The photo accompanying this article shows a grey tree frog, one of six frog and toad species that use Lost Lake as a breeding site during the spring and summer.

While I believe it is a grey tree frog, I am not completely certain. It could potentially be a Cope’s grey tree frog, which is a distinct species but nearly impossible to differentiate from the grey tree frog by sight alone, even upon close examination.

You might be wondering, “How can you tell them apart if they look so much alike?” The answer lies in how they sound. Just like birds, male frogs and toads use vocalizations to attract female mating partners. Consequently, the grey tree frog can be distinguished from the similar-looking Cope’s grey tree frog by its unique call.

In light of our recent discussion about frog and toad calls, I want to share some information about the frog and toad survey conducted by volunteers of the Friends of Wisdom Prairie.

This initiative is part of a statewide citizen science project with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and helps us understand the impacts of our land stewardship work at the monastery. From mid-March to mid-August, an acoustic recording device was used to monitor frog and toad calls at Lost Lake to identify the frog and toad species using the lake as a breeding location.

The monitor was programmed to record 10-minute sessions about 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset each day, resulting in 307 separate audio files. Each file was reviewed using software that enabled us to listen to each file and identify frog and toad species calling in them.

During the spring and summer of 2026, six species of frogs and toads were identified using Lost Lake as a breeding site. In order of the frequency of their calls they were the green frog, the grey tree frog, the Cope’s grey tree frog, western chorus frog, northern leopard frog and the American toad.

Gathered over several years, this data can help us better understand the environmental conditions around Lost Lake.

In addition to recording frog and toad calls, our monitor also captured bird calls. While listening to the recordings, we used a mobile application to identify the birds by their calls and noted these findings.

Although it is beyond the primary scope of this article, it is interesting to note the recorded calls of gobbling wild turkeys, the hoots of adult great horned owls, and the begging screeches of their juveniles. We also noted many waterfowl feeding at Lost Lake, as well as songbirds nesting in the surrounding trees and prairie.

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When I write about prairies, I’m torn. Either I’m penning an elegy – prairies in Wisconsin are a mere hint of their pre-settlement vastness – or I’m composing an ode to a place that defies awe. To enter a prairie is to enter the past, a time when prairies covered the land. If you go deep enough in today’s prairie, you get a taste of a prairies’ long-ago grandeur. I suppose this writing is some combination. To appreciate a prairie’s beauty is also to mourn its loss.

The early morning air hangs heavy with mid-summer’s dampness under freighted clouds. All around me water beads glimmer like jewels on the prairie’s leaves. Some hold their shapes, like silver necklaces reflecting the somber sky. I pause, thankful for a cool breeze on damp skin. I feel my feet, soggy in dew-soaked shoes as I step off the path and plunge into a verdant jungle. The ground is sponge soft underfoot as I dive deep into prairie thicket. I’m on a restoration mission to cull an overpopulation of Indian Plantain. But I’m soon distracted, diverted from my work by the call of the prairie.

I’ve entered an ethereal world of mist and life and bathe in the intoxicating aromas of Wild Bergamot, Mountain Mint, Prairie Sage. I breathe the scent deep into my lungs, wanting to hold it all inside before returning my breath to the plants. With each step, tall grasses tickle my arms, soaking me with water laden leaves. The prairie hums and buzzes as bees move from flower to flower. I visualize myself from above, a tiny being swaddled green. In my mind I’m visiting some remote and ancient realm, far from civilization. And for a moment, I’m isolated…alone.

Soon, my aloneness gives way to solitude. I’m at peace and right where I should be – part of the natural world. Calmness flows through me as I shed the city’s burden. I savor the moment.

Then something changes.

I’m being watched.

I turn in a circle, seeking the observer. Not knowing why, my gaze moves to a nearby cup plant. I observe her brilliant yellow flowers floating high above. I follow the stem downward. There! Where leaf joins stem in a perfoliate embrace, I spy him. A grasshopper is perched near the tiny pool of water formed by leaf and stem. I suspect he had been enjoying a refreshing drink when he sensed my approach. He’s brilliant green with an onyx stripe. He shifts and studies me through silvery alien eyes. His segmented antenna twitch and he’s poised to jump. For a moment our eyes meet, for an instant we are joined. I lean in for a closer look, and he bounds away. The moment is gone.

I’m now deep inside the prairie’s living heart. Urban sounds, heretofore inescapable, have faded, soaked up by the foliage. I’ve become a tiny bee, flitting from flower to flower. I wind through the towering greenery and alight on an incandescent yellow bloom and sip dew’s cool moistness from her petals.

I return to myself just as a butterfly jitters by, close enough to hear her tiny wingbeats. I follow as she alights on a nearby flower. She senses my approach and flutters to another flower, creating space. I inch closer. Again, she moves on. I sense she’s rebuking me. This game of leapfrog continues and I’m about to give up. At last, she pauses to grant me an enduring look. I watch her uncurl her proboscis to draw at length of the flower’s sweet nectar. Her wings close tightly like a silver leaf. I’ve overstayed my welcome and turn to find my way back to the world.

To stand in the middle of a prairie today is to inhabit a small part of a time long past, remote from modern life. Though cordoned by roads and homes, a prairie remains today a world of its own, of myriad interconnected communities, each a microcosm of the whole. A tiny grasshopper drinks from a pool served in the clasping leaves of a cup plant. A butterfly sips nectar from a generous flower. Bees buzz from flower to flower, nourishing themselves, spreading life giving pollen, and keeping the prairie alive and worth saving.

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WHAT AM I DOING?

As one of my many projects as Land Management Intern this summer, I’m doing a phenological survey of two sites here at Holy Wisdom. Phenology is essentially the study of natural environments over time. Imagine something akin to Henry David Thoreau’s notes at Walden Pond, with an added layer of scientific understanding or site consistency. Phenology logs have been a required component for many courses I’ve taken at Lawrence University, where I’m tasked to return to one outdoor spot over the course of a semester and observe the goings-on: what insects do I see, or birds? How tall has that plant grown? What is flowering, dying, rotting, sprouting? It is the best way I know to get to know anywhere’s secrets; when I got to Holy Wisdom, I knew I wanted to do a phenology log so I could know this land more closely.

Less selfishly: phenology logs can be incredibly useful as longitudinal looks into an environment’s cycles and behaviors. Knowing what species are present, which are about to drop seed, which invasives are poking in – all can be critical data to consider when managing land, and may be useful in the future to look back on and get a sense of the changing landscape. This land is forever a work in progress. The more documentation of its changes, the better.

I asked Emma Kloes (my supervisor) to pick out two sites to monitor. Twice a week at each site, I sit with a bird field guide and Merlin Bird ID, a birdcall identification app, and count as many birds as I can in 10 minutes. These data, which are called a bird point count, can tell lots about the ecosystem’s health and functionality. I spend the next twenty minutes noting the plants around me, taking pictures, and tromping into the brush for a closer look.

This will be one of three entries synthesizing my notes as I encounter the sites over the summer. Below, I introduce the sites and include some of my notes from my sessions so far.

Amelia: This area doesn’t have a formal name, as far as I know. (I named it Amelia after a shape note song I love.) Just northwest of the overlook and orchard, this little pocket of land used to be dominated by burdock and honeysuckle, two co-conspirator invasives that can choke out the underbrush if not dealt with. Now, they’ve been whacked back by the Land Management Team and volunteers, and more than a dozen shrubs have been planted, still in their baby blankets of chicken wire fencing to keep them safe from browsing deer. The land here is young in this stage of its development. Amelia is dense and teeming and tucked away; the birdsong is unending.

