Picnicking at Penn-Roosevelt State Park

The turn off Old Rt. 322 onto Crowfield Road is innocuous. The road passes under the bridges and takes a sharp left, headed towards a small cleft in the valley. Cruising in my Jeep Patriot that day, the abrupt change from pavement to gravel woke my partner up from his nap. The 6-mile road up valley was a beautiful drive- one I had never seen before.

Up the mountain we climbed, passing many tidy hunting camps. The road reminded me of the way to my great-grandfather’s hunting camp. I mused on childhood memories while driving, and partner fell back asleep. Far too soon, we reached the rear entrance of Penn-Roosevelt State Park.

From behind, there are only signs to signal the entrance to the Park. The road splits off in two directions: a hard left turn over a bridge, or a gentler right turn downhill. First, we took the right-hand road, passing by the impoundment lake, picnic area, and CCC ruins. I turned around in a pull-off and headed back up to explore the other side- the tenting area.

We decided to picnic in the tenting area, as it was close to the vault toilets and a bearproof trash can. A few families were camping- the Park felt empty in comparison to Bald Eagle State Park. Yet, there was a subtle bustle and we had our meal and played card games in the quiet of the woods.

After a while, we hiked over to the impoundment lake, the largest remnant of the CCC camp which was here in the 1930s. S-62-PA, otherwise known as “Stone Creek Kettle” or “Penn-Roosevelt,” was 1 of 12 Black CCC camps in PA. Despite legislation calling for integrated facilities, CCC camps were segregated. Many, like Penn-Roosevelt, were purposefully placed in remote areas.

When the CCC workers arrived, there were no improvements. They had to build their lodgings themselves, camping in old Army tents. Throughout the CCC era, the men helped fight forest fires and aid in rescue during floods. Their work made a lasting impact on the area; some of the facilities they built are standing today.

The facilities here are simple, but beautiful. The impoundment lake has started to silt in, with the forest taking over. In the 1960s, the DCNR covered the original dam and created the small side spillway visible today. The restored hearth of the original recreation building is close by the day-use area. Other ruins were nearby, but we didn’t have the chance to explore them.

While ambling through the Park, I thought a lot about the geomorphology of the area. Stone Creek Kettle is not an actual kettle; a type of depression formed at the edge of glaciers. After some research, I couldn’t find any explanation for the name. DCNR recommended to contact Mr. Fagley, retired Greenwood Furnace State Park educator. He shared with me that in early America, folk considered any bowl-like feature a kettle. Mr. Fagley also mentioned in his e-mail that “neither the First nor Second Geological surveys of PA, both conducted in the 19th century, don’t mention the “Stone Creek Kettle” by this name, though do briefly mention the area and noted its geologic structure.”

After hiking around, we packed up for the day and headed back out Crowfield Road. Six miles later, we were on Old Rt. 322, headed for home. I wondered what the men of S-62 would have thought about the changes… what may have taken them hours or days to hike into the woods cost us an hour and a few dollars in gas.

Works Cited

DCNR. (2018, February 21). Recognizing the Conservation Work of Black CCC Companies in PA. Good Natured; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=33

DCNR. (2019). Penn-Roosevelt State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/Penn-RooseveltStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Fagley, P. (2024, September 11). Stone Creek Kettle Question [E-Mail to Autumn Dannay].

McNeil, A. (2022). Moving Forward Initiative: The African American Experience in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Corps Network. https://corpsnetwork.org/moving-forward-initiative-the-african-american-experience-in-the-civilian-conservation-corps/#:~:text=To%20reduce%20community%20outcry%2C%20many

Pennsylvania CCC Online Archive. (n.d.). Camp Information for S-62-PA. Pennsylvania CCC Online Archive. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www.iframeapps.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/ccc/Camp.aspx?ID=88

The Curious Lives of Red Efts

Hurricane Helene was passing over as we searched for terrestrial amphibians. Despite the humidity, the air was chill, and the rain cold. My friend and I flipped log after log, searching for some sign of life other than fat earthworms and moss. When we least expected it, my friend found a tiny amphibian- a red eft.

With gloved hands, she gently moved the eft into a container with a moist paper towel, careful to not squish it. We admired its brilliant color- cheerful against the decaying leaves and muck. The newt was smaller than my thumb, its tail narrowing to a pencil tip in width. The newt curled up on the towel, as if to show off the red dots on its back.

