Phenology

Nature Notes: Unassuming little beetle's clever (gross?) 'shield defense'

by Tom Lewanski

May 4, 2017

Found on sumac, these beetles have an especially interesting way of protecting their young.

Nature Notes: 'What’s it got in its pocketses?'

by Karen Schik

April 10, 2017

Fans of The Lord of the Rings will recognize this query of Gollum, the odd underworld creature, as he pondered the riddle of Bilbo’s pocket contents. The star character of this month’s Nature Notes is also a creature of the underworld, seldom seen above ground. And like Gollum, these animals have a lead role in the world they inhabit.

Nature Notes: DNR Eagle Cam provides a close-up view of eagle family life

by Alex Roth

March 10, 2017

Each year in the Twin Cities, humans and other wildlife patiently wait for spring. Some years it arrives to stay, others it arrives only to beat a fast retreat. But over the last few years, one of the few constants in this transitional period in the metro has been the presence of bald eagles. As spring creeps back they take to the sky, hunting for prey, fighting over territory, and mating.

An adult bald eagle feeds its babies live on camera

Nature Notes: A murder most fowl

by Alex Roth

February 13, 2017

As dusk approaches on a cold winter night, Twin Cities residents may notice an unusual number of crows flying overhead. Each winter, they show up by the thousands to roost in metro neighborhoods. While the gatherings may seem ominous to some, they serve an important purpose for these intelligent birds.

by Karen Schik

January 6, 2017

Ever wonder why there's a wintry mist on the water in the morning, but not later in the day? Even when it's still quite cold?

Mist rising from the Mississippi on a cold December dawn

Red fox: Two paws, one print

by Tom Lewanski

December 8, 2016

The red fox is a common yet fascinating animal in the Mississippi River valley. Winter's a great time to spot their tracks — if you know what to look for.