Have you ever wondered which season would make the best train conductor? Me neither, but staff phenologist John Latimer has inadvertently provided the answer. In this week’s report, he demonstrates the punctuality and predictability of late summer/early fall phenology.
Year after year, John has documented his last Rose-breasted Grosbeak sighting near Aug. 27. He has found this consistency across a number of his records, including: Northern Flickers forming in flocks on the roadways; Jack-in-the-pulpit berries ripening; and rose hips taking a blush.
Other seasons – I'm looking at you, spring – have timing that varies by nearly a month in each direction.
Learn all about this phenomenon (and much more) in this week’s phenology report.
Topics
- Introduction (0:00-0:25)
- A predictable late-summer schedule (0:25-2:14)
- Flying ants (2:14-3:43)
- Nighthawks (3:43-4:18)
- Butterflies (4:18-4:44, 10:04-10:36)
- Deer (4:44-6:30)
- Mountain maple (6:30-7:00)
- Sugar maple (7:00-7:13)
- Flocking crows (7:13-7:24)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (7:24-7:57)
- Birdfeeder visitors (8:00-8:04)
- Ripening fruits and songbird diets (8:04-10:04)
- Dragonflies (10:36-11:20)
- Wildflowers (11:24-12:42)
- Jack-in-the-pulpit, burdock, Joe-Pye weed, and waterlilies (12:42-14:09)
- Conclusion (14:09-15:06)
That does it for this week! For more phenology, subscribe to our Season Watch Newsletter or visit the Season Watch Facebook page.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
