Long Lake Conservation Center Homepage

News From Nature at Long Lake

2001 Phenology
December 2001
12.31.01
Pam and Dave report sighting a robin hanging out in Palisade, eating their crab apples. Isn't he cold?
A snowy owl is perched on a utility pole at the corner of 169 and 200.
12.30.01
Three dozen or more evening and rose-breasted grosbeaks are seen in northern Aitkin County.
 
12.27.01
1p.m. A bald eagle is soaring over LLCC's parking lot.
 
12.26.01
A bald eagle and a snowy owl are seen near CR 5 on the way to Palisade.
 
12.23-24.01
About 5 inches of snow falls, just in time to bring us a white Christmas!
 
12.20.01
Britt sees a pileated wood pecker outside her house.
 
12.19.0
11:30 p.m. A bald eagle is circling over Long Lake.
 
12.18.01
5:45 a.m. A red fox is seen across Cty Rd 5 just off CR 88.
2:20 p.m. A HUGE bald eagle lands on a pine tree, north Hwy 169.
 
12.17.01
Open water is still visible in some lakes.
Students saw a shooting star while on the Night Trek.
Bob and Lee from Barton saw a deer on the orienteering field in early evening.
10 a.m. Pam and Anne watched an ermine scurry across the yard between the office and the lake. Its white fur was very easy to see against the bare ground. "But I thought I was camouflaged!"
 
12.15.01
6:45 p.m. Kevin nearly hits a red-tailed hawk on Hwy 210.
2:30 p.m. A barred owl is seen in a pine tree in northern Aitkin County.
 
12.14.01
1 p.m. A-nd thirty redpolls at the this-tle feed-er!
 
12.12.01
Bob hears the distinctive cry of ravens. Eight of them are engrossed in eating something on the ice at the south side of the lake.
A mature bald eagle perches in a tree off Hwy 3, Aitkin.
10:10 pm. Two foxes visit the bird feeder at night.
Red-belly woodpecker is feeding at suet, northern Aitkin County.
 
12.11.01
A mature bald eagle is seen over Pickerel Lake, west of Aitkin.
The interns and Bob are thrilled by a meteor shower while stargazing.
Vanna versus a bluejay, a showdown at the compost pile.
 
12.10.01
Signs of the season: a Sardinian cooking fantastic food in the intern apartment sets off the fire alarm. This is beginning to be an annual event.
Keith measures 3 inches of ice on Long Lake.
Britt and Adam follow a fox down County Road 3.
Angelo and Schwampy see an immature bald eagle flying over Hwy 210 west of Cedar Lake.
 
12.08.01
Two female pine grosbeaks find their way to Pam's birdfeeder.
 
12.06.01
An overnight low of 22 degrees refreezes Long Lake as well as the water puddles on campus.
 
12.05.01
A.M. Holy heatwave, Batman! High temperature records fall even before sunrise in many southern Minnesota cities. MSP hits 65 degrees by mid-morning. Duluth sets record as well.
A.M. Pouring rain gives way to thick fog. The overnight rain (? amount) has covered the lake ice in water.
Millie finds a night crawler ambling across a campus walkway.
12:10 p.m. A cold front broadsides the warm air mass already here. A sudden wind blasts the fog off the lake in one powerful gust. Strange weather we're having! Strong NW winds buffet the state well into the night.
 
12.04.01
A.M. Wow! Is it ever foggy! Warm, moist Gulf air sits on the snow pack and whