BGuthrie Photos: AL -- Natchez Trace Parkway -- Mile 330.2 -- Rock Spring

AL -- Natchez Trace Parkway -- Mile 330.2 -- Rock Spring:

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. NT3302_170606_003.JPG: Rock Spring Rock Spring Nature Trail offers you an opportunity to explore a small natural spring as it bubbles forth from the ground. Small fish dart about a deep pool created as the stream wandered through rich bottomland soil and limestone rock. Vegetation and trees change as you move through an abandoned field past the stream onto a rocky hillside. After completing the 20-minute walk you may decide to pull off your shoes and dangle your feet in the swift cool waters.
2. NT3302_170606_006.JPG: Tiny Jewels of the Air Few birds are as distinctive and charismatic as hummingbirds. From their iridescent plumage to their incredible aerial antics, hummingbirds are an irresistible attraction at Rock Springs. Each fall, hundreds of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds pass this way to feast on the nectar of the abundant jewelweed and other wildflowers. Hummingbirds and certain flowers have evolved an interdependent relationship over millions of years. Flowers provide humming-birds nectar, the fuel they need to keep flying. In return, hummingbirds transport pollen between flowers, helping the flowers reproduce. The flowers of choice are long and tubular and usually red, a color bees have trouble seeing. This shape fits the hummingbird's long bill and allows pollen to be deposited on the bird's forehead. Individual flowers usually grow separate from one another, allowing ample space for whirring wings as the hummingbird dashes from flower to flower. Pollen from flowers powders the head of these tiny jewels as they sip nectar. Subsequently, this pollen is then spread to other flowers on which the hummingbird feeds. Faster Than a Speeding Hummingbird? A hummingbird's small size and rapid movement can make it difficult to watch for long. Fortunately, hummingbirds will often perch on an overhead branch and draw attention to themselves by making high squeaky chipping noises. To spot a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, look for their iridescent throat--called a gorget. The color of the gorget depends on the lighting and in most instances looks dark. It is only when the feathers catch light at a certain angle that their intricate beauty can be seen. In good light the male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is unmistakable with his bright ruby red throat. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration Each year, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate from eastern North America to winter in Central America. Although some of the birds work their way south through Florida to the Caribbean or south through Texas to Mexico, Alabama's hummingbirds fly across the Gulf of Mexico. These incredible creatures undertake a 600-mile voyage across open water to find warm weather and plentiful nectar further south. Rare Surprises From the West Each fall, bird watchers from across Alabama visit these patches of jewelweed to witness the spectacle of hundreds of hummingbirds on their southward migration. As an added bonus, these large concentrations of hummingbirds sometimes attract western hummingbird species that have strayed from their usual migration route, particularly in the winter. Species to look for in the fall include Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, and Anna's, among the Ruby-throated.
3. NT3302_170606_017.JPG: Rock Spring Trail: The trails and stepping stones in this area lead you across Colbert Creek past Rock Spring, and through the woodlands. Since 1977, numerous beaver dams have been built then abandoned or destroyed by high water. Walk the trails and enjoy the changing environment of this once free-flowing spring-fed stream.
4. NT3302_170606_025.JPG: Habitats change according to the natural elements present at a given time. Food, water, soil, and sunlight affect all living things. When water is plentiful, characteristic plants and animals occupy an area. Whereas on dry, dark slopes, organisms that have adapted to these particular surroundings are present. Change is the foundation of our environment. Conditions will always fluctuate causing constant change around us.
5. NT3302_170606_048.JPG: Water current is a critical element in a stream -- surging and trickling, but always providing precious oxygen to underwater dwellers. Acting as a conveyer belt for food, the current transports decaying matter and plant seed downstream. A river or stream is a challenging habitat. Whatever enters or lives near the stream must adapt to its changing course, in addition to offering changes of its own. All living things in the area around you are affected, directly and indirectly, by this water source, Colbert Creek.
6. NT3302_170606_076.JPG: Dams are created by a variety of sources: animal activity such as beaver; fallen trees and other accumulated plant matter; or a build-up stream sediment after a heavy rain. Whatever the source, damming obstructs the current enough to allow deep pools to form which support plants and attract insects. In turn, these insects attract other aquatic organisms and their predators.
7. NT3302_170606_090.JPG: Creation of dams dramatically changes the environment. Water-loving plants move in and replace vegetation that requires less moisture. Over time the area will continue to change. If the water supply increases, the area will continue to widen and flood, yet resemble what you see today. With less water the area may fill in with dense grasses, sedges, and shrubs -- the start of a marsh that will later develop into a meadow through a process called succession. An influx of new plants may alter the types of wildlife in this area.
8. NT3302_170606_095.JPG: Slow-moving water, another aspect of an aquatic community, drops sediment it has carried, creating a perfect home for burrowing worms and mussels. Along the quiet edges, plants gain a foothold in the mud. These plants offer a place for algae to grow, which in turn provides food for tadpoles, turtles and fish. With sun and water in ample supply, plants fill all available space. Fallen plants and dead animals decay and quickly recycle back into the community, encouraging more growth.
9. NT3302_170606_103.JPG: Look around, do you see signs of high water? The cut away bank in front of you and the absence of larger hardwood trees across the stream are clues. Heavy rainfall, which causes frequent flooding, makes it very difficult for seeding trees to get started. The dense vegetation surrounding the stream -- cattails, willows, and other low-growing plants -- thrive in the abundant water, while larger trees grow out of the flood zone.
10. NT3302_170606_110.JPG: Many different kinds of animals inhabit an area where water if readily available. The soft, muddy bottom provides a home for fresh water invertebrates, and abundant plants offer places for insects to lay their egg sacs. Tadpoles swim in the quiet waters, later becoming a meal for turtles and egrets. Frogs breed in cool water, while waterbirds stalk the margin, hunting for young fish. Mammals such as white-tailed deer, raccoon, skunk, opossum, and squirrel come here to drink, in addition to finding food in or near the water.
11. NT3302_170606_113.JPG: Water accumulates in underground reservoirs called "aquifers." Occasionally an aquifer will touch the surface and the water will flow out in the form of a spring. Rock Spring flows year-round and has an average temperature of 59 degrees F. This spring creates the slow-moving water environment before you.
12. NT3302_170606_123.JPG: The rise of this gentle slope allows a view of the bottom land below. You have entered an "edge" habitat -- perhaps the busiest and most productive place in nature. Edge is where an opening, such as the stream, blends into the taller forest around it. This area supports a distinct community of animals that depend on both forest and opening. The edge is a stop-over place where dense forest dwellers emerge, and field dwellers seek cover from predators. Hawks, owls, and egg-eating mammals frequent the edge, having invading songbird habitat.
13. NT3302_170606_129.JPG: Changes occur in nature every day. Many of these changes preserve a healthy environmental balance. Unfortunately, changes on this tree have been made by an inconsiderate and thoughtless visitor. These carvings have prematurely broken the protective cover of the bark, permitting insects and disease to invade the tree. Please leave changes in this park to nature and natural forces. Remember, "Take only memories, leave only footprints."
14. NT3302_170606_143.JPG: A change in soil moisture has introduced changes in tree structure and undergrowth to this hillside. The moist, rich soils near the stream have been replaced by shallow, drier soils, creating an oak-hickory forest habitat. Oak leaves, high in tannic acid, decay slowly over time. An inspection of the forest floor reveals a good littering of leaves and thousands of acorns, the fruits of an oak tree. Acorns and hickory nuts provide an energy-rich food source for blue jays, eastern squirrels, eastern chipmunks, and wild turkey. The oak-hickory forest has a diverse understory of shrubs that provide cover for birds and small mammals.
15. NT3302_170606_152.JPG: As you emerge from the forest to the opening of the stream side, hear the bubbling of the water. Think about where the water comes from and how it affects every living thing around it. Think about the changes water can bring to an area, the many forms it takes, and how it results in habitats supporting different animals and plants. Reflect on the diverse and changing areas you visited along this trail and how important change is to a healthy environment.
Description of Subject Matter: 20-minute walk along Colbert Creek. Seasonal wildflowers.
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