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Posted on October 10, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Scientific illustration may seem daunting at first, however there are some great reasons to try your hand at it!

First, as you draw, you are forming new pathways and connections in the brain. Secondly, each time you draw a piece, you are making some in-depth observations about it and may learn something new about the natural world! For example, I just did a Pileated Woodpecker piece and learned more about the sexual dimorphism between male and female Pileated Woodpeckers. I originally thought that only males had red feathers, but now I know that both males and females do, however males just have more! As you draw, what will you observe?

scientific illustration sketch of cat skull

Step 1: Creating a Sketch

Before you even put your pencil to the paper, ask yourself some questions about your subject. Why might it look the way it does? What function does your subject have? How does it connect to the rest of its ecosystem? And, of course, does my subject look normal or abnormal?

For example, some of the questions that I had as I observed this cat skull were, 1) Can I identify which type of domestic cat it came from? There are many different sized domestic cats. 2) What does a typical cat skull look like when it’s intact? This one is missing some of the dentition. 3) Can I infer, or discover, how the head of the cat correlates to the skull? The eye orbital seems large in comparison to the size of a cat’s eye. How does the zygomatic arch sit inside the head?

Once you’ve asked those questions and spent some time observing your subject, then make a very quick sketch. This is a rough, and sloppy step, just to provide you with a basic outline.

scientific illustration outline of cat skull

Step 2: Refining the Lines & Details

Between every single step and throughout the process, you should be continuing to ask questions and make observations. How do the fissures in the skull connect each bone segment? What are distinguishing features and have I included them on my paper?

After the sketch comes the time to refine the lines. There is no need to erase or clean up lines as you create a sketch. Once you’re happy with the sketch, clean up the lines and add some extra details. Here, I detailed out the teeth, rather than making them simple triangles. I added the shape of the bone fissures, and made sure that the ratios were right. Looking at the subject from as many sides as possible can really help!

scientific illustration ink line and grey wash of cat skull

Step 3: Pigment Lines (optional)

Once you are happy with your lines, consider what needs a little more “oomf”, or contrast. Are there portions that are less visible than others? These may be areas that you want to go over with pigment liners. Tracing over your lines isn’t necessary, but can really help boost contrast.

Follow along as I add the pigment liner and discuss next steps.

Step 4: Grey Wash

Grey washes are simple, light areas of grey to denote where shadows are. The grey gives an added dimension to your piece, and even if you are going to add color overtop, they will darken the areas naturally.

simple scientific illustration of cat skull

Step 5: Adding color

Now go crazy with the coloring! Remember, one subject isn’t just one color. There are many colors, shadows, and highlights. Try to use at least 3 colors to represent mid-tones, darker shadows, and brighter highlights. Also keep in mind that there is no true black pigment. Dark blacks are actually browns or deep reds, so while you can definitely use black colors, the highlights may actually incorporate a different color entirely!

Don’t forget to utilize the color of your paper! With my cat skull, I knew that the color of the paper was a similar color to the skull itself, so I utilized the negative space for my highlights.

Learning More

Are you interested in learning more about scientific illustration? Go to my calendar of events, watch my YouTube tutorials, purchase illustration workshop in a box! There are so many ways to discover the natural world, make some in depth observations about the ecosystems we share with flora & fauna, as well as ways to express your creativity!

Calendar of Events
Workshop in a Box

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Posted on September 27, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Caffeine, while very helpful to wake people up in the morning, however when used in excess, it can have some pretty harmful side effects. Personally, caffeine doesn’t impact me the way it does for most people (a blessing and a curse since I can enjoy a cup of coffee at night, but can’t use it to wake up), so I drink it because I enjoy the taste of coffee. Coffee is one of those comfort, cozy drinks, but I do know the dangers that it poses if I don’t drink it in moderation.

When consumed in excess, caffeine can cause heart palpitations, increased feelings of anxiety, and jitters – I mean, think about it – caffeine is a stimulant! It makes sense that our body would go on high alert and have it’s systems to into double-time when we consume too much. These effects can cause many people to want to give up drinking, or relying on coffee, but what if you’re similar to me and love the taste? How do you get your coffee fix?!

Fortunately, there are a few plants that we can use as coffee alternatives. The first is Chicory (Chicorum intybus), which is a common coffee alternative, especially in New Orleans where it holds cultural significance. The second plant is Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)! The root of these two plants can be roasted and used similarly to coffee beans and even taste very similarly to coffee!

This Bumblebee is hard at work collecting pollen from the Chicory.

