Season Watch Newsletter: 9/8/2023

Happy September, my virtual friends! This month, I hope you'll be able to set aside time to enjoy the cool(er) weather, migrating birds, and delightful smell of fall.

FEATURE: The manoomin (wild rice) harvest is on!

The roasty toasty weather has been good for the manoomin beds! Harvesting season began on Aug. 15 and runs through Sept. 30. Please harvest legally, respectfully, and responsibly, you outdoorsy wonders.

Thanks to our growing team of Actual Professional Journalists, KAXE is able to provide more important local stories and reports like this one. (Our news nerds also created the Up North Report, a 5-minute synopsis of Northern Minnesota news that updates twice a day. If you have any hot tips or cool scoops, send 'em to news@kaxe.org!)

Meanwhile, I'll continue to crank out less-professional (but slightly funnier) stories on phenology, wildlife, and ⁠the dangers of poopy butts.

Have a great harvest!

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STUDENT AND LISTENER CONTRIBUTIONS

Ever seen a beetle being swarmed by a horde of tiny, fast-moving mites? Thanks to Elisa Rachel, I did, and boy howdy did it throw me for a loop. In this week's Talkbacks, we discuss what caused the mite mob, ponder the changing seasons at Long Lake, and giggle at some slightly-concussed grouse practicing their high jump. (One of my favorite iNat observations has great images of this bouncy bird behavior.)

Hear their voices!

JOHN LATIMER'S WEEKLY REPORT

This week, John takes a deep dive into dogwoods, a long look at leaves, and an intense inventory of insects. I learned that round-leaved dogwood leaves turn a wine-colored burgundy color in fall, that monarch butterflies typically depart Grand Rapids between Sept. 20-25, and that hummingbirds head out a bit earlier (Sept. 12-20). We also learn the differences between meteorological and astronomical calendars!

Listen to John's report!

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CHARLIE'S RECOMMENDATION

(New name, same me!)

Go learn about manoomin (wild rice), friends! With the help of Traditional Knowledge-holders, PBS created a great video on the history, harvest, and cultural importance of manoomin. They also explore the different dangers to this vital harvest, including pollution, drought, dams, and climate change.

If you're interested in wild rice, here are a few other resources:

Buy hand-harvested manoomin from White Earth tribal members
The Good Berry Cookbook and more from Birchbark Books
Food that Grows on Water, a documentary about manoomin and the Line 3 pipeline.

Enjoy!

Season Watch Photo Feature:

Shari's Snapshots

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). Ojibwe: Diindiisi

Blue Jays look quite raggedy during their molt at the end of summer and early fall. Look for their bald little heads!

Bonus fact: Unlike most insects, whose wings are attached to their exoskeleton (which is then attached to muscle), dragonflies' wings are attached directly to their muscles, allowing them direct control over their direction and movement.

It's gonna be okay, go look for a Blue Jay!

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.