October brought crunchy leaves, frosty mornings, and skeins of honking geese overhead. I couldn’t think of a better time of year to be outside. As I sit here debating which piece(s) of my 8-year-old’s Halloween candy will best fuel my next outdoor adventure, let’s take a virtual stroll and see what’s happening outside right now.
Crimson-colored oak leaves
Most leaves stay green for the majority of the year thanks to a pigment called chlorophyll. This green pigment allows plants to absorb sunlight and convert it into energy through photosynthesis. When the temperatures start to drop, the chlorophyll begins to break down. This reveals other pigments (carotenoids) hidden beneath the green and gives autumn leaves their beautiful yellow and orange colors.
The brilliant reds and purples we see in fall come from a different pigment called anthocyanin. This pigment forms in the fall when sugars become trapped in the leaves. Think of trees like sugar maple, red oak (pictured above), and sumac, which put on some of the season’s most vibrant displays.
Yellow-bellied sapsucker holes
While you’re out admiring the colorful leaves, take a moment to notice the bark on the trees, too. You might spot some interesting patterns, like the neatly drilled rows of holes made by yellow-bellied sapsuckers. These native woodpeckers are easy to recognize by their precise work, each tiny hole they make forms a straight line or even a perfect grid.
These holes, called “sap wells,” are just deep enough to let small amounts of sap flow out, which the woodpeckers drink. The sugary sap also attracts insects, providing an extra snack for the sapsuckers to feed on.
Vermillion waxcap standing tall
While out at Westport Prairie collecting prairie seed for our upcoming planting this year, I came across some brightly colored mushrooms. I had never seen these before and thought it was strange to see them in October. It seemed fitting that they were the color of a jack-o-lantern! These mushrooms are vermillion waxcaps and they do very well in dry, sandy prairies in the fall.
Turkey vultures taking a rest
I’ll leave you with these turkey vultures hanging out on some exposed branches. Like a lot of other birds this time of year, turkey vultures are migrating in great numbers. Watch for them soaring overhead or taking the occasional break like the ones in my photo above.
Finding cool things in nature is easy; you just need to get outside.