(Note: Shape note music is a style of social singing popularized in the 18th century to make learning to sing from sheet music as easy as possible. It’s a tradition very near to my heart. Shape note songs are often named arbitrarily; the song Amelia has nothing to do with anyone named Amelia. I named the shrub patch Amelia to continue that tradition of naming something beautiful with a placeholder. Shape note songs cannot be understood by reading their names; one needs to hear and participate in the music. Amelia the shrub patch is the same.)

June 22:

• Wow! This is a good place for bugs—assailed by flies immediately, juicy wood tick on my pant leg, dragonflies & little glittery green fliers & gnatlike things in the air. For the bird [point count], I’m perched on a dead stump in the shadow of an ambitious Northern Arrowwood [shrub]. Facing a dead tree with a lovely neckbrace of some vine—birds that perch on it are immediately obvious.
• I’m immediately endeared to the dorky white sage, which is poking in various directions, often stuck in the chicken wire meant to support the new shrubs. Fine, feathery yarrow pokes through the ground. What a buzzy, hot, alive place.
• On my walk in, the compass plants seemed too proud to talk to me. The flower stalks [which are a few feet tall, not too many open blooms yet] were facing away from me, but the leaves (which tend to position the flats of their leaves facing east/west to conserve water) were greeting me. So glad you’re here, they said. The flowers are a little shy today.
• [I see] leadplant to the [southern side of the trail] with soft gray/pink heads [emerging from the plant]. Hard to tell—has it already bloomed? Will bloom [soon]?
• Marbleseed is FULL of seeds, many starting to deepen in color as they ripen. They appear to ripen from the bottom up. When I tried to pull a seed loose, it didn’t budge. Should be a while before we need to harvest.

• Happy bees gorging themselves on every [oxeye] sunflower I can spot—not sure what type. Little, but not as small as sweat bees, I don’t think?

June 25:

• I spent the whole 20 minutes drawing this map: Rockytop: A high point on the southeasternmost prairie, tucked into the curve of Highway M. Back when this land was farmland, the farmers gathered wayward stones from around the landscape and left them in this spot, hence, Rockytop. Surrounded by grasslands, this small point is quite biodiverse, and there’s an obvious edge where the scrubby, lively raspberries and white heath asters stop and the woody skeletons of last year’s grasses begin. This prairie has seen lots of maintenance over the years; invasives are absent for the most part. The highway noise is omnipresent here, and I feel exposed under such a heavy sky. I feel as though I can see everything. Looking down at the northern prairie, big swathes of the land are blushing pink from echinacea.

• The leadplant is starting to [bloom]—tiny purple blooms with vivid orange [stamens].

• The red-winged blackbirds here have more calls than the ones at home. I wonder if they have regional accents, or maybe the birds here are just happier in their natural habitat. Most of the time, they’re down in the prairie, but they’ll perch on the tall grasses or young oaks and chirp at me when I get anywhere near their nests. You can see exactly where each pair’s territory begins—they’re each about 15-30 feet apart. They’re not too aggressive, which makes me think no babies yet. Must be soon.

If you have a chance to make it to Rockytop or Amelia this summer, I hope you will. See if you notice the species I do, or others. Already, I feel closer to these pieces of land as I return to them to write down their little mysteries.

The post July phenology appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

It’s finally spring.

The ice and snow have melted and Holy Wisdom and there’s a lot to see. From woodlands to wetlands, life is awakening from its icy slumber. It’s time to explore.

The early morning shadows stretch across the forest floor. Soft, moist ground gives way beneath your feet. Fallen twigs crackle as you walk. Each step stirs the musky aromas of last fall’s decomposing leaves. Shrubs show tiny buds, packets of energy, ready to burst. Oak, hickory and black cherry trees tower overhead. Leaves haven’t appeared, so you can still see blue sky through the lattice of intertwined branches. These trees are chock full of birds, dancing like sprites in the early sunlight. Woodpeckers drum rhythmically, while gangs of Dark-eyed Juncos roam the understory. You may spy a male Northern Cardinal. He glows crimson like a beacon as he sings from a nearby thicket. In the distance a Field Sparrow calls with its accelerating trill. You follow the call to the nearby prairie.

The prairie scene is monochrome as green sprouts hide beneath yellow grasses and brown thatch leftover from last year. These tiny shoots will soon pierce the thatch and vault skyward to paint shades of purple and violet against a verdant prairie backdrop.

You pause and stand still, an island in a prairie sea.

Listen to the music of the prairie play songs of American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows and if you’re lucky, an Eastern Bluebird. Songs envelope you as the trail turns westward.

You walk past the monastery building and descend the driveway on a gravel road. Then you round a curve past a small grove of pine trees where chickadees play. Then just ahead, tucked into a marshy wetland, you spy Lost Lake.

Lost Lake recalls the last Ice Age, a time when ice covered much of Wisconsin. It’s a kettle lake, formed over 10,000 years ago when a huge ice block cleaved off the glacier and sank deep into the frozen earth. Eventually the climate warmed and the ice melted, leaving an 8 acre bowl, called a kettle, which filled with water.

The Ho-Chunk people became the lake’s first stewards. They named it deyo-ha-waunee, Lost Lake. Lost Lake, or deyo-ha-waunee, sits on Ho-Chunk land and remains sacred today. Following forced removal of the Ho-Chunk in the 1800s by European settlers, the area became agricultural. During this this time the lake filled with sediment and shrank to just an acre. In 1953 the Sisters of Holy Wisdom Monastery acquired the land and later restored the lake to its current state.

As lakes go, Lost Lake is tiny. At 4.5 acres, it’s dwarfed by Lakes Mendota and Monona. It’s even smaller than Lake Wingra. But from a waterbird’s perspective, Lost Lake will do just fine.

It glimmers gold and yellow in the morning sun. It’s bounded by emergent vegetation dressed in shades of brown, yellow and hints of green. Vegetation conceals all variety of fauna – more heard than seen. Frogs and toads trill from an invisible hideaway while tiny birds dart in and out of dense reeds, their calls ring out like tiny bells. A tiny muskrat forages quietly along the shore. And there’s plenty more.

As you approach the lake, you may encounter interesting waterbird species. Mallards and Canada Geese are common, but you may spot some waterbirds you don’t normally see. Buffleheads arrive early, sometimes in large numbers. These are small birds, but quite conspicuous. Males sport black and white feathers with a white patch on a large head. Females appear grayish brown with a smaller facial patch. Buffleheads are diving ducks, often vanishing from the lake’s surface to pursue underwater invertebrates.

Active on the surface, Buffleheads chase one another, splashing silvery sprays of water everywhere. Spring is migration time and Buffleheads don’t linger. Soon, they fly off to breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. They won’t be back until autumn.

Pied-billed Grebes are also present on Lost Lake. These intriguing brownish waterbirds are tiny, making them hard to see. Pied-billed Grebes are also divers and excellent underwater swimmers. While submerged they hunt crustaceans, fish and amphibians. Though resembling ducks in shape, Pied-billed Grebes are more closely related to flamingos. Last summer a pair of Pied-billed Grebes nested successfully at Lost Lake for the first time.

Blue-winged Teals sometimes forage near the edge of the lake. These small ducks are long-distance travelers, overwintering as far south as Venezuela and breeding from Wisconsin to as far north as Alaska. Males show distinctive white crescents in front of the eye. In flight they display blue patches on their underwings, giving the birds their name. Blue-winged Teals are seen in small groups, sometimes mixed with other duck species. The teals are dabbling ducks, meaning they forage with their heads submerged and their rear ends bobbing above the water line.

