Week 3 at Chapel Branch
By: The NRWC (Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy) Work Study Group
With David Fees
A bird teller, David Fees. As we walked down the trail, he assisted us in identifying birds only by hearing their chirps. Also Mr Fees worked for DRNEC, in the Division of Air Quality. “I thank Dave Fees for his dedication to the Department and the people of Delaware,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In naming Angela Marconi as his successor, I know we have an experienced leader moving us into the future.” states an article in Delaware News.
Milkweed
Asclepias is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, blooming plants sometimes known as milkweeds. They get their name from the milky latex they secrete when cells are broken, which contains cardiac glycosides known as cardenolides.
Spiders
Air-breathing arthropods with eight legs, chelicerae that can typically inject venom, and spinnerets that project silk are known as spiders. They are the biggest group of arthropods and have the seventh-highest species diversity of any group of living things. Along with many other places, you may find them on the Chapel Branch nature trail.
Dragonflies
A dragonfly is a flying insect from the suborder Anisoptera of the order Odonata. Large, multifaceted compound eyes, two pairs of sturdy, transparent wings, occasionally with colored patches, and an elongated body are the distinguishing features of adult dragonflies. Since there is a pond in the Chapel Branch Nature Trail, it’s not very hard to spot the dragonflies.
Blackberries
We came across some ripe blackberries while strolling along the nature trail. We were confident that nothing bad would happen if we ate these blackberries. A variety of species of the genus Rubus of the Rosaceae family, hybrids between these species within the subgenus Rubus, and hybrids between the subgenera Rubus and Idaeobatus all yield the edible fruit known as the blackberry.
Cicadas
The Cicadoidea superfamily of insects in the Hemiptera order includes the cicadas. Together with other smaller jumping insects like leafhoppers and froghoppers, they make up the suborder Auchenorrhyncha.
Check out the types of Delaware Cicadas here!
https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/common-cicadas-of-delaware/
Mushrooms
On our nature walk, we encountered a lot of mushrooms. If you don't know what these mushrooms are, don't eat them! They may be toxic and result in serious health issues.
Do not consume the mushrooms, despite the fact that they are attractive and offer lovely scenery to the nature route.
Check out the nature guide for Delaware mushrooms here: