Solar Eclipse 2024

The 2024 Solar Eclipse

By Wesley Roberts

Photo of the 2017 solar eclipse by Wesley Roberts

The second solar eclipse within 6 months will be visible in Nashville on April 8, 2024. Although we are not in the path of totality, we can expect the sun to appear 95% covered by our moon. The Nashville sky will become much darker than a normal day, and millions of people throughout our area and North America will enjoy this astronomical event.

Many people understand what is happening. As the moon moves in its orbit around the Earth, it will pass directly between the sun and our planet. The shadow cast by the moon on to North America will move from southwest to northeast along a path from Mexico through to New England. Along the path of totality, where the moon appears to completely cover the sun, it will be as dark as nighttime for a few minutes and stars will appear in the daytime sky.

The 2017 solar eclipse casting darkness on the mid-day landscape (photo by Jenna Atma)

A most important aspect of understanding this phenomenon is the accuracy of science. There are very few events that take place in the future for which we can have near absolute certainty of their occurrence. Science gives us the opportunity to make reasonable predictions to which we assign confidence based on the fact that results are testable. For example, the science of meteorology gives us reasonable expectations about upcoming weather and the science of botany helps us to have reasonable expectations that we can grow food. Neither of these is 100% definite. The prediction of an eclipse is as close to 100% as we can get.

In the 4^th century BCE, Chinese astronomers began predicting eclipses accurately (with at least one king, Zhong Kang, beheading two astronomers who failed to predict one). The observations of a lunar pattern called the “Saros Cycle” was observed by ancient cultures around the world and enabled the forecasts to proceed. Today we can accurately state the eclipses that will occur for the next several thousand years.

Warner Parks staff safely viewing an eclipse with special eclipse-viewing glasses

As science is currently attacked from many disciplines that include an unwillingness to accept its rigid protocols and openness to revision based on data, the solar eclipse is a strong testament to the power of this branch of knowledge. On April 8, 2024, this event WILL HAPPEN (to be accurate, an asteroid of the “Don't Look Up” variety could strike, or a few other cataclysmic events, but these are unlikely to the point of being dismissible). As you are getting comfortable in your observation place, wearing your safe eclipse glasses, finding yourself in awe of the power of this marvel and counting the stars that almost magically appear in the daytime sky, be aware of the values that scientific discoveries have added to the quality of our lives. Most of all, enjoy this celestial show of shows and our unique ability to understand it. 

Check out the simulator below to see the 2024 Solar Eclipse's travel path!

https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse_cities/statemap.html

Wesley Roberts is retired from Metro Public Schools. He taught ecology, biology, and astronomy for 38 years.

The Spring Peepining

The Spring Peepining

By Elyse Dilks

Naturalist -- Warner Parks

Spring Peeper

As spring approaches, there are many signs to let us know that warmer months are about to come. The flowers begin to bloom, insects begin to buzz around, birds that migrated during the winter months start to return home, and all the creatures that hid away in their warm burrows and dens creep out. However, one of my favorite signs of spring is when you start to hear the evening calls of some peculiar creatures that we know dearly as the frogs and toads.

Cope's Gray Treefrog

Tennessee is home to 21 species of frogs and toads, though not all are heard or seen here at Warner Parks. Since January, I have been on edge, waiting and listening for the frogs to begin their wonderous tunes. However, the start of 2024 has already been a strange one when it comes to the weather here in Tennessee. From temperatures ranging as high as the 60s-70s to lows being in the 20s-30s, each week this winter has been different. We were even hit with freezing temperatures that resulted in much of Nashville being shut down due to the ice and snow. With the weather being so irregular, it becomes harder to predict what the wildlife will do. In terms of frogs, some are more resilient than others to the cold, but with such random weather and temperatures, it was a mystery as to when we would hear the early bird, or in this case, the early frog.

Chorus Frog

It was just yesterday, February 14th, that I heard my first frog calls of the new year while out walking on the Old Roadway near the Little Harpeth River. The calls sounded like a finger plucking or dragging against a comb. These calls are made by Chorus Frogs, which are often the first frog calls heard due to their resistance to the cool spring weather. I was overjoyed to hear their melodic cries as they called back and forth to one another, even adding in harmonies.