Green-winged Teals also appear on the lake. They have cinnamon colored heads while males have a shiny green crescent behind their eyes and a distinctive white line on their flanks. Females are brown and darker than the males. Both sexes flash distinctive green wing patches in flight, which can be beautiful if the lighting is right.

Northern Shovelers are also dabbling ducks. They’re distinguished by a large spoon shaped bill. The bill’s comblike edges enable the shovelers to filter tiny crustaceans from the water. When feeding, these ducks swim with their bills dipped in water, as they scoop up prey. Shovelers also engage in vortex feeding where groups form tight circles to create a vortex that stirs up food. Male Northern Shovelers have dark green heads, bright white breasts and a conspicuous rusty patch on their flanks. Female shovelers are mottled brown with a large orange bill. Like the Buffleheads, Northern Shovelers leave for their breeding grounds during spring.

Wood Ducks are seen on Lost Lake year round. They nest in nest boxes or in tree cavities. You may even encounter a couple high on a branch in the forest. In breeding plumage, ornate male Wood Ducks display colorful patterns.

Look closely and see their large, red eyes. The female is grayish with a distinctive white eye ring. Wood Ducks are skittish and flush quickly when approached.

These are just a few of the waterbirds one might observe gliding like tiny ships across Lost Lake. In the past, over 30 species of water birds have been spotted on this tiny wetland!

On your next visit to Holy Wisdom, take a walk to Lost Lake, you’ll never know what you’ll find. Be sure to bring your binoculars!

The post Winged wonders of Lost Lake appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

American toad in Lost Lake at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate.

These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area this month. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event.

No month ends or begins overnight. Events can be a few weeks early or late.

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”  –Solomon’s Song. Chapter 2. (11 and 12)

March

March is usually a month when we experience snow, ice storms, rain, first thunderstorms, floods, thawing earth, mud, ice out on ponds and lakes, new bird species arriving almost daily and awakenings. The sun is warmer and higher. Daylight is equal to darkness (Vernal Equinox). March is a month of transitions and a promise of spring.

Many of the following observations are from notes I have kept over the years. Events can occur a few weeks early or late depending on weather or other factors. How will the rapidly changing climate affect March happenings?

Resident birds

• Bird song increases and behavior changes considerably more than in January and February.
• Cardinal flocks break up and pairs are formed. Males and females use different perches in their territory and countersing (alternate singing) from dawn until dusk. Feather tips have worn off and bright breeding plumage is revealed. Males feed females.
• Black-capped Chickadee flocks break up and pairs are formed. Males sing their sweet “fee-bee” song throughout the day. Calls are usually answered by rival males involving territory. Near the end of March, the pair excavates a nest cavity in soft wood.
• Male and female White-breasted Nuthatches stay close together and give “ip-ip” and “ank-ank” calls.  Listen for the “wa-wa-wa-wa” courtship call of the male and watch their interesting behavior.
• Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers drum on surfaces that vibrate. The raped jackhammer bursts announce territory and attract mates.
• Red-bellied Woodpeckers call “quirr-quirr”.
• Tufted Titmice sing more frequently. Small winter flocks gradually break up and pairs are formed. Notice their small, pointed crest. Can you name three other birds that have crests? (Cardinal, Blue Jay, and Cedar Waxwing).
• Several Blue Jays form courtship flocks led by one female.  Males and females look the same. They have several calls and displays.
• Mourning Dove flocks break up. Males give sad “coo-coo-coo” songs from perches. On the ground, males puff up their feathers and chase females. The male gathers twigs for a loosely made nest. Males also incubate the two white eggs laid by the female (unusual behavior for a male to help incubate).
• Goldfinches remain in flocks. Males continue their partial molt and grow bright yellow feathers. They sing sweet warbling songs from a high perch.
• Listen for an increase of warbling songs of the House Finch. Males have a red-orange forehead and breast.  Females are grayish brown with streaked breasts.
• English Sparrows chirp loudly and start to build nests.
• European Starlings gather in large flocks. Listen for their whistles.  Black beaks turn yellow. White feather tips wear off and reveal glossy green-black plumage.
• Crows gather in small flocks. Watch for Crows carrying twigs, branches, and other nesting material.
• The Cooper’s Hawk hunts for songbirds and small mammals.
• Red-tailed Hawks perform aerial courtship displays. Watch how they soar, loop, dive, and clasp talons. Their call is a whistled “peerrrr, peerrr” (Blue Jays often imitate the call).
• Look for an abandoned Crow or Hawk nest. You might see a female Great Horned Owl starring down at you. By mid-March there should be 1 or 2 newly hatched owlets in the nest.
• Barred Owls are extremely vocal now calling “who cooks for you” and they make other strange sounds. March is their breeding season.  The female lays 1 or 2 eggs in a tree cavity.
• Eastern Screech Owls also use tree cavities for roosting and nesting.  Listen for their “whinny” or “monotone” call especially at night.
  -Tom Turkeys give descending “gobble-gobble” calls. They puff up, strut, and spread their large tails like fans.

Winter visitors

• Those that spent the winter here “pack their suitcases” and migrate to northern Wisconsin to nest.
• Dark-eyed Juncos form very large flocks. They chase and sing short-musical trills.
• Tree Sparrows gather in flocks and sing very sweet bell-like tinkling songs.
• Pine Siskins occasionally nest early and then leave.
• Saw-whet Owls leave at night. Listen for their one-pitch “toot-toot-toot” call.
• Long-eared, Short-eared, and Snowy Owls head north to nest.

March migrants

• Some years short-distance migrants arrive from the south a week or so earlier, later, or not at all. Can you think of reasons why? Frequent violent storms? Climate change? Changes in the landscape?
• Over the years I have observed the following short-distance migrants. Some will nest here and others will continue on their journey.

Early to mid-March migrants

• Robin, Bluebird, Red-winged Blackbird, Grackle, Cowbird, Killdeer, Song and Fox Sparrows, Meadowlark and Great Blue Heron. Overhead look for Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane and Kestrel.
• Woodcock (thimberdoodle) usually arrive in early March. At dusk listen for their “peent, peent” calls and watch their entertaining courtship sky dance.
• Waterfowl seen on open water include: Bufflehead, Canvasback, Gadwall, Hooded Merganser, Lesser Scalp, Northern Pintail, Redhead, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Coot, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Shoveler, Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Snow Goose and Tundra Swan.

Mid to late-March migrants

• Phoebe, Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Swamp, Chipping and Field Sparrows, Tree and Barn Swallows, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Kingfisher, Sandpiper, Winter Wren, an occasional Yellow-rumpled Warbler and more.
• Wilson’s Snipe “winnow” in wetlands and prairies (outer tail feathers create a wavering winnowing sound).

Mammals

• Many of the following mammals mate in January or February and have young now: gray squirrel, opossum, rabbit, coyote, red fox, small rodents and more.
• Chipmunks, ground squirrels and woodchucks emerge from hibernation.
• Look for muskrat, mink and weasel near water.
• Meadow voles, shrews, and moles are active.
• Deer continue to browse woody plants. Well-fed male deer sometimes do not shed their antlers until March. They are usually shed in December-February.
• Big brown bats come out of hibernation (often too early).

