Autumn at the Center displays an ebb and flow between wildlife that is still vibrant and other life forms that are going dormant for the winter. Hiking south from our Courtyard Pavilion through the forest, past Mystery Lake, and through to the prairie on our Gateway Trail, visitors will see the many forms of change taking place.
Changes in the Forests
In the forest, witness migrating fall birds as well as year-round residents. Migratory birds sport less colorful plumage compared to their spring feathery apparel. In October, look for the olive-colored, Orange-crowned Warbler, which looks like the olive-hued Tennessee Warbler, differentiated by its white patch. You may also observe the Yellow-rumped Warbler, revealing streaks of yellow and brown. Kettles of migrating Broad-winged Hawks are also moving through, sometimes in the hundreds. Throughout the fall, resident birds you’ll find in the forest include the Black-capped Chickadee, White Breasted Nuthatch, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech Owls.
Hiking in October showcases the splendor of changing leaves, starting with red maples, which turn a deep scarlet. Sumacs are next on the stage to transition in a kaleidoscopic rainbow of red, orange, and scarlet, followed by yellowing willow trees and golden-leaved tamaracks.
Changes in the Water
Moving out of the forest, you’ll encounter a changing Mystery Lake. The water is undergoing fall turnover, when chilly water rises and warm water sinks, and looks a little clearer. Plant material, such as fallen leaves and dying vegetation, is sinking to the bottom and decomposing, while oxygen-rich water at the top mixes and also moves to the bottom.
Other changes are happening in this water body that visitors can’t see. As the temperature falls, reptiles and amphibians get ready to enter brumation, a hibernation-like state that allows them to survive the freezing weather. Turtles, including the painted turtle, Blanding’s turtle, and common snapping turtle, will burrow into the muck under the water, while green frogs and bullfrogs move to the bottom to rest in mud.
Changes in the Prairie
Past the forest and into the prairie, visitors will observe wildflowers still bursting with color. Notice the bright foliage of purple asters and yellow goldenrod. Tall sunflowers reach skyward, while soft-hued purple coneflowers give their last shows of color. You’ll glimpse more yellows when you see the petals of compass plants, black-eyed Susans, and brown-eyed Susans.
While these flowers are blooming in the sun, others are setting the stage for sleep, getting ready to lose their seed through varying strategies of dispersal. Watch for the rattling 2–3-inch oblong, blackened seed pods of blue false indigo, sticky jewel weed seeds, exploded by rain drops or touch, and the seeds of witch hazel, which explode due to mechanical energy and pressure on the seed capsule.
The burgeoning colors of trees and flower species in the prairies, alongside the waning hues of many migrating fall birds, reminds visitors of the fleeting appearances of the season’s wildlife. When you hike at the Center, you’ll glimpse the turning of the color wheel this fall.