Phenology Talkbacks

Cracks in thick ice show through the snow on Big Sandy Lake near McGregor in January, 2022.

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

Tamarack trees are silhouetted by the sunrise in Aitkin County. The trees are almost entirely bare-branched.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: Grouse and geese

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer takes a break with his black Labrador retriever Mila after a hike in November 2023 along the Mississippi River behind KAXE studios in Grand Rapids.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: A national treasure in our backyard

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

An Evening Grosbeak shows off its beautiful colors in Meadowlands.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: Evening Grosbeaks return to Minnesota

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

Trumpeter swans line the edges of Nature Lake. There are over 30 swans shown in a rough line amongst rice beds on the shallow lake edge.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: Snow settles in

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

A rocky riverbed is lined by green evergreens and yellow aspens. The air is foggy.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: Students wear mittens up north while monarchs depart down south

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

Frost covers a leaf in Aitkin County. The leaf is still green, and the edges are rimmed in a thin layer of white frost. The rest of the image is not in focus.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: A dip below freezing

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: Leaf races and mourning cloak butterflies

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

A giant puffball mushroom grows on the edge of a lawn. It is about the size and shape of a cantaloupe and bright white with a leathery skin.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: Falling into October

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

Acorns lay in a bed of moss at the Northland Arboretum in Baxter, Minnesota.

Science and Nature

Phenology Talkbacks: A moose on the move and many busy beavers

Charlie Mitchell

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.