Dandelion root not only doesn’t have the caffeine in it like coffee beans do, but it also provides some nutritional and medicinal benefits! The root is a wonderful hepatonic and digestive bitters, meaning that your liver, stomach, and intestinal tract will thank you!

Learn more about herbal plant actions & benefits

Below are two of my favorite ways to get Dandelion Coffee into my diet

iced dandelion root latte
Dandelion Iced Latte
  • Oat Milk
  • 1/4 tsp. roasted dandelion root per 6 oz. serving
  • Brown Sugar to taste
  • Hot Water

This is one of my favorite summer drinks to make and can be made in a big pitcher and refrigerated for later. Simply boil your hot water and pour over your roasted dandelion roots. Typically, I add enough roots to decoct in 24 oz. water in my French Press. Allow to steep until the roots sink to the bottom and the color of the liquid looks like dark coffee.

Strain and pour into a pitcher. Add Brown sugar and Oat milk to taste. Refrigerate until serving. You can also make “coffee” cubes, by pouring the dandelion decoction into an ice cube tray, then freezing. Fill your glass with coffee cubes, then pour your latte overtop! This prevents your iced drink from becoming diluted as standard ice cubes melt.

Dandelion Coffee Ice Cream (Vegan/Dairy-Free Options) Recipe
  • 1 c. coconut milk
  • 2 c. heavy whipping cream (can also just use dairy-free milk instead, however this will create an icier ice cream texture.)
  • 2 tbsp roasted dandelion root
  • 1/2 c. White Sugar or Maple Syrup
  • 1/4 c. Brown Sugar
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 egg (optional – just creates a creamier texture)

Pour all liquid into a saucepan and simmer. Add dandelion root and continue to heat on low for an hour, or until it becomes a rich coffee color and is the desired taste. Turn off heat and allow to cool. Strain out dandelion root and pour liquid and stir in rest of ingredients. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer into your ice cream maker (I use a CuisineArt Ice Cream Maker). Turn machine on and run for roughly 20 minutes, or until the mixture becomes an ice-cream consistency. Immediately scoop into a container and freeze your coffee ice cream until serving. Typically makes 8-10 servings.

Add chocolate chips, caramel sauce, fudge ribbons, seasonal herbs (cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, etc…), or even foraged spicebush for added flavor and pizazz!

Marissa Jacobs (The Art of Ecology) does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe, and nothing said or done should be misconstrued as such. These tips are designed to educate and support general well-being.

sassafras fall foliage for fall foliage week

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Posted on September 14, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Did you know that the last week of September is National Fall Foliage week? As the season changes from late-summer to early autumn, we start to see the impacts of less light and cooler temperatures on the trees around us. Many are turning from green to red or yellow, and they are stunning!

As we start to observe and swoon over the fall foliage, let’s take a look at how to identify trees by their foliage so that we can start observing patterns in the coloration.

Ways to Identify Trees

There are so many ways to identify trees. You can examine the bark color and texture, overall shape and growth habit, or how the buds form along the branches. As the leaves fall, you can even examine the scar, or the place where the leaf originally attached to the branch! These scars will vary tree by tree.

The bark of my favorite tree - the Betula nigra (River Birch)! I can't get over the many layers of peeling, reddish bark. They are so unique!
Bark texture, coloration, ability to see lenticels (those little horizontal pores), or exfoliation can be helpful identifying features, especially in the winter when there are no leaves!
Learn More About Tree Bark HERE
The Language of Bark: by Michael Wojtech (a blog post)

However, one of the easiest ways to identify trees during the growing season and into autumn is to examine the leaves! Here, we’ll focus on Simple vs. Compound leaves, as well as leaf arrangement along the stem. Simple means that there is only one leaf that attaches to a petiole connecting the leaf to the branch. Think maples and oaks. Compound means that there are multiple leaflets that attach to the petiole that connects the entire leaf to the branch. Think Black Walnuts and Sumacs.

Simple Leaves

Within the category of simple leaves comes many subsets. As you examine a tree and answer the question of “Does it have simple or compound leaves,” you can start to see that each tree may have individual leaf shapes. Are the leaves long and skinny or are they egg-shaped?

Another observation to make as you examine the leaf is in regards to the edges, or margins. Do the leaves have teeth, like the birch, or entire (smooth) margins, like the Redbud? Are they finely serrated like the willow, or extremely lobed and dissected, like a White Oak or Japanese Maple?

By answering these questions, you will be able to start narrowing down the tree’s identity in your field guide.

Each of these trees has single leaves, but each leaf shape is different.

Compound Leaves

Just as with the simple leaves, compound leaves also can have some subsets. In the diagram above, you can see that compound leaves can be Palmate or Pinnate.