Insects, spiders and others

• During warm days, how many of the following can you find?
  • Mourning cloak, red admiral, comma, question mark, cabbage white, sulphur, and the early form of the spring azure.
  • Several kinds of moths.
  • Queen bumblebees, honeybees, solitary bees (especiallly cellophane bees), wasps, and hornets.
  • Gnats, flies, and swarms of midges.
  • Ladybird beetles and box elder bugs.
  • Six-spotted tiger beetles are shiny green with white spots. They run very fast.
  • Ants spend time outside their burrows.
  • Coral winged and green striped grasshoppers overwinter as last instars. Look for them nestled in grass.
  • Woolly bear caterpillars search for food after their long winter nap.
  • Earthworms come out of their underground burrows after rain.
  • Look for water striders and whirligig beetles on the surface of water.
  • Snowfleas (springtails) are especially active on warm days. Look for tiny dark specks on top of melting snow or on puddles.
  • A few kinds of wolf spiders spend the winter under the snow as adults. Now they come out of their burrows.
  • Zebra jumping spiders overwinter as adults. Look for these tiny, adorable spiders on buildings, trees, and rocks especially during sunny days.
  • Centipedes and millipedes scurry about.
  • Red velvet mites, chiggers, and TICKS are active.

Plants

• Sap starts to flow. Sugar maple sap runs best when nights are 25-32 degrees and days are 32-45 degrees.
• Sapsicles hang from broken branches.
• Stems of red-osier and silky dogwood turn bright red.
• Aspen bark turns greenish-yellow and furry catkins expand.
• Willow branches and twigs have an amber glow.
• The red and yellow flowers of the silver maple open.
• Pussy willow buds swell. Brown bud scales fall off and silver, furry “pussies” expend into flowers. Each plant has either all male or all female flowers.
• Hazelnut catkins expand. The brown male flowers release yellow pollen in the wind. Very tiny, red, star-like, female flowers are found near the catkins.
• Skunk cabbage blooms in wetlands.
• Pasque and prairie smoke bloom on prairies.
• Some years in late March, I have found the following in bloom in woodlands: trout lily, bloodroot, dutchman’s breeches, toothwort, hepatica, and violets.
• Dandelions bloom and provide pollen and nectar for insects.
• Grasses, sedges, and other plants green up.

And other signs of spring

• Frozen ground thaws out. Breathe in the fragrant earthy smell released from microbes in damp soil.
• Painted turtles spend the winter beneath mud in ponds. Now they emerge and bask in the sun on logs, etc.
• Spring peepers and chorus frogs leave woodlands where they spent the winter (in a somewhat frozen state). They head to ponds to breed when the ground thaws out and the water temperature is about 50 degrees. I usually hear them call in early March.
• Salamanders leave woodlands and migrate to ponds and wetlands where they breed. Look for them at night in late March during a warm rainy night.
• Garter and brown snakes emerge from hibernation and bask in sunny areas.

Take time to look, listen, and appreciate all that the land here at Holy Wisdom has to offer. Perhaps you will discover things I have missed.

“Is gratitude a moral obligation? I would say it is. The obligation is owed to the earth itself. To be grateful is to live a life that honors the gift.  To care for it, keep it safe, protect it from danger. Not to discount it or ignore it, but to use it respectfully. To celebrate it, to honor the worth of it in a thousand ways, not just in words, but in how we live our lives.”
–Kathleen Dean Moore, Pine Island Paradox

Sylvia Marek is a highly trained and experienced naturalist. She works for the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and is a first rate birder.

Please share the biological events you notice while at Holy Wisdom Monastery below (remember to include what you see, where and when).

The post March phenology appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Cedar waxwing feeding on crabapples

Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate.

These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area this month. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event.

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops.”  –Emily Dickinson

February

February is usually a month of cold, snowy days with some mild days. I have recorded temperatures ranging from -25 below zero to 60 above. No two February months are the same. It is still winter in February but there are subtle signs that the season is changing. Birds start to sing and their behavior changes. Mammals court and mate. By the end of February daylight increases to 11 hours. Buds swell and sap flows. The sun is warmer.  Most plants respond to longer periods of light rather than warmer temperatures.  What effect will the rapid changing climate have on the above and the following observations I have made?

Resident birds

• Winter flocks of Cardinals break up and pairs start to form.  Male and female Cardinals counter-sing “birdy, birdy, what cheer, what year” throughout the day.  Feather tips wear off and reveal more vivid plumage.
• Chickadees whistle “fee-bee” songs.
• White-breasted Nuthatches give rapid “ank, ank” and “wa-wa-wa-wa” calls.
• Woodpeckers drum. Red-bellied Woodpeckers call “quirr-quire.”
• Tufted Titmice call “peter, peter.”
• Blue Jays form courtship flocks usually led by one female. Look for bobbing displays and listen for musical “wheedle, wheedle” calls.
• Mourning Doves remain in flocks. Males begin long “coo-coo-coo-coo” courtship songs and chase females.
• Goldfinches gather in smaller flocks. Males begin their partial molt and new feathers are bright yellow.  Males sing sweet warbling songs. They do not nest until July and August.
• Flocks of Cedar Waxwings wander here and there.
• European Starlings prepare for breeding and begin to whistle. Beaks turn yellow and feather tips wear off revealing iridescent plumage.
• Large flocks of noisy Crows gather.
• Turkeys form large flocks.
• Red-tailed Hawks perform aerial displays. Pairs soar close to one another.
• The Cooper’s Hawk pursues small birds.
• Great Horned Owls continue to call and mate. Look for an abandoned Crow or Hawk nest. You might see feather tufts of the female peeking over the rim. She usually lays 1-2 eggs in mid-February and begins incubating.
• Barred Owls call “who cooks for you” more frequently.  They usually nest in March.
• Look at tree cavities for a well-camouflaged Gray or Red Screech Owl.  Listen for their whinny or monotone call usually well after dark.

Winter visitors

• Dark-eyed Juncos form larger flocks, chase and sing trilling songs.
• Tree Sparrows gather in larger flocks and start singing sweet “tinkling” songs.
• Look for Purple Finch, Pine siskin, brown creeper, red-breasted nuthatch and Golden-crowned Kinglet in wooded areas.
• Along roadsides, fields and prairies look for Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, Rough-legged Hawk, Harrier, Shrike and Snowy Owl.
• Perhaps you can find a Saw-whet Owl roosting in a conifer.

Irregular visitors from the north

• White-winged and Red Crossbills
• Evening and Pine Grosbeaks
• Common and Hoary Redpolls
• Bohemian Waxwings
• Short-eared and Long-eared Owls

Early migrants from the south 

• In late February look for male Red-winged Blackbird, Grackle, Robin, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Meadowlark, Sandhill Crane, Eagle and Woodcock.

Mammals

• Most are active at night. Tracks in the snow or mud reveal stories of their nocturnal activities.
• Deer tracks are arrow or heart shaped. Deer continue to browse (tear) and nibble tree branches and shrubs. Males shed antlers.
• Rabbits hop and put paired front feet behind rear feet. They are courting now. Look for lots of tracks and pinkish-orange urine on snow. They browse or cut branches at a 45-degree angle.
• Gray squirrels also hop and put paired front paws behind rear paws.  Males chase females with wild abandon and mate.
• Raccoon tracks resemble our hands (front) and feet (hind).
• Opossum tracks are star-like and both front and hind tracks resemble hands.
• Deer mice have delicate paired tracks with a trail drag between. They have long tails and long ears.
• Voles (meadow mice) and shrews make small meandering tracks that resemble a string of beads. Voles have short tails and long ears.  Shrews have a pointed nose and tiny ears.
• Rodents and rabbits gnaw bark.
• Have you seen any coyotes lately? They have 4 toes on each paw (cats have 5). They travel in nearly a straight line (dogs meander).
• Skunks come out of hibernation on warm days and make meandering tracks as they wander.
• A chipmunk might make an appearance.

