Phenology
2026
This report is brought to you by Livia, Lukas and the students from Madison Elementary School in Blaine.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center on June 1st and 2nd the high temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 38. Our group saw some unusual things, including a dead garter snake that was somehow tied in a knot. Weird. We also saw large clumps of Forest Tent Caterpillars in the thickets. When they moved they looked like they were dancing. Weird. We found a frog deep in the bog, a place where frogs don’t normally go. Weird. We saw a lot of normal things as well, including a baby Snapping Turtle, tadpoles, chipmunks, deer, muskrats, a painted turtle, lots of dragonfly exoskeletons in the water, Wild Calla blooming by the dock and Sundew emerging in the bog. We have some sad news to report. The Loon eggs were eaten by an unknown predator overnight on Monday - just a few days short of hatching. A plump and healthy looking otter was seen hunting near the nest the next day. We wonder if the loons will try again this summer. You never know what weird and interesting things you’ll see when you explore nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Aaliyah, Brooklyn and the students from Ramsey Elementary School.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from May 29th through the 31st the high temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 44. One of the highlights of our trip was seeing a brand new fawn. Most of us got to see him running. He was so new that his legs were wobbly when he ran. We also loved seeing lots of Monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. Jordyn saw a bumblebee on her friend’s shirt. Ahmed heard the loud and beautiful song of the Ovenbirds in the forest, Everly spotted a woodpecker and we saw rabbits, a Loon on its nest, really cute chipmunks, a beaver, and a groundhog near the entrance of its hole. Our group enjoyed eating the flowers and nectar of the wild Columbine. We had a variety of interesting discoveries during Lake Bottom Organisms class. We found a baby catfish and learned the hard way that even though they are little, they can still sting. We found a baby Northern Pike and Alexander found a crawfish that had eggs. Harris noticed small buds on the pine trees and learned they are the beginning of new pine cones. Nora found a chipmunk skeleton and is taking the skull home. There are a lot of Forest Tent Caterpillars…so many in fact that we can hear their poop falling onto the leaves below. It sounded like it was raining poop. It’s a great time to explore nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Henry and the students from St. Andrew Catholic School in Elk River, and Finn, Sam and the students from St. Paul School of Northern Lights. Great job!
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from May 27th through the 29th the high temperature was 85 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 46. Lots is happening in nature right now. During our hike around the lake we saw the first fawn of the year, heard Grouse drumming, and saw the turkey on its nest of seven eggs. We found a very large dead painted turtle with American Carrion Beetles on it, watched adult and juvenile beavers swimming, heard lots of PeeWees and Warblers, and saw purple and yellow wood violets in bloom. It might be peak tick season. Long Lake naturalist Marla picked off a total of more than 30 during and after the hike. Our group experienced a few first-of-the-year sightings, including dragonflies, American Robin chicks, and Pink Lady’s Slippers are up in the bog. The Lady’s Slippers aren’t quite blooming, but are close. The Common Loons are still on their nest and being very protective of their eggs. They’ve been on their nest for more than two weeks. The gestation period of a loon is 27 days, so we could see loonlets as early as late next week. Red Columbine, Wild Geranium and Jacob’s Ladders are all in bloom, lots of Forest Tent Caterpillars are around, and muskrats continue to be very active. Our group found a small nest of garter snakes sunning themselves near our dorm, and it’s raining catkins and pollen thanks to the male oak trees. In the bog, leatherleaf, labrador tea and cotton grass are blooming. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Mico, Ali, Tatti and the students from New Century Academy in Hutchinson.
Summer arrived during our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from May 25th through the 27th with a high temperature of 92 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 47. The last 90 degree day was July 4 of last year. Nature seemed to like the heat with a report of the season’s first Monarch Butterflies. Hummingbirds have arrived in good numbers and many bumblebees were spotted. Skye chased a bumblebee and nearly caught it. In the lake, we found the first baby snapping turtle of the year. Schnee and Ali saw a big beaver running from the woods toward the water. In the woods, Mico saw an egg with a spider in it, and a Robin's egg shell on the ground. We also spotted deer, squirrels, a red fox with a white tail, a chipmunk that Brooke named Simon, and, unfortunately, soooooooooooo many tickets. One person counted ten ticks on her at one time. On a positive note, Mico found many agates. Schnee’s Merlin App identified the following birds: tree swallow, chipping sparrow, Northern Yellow Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Virio, Indigo Bunting, Pine Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Ovenbird, Swamp Sparrow, Red-eyed Virio, Least Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker and Blue bird. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Lizzie, Nakota, Mila, Savana and the students from Lincoln Elementary School For the Arts in Anoka and Morgan, Lily and the students from Central Elementary in Norwood Young America.
