Phenology
2021

It's been a great year for Leopard Frogs with Long Lake teaming with them. We've observed a new small hatch of dragonflies. A group of European Paper Wasps was observed eating a dead shrew. There are lots of interesting flora and fauna in bloom, including the Cardinal Flower (Scarlet Lobelia), Boneset, Obedient Place, St. John's Wort, Broadleaf Arrowhead, and Wood Aster.

Maple leaves are turning colors, and oak trees dropping acorns. Is it a sign of an early fall or the result of stress from the drought? We've had some other interesting wildlife sightings this week, including our first baby Snapping Turtle of the season. Our otters stopped by shore to play. Fun! Garden Spiders with their spiral webs, and Woolly Aphids are abundant in the bog. Bog Rosemary is in bloom. Always a treat.

This week, the wind carried on its shoulders the promise of fall. We saw our first migratory birds, including a Solitary Sandpiper. Fungai are starting to grow, including some delicious Chicken of the Woods.

A little bit of bog heaven...Bog Cranberries are starting to ripen (some are already red and juicy), and some of the sphagnum moss is turning beautiful colors. Our naturalists spied Scarlet Waxcaps, and tiny puffballs...beautiful little fungi. Naturalist Katie Murphy went underwater to capture images of minnows, perch and a Johnny Darter.

It's starting to feel a little bit more like fall, and the critters and starting to act like it. Geese are flocking in preparation for their flight. They were observed diving under the water and staying submerged for up to five seconds at a time.- Nighthawks are migrating. Black and White, Blackburian and Nashville Warblers were spotted in migration. Our friendly neighborhood Woodchuck was out and active for the first time in a while.

The recent rains have helped spur some life, especially mushrooms. We've spied Chaga, Coral Mushroom and lots of delicious Chicken of the Woods. The Wooly Caterpillars are out and moving, so walk carefully. We're seeing migratory birds, including Grebes on Long Lake. There are Turkeys everywhere, and the deer are on the move. We've spotted a good amount of fork horn bucks.

This week's phenology report is provided by the students from Christ the King school in Browerville, who spent the week exploring nature here at Long Lake. Great job! Keep exploring!

Autumn has settled upon Long Lake. We are at about 50% peak color, with maples putting on a brilliant red show. Oaks are slower to turn. In addition to the maples, the Pagoda Dogwood shrub has turned a bright red.

We are past peak autumn colors here at Long Lake, but it's still beautiful with lots to see. The Tamaracks in the Long Lake bog are starting to turn golden. A few Wild Geraniums, Hawkweed and Dandelions are still in bloom....

This week's phenology report is provided by the students from St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West who spent the week exploring nature here at Long Lake. Great job! Keep exploring!

Long Lake had its first hard frost. As we dive headfirst toward winter, nature is racing to get ready. The beavers have been VERY busy. We have counted six freshly chewed trees, and at night, we hear their loud chomping....

This week's phenology report is provided by the students from Aitkin, Hill City and McGregor, who spent the week exploring nature here at Long Lake. Great job! Keep exploring!

This week's phenology report is provided by the students from St. Michael-Albertville Middle School East who spent the week exploring nature here at Long Lake. Great job! Keep exploring!

This week's phenology report is provided by the students from St. Michael-Albertville seventh grade students who spent the week exploring nature here at Long Lake.

This week's phenology report is provided by Ella and Katrina, students from Underwood School who spent the week exploring nature here at Long Lake.

Thanksgiving edition. We have first ice, and lots of bird activity, including Hairy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Chickadees, but our focus this week is on our favorite mammal - children. Happy Thanksgiving.

There are about 6,500 species of mammals on the planet, but there is no doubt that our favorite is kids. We are thankful beyond words to be able to share the wonders of the natural world with them, and you. Happy Thanksgiving! Share your nature photos and notes to info@longlakecc.org.

This week's phenology report is provided by the fourth grade students from St. Joe's in Grand Rapids who spent the day exploring nature here at Long Lake.

Winter has settled in and it sure is beautiful. Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Chickadees have been active on the feeders, and it's been fun to see all the tracks in the snow.

Our friends from Deep Portage Learning Center visiting Long Lake, toured the bog, fed Chickadees by hand and explored nature with us, including checking out lots of fresh tracks in the snow. Thanks for being part of the Environmental Education family!

Our friends from Deep Portage Learning Center came to visit today and moments before they left, we asked them to join our team in sharing the phenology notes from the day - WITHOUT WARNING OR TIME TO PREPARE. I know, I know, I know. We're a big much of meanies. They were good sports and did a great job. Thanks for the visit and for being part of Minnesota's environmental education team! There's lots to see. Share your nature photos and notes to info@longlakecc.org.

Three seasons in one week? That's what it felt like, but it sure was pretty. We followed lots of tracks and saw a mysterious mustelid. Mink? Weasel?

PHENOLOGY FRIDAY - CHRISTMAS EVE EDITION

It seems like we've experienced three of the four seasons in the last week with temperatures ranging from -7 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Naturalist Julia Kuhns illustrated the change in her dramatic image showing the bog from a few months ago to today. We enjoyed seeing all the tracks in the snow, and observing where our are animal friends are travelling. Marla Richter spotted some interesting tracks in the snow (pictured). One is the wings of a crow, the other the tunnel created by a mouse or vole. A mysterious mustelid was spotted on the lake. It was about 16 inches long, and brown with a 5-inch long pointed tail. Our first guess was that it was a short-tailed weasel, but it was entirely brown. The coloring would be atypical for a weasel in the winter who turn completely white in the autumn. Our next guess was a mink. A good guess that fits the description, but not common here at Long Lake. Unfortunately, it bounded into the cattails before we could make a thorough identification. Any other guesses? At the feeders, we are seeing Nuthatches, Chickadees and Pileated, Red-Bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers (and a handful of chunky grey squirrels). We've seen no signs of the beavers or otters this week. The Winter Solstice was Wednesday, marking the first official day of Winter, and the beginning of longer days. We wish you peace, health and happiness as you spend time this holiday season with your favorite mammals

There's lots to see. Share your nature photos and notes to info@longlakecc.org.

Deep snow and bitter cold, but tracks in the fresh snow led us to a prickly friend in a tree. Happy New Year! May you have lots of great adventures in nature!

PHENOLOGY FRIDAY - NEW YEAR'S EVE EDITION

Days are slowly lengthening and snow is covering everything, outlining the leaf-free branches of the trees. Oh, and it's really, really cold. It may appear as though not much is going on, but the tracks in the snow tell a different story. We can see the routes deer take around campus and through the woods and the squirrel trips from tree to under the bird feeder and then back to their favorite tree spots. Also at the feeder are nuthatches taking one seed, flying it up to a branch, jamming it into the tree bark and "hatching" out the seed. Woodpeckers enjoying the suet and Chickadees feeding and occasionally calling their "fee-bee" call. Deer have been spotted traveling back and forth across Long Lake and the turkeys, bald eagles and crows are active. Naturalist Katie Murphy followed some unusual tracks and found a porcupine in the top of a tree. Pretty cool. Happy New Year! We hope the tracks you follow in 2022 lead you to many wonderful adventures. Send us your photos and natures notes at info@longlakecc.org, and always LIVE CONNECTED!