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Until yesterday I’d completely forgotten about the City Nature Challenge…oops!  This is a global event that began on Friday, and continues through tomorrow (Monday) – so there’s still time to participate if you are interested.

The idea is to get out in nature, take notice of plants and animals, and photograph them if you can.  The app iNaturalist can be uploaded for free onto your mobile phone, or you can access the site on your computer, which you can link to here.  Your photos can then be uploaded to iNaturalist, where the IDs are confirmed and they are added to the data set.  There are over 70 cities participating in the challenge, so it’s likely there is one near you.  Once you have the app loaded to your mobile (or computer), just click on Projects and you should see the City Nature Challenge in the list, which you can join from there.

I did go out walking in Carver Park Reserve yesterday with my friend, naturalist Laurel, and her father, after Laurel had given us some pointers on working with iNaturalist.  We walked about a mile, and I walked another 1.5 miles or so on my own after the three of us parted.  We did see and hear quite a bit.  We heard Song Sparrows, Sandhill Cranes, Osprey, and a pair of Barred Owls duetting.  We photographed Red-winged Blackbirds, Duckweed floating on the ponds, and this lovely blooming Hepatica (photo to the left), just to name a few.

After I wandered off on my own, I mainly heard frogs, quite a few frogs in fact, including a Bullfrog.  I also spotted a pair of Trumpeter Swans, several Bald Eagles circling overhead, numerous Canada Geese, and two busy Muskrats on Crosby Lake, one on each side of the dock.  Here is a photo of one as it swam past where I was standing:

At one point, as I was walking slowly along the trail, looking around me – up, down, and to all sides – I noticed some movement on the path in front of me.  It was a little Wolf Spider (at least, that’s what I think it is, I’m certainly no spider expert!), scurrying across from one side of the trail to the other.  It paused long enough for me to catch a quick photo.

I will be out wandering in Carver Park again this afternoon, as today is my raptor care day for the park’s resident raptors.  I’m also scheduled to help out with a full moon walk tonight, which I’m very excited about – I haven’t gone on a full moon hike in quite some time!  I’ll post the results of those two walks tomorrow.

 

As for the snakes, still no luck!  Maybe today will be the day…

Today has been partly sunny and quite windy, but definitely warmer than it has been.  I started to feel overheated and took off my sweatshirt within minutes of beginning today’s walk!  What bliss to amble in the warmth of the sun!

We chose a trail in the Louisville Swamp Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge to do our wandering this fine day.  As we crossed over the Minnesota River on our way to Louisville Swamp, we saw that there is quite a bit of flooding over the river banks right now (all that snow we got last week is melting fast!), which made us question how far we’d get along the trail.  But we were so close by then we decided to give it a try.  The area around the parking lot and the surrounding trails were dry, but we only made it about a mile before the way was barred and we had to double back.  Even though we didn’t make it as far as we’d hoped, it was a lovely walk, and one we’ll take again later in the summer.

The warming weather has apparently given an overdue green light to many of the birds and other creatures we’ve been waiting to see.  Among our FOYs (the first-of-year sightings for us) were Song Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Palm Warbler, and this handsome Eastern Bluebird, who greeted us from the gatepost at the trail head:  

 

 

 

 

Other FOYs included an Eastern Comma butterfly (the first butterfly of any species we’ve seen so far this season), and a sprinkling of blooming Bloodroot all along the wooded edge of the trail:

About half way along our walk we came across an open area that had obviously undergone a controlled burn fairly recently.  There was an informational sign near the trail explaining what the plans were for this section of the refuge.  The prescribed burns are being used, along with selective herbicides, to help restore this area to Oak Savannah, an ecosystem that is highly endangered.  An Oak Savannah is an area characterized by prairie grassland dotted sparsely with oak trees.  Oaks have a thick bark that protects them from fire, and the prairie grasses actually thrive after fires move through, which means fire is a beneficial “disturbance” for this type of habitat.  Oak Savannahs act as transitional areas between prairies and woodlands, and used to cover about 10% of our state.  Now, there are only a few fragmented pockets left.  But there are parks and refuges in a number of states, including Minnesota, that have restoration projects underway such as this one, to help bring Oak Savannahs back.  If you are interested in assisting with restoration projects like this one, you can contact a park or refuge in your area.  Many parks are continually looking for volunteers to help with things like invasive species removal.  In the Twin Cities, Friends of the Mississippi River might be a good starting place.  As for me, I’m planning to help out with some Buckthorn removal this year.

