Season Watch Newsletter: 3/17/2023

This week, we look forward to summer pollinators, laugh at the misfortunes of a grouse, and enjoy the arrival of spring migrators!

FEATURE: Native Pollinator Decline

Mark Jacobs, creator of the Local Forest History, Forests and Carbon, and Bird Decline series, is back at it again. This time, the focus is on Native Pollinators! Our first guest is Rebeca Gutierrez-Moreno, the State Pollinator Coordinator with the Environmental Quality Board. The conversation covers how many species of bees are in Minnesota (make a guess, then check the asterisk*), the importance of small individual efforts, and how landowners (or apartment-renters!) can help.

Listen in!

*Four hundred and ninety species of bees in Minnesota alone! For comparison, there are only 84 mammal species in the state.

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STUDENT AND LISTENER REPORTS

Ever wonder whether cold weather affects classroom attendance? Our TrekNorth phenology students have the answer! Meanwhile, the kids in Northfield are seeing Sandhill Cranes, Pequot Lakes students are basking in the warming sun, and male pheasants are running around in Waubun.

Hear their voices!

JOHN LATIMER'S WEEKLY REPORT

I hope you enjoy our beautiful new article layout, courtesy of KAXE's new news director and Actual Professional Who Knows How To Write Web Stories, Chelsey Perkins! This week, John's out pinching catkins, getting reports of concussed grouse, and mourning the arrival of new snow.

Listen to John's report!

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Can't make the workshops? Send me an email, and we'll set up a zoom meeting!

3/18/23: Phenology in the Classroom. Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul. Register here.
5/21/23: Phenology in the Classroom and on the Radio. Gathering Partners Conference, Chaska MN. Register here when the time comes. (Registration hasn't opened yet- save the date!)

SARAH'S RECOMMENDATION

I somehow went 32 years without ever seeing video of a Ruffed Grouse drumming, and I'll admit it was not what I was expecting! In my experience, grouse tend to be shy, reclusive, and exceptionally beautiful in a camouflage-chicken-but-make-it-fashion sort of way. The sound of their drumming brings memories of deep forests and peaceful walks: The sight of their drumming, on the other hand, makes me think of a drunkenly belligerent dude in a bar. They exude "come at me bro" energy- not what I'd expect from this reclusive bird!

Enjoy!

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), ruler of swamps and shatterer of eardrums.

Ojibwe: asiginaak

Go deduce a species of spruce!

Northern Community Radio

KAXE/KBXE

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Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.