Birds of Jemison Park

 
The following birds may be seen or heard in the park. For seasonal abundance, see the 2001 “Bird List of Jemison Park” published by the Friends. For more about birds in this area, see Alabama Birds by Thomas A. Imhof.

 

Owls

 
Three species of owls have been seen or heard regularly along the creek, the most noticeable being the large, brown-eyed Barred Owl. Their distinctive eight-note call is generally rendered in our area as, “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you’alllll,” the extended ending dropping in pitch and tempo. Other guttural and expressive vocal efforts as these owls communicate over the valley can be heard throughout the night and are spectacular. Barred Owls have long life spans and have been known to nest in the same area for over thirty years. Among the major reasons to leave dead trees standing in the park, even as cut-off stubs 20-30 feet tall, is that they become a feeding habitat for woodpeckers and other insect-eaters and nesting habitat for cavity dwellers, such as Barred Owls. Who will furnish their next tree?

 

Mammals of Jemison Park

 
Due to their generally secretive nature and often nocturnal habits, more mammals are found in Jemison Park than you might suspect. For more information on the mammals found in and near Jemison Park or elsewhere in Alabama, good references are A Field Guide to the Mammals by W. Burt and R. Grossenherden; A Field Guide to Animal Tracks by O. Murie; Mammal Tracks and Signs by M. Elbroch.

 

Songs of the Night

 
If your ears are tuned for small sounds, you might notice at nightfall the small, high-pitched squeak of a flying squirrel amid the large trees in the park forest. The Southern Flying Squirrel is 5 l/2 to 6 inches in body length with a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2-inch tail, thus much smaller than the common gray squirrel. A loose fold of skin attached to the foreleg and hind leg on each side allows it to glide from tree to tree when the legs are extended. The nocturnal flying squirrel is not often seen but can occasionally be heard in the darkness of the night. Listen carefully for a very high-pitched “tseet” given at intervals of 3-5 seconds, sometimes continuing for several minutes.

 

Fish of Jemison Park

 
Many sensitive species are becoming more difficult to find due to the shrinking range of healthy habitat. Alabama has an incredible variety of freshwater fish species. For more information on the fishes found in Shades Creek or elsewhere in Alabama, two excellent references are Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin by M. Mettee, P. O’Neil and M. Pierson; Fishes of Alabama by H. Boschung, Jr. and R. Mayden.

 

What Are Those Saucer-Shaped Depressions in the Creek?

 
During the spring and summer, you may have noticed some saucer-shaped depressions on the bottom of the creek. These are the nests of members of the sunfish family. In Shades Creek, these depressions are usually made by males of the longear sunfish. Using his tail, the brightly colored male fans out the depression in a gravel or sand area. He then awaits the arrival of a female. Following laying and fertilization of the eggs, the male chases her away and proceeds to defiantly guard the nest and eggs from hungry fellow fish for several days. He even defends the nest and young for a while after they hatch. If you look closely at one of these depressions on the bottom of the creek, you may well see the male longear sunfish dutifully guarding his nest.

 

 

Reptiles and Amphibians of Jemison Park

 
Alabama has more than 135 species of amphibians and reptiles. For more information on the amphibians and reptiles found in Jemison Park or elsewhere in Alabama, two excellent references are The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama by R. Mount; Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America by R. Conant and J. Collins.

 

Geeks, Croaks, and Gunks

 
Frogs primarily call when breeding conditions become right, and that time varies with the species. Beginning in late winter and early spring, the high-pitched “peep” of the spring peeper can be heard. At this time or slightly later, the “rink, rink” of the mountain chorus frog and the guttural croaks and clucks of the leopard frog can also be heard. The latter sound is often described as if one were rubbing your hand over a balloon. As spring gets into full swing, several other frogs voice their calls. The green or bronze frog emits a “gunk-gunk” from the stream’s edge, and the Fowler’s toad gives a plaintive “waaaaah.” During the late spring and summer, several other species begin calling. The low-pitched bird-like trills of the gray treefrog can be heard from the trees. Along the creek’s edge can sometimes be heard the “click-click” or “geek-geek” of the cricket frog and the deep “jugo-rum” of the bullfrog. Finally, during the middle of summer, the narrow-mouthed toad’s nasal, sheep-like bleat can sometimes be heard after heavy rains.