Although I have yet to hear them, other species to be listening for are the Spring Peepers’ peeps and American Toads soothing trills. Once spring has officially begun by mid-March, many other species will start to come out. By the end of spring in June, most species of frogs will have emerged, having either completed or are just starting their mating call rituals.

American Toad

I highly encourage you to go out to Warner Parks for an evening hike where there is a nearby water source. Take a stroll around Butler’s Field, the Old Roadway, or even stop by and sit at a shelter or picnic table at the Little Harpeth River or Willow Pond. From my own experience, going out and seeing the sun start to set where the luscious colors of the world seem to fade, there’s a comfort in knowing you are not alone as the loud “WAAAAH” of a nearby Fowler’s Toad fills the air.

 

Fowler's Toad

Here is a link I have found very helpful during my frog call listening journey: Identify by Sound (leaps.ms)

A Witness to the Mission

 A Witness to the Mission

By Betty Krogman

Retired Urban Naturalist -- Warner Parks

Cabbage White butterfly feeding on a Zinnia

Why has Warner Park Nature Center continued to thrive for 50 years? My belief is that it is on a mission of conversion. Its mission is to be a living example of how to understand, be immersed in, and to enjoy all aspects of the natural world. Its mission is to teach the message of the interconnectedness of all life and to convert casual participants into a critical mass of people that understands that we are one with the whole natural world- one people, one Earth- and will then advocate for its protection. 

I write about one such conversion. In 2021, my friend Scott was welcomed to the Volunteer Dinner at Warner Park Nature Center. 

Monarch Butterfly feeding on an Orange Cosmos

While waiting, he sat rocking on the side porch watching the birds and other critters, but he also observed the butterflies, bees, and other insects as they flew around almost unnoticed amongst the wildflowers that were planted in the courtyard gardens. 

Knowing a bit about the importance of pollinators and how their habitat is disappearing, he had an epiphany: he would turn his Green Hills backyard into a natural garden habitat for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators, the goal being to create a totally naturalized habitat. His yard is private so the neighbors could not see or complain about “neatness” in the neighborhood.

In the following months, Scott researched habitat requirements, planted the recommended plants, built a pond with aquatic plants and tiny fish, always fussing with the balance of feed and natural sources of food, as well as aeration requirements. He hung both Hummingbird and regular birdfeeders, and did the “squirrel dance”, hoping to outwit those clever creatures.  He put-up Bluebird boxes, and planted perennials that would draw butterflies around his deck area. It was especially tricky finding wild milkweed for the Monarchs. 

Hummingbird feeding at a backyard feeder

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail feeding at Butterfly Bush

Scott's yard

Success the first year. The pond survived the famous Nashville deep freeze, lots of Hummers and other birds came to the feeders in winter and the Bluebirds nested and raised their young in the spring. Goldfinch migrated through feasting on seed in that first fall.

In the second year, Scott decided to plant his whole back yard, about half an acre containing grass and mature trees. He laid cardboard in early spring to discourage the grass, scattered pounds of wildflower seed on the former lawn, and cancelled the lawn service. 

Scott's Flowers

Great Spangled Fritillary feeding on Butterfly Bush

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Gulf Fritillary feeding on Orange Cosmos

Fall of 2023 yielded a paradise for the butterflies, birds, and other pollinators, a beautiful, naturalized landscape pleasing to the eye and an oasis of peace in this hectic world for Humans.

Once again, Mother Nature nurtures and heals. 

Changing Seasons, Changing Birds

 

Changing Seasons, Changing Birds

By Jenna Atma 

As summer comes to a close, a lot of things begin to change. The weather starts to get cooler, the leaves start to change colors, but something that not everyone may notice is that many birds also change their colors as well.

Take these male Scarlet Tanagers, for example. During the summer, we often observe them in the Tennessee region with their bright red-and-black plumage—a very bold and striking appearance. However, if we saw this same bird as they made their way south for the winter during migration, we might notice a change—his feathers will have changed from that bright red to more greenish-yellow color!

