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Painted Rocks On The Trail

I have always had a problem with stacked rocks or cairns as they are better known as. Cairns are human stacked rocks or mounds of stones used globally since prehistoric times.Traditionally they act as landmarks, burial sites or trail markers. This meaning is fine with me but when I see these stacked rocks and that is not the intention and it is done as a form of expression in our natural world that is where I have the problem. Unauthorized stacking leads to the disruption of wildlife habitat, accelerates erosion, and misleads hikers.

During COVID I frequented my favorite walking spot along the Musconetcong River where I witnessed such stacking of rocks to create a pool for swimming. It was beautifully crafted and had a very nice curve as it stretched across the river. As soon as I saw it my heart sank. All that river stone was shifted disrupting all the macroinvertebrates that call those rocks home and use them for feeding where they can thrive creating a clean healthy river. Benthic macroinvertebrates are small bottom dwelling aquatic animals without a backbone that are big enough to see with the naked eye. They include dragonfly larvae, snails, worms, beetles, and crayfish just to name a few. Because they live in sediment and can not easily escape pollution, they are critical to the aquatic food web and serve as excellent indicators of river and lake health. So during a 4 week period I would remove the stacked rocks and place them back in the river. The following week I would check on the area and the stacked rocks would be back in place which I would then dismantle. This went on for a few weeks until one day I met a little boy who asked me why I was taking down the rock wall. I explained to him that it was not good for the river and that it was disrupting the habitat below for the critters that lived amongst the rocks. He said oh…ok. After that conversation the rock wall was never seen again. It was that moment that I came to the realization that people do not understand the long-term consequences of their actions and all it takes sometimes is a little education to curb those behaviors.

All this being said I still frequently walk at that same park. There is a section of woods that separates Alumni Field Park and River Front Park. In those woods I occasionally spot colorfully painted rocks tucked along the trail. Some have inspiring notes painted on them. Some have little designs on them. Some are just painted solid colors. During the winter ornaments are randomly hung on trees around the wooded paths or ever figures tucked in the nooks of trees. At first I took slight offense to these marring my experience in nature. When out in nature I like to feel like I am experiencing the space as untouched by people- no litter, no unnatural tethers of the human world. Obviously I know the trails I walk or the boat launch I use have been engineered by people but when on the water or trail I do not want to see any trappings of humans on my path. That breaks the façade I have m=in my mind of being “alone”in nature. But over time walking daily in this park I have grown to really enjoy spotting these little Easter Eggs scattered in the park. When I see a new one tucked in the hollow of a tree it makes me smile. Or I see one with the painted sun it does add to my experience. I have seen on a few occasions a parent with their small children paper bag in hand full of painted rocks the kids have made gleefully hiding them as they walk along the wooded paths. Because the park is in town and gets a lot of use for me in this instance these little cairns and markers are ok with me. They do what they are intended and that is to brighten your day as you walk the trails. Often the rocks will simply disappear as quickly as they appeared. Folks may find them so inspirational that they may grab them as their own personal totem and I think that’s ok too. I feel it all falls in that pay it forward mentality. Someone could be walking in the park because they are having a bad day or feeling at their lowest and they come upon a painted rock that says SHINE on it. That could make all the difference to that individual and can lead to a life altering moment. You just never know how someone will react to a positive message and that is how I see these little easter eggs that are left around the park.

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Musconetcong River Paddle 060426

A great early morning paddle on the upper Musconetcong River leaving from the Lock 4 West boat launch and paddling down to Saxton Falls and up to Pyramid Point where I turned back and paddled downstream back to the launch. Amazing encounters and sites along the whole trip.

The Musky never disappoints.

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Great Blue Heron On Dead Limb In River 060426

Paddling upstream on the Musconetcong River just below Saxton Lake I came upon a great blue heron perched on a drowned tree limb in the river. I watched the bird as I quietly glided toward it. Surprisingly it did not fly away right away like so many of the other herons I encounter do. This one was very patient while all around it the river activity continued. Behind on the far bank the swan family and a wood duck family swam around the river flora. Another great blue heron flew down the far bank landing in an over hanging tree. While all along the red-wing blackbirds sang their songs around me. It was a brilliant encounter and one for the books for sure.

