Season Watch Newsletter: 12/23/22

Happy winter solstice, nature enthusiasts! This newsletter features chickadees, deep snow, and Blue Jay and chickadee calls that herald the end of winter.

FEATURE: Learning about Chickadees with Laura Erickson

Laura Erickson teaches us about chickadees! We get information on their cold-resistant lungs, how they survive bone-chilling overnight temperatures, and the song they sing in January that signals the beginning of the end of winter. [I'm ready for the end of winter, personally!] Male chickadees start ramping up their spring calls as early as December, increasing their calling throughout late winter and early spring. Also, she tells us how to know if your feeder is the chickadees' favorite!

Listen in!

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STUDENT AND LISTENER REPORTS

In this episode, you'll learn how to distinguish mice from vole tracks and to identify the distinctive "Pump handle" song of the Blue Jay! (Plus, a fun moment where Heidi tells John on-air not to go haring off after cookies, as there's phenology to discuss.)

Hear our students' voices!

JOHN LATIMER'S WEEKLY REPORT

This week is all about deep snow. John covers how birches, pines, firs, and spruces use different tactics to survive these difficult winter conditions. He also discusses the structure of birch seeds and reports on the Christmas Bird Count!

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 (opens 1/2/23).

SARAH'S RECOMMENDATION

Sick of holiday music? Soothe your ears with Laura Erickson's lovely, informative, and occasionally heart-wrenching stories about birds! Laura is an expert birder, phenomenal educator, and overall Person-I-Want-To-Be-When-I-Grow-Up. She's got episodes on virtually every bird in the area, plus some general-interest segments on beginning birding, camera equipment, and more! She's been a KAXE contributor for years and has amassed an impressive catalogue of radio shows, blog posts, and photography.

Enjoy!

Pine siskin (Spinus pinus, one of my favorite Latin names).

Ojibwe: Bineshiinh.

Pine siskins love mineral deposits, so they're attracted to the salt on roadways. This can be dangerous for the little fellas: keep an eye out!

Let loose and go find a moose!

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.