Red efts are an interesting creature- part of the life cycle of red-spotted newts. These newts have four life stages: egg, larvae, eft, and adult. Adult female newts will lay eggs in submerged vegetation, which will hatch into eggs in 3-8 weeks. The incubation period depends on water quality. The better the water, the less time an egg needs to incubate.

After hatching, the newts will be larvae for 2-5 weeks. Yet again, the higher the water quality, the less time the larvae will need to metamorphose into an eft. An important factor now is food availability- the larvae will consume anything that can fit into their mouths. At this point in its life cycle, the newts have never touched land.

When the conditions are right, the larvae will metamorphose into an eft. Its external gills disappear and develop into lungs, and stubby legs erupt from the sides of its body. During the red eft stage, the newts do not need water to survive. Efts will haul themselves out of the water and into upland habitats. These habitats range from dry to wet, woodlands to meadows. When we were searching in the field, we were finding red efts under logs and flat rocks close to a stream.

Efts will remain as terrestrial sub-adults for 1 to 3 years. Yes, years! Efts will delay metamorphosis until conditions improve. Some newts have remained in the eft stage for 7 years. By remaining as efts, newts are able to survive drought in this manner. Until development into an adult, efts secrete a poison which makes them distasteful to predators. Their bright coloration serves as a warning: don’t eat me!

Once the eft has determined there is enough clean water and food, it will metamorphose to its final form. The adult newt is green and yellow with red spots, and lives in water. It has a long tail with a caudal fin, which helps it navigate in the water. After a complex mating ritual, the adult will lay eggs and begin a new generation of red-spotted newts.

I have yet to see a red-spotted newt in real life. I have seen many red efts- their bright bodies are easy to spot as they move from one habitat to another. I have seen red efts between the high outlook at Leonard Harrison State Park to the low streams of Bald Eagle. PARS has verified sightings of red-spotted newts in every county in Pennsylvania!

As the distribution of red-spotted newts is so wide, they are still at risk by changes in their habitat. Red-spotted newts absolutely need high-quality clean water to breed and grow. Protecting the health of Pennsylvania’s waterways will assist in protecting red-spotted newt populations. When looking for red efts, hunters must take utmost care to not crush the efts with their hands, logs, or rocks. It is best to look with eyes alone- try not to touch the efts at all! If it were not for our class, we would have left the newt my friend found completely alone.

After taking a few photographs, my friend released the eft back to its “home” log. It soon vanished into the leaves. Without a doubt, it would hide even deeper to escape detection from other curious people. I hoped it would live a long life, free of predation and making its final transition from land to water.

Works Cited

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. “Red-Spotted Newt.” Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Connecticut’s Official State Website, 11 Oct. 2016, https://www.portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Red-Spotted-Newt. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.

Poston, Jason, et al. “Red-Spotted Newt.” PA Herps, https://www.paherps.com/herps/salamanders/eastern_newt/. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.

Early Fall at Soaring Eagle Wetland

The last full week of September had been misty, each morning starting with light rain and fog. That Thursday was no different, but as I was driving down Rt. 150, the fog started to rise. I continued my journey as the land to my left transitioned from parklands to towns, then to wetlands. I was heading to Soaring Eagle Wetland in Julian, a place long on my list to explore.

The parking lot was half-full with construction equipment, but I paid it no mind. I parked near the ADA parking and hopped out to survey the area. Goldenrod blanketed the lowlands around me, humming with life. A high chorus of insects almost drowned the birdsong, but I could catch the sound of sparrows and finches.

A paved pathway led to a boardwalk, dotted with grasshoppers. A big one caught my eye, and I managed to take a picture before it flung into the grasses. Birdsong grew louder closer to the small trees, dominated by the chips of swamp sparrows. I passed a cute bench and made it to the accessible fishing area.

Bald Eagle Creek rushed by the pier, and I took a break on the bench. Later, I explored down to the water using the accessible ramp, and continued to a worn trail to the water’s edge. I stepped out, and enjoyed the cool flow of water over my boots. Not wanting to disturb a fisherman, I headed back to the trail.

Other trails branched off from the paved section. One path looked new, level and graveled alongside Bald Eagle Creek. A grassy path, named “Long Trail” headed out into the goldenrod. If I had more time, I would have explored Long Trail. I was a little put off as the brochure map was not detailed, not listing a length or difficulty. I can imagine it is an easy trail, but as I was alone with poor cell reception, I was hesitant to depart from my plan.

