At 12:00 noon I met with Arielle, the Aquarena graduate fellow, Curriculum Coordinator, and assistant to the Coordinator of Instructional Programs, Mrs. Sonja Mlenar. Arielle took me to her office and talked about editing of my diary and told me about the online web blog. I appreciate that she took her time to correcting my English. I was glad to see her well-organized office was. It contained the educational tour materials for students of all ages, which were neatly stacked and labeled. Afterwards, I took a special Glass Bottom Boat tour with Arielle as my driver! She pointed out the gushing springs in the lake. I thought about how every drop of water in Spring Lake had traveled such a long way to get to Spring Lake, and how it will continue to travel down the San Marcos River and into the Gulf of Mexico. How precious to see those springs in action!
Looking at the lake from the land was very different than looking at it from the boat. From the shore, I saw the water as a whole, but I had not thought much about how active the lake actually is, and how much life (plants, fish, and animals) is found there. However, looking deep down into the lake bottom from the boat, I felt a feeling of appreciation for the water and its unfathomable power. How beautiful it was to see the aquatic plants swaying gently from the spring flow. Hundreds of tiny oxygen bubbles rose from the plants and the white Cabomba flowers (which had bloomed underwater.) The bubbles hit the glass bottom of the boat and then gently disappeared. The aquatic plants were gorgeous and had grown much thicker than I saw last year.
How happy I was to see plenty of fish! Since Algae took over the wetlands, I had not many chances to see the underwater activities of the wetlands. I think it is currently spawning season and wonder whether or not the fish are using the aquatic plants as there nesting area. There are more safe areas for eggs and young fish in the lake than the wetland.
How happy I was to see plenty of fish! Since Algae took over the wetlands, I had not many chances to see the underwater activities of the wetlands. I think it is currently spawning season and wonder whether or not the fish are using the aquatic plants as there nesting area. There are more safe areas for eggs and young fish in the lake than the wetland.
Last summer I enjoyed observing fishes during their spawning season at the wetlands. There were hundreds of small holes on the lake floor, which I assumed were created by the springs. Each fish used a hole as a nest, in which they laid their eggs and guarded them from predators until they hatched. There were hundreds of small holes on the lake floor. Amazingly, the fish could identify their own nest in that open lake bottom, and circled around it to guard the eggs. I often witnessed a small fish attack a much bigger fish, just like a torpedo, to defend its nest from invaders. I could not identify which fish was male or female, but I heard that the male fish guarded the nests and the females swam away. Interestingly, the male fish changes color in order to scare off other invading fishes. I wondered what kind of habit these fishes had in the deeper water.
Looking at the wetland from boat, I felt as if the wetlands hold a different lifestyle than the lake. It is the same river, but there are differences between the running water in the lake and the still water in the wetlands.
During the boat ride, I heard the call of the Red-Shouldered Hawks from behind the Texas Rivers Center. I asked Arielle what was behind of the hill, because the hawks often fly towards that area. I was hoping there would be a wooded area. Arielle mentioned to me that behind the hillside there is a wooded residential area. As far as I know, there are two pairs of the Red-Shouldered Hawks, along with a young one. Expansion of the residential area means that the hawks have a decreased chance of survival.
Looking at the wetland from boat, I felt as if the wetlands hold a different lifestyle than the lake. It is the same river, but there are differences between the running water in the lake and the still water in the wetlands.
During the boat ride, I heard the call of the Red-Shouldered Hawks from behind the Texas Rivers Center. I asked Arielle what was behind of the hill, because the hawks often fly towards that area. I was hoping there would be a wooded area. Arielle mentioned to me that behind the hillside there is a wooded residential area. As far as I know, there are two pairs of the Red-Shouldered Hawks, along with a young one. Expansion of the residential area means that the hawks have a decreased chance of survival.
I had a wonderful experience during the boat tour and appreciate the thoughtfulness of Mrs. Mlenar and Arielle regarding their arrangements for me.
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