Notes from a Nature Watcher
By JOHN ROBERTS Sentinel Guest Writer

Surveys have reported seeing a similar number of species of butterflies, but significantly fewer numbers of individuals. This is one species, the Monarch, most frequently seen in this area.

It is always fun to watch as spring moves into and up the North Georgia Mountains. According to phytogeographers, spring moves from south to north at 15 miles per day and up our mountainsides at 100 feet per day. This provides us with a steady upward explosion of a variety of shades of green as new leaves sprout and fill out.

This year spring started its upward march much earlier and faster than normal thanks to the effects of a warmer than usual February and March. In February we enjoyed 14 days with high temperatures above 50" and 8 of those were over 60". All but two days in March had highs of 50" or above. Twenty-four were over 60, 13 over 70, and 3 in the 80's. April started out with four more warmer than normal days and the trees and flowers continued their sprint up the mountainsides. The new green had reached past the 3,000 foot elevations and was promising to be one of the earliest springs in years. The accumulated growing degree days were far out of step with the increasing day length, but many trees, shrubs and wildflowers were in full bloom much earlier than usual.

Then the devastating Easter freeze of '07 struck! We had five successive nights with lows in the mid to low 20's. By April 10th the pretty green mountainscape had turned to dull brown. Leaves and blossoms were killed, thus putting an abrupt end to this very early spring. The damage was statewide, causing major losses to the peach, blueberry and apple crops. Trees had to start all over and push off dead leaves to make room for new ones. Most blossoms that were killed were not replaced.

This will be a major problem for our mountain wildlife. There will be very few white oak acorns this year due to the freeze, and since the red oak blooms were killed there will be no acorns on them next year. Squirrels, turkeys, deer and other species that rely on acorns and berries will have a tough time this year. Add to this one of the most severe droughts in years and the stresses on our plant life are not over. Since the trees had to use extra reserves to replace their essential leaves they are now far more susceptible to diseases and insect pests. Evidence of the damage is still visible. Many leaves still have brown edges and several of the new green leaves have been excised by the over-stressed trees.

You may have noticed that there are fewer butterflies and moths so far this year. The widespread and combined effects of the foliage-killing freeze and the severe drought have served to deprive caterpillars of their needed food and moisture. Surveys have reported seeing a similar number of species of butterflies, but significantly fewer numbers of individuals. In mid-July I am just beginning to see a few large butterflies and several small ones. The resilience which characterizes insects will have a positive effect as our butterflies return, but will unfortunately also work for the pesky presence of those we continually try to eliminate.

The old timers in the area do not remember anything like this freeze. Even the famous year of 1936 with its hottest summer and coldest winter had nothing like this. I hope that for many years to come whenever there is a late spring frost or freeze that future old timers can say that it is not nearly as bad of the Easter freeze of '07!

John Roberts is a Georgia Master Naturalist who is Camp Host at Trackrock Campground near Blairsville, Georgia. He is also a retired USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist having spent over 40 years as a scientist in wheat breeding and pathology.