Palmate leaves are ones whose individual leaflets radiate from one central point, like the fingers on our hands radiating out from our palm. The diagram above shows a blackberry leaf, however we are focusing on trees, not on berry canes (although blackberry leaves do turn a stunning deep red in the fall). A Horse Chestnut would be an example of a Palmately Compound tree.

Pinnate means that there are many leaflets that run along a single stem. The diagram above shows a Black Walnut leaf. In compound leaves, each of the individual blades is a leaflet. All of those leaflets that attach to the single stem is what comprises a Leaf. In the Black Walnut, sumac, ash, or even in a fern, that one long structure is a single leaf!

Another way to determine tree identity via the leaf is to examine the leaf arrangement along the stem or branch.

Each of these has compound leaves, although the Virginia Creeper (second image from left with the red leaflets) is palmate instead of pinnately compound.

Leaf Arrangement

Answer some of these questions. Does your leaf (remember, one leaf can be made of many individual leaflets!) attach to the main stem or branch in an alternating or opposing fashion? There are only a few trees that have oppositely arranged leaves, which can be helpful in narrowing down your identification.

Remember this acronym to narrow down your id: MAD Horse. M (Maples), A (Ash), D (Dogwoods), Horse (Horse Chestnuts). If you spot a tree with opposite leaf arrangement, where the leaves are arranged directly across from one another, and not even a smidgen out of place, then you either have a Maple, and Ash, a Dogwood, or a Horse Chestnut. Some people find ash trees and other pinnately compound leaves difficult to differentiate between, but with this acronym, you can easily narrow it down! If the leaves are alternate, then it can’t be an ash, and therefore must be a sumac, walnut, or other tree.

From there, did you know that the fall foliage color can also help you identify leaves?

Fall Foliage Color & Tree ID

Trees don’t just willy-nilly decide to present as red, orange, yellow, or brown in the fall. While they all have various levels of the anthocyanin, xanthophyll, and carotenoid pigment levels, each trees will utilize those pigments in different ways and will express their colors uniquely.

For example, Sassafras trees turn a peachy-red or orange color, while Red Oaks turn a deep burgundy. Red maples may be red, yet they are usually a more vibrant, brighter red than a Red Oak. Beech trees and Aspen turn yellow, while Pin and Black oaks might just turn a dingy yellowish-brown.

S

Field guides may include images of the fall foliage coloration for this exact purpose! If you have an orangey-peach tree, yet your field guide is saying that the tree should be a bright sunshine yellow, you may want to reexamine the tree’s leaf structures, or use another identifying feature, such as bark or overall tree shape to get an accurate identity.

To complicate things a little, do keep in mind that environmental factors can impact fall foliage color. If there was a drought, or the late-summer storms were severe, the leaves may be more dingy and less vibrant. Plenty of rain (but not too much), a dip into cooler temperatures (without a freeze), and a happy summer make for vibrant fall colors.

What trees do you observe?

Upload your observations to iNaturalist or share them with me on social media using #theartofecology. There is such a wealth of biodiversity in the tree world and they all have their own stories to tell. Celebrate Fall Foliage Week in a whole new way this year!

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Posted on August 22, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

We land-dwellers don’t usually consider the importance of marine ecosystems in our day-to-day lives, understandably. The times we usually think about the ocean are when we are on our summer vacations to the shore. In reality, the ways we are connected to marine life are closer than we may think.

Oceans make up most of the water on the planet - but unfortunately, as salt water, we can't efficiently use it.
Oceans make up most of the water on the planet – but unfortunately, as salt water, we can’t efficiently use it.

What Does the Ocean do for Us?

The ocean affects our global temperature, supplies us with food, gives us ways of transportation, produces over half of the world’s oxygen, and regulates climate change. Humans also have major impacts on the ocean, though unfortunately, they aren’t comparable to what the ocean does for us. Human activities over the last hundred years have significantly damaged marine life, and the actions we take in our daily lives
can have detrimental effects on our ocean’s ecosystems. Aside from what the ocean can do for humans, the ocean is worth protecting for its intrinsic value, the beauty it brings to this world, and its ability to reduce the effects of climate change.

