Sources of Curiosity
Questions from November 4 walk
What was the shorebird we saw in the marsh?
The bird we saw in the marsh was a Spotted Sandpiper. This bird’s breeding grounds are in the north from Alaska to Newfoundland and as far south as southern New England to Oregon. This time of year, they are migrating to their wintering grounds in the south from Florida to Mexico. You can learn more about the Spotted Sandpiper on the Audubon website and view the migration map.
What was the first tree to evolve?
The first tree to evolve was a Wattieza tree that was common in what is now North America during the Devonian period, but is now extinct. Of the trees currently living in our New England forests, the White Pine has been around the longest, having evolved from 150 million to 200 million years ago.