The environment surrounding the trail is home to many kinds of wildlife: creatures who live in or around the water, in the wooded areas, up and in the trees, and underground. They raise families here, forage for food, and co-exist with one another in a complex ecosystem. We have to remind ourselves that we are guests in their homes. We have the privilege of watching or hearing them on our visits, but it would be rude - and at times deadly - to disturb them or their habitats. Best for us not to touch or even feed them - just marvel at their resilience! Photos below by longtime trail and wildlife photographer Lynn Monsees Carter, unless otherwise noted.
Herons at Turkey Pond
Herons have been spotted at Turkey Pond from the trail for years. Often, it has been a single blue heron; since blue herons have a lifespan of up to 15 years, we may have been seeing the same heron year after year! Occasionally green herons appear. Unlike the blue heron, who is seen year-round at Turkey Pond, the green herons tend to show up in the summer and then are on their way.
The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America and one of North Carolina’s most familiar and frequently-seen wading birds. An adult heron stands more than 3 feet high and weighs approximately 5 ½ pounds. Its wingspan covers nearly 6 ½ feet. Males and females do not differ much in size, so the sexes are not easily outwardly distinguishable. Herons usually live around shores of shallow water and in wetlands, where they feed on whatever they see in or around the water: fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects and other birds. A heron’s eyesight is very keen. You’ll often see it standing stock-still, looking for its prey, waiting for it to get close enough so it can spear it with a rapid thrust of its bill.
Because of their large size, herons can also feed in deeper waters where other birds cannot reach. Herons can also fly short distances, hovering over the water and picking up prey. Herons usually breed in colonies, often in trees, from February through May. The female lays a clutch of three or four eggs just once a year, and the male and female take turns incubating the eggs over a month or so, and feeding them once they hatch. The young herons fledge – or take their first flight – at about 60 days. By the fall, they have all gone their separate ways.
It’s been a few years since juvenile blue herons have been sighted at Turkey Pond. It is possible that colonies have hatched in a more hidden location than the one where the heron has traditionally been spotted.
Green herons are smaller than blue herons – about the size of a crow - and multi-colored. Green herons have a diet similar to the blue heron’s: they may fish by standing in one place and waiting for prey to come near, searching the water by sight. Unlike the blue heron, they also drop bait to lure fish. One of their more fascinating techniques is to use insects or other items as bait, dropping them onto the surface to attract fish. They may also stir up the water with their feet to expose prey.
The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America and one of North Carolina’s most familiar and frequently-seen wading birds. An adult heron stands more than 3 feet high and weighs approximately 5 ½ pounds. Its wingspan covers nearly 6 ½ feet. Males and females do not differ much in size, so the sexes are not easily outwardly distinguishable. Herons usually live around shores of shallow water and in wetlands, where they feed on whatever they see in or around the water: fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects and other birds. A heron’s eyesight is very keen. You’ll often see it standing stock-still, looking for its prey, waiting for it to get close enough so it can spear it with a rapid thrust of its bill.
Because of their large size, herons can also feed in deeper waters where other birds cannot reach. Herons can also fly short distances, hovering over the water and picking up prey. Herons usually breed in colonies, often in trees, from February through May. The female lays a clutch of three or four eggs just once a year, and the male and female take turns incubating the eggs over a month or so, and feeding them once they hatch. The young herons fledge – or take their first flight – at about 60 days. By the fall, they have all gone their separate ways.
It’s been a few years since juvenile blue herons have been sighted at Turkey Pond. It is possible that colonies have hatched in a more hidden location than the one where the heron has traditionally been spotted.
Green herons are smaller than blue herons – about the size of a crow - and multi-colored. Green herons have a diet similar to the blue heron’s: they may fish by standing in one place and waiting for prey to come near, searching the water by sight. Unlike the blue heron, they also drop bait to lure fish. One of their more fascinating techniques is to use insects or other items as bait, dropping them onto the surface to attract fish. They may also stir up the water with their feet to expose prey.
Pollinators
One out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of the efforts of pollinators, including many fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Pollinators not only are necessary for our own food, but also support the food and habitat of animals. Pollinators are attracted to brightly colored, fragrant flowers and feed on nectar produced by the flowers. As they travel from one flower to another, they pollinate the plants, resulting in further development of plant species. Numerous plants rely on pollinators for reproduction. Examples of pollinators are: birds, bees, butterflies, bats, ants, wasps, moths, mosquitoes, and flies.
In 2015, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler started championing pollinator habitat areas in after a trade mission overseas. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's Research Stations Division implemented a pollinator garden research project at all 18 research stations across the state, including the Upper Piedmont Research Station (UPRS), where the trail is located. UPRS staff planted two pollinator gardens near the trail's kiosk, using a Honeybee Mix and a Southern Wildflower Mix. Since then, every spring, new mixes of wildflowers are planted in these plots, resulting in a feast of colorful blooms for pollinators to enjoy.
In 2015, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler started championing pollinator habitat areas in after a trade mission overseas. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's Research Stations Division implemented a pollinator garden research project at all 18 research stations across the state, including the Upper Piedmont Research Station (UPRS), where the trail is located. UPRS staff planted two pollinator gardens near the trail's kiosk, using a Honeybee Mix and a Southern Wildflower Mix. Since then, every spring, new mixes of wildflowers are planted in these plots, resulting in a feast of colorful blooms for pollinators to enjoy.
Birds
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Birders of all ages and experience come to the trail, which is listed on the NC Birding Trail. Because of the varied habitats, over 150 species of birds have been identified on the trail, including raptors, water birds, woodland birds, and meadow birds. The Friends have placed over two dozen bluebird houses along the trail and surrounding area.
The photos below were taken by longtime trail and wildlife photographers Lynn Monsees Carter and Martin Wall.
The photos below were taken by longtime trail and wildlife photographers Lynn Monsees Carter and Martin Wall.
Butterflies
The Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail is Pitstop #3449 on the NC Butterfly Highway! Some 30 to 40 species of butterflies visit our gardens and we get to observe these beautiful creatures and the blooms they dine on!
Rockingham County Naturalist Club members Mike Vaughan and Milton Hundley were crucial to the building of the trail we see today. Among other things, they planted the first butterfly garden on the trail in the 2002.
Longtime horticulturalist and trail volunteer Keith Davis has also planted non-invasive butterfly bushes (peach and light blue) across from the Stew Site.
Below are some of the butterflies longtime trail photographer Lynn Monsees Carter has documented.
Rockingham County Naturalist Club members Mike Vaughan and Milton Hundley were crucial to the building of the trail we see today. Among other things, they planted the first butterfly garden on the trail in the 2002.
Longtime horticulturalist and trail volunteer Keith Davis has also planted non-invasive butterfly bushes (peach and light blue) across from the Stew Site.
Below are some of the butterflies longtime trail photographer Lynn Monsees Carter has documented.
Insects
Insects are not as glamorous as birds or butterflies, but they are vital to every ecosystem. They pollinate plants, decompose plant and animal matter, and are themselves a source of food. Birds alone are estimated to eat 400 to 500 million tons of insects per year. Seen close up in photos, when you're not worried about being bitten, insects are beautiful in their own ways.