Oceanic Biodiversity

The amount of biodiversity the ocean holds is astounding. Because life arose in the ocean 3.5 billion years ago, marine life had a lot of time to evolve and adapt, and scientists estimate that there are 2 million animals species living in the ocean with only 230,000 identified. It contains the largest mammals in the world and is filled with photosynthetic phytoplankton that are the basis of the food web and produce half of the earth’s oxygen. It was once believed that the bottom of the ocean was unfit for any kind of life, but it turns out that there is life inhabiting the most extreme conditions like deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The biodiversity numbers of the ocean can give us clues about climate change as well. When biodiversity is flourishing and marine life is growing in numbers, it indicates a healthy ocean with the ideal conditions to support many forms of life. Devastatingly enough, the ocean’s biodiversity is dropping at an alarming rate, and it is estimated that 50% of marine species were lost between 1970 and 2012.

These disturbing numbers are indicative of the growing pollution and other human-caused changes in the ocean. As the biodiversity numbers continue to drop, it is important to appreciate our marine wildlife and to practice habits that can reduce our impact on the ocean.

Fishing Demands

Humans all around the world are dependent on the resources the ocean offers us. 3.5 billion people rely on seafood as their primary source of food and the demand is continuing to rise. Fishing and fishing companies are sources of financial support for the world’s poorest communities, and many of them depend on it for their survival and to support their family. Because of the resources that come from the ocean, human settlements have lived near the coast for hundreds of years to take advantage of what the ocean has to offer.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 60 million people work in the fishing industry and the majority of them are in developing countries working in small-scale businesses. Unfortunately, as the demand for seafood continues to rise, the overexploitation and depletion of ocean resources continue to be a problem. The demand for seafood and ocean resources is becoming more prominent, and we must find ways to continue to provide for poor communities while protecting marine life populations.

How to Make a Difference on Marine Ecosystems

We humans can make small changes that can help the ocean’s marine life. Many ocean organizations are helping marine life, including Oceana, The Ocean Conservancy, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and many more. Both Oceana and The Ocean Conservancy have resources on their website that make it easy to contact our representatives and lawmakers about defending the ocean.

Take Action with Oceana
Take Action with The Ocean Conservancy

When buying seafood products, check to see if they have a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) label, as they ensure that the seafood products came from sustainable sources that do not exploit marine populations. Continue to appreciate the serenity of the ocean and the animals that live in the salty water. Continue to watch the gulls search for fish and continue to admire the glorious sunsets over the ocean, and think about all of the life that is thriving under that sunset.

Marine Ecosystem Coloring Pages for Kids & Adults
Marine Animal Sticker Set
Lucy McGinty - Spring 2022 Intern
Lucy McGinty – Spring 2022 Intern

Lucy is an environmental studies college student, and The Art of Ecology’s new intern! Her career goal is to become an environmental microbiologist—a person who studies the microorganisms in the environment and their relationship to pollution. She is so excited to [learn more about ecology] and ways we can do better.

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Posted on August 8, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

I absolutely love cats – their cute ears, long whiskers, unique eyes, and soft tails – they’re adorable! However, as an ecologist and cat-owner, I can definitely speak to the fact that cats are environmentally destructive in North America, and pet owners should be conscientious of how much outdoor time their cat gets. Let’s examine why we should keep cats indoors.

Impacts of Domestic Cats on the Environment

Lions are a part of the Felidae (cat family), but are further removed from domestic cats. They are “Panthera” (roaring cats), rather than “Felis” (small cats).

There are six native North American cats. This list includes Bobcats, Pumas, Canadian Lynx, Jaguarundi, and Jaguars, but not the domestic cat. Our pet cats are descended from an ancient wildcats (Felis sylvestris lybica) in the Middle East. In their native range, they tolerated the dry, desert-like conditions by hunting prey at night when the temperature dropped. They were effective predators of animals including rodents, lizards, weasels, and larger animals such as birds, goats, and even antelopes! On top of being a top-notch predator, they were also opportunistic. This meant that they would scavenge and eat whatever they could, when they could.

Now, domestic cats still maintain that fierce hunting instinct and desire to scavenge when they can. In North America, where migratory songbirds haven’t adapted over hundreds and thousands of years to small cat predators, this invasive cat species, introduced roughly 400 years ago, wreaks havoc. Despite being domesticated and knowing that they get food from caring owners, they still want to hunt on their own.

Studies show that cats are a leading cause of Migratory Songbird deaths, killing over 2 billion birds each year. They contributed to the extinction of over 60 bird species.

While there is nothing wrong with a cat hunting, it’s their natural behavior after all, there is a problem with letting this invasive species run rampant throughout communities. These migratory birds face threats to their populations from all sides – climate change, window strikes, and out competition from invasive species. They need all the help they can get to thrive! And we need birds to continue spreading seeds, managing insect populations, and pollinating plants.

Learn More About Cats & Bird Populations HERE

Benefits of Keeping Cats Indoors

Fortunately, there are many great reasons to continue loving our kitty cats and we can do this easily by keeping them indoors! Not only will this help bird populations, but it will also significantly, and positively, impact your furry friend’s overall health.