Scarlet Tanager male, breeding plumage (Nashville, Tennessee)

Scarlet Tanager male, non-breeding plumage (Madre de Dios, Peru)

So why do some birds change their colors?

Birds undergo a post-breeding season molt; in other words, they replace their worn-out feathers from the summer with fresh ones for the winter. During this transition from the old set of feathers to the new, many bird species will conserve their energy and put less effort into creating the bright and colorful feathers often used to attract mates, such as the red of the Summer Tanager. The end of the summer’s breeding season gives these birds enough time to complete their full-body molt, where they shed all of their feathers in around a month and replace them with brand new feathers, a process that requires ample food and energy. You can see in the photo above that this male Scarlet Tanager, seen on his wintering grounds in the Peruvian Amazon, is beginning to molt out of his non-breeding plumage (known as “basic” plumage) back into his breeding plumage (known as “alternate” plumage) with the dotting of fresh red feathers.

Many species go through plumage changes between seasons. Warblers are a great example of this; some go through more drastic color changes (such as the Bay-breasted Warbler), whereas other species’ molts result in a more subtle appearance change (like the Yellow-rumped Warbler).

Yellow-rumped Warblers

Breeding plumage (top), non-breeding plumage (bottom)

Bay-breasted Warbler, breeding plumage (Nashville, Tennessee)

Bay-breasted Warbler, non-breeding plumage (banded at Warner Park’s bird-banding station)

So next time you spot a bird out in the wild, I encourage you to notice its colors—are they bright or dull? What time of year is it? How are they behaving? We can often learn a lot about our little feathered friends by observing features as simple as these!

Here at Warner Parks, year-round bird banding is one of the many research projects conducted by the BIRD Program.  Banding sessions are open to the public and dates and times are published in our seasonal program schedule and on the Friends of Warner Parks events calendar.

Summer Blues

 Summer Blues

 

Male Eastern Bluebird

Early summer is time for baby birds.  And the baby birds you are very likely to see at Warner Parks are Eastern Bluebirds.  Thanks to a very special group of volunteers and staff, Warner Parks have a special relationship with bluebirds and their babies.

 

 

 

Eastern Bluebird Box

Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters.  A cavity nester is a bird that builds is nest inside a hole, usually of a tree.  Because of habitat loss, competing species, and the fact that bluebirds cannot make their own cavities, the Bluebird population was declining.  Bluebird nest boxes provided an effective solution.  These boxes give bluebirds a place to nest and scientist a way to study the birds.  When several of the boxes are installed within a particular area, they are considered to be a bluebird nest box trail, and Warner Parks is home to one of the oldest.

 

 

 Amelia R Laskey

According to Sandy Bivens, Warner Park Nature Center’s BIRD Program founder, The Eastern Bluebird Nest Box Project in the Warner Parks is the oldest continually monitored nest box program in the United States.  Started in 1936 by Amelia Laskey, it was supported by the Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Peabody University faculty and students, Boy Scouts, Works Progress Administration, and the Nashville Parks & Recreation Department.  Mrs. Laskey monitored fifty nest boxes regularly for 40 years, kept detailed records, and published results in journals. Later, Mrs. Virginia Price, one of Laskey’s volunteers and helpers, managed the boxes and passed the project on to the "new nature center" in 1973 - when the nature center opened.

 

 

 

Bluebird Box Coordinator Diana McLusky

 

 

Now, fifty years later, a team of dedicated nature center volunteers and staff monitor the boxes and assist with this ongoing project. Volunteer BIRD Team member Diana McLusky has coordinated the nest box project for over 20 years and has maintained the partnership with volunteers, scouts, and Metro Parks.  Through this important bird research project, we have learned a bit about Eastern Bluebird mating habits and their young.

 

 

Male Bl

uebird on a box

 

The mating ritual starts in the early spring when the male establishes his territory.  Once his territory is established, he performs a nest-building display which involves bringing some nesting material into the box, which lures a female to his site.