The low temp was a chilly 34 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 67. The bog is springing to life and after the recent rain is extra wet and “boggy”. Marsh Marigolds are in full bloom, Cotton Grass fluffs are up, Leatherleaf and Bog Laurel are flowering, and Ladyslippers are leafing out. In the woods, Wood Violets and Wild Strawberries are blooming and ferns are about to sprout. We saw a garter snake and a beaver on the land at night. The frogs were very loud and we thought they sounded like crickets. The Loon is still on its nest and we saw a muskrat in the lake and an eagle fly overhead. The Loons didn’t seem happy to see the eagle. We saw lots of birds at the feeders and in the woods, including a Red-headed Woodpecker. It’s the third year in a row they’ve been on campus. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Elsa and the students from Hamilton Elementary in Coon Rapids.
During our trip on May 17th and 18th the low temp was a chilly 34 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 60. Thunder, lightning and rain drenched us at night. The rain was much needed and helped put out the wildfires in the area. Between the rain drops, we saw lots of great stuff, including the first Canada Goose goslings of the season. On a hike we saw a Common Loon on the nest. We learned that both the male and female loons take turns sitting on the eggs. We also found a nest of turkey eggs, and saw two Trumpeter Swans. They must not be on their nest yet. Using the Merlin App, one of our adults identified 12 different species of birds, including Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orioles, Blue Jays, American Robins, Ovenbirds, and Gray Catbirds. At the feeders we saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker eating an orange. Our group saw a muskrat and a beaver on the lake, and a deer out of our cabin window,. Naturalist Beth spotted the first Prairie Smoke of the season. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Lilly, Bria, Emma and the students from Cold Spring Elementary.
During our trip from May 13th through the 15th the low temp was 39 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 80. The spring weather was EGGScellent…as in our group found lots of EGGS during our trip. Long Lake’s Loons are on the nest with two eggs. It was interesting how the adults lay low and flat on the nest for camouflage and to escape quickly into the water if needed. We also found a turkey nest with 10 eggs in it, American Robins are on the nest near a building and Tree Swallows have taken over a birdhouse on campus. In other bird notes, Orioles, Ovenbirds, Bluebirds, Redheaded Woodpeckers, Solitary Sandpipers and Common Yellowthroats have returned to campus. We also noted a very large flock of Blue Jays. In the bog, Bog Rosemary is in bloom with pink buds. In the forest, Service Berry bushes are blooming and we saw a Blue-spotted Salamander. Other notes include an unidentified white butterfly, a muskrat, beaver, and a chipmunk. The world is blooming and new life is happening everywhere. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Stella, MaKenna, Everly and the students from Minnewaska Area School. Nice job!
During our trip from May 6th to the 8th the low temp was 25 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 58 degrees. We even had a few snow flurries and during our first bog trek of the day the group found a thin layer of ice on the bog water. On the path into the bog we saw that the marsh marigolds are just starting to bloom. On Long Lake we saw muskrats, two swans swimming together and two loons swimming together. We thought there was something on the loon’s backs but it was feathers sticking up. We learned that this is where an oil gland is and the loons were very busy cleaning and keeping their feathers oiled so that they are water-proof. Hepatica is in bloom. We watched many squirrels running, chasing, hanging upside down and eating. Chipmunks, chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays and woodpeckers were also very active. Several deer came to the bird feeder area while we were eating dinner. We found coyote scat and heard howling in the evening. A barred owl was heard in the evening and one was seen in the morning. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Parker and Finn and the students from Good Shepherd School in Golden Valley, Maddy and Braelyn and the students Mary of Lourdes in Little Falls and students Saints Peter and Paul in Richmond.