First, outdoor, or partially outdoor cats run the risk of picking up numerous diseases. Fleas and ticks, and worms can transmit diseases. They can also pick up Feline Distemper or Feline Leukemia. On top of those diseases, cats run the risk of getting hit by cars, or being targeted by predatory species.

It is nice to let your cat outside though, I get it! Catios (cat patios) are great additions to a cat-owners house. They can be large and complex, almost like a sun room devoted to your cat. They can be small window boxes that allow cats to get some sun and be near plants, but still inside. Your imagination is the limit.

Another way to let your cat enjoy the fresh air is to use a leash and harness. It can be funny to watch a cat adjust, but will allow for quality outdoor time without them running the risk of killing any birds or small mammals.

This cat, Mango, enjoyed sitting atop a sofa that sat in front of a large window. Arranging furniture to take advantage of sunlight and windows can help keep your cat occupied.

You can enrich your indoor cat’s life by getting them interactive toys that stimulate their hunting senses. Providing them with scratching posts, hiding spots, or perches so they can watch the world go by without having to go out is also helpful.

Make the world a safer, greener place for your pets and for the wildlife we share our ecosystem with! Keep cats indoors.

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Posted on July 25, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Coming off of National Pollinator Month in June, many of us are thinking about and understand the importance of butterflies, birds, and bees as pollinator species. Did you know that moths also play an important role in our ecosystems, but that not all of them are pollinators? While yes, some, such as the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (learn more below!) are indeed pollinators, many moth species actually lack mouthparts and live as adults to only mate and lay eggs.

So other than pollinate, what is the point of moths?

Overall, moths are great food sources for many other larger animals such as birds, mammals, and even other insects! Having a diverse population of moths can also be a bioindicator of a healthy overall ecosystem. Their presence shows that their vital host plant populations are present, and indicate that other animals further up the food chain will be present as well since their moth snacks are around.

There are roughly 160,000 moth species found worldwide. 433 of them are native to Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Learn more about some colorful moths found in PA below!

Fun facts about 5 PA Native Moths

Regal Moth (aka Royal Walnut Moth), Citheronia regalis

This orange and tan moth is quite a sight to behold on it’s walnut tree host plants! That is, if you are lucky enough to spot one! These are primarily nocturnal animals, but may be seen tucked away, sleeping during the day. These are one of the larger moths in Pennsylvania; it’s wingspan measures 3.5-5″. It’s caterpillar (larval stage), has a much larger body, measuring roughly 5-6″ long!

These creatures aren’t pollinators though, so having nectar plants around won’t attract them. Instead, be sure that their host plants of Walnuts, Hickories, and occasionally Sumacs and Sweetgums, are present!

Rosy Maple Moth, Dryocampa rubicunda

Would you believe that this cutie’s coloration is a form of camouflage? These moths have an uncanny similarity to the size and color of a maple samara (those helicopter seeds). This helps them hide from predators, since the moth visits Sugar and Red Maple trees frequently to lay their eggs.

Again, these adults have no usable mouth parts, so they aren’t important pollinators. Instead they are important food sources for many birds including Tufted Titmice, Blue Jays, chickadees, and to predatory & parasitic insects.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe

This is my personal favorite insect! “Hummingbird moths” are named for their striking behavioral and morphological resemblance to hummingbirds. They are roughly the same size as the native Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and hover in similar fashions. They dart from flower to flower, many of which also attract hummingbirds, using their long proboscis to drink nectar.

As such, these are moths that also are wonderful little pollinators! While this sets them apart from the other moths on this list, they also are set apart from other moths in general since they are daytime pollinators. Most moths that also help to pollinate flowers are nocturnal.

Cecropia Moth (aka Robin Moth), Hyalophora cecropia

For the entire two weeks that these adult moths live, they flit around to mate and lay their eggs in great masses on birch and cherry trees.

As another member of the Silk Moth family, they do not have functioning mouthparts (the main reason that they can’t live for very long once becoming an adult!), so they are not pollinators. Yet they are still of great ecological importance! Their numerous caterpillars are a favorite snack of many birds and are very high in nutrients.

Luna Moth, Actias luna

This highly recognizable moth is classified as one of the most “beautiful” moths and it’s image has been used all over popular art, media, and more. In 1987, the US Postal service created a first-class stamp featuring this moth! It is found throughout much of North America, so many people continent-wide know it!

Despite sounding like a strictly nocturnal creature, based on it’s name, it can be seen during the day. The “Luna” portion of it’s name comes from the moon shaped spots on it’s wings.

