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Spring
2005 Phenology by Naturalist Jim Gilbert
March
1
Declaring their territories, Northern Cardinals whistle
loud and clear.
6 First day we reach 60 degrees this year. Smells
like spring; a wet, earthy smell. In the Twin Cities area,
land is approximately 90 percent snow-free. Up north, between
Finland and Grand Marais three feet of snow covers the ground.
Canada Geese are returning and Great Horned Owls are busy
feeding their nestlings. Red-tailed Hawks are beginning
to build nests.
8 Red-winged Blackbirds are heard singing in
Rollingstone; a sure sign of spring.
12 Saw first woodchuck above ground
16 First American Woodcock sighted. Our snowfall
total in the Twin Cities area is only 20” of snow
so far in 2004/2005 winter.
17 Lake Superior Shipping Season begins: first
vessel left Superior Harbor today.
18 First migrating American Robins return. Largest
snowfall of season in southern Minnesota: 5.3” in
Chanhassen, 8” in Mankato, 16.8” in Rochester,
21” in Kiester and 24” in Lyle.
21 First crocuses blooming.
23 First Wood Ducks return
26 First Song Sparrows
28 Twin Cities golf courses open. Tugs and barges
out on the Mississippi .
29 Air temperature hits 70 degrees, first Eastern
Phoebe arrive.
31 Chorus Frogs, also called Swamp Cricket Frogs,
begin calling.
April
3
Silver Maple trees blooming. South-facing slopes
are showing green grass. Female Canada Geese incubating
eggs and Wood Frogs begin calling.
5 Tundra Swans are migrating through.
6 Ice-out date for both Lake Calhoun and Lake
Harriett in Minneapolis
8 Lawn-mowing begins here at Gustavus Adolphus
College in St. Peter.
9 Official ice-out date for Lake Minnetonka.
First pelicans back on Lake Waconia and Tree Swallows are
checking out nesting boxes.
10 Magnolia trees and forsythia shrubs blooming nicely.
First leaves out on the Common Purple Lilacs.
15 Field work begins on Carver County farms.
17 Pulled the first Rhubarb for sauce. First Yellow-headed
Blackbirds arrive.
18 First 80 degree day of the year. Warmth encouraged
leaves to pop out on Red and Bur Oaks, Basswood and Sugar
Maple trees.
22 Sighted the first House Wren of the spring
24 Wild Plums, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are
all blooming
27 Birdbath iced this morning
29 Purple Lilacs are blooming
30 Crabapples are blooming
May
1 Windy,
cold day with some snow showers. American Robins eggs have
begun hatching.
3 Frosty and 29 degrees this morning. Sighted
first Canada Goose goslings. At Nerstrand Big Woods State
Park, 18 species of wildflowers are blooming.
4 High of 66 degrees today. That’s the
warmest we’ve had since April 19. Sighted first Baltimore
Oriole.
5 First Ruby-throated Hummingbird sighted and
first Common Tree Frogs heard calling
6 Big influx of Purple Martins.
11 Morel Mushrooms have risen
13 Bobolinks are here
14 Minnesota’s Fishing Opener; water on Lake
Waconia is 53 degrees F, walleye are biting
15 First White-tail Deer fawn. Barn Swallows are gathering
mud and constructing nests.
18 Peak of warbler migration, 21 species seen
21 Indigo Buntings are visiting feeders
24 Time to enjoy the fragrance of Lily-of-the Valley.
First Monarch Butterfly arrived. Common Grackles are fledged
already.
29 Eastern Cottonwood Trees are shedding their seeds
31 High of 70 degree today; the Twin Cities didn’t
hit 80 degrees during the month of May.
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