During our trip from May 4th through the 6th the low temp was 28 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 50. On Tuesday, there were snow flurries. The bog is springing to life with Leatherleaf in full bloom. Our group also found a single, tasty cranberry. We also saw a bunny hopping on the trail, a turkey, and a big yellow spider, possibly a black and yellow garden spider. On the lake, the Trumpeter Swan and Common Loon pairs are traveling together which means they are not on the nest yet. We expect that to happen soon. The group from Saints Peter and Paul School left on Tuesday, but here is their report. They saw an American Robin’s nest with eggs in it, a tree completely destroyed by a pileated woodpecker, a Muskrat, and an Owl hooting. They reported that Marsh marigolds are in bloom near the edge of the bog and Fern fiddleheads are up and about 4 inches above the forest floor. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Carson, Reese and the students from Crooked Lake Elementary School in Andover.
Hi, this is Carson and Reese from Crooked Lake Elementary School in Andover reporting from Long Lake Conservation Center for April 29th through May 1. The weather was sunny, but cool with a high temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 24. During Lake Bottom Organisms class we caught a GIANT leech. We measured it at six inches long. Our group also saw and heard the first Leopard Frogs of the season. On the lake, Lexee and others saw a muskrat and Shanaya spotted a beaver. In the woods, Grace noted that Hepatica is blooming, Soriyah identified an American Carrion Beetle, Avery found Jelly Mushrooms, Anna saw a garter snake, Reese counted seven deer out of her cabin window and Charisma spotted a variety of different Woodpeckers. Kate and her group found a tiny, baby Painted Turtle walking in the grass.. They named it “Brownie” and carried it to the lake. Others saw Painted turtles swimming in the lake and basking in the midday sun. It’s a great time to explore nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Penelope, Oliver and the students from Benilde-St. Margaret's in St. Louis Park.
We enjoyed summer-like weather with a high temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It was the warmest it’s been since September 5 of 2025. The water temperature on Long Lake was 48 degrees, allowing our group to go on a canoeing adventure - the first of the year. We saw the season’s first Common Loon and Painted turtles, plus two muskrats, and a garter snake swimming in the lake. There were also Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans, and Hooded Mergansers enjoying the open water. The lake was a happening place. Spring Peepers were in full voice and were joined by Wood and Chorus frogs, filling the early evening with loud, joyous songs. The Chipmunks are out and hungry. They left the feeders with cheeks bulging with seeds. Our group found Wooly Bear Caterpillars on our way to the bog. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Lola, Latrice and the students from Sand Creek Elementary in Coon Rapids.
The weather was sunny and stormy for us with a high temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 36. It is still very brown around Long Lake and there is still one small dirty pile of snow in the shade in the parking lot. The rain should help with both of those things. In the bog we saw that the Marsh marigold buds are above the water, but no blooms yet. We were also able to see a tiny bit of the bright green of the new tamarack needle bundles. In the forest, the Wild Strawberry leaves are green. The fiddleheads are up a tiny bit. We had to move away the fallen leaves to see them. Garter snakes, white-tailed deer, chipmunks and squirrels were in the woods as well. On and in the lake we saw; two trumpeter swans, two loons, one otter, one beaver and one muskrat. In the air we heard the nearly constant Chickadee cheeseburger song and many frogs calling. It is a great time to take the time to notice nature and we want to remind you to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Derrick, Yazmin, Coen and the students from St. Raphael's Catholic School in Crystal.
Temperatures in the 60s woke up nature. The ice officially went out on Long Lake on April 14. That is about average. According to Long Lake’s records dating back to 1988, the earliest ice out was March 23, 2000 and the latest was May 8, 2013. Two pairs of Trumpeter Swans, Canada Geese, Common Mergansers and a variety of ducks soon took up residence on the lake. Another spring milestone was that Spring Peepers have emerged for the winter-long mud nap. It was fun hearing their beautiful song for the first time this spring. We thought they sounded like birds. Speaking of birds, our group saw American Woodcocks and even got to watch them dance. Very cool. Other bird sightings of note were the season’s first American Goldfinches, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a very large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-winged Blackbirds, a male Hairy and Red-bellied woodpecker, and Song Sparrows. Chipmunks are out in big numbers and are competing well at the feeders winning their share of seed from the red and gray squirrels. The snow has entirely melted, but we found that parts of the bog are still frozen. Not for long. Nature is waking up and there’s lots to see. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Cassidee, Mabel and the students from St. Henry's Area School in Perham and St. Joseph Catholic School in Grand Rapids.
