>> Cattails in autumn are what I'm used to, but in a much wider, diverse marsh. <<
Here we have a variety of marsh plants, but they tend to form solid stands of one type. This ditch will have cattails, that one slough grass, another arrowleaf, and so on.
>> I'll have to keep an ear out for that particular clatter - I know the sound you're talking about - the next time I'm up around there.<<
Yeah, the seedheads have hollow round stems and the leaves are sort of spongy. So when they dry, the sound echoes if they knock together in the wind.
>> Most of our marsh boardwalks are railed, between the wanting to keep people from jumping or falling in and the desire to protect a designated national wildlife refuge! I'll see if I can find a non-railed one.<<
Not falling in is important. If the railing is low, you might be able to reach over it; cattails are tall. If it's high, and not solid, you can probably reach under the top rail instead.
Re: Thoughts
Here we have a variety of marsh plants, but they tend to form solid stands of one type. This ditch will have cattails, that one slough grass, another arrowleaf, and so on.
>> I'll have to keep an ear out for that particular clatter - I know the sound you're talking about - the next time I'm up around there.<<
Yeah, the seedheads have hollow round stems and the leaves are sort of spongy. So when they dry, the sound echoes if they knock together in the wind.
>> Most of our marsh boardwalks are railed, between the wanting to keep people from jumping or falling in and the desire to protect a designated national wildlife refuge! I'll see if I can find a non-railed one.<<
Not falling in is important. If the railing is low, you might be able to reach over it; cattails are tall. If it's high, and not solid, you can probably reach under the top rail instead.