Luna moth populations are negatively impacted, especially in urban areas due to light pollution. The adults spend too much time flitting around light sources. This wastes valuable energy (they don’t eat either!), and allows nocturnal predators to catch them with ease. They can’t get around to mating and laying eggs, so as light pollution increases, Luna Moth population decreases. You can help support their populations by turning off lights when not in use, especially at night.

White birch, walnuts, hickories, sumacs, sweetgums, and persimmon trees are their primary host plants. Planting these where native can also support moth populations!

moth sticker set

Do you have a love and fascination in moths? Get to know them a little more and keep them around through my Moths of PA Sticker set (set includes all 5 moths illustrated above, but without the backgrounds)! A portion of the proceeds benefits wildlife conservation efforts. Free shipping in the United States!

Shop Moth Sticker Set Here

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blueberries - more than a tasty snack

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Posted on July 8, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Summer is here, and many of us love nothing more than a big carton of deep blue-ish purple blueberries! Wherever we can get them from the grocery store, farmers markets, or local community agriculture programs is so exciting, but did you know that blueberries are native to the eastern United States? We can go out and forage for these sweet snacks starting in July through the early fall! BUT, blueberries are more than a tasty snack for us. They are important food and shelter for many wildlife species and play an important role in our ecosystem.

Blueberries & the Ecosystem

Highbush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) definitely provides excellent food sources for wildlife, just as it does for humans. While we may often think of an herbivore enjoying the ripened berries, many omnivores and opportunistic eaters love the fruits! Black bears, raccoons, red fox, coyotes, opossums, and porcupines love this snack, as do many birds.

Bluebirds, robins, Baltimore Orioles, Grey Catbirds, Eastern Towhees, and several other fruit eaters can be found flying from blueberry bush to bush in search of the fruits. Not only do blueberry shrubs provide valuable food resources, but they also will provide shelter for many of these birds as well. The blueberry’s shrubby, thicket-like growth allow small birds and mammals to take shelter from the elements (heat, wind, rain, etc…) and hide away from predators.

In the spring, when the bell-shaped flowers are drooping, they provide valuable nectar and pollen resources for numerous native bee species.

Benefits of Native Blueberries for Humans

blueberries - more than a tasty snack

If you’re looking to incorporate native plants into your garden, blueberries may be a great addition both for you AND for wildlife!

On top of the ecosystem benefits, blueberries are wonderful to forage for & harvest because they are rich in nutrients. These dark blue-ish purple berries are high in antioxidants, Vitamin B2 and C, help boost circulation, and can improve digestion due to their sugar and tannin content. The leaves, when dried and made into tea, have an antiseptic effect and can help rid the body of infection, especially in the kidneys and bladder.

Harvest the berries in July – early September (provided the wildlife hasn’t beaten you to them!) and the leaves in the fall once they have changed color to a vibrant red.

Foraging 101 on the Blog

Foraged Blueberry Recipes

trails-to-tasting seasonal series
This particular gin infusion ALSO incorporated violet leaves and Johnny-Jump-Ups.
Blueberry Lemonade Cocktail
  • Mason jar or clean glass jar for infusing
  • Blueberries
  • Lemon peel
  • Gin
  • Water, Honey, and Lemon Juice

In your clean glass jar, fill it 1/2 way with blueberries and muddle. Fill the rest of the jar with lemon peel. Top off with gin. Seal and set aside for 3-5 days, until the gin is fully flavored. In a glass, make DIY Lemonade using water, honey, and lemon juice (all ingredients to taste). When ready, strain the muddled blueberries and lemon peel out of the gin and compost the marc (debris). Add your blueberry gin to the lemonade for a delicious summer cocktail!

Blueberry Tea Blend
  • 1/2 tbsp. dried blueberry leaf
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 1 tsp. blackberry leaf

Fill a tea steeper with the crushed, dried plant matter. Do not put the steeper in your mug yet. Boil water for the tea and fill your mug with the hot water. Wait 1-2 minutes, then add your tea steeper. Boiling water & high heat can degrade the nutritional and medicinal benefits of the plants. Steep for 5-7 minutes and enjoy! Use 8 tbsp. of dried plant matter for a pitcher of iced tea.