Winter fought back during our trip with a cloudy and chilly high of 44 and a low of 25. Because of the extended cold, maple sap is still flowing. As we were gathering for class, Asher’s mom saw a bobcat chasing something through the woods. There have been a lot of rabbits on campus, so our guess is that it was chasing one. It all happened so quickly that we don’t know if the bobcat caught its prey. The Long Lake naturalists say this is the first sighting of a bobcat in at least five years. We saw deer, squirrel and raccoon tracks and lots of scat. Buds are still on the aspen trees and we found a fallen branch that a rabbit had chewed on. Flocks of juncos and purple finches were on the feeders, and a pair of common mergansers were seen in the open water near shore. Naturalist Julia said that she saw the otters sliding down the snow on the hill this morning. The air is filled with choruses of birds singing. So beautiful. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
PHENOLOGY FRIDAY - SPRING BREAK EDITION
In Minnesota, Spring Break is defined as the week when we take a break from spring and return to winter. The snow started Thursday morning and continued on and off through the night, leaving behind a 4.5-inch blanket of white goodness. And more is on the way. Yippee! There is something truly magical about the first big snowfall of the spring! It may be a bit disheartening, but we need the precipitation. On another bright note, the ticks that emerged early are freezing their pesty little butts off right now. If you can ignore the snow, you'll hear nature screaming, "SPRING IS HERE!" The ice on many small lakes was dark and could be gone as early as next week. Red-winged Blackbirds returned to the Long Lake campus, otters broke through the ice near the beach and were seen enjoying a bountiful feast of frogsicles, Sand Hill Cranes and Mallard ducks were seen in the fields near campus. The mysterious case of the munching muskrat continues. The rambunctious rodent was once again seen on campus, far from the lake, eating greens near the Marcum Lodge. It's not unusual for Muskrats to venture far from lakes, especially in the spring, but it's a first for us. Another odd sighting was a pair of Trumpeter Swans and a Canada Goose snuggling near a boggy outcropping in the middle of the lake. Last summer, a gosling was abandoned on Long Lake and spent the rest of the summer with a pair of Swans. It's rare, but sometimes Swans will adopt abandoned a lone goose. We hope and wonder if it's the same interspecies family. In snow, rain, sleet or sun, nature is always telling a story for those who take the time to listen. We hope you'll find time to unplug, get outside and live connected. If you can, take a kid with you.
This report is brought to you by Penelope, Winston, James and the students from Cuyuna Range Elementary School in Crosby-Ironton.
It was sunny and 64 when we arrived and 15 and snowing on our last day. There’s something magical about the first snowfall of spring. One of the highlights of our trip was an up-close encounter with a muskrat. The little fellow was spotted 100 yards from shore in front of the Marcum House Lodge. It was digging in the grass looking for food. Our entire group was only 25 feet away, but it didn’t seem scared at all. We watched him for a few minutes and left him to eat in peace. The insects liked the warm weather. We saw flies, mosquitos, spiders and a diving beetle on the trail that we named Timmy. Unfortunately, we encountered our first two ticks of the season. One was a wood tick and the other a deer tick. They are out, so beware. It’s tick check season. A deer was seen in the bog and two Trumpeter swans stopped by the lake and rested on the ice before moving on in search of open water. Our group saw a chipmunk. It was the first sighting of the season. Garter snakes were seen sunning themselves near their hibernaculum, but one snake was spotted deeper in the woods. Mr. Corbett went for a hike and found a deer bed. He said that fur was everywhere. He also found a $200 check that Dave from Long Lake may or may not have unintentionally released into the wild on an earlier trek around the lake…further proof that it pays to go on a nature hike. We would like to send a special shout out to Mr. Sipper. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Sierra and the students from Highland Catholic School in St. Paul.
The spring temperatures melted most of what is left of the snow, but we were able to identify animal tracks in the mud. We found deer, turkey and canine tracks, most likely fox or coyote. There were unconfirmed reports of howling wolves at nighttime. It’s peak maple tapping season and the sap is flowing fast. We found one tree with a branch broken off at the trunk and sap was running out. We all got to taste it. American Robins returned last week and are now here in big numbers. The first flock of juncos arrived on campus this morning. The bird migration is underway. Eric saw a pileated woodpecker and we heard lots of fast drumming. We found a dead tree with lots and lots of woodpecker holes in it. It was nice hearing all of the spring bird songs. I found what we believe is a White Spring Moth. These are typically the first moths of the season because they can tolerate colder temperatures. Someone saw a caterpillar on the sidewalk, a few trees are starting to bud and there are green leaves on strawberry plants in the woods. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Riley, Penny, Isabel and the students from Modern Montessori Charter School in Champlin.
