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After The Leaves Fall: A November Phenology Report
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November brings both the thrilling ramp-up and the quiet close to the fall season; the riot of bright colors will begin to fade this month as deciduous trees start to stand bare, their silhouettes a stark contrast to the bright blue autumn skies. Oaks may hold onto a few curled brown leaves, rattling in the wind, while tamaracks (those unique deciduous conifers) turn a soft golden yellow before dropping their needles. In the prairies and wetlands, seed heads of big bluestem, goldenrod, and milkweed stand tall, providing late-season food and shelter for wildlife. Frost will start to settle in, as well as thin glazes of ice along the Kinnickinnic’s edge. The low angle of the sun creates blinding moments in the morning and afternoons, as night creeps in closer and closer after the end of Daylight Saving.
Mammals are busy making their final preparations for winter. Squirrels and chipmunks scurry about as they finish caching nuts and seeds, while raccoons and skunks feed heavily before entering periods of torpor. Torpor, while sometimes mistaken for hibernation, occurs as a way to conserve energy; body temperature will drop, along with metabolism and activity. You can think of it as almost a ‘short-term’ form of hibernation. Whitetail deer are in the midst of their rut, and it’s not uncommon to see bucks moving boldly through fields and forest edges at dawn or dusk. Hunting season is upon us, which brings a gentle reminder to wear bright colors as you navigate designated hunting grounds (this includes KRLT preserves). As the days shorten, songbirds such as red-winged blackbirds, orioles, and warblers have mostly migrated south, replaced by winter residents like black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.
This Fall, don’t let the early setting sun dissuade you from recreating! The season still offers plenty of ways to get outside and enjoy the shifting landscape. Crisp mornings are perfect for early birding; listen for the calls of chickadees and the soft tapping of woodpeckers echoing through leafless trees. Trails along the Kinnickinnic River invite quiet hikes among the bare branches and golden grasses, and as the first snows arrive, snowshoeing or winter hiking can reveal fresh tracks of deer, foxes, and turkeys. November’s shorter days bring a slower rhythm to nature, but the beauty of this in-between season invites reflection, intention, and a chance to witness the calm before winter fully sets in.
Happen to see something interesting during your next walk along the trails? We want to see! Send a picture to me at Jane@kinniriver.org for a chance to have your story highlighted on social media or next month's e-newsletter.
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Please Consider Making A Donation Today!
Your support provides critical financial resources to help continue KRLT's mission of protecting the beauty and health of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed.
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Summer Time Blues
For me, the summer time blues show up in mid March. I’m not talking about the doldrums of late summer, I’m talking about the cheerful and sweet Bluebird. The first scouts show up to our area around mid March. The males are scouting for a suitable nesting sites. The females will start showing up in April, with nesting activities starting after a brief courtship. Bluebirds are cavity nesters, so they are looking for nest sites, either natural or man made. That’s where I come in. I have four Bluebird trails, of which I have provided 50+ nest boxes for them to use. There are 10 nest boxes at Drewiske Preserve and I have another 15 nest boxes at Kelly Creek Preserve. I have more nest boxes in Highview Meadows, and another trail on a friend's farm, along with a few in my yard. I monitor these nest boxes and check them once a week during the nesting season, checking for nesting activity and to keep track of eggs laid, eggs hatched, and birds fledged.
Jim Higgins
St. Croix Valley Bird Club
Click here to continue reading about the Bluebirds
| | Check out Explorer Jane and Molly's adventure to The Community Forest last year. They learned about the different trees you and find while visiting The Community Forest Nature Preserve with the help of Kevyn Juneau! | | |
Last August, we received a 50/50 cost-share grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Forest Landowner Grant Program. The grant pays for control of woody invasive plant species such as buckthorn, box elder, amur maple, and honeysuckle. The KRLT contracted invasive species control services from Zumbro Valley Forestry LLC. Earlier this year, Zumbro Valley crews conducted the first treatment, which girdled or cut and treated all standing invasives over one inch in diameter. This October, Zumbro Valley crews completed a follow-up treatment that focused on small plants with a foliar application. This grant has allowed us to bring woody invasive species under control on the Preserve.
At Headwater’s, we have completed all site preparation for prairie restoration on the 29.5 acres previously in a pine plantation. The last spraying for weed control occurred in October. Habitat Creations LLC has been conducting the work and has ordered and received the prairie seed. Frost seed planting will occur before the end of the year!
With recent approval to proceed from the Board of Directors, staff are continuing work on a 143-acre conservation easement on the headwaters of the South Fork and Rocky Branch. We have a landowner who is interested in protecting their 143-acre farm, most of which has already been restored to woodland, grassland, and native prairies. We are currently working on developing survey maps and legal descriptions, along with draft easement language. Hope to have this one completed by this spring.
Conservation Easement monitoring took place in September and October. We currently have 40 conservation easements and 4 preserves. Glad to report we had 100 percent compliance for the second year in a row!
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KRLT Work Parties
As the weather shifts, KRLT is tentatively planning multiple work parties at the Headwaters and Kelly Creek Nature Preserve during the winter months. You can stay connected on these upcoming opportunities by visiting our website in the events page or through our Facebook page. If you are interested in being added to our volunteer email list, please reach out to Molly Barritt-Luebke at molly@kinniriver.org.
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Drinking Water Program
Community Development and Public Health in St. Croix County are collaborating to learn more about drinking water quality in the County.
You can learn more about the program by clicking here. Through this program, they are conducting a survey to better understand how residents view and use local water resources. If you are a St. Croix County resident and interested in providing feedback, you can do so by clicking here.
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In October, we celebrated the second annual Nature Fest! This year was filled with wonderful memories and thoughtful connections with the community. We would like to thank all who made it possible, including the event sponsors, volunteers, local organizations, and attendees, for helping to make it a fantastic day!
You can watch a recap of the event by clicking here! Don't forget to mark your calendars for next year's Nature Fest on Saturday, October 3rd at the beautiful Green Pastures Family Farm in River Falls, WI.
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It's hard to believe that we are already moving toward the end of the year! I would like to express heartfelt gratitude for your support in 2025. It was an exciting year filled with new connections, conservation successes, environmental education, community, and endless brainstorming of what is possible at the KRLT. All because of your generosity as members.
In these final months of the year, we need your help to head into 2026 financially strong and ready to continue the momentum of 2025. Please consider making an annual contribution by renewing your membership, becoming a new member, or, if able to, making an additional gift this year. With your support, the Kinnickinnic River and communities surrounding it can thrive.
If you know someone who is passionate about the Kinnickinnic River watershed, invite them to become a member. With each new member, our community connections grow stronger, enabling us to make an even greater impact in protecting the Kinnickinnic River and connecting people to it. For more information about memberships, click here!
Have questions about KRLT Memberships or ways to support KRLT? Give me a call at 715-301-0753.
Together, we can protect the Kinni,
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Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
Business Members
| | The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that works with the community to conserve and protect the beauty and health of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed. | | | | |
