Observations

Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula sighting

Submitted by Val on Sun, 12/27/2009 - 3:43pm
Location: 
CR7, CR13, west of Grand Marais
Date: 
12/27/2009
Description: 

We have a hawk owl in our yard.  Range is the boreal forest of North America  with irruptions of Juveniles to the South.  Diurnal hunters.  S/he's been watching the chickadees for about the past 15 minutes. 

 

Hummers

Submitted by sommers@boreal.org on Sun, 05/10/2009 - 10:57am
Location: 
Schroeder
Date: 
05/09/2009
Description: 

The Hummingbirds are in Schroeder!

First Robins

Submitted by admin on Thu, 04/16/2009 - 11:30am
Location: 
Lutsen
Date: 
04/12/2009
Description: 

Saw our first pair of robins of the spring!

Look for snow fleas gathering at the base of trees on sunny days in February and March.

Submitted by persons@boreal.org on Tue, 02/05/2008 - 3:20pm
Location: 
Cook County
Date: 
02/04/2008
Description: 

On a warm, sunny winter day, take a look at the base of a tree where the snow may have melted down to expose some leaves, or where the snow is shallow or hollowed out just a bit. There you'll find a sprinkling of what looks like "pepper" or "ashes" on the surface of the snow. Each speck you see is a snow flea. Once you find them, watch closely and see what they're up to. Snow fleas are actually tiny insects which come out on warm, sunny days to eat decayed plant material or sap oozing from the tree. They hop around acting like fleas and that's where they get their name, snow "fleas." They're not fleas though, but actually an arthropod called Collembola (kol-LEM-bo-la) or commonly called springtails which measure about 1/8 inch (2mm) long. They have a very unique catapult system to get around. Two "tails" on their back end are tucked up underneath their belly, held in place by tiny "hooks." When the springtail wants to move, they just release the spring-loaded "tails," called furcula, which hit the snow and send them flying into the air. Since snow fleas can't conrol their flight or direction, they frequently land in the same spot or only a few inches away.

the mosquitoes have lost there fur coat and summer must be here soon

Submitted by landl@boreal.org on Wed, 06/06/2007 - 8:22pm
Location: 
poplar river to cascade river
Date: 
06/06/2007
Description: 

i sighted several mosquitos that were without there fur coats last monday, just hike into the nearest brush and give it a shake your bound to find one or more.

Monarch's Are Here!

Submitted by yurtboyz@boreal.org on Fri, 05/25/2007 - 7:36am
Location: 
Good Harbor Hill area
Date: 
05/25/2007
Description: 

On Wednesday, May 23 several Monarch butterflies were seen flying along Cty Rd 42. Confirmed that they are not Viceroy butterflies. Welcome back!

American Three-toed Woodpecker

Submitted by sue@boreal.org on Fri, 11/24/2006 - 9:25am
Location: 
On the Superior Hiking Trail, between FS 158 and Cook County 6 (About 1 mile, approximately, from FS 158).
Date: 
11/24/2006
Description: 

American Three-toed Woodpecker.