Spring weather arrived during our trip with sunny high temperatures of 54 and a low of 27 - perfect conditions for maple tapping. The sap is flowing and we got to taste it. Pretty sweet. Nature is waking up, including a variety of insects. We spotted a fly, an unidentified moth-like insect, and the first mosquitos of the year. A few spiders were seen as well. Declan found a ball of garter snakes. These are sometimes called mating balls. Lana saw three garter snakes on the way back from Wilderness Meal. One snake was more than 10 inches long. The snakes are definitely out and about again. The group spotted a Sandhill Crane on the bus ride to Long Lake as well as Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese. We saw almost every Minnesota species of woodpecker, including getting a close up look at a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. Our group found an old “poofy” mushroom, Turkey Tail Mushrooms, and an orange lichen. Rabbits were enjoying the sun and Mason was able to get pretty close to one before it hid behind a tree. The sunrise on Friday was very pretty. The sun was big and bright red. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Moosay, Zoe and the students from Sejong Academy Korean Immersion School in St. Paul.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from March 3-6, the high temperature was 47 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 22. Turkeys were in strut near campus and we saw garter snakes outside of their hibernaculum for the first time this year. They didn’t venture far, but this is a sign that the worst of winter is behind us. A Magpie was spotted and we had reports in the area of black bears out and about. The snow is melting quickly and there are areas of green grass. On the lake we noticed that the leaves were melting into leaf shapes in the ice. Lu saw a deer outside of his window, and a few ladybugs inside. During a hike, we found a clump of deer fur, and saw a fuzzy caterpillar, jelly mushrooms on a stick, tiny orange mushrooms, lots of tracks and scat, and an owl pellet that had hair in it. The mornings were foggy, but beautiful. The woodpeckers were very active at the feeders. We saw hairy, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers. We thought that the Red-bellied woodpecker’s song sounded like a Pokemon. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Annora, Gunnar and Kiwi from St. Stephen's Catholic School in Anoka.
Our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from March 11-13 started with pleasant spring-like weather and ended in Snowmaggedon with six inches of snow and high winds. In between, we saw and heard lots of interesting things in nature. There were three first-of-the-season bird sightings. We heard, but didn’t see, a Red-winged Blackbird, and saw Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese fly over the lake. On a hike around the lake, we found lots and lots of canine tracks. Most looked like coyotes, but a few were large enough to potentially be wolves. The most likely answer is that there is a coyote with big paws. We saw herds of as many as 15 deer at multiple times and locations. Deer tend to herd up in the late winter and early spring to feed together on emerging vegetation when other winter food sources become scarce. After a relatively mild winter, the deer seem healthy and the population is high. We saw numerous clumps of deer fur in the woods, so the shed has started. Before winter returned, a few snakes were spotted sunning themselves on the rocks outside of their hibernaculum. Despite the snow, spring is near. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Kash, Daylee and the students from Coulee Connections in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from February 25th through the 27th. The high temperature was 44 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 7. We saw large groups of crows, we also heard them cawing loudly, and saw their tracks down by the lake. Deer were seen both evenings at about 5pm by the bird feeders. The most we saw at one time was 13! Another animal we saw a lot of were squirrels; red, black and gray. They were very active; eating and chasing. We noticed several moth cocoons on the buildings and watched a few chickadees pick them off and eat them. Early spring tree buds were seen on the red maple and aspen. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Blakely, Valentine, Stella and the students from Sacred Heart School in Freeport, St. Mary's in Melrose and St. John's and St. Andrews.
