Season Watch Newsletter: 1/6/2023

Happy new year, season watchers! This week's newsletter brings happy memories of summer butterflies, the first woodpecker drummings of mid-winter, a focus on frost.

FEATURE: On the Hunt for Northwoods Butterflies with Allison Barta

John and Heidi talk with Allison Barta, a former science teacher and lepidopterist (butterfly expert) extraordinaire! She discusses her upcoming presentation "On the Hunt for Northwoods Butterflies," as well as some of the highlights from her 12-year butterfly hunt. She has been working to document all 90-some species native to the Bemidji area! Do you live in the Grand Rapids area? Go to her presentation on Saturday, January 6th!


Listen in!

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STUDENT AND LISTENER REPORTS

Dave McMillan from Long Lake Conservation Center sent in a report about a rogue possum that's living in a garage and making a mess! His report is full of fun facts about the Virginia Opossum, and I decided to jump on the bandwagon for my report. We also hear from two listeners this week: Kathleen wrote in about rime and hoar frost, and Ken had some exciting bird sightings!


Hear their voices!

JOHN LATIMER'S WEEKLY REPORT

Is it snowy enough for you yet? John talks through the different strategies our local pines use to handle heavy snow, and how they effect their ability to handle high winds. He also reviews the taste of midwinter black cherries, discusses the birds he observed on New Year's, and remarks on ravens' abilities to dig roadkill out from deep snow!



Listen to John's report!

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More dates and locations will be announced. Desperate to get in on the fun? Send me an email, and we'll set up a zoom meeting!

  • 2/11/23: Phenology in the Classroom and on the Radio. Back to Basics Conference, Pine River MN. Register here.
  • 3/11/23: Phenology in the Classroom. UMN Crookston. Registration TBA!

SARAH'S RECOMMENDATION

Who doesn't enjoy the beautiful morning frosts? (Anyone who has to scrape their car, that's who!) For a deeper dive into the different types of frosts and how they form, check out this website dedicated to snowflakes! In addition to plenty of information on the different types of snowflakes, how they form, and how to make your own designer snowflakes (!), they also have a small section all about frost. I learned a ton, including that wet wood will occasionally form "frost flowers," formed when the moisture in the wood freezes and is extruded in curtain-like shapes. (Plus, it turns out you can make snowflake 'fossils'/replicas with superglue! So cool.)


Enjoy!

We're creating a Season Watch Podcast! What would you like me to focus on?
"Deep dive" into particular species/behaviors
Monthly watchlists
Stories about nature
Something else (please email me- I can't add a 'write-in' response to the poll!)
Email me at smitchell@kaxe.org

Get lost in the frost!

(Temporarily)

Northern Community Radio

KAXE/KBXE

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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). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.