Blueberry Jam
  • Clean ball pint jars (6)
  • 1 packet of Jelly-making Pectin
  • 2 – 3 c. of foraged blueberries
  • Sugar (as called for in the instructions in the Pectin box)
  • Water (as called for in the instructions in the Pectin box)

Wash all berries and mush them up in a saucepan with water. Inside the pectin box, you will be able to find a table of ratios that will instruct you how much water to add to the saucepan based on the type and amount of berries that you foraged. Follow those ratios for both the water AND the sugar. Boil the berries and water quickly for 1 minute, then strain the fruit bits out if desired. Add sugar, and boil again while stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Quickly pour jam mixture into your clean ball jars and fully seal. Jam will be ready to store in the refrigerator or pantry once you hear the pressurized lid “pop”. (For reference, I had 2 and 1/2 c. berries which made 6 full pint jars of blueberry jam.)

Marissa Jacobs (The Art of Ecology) does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe, and nothing said or done should be misconstrued as such. These tips are designed to educate and support general well-being.

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

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Attract Fruit-eating Birds to Your Backyard honeycreeper bird exotic

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Posted on June 23, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Attract Fruit-eating Birds to Your BackyardAttract Fruit-eating Birds to Your Backyard
Honeycreepers, native to Hawaii, have a diet of fruits, insects, and nectar.

They may seem ultra-exotic and tropical, however fruit-eating birds do live in North America along the East Coast. In fact, while kayaking along the Delaware River in Philadelphia the other week, I had the incredible opportunity to watch a Baltimore Oriole creating a nest! Not all fruit-eaters are mango or papaya-loving tropical birds. Some are in our own backyards!

White-throated Sparrow enjoying the fruits of a Staghorn Sumac

Fruit-Eating Birds Living in Pennsylvania

Many birds incorporate fruit into their diets. Here in PA, and in the surrounding region, we have birds that live here who will eat insects in the spring, then transition their diets to fruit and seeds in the summer season.

Learn More About Bird Diets

While this list isn’t a comprehensive one, it may give you a good idea of birds that you may see that will be searching for fruit and visiting your fruit-bearing wildlife habitat, gardens, and fruit-feeders!

Birds that Live Here Year-Round:

  • American Robin
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Song Sparrow
  • White-throated Sparrow
This Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is one of the birds found in this area that are being threatened by Climate Change.
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Birds that Migrate Through or Breed Here:

  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Philadelphia Vireo
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Black-and-White Warbler
  • Yellow Warbler

Native Plants that Attract Fruit-Eaters

There are a ton of wonderful trees and flowers that produce fruits, seeds, and nuts that feed birds. Attract fruit-eating birds to your backyard this summer by adding some of the plants on this list, or search the database for plants in your area! This list includes some common natives that you may be able to find at local nurseries and greenhouses to add to your yard and community.

Complete Native Plant Database By Zip Code
  • Allegheny Serviceberry
  • American Plum
  • Black Cherry
  • Black Raspberry
  • Coralberry
  • Eastern Red Cedar
  • Flowering Dogwood
  • Hawthorn (Hog Apple)
  • Highbush Blueberry
  • Nannyberry Viburnum
  • Northern Spicebush
  • Persimmon
  • Staghorn Sumac
  • Trumpet Honeysuckle
  • Tupelo

If you don’t have space to add these trees, shrubs, and flowers, consider setting up special bird feeders! Setting out fruits such as citruses, watermelon, peaches, and blackberries can be a real treat for birds flying by! Many of these fruits can even be turned into a feeder itself.

House sparrows can be impacted by climate change. Find out how you can help keep bird populations happy and #BirdYourWorld!

Create a Citrus Fruit Feeder

  1. Choose a citrus (navel oranges or grapefruits do best since they are large and easy to work with) for your feeder and cut it in half.
  2. Scoop out (and eat!) the fruit, leaving the peel behind. This will create a bowl.
  3. Use skewers to poke 3 holes into the edge of the peel and tie yarn through the holes.
  4. Gather the strings and tie together to form a hanger.
  5. Pour in bird seed (black oil sunflower attracts the largest diversity of local birds), meal worms, or fill with suet. You can even combine suet with the citrus fruit that you scooped out for an extra tasty treat for the birds!
  6. Hang on a tree at least 15 feet from windows to prevent window strikes and watch the birds flock to their snacks!

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1 Comment

Posted on June 14, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Research by Lucy McGinty and Marissa Jacobs

02/28/22 – 05/10/22 

Abstract

Local Pennsylvania streams are becoming more polluted due to chemical runoff, littering, and sewage dumping. Because of this, diversity in streams is beginning to decline. Popular ways researchers determine the quality of the stream is by species counts and various chemical testing. Macroinvertebrates are important bioindicators for stream health, as many macroinvertebrates are more tolerant of pollution than others. Additionally, pH and dissolved oxygen tests are useful tools for measuring pollutant levels in streams. Both of these strategies are able to give researchers a better understanding of the extent of pollution in certain locations. Besides species counts and chemical testing, documenting temperature changes and erosion rates can give a good insight into changing macroinvertebrate counts. 

