Phenology

Each week, our resident Phenologist John Latimer compiles a report of the subtle and not so subtle phenological changes he's noticed in the past week. Pine needles falling, changes in the color of fireweed, a decrease in the number of wasps and hornets around hummingbird feeders, hummingbird numbers dwindling, blooming heart-leaved asters, Jerusalem artichokes and swamp milkweed are just a few topics John discusses in this week's report. 

Year-round, we hear from listeners who call or email their observations of the natural world to us and we love hearing from everyone who contributes!  During the school year, we have the sweet treat of hearing from classrooms and kids around the listening area as they report what they've been noticing.  This week, in addition to recieving emails and phone calls from listeners,  we heard from five schools and one homeschooler!  Acorns on the ground, a monarch release, ripe tomatoes, hawks, bears, geese, golf ball sized hail and bees are just a sampling of the reported observations that came our way in the past 7 days! 

Each week, our resident Phenologist John Latimer compiles his report of the subtle and not so subtle phenological changes he's noticed in the past week and he shares those observations with our listeners. This week, John discusses changes in daylight,  which trees are where in terms of their peak color, the bumper plum crop, rice worms, dragonflies, butterflies and more.   

The school year is underway and that means our weekly phenology talkback segment just got exponentially more fun.  Year-round, we hear from listeners who call or email their observations of the natural world to us and we love hearing from everyone who contributes!  However, when school is underway we have the sweet treat of hearing from classrooms and kids around the listening area as they report what they've been noticing. 

Are you a deer hunter, live with someone who is, or has a friend or relative who hunts deer?

The University of Minnesota researcher, Joe Bump and his graduate student, Ellen Candler are doing research to better understand what and when animals use deer gut piles provided by hunters across Minnesota.