Archive 2011

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Our mission is to enrich lives and inspire an ethic of care for Wisconsin's Northwoods, through the facilitation of connections among people, nature, and community.


Nature Notes and Phenology Archive 2011

8/24/11:  Giant snapper in the driveway

8/18/11:  Nighthawks out

8/10/11:  Grey fox seen several time at the Center

7/18/11:  Baby toads and spring peepers are hopping about

7/15/11:  Pickerelweed and Joe Pye Weed in bloom

7/12/11:  Fireweed in bloom

7/10/11:  Monarch butterfly emerged from chrysalis

                   Primrose in bloom

7/7/11: Purple Loosestrife blooming

7/5/11: Bullfrogs calling

6/29/11:  Monarch caterpillars have gone into their “J” shape

6/28/11:  Puffball mushrooms growing in lawn

6/24/11:  Loon chick spotted

6/13/11:  Lupine and Iris in bloom

6/10/11:  Chipping sparrow chicks are gone-fledge?  Or dead?

6/9/11:  Green frogs in the lake calling

                 Elderberry in bloom

6/6/11:  Snapping turtle in the parking lot

6/3/11: Chipping sparrow eggs hatched up by the shop (3)

6/2/11: First monarch butterfly of the season flying at the Center!

                Veery singing

                Fireflies are out!

6/1/11:  Several large yellow Swallowtails are now flying around

                 Pitcher plant flowers are coming up

                 Labrador tea is flowering

                 Star flower in blooming in the woods

                 Found a lady slipper orchid in the bog today

5/11/11: Toads have joined the spring amphibian chorus! You can hear their high pitched trill, lasting several seconds, above all the peepers, wood frogs and chorus frogs. -L

5/11/11: At Van Vliet we heard a Least flycatcher and a Northern Parula -L

5/11/11: While putting out the geocaches on the trails this morning I heard ovenbirds and found a HUGE pile of bear scat-all grasses and quite slimy, with about 30 slugs on it..yum! -L

5/10/11: Nashville warbler hit the window and was stunned for a bit- then flew off. Very yellow, greenish-blue head, with the distict chestnut patch on top of the head -L

5/8/11: While taking Ted for a walk down Papoose Lake Road we stumbled across a monster snapping turtle digging in the gravel, we stopped and watched it for a while -L

5/6/11: While hiking at Catherine Wolter Wilderness tonight I heard a Black throated green warbler calling, as well as a White throated sparrow -L

5/1/11: heard the song of the Hermit Thrush -L

4/24/11:  Walleyes spawning  -Z

4/23/11:  Statehouse Lake opened up all the way-spring is here!  -Z

4/21/11: Heard the call note (not song) of a hermit thrush on the trail behind the Center -L

4/20/11: Statehouse Lake was almost open a few days ago, but the middle was still frozen, today it is almost completely frozen over again with temps in the 30's and snow all day....ugh will spring ever come to the Northwoods??? -L

4/12/11: Noticed a large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos in the woods near the Center -L

4/11/11: On my owl survey I heard two barred owls and one northern saw-whet. I also heard for the first time wood and chorus frogs, as well as spring peepers. Quite a bit later than in the past...Statehouse Lake is still completely frozen... -L

4/11/11:  Loon flying over Statehouse Lake -Z

4/9/11: Heard a winter wren, song sparrow and saw a loon flying over the lake -L

4/8/11: Saw my first butterfly- mourning cloak! They are the first butterflies to come out because they overwinter as adults in tree bark. -L

4/8/11:  Goldfinches arrived

4/7/11:  Dark eyed Juncos, Eastern wood-pewee

4/4/11: The last blast (we hope)

4/6/11:  Saw whet owls calling (8 pm), Osprey at Trude Lake, Hooded mergansers, Great blue heron, immature bald eagle attempting to catch a family of otter - Z

4/4/11:  Snowstorm in Hurley- 6 inches  -Z

4/2/11: The woodcock's are back and on their breeding grounds. I've been hearing them make the peenting ground call and their arial wing whistle.-Z

4/2/11: Sap is running again, ran for a day or two a week ago -L

4/1/11:  Robins arrive -Z

3/17/11: Northern Saw-whet Owl heard hooting in the Arbor Vitae area -L

3/4/11: For the first time in a long time I heard Pileated woodpeckers calling in the woods. -L

2/22/11: Tundra Swans were seen at the Rest Lake Dam on the Manitowish River today -L

2/17/11: with temps near the 50's the past two days, we lost much of our snow and some light winter sleepers have emerged: the smell of skunk and raccoon tracks! -L

2/14/11: Love is in the air- woodpeckers are busy drumming, also wild canines are beginning the mating process, be on the lookout for raised-leg urinations as well as blood in female urine. -L

2/13/11: Unseasonably warm temps today- reached 45 degrees in some places! -L

1/11/11: Ccoss-Country Skiiers reported 4 trumpeter swans down on the open waters of the Manitowish River -L

1/6/11: Flock of Pine Grosbeaks near the bank in Mercer -Z

1/1/11: 40 mile and hour winds and -14 degrees temp. Ice everywhere.-Z