Urban Turkey

Urban Nature Walk member Peter H. took this photograph of a wild turkey near his Cambridge home, in the spring of 2004. Hooray for North America's most massive bird--living in the city!

Trees+fungus+wind=kaplowie

A major wind storm blew through today, wreaking havok on "Bird Hill," our raptor exhibits.



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365 Urban species. #018: Wood Ear

Urban Species #018: Wood ear Auricularia auricula

Wood ear, when found in the city, is most often in parks, on warm windy and wet winter days. The translucent, vaguely ear-shaped mushroom appears on the ends of dead branches, on narrow twigs usually still attached to living trees. It appears year-round, but is more obvious in winter when there are no leaves. When the wind gusts, the dead twigs may fall to the ground, bringing this strange gelatinous fungus to the sidewalk.

Its close relative A. polytricha can be found in hot and sour soup.

As was commented anonymously below, this is not Auricularia auricula but rather Exidia recisa

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