One of my joys of discovery is heading down an absorbing path of seeking out more information in newspapers and scientific journals, reaching out to friends and colleagues, or delving into the books waiting to be probed on my bookshelf.
First, thank you for the Timothy Snyder quote. I am venturing forth into 2025 TV-less and this helps me with that decision.
Second, I had heard the term Hair Frost before, but had assumed it was another name for Jack Frost which most houses had on at least some of their window panes during freezing weather when I was a kid. So grand to be taught what an entirely different kingdom of life Hair Frost is. As I have some big leaf maples near by, I will keep my eyes open for Hair Ice.
Third, I miss the pileated woodpeckers that lived in the nearby forest that has now been logged. I grew to think of them as my Hard-Rock carpenter birds for their distinctive tapping when chiseling out their square holes. Always in their festive black and white with red feathered caps, they were certainly eye catchers! Though, as others have mentioned they are shy of humans, they had become used to me somewhat and tended to bounce around to the other side of the tree they were working on when they noticed me. Occasionally peeking around the trunk to see if I was still there. Loved how they raised their brood as a family and tended to stay together long after the babies had fledged. As wild as their Woody-woodpecker voices can be, it is their mad racing through the trees at full speed when caught unawares, that I was always most amazed by! It comforts me some to know that many of these woodpeckers are making themselves at home in more urbanized locations. Now if we humans can give-up some of our unhealthy ways, perhaps they will have a chance of surviving.
I remember your previous story about hair ice and enjoyed reading it again…it is so very cool. Your description and explanation makes the occurrence much more interesting…thanks!
Shadow Lake Nature Preserve (@shadowhabitat) recently posted a spectacular example of hair ice on their Instagram feed, with strands easily eight inches long (wide?). The preserve is always worth a visit, at any time of the year. And thank you for the Timothy Snyder quote!
When we first moved into this house, 25 years ago, there was a red alder tree sitting on the edge of the bank in front of the building, about 10 feet from the corner of the front porch. About 10 years ago, the tree was visited by a pair of northern flickers who commenced to begin a nest hole. They worked at it over three springs and finally were able to raise a chick there. However, I was concerned about the chips they dug out; the chips were spongy, and that and the tree's girth convinced me that the tree was reaching the end of its life span (alders live about as long as the average human, 70-80 years). The following spring, before the flickers could nest again, the tree was visited by a female pileated woodpecker, and she began digging a trench down the side of the tree. It was fascinating to watch the process, and she very conveniently worked on the side of the tree toward the house, and this ordinarily very shy bird even tolerated me standing on the porch and taking pictures of her. The trench ended up about 4 inches wide, 6 inches deep, and around 18 inches long. It also went right through the side of the flickers' nest hole, and looking into the trench it was possible to see the insect galleries going into the wood of the tree trunk.
Because it was so obvious that the tree was no longer reliable, we had it taken down by a professional arborist and found that about 50% of the interior of the tree consisted of a sort of wood pudding which was home to all manner of small arthropods, including some spiders that were definitely related to black widows. The solid parts of the tree were converted to some very satisfactory firewood.
I love how you've recycled this piece to continue to "marvel over the shimmering evanescence and to rejoice in the amazing surprises of the natural world." Over here on the eastern slope, the recent long cold-foggy weather has produced some very fine hoar frost features, including what I described as "hoary spiders" atop frozen river ice.
Thanks. I am a huge fan of hoar frost, which was a common sight in winter when I lived in Moab but something I rarely see on the side of the crest. Oh well. I'd like to see a hoary spider!
Wonderfully weird. Now I'm going to be on the lookout for hair ice. Great photos. And thank you for the quote from "On Tyranny." That book should be required reading for every high school student.
Thank you for inspiring me to go out in the natural world and see what there is to see. I plan to look for hair eyes on my next adventure.
Oops I should have edited this first. I'm sure you know what I meant to say.
Hair eyes! Gotta love those typos!
