Bundle up, brave Minnesotans, and revel in January's frosty fun! As the coldest month sets us to shivering (and maybe stalls a car or two), our plant and wildlife neighbors are well suited for surviving the cold. Bundling up to brave the cold is well worth the effort!
Snow Buntings and Wild Turkeys forage in fields and along highways, while Pine Siskins and Pine Grosbeaks frequent feeders. In Northern Minnesota, Great Gray Owls glide through the gloom, adding mystery to moonlit nights. Throughout the state, Great Horned Owls are settling into their nests and laying eggs. Nearby, voles skitter through tunnels under the snow.
In the forest, the bright red buds of basswoods and the distinctive purple buds of elderberries promise spring leaves to come. Get out there, soak up the stunning snow-scape, and bask in the steadfast rhythm of the Minnesota's seasons.
What have you seen out there? Let us know: email us at comments@kaxe.org or text us at 218-326-1234.
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).