Objectives 

Lucy M. identifies macroinvertebrates caught at the stream.
  1. Use macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of pollution.
  2. Perform chemical testing on stream to determine stream health in more depth.
  3. Observe the physical characteristics of the stream and document the rate of bank soil erosion.

Hypothesis

The tests and observations performed on the Honey Hollow Creek will result in healthy stream measurements as the creek and areas surrounding it are protected and monitored by Bucks Audubon.

Materials: 

  • PH indicator strips
  • Dissolved oxygen titration
  • Small net
  • Magnifying glass
  • Measuring tape
  • Thermometer
  • Camera

Methods 

Figure 1.0

Once a week for nine weeks, we gathered stream information at the same location (lat. 40.37, lon. 75.01). We determined the level of erosion on our first day and then took weekly width measurements of the stream in order to document the erosion. We then used a thermometer for approximately 10 minutes to document temperature changes, pH strips for documenting pH changes, and a dissolved oxygen test kit for dissolved oxygen changes by using the Winkler method. Once chemical testing was complete, we spent 15 minutes counting macroinvertebrates by flipping over rocks, logs, and leaf litter and catching them with nets. 

Results

The creek showed significant signs of soil erosion where there were little to no root systems (Figure 1). From the data we collected, there were no significant signs of  further erosion.

Our pH strips indicated that the levels moved from 7-9, and our D.O. levels indicated that they moved from 8.5-10. pH and D.O. levels were both inside of a healthy range for the ecosystem to be sustained, as a healthy pH for a stream are between 5-9 and a healthy D.O. range is between 7-10. During our macroinvertebrate counts, we found large numbers of pollutant-intolerant species such as stoneflies, caddisflies, and mayflies. 

Conclusion

Because of the healthy pH and dissolved oxygen levels, the large counts of pollution-intolerant macroinvertebrates, and the number of frogs thriving in the creek, we can conclude that the Honey Hollow Stream at Bucks Audubon is a healthy aquatic habitat. However, it is important to note that the erosion along the bank could become an issue by smothering life in the water, and it may be beneficial to scatter native plants with deep root systems along the soil to reduce soil displacement.

Lucy McGinty - 2022 Intern
Lucy McGinty – 2022 Intern

Lucy is an environmental studies college student, and The Art of Ecology’s new intern! Her career goal is to become an environmental microbiologist—a person who studies the microorganisms in the environment and their relationship to pollution. She is so excited to [learn more about ecology] and ways we can do better.

Bald Cypress Restoration Project hike

1 Comment

Posted on June 3, 2022 by The Art of Ecology

Students of a wide age range had the unique opportunity to discover and learn about the Bald Cypress population, as well as participate in restoring the local species!

Iesha has a deep passion to protect the environment and to create ways to effectively solve environmental issues. Her experience working and volunteering has given her a well-rounded skill set to create solutions and to have a positive impact on low income communities… She has helped protect the environment by using her experiences to spark others to converse about environmental issues and helping minority groups become aware that what happens in the environment has a huge impact on their life. 

North American Association For Environmental Education

On May 13th-15th, 2022, Environmental Educator, Iesha Baldwin implemented a Bald Cypress Environmental Education & Natural Habitat Restoration program in Georgia, partially funded by The Art of Ecology’s 2022 Conservation Mini-Grant.

The Bald Cypress Restoration Project

During this program, students from kindergarten all the way through seniors in high school learned about the Bald Cypress tree, it’s relationship to water, and how to restore habitat. These students of color were from low-income and low-literacy communities. They learned more about general restoration processes, which was especially important due to the rapid depletion of old growth cypress forests, the history of the Bald Cypress, how to protect current populations, as well as how to collect and analyze environmental samples. It was wonderful that they were able to spend their weekend outdoors exploring the natural world through science and service.

While this project was a 2 day event, Iesha has hopes to implement some long term environmental education and restoration. The goal is to grow this restoration project into a year long project, then into an ongoing program focusing on teaching students of color from low-income communities about becoming environmental stewards using the bald cypress species as a teaching tool.

Thank you Iesha for leading the next generation of environmental stewards during your Bald Cypress Restoration Project!

Interested in completing a fully or partially funded Wildlife Conservation or Habitat Restoration project of your own? Learn more about The Art of Ecology’s Mini-Grants!

Learn More Here
Marissa Jacobs | NatGeo Certified Educator | Photographer
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