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Walkabouts Last week of May

The last week of May was full of encounters on my walkabouts, not only with critters but also with light. The early morning light paints the landscape in ways the continually change. The flora is changed by the shadows and highlights. The bright sun that finds its way through the trees and spotlights a skunk cabbage leaf in brilliant green is our magic. It was a fantastic week on the trails and here are some highlights.

Fawn In Grass 1 051826Download
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Snapping Turtle Preparing To Lay Eggs Alumni Field Park 060526

I was on my morning walkabout at Alumni Filed Park when I came across a snapping turtle preparing a whole to lay her eggs in. I observed her for a bit while she rested from digging. I then left her. to continue the task at hand. Every day at the park reveals some sort of experience. This was one I have yet to come across in all my years on the trials.

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Walkabout 051626

Collection from my walkabout a few weeks ago.

This was my time in the park the day I spotted a big black bear. That was certainly the highlight of the morning but there was plenty of other encounters that were just as magical. That early morning sun paints such a vivid and mystical look to the the landscape and critters of the area.

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Wood Thrush Nest On The Trail

While on my walkabout I spotted a wood thrush just off trail. Over the past several weeks I watched as she built a nest in a small maple tree that over hangs the trail. I have watched as the nest went from a single layer of leaves to a robust intricate weaved leaf and twig structure. This is a short video of one of my observations.

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Musconetcong River Paddle 051526

It was an amazing afternoon on the Musconetcong River. As soon as I left the launch a bald eagle flew over and I spotted a great blue heron in the tangles of a fallen tree in the river just upstream. Making my way downstream to the dam an immature eagle flew by heading upstream. I watched as it circled back around and flew over again disappearing downstream. I encountered another great blue heron on an another dead tree just above the dam.

I made the turn back upstream at the dam where I encountered my first yellow iris of the season, yes they re invasive but I find them very pretty and can’t help myself but snap a few shots of it. On my way back upstream I watched as another great blue heron took off from the river in front of me. I noticed it had a mouth full of carp as it flew across the opposite shore where it swallowed the huge fish.

Made my way up to Saxton Lake where I saw the male resident mute swan patrolling in front of their nest as the female sat on the her eggs.

Paddled up the flats I encountered another great blue heron standing on another downed tree which it soon took to the air flying up stream. Approaching Otter Island I spotted a sandpiper working the shallow channel on the downstream side of the island. As I made the turn around the back side of the island the heron had landed on a limb then took off landing across the river to the entrance to Schittz Creek- a tributary to the Musky.

I made the turn back downstream and to the flats where I saw what I thought was just another vulture soaring over the river but as I watched I soon realized it was one of the resident eagles. I watched from my boat as it circled high over head and slowly descended to tree level where it glided to the trees near their nest. I sat for quite a while watching it preen its chest feathers and look around. I watched these eagles build their nest here int he fall of 2024. I have not seen any signs of young in the time they have been here. Great to have them on the river.

I was able to find some amazing spring blooms along the way as well. I love to photograph flowers and am always on the hunt for the perfect shot. The yellow iris’ have started blooming-yes I know they are invasive but the iris is one of my favorite flowers. Soon the Blue Iris will begin blooming-they are native.

Such an amazing afternoon on the water.

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Walkabouts From A Few Weeks Ago

Highlights from my walkabouts a few weeks ago at Alumni Field Park along the Musconetcong River. These are the highlights from a few days worth of walks. 051326, 051426, and 051526

Spring has been a bounty of amazing encounters. The nesting boxes along the trails has provided me with some fantastic opportunities to observe some of my favorite birds along the trails. I have even been able to see a wood thrush and observe the nest building process which has been fascinating.
We live in an amazing world with fantastic things happening all around us on a daily basis we just need to slow down and see them.