During the week of May 9th, there was an influx of many different species of warblers. Warblers are extremely beautiful, but difficult to photograph because they are small and always on the move.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Yellowmary.jpg\")
<\/a>Yellow Warbler
Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n
Maybe the yellow warbler <\/em>(pictured above) will take up residency here for the summer. I\u2019ll have to listen for its ‘<\/em>sweet, sweet, sweet, I\u2019m so sweet’ song.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019m a novice birder and have been enjoying watching warblers flitting about the trees as they pass through on their migration.<\/em> Mary Goehle<\/p>\n American Redstart Magnolia Warbler Black and White Warbler Chesnut-sided Warbler <\/p>\n The Green Tinge<\/strong><\/p>\n Big Willow Park\u00a0 –\u00a0 Minnetonka, MN I love when the leaves are just starting to come out. They look delicate, almost like lace, especially in the evening sunlight. There are several ironwood trees in this area. They\u2019ve finally given up the marcescent leaves they were holding onto over the winter to make room for the new. <\/em>Mary Goehle<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tree Flowers<\/strong><\/p>\n Tree flowers are an important food source for early pollinators.<\/p>\n Willow flowers Red Maple Flowers <\/p>\n Pollinators<\/strong><\/p>\n Text and photos by Heather Holm. For more info on Heather\u2019s work go to: Two-spotted bumble bee gyne (Bombus bimaculatus) collects pollen from wild plum. New bumble\u00a0bee queens (gynes), have been emerging the last few weeks from their winter hibernation. Gynes, which later become queens once they establish a nest and produce offspring, are the longest lived caste in the bumble bee colony, surviving for approximately ten to twelve months. Their life begins the previous summer or autumn when they are reared to adulthood by their mother and sisters in a bumble bee colony. Prior to hibernating, the gynes feed on sugar-rich nectars produced by flowering plants, and mate\u00a0with a male. The calories and nutrients from the consumed nectars are stored in organ-like tissues called fat stores, and the sperm in a separate organ – the spermatheca. While hibernating, they use the energy from the fat stores for nutrients and warmth, and an antifreeze-like substance circulates through their body to prevent them from freezing.\u00a0The winter hibernation in a shallow burrow in the ground is precarious, and many gynes don’t survive because they do not have enough reserves or fat stores. Those gynes that do survive until spring are famished and need nearby food (flower nectar) to help them prepare for the week-long search to find a place to nest.<\/em><\/p>\n Two-spotted bumble bee gyne (Bombus bimaculatus) visits large-flowered bellwort. <\/p>\n With over twenty bumble bee species in Minnesota, each have their unique phenology (and emergence time). Usually the first species I observe emerging from hibernation is the two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus). Last week, the two-spotted bumble bee gynes were beginning to collect pollen from plants, an indication that they have successfully established a nest because pollen is the primary food source they provide in the nest to feed their larvae. Other species I’ve seen in the last week include the black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus) and common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens). These gynes were visiting flowering plants to feed on nectar or nest searching. Nest searching gynes fly low to the ground and spend time investigating cavities under logs, in the ground, gaps under leaf litter or debris, or similar sites that may have once hosted a mouse or chipmunk nest. This searching is time consuming and energy intensive, so frequent refueling (nectar) is needed.\u00a0Once a nest is established, the queen produces multiple broods, beginning with females (workers), followed by males, then ending with the production of gynes. At the end of the summer, the queen will die as will\u00a0all the workers and males, but her recently-produced daughters (gynes) will mate, then hibernate, and establish their own annual nest the following spring.<\/em><\/p>\n Black and gold bumble bee gyne (Bombus auricomus) visits wild plum. Some of the flowering plants gynes were visiting in my neighborhood this week include wild plum (Prunus americana), large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora), and common blue violets (Viola sororia). In the next week or so, look for bumble bees visiting prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) dogwood (Cornus\u00a0spp.), Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), and wild geranium (Geranium maculatum).