The #maple trees are #blooming! 🍁
Individual red and silver maples typically produce only male or only female flowers. The male flowers have pollen-producing stamens, while the female flowers' stigmas catch and trap wind-borne pollen on their sticky surface.
#PhenologyFriday #MapleTree #Spring
Tweet tweet! Two folks on staff today have confirmed (one by sound, one by sight) that Eastern bluebirds are officially back in Leopold country. 💙💙
What early spring arrivals have you noticed near you?
#PhenologyFriday #Phenology #SignsOfSpring #Bluebird
Some early migratory arrivals are likely to be making their comeback to Wisconsin very soon—if you haven't heard or spotted them already! Per our phenology calendar, the first long-lost friends we'll reunite with are American #robins, song #sparrows, and Eastern #bluebirds.
#PhenologyFriday
“Each year, after the midwinter blizzards, there comes a night of thaw when the tinkle of dripping water is heard in the land.” —Aldo Leopold
January frequently experiences a short warm period—while this isn't always enough for a proper thaw, here by the Shack it has been. ❄️
#PhenologyFriday
Have you ever spotted river otter trails? 🦦 Their signature "slides" mark where otters bound and glide over the snow on their bellies. Look for five-toed prints and long troughs heading to water! 🐾🛝
#PhenologyFriday #RiverOtter #AnimalTracks #Winter
As the sunlight begins to dim, black bears are finding their ways to their dens. 🐻
During the late summer and early fall, black bears eat up to 20,000 calories per day to prepare for a long slumber, packing on fat that fuels their bodies through the winter.
#PhenologyFriday #FatBearWeek
#GoldenHour is beginning for the tamarack!
The tamarack is one of a small handful of deciduous conifers whose needles change color and drop in the #fall. Its signature #autumn hue inspired the title of Aldo Leopold's October essay, "Smoky Gold." 🌲💛
#PhenologyFriday
Why do trees change colors in #fall? 🍂
As daylight decreases, broad-leaved trees stop producing #chlorophyll, which makes leaves green. This allows other pigments―like carotenoids and anthocyanins―to show in the leaves, revealing yellow, orange, and red hues.
#PhenologyFriday
While we mostly associate Canada #Geese with #migration, you may look out your window in January and still see some lingering. Why is that? Well, there are two distinct populations: migratory, which flies south for the winter, and residential, which stays here year round.
#PhenologyFriday
Blue background with a large orange and black patterned monarch butterfly coming off the right side of the image. Text over the top reads: The great monarch migration begins!
Every year, millions of #Monarchbutterflies migrate 3,000 miles south between late August & mid-November to spend the winter in a warmer climate. 🦋
Did you know the #Monarch is the only #butterfly known to complete a two-way #migration?
#PhenologyFriday #pollinators
A common nighthawk mid-flight, with its wings extended downward in front, against a green background. Its feathers are mottled brown and white, with white stripes toward the edges of the wings and the end of the tail.
The common #nighthawk, neither night-flyer nor hawk, is often seen zipping through the summer skies at dawn and dusk in pursuit of its flying insect prey. They're just about ready to head south on one of the longest #migration routes of any North American bird.
#PhenologyFriday
A photo of purple-blue flowers with petals closed. Text reads: bottle gentian is beginning to bloom!
Bottle Gentian is beginning to bloom!
The flowers of this native perennial can only be pollinated by bumblebees, which are strong enough to pry the bottle-shaped flowers open and crawl inside. This symbiotic relationship benefits both the plant and the bees!
#PhenologyFriday #NativePlants
A photo of purple, daisy-like aster flowers. Text over the top reads: New England Aster is beginning to bloom!
New England Aster is beginning to bloom! This is a perennial late-season wildflower native to Wisconsin. Did you know that a single "flower" of this plant is actually made up of 100-150 individual flowers?
#PhenologyFriday #Flowers #NativePlants
Ok, I know I've been lax on my #PhenologyFriday posts. Whatever. I couldn't resist this lovely blooming Spirea douglassii seen down in Eugene yesterday. #Nature #Photography #WillametteValley #Oregon
The Baltimore Oriole is back! Orioles have a cheerful song, distinct from any other bird in the region, and a unique hanging nest. Set out oranges or jelly to attract them, but only in small amounts, to prevent soiling their feathers. 🧡
#PhenologyFriday #BaltimoreOrioles #Oriole #MigratoryBird
Collage photograph of ephemeral spring blooms. Left hand side: Dutchman's breeches, white flowers that look like little pantaloons. Top right: Virginia bluebells, small blue-violet trumpet shapes. Bottom right: bloodroot, long white petals around a yellow center.
It is SPRING EPHEMERAL SEASON!! Bloodroot, Virginia Bluebells, and Dutchman's Breeches have all bloomed this week. They will feed newly-arrived pollinators until the canopy fills out and their yearly cycle ends.🌱🌼🪻
#PhenologyFriday #AldoLeopoldFoundation #Spring #Blooms
Just a day late for #PhenologyFriday! Not a plant this week, but a bird! The wonderful Osprey has been back in the #WillametteValley for a few weeks now, but this was the first time I was able to get a decent photo of one. #Nature #Photography #Birds #Oregon
I realize I've never taken the time to explain either the idea of #PhenologyFriday, or the concept of phenology itself, for those who don't know. The first I have blatantly stolen from the Aldo Leopold Center of Wisconsin. They do regular Phenology Friday posts on their FB page.
A nice one for #PhenologyFriday; Columbian Larkspur! Larkspur's are lovely #Wildflowers that grow in a variety of habitats, but I didn't know we had any in the #WillametteValley! This a new species for me, which is always exciting. Found in my local park. #Nature #Photography #Oregon
Salmonberry flower against a forest backdrop.
A small patch of bleeding heart, with one plant in bloom.
The delicate flowers of Hooker's fairy bell.
A fawn lily growing on bare ground.
A four pack of #wildflowers for #PhenologyFriday! Went on an evening walk and found several new flowers in bloom. See alt text for the various species. #Nature #Photography #Oregon #WillametteValley
Totally missed #PhenologyFriday last week! Here in the #WillametteValley, the big-leaf maple is starting to bloom! These yellowish-green flowers make a lovely sight in the spring, despite their lack of showy colors. #Nature #Photography #Oregon #Wildflowers #Trees
Forgot to post this yesterday, but for #PhenologyFriday, here's some black cottonwood starting to lead out! This is an extremely common riparian tree in the #WillametteValley. #Nature #Photography #Oregon
Blooming white Trillium flower.
It's been a dreary wet time the past few days. I hope to get out this weekend, but until then, here's a photo from last year 3/17. These lovely trillium should be opening right about now! #Nature #Photography #PNWHiking #Oregon #PhenologyFriday #Wildflowers
Another sign of spring! Willow blooming in the Willamette Valley. #Nature #Photography #PhenologyFriday
