This Week at Hilton Pond

Bill Hilton Jr.
Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
York, South Carolina 29745 USA

Late May Snapshot (22-31 May 2008)

A blooming bush, a tree-climbing snake, a crawly critter that kills trees, a sap-drinking butterfly, an out-of-place tree frog, and a late Neotropical migrant bird. In late May it seems natural happenings are everywhere you look. Our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 22-31 May 2008 is a snapshot of all these things and more, including a tally of all birds banded and a list or recaptures--not the least of which was our first returning Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year.

To view the installment, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080522.html

Figure 1. Sometimes we find gray tree frogs (Hyla chrysocelis) in unusual places—such as on thistle seed bird feeders. (Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.)

Giant Stag Beetle: OUCH! (1-14 June 2008)

Banders sometimes complain (brag?) about how hard different bird species can bite, but a giant stag beetle we netted this week provided a strong squeeze of its own. For a photo essay on the pinching prowess of this big insect, please visit the 1-14 June 2008 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080601.html

As always we include a tally of all birds banded and recaptured, as well as general notes about nuthatches and a recent lightning storm, with further commentary about local scarcity of ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Figure 2. The male giant stag beetle (Lucanus elaphus) has an enormous set of mandibles it uses in battle with conspecific competitors. (Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.)

Painted Turtles Revisited (15-21 June 2008)

Each June in the Carolinas, aquatic turtle females lumber onto land to make their nests in dry places. We often encounter these egg-bound females along our trails, but "This Week at Hilton Pond" we got a rare up-close look at a male Painted Turtle. For a photo essay of this wandering shelled reptile out of his element, please visit our current installment for 15-21 June 2008 at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080615.html

As always we include a tally of all birds banded or recaptured during the period, plus a follow-up note on the effects of last week's furnace-busting lightning strike.

Figure 3. During underwater courtship the male painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) gets the attention of females by stroking their noses with his long front claws. (Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.)

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