 

What Are Those Globs of Jelly in that Pool of Water?

 
In late winter or early spring, you may have noticed some round, golf ball sized globs of jelly in a temporary pool or small pond in the woods, often close to the creek. If you look closely, there are a number of small black objects embedded in the “jelly.” These are likely the egg masses of the spotted salamander. This 5-6″ black salamander with yellow spots spends nearly all of its life burrowing in the leaf litter and rich soil of wooded areas. However, spotted salamanders migrate to temporary pools or forest ponds at night during warm late winter-early spring rains to mate and lay their eggs. The egg mass is a gelatinous ball housing 40-100 individual little eggs. These develop over the next few weeks and hatch as gilled tadpole-like creatures. Over the late spring and early summer, they grow, develop legs and eventually leave the pond as little salamanders to join others in the leaf litter and subterranean areas of the forest floor.

 

Butterflies of Jemison Park

 
Suggested field guides are: Butterflies through Binoculars: The East by Jeffrey Glassberg; Butterflies of North America by Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman; A Golden Guide: Butterflies and Moths by Robert Mitchell, et al.

The following is a list of “true butterflies” and host plants. It does not include skippers.

Butterfly Species and Host Plant(s)

 
*Only flies in the spring
+Only flies in early summer
 

Skippers

 
Many butterfly species fly in the park, attracted here because of the rich diversity of nectar sources and caterpillar host plants. Skippers are intermediate between “true butterflies” and moths. There are around three times as many skippers as true butterflies that inhabit North America, with over 30 species in the Southeast. They are small to medium size and all are brown, with some having white or yellow dots or dashes on the wings. Their host plants include grasses, mallows, clover and other legumes.
 
 

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Jemison Park

 

Order Odonata

Although Alabama has fewer than 200 species in order Odonata, this is probably the highest number of any state in the east other than Florida.

The order is unique among insects in having four equal-length “cellophane” wings and quite small antennae in the adults. It is divided into two suborders: Anisoptera (dragonflies), which hold their wings outspread, and Zygoptera (damselflies), which usually fold their wings over the back when not in flight. Compiling a list of Odonata species that occur in Jemison Park is a work not yet accomplished, but there are family distinctions which are easily observed by the uninitiated, and watching them in action is something to be enjoyed by all.
 

Dragonflies

 
Probably the most conspicuous are the ones that make up the dragonflyfamily of Skimmers (Libellulidae). They are common, colorful – often with a wing pattern – and aggressive. Fortytwo species of skimmers are known to occur in Alabama. The Green Clearwing is often seen, the male turning blue as it matures. Darners (Aeshnidae) are usually large, with eyes touching dorsally, and almost always perch vertically. Eleven species occur in Alabama. Other families found in our state include 1 species of Petaltails (Petaluridae); 39 species of Clubtails (Gomphidae); 4 species of Spiketails (Cordulegastridae); 5 species of Cruisers (Macromiidae) and 18 species of Emeralds (Corduliidae).
 

Damselflies

 
Broad-winged Damsels (Calopterygidae) are large, often brilliant metallic green, many with black in the wing or, in the case of females, a white spot. The five Alabama species breed only in flowing water and fly with a skipping flight. Pond Damsels (Coenagrionidae) are smaller, shorter legged, and often more brightly colored, the males often blue, yellow, or orange and black. They perch horizontally and are found in both still and moving water. There are 38 species in Alabama. Spreadwings (Lestidae) are large, of dark coloration, and may be seen perched obliquely, with wings half spread, around still water. Alabama has 8 species.

List of dragonflies known or expected to occur in Jefferson County.

List of damselflies known or expected to occur in Jefferson County.