Bloodroot is just one of many wildflowers bursting forth in Andover’s woodlands. Photo: Lee Carvalho
Spring is an exciting time in the life cycle of fish, and we have a literal window into their lives nearby. At the Amoskeag Fishways along the Merrimack River in Manchester, visitors can watch underwater activity through specially-designed viewing windows.
At this time of year, migrating fish are making their way up a 54-step fish ladder that allows them to swim around the Amoskeag Dam and travel up-river to reproduce. Anadromous fish are born and grow in the fresh water of rivers and streams but live as adults in the saltwater of oceans.
Each spring in the northeastern United States, many anadromous fish – including the Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, American shad, and river herring – migrate from their ocean homes to the Merrimack River to breed, or spawn. The Amoskeag Fishways Learning and Visitors Center is located off Exit 6 of Interstate 293 and is now open seven days a week.
Closer to home, you can take a walk on the Rail Trail section near Valley Road to watch suckers thrashing around as they move from Webster Lake up Sucker Brook to spawn. You might see them using their tails to churn up the water; that activity helps cover the fertilized eggs with a layer of gravel that increases the chances that the eggs will mature and hatch safely.
Birds
It’s also a fine time of year to develop your birdwatching skills, as many migrating species of warblers pass through our area. You’ll need a pair of binoculars and a guide book to help with identification.
New Hampshire birders have been keeping records for years and have published a booklet indicating when each species typically arrives in our region. Some, like the yellow-rumped warbler, are seen as early as mid-April, but most show up in May. Even if you can’t identify these glorious birds, you can enjoy seeing and hearing them.
The best help in learning about birds is to be in the company of an experienced birder, and we will have this opportunity on Saturday, May 7, when the Andover Community Association’s Andover Institute has arranged for a local bird walk. Fred Sladen of New London, who is leading the walk, is an accomplished birder who knows the local and migrating species and can help beginners recognize field traits and songs. See the article on page ?? about this event for details.
Wildflowers
While you are out looking for birds, remember to look down every now and then, as May also brings some of our finest wildflowers. You’ll find yellow marsh marigolds in seeps and at the edges of streams. Trailing arbutus comes into bloom now, and it’s worth it to get down on the ground to admire those flowers up close and inhale their sweet scent.
The exquisite bloodroot blooms will be emerging as their leaves unfold from around the stem. Look for another spring ephemeral, the trout lily, blooming in woodland habitats. Hobblebush flowers will be lining hiking trails in the woods.
Mercury Transits the Sun
On Monday, May 9, there is a chance to view a transit of Mercury, when the planet will move directly between the Earth and the Sun. This is an extremely rare event that occurs only once every few years; the next two transits of Mercury will occur in 2019 and then 2039!
According to astronomers, one of the best places to view this event in its entirety will be the eastern United States. However, to see the transit you’ll need to have telescope with a solar filter or a friend who has one and is willing to share.
On the night of Sunday, May 22, be sure to check the sky for the planet Mars, which will be at its closest approach to Earth. Its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun, and it will be brighter than any other time of the year.
Send your photos, observations, and questions to AndoverNaturally@nullgmail.com.