These are excerpts from Innsbrook property owners Richard McFall and Kathleen Kremer’s summer edition of their community newsletter on living in harmony with nature and wildlife at Innsbrook.

Wildlife Watching
For unknown reasons, we saw far fewer goslings on our lakes and turtles on our roads this spring. However, there have been plenty of sightings of turkey, red fox, groundhogs, owls, beavers, bats, raccoons, armadillo, skunks, hawks, opossum, blue herons, coyotes, cottontail rabbits, bobwhite quail, black snakes, and especially twin fawns this year.

What have we missed that you have sighted?

Photo by George Miller

Photo by David Miller

Oak Tree Decline
If you think the canopy tops of many of our magnificent oak trees are not as full this year nor casting as much cooling shade on your chalet, home or lot, you are not alone. In response to a few sad looking trees on my property, Innsbrook Horticulture Director Keith Thompson sent this reference, which explains the likely disease, caused most often by environmental stress. While this summer has been mild and wet, it follows two years of very hot and dry summers followed by unusually cold winters.

Oak decline at Peck Ranch Conservation Area in Missouri. Photo by Rob Lawrence, Missouri Department of Conservation.

Birds of a Feather
Innsbrook’s volunteer bluebird monitors report so far this year that over 600 chicks fledged, and the season is about over. Perhaps this explains why Cooper’s hawks also appear to be thriving as they prey on songbirds and are especially attracted to lots with feeders.

Photo by Kurt Kruger

Quiz: Do you know why some male cardinals are bald?

A Fungus Among Us
The giant puffball mushrooms have started showing lately. They range from 8”-20”, but are extra-large this year due to the above average rainfall. From the Missouri Department of Conservation: When young and growing, the puffball’s surface looks and feels like white leather and its inside resembles the texture and color of a marshmallow. As the puffball matures, its color changes to a yellowish-green and the surface texture becomes papery. The inside changes into a powdery mass of almost microscopic spores.

2006 photo of giant puffball mushroom at Innsbrook

Closing Nature Quote

-Richard McFall and Kathleen Kremer 

Find the answer to the quiz at: http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/northern-cardinal.