at Pymatuning State Park. According to the Audubon report, trumpet swans could be facing a rather bleak picture because of global warming.

Monarchs

Regarding species which fly through the region during the fall: On September 15, I saw my first Monarch butterfly this year. I wasn’t quick enough with the camera but it was feasting on the blooming goldenrods and purple asters,(pictured above).

The Monarch have been in decline for years now and perhaps there is some encouraging news, according to an article in the Sunday, September 14 issue of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, A Rebound?

Monarchs need  milkweed, a perennial North American wildflower. Milkweed has been eliminated in many areas because of herbicides, loss of open space and landscaping practices.

Some organizations and landowners are now taking action to help the most famous of all North American Butterflies. Discover more and opportunities that you can do at Monarch.

And Just for the Heck of It

In addition to the Sabine Gull, there is a crater on the moon named after Edward Sabine as well as the California grey pine (Pinus sabiniana).

Take Your Time at Hurry Hill

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Hurry Hill Maple Farm Museum  has been on the bucket list for a few years. Janet Woods, the owner, has invited me on numerous occasions over the last several years.

I have been to other Sugar Houses and enjoyed the visits and the free samples and the syrup I always brought home, well, and sometimes candy and maple mustard. Equally important were the maple producers; hardworking, friendly and informative.

Hurry Hill has the added attraction of the Maple Museum; a unique niche anywhere around northwestern Pennsylvania.

The Hurry Hill Farm Museum is located just outside of Edinboro on a scenic road which wanders through picturesque farms and rolling hills. It’s difficult to mention Edinboro and omit...snow. Residents pride themselves in the amount of snow and the duration of winter.

But it wasn’t snowing on Sunday September 7, when we visited. It was an awesome autumn afternoon.

Think Maple Syrup this Fall

Hurry Hill is open every Sunday during the months of September, October and November from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is a fun place to visit for both young and old. For the kids there are plenty of activities, for older people there are plenty of maple artifacts such as a display of  colonial day maple tools and history, Sabbath Buckets, other even earlier equipment, cooking utensils,  an early 1900’s kitchen, and many other intriguing exhibits featuring maple syrup production.

There is a unique section of the museum devoted to Virginia Sorensen which includes her prized 1957 Newbery Medal for her book Miracle of Maple Hill. Sorensen lived in Edinboro, enjoyed the frequent heavy snows, and used many local residents as characters in her novel based around another nearby Maple Sugar House. Although the book was written as  children’s book, it a fun read for people of all ages. The book is available for sale at the Museum as are many other maple products. In addition to maple syrup, there are maple peanuts, maple candy, maple mustard and barbecue sauce, maple herbal tea and a range of other products.

“Many people are running low on maple supplies they purchased in the spring and the holiday season is in just a few months,” Janet Woods said. “ Autumn is really pretty here and it’s a good chance to take a Sunday drive before the snow gets here.”

For those thinking about tapping their own maple trees, or for those small producers in need of supplies, Hurry Hill is a good first stop for information, advice and supplies.

Special October Sundae Sundays

The Edinboro Area Historical Society (EASH) will be at the Museum every Sunday during October. They will be serving up Maple Sundaes every Sunday for $ 3, greeting visitors, answering questions and conducting children’s activities

According to Allan Montgomery of EAHS, was a time of celebration; winter was over and people could enjoy the friendship and company of their fellow neighbors. It was also important to many farms since “sugaring” brought in much needed cash for spring planting. Maple trees also provided many rural families a healthier and less expensive alternative to cane sugar.

Take a ride at Hurry Hill Into the Sugar Bush

A short ride on a golf cart or wagon from the Hurry Hill Museum is the Sugar House where the maple sap is boiled in a large, wood fired evaporator during the sap run. On the less than five minute ride are views of fields and stands of newly planted maple trees with patches of goldenrods blooming here and there and dozens of bluebird nesting boxes.

Walking into the Sugar House, is akin to stepping back in time. There is a deep sense of history, and long hours of work.

Or as William Faulkner wrote: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

Hurry Hill Farm Museum has a certain sense of peacefulness, a oneness with nature.

