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Sweezey Lake Flora & Fauna
Compiled by Michael Sarnacki
Click on any photo below to view
a larger image.
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White
Water Lilly (Nymphaea odorata)
The White Water Lily’s leaves float directly on the water’s
surface. The plant requires still, quiet water because it
is rooted to the lake or pond bottom. Its roots produce large
tubers that are often eaten by muskrats. Its stems and leaves
have air channels that trap air in order to keep the plant
afloat. Its flowers open on sunny days and close at night
and on cloudy days. – Michael Sarnacki |
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American
Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Also know as the "Wild Canary, this beautiful bird can
be seen all summer long with its brilliant yellow plumage.
The male is pictured here. The female has the more muted coloration
(sorry ladies). They generally nest in late August. The female
lays four to six light blue eggs and sits on them for twelve
to fourteen days. She is a faithful sitter and is dutifully
assisted by the male who brings her seeds and insects during
her stay. Both parents work during the two weeks following
birth rearing the young until they reach flight stage.
– Michael Sarnacki |
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Cardinal
Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
We decided to let our cottage’s waterfront be as natural
as possible, hoping to attract and provide as much natural
habitat for the wildlife of our lake. One of the unanticipated
rewards for letting the grass and reeds grow freely are the
wildflowers that have started to spring up on our property.
We were startled to see this brilliant red gem recently.
The Cardinal flower is a short-lived perennial that grows
in clumps along Michigan’s streams, rivers and (apparently)
its lakes. The ruby red color resembles the color of the robes
that Roman Catholic cardinals wear – hence the common
name. It blooms in late summer and fall on 2-4 foot stems.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are very attracted to it and provide
its pollination. One bit of warning: This plant is
beautiful but can be deadly. Native Americans have used it
medicinally to treat all sorts of afflictions. It contains
fourteen alkaloids similar to nicotine. Extracts of the leaves
and fruit produce vomiting, sweating, pain, and finally death.
Be careful out there! – Michael Sarnacki |
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Cattails
When my dad was a kid, he tells me he used to dry them out,
light them, and use them as "mosquito chasers",
but he never heard of eating them. Hungry? Try a Cattail!
Cattails, found all around Sweezey Lake, are a multipurpose
plant. Although not so popular today, Cattails historically
have been used as a pain reliever (American Indians applied
the jelly from between young leaves to external wounds, sores,
boils and inflammations). They've also been used as a food
source and as a way to improve water and soil quality. Cattails
are easy to find. Look for cigar-shaped seed heads standing
among others. If you're interested in finding ways to consume
cattails visit this Web
site. – Frances Sarnacki |
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Forget-Me-Not
Forget-Me-Nots have a romantic and a not-so-romantic story
when it comes to the origin of their name? Some say Forget-Me-Nots
got their unique name from a tragic love story. It is said
that a suitor, who was reaching over a cliff to obtain flowers
for his love, fell. Before he reached his death, he yelled
up to her, "Forget-Me-Not." The second, and more-unpleasant,
theory says the name comes from the bitter taste and smell
of this flower, which is "hard to forget."
Although there are seven species of Forget-Me-Nots found in
Michigan, only two are native. They are likely to be found
in wet, shady areas and bloom throughout the spring, summer
and fall. – Frances Sarnacki |
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Bullfrog
(Rana catesbeiana)
This frog appears to be a member of the Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)
species. This species, easily confused with the Green Frog,
lacks the fold of skin from the ear-drum to the lower back
that it would require to be a Green Frog.
Bullfrogs are most likely attracted to Sweezey Lake because
of its warmer-than-normal temperature. Bullfrogs thrive in
warm water where there is plenty of plant growth. Unfortunately,
the number of bullfrogs has dramatically declined due to environmental
changes and the over-harvesting of frogs for frog legs. They
are now considered rare around most of the state.
Bullfrogs breed June-July at the lake's edge where floating
egg masses contain 5,000-10,000 eggs. A Bullfrog tadpole needs
two or three summers before it becomes a frog. –
Frances Sarnacki |
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Great
Blue Lobelia (Lobelia Siphilitica)
The Great Blue Lobelia got its species name, Lobelia Siphilitica,
from the belief that these plants could cure Syphilis. Sadly,
they did not relieve the symptoms of this disease. In fact,
in many cases all the plant did was cause vomiting. While
this plant may not have human benefits, it attracts Hummingbirds
for pollination. The Great Blue Lobelia blooms in the summer
and early fall in woodlands and wet meadows. – Frances
Sarnacki |
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Spotted
Touch-Me-Not
Despite its name, the Spotted Touch-Me-Not, you can
touch this plant. The stems from a Touch-Me-Not even contain
slippery juice that can be used to relieve the sting caused
by Poison Ivy and Nettles. Also known as Jewelweed, this plant
is exceptionally beautiful after it rains. Water droplets
form on its leaves like tiny jewels. The Touch-Me-Not blooms
during the summer in high-moisture soil. – Frances
Sarnacki |
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Snapping
Turtle
Snapping Turtles like this one are the largest freshwater
turtle species in the west. They are not picky as they enjoy
any aquatic environment and don’t mind civilization.
However, they do like to remain as close to water as possible
and do not like to be handled. Surprisingly, snapping
turtles are not very good swimmers, thus they spend most of
their time waiting for prey at the bottom of the lake.
– Frances Sarnacki |
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Chickadee
(Parus Atricapillus)
The Chickadees call ("chick-a –dee-dee-dee-dee")
gives them their name. These birds are very acrobatic and
can be seen hanging upside down looking for insect eggs on
the undersides of leaves. Chickadees also are easily attracted
to feeders as seen here. If you want to lure these small birds
to your house, they love thistle! These birds are non-migratory
and live here all year round. In the winter, the nest is used
to avoid the cold and several birds may be seen snuggled together
to keep warm. – Trista Sample |
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Mute
Swan (Cygnus olor)
The Ugly Duckling is perhaps the best-known swan story,
one in which an ugly duckling, mistreated by others, turns
into a beautiful swan. (The story is based on the fact that
young birds, called "cygnets", are not bright white
like the adults, but are grey in color.) Swans are often a
symbol of love because of their long-lasting monogamous relationships.
Both the male and the female swans share the care of the nest.
The mute swans nest on large mounds that they build in shallow
water in the middle or the edge of the lake. It’s not
uncommon to see the whole family looking for food, feeding
on submerged aquatic vegetation. – Trista Sample |
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[Click on the photo for the answer to the question on the
right.] |
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Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
Muskrats are so named because of the musk glands located
near the underside of their tail. They are usually found
in wetlands, near rivers and streams. Muskrats often build
their homes out of mud, branches, cattails, and other aquatic
plants (This one lives in a hidden lodge on the east side
of the lake.) Muskrats feed on everything from cattail roots,
crayfish and frogs to dead animals. In turn, they can become
a meal for fox, mink, owls, herons and hawks. Luckily for
the muskrat, they have the ability to escape by being able
to swim underwater for about 15 minutes! – Trista
Sample
What musical group sang the
song Muskrat Love?
A. The Carpenters
B. Heart
C. Captain and Tennille
D. The Young Rascals
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