During our trip from February 18th through the 20th, we enjoyed a fresh blanket of snow and pleasant late-winter high temperatures in the low 30s. Our group enjoyed looking at the tracks in the fresh snow and even so saw a mouse run out of the snow. The Chickadees were heard singing their “cheeseburger” song - a sure sign that spring is on its way. At the feeders we saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpeckers and the season’s first Common Redpolls. They didn’t stick around long, but it was nice to see them. The red and grey squirrels were fun to watch at the window feeders. They sure eat a lot of seeds. Naturalist Danny tracked a porcupine on the south side of the lake. That’s the first porcupine sighting in quite a long time. One of the highlights of the trip was seeing spiders in the snow in the woods. We think that one was a species of funnel weaver and the other is believed to be a type of fishing spider. It’s also possible that they were Wolf spiders. “Snow spiders” are specially adapted to cold with a natural antifreeze in their bodies. They move on top of the snow to hunt insects that can’t move because of the cold. Just like the spiders, we had fun in the snow and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Charlotte, Orion and the students from Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in Fergus Falls.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from February 23rd through the 25th. The high temperature was 31 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was zero. At the bird feeders we saw downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, Pine grosbeaks, chickadees, nuthatches and squirrels. We heard reports of redpolls in the area but did not see any at Long Lake. The Long Lake naturalists said they also have not seen snow buntings this winter. We looked for thaw circles at the base of trees. Some trees still had deep snow all the way around and some had large thaw circles that showed the grass. Out on the lake the ice was making loud cracking noises. Deer trails are very easy to see in the snow. We talked about maybe using them to look for sheds and other ideas for how and when to find deer sheds. We saw many other kinds of tracks in the snow including squirrel, mouse or vole, and turkey. We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Brentley, Norah and the students from Paynesville Elementary.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from February 11th through the 13th the high temperature was 43 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 5. The sun is getting stronger and there are spots where the snow has melted and the ground and is showing. The lichen was colorful and bright in the sun. One person saw a lichen that was a perfect circle. We learned that lichen are a symbiotic pairing of fungi and algae. We saw rabbit tracks, watched a vole scurry into a hole in the ground and saw an unidentified white animal run across the hill. It could have been an ermine. The warm temperatures brought a garter snake inside our dorm. It’s too early for them to venture outside, but it’s a sign of spring that they are moving around. We saw a flock of Pine Grosbeaks and a female Hairy Woodpecker at the feeder along with red and grey squirrels, but no chipmunks yet. Deer were on the move and spotted numerous times around campus. There were signs of wolves in the area, including large scat, and perhaps some howls were heard. One of our minions says he thinks he saw wolves on the far side of the lake. We had a great time exploring nature and we encourage everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Rose and Tommy from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in St. Cloud.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from February 9th through the 11th the high temperature was 38 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 14. We saw and heard very early signs of spring, including Chickadees singing the “Cheeseburger” song. We also observed that birch trees are shedding their seeds. This signals that the trees are starting to wake up and get ready for new growth. We heard a great horned owl during our Wolfpack class and found coyote scat during Wilderness Meal. A fat squirrel was in the bird feeder, spilling seeds onto the ground. A flock of eight Pine Grosbeaks were on the ground eating the spilled seeds. Seven of the Grosbeaks were female and one was male. We also saw a Waxwing, but couldn’t tell whether it was a Cedar or Bohemian. Pileated, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers were seen, but we didn’t hear any drumming. One person saw a vole digging in the snow, another person saw four deer from their window, and one of the parents saw racoons at the bird feeders before sunrise. Rose and Mia saw the Big Dipper near the North Star on the night hike. Winter is not over yet, but signs of spring are out there. We had a great time in nature and we encourage everyone to unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Cohan, Baron, Gus and the students from Bigfork, Cohasset and Grand Rapids East Elementary School.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center from February 4th through the 6th. The high temperature was 36 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 16. At the bird feeders we saw downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, Pine grosbeaks, chickadees, nuthatches and of course, squirrels and more squirrels. In the forest we noticed that there are trees that still have some leaves on them. We also found deer, mouse and rabbit tracks. We heard a barred owl calling in the evening and Bohemian Waxwings singing from the treetops during the day. The woodpeckers were heard drumming, Mr. Latimer visited us for a phenology walk. Some of the things we talked about on the walk included;
Winter is a good time to find and investigate bird nests.
When looking closely at evergreen needles, you know that if it has more than one needle in the bundle, it is from a pine tree.
Squirrels make nests called dreys.
You can tell an aspen from a birch tree by the color of the branches; aspen have white branches, and birch trees have black branches.
Grouse like to hide in thickets because the close together trees protect them from hawks looking for a grouse meal.
Unlike in our teeth, cavities in trees are GOOD! The holes are homes for wildlife like songbirds, owls and bats.
