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Phenology Report: Snowy forest glitters, glows in January moonlight

The full moon shines over a winter forest in McGregor, Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2023.
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The full moon shines over a winter forest in McGregor, Minnesota on Feb. 5, 2023.

In this Jan. 14, 2025 segment, we learn about Great Grey Owls, Snow Buntings, and the value of fresh snow to voles. Set aside time to bask in the night's moonlit majesty!

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).

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Charlie Mitchell (she/they) joined KAXE in February of 2022. Charlie creates the Season Watch Newsletter, produces the Phenology Talkbacks show, coordinates the Phenology in the Classroom program, and writes nature-related stories for KAXE's website. Essentailly, Charlie is John Latimer's faithful sidekick and makes sure all of KAXE's nature/phenology programs find a second life online and in podcast form.<br/><br/><br/>With a background in ecology and evolutionary biology, Charlie enjoys learning a little bit about everything, whether it's plants, mushrooms, or the star-nosed mole. (Fun fact: Moles store fat in their tails, so they don't outgrow their tunnels every time conditions are good.)