We did enjoy this walk, even though it was cut short.  I was on the lookout for snakes, though, and was bummed that I didn’t see any.  Oh well, I’ll keep an eye out on the next trail!

Hello, and happy Tuesday!  Mark and I both had today off work, so we decided to get outside and enjoy the day.  We visited Westwood Hills Nature Center, and wandered the trails around Westwood Lake, with a few side trails thrown in for good measure.  In all we walked a little over 2 miles.  The trails were mostly dry…well, a lot of the trail was boardwalk and it was dry!  There was still a bit of snow to be found here and there, and a few places were wet and/or muddy enough to require some navigation.  But overall it wasn’t bad walking, and although it was a little cloudy, it was a fine day to be out!

It was also another great day to look for birds.  Some of the first-of-year (FOY) species we spotted included:  Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-shafted (Northern) Flicker.  I was fortunate to get photos of all three birds, and then some…

At one point, we turned a corner on the boardwalk and came nearly face-to-face with a Wild Turkey.  He immediately scurried off the walkway so quickly I didn’t have time for a photo, but we spotted a couple more turkeys further down the trail…

 

There were some non-avian critters out and about as well, getting down to the serious  business of spring…

 

 

I admit it, we were captivated by all of this wildlife, as each critter mostly went about its business without a second thought to our inconsequential presence so nearby.  But we were also captivated by signs that the many dull shades of winter are, at long last, giving way to the vibrant colors of spring and summer.

 

 

On another note, I do find it interesting, and a bit puzzling, when I pass people on the trail with earphones plugged firmly in their ears.  I love music, and used to jog with earphones so I could run in time to the beat of my favorite songs.  But if I could be so bold as to make a recommendation… if you are planning on taking a walk in nature, try to forego the music, at least once.  Nature has an infinite variety of songs she’ll play for you if you listen.  Today, along with all of the myriad bird calls and songs, we were treated to the music of trickling water, the splash of the muskrat sliding into a pond, the rhythmic squeaking of the squirrel gnawing on its walnut, and the joyous cacophony of Spring Peepers!

Happy Earth Day!  Today was a beautiful day here in Minnesota, and after the blizzard we were dealt last weekend, this weather is very welcome indeed!

As it happens, today was my day to care for the raptors at a nearby nature center, so the walks we took were with a Merlin, a Red-tailed Hawk, and a Barred Owl.  Each bird enjoyed a walk of 30-45 minutes (well, my husband and I walked…the birds got a free ride on my wrist!) – the total distance for us was a little over 2 miles.  During those walks we visited a lakeshore, some prairie, and quite a bit of woodland.  Over the trails we did have to deal with some muddy patches, but overall things have begun to dry out very nicely over the last few days, so it was pretty easy going.  Everywhere we walked we were greeted with signs of spring…finally!

It was an especially good day for birding.  We were excited to spot some of the migrants that had been delayed by last week’s blizzard, or were caught up in it.  We saw Tree Swallows, American Robins, Fox Sparrows, American White Pelicans circling overhead, Sandhill Cranes, Ospreys, a Great Blue Heron, and American Kestrels, along with some of the usual sightings like Red-tailed Hawks, Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Canada Geese, a Bald Eagle, and several species of woodpeckers.

Overall it was just lovely to be out enjoying our first really warm day of the season, and it was a perfect Earth Day!  After our walks my husband, Mark, and I met my mother for dinner, and we discussed some of the ways folks are reducing the use of plastics, such as foregoing plastic straws, bringing  reusable tote bags for groceries rather than accepting plastic bags, using  containers from home for restaurant leftovers.  One of the most obvious causes of plastic waste buildup is disposable plastic water bottles, it seems I see them everywhere!  Instead, I recommend buying a permanent (reusable) water bottle and keeping it filled yourself.  There are so many ways in which we can help ease the stresses on the environment, and quite a few can be found in the links I supplied on my Earth Day 2018 page – the page can be accessed here, or in the drop-down menu off the Trail Markers tab.  I will leave this page up, since I do believe it should be Earth Day Every Day!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed Earth Day, whether you got involved in an event, a roadside cleanup, or just got out and did some forest wandering of your own!