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Common eastern bumble bee gyne (Bombus impatiens) searches for a nesting site under leaf litter. <\/p>\n No Mow May<\/strong><\/p>\n In the upper Midwest, we love our lawns and many strive to grow the \u2018perfect lawn\u2019. But many cities have designated this month as ‘No Mow May’ to try to help early pollinators get a foothold during the warm weather.\u00a0 A recent article in Rewilding Magazine, co-authored by Heather Holm, argues that although ‘No Mow May” is well intentioned, it does not meet the complex survival needs of\u00a0 pollinators. To read the article go to: Dandelions and violets in my lawn <\/p>\n Spring Birds<\/strong><\/p>\n American Robin and Cedar Waxwing. On April 30th, a very large flock of cedar waxwings descended on the crabapple in my front yard.\u00a0 Over the course of several days, I watched them flutter among the branches as they feasted.\u00a0 I saw a pair sweetly pass a berry back and forth, from bill to bill, until one of them swallowed it.\u00a0 I even observed some flying upside down as they tried to land a spot on the crowded tree<\/span>.\u00a0 Of the many photos I took from my window, t<\/span>his is my favorite…a robin on one branch and a cedar waxwing on another.<\/em><\/p>\n Janine Pung<\/p>\n Ruby-Crowned Kinglet in speckled alder Great Blue Heron Red Wing Blackbird singing “Okalee<\/em>”\u00a0 from the cattails. The striking beauty of a female oriole. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Spring Ephemerals<\/strong><\/p>\n The word ‘<\/em>ephemeral‘ means ‘<\/em>to fade quickly‘. ‘<\/em>Spring ephemerals‘ refers to the wildflowers that are blooming now in our woodlands. Many of the blooms last no more than a week. <\/em>But, oh, what a week it is….It is healing to feel so much joy at the sight of\u00a0 such beautiful\u00a0 flowers.<\/em> Pretty little rue anemone! Prolific this time of year in Big Willow Park. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s a lesson in slowing down. It would be easy to miss this bloodroot nestled in among the fungi. It stopped me in my tracks when I spotted it! <\/p>\n Showy Trillium Nodding Trillium – Common in our woodlands <\/p>\n Wild Ginger. Its red flower hugs the ground so creatures living in the soil can pollinate it. Jack in the Pulpit Bellwort Mayapple Trout Lily Spring Beauty Toads and Frogs<\/strong><\/p>\n American Toad I slowed down and was made aware of the life in previous passed over places. The waters were teeming with procreation as the humid air held the croaking and calls to mate. The small spaces became everything.<\/em><\/p>\n Jeff Saslow, on his experience in toad world. <\/p>\n Chorus Frog Singing There is nothing better than opening a window at night and being serenaded\u00a0 by the trilling of toads and frogs. <\/em><\/p>\n Spending an hour at the edge of a pond listening to the frogs, watching them mate, and fight is like being in a different universe. \u00a0The Readers share their experience<\/strong> From Lizzie Schaeppi: “Our young naturalist out in Woodrill last weekend”.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So much is changing every day here in the North Country. After a winter of white and brown, Nature has burst out in a symphony of colors. Thanks to all of the contributors who shared their photos and thoughts to … Continue reading <\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Holly Einess<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Holly Einess<\/p><\/div>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com\/about-the-author.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
Photo by Heather Holm<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Photo by Heather Holm<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Photo by Heather Holm<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Photo by Heather Holm<\/p><\/div>\n
https:\/\/www.rewildingmag.com\/no-mow-may-downside\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Janine Pung<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Holly Einess<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Holly Einess<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n
\nLawrence Wade<\/p>\n<\/a>
Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Sabrina Harvey<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Holly Einess<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Holly Einess<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Jeff Saslow<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>
Lawrence Wade<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/em>Lawrence Wade<\/p>\n
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