 

 

 

 

 

Male (right) and Female (Left) Bluebirds on a Box

 

Bluebirds do not share the nesting activities.  Despite his early nesting displays, the male drops out and the nest is built by the female. She completes her task in about 5 days.   Nests in our area and generally grass with finer grass inside with an occasional 1 feather. If there are pine trees around (like Percy Warner golf courses) they like pine needles. Usually a very neat nest. If they are nesting at the steeplechase, they will add horse hair.

 

 

Bluebird box with feeder

 

Courting, nest building and egg laying take a lot of energy.  Bluebirds eat a lot of insects in the spring, summer, and fall.  Meal worms are a favorite.  In the winter they eat wild berries and fruit.  The male will feed the female while she is sitting on the eggs.  Both parents feed the babies.

 

 

Baby bluebirds and an egg

 

Once the nest is completed the female begins to lay eggs.  She usually lays four or five eggs.  She usually lays one blue egg a day.  The incubation period is 12 – 18 days. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Bluebirds in the nest.

The eggs hatch in the order in which they were laid.  They fledge in 17 – 20 days.  Once they have fledged the parents will feed the babies for 3 or 4 more weeks.

 

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Baby Birds waiting to be banded

The Warner Parks BIRD Team monitors the bluebird boxes and when the babies are 10 – 12 days old they are banded.  By banding these birds, we learn how long they live, if and to where they migrate, and whether they return to the same box each year.

 

Here at Warner Parks, year-round bird banding is one of the many research projects conducted by the BIRD Program.  Banding sessions are open to the public and dates and times are published in our seasonal program schedule and on the Friends of Warner Parks events calendar

Lions and Tigers and Zebras - Oh My!

 Lions and Tigers and Zebras – Oh My

Field of Lyre Leaf Sage

May is an amazing time at Warner Park.  The park, with its fresh spring colors, is magical.  There are interesting sites around each corner.  In fact, if you look close enough, you will find exotic creatures in everyday things.

 Dandelion

This pretty yellow dandelion can be found everywhere in the Warner Parks.  Although this may look common, it is an amazing botanical specimen.  There is some debate as to where the name comes from.  Examine the leaves, they are jagged and remind some people of lion’s teeth. The belief is that the dandelion’s name could be derived it from the French term 'dent de lion' meaning 'tooth of the lion'. Or it could be the yellow color of the flower reminds many people of a lion mane.  No matter how the flower got its name, there is more to this plant than beautiful yellow flowers.  This plant provides food, drink, medicine, and entertainment.  The root has been used as an ingredient in medicines for problems such as dyspepsia, constipation, gallstones, insomnia, dropsy, and jaundice.  Wine is produced from the flowers, they young leaves are wonderful in salads, and the root has been used as a substitute for coffee.

Dandelion Seeds

Of course, nothing can compare to the joy of blowing dandelion seeds.  Many children spend happy hours blowing and chasing these seeds. Is there is no greater accomplishment than blowing all the seeds off the head of a dandelion?

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – Picture by Bob Allen

It is always a delight when you encounter this beautiful yellow and black swallowtail.  Look for these beautiful large butterflies in the fields on the lawns and in the gardens of the park.   This swallowtail is found all over the Eastern United States and some states in Mexico.

             

       Dark Morph of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail       

   Pipevine Swallowtail

Males are always yellow with black stripes.  The females can be yellow and black but have a dark morph, that resembles the poisonous pipevine swallowtail butterfly.  The adults can be found nectaring at many flowers but the host plants are Black Cherry and Tulip Popular.

       Young Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar                              Older Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

When the caterpillars are hatched from a small green egg, they are brown and white and resemble bird poop.  Later as they mature, they become bright green.  The caterpillar has big eyes that make it look like a snake. If the snake eyes do not repel the predator, the caterpillar can also emit an unpleasant odor.  