Insects

• During sunny or warm days (near 50 degrees) look for the following:
  • Overwintering adult butterflies such as mourning cloak, red admiral, and angle-wing nectaring on tree sap.
  • Dark speck-like snowfleas (springtails) appearing on top of the snow or on tree trunks to mate or graze on pollen or algae.
  • Gnats, midges, flies, craneflies, snow mosquitoes (they do not bite), lady beetles, box elder bugs, and tiny grasshoppers are active.
  • A spider or strands of spider silk might be found hanging from branches.

Plants

• Sap starts to flow causing the stems of red osier dogwood shrubs to turn bright red and the trunks of quaking aspen to turn shades of green.
• Pussy willow buds start to elongate and silver, furry catkins start to expand.
• Examine the buds and bark of the following native shrubs and trees:  ninebark, lderberry, chokeberry, buttonwood, gray dogwood, hazelnut, oak, maple, shagbark hickory, and hackberry.

More things to notice and appreciate

• Warmth of the sun
• Sundogs (shafts of rainbow colors on each side of the sun)
• Sapsicles hanging from maple tree branches
• Glittering hoarfrost
• Beautiful sparkling snow and the delicate design of each different flake
• Silhouettes of open-grown oaks and other trees
• Did you notice the tiny white-cup fungus (Aleurodiscus oaksii) on the light gray bark of the white oak?
• Turkey tail fungus is found on dead wood. Notice the variety of colors in the overlapping rows of fan-like fungi.
• Beautiful lichens can be found on trees and rocks. Most are gray, gray-green, and a few are yellow. They have different shapes.
• Listen to the wind whispering through the pine trees.
• Be grateful for the privilege to walk and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

“Is gratitude a moral obligation? I would say it is. The obligation is owed to the earth itself. To be grateful is to live a life that honors the gift. To care for it, keep it safe, protect it from danger, not to discount it or ignore it, but to use it respectfully, to celebrate it, to honor the worth of it in a thousand ways, not just in words, but in how we live our lives.”
–Kathleen Dean Moore, Pine Island Paradox

Sylvia Marek is a highly trained and experienced naturalist. She works for the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and is a first rate birder.

Please share the biological events you notice while at Holy Wisdom Monastery below (remember to include what you see, where and when).

The post February phenology appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Male cardinal at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate.

These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area in January. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event.

January Phenology for Holy Wisdom

“Go softly on your way. Learn to be a gentle people and seek joy in simple things.” –Anonymous

January, the coldest month of the year with frigid wind chills, snowstorms, ice, sleet, and freezing rain. Usually we experience a January thaw, but when it occurs is unpredictable. “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). I wonder how the changing climate will affect weather patterns and plant and animal life? January is a month of long, cold nights and twinkling stars. Daylight is noticeably longer, and the sun sets later each evening.

“January observation is almost as simple and peaceful as snow, and almost as continuous as cold. There is time to not only see who has done what, but to speculate why.” –Aldo Leopold from Sand County Almanac

Following are some of my favorite January observations.

Resident Birds

• Male and female Cardinals remain in flocks. They look brighter because the tips of their feathers are wearing off. Cardinals call “what cheer, wet year” early in the morning. Near the end of January, males and females sing throughout the day.
• Blue Jays add color to the winter landscape.
• Chickadees flit about in small flocks. Listen for their sweet “fee-bee” song associated with spring.
• Tufted Titmice call “Peter, Peter.”
• White-breasted Nuthatches search for insects in cracks and crevices of tree bark. Listen for their nasal “yank, yank” call and their one-pitch “wa, wa, wa, wa” call.
• Flocks of Goldfinches search for seeds in the prairie and along edges of woods.
• Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers can be heard tapping on trees as they search for insects. Listen for their loud drumming associated with territory and courtship.
• Male Mourning Doves start long-cooing songs in late January.
• Flocks of House Finches warble and House Sparrows chirp.
• Look for flocks of Cedar Waxwings consuming crabapples, red cedar cones and sumac fruits.
• Foraging flocks of Turkeys roam the land.
• Crows gather in noisy flocks.
• The Red-tailed Hawk soars over the prairie hunting for small mammals.
• The Cooper’s Hawk hunts the savanna and woodland for small birds.
• Great Horned Owls are one of the earliest birds to breed in Wisconsin. Listen for the duet calls of the male and female. The female uses an abandoned hawk or crow nest to lay her eggs in late January or February.
• Barred Owls continue to call and ask “who cooks for you?”
• Some years a few birds that spent the summer here, do not migrate south. Look for Robin, Bluebird and Flicker feeding on sumac and other fruits.

Winter Visitors

• Look for the Brown Creeper spiraling around tree trunks in search of insects.
• Flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos and Tree Sparrows search for seeds in the prairie and along edges.
• Most years Purple Finch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and flocks of Pine Siskin spend the winter. Red-breasted Nuthatches also visit. They can be heard uttering a slow nasal “na, na, na, na” and a soft “ip, ip, ip” as they search for insects on tree trunks.
• It is possible to see Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk, and Northern Harrier hunting over grasslands. Others to look for include Saw-whet and Long-eared Owls in wooded areas and short-eared and snowy owls in open areas.

Irregular Visitors from the North

• Many of the following birds breed in Canada and are uncommon or nomadic. They feed on tree buds, seeds, fruit, and some mainly eat conifer seeds. When food is scarce because of fires, logging, or other unknown causes, look for the following:
  • White-winged and Red-winged Crossbill
  • Evening and Pine Grosbeak
  • Bohemian Waxwing
  • Common and Hoary Redpoll

Mammals

• Most are active at night. Tracks (patterns) and prints (marks) in the snow tell stories of their nocturnal activities. If there is no snow or mud, look for the following clues: scat (droppings), tunnels, travel lanes, tooth marks, browse, bones, fur, feathers, pellets, blood, nests, and caches of food.
• Rabbits hop or leap. Their front feet land just behind their rear feet. Their paired tracks form an arrow which points to the place where the rabbit was coming from. Rabbits browse woody plants leaving a sharp 45-degree angled cut. They also gnaw bark. Rabbit scat resembles brown m & m’s.
• Gray squirrels also hop and leap. Front feet land behind hind feet and often disappear near a tree trunk. Males frantically chase females through treetops and mate.
• Raccoons mate in January. They have five slender toes on each foot. Front feet resemble our hands, and hind feet resemble our feet.
• Opossums wander the land when it is not too cold. Hind tracks resemble our hands with the thumb pointed down. Their front tracks show five toes and is star-shaped.
• Coyotes and foxes have four toes on each foot. They walk or run in almost a straight line. Dogs meander.
• White-footed mice can climb trees, and they use abandoned nests and nest boxes. Their tracks are paired with a trail drag between. They make beautiful, delicate, embroidery-like tracks.
• Meadow voles and shrews make meandering tracks that remind me of a beaded necklace. They make tunnels under the snow and through the grass. They gnaw tree and shrub bark.
• Deer tracks resemble a heart. Deer droppings look like a pile of brown marbles. They lack upper incisors and rip branches leaving a ragged edge. Male white-tailed deer shed antlers usually in January.

