Nature Note

Black-capped chickadees may be one of the most easily recognizable birds both by their look and by their call: “chicka-dee-dee-dee”. However, did you know that chickadees are one of the smallest and hardiest birds that stays and faces Minnesota winters head on? Most people think about birds migrating south, moving to warmer locations, and living through the winter season in these areas. Have you ever considered how such a tiny bird like the chickadee manages to survive our harsh Minnesota winters?

A few weeks ago, I found myself gazing at the night sky, parked on the edge of a cornfield in my flannel pajamas. It’s not every day that something so extraordinary and urgent comes along that I leave the house in my slippers; but a picture-perfect aurora borealis is just that. As the greens and pinks danced in the sky, I knew that whatever was happening up there felt almost like magic. Turns out, it’s all thanks to the sun.

As fall and winter approach, we are seeing an increase in bird migration. Many of these birds are going to warmer areas, like Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, etc. But did you know that Minnesota is another popular location for birds to spend the wintertime, especially for one common raptor. 

Minnesota boasts incredible coniferous and hardwood forests in the northern part of the state as well as plenty of deciduous forests in the south. In amongst the deciduous forests, lay hidden gems that are a feast for the eyes, and the stomachs.

Every evening this summer, the sky above Main Street fills with small, fast moving birds darting and chirping above the buildings. While they are unnoticed by most, it only takes one look up to realize these are not ordinary birds. Nicknamed “flying cigars” because of their slender, tube-shaped bodies, their amazing speed and constant aerial acrobatics make them hard to miss once you know what to look for. These are Chimney Swifts, and while they have spent the last several months performing every night on Main Street and throughout town, by the end of September they will all be gone.

It’s time to understand these tiny, sly bugs that often result in breaking out the bug spray or heading back inside. No-see-ums, also referred to as sand gnats, biting midges, punkies, moose flies, five-o’s, and sandflies, are well known for being party poopers. But what are they, really?

Quickly approaching are the “dog days” of summer – a period of some of the hottest days, typically around the second half of July. While most of us are trying to beat the heat, our cicadas emerge to sing the one and only song of their lives.

There has been a lot of buzz about the decline of bee populations lately. But what most people are focusing on is the loss of large honeybee colonies. While devasting, honeybees are actually not native to the United States and there are a greater diversity of pollinators that are being lost that we should be focusing on. One of the best ways to help our native Minnesota pollinators is to plant native Minnesota plants.

Melted snow and rain will collect in low spots on the ground forming temporary ponds, called vernal pools. While these puddles may look small, their short existence makes a large impact on the many animals that depend on them to survive, such as insects, frogs, salamanders, and more.

May is the perfect time to explore surrounding woodlands for a plethora of flowers that can be only found for a couple of weeks in the early springtime. These flowers are called spring ephemerals, meaning they only last for a very short period.