Heading back to my car, I saw many nesting boxes of all shapes and sizes. Bluebird boxes were close to the paved trail, and larger owl boxes were high in the trees. One of the owl boxes had been in recent use, with sticks and grasses poking out in the seams.

Soaring Eagle Wetlands has a second area- the Galen & Nancy Dreibelbis Birding Area. I went there next, hoping to complete a checklist. I followed a small gravel trail to an accessible viewing pier. A small plaque shared that the platform was a 2022 Eagle Scout project. Immediately below me were many frogs, moving too fast for me to photograph.

While at the platform, I took a sound recording with Merlin. The app heard blue jays, American goldfinches, and grey catbirds. The app struggled to identify birds over the sounds of Rt. 150 and insects. With my binoculars, I spotted some wood ducks landing in the water. They were definitely too far away for Merlin to catch their oo-eek calls.

Before leaving, I checked out the blind by the accessible parking. Yet another beautiful view out of its window- one I would have loved to admire for much longer! Another path branched off from an accessible ramp.

On my drive home, the clouds descended again, and the rain began again. While I was leaving Soaring Eagle Wetland behind, I already knew I would return. Next time I know to plan for more bug spray and time to walk the trails.

Summer Osprey Sightings

“Photo of the Week – Osprey at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (VA)” by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Near the intersection of Rt. 26 and Rt. 150, the Bald Eagle Overlook faces out over Foster Joseph Sayers Lake. Here, I watched a pair of Osprey dominate the northern bank of the lake all summer.

Considering the nearby Bald Eagle State Park, watching Osprey feels traitorous. I see at least one Bald Eagle per day while on my lunch walks- this is a gift I will never take for granted. Yet every time I spot an Osprey, I become transfixed, waiting for their yellow glare to pass over me.

The thing I like most about Osprey is their look; always torn between bewildered or cool. At the right angle, with ruffled feathers and wide eyes, Osprey have the same visage of a mad scientist. In flight, Osprey are every inch a predator with their long wings spread over the skies.

I usually find the osprey pair situated in a snag between Bald Eagle Overlook and the Rt. 26 causeway. Before the Osprey, this area had a fluctuating cast of characters. A normal day for me would be to spot Bald Eagles next to crows, next to starlings or even mourning doves. Aside from Double Crested Cormorants, no other birds appear here with any regularity.

Ospreys prefer areas close to open water, with no overhead forest canopy. Perching on snags gives the birds a long view up and down the lake. Fish are their preferred prey and will live-catch every meal. Rarely did I ever see another species in the snags while the Osprey were nearby. Even the Cormorants would stay quiet while the Osprey glided by.

As I kept an eye on the Osprey all summer, gears turned in my mind. Osprey nest in Pennsylvania from March to August, with nests as close as Clinton County. Nests occur up to 1600ft away from open water. Additionally, nests are large, made of sticks and twigs. In Pennsylvania, many nests are on man-made structures, like buildings and telephone poles.

“Osprey in Flight” by Andy Morffew is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Knowing this, I started looking for a nest. My search was in vain- I never saw a single stick. Bald Eagle State Park rangers searched the whole park for a sign, and never had anything to report. The Rangers told me that age and inexperience may prevented the Osprey from nesting.

Despite our searching, Osprey nests can be difficult to find. This difficulty has led to many states enacting nest surveys. The Pennsylvania Game Commission enacted the Osprey Nest Survey program in the 1980s. The program relies on volunteers to follow a protocol and report to the Commission via email. The Commission uses the reports to update the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program databases.

In addition to nest surveys, some organizations build and erect nesting platforms. These platforms encourage Osprey to nest away from infrastructure and in safer areas. Many platforms are also equipped with cameras, which livestream nest activities.

Now that Fall has arrived, the Osprey have moved on to their wintering grounds in South America. I doubt I will see another Osprey until they decide to return to Bald Eagle State Park. I hope the excellent habitat draws them to return and nest in an accessible area!