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

May is a wonderful time to spot a zebra butterfly. Found in the eastern US, they are more prevalent in the south. A small swallowtail with black and white stripes, this is the state butterfly of Tennessee.  Look for them around pawpaw tress, where they lay their eggs.  Or look for in the dappled sunlight along the trail.  Because of their short probiscis the butterfly is found nectaring on zinnias, button bush, fleabane, and other flowers without long tube blossoms. 

Zebra swallowtail caterpillar

The female zebra swallowtail lays a pale green egg on the underside of a pawpaw leaf.  The caterpillars are hard to find because they eat at night and hide during the day.  Once hatched, the caterpillars are voracious eaters, some will even eat their siblings.  Before building a chrysalis, the caterpillar goes through three instars.  (An instar is a stage of growth for a caterpillar.)  When attacked they emit a stinky odor or move to another leaf.  It takes about a month for the butterfly to develop from an egg to a butterfly. An adult butterfly can live up to 6 months.

Moss on the forest floor

Take some time to go out on the trails in May.  Go with open eyes and an inquisitive heart and you will never know what you will find.  If you do find lions, tigers, or zebras, please let us know.

By Melissa Donahue

April Flowers Among the Showers

 

April Flowers among the Showers

This is the time of year when nature wears me out.  The weather is a little warmer, the earth smells a little cleaner, and the spring ephemerals start to pop.  Because a spring ephemeral is a native wildflower with a short life cycle and because it is important to see every flower, by the end of spring I am worn out.

Spring Beauty - Photo credit Rebecca Dandekar

One of the first spring ephemerals is a Spring Beauty.  This tiny flower starts out slow in the late winter, but by the time spring is in full swing there are spring beauty everywhere.  With five petals this flower blooms white to pink.  The pink veins and a hint of yellow on the flower ensure no pollinator will have trouble following the “nectar guides” to the center of the flower.  A spring beauty provides nectar for over 23 species of bees and flies.  

Virginia Bluebells – Photo Credit Deb Beazley

As you are walking on the closed roadways of Warner look up the slope for bright pink buds.  These buds bloom to beautiful pale blue, occasionally pink or white tubular flowers.  Although the flowers bloom for a brief period of time, they form large colonies.  These large colonies cover the hillside in bright pink and a heavenly blue.  After the blooms are spent, the leaves die back, and the plant disappears until the next spring.  Bluebells are capable of self-pollination.  But they are also pollinated by butterflies, bumblebees and other long-tongued bees, skippers, hummingbird moths, flower flies (syrphids), bee flies, and hummingbirds.

Trillium

Three is a magic number.  If you find a flower that has three leaves, three petals, and three stamens you have a trillium.  In the park, the most common trillium are Sessile and Sweet Betsy.  A sessile trillium is a smaller plant than the Sweet Betsy, with conspicuous projections at the tips of the stamens.  That can be hard to judge so the best way to tell these two flowers apart is to bend down and smell them.  Sweet Betsy lives up to its name with a very sweet smell.  Sessile lives up to its nickname, Stinking Willie, with a smell that resembles rotting garbage.  The smell attracts flies and beetles which pollinate the plant.  Sweet Betsy trillium is also known as Purple Toadshade.  This could be because of its mottled leaves that look like toad skin or the arrangement of the leaves that welcome a toad to rest in the shade.

Forest floor covered in Spring Beauty – Photo credit Deb Beazley

On a personal note:

About 35 years ago I stood with my then three-year-old son in the snow.  In front of us was a naturalist talking about a winter bush.  My thought was she must have the best job in the world.  For the past 15 years I have had the job of a naturalist and it is the best job in the world. 

I am now changing my status from professional naturalist to volunteer naturalist.  There are so many people who have taught, encouraged, and supported me along the way.  I am thankful for each and every person.  I want to especially thank Vera Roberts for giving me this wonderful opportunity.  I want to thank Kim Bailey for being my mentor, teacher, and very good friend. Without her I would have never realized how amazing nature really is, or have had as much fun.  And as always, I am thankful for Ed Donahue, who listened, volunteered, and patiently waited while I examined whatever flower, rock or critter caught my interest.  I will miss being at the Nature Center every day, but look forward to new adventures.

Melissa Donahue