We ended the walk by following a deer trail into a frozen swamp where we found black spruce trees, tamarack trees, Labrador tea plants and sphagnum moss. Thanks for joining us on our field trip Mr. Latimer!
We had a great time exploring nature and we want to remind everyone to brush your teeth, unplug, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
PHENOLOGY SATURDAY
This week was dominated by frigid Arctic air with highs in the single digits and lows inching toward -20. Compared to last week, it didn't seem so bad. It's during the depth of winter when we are reminded of the lessons from those animals who don't flee for warmer weather, or take a winterlong siesta, but rather stay. We always marvel that the squirrels, Chickadees, Nuthatches, woodpeckers, deer, coyotes, wolves and other critters not only survive, but seem to have fun doing it. We watched squirrels chase each other, and Chickadees dance in mid air. There's a sense in their actions not of "we just have to make the most of it", but rather of the pure and simple joy of being alive. This lesson was not lost on the sixth grade students who came for a day trip from Rippleside Elementary. The kids had a blast cross country skiing, snowshoeing and playing snow snakes. It was pure joy and a raucous reminder that life and nature is a gift. We have choices to make. We can complain about the cold, curl up by a fire and stay inside, or we can bundle up, get outside and breathe the daily miracle of existence. If you opt for the latter, you'll get to enjoy glorious sunrises like this... As for us, we choose to unplug, get outside and live connected!
This report is brought to you by Tegan, Paycen and the students from Bertha-Hewitt Elementary who braved the cold for a fun outdoor adventure.
During our trip to Long Lake Conservation Center on January 22nd and 23rd, it was cold. Really, really, really cold with the high temperature of 7 below zero and a low of 30 below zero. It was the coldest temperature of the year. The last time it was this cold was February 13 , 2021, when it reached 31 below. Many schools in the state were closed, but it didn’t stop us from getting outside and exploring. In the “warmth of the day” we bundled up, played snow snakes on the lake, and went crosscountry skiing. We learned that when it gets really cold, trees that are holding lots of moisture can crack and explode. No trees exploded during our trip. We tested a theory that you can pound a nail with a frozen banana and it actually worked. We tested another theory to see if bubbles froze and they did. Although we went exploring, the mammals seemed to be bundled up. We only noticed a few Chickadees, Nuthatches, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and red and gray squirrels. They grabbed a quick meal of seeds and quickly went back to warm up. It’s always fun to explore nature, and we encourage everyone to unplug, bundle up, get outside and LIVE CONNECTED!
This report is brought to you by Ray, George, Jake and the new Minnesota Master Naturalists! Welcome to club nature!
Phenology Friday. Winter appreciation photo edition.
Deer bedding on LLCC campus at 4:40pm.
Track evidence of bunnies munching on a down maple branch.
Winter sunshine! Always a welcome sight.
This report is brought to you by Emma Kippley-Ogman and the other writers from the Legends and Lore Winter Writer's Retreat.
During our visit from January 4th to the 7th, the low temperature was 16 degrees Fahrenheit and the high was 35. This week we noticed many birds – a female hairy woodpecker pecking out a rhythm on an old birch tree, red-bellied woodpeckers on the trees near the dining hall, pileated woodpeckers calling and flying through the trees, a raven calling and another one picking up and flying off with a snowball in its beak, blue jays, white- and red-breasted nuthatches, a pine grosbeak and black-capped chickadees. We saw a vole scampering across the snow, and a red squirrel chasing a gray one away from the leftover pancakes. We saw deer tracks and scat. We noticed birch seeds on the snow, and bright green and orange lichens of many textures on the trees. We noticed thaw circles at the bases of trees. On our way here, despite temperatures in the 20s, rain fell in freezing pellets, coating car windshields and stinging our faces. One morning the rime frost from an overnight fog outlined every oak leaf like a crayon drawing and every twig and needle. We had a great time writing and sharing; hearing from remarkable local storytellers Beth Hautala, Hope Flanigan, and Michael Goldberg, and learning with the naturalists of Long Lake; hiking, skiing and making pine needle baskets, and we want to remind everyone to unplug, get outside, and LIVE CONNECTED!
PHENOLOGY REPORT - THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
This phenology report is a celebration of our favorite critters - the smart, curious, weird, funny and enthusiastic campers, students and friends who fill our days with laughter and joy! Thanks for the memories! Here's to another great year!