Insects and Spiders

• Those that do not migrate or die, spend the winter as adults, partially grown adults, larvae or eggs. Some adult insects emerge when temperatures are above 32 degrees.
• On warm, sunny days look for snow fleas or springtails. They resemble tiny, dark, poppyseeds and gather in large groups on snow, tree trunks, or leaves. They mate and/or eat algae on old snow.
• Fungus gnats, midges, box elder bugs, lady bird beetles, some butterflies, and others are active on warm days.
• Wingless winter crane flies mate. They resemble mosquitoes and do not bite.
• Tiny dwarf spiders climb up and off leaf litter. They walk on the snow looking for a mate or food.

And More Favorites

• Glittering, lacy, white hoarfrost. Look for it during a humid morning following a cold, clear night.
• “Beautiful star crystals, perfect little wheels, six perfect leaflets, fern-like snow stars.” Thoreau. Try to find one exactly like the one you are holding in your hand.
• Ice crystals sparkle like colorful jewels in the sunlight.
• Sapsicles hanging from broken branches.
• Lichens are made up of an alga growing inside a fungus. There are about 30 common species in Wisconsin. Look closely at these lovely green, gray, and yellow fairylands on rocks and tree trunks.
• Colors and shapes of buds and seeds.
• Green conifers and the fragrance they emit.
• Tree silhouettes and contours of the land.
• Bright twinkling stars and January constellations.
• Peace and silence of a winter night.

As you walk the trails, take time to appreciate the silence and beauty of this land that
is cared for with love.

Sylvia Marek

Sylvia Marek is a highly trained and experienced naturalist. She works for the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and is a first rate birder.

Please share the biological events you notice while at Holy Wisdom Monastery below (remember to include what you see, where and when).

The post January phenology appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

A junco in the woods at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Phenology is the science of observing and recording plant and animal activities from year to year and their relationship to season and climate.  The following Madison area observations are from notes I have kept over the years.  We would love to hear about your observations here at Holy Wisdom.  Please comment on this post what, where, and the date of your observations.

December Phenology

“I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.
                      A magical thing and sweet to remember.”    –Oliver Hereford

December, a month when the gray, black, brown and tan landscape of late autumn changes into a wonderland of white and silver beauty with a few sprinklings of color. It is usually a month of cold temperatures which can create a variety of pretty snowflakes, frost, glittering hoarfrost, sparkling ice and sometimes freezing rain. In the future, December might be warmer, wetter or possibly colder due to the changing climate. Year-round resident birds and visitors from the north form mixed feeding flocks and give fragments of song. And owls call at night. The annual Christmas Bird Count is held in mid-December. The first count started in 1900. During the first half of December, the sun sets around 4:15 pm. According to the calendar, the winter solstice or the beginning of winter occurs on December 21 or 22, the shortest day and longest night. Brilliant winter constellations include Orion, Big Dipper, Pleiades and Cassiopeia.

The following are some of my favorite observations.

Birds

• Birds that use the area throughout the year include the following: Cardinal, Chickadee, Blue Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove, House Finch, House Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-tailed and Cooper’s Hawk, Turkey and Crow. Resident male and female Great Horned Owls call frequently during territorial formation and courtship. Their soft duet calls can be heard especially around dusk and before dawn. Look and listen for the barred owl asking, “who cooks for you?” Please do not play recordings to attract them and do not disturb them in any way.
• Birds that arrive from the north and spend the winter include Brown Creeper, flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos and Tree Sparrows. They are predictable.
• Other winter visitors from the north are unpredictable. The following birds visit most winters but not all: Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Fox, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk and Snowy Owl. Saw-whet, Long-eared and Short-eared Owls often show up in or around the Madison area. Rarely do the following visit: Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Red and White-winged Crossbill and Bohemian Waxwing.
• Occasionally, overwintering Robins, Bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings can be seen feasting on crabapples, red cedar cones and sumac fruits.
• Look up and listen for migrating Tundra Swans, Canada and Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes and Gulls. Waterfowl leave when ice forms on ponds and lakes.
• As climate changes, wintering ranges of many species might change.
• How many abandoned bird nests, woodpecker holes, owl pellets and areas of whitewash can you find?

Mammals

• Gray squirrels are active during the day. Look for their large leafy nests high up in trees. They use them in the summer. They usually use tree cavities in the winter. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and use cavities in trees.
• Deer browse woody plants. They lack upper incisors and tear branches and twigs. Look for “buck rub.”
• Rabbits have upper and lower incisors. They browse or cut twigs and small branches diagonally or at a sharp 45-degree angle.
• Meadow voles gnaw bark off woody plants. They also eat grass and other types of plant material such as roots, leaves, seeds and mushrooms. They make holes in the ground and tunnels through grass and snow.
• Shrews scurry frantically across trails.
• Deer and white-footed mice are active at night and leave delicate tracks in the snow. They find shelter in abandoned bird nests or bluebird boxes
• Other mammals to look for include coyote, raccoon, opossum, mink, weasel, red fox and possibly gray fox. They are usually active during the night and leave their tracks or scat on the mud or snow.

Insects

• Where are the insects? Many spend the winter as adults, semi-adults, larvae or eggs. Most are in a dormant state.
• Adult ladybird and other beetles, boxelder and other bugs, and other insects seek shelter under logs, rocks or plants. A few species of grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Most grasshoppers lay eggs for future generations.
• Butterflies that overwinter as adults include red admiral, mourning cloak, comma and question mark. A few can be seen fluttering about when it is at least 50 degrees.
• Viceroy butterflies overwinter as a partially grown larva in a rolled-up leaf attached to a branch.
• Cabbage whites overwinter in a grayish-green chrysalis.
• The two-inch hairy cocoon of the cecropia moth is attached horizontally on a branch. The promethea cocoon resembles a dry gray leaf hanging from a twig on a silken stalk. Years ago, I found cocoons on black cherry, apple, willow and box elder. They are not very common now and not easy to find.
• Look carefully for glossy, foam-like egg masses of the tent caterpillar especially on cherry and apple trees. Watching chickadees search can help you locate the eggs.
• Snowy tree crickets prepare for future generations by inserting eggs here and there on twigs and small branches.
• The female black horned tree cricket lays her eggs in a short line of little holes. I have found them on the stems of blackcap raspberries and other small twigs.
• Many native bees and other insects use plant stems as an adult, larva or egg. For that reason, I do not cut my plants down in winter.
• Galls are abnormal growths on plants. There are three common galls found on goldenrod stems. The ball gall (larva of a fly), elliptical gall (moth), and bunch gall (midge). There are 800 kinds of galls on oaks. Look for oak bullet gall on white oak twigs, oak hedgehog on leaves, oak apple on black and red oak and so many more. Enjoy your search for galls.

Spiders

• Many species of spiders overwinter as adults. Some spend the winter as eggs or little spiders in papery egg sacs attached to plants. Others tuck their sticky egg sacs behind loose bark or under rocks.

Arachnids

• Ticks hopefully lie dormant in leaf litter.

Colors of December

• Shades of black, gray, brown and tan dominate the landscape. Notice tree bark, rocks, dried leaves, pinecones, plants, seeds and grasses.
• Conifers, mosses and lichens add lovely shades of green, gray and yellow. Have you noticed the beautiful grayish-greenish-yellowish lichens growing on trees and rocks? There are 30 common lichens found in Wisconsin. The three types are crustose (like paint), foliose (leaf-like) and fruticose (fruiting bodies).
• Blue cones (fruits) decorate female red cedar trees. Bluish-lavender stems of blackcap raspberries stand out. Young branches of boxelder trees are light bluish-gray.
• Red and orange crabapples, rose hips, sumac fruits, stems of red-osier dogwood and small flocks of all-red male cardinals and buffy-brown females add a bright sprinkling of color.