Works Cited

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Osprey. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 2014, www.hawkmountain.org/raptors/osprey. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Morffew, Andy. “Osprey in Flight.” Flickr, Digital Photograph, 4 Dec. 2012, www.flickr.com/photos/66020093@N03/8244633979. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Pennsylvania Game Commission. Osprey Nest Survey. Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2019, www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/GetInvolved/Pages/OspreyNestSurvey.aspx. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

—. “Osprey Species Profile.” Osprey Species Profile, Pennsylvania Game Commission, www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/EndangeredandThreatened/pages/osprey.aspx. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. “Photo of the Week – Osprey at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (VA).” Flickr, Digital Photograph, 14 Apr. 2010, www.flickr.com/photos/43322816@N08/4520680333. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Our Wild Neighbor, the Red-tailed Hawk

“Red-tailed Hawk” by Becky Matsubara is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

A Red-tailed Hawk swooped down through the trees, lighting a branch to watch who passed by. I was there- walking through Hort Woods after lunch with my colleagues. It’s been a while since I saw a hawk on campus, and years since I’ve been near to my favorite bird.

In medieval folklore, witches had a familiar, a type of supernatural companion. In a way, Red-tailed Hawks are my familiar, appearing at unusual moments to direct my attention. When I was fifteen, I had a close call with a hawk while refilling bird feeders. As I was shimmying the barrel of a feeder up its string, a soft whump sounded behind me. A chill crept up my neck as I turned- only to find a Red-tailed Hawk deep in the snow. It had likely seen prey in the yard and dived, not minding the teen bumbling around in a snowsuit.

When I was nineteen, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk crash-land on the road, bleeding and injured. I called the bird in to the Game Commission, and waited with it until the warden rescued and toted it off. Again, when I was twenty-six, I was talking on the phone in a courtyard when a Red-tail decided to take a seat on a brick wall. It enjoyed its lunch while I chatted with my Mom. The Red-tailed Hawks showed no fear of me, or of our surroundings.

Fear doesn’t appear to be part of a Red-tailed Hawk’s vocabulary. When mated, Red-tailed Hawks will guard their territory together. If a human strays too close, the hawks will take no qualm in scaring them away. The Red-tailed Hawks in my area will dive across I-99 traffic to hit prey in grassy medians. They’ll perch while a PennDOT mower rumbles past, surveying for new-exposed food.

“Red-tailed Hawk” by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

On my daily commute, I see at least two hawks per day. Road warriors, hunting the hills between Bellefonte and State College. A huge swath of I-99 passes by SCI Rockview and Penn State research farms, excellent habitat for prey. Plus, the cultivated fields help form the thermals Red-tailed Hawks use to travel. Interspersed are WMUs, permitting wildlife to live with little human interference.

I’m not the only person with a love of wild raptors. I recently learned about HawkCount, which records the data collected from raptor watches. Over 300 sites dot North America- with 5 located near me. Right now, Fall watches are occurring at Jacks Mountain and Stone Mountain. I was able to sign up for daily email updates tallying the number of birds observed. I’m fascinated by how many raptors pass through my area during their migration. I’ve been more observant in the field, now that I have a better understanding of what I’m looking for.

I marked my sighting in eBird, delaying our march back to the office. Yet, as soon as I had seen the hawk, it was gone again. None of my colleagues had the chance to look up into the eyes of our wild neighbor. I explained to them the importance of my stop and eBird, but they continued as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I spent the rest of the day wondering what else my wild neighbor had wanted me to see.

Works Cited

Aucker, Jeff. “Hawkwatch Site Profile – Bald Eagle Mountain – Port Matilda.” HawkCount, 2023, www.hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=635. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Bohn, Mark, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Red-Tailed Hawk.” Flickr, Digital Photograph, 20 Dec. 2010, www.flickr.com/photos/43322816@N08/5277662783. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Bolgiano, Nick. “HawkWatch Site Profile – Bald Eagle Mountain – Eagle Field.” HawkCount, 2019, www.hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=809. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

—. “HawkWatch Site Profile – Tussey Mountain HawkWatch.” HawkCount, 2024, www.hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=438. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Grove, Greg. “HawkWatch Site Profile – Stone Mtn.” HawkCount, 2015, www.hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=436. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Matsubara, Becky. “Red-Tailed Hawk.” Flickr, Digital Photograph, 26 Jan. 2017, www.flickr.com/photos/130819719@N05/32406640251. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Pennsylvania Game Commission. “Hawks and Falcons.” Wildlife Note, Pennsylvania Game Commission, www.pgc.pa.gov/Education/WildlifeNotesIndex/Pages/Hawks-and-Falcons.aspx. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.

Smith, Darrell. “HawkWatch Site Profile – Jacks Mountain.” HawkCount, 2023, www.hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?r=on&rsite=104&go=Go+To+Hawkwatch+Profile. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.