Top photo by J. Fields: Wiregrass Loop Trail at Carvers Creek State Park
The Wiregrass Loop Trail is named for the native grasses that grow in the Sandhills Access area. The tall, thin stalks of the mature grasses are wire-thin and sway in any passing breeze. This time of year, the wiregrass is golden brown, although in some areas you can already begin to see new growth starting up. As you travel the 1.4 miles of the loop, follow the blue, six-sided blazes on the trees. Since it's a loop, you can go either to your right or left from the trailhead, so today we'll go right.
About 100 yards down the trail, Wiregrass Loop splits off from Longleaf Pine Trail and continues to the left. At the intersection, look for the longleaf pines with the painted white bands around them. The white bands indicate nesting cavities for the red-cockaded woodpecker, one of the eight varieties of woodpecker found in the park. The white streaks down the trunk of the pine trees are sap from the holes created by the woodpeckers. The sap helps protect the woodpecker nests by making it difficult for predators and insects to climb the tree.
This part of the trail is the perfect habitat for the Bachman's sparrow, which is uncommon and possibly declining due to habitat loss. It inhabits mature pine forests, brushy open fields, old fields and other open areas. Feeding mostly on seeds and insects, the Bachman's sparrow nests on the ground near shrubs and clumps of grass, which provide both camouflage and a food source.
Deadfalls and Decay Ecology
The trail continues and soon turns hard to the left. In this area, you can see several trees that were blown down during past storms. The park rangers leave most of these trees in place to provide food and homes for insects, fungi and even small animals. Tree decay plays a critical role in forest health. The decaying wood releases nutrients into the soil, making them available for other trees to use. Decaying wood can also help absorb and release water into the soil, and as the broken branches and twigs get mixed into the dirt, the woody material helps keep the soil loose for plant roots and insects.
As you go, keep an eye out for a few of the more easily recognizable plants growing along the trail. Besides the bunches of wiregrass, look for the bright green spiky leaves of the American holly. They're easy to spot as they stand out among the brown and tan winter foliage. Another one to look for is the gallberry, or inkberry, which has evergreen leaves and small blue berries, although most of the berries have been eaten by this time of year. Also look for the longleaf pine in its grass stage, which looks like a green tuft of grass growing directly in the ground. It will stand out because unlike actual grasses, the longleaf pine needles are still green in the winter.
A Sandhills Mystery
Another interesting thing to watch for as you walk the trail are the odd black circles that you can sometimes see off the trail. Maybe a foot or so in diameter, the black circles are always found in area that's been cleared of all leaves and twigs, leaving a large area of coarse sand with a black circle in the middle. They are typically on top of a short mound. What do you think lives there?
If you guessed ants, you are correct! These are homes of our native harvester ants and the black circles are bits of charcoal placed deliberately around the nest by the ants. Every so often, harvester ants move their entire nest to a new location, usually no more than a few feet away. The active mounds are kept clear and may have small pebbles on top that were carried there as the ants excavated the tunnels below.
What's That Sound?
If you are walking quietly and it's early in the morning or close to sunset when you visit the trail, you may have the privilege of hearing a couple of birds with very distinctive calls, the nightjar and the Chuck-will's-widow. The nightjar, also called a nighthawk, has a unique "peent, peent" call, along with a deep, extended "brrrrrrp" sound that its wings make when it does a fast descent. The Chuck-will's-widow has a high-pitched call, which some people say sounds like its name, and is frequently heard after dark. The nightjar and Chuck-will's-widow are some of the most thrilling calls to hear in the dusk.
Time to Start a Journal!
So far, we've talked about different birds and plants you might find on your walk, a type of native ant, and what happens when trees die. It can be hard to remember all the different things, so one way to help your observation skills is to start a nature journal! You can use a notebook or an app on your phone! You can write down some notes about your walk, make a quick sketch of a bird you see, or take a photo of something interesting. One of the great things about a nature journal is it helps you share your journey with your friends and family that couldn't be with you on the walk. If you would like to learn more about nature journaling, look at our park website or event flyer for one of our classes on how to journal. We even have classes on how to make your own paper and how to make a journal from the paper you made!
Continue down the trail until you find yourself walking back to the place where you started. Is something different? Is there a new thing you didn't notice before? Maybe you found something that we didn't talk about and you're just not sure what it is. That's great! Visit your local library and borrow a field guide and maybe you can figure it out. That's what makes taking a walk in the woods so magical — there is always something new to see!
Ranger Stories from Park Superintendent Bowers
One of my favorite memories is a fishing program I led. I taught several kids from the area who had never been fishing before. One young boy was pretty skeptical — he paid attention and learned how to cast and tie hooks, but he didn't think he would ever catch anything. But he was one of the first to catch a fish! The look on his face when he reeled that fish in was something I will never forget. I hope he still has that feeling today!
Carvers Creek Trail Quest
Come join us in celebrating the Year of the Trail by walking 100 miles throughout 2023!
Hit 100 miles by walking on Carvers Creek's own trails! Visit our Sandhills access or Long Valley Farm access to hike and work towards milestone prizes! Pick up a mileage log at our park office to get started.