And More Favorites

• Dark silhouettes of trees, especially oaks, against a blue or gray sky.
• All sizes, shapes and colors of buds and seeds.
• Turkey tail fungus attached to dead wood with rings of various colors. Artist’s bracket fungi are also attached to dead wood.
• Milkweed pods with silver and gold linings.
• Sparkling snowflakes, frost and glittering hoarfrost.
• Lovely sunsets and sunrises.
• The view of Lake Mendota and the prairie from the high hilltop.
• May you find quiet beauty, love and peace here at Holy Wisdom.

“What makes a place special is the way it buries itself inside the heart, not whether it’s flat or rugged, rich or austere, wet or arid, gentle or harsh, warm or cold, wild or tame. Every place, like every person, is elevated by the love and respect shown toward it.” –Richard Nelson, from Island Within

This place is loved!
Sylvia Marek

Sylvia Marek is a highly trained and experienced naturalist. She is also a long-time volunteer at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and is a first-rate birder.

Please share the biological events you notice while at Holy Wisdom Monastery below (remember to include what you see, where and when).

The post December phenology appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Flock of mallard ducks

Phenology is the science of recording plant and animal activities from year to year and their relationship to season and climate. November events can vary when the month is warmer or cooler, wetter or dryer than average. The following Madison area observations are from notes I have kept over the years.

November Phenology for Holy Wisdom

“Let’s just wander here and there like floating leaves in the autumn air and look
at little things….From the winds we’ll catch a bit of that feeling, that wondrous
feeling that comes not from seeing, but from being part of nature.”
–Author unknown

November is the month when late autumn ends and early winter begins. Days are shorter. They can be sunny and warm, cloudy and cold, calm or windy, or sparkling with dew, hoarfrost, or snow. Nights are long and chilly, stars twinkle, and owls call. The parade of beautiful autumn colors is over. The last dull red, orange, and yellow leaves fall and carpet the earth. Brown leaves cling to some oaks. November is a quiet month except for the wind rustling leaves and bare branches, and an occasional soft tapping of woodpeckers, chip notes of little songbirds, the chirping of a cricket or two, and the sound of your footsteps on crisp or wet leaves.

The following Holy Wisdom and Madison area observations are from notes I have kept over the years. I have noticed events can vary when the month is warmer or cooler, or wetter or dryer than average. How will the changing climate (since 2012) affect when things occur? I encourage you to visit Holy Wisdom often. May your observations be many and memorable.

Resident Birds

• Birds that can be found year round include: cardinal, chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, goldfinch, house finch, house sparrow, mourning dove, blue jay, downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers, flicker, cedar waxwing, crow, turkey and red-tailed and Cooper’s hawk.
• Territorial calls of great horned, barred, and screech owls can be heard especially at dusk and dawn.

Winter Visitors

• Brown creeper, and flocks of dark-eyed juncos and American tree sparrows arrive
  from the north and spend every winter here.
• Others that I have seen include: pine siskin, red-breasted nuthatch, purple finch,
  golden-crowned kinglet, a few white-throated and white-crowned sparrows, and an
  occasional winter wren, hermit thrush, yellow-bellied sapsucker, yellow-rumped
  warbler, northern shrike, northern harrier, and rough-legged hawk.
• Owls that breed in the far north such as snowy, long-eared, short-eared, and saw-
  whet arrive in southern Wisconsin in late November and December. Snowy and
  short-eared owls hunt over prairies and grasslands often during the day. Long-
  eared and saw-whet owls hunt at night.
• If you find an owl roosting in a conifer or tangle of shrubs, observe from a distance
  and do nothing to disturb it. PLEASE do not play recordings or playbacks!!

Other Birds to Look and Listen for

• Flocks of robins and bluebirds depart for the southern U.S. Some spend the winter here. Look for robins, bluebirds, and cedar waxwings eating crabapples, sumac fruits, and blue cones on red cedar.
• Red-winged blackbirds and grackles form large flocks and depart during the month.
• Listen and look up for sandhill cranes, bald eagles, snow and Canada geese, and tundra swans.
• Waterfowl are migrating southward. Coots, bufflehead, scaup, merganser, and others depart when ice forms on lakes and ponds.

Plants

• Wildflower season is over except for a few flowers blooming in sheltered places. In early November I have seen a last flower or two on New England, frost, and calico asters, Queen Anne’s-lace, dandelion, and violet.
• Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is the latest native shrub to bloom in Wisconsin. Each yellow, star-like flower has four, delicate, curly petals decorating bare branches. Tan woody capsules open and shoot shiny black seeds up to 20 feet away.
• You do not have to identify or know the name of a plant to enjoy its beauty even in November. Following are some of the things I notice: shape of the flower heads and their seeds, leaf and branch arrangement, square or round stems, buds, and bark.

Insects

• Some insects spend the winter as adults. Others prepare for future generations in the form of eggs, larvae, or cocoons. Insects are not as abundant now. Activity increases for some on warm days.
• Woolly bear caterpillars search for places to spend the winter. In spring they pupate and later emerge as a moth.
• Red-bodied meadowhawks (Sympetrum sp.) perch and bask in the warm sunshine.
• Butterflies that overwinter as adults include: comma, red-admiral, mourning cloak, question mark, and tortoise. They are active on warm days.
• A few owlet moth species can be seen flying at night even when the temperature is near freezing.
• Black field crickets chirp.
• Listen to the soft, slow, continuous “purrrrr” of the black horned tree cricket….his sad farewell.
• Snowy tree crickets call during warm days. Count his number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 40 to find out the temperature.
• Box elder bugs overwinter as adults and often enter buildings.
• Asian lady bird beetles (Harmonia axyridis) gather in large groups and overwinter as adults. They bite!
• Sticky, white egg masses dot twigs of nannyberry and other shrubs. Eggs are deposited by the female two-marked treehopper (Enchenopa binotata). The tiny treehopper resembles a small brown thorn.
• Pupae of giant silk moths overwinter in cocoons. The cecropia cocoon hangs horizontally along a branch. It resembles a little hammock. The promethea cocoon is wrapped in a leaf and hangs from a silken stem near the end of a branch.
• Galls are odd growths found on goldenrods, oaks, and many other plants.
• There are three common kinds of galls on goldenrods. Ball gall: During the winter the gall contains the larva of a pretty, tiny fruit fly. The adult emerges in spring. Elliptical gall: The immature stage of a moth creates the gall. The moth emerges In late summer and in fall, the female lays eggs in old stems. Bunch gall: Small midge-like flies create them at the tips of the goldenrod. Galls are empty in winter. I wonder if adults overwinter?

Arachnids

• Deer and black-legged ticks are active and can transmit Lyme and other diseases. Females are the size of a sesame seed and are looking for a blood meal. Stay on trails and check after your walk.

Spiders

• On warm days look for “ballooning” spiders floating on thin strands of silk.
• A few kinds of spiders spend the winter as adults. Some species spend the winter in egg sacs as eggs or hundreds of very tiny spiders.
• Frost-covered webs of orb-weavers sparkle in the sunlight.

Mammals

• November is the “rutting” or mating season for white-tailed deer. Male deer polish their antlers on small trees. Look for “buck rub” on trees and “scrapes” on the ground. Do not approach bucks. They can be dangerous.
• Squirrels and chipmunks continue their frantic gathering and storing of nuts.
• White-footed and deer mice gather and store seeds. Some move into abandoned bird nests and nest boxes.
• Field mice and shrews are active.
• Raccoon and opossum prowl the land during the hours of darkness.
• Fox and coyote bark and howl at night. Look for scat as you walk the trails.