Details for a Sunday Visit

The website for Hurry Hill is well worth the visit. It can be found at http://hurryhillfarm.org/

There is a wealth of information, history and other facts about maple syrup and about the farm museum itself. For example, under the Walking Trail menu bar, discover how the farm got it's name. And be sure to watch the video the First Boil.

Contact Information

Museum: 814-572-1358

Email: hurryhillfarm@verizon.net

Museum location:

11424 Fry Road

Edinboro, PA 16412

Janet Woods is a member of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Maple Association. The organization sponsors a spring Maple Taste and Tour Open House during which many other Sugar Houses in the region open their doors for demonstrations, activities and serve free maple products which are also available to purchase. The organization also sponsors a popular Lake Erie Maple Expo which will be held in Albion this year on November 7 and 8.

For more information on the Expo, or the spring Taste and Tour Open House, or to find a Sugar House close to your neighborhood, visit PA NW Maple Association

One of Many Good Recipes from Janet Woods

Maple Raspberry Vinaigrette

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1/3 cup red raspberry vinaigrette

½ tablespoon dried basil or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

¼ teaspoon salt

Combine ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Store in the refrigerator. When ready to use, let the mixture come to room temperature. Shake well before using.

Wonderful on fresh green salad, garden leaf lettuce or cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and feta cheese.

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And Just for the Heck of It

The northern section of North America is the only place in the universe where maple syrup is produced from the amazing sugar maple tree. Eighty percent of the maple syrup produced comes from Canada while the remaining 20 percent is produced in the United States. While the maple tree provides healthy maple syrup in the spring, it is an attractive and colorful tree throughout the fall.

The Colorful Days of September and October

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September wildflowers are putting on quite the display in fields and woods. As October approaches, the leaves will turn colors, adding yet another dimension of colors. It's a great fun time to get outside and enjoy.
It's an important time of the year for many pollinators as they prepare for the upcoming winter months.
In case you missed the August 24 post, it's all about the importance of goldenrods and some of the unusual insects which thrive on and around the "sun medicine" plant. Boneset and Jewelweed are also blooming in September. Like goldenrods they attract many pollinators and have a fascinating history and medicinal properties.

"Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they provide is necessary for the reproduction of over 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species. The United States alone grows more than one hundred crops that either need or benefit from pollinators, and the economic value of these native pollinators is estimated at $3 billion per year in the U.S. Beyond agriculture, pollinators are keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent of all birds, and of mammals ranging from red-backed voles to grizzly bears. In many places, the essential service of pollination is at risk from habitat loss, pesticide use, and introduced diseases." from the Xerces Society at http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/




Boneset

Boneset, a native North American wildflower can usually be found growing in mist fields and along the edges of a woods. It has large, attractive white blossoms which many bees, butterflies and other small insects find almost irresistible.
For centuries before aspirin came on the markets, the plant was widely used to help treat many ailments such as the cold and the flu. The flowers and leaves were hung to dry and stored for winter use. The dry flowers and leaves were used to make a tea which has a somewhat bitter flavor, so many add a little honey or maple syrup.
For more information on Boneset, The Forgotten Herb 

Jewelweed

Jewelweed can often be found blooming along with the goldenrods and boneset/ Generally the flowers are a brilliant orange although there are some which bloom yellow.
Bumblebees in particular are frequent visitors along with other native bee species and insects.
For centuries the plant was used as a treatment for poison ivy, other skin irritations and mosquioto bites. Simply break the hollow stem and a apply the clear watery substance to the bite or rash. It's amazing how quickly and safely this cures those minor bites of summer.

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Coming Next

September, October and November are all about Maple Syrup at Hurry Hill Maple Farm and Museum. Every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. the Museum is open as well as the Sugar House where in a few months the fires will be roaring to boil the sap. It's a fascinating place, rich in history and repository for the Newbery Medal awarded to author Virginia Sorensen for her children's book, The Miracle of Maple Hill.
We'll be this upcoming weekend to enjoy maple syrup, maple mustard, and even some maple barbecue sauce (and lots of maple candy). More in a few days after the weekend.


And Just for the Heck of It

Interestingly, boneset does have a rather intriguing family tree, I discovered. It is in the same family tree as sunflowers, enchinea and daisy. One of it's closer relatives is another important medicinal plant Joe Pye Weed.