The Charred Lands

The Charred Lands

As I was running errands with the kids last week, we drove past the Darby Creek Metro Park wet prairie area during a controlled prairie burn. I’d heard of these happening in the park before, but had never witnessed one. Unfortunately, since I was driving, I don’t have any photos of the actual event- but I did walk around the park a few days later. Darby Creek’s official Facebook page also posted this short video of the burn.

Normally, these burnt areas would be filled with tall prairie grasses. In fact, the vegetation gets so thick and tall that I can neither see over nor through it. With much of it burned away, I had greater visibility than usual. The charred sections were also black, which made it a little easier to spot many of the birds out in the fields. I especially loved the way that colorful Eastern Meadowlarks and Robins contrasted against the burnt grass, as they foraged for food.

What is a Controlled Prairie Burn?

I personally did not grow up around prairies and was unaware of controlled burns, until I learned about them from a park ranger. The concept of burning vegetation can definitely seem a bit counterproductive to conservation efforts, but controlled burns are actually vital for preserving native prairie habitats. Essentially, these burns kill invasive plant species that compete for sunlight and nutrients, while the native plants are able to recover and grow back. This is due to the native plants’ deep root systems that remain safe from the flames. Many prairie animals also live in underground burrows, to which they can retreat during a fire. Burning excess vegetation returns nutrients to the soil, and prompts healthy regrowth of plants that can attract more wildlife to the area.

However, playing with fire is still dangerous, so prescribed burns require permits, training, and specific weather conditions. Overly dry or windy weather can cause a fire to burn too quickly or spread outside of the designated burn area. In fact, anyone who has driven past Darby Creek’s wet prairie may have seen bright yellow signs indicating that a burn will take place within the next 90 (maybe, I don’t remember the exact number) days. These signs help alert the public of these events, but the park also cannot schedule an exact date until they know that the weather will meet the conditions for a safe, controlled burn.

Bald Eagles

While exploring the Rail Way trail, I happened to notice a flash of white in a large tree across the road. Looking through my binoculars, I discovered that there were two Bald Eagles perched atop the tree. Later on, as I was trying to photograph some Killdeer in the black grass, one of the Eagles left its perch and flew right over me! I couldn’t really get a great shot of it flying, though, and it continue to fly over and beyond the wetlands.

In Conclusion

Overall, it was fun to see the difference in the wet prairie after a burn, and it’s always fun to see eagles. However, it was also a really cold morning, and the lighting was subpar. I had visited the pond early on, but the wind and poor lighting impacted my visibility and ability to take pictures. I’m hoping that I can get back over there again soon to take some more photos around the charred areas, with better weather conditions and maybe some more wildlife sightings. Until then, I hope you enjoy looking through my photos from this trip! Don’t forget to check out my main gallery as well, if you haven’t already!

Sarah Throckmorton