Fall Leaf Color

• The parade of brilliant autumn leaf color is over. A few leaves remain on some trees. Brown and russet leaves cling to some of the oaks.
• Older needles of white pine and Arborvitae turn brown and fall.
• Tamarack (larch) needles turn “smoky gold” (Leopold) and drop.
• Invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle hang on to their green leaves most of November.
• Red blackberry leaves seem to glow. Aldo Leopold called them “red lanterns.”
• Leaves carpet the earth. Breathe deeply and savor the rich earthy smell.

Fruit and Seed Color

• Flowers, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees produced a rainbow of colorful fruits and seeds. Most have been consumed by birds and mammals. A few of the following remain:
• Red and orange: rose hips and red clusters of fuzzy sumac fruits, American bittersweet has orange fruit in clusters at the tip of the vine. Oriental bittersweet has yellow-orange fruits scattered along the vine.
• Blue: berry-like cones on red cedar.
• Bluish-purple to black: a few hackberry, nannyberry, Virginia creeper, grape, and the black fruits on female buckthorn.
• White: most dogwood fruits have been consumed in October. Some poison ivy fruits remain.
• Brown: acorns, hazelnuts, bladdernut pods, witch hazel capsules, and box elder keys (samaras).

Seeds

• All sizes and shapes of tan, white, brown, gray, and black seeds provide sustenance for seed eaters and for future generations of plants.
• Plants scatter their seeds in different ways.
• Some seeds use the wind. Brown milkweed seeds float away on fluffy parachutes. Tiny goldenrod and aster seeds are attached to very small bits of white fluff and they drift away in the wind.
• Some seeds are hitchhikers armed with hooks, barbs, spikes, or spines. They cling to people and furry animals.
• Some use birds. Goldfinches and sparrows eat thistle seeds. Plucked seeds that are not consumed float away on white thistledown. Birds peck at grass, sunflower, and coneflower seeds. Many are consumed, but many fall to the ground and will become plants if not eaten by mice.
• Prairie grasses fade in November. Their seeds are usually brown.

Other Favorite Observations

• Nearly all leaves have fallen and cover the earth.
• November is a good month to look at the beautiful silhouettes of trees against a blue or gray sky.
• Bird nests are visible now. How many can you find?
• Notice the contours of the landscape and the shape of things around you.
• -Several kinds of mushrooms can be found during warm, wet days. Look for shaggy mane, puffball, meadow, oyster, bolete, and pinwheel.
• Many of the following bracket fungi can be found year-round: artist’s bracket, lacquered and birch polypore, and sulphur shelf (chicken of the woods).
• Fruiting bodies of slime molds can be quite lovely. They are not fungi.
• Most amphibians and reptiles are hibernating by the end of November.
• Sparkling hoarfrost and killing frosts are frequent.
• Indian summer usually comes after a cold period and hard frosts. It can occur in October or November. Days are calm, sunny, and unseasonably warm.
• Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular.
• Listen for owls and look up for Orion, Cassiopeia, the North Star, Little Dipper, and possibly meteor showers or Northern Lights.
• A few first snowy days of the season follow:
  • November 9, 2018
  • November 24, 2021
  • October 19, 2006
  • November 6, 2019
  • November 12, 2022
  • November 8, 2020

My hope is that you will visit often and take time to look, listen and breathe deeply.Let us be thankful for the sisters (and others) who preserved this land and for those who lovingly care for it. I am grateful for this “listening point”. May it also be yours.

“I named this place Listening Point because only when one comes to listen, only when one is aware and still, can things be seen and heard. Everyone has a listening-point somewhere. It does not have to be in the north or close to the wilderness, but some place of quiet where the universe can be contemplated with awe.”
–From “Listening Point” by Sigurd Olson

Sylvia Marek

Sylvia Marek is a highly trained and experienced naturalist. She works for the University of Wisconsin Arboretum and is a first rate birder.

Please share the biological events you notice while at Holy Wisdom Monastery below (remember to include what you see, where and when).

The post November phenology appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.

“Don’t you imagine the leaves dream now
how comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of the air and the endless
freshets of wind?”

– Mary Oliver, Song for Autumn

It’s early spring. Warm air, sunshine and rainfall abound. High in the canopy, tree buds have been waiting all winter for this. They burst open in all manner of green as trees awaken from a long winter’s slumber. As temperatures continue to rise, the leaves spread out as summer sun pumps life into the forest. Like millions of tiny solar panels, the leaves gather the sun’s light to power the tree’s growth.

To do this, trees use a process called, photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the basis for many food webs including trees, plants and the plant-eating animals that depend on them.

The chemistry of photosynthesis looks complicated:

H2O + CO2 = C6H12O6 + O2

But photosynthesis is simple. Using the sunlight, photosynthesis combines water and carbon to produce energy and oxygen.

During photosynthesis leaves gather sunlight through tiny pores, called stomata, while tree roots absorb water and other nutrients from the soil. The tree pulls water up the trunk to the leaves, where photosynthesis occurs. The energy produced is returned to the roots in the form of sugars, or food, which fuel tree growth. Growth includes the addition of new plant tissue and the creation of new wood as trees grow taller and wider.

Photosynthesis is an essential to most life on Earth. It allows trees, and most plants, to capture carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away. It also produces oxygen, a critical element of our atmosphere.

For many trees at Holy Wisdom, photosynthesis occurs only in warmer months, when sunlight is plentiful and temperatures are warm. For other trees – conifers or evergreens – it’s a year round process, which occurs in their unique leaves, or needles.

Why are leaves green? In warmer months, trees’ leaves are filled with a pigment, chlorophyl, which absorbs red and blue light. Chlorophyl also reflects green light, giving leaves their color. Chlorophyl is also a key part of photosynthesis.

As summer fades to fall, shorter days and cooler temperatures trigger changes within the tree. Leaves begin to take on a lighter shade of green, hinting of more changes to come. Eventually many trees will lose their leaves and enter a period of dormancy where photosynthesis pauses as trees sleep through winter. But before that happens something amazing occurs, something that gets so many of us outside in autumn, cameras in hand.

Before dropping their leaves, trees stop producing chlorophyll. As this pigment fades, other pigments – yellow, red, orange – reveal themselves. And it’s quite a show. Seemingly overnight the forest explodes in color, like fireworks popping in the sky. This is the dazzling display we call fall colors. For a short while, trees are a color mosaic, a cornucopia for the eyes. They draw us into the forest to marvel at nature’s annual spectacle.

The woodlands and savannas of Holy Wisdom are home to several types of tree. Each plays a part in this autumn show. Here one finds various oaks and maples as well as elm, walnut, hickory, willow and others, each with its own color scheme. It’s a fantastic time to be at Holy Wisdom!

Sadly, all good things must end.

All too quickly, trees’ hormonal processes cause the leaves break their summer holds. They dance briefly in the autumn breeze before floating and spiraling to the ground. The branches become bare, as the forest lays down a carpet of colors and shapes. As one strolls the forest trails, each step produces crunches and crackles as the leaves dry out.

Over time the colors fade and leaves decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. These become part of the spring food supply used by trees and plants when they awaken from their winter slumber.

Soon the forest will lie blanketed in white. The migrating birds will be long gone and cold and dark spread across on the forest. The trees will sleep their winter sleep, dreaming of long days and warm breezes to come, when the cycle begins again.

The post Fall Spectacles appeared first on Holy Wisdom Monastery.