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” – Rachel Carson

For those who might not be aware of this, the upper Midwest, as well as other areas of the U.S., are experiencing some unusually wintery weather.  As I understand it, our area is getting record-breaking snowfall right now.  With this in mind, I will likely not be going out on any walks in the next few days.  (I do have to say, though, that I have recently become highly motivated to purchase a pair of snowshoes before next winter!)  Just to share our wintery good fortune with you, below is a photo of some snow drifts building up beside our house, taken this afternoon…and it’s still snowing.  Welcome to spring in Minnesota!

Even though I won’t be taking any significant walks during most of the upcoming week, I do want to mention that Earth Day is coming up next weekend.  The official date for Earth Day is the 22nd of April, which is a Sunday.  There are so many ways to celebrate Earth Day, including taking a walk in nature (if weather allows), let your imagination lead you!

I’ve added a tab under Trail Markers specifically for this year’s Earth Day celebrations, listing some of the events going on in the Twin Cities area.  The page can also be accessed here.  I’m sure there are many more activities and events beyond those I’ve listed on this site.  Note that many of the activities listed are scheduled for Saturday rather than Sunday, and some are scheduled during the week.

Whether you attend a scheduled event, take a walk in the woods, or come up with an innovative way of celebrating that is uniquely you, I hope you have a memorable and enjoyable Earth Day!

Well, due to a combination of yet more snowy weather and a busy schedule, I haven’t been able to get out and about on the trails until today.  To add insult to injury, another large snowstorm is headed our way in a few days  ((sigh))  Like many of my Minnesota friends and neighbors, I’m itching for spring to actually arrive…this long, drawn-out winter is starting to get a little trying!

Today was cloudy, but relatively warm (almost 50 degrees), and my husband Mark and I were able to fit in a short wander.  This time I chose a trail that offered a little nostalgia and historical education, as well as some quality time in the open air.

My maternal grandfather was born and raised in Mound, Minnesota, where, as it happens, the Andrews Sisters were also born and spent their summers when they were young.  My grandfather not only knew the sisters, but would roller-skate with them – I always enjoyed listening to the stories of his youth.  For those who aren’t familiar with the Andrews Sisters, I recommend doing an internet search and listening to some of their music.  They recorded their songs many decades ago (they are strongly associated with the WWII era and it is considered that they gave more USO performances than anyone except Bob Hope), but I guarantee you will recognize at least some of their songs!  About 10 years ago Mound built a path along the Lake Minnetonka shoreline dedicated to the Andrews Sisters and called it, appropriately enough, The Andrews Sisters Trail.

I believe I mentioned this was just a short stroll, about a mile total, to be exact.  But as it follows the lakeshore it was quite lovely.  Much of the trail is bordered on the inland side by a series of rain gardens.  Some say rain gardens are more trouble than they’re worth, but I couldn’t disagree more.  In fact, I’m not really sure what folks mean when they say that, as I’ve heard of well-planned perennial gardens that largely look after themselves once established, as Mark’s and mine does.  A rain garden is designed to collect water running off roads, driveways, roofs, sidewalks, parking lots, and green spaces that have potentially been treated by chemicals.  The water which pools in the rain garden then filters into the soil, effectively breaking down the impurities and pollutants, rather than allowing it to drain directly into our waterways.  In my opinion, these gardens are as much of a tribute to the Andrews Sisters as the trail built in their honor, as it helps to maintain the lake their beloved childhood home is nestled on.

Yes, this was only a short walk, but we really did enjoy learning more about the Andrews Sisters, exploring the trail dedicated to them, and we enjoyed the walk itself…for the most part.  As I said before, this seemingly never-ending winter is putting a lot of people on edge around here.  Although, in actuality, it’s not just people being impacted.  I think these Canada Geese are a little confused, wondering where all the open water is…

At least they have a Private Dock…