First, thank you for the Timothy Snyder quote. I am venturing forth into 2025 TV-less and this helps me with that decision.
Second, I had heard the term Hair Frost before, but had assumed it was another name for Jack Frost which most houses had on at least some of their window panes during freezing weather when I was a kid. So grand to be taught what an entirely different kingdom of life Hair Frost is. As I have some big leaf maples near by, I will keep my eyes open for Hair Ice.
Third, I miss the pileated woodpeckers that lived in the nearby forest that has now been logged. I grew to think of them as my Hard-Rock carpenter birds for their distinctive tapping when chiseling out their square holes. Always in their festive black and white with red feathered caps, they were certainly eye catchers! Though, as others have mentioned they are shy of humans, they had become used to me somewhat and tended to bounce around to the other side of the tree they were working on when they noticed me. Occasionally peeking around the trunk to see if I was still there. Loved how they raised their brood as a family and tended to stay together long after the babies had fledged. As wild as their Woody-woodpecker voices can be, it is their mad racing through the trees at full speed when caught unawares, that I was always most amazed by! It comforts me some to know that many of these woodpeckers are making themselves at home in more urbanized locations. Now if we humans can give-up some of our unhealthy ways, perhaps they will have a chance of surviving.
Thanks for sharing your woodpecker stories and love the idea of Hair Frost perhaps being Jack Frost's brother!
Oh yah, Harry and Jack Frost, I remember them showing up about this time of year! :-)
I remember your previous story about hair ice and enjoyed reading it again…it is so very cool. Your description and explanation makes the occurrence much more interesting…thanks!
Shadow Lake Nature Preserve (@shadowhabitat) recently posted a spectacular example of hair ice on their Instagram feed, with strands easily eight inches long (wide?). The preserve is always worth a visit, at any time of the year. And thank you for the Timothy Snyder quote!
Wow!!
When we first moved into this house, 25 years ago, there was a red alder tree sitting on the edge of the bank in front of the building, about 10 feet from the corner of the front porch. About 10 years ago, the tree was visited by a pair of northern flickers who commenced to begin a nest hole. They worked at it over three springs and finally were able to raise a chick there. However, I was concerned about the chips they dug out; the chips were spongy, and that and the tree's girth convinced me that the tree was reaching the end of its life span (alders live about as long as the average human, 70-80 years). The following spring, before the flickers could nest again, the tree was visited by a female pileated woodpecker, and she began digging a trench down the side of the tree. It was fascinating to watch the process, and she very conveniently worked on the side of the tree toward the house, and this ordinarily very shy bird even tolerated me standing on the porch and taking pictures of her. The trench ended up about 4 inches wide, 6 inches deep, and around 18 inches long. It also went right through the side of the flickers' nest hole, and looking into the trench it was possible to see the insect galleries going into the wood of the tree trunk.
Because it was so obvious that the tree was no longer reliable, we had it taken down by a professional arborist and found that about 50% of the interior of the tree consisted of a sort of wood pudding which was home to all manner of small arthropods, including some spiders that were definitely related to black widows. The solid parts of the tree were converted to some very satisfactory firewood.
Thanks for sharing. We can learn so much, if we pay attention. Glad your tree served as home and food source!
I love how you've recycled this piece to continue to "marvel over the shimmering evanescence and to rejoice in the amazing surprises of the natural world." Over here on the eastern slope, the recent long cold-foggy weather has produced some very fine hoar frost features, including what I described as "hoary spiders" atop frozen river ice.
Thanks. I am a huge fan of hoar frost, which was a common sight in winter when I lived in Moab but something I rarely see on the side of the crest. Oh well. I'd like to see a hoary spider!
Wonderfully weird. Now I'm going to be on the lookout for hair ice. Great photos. And thank you for the quote from "On Tyranny." That book should be required reading for every high school student.
Is Hair Ice tasty? It looks like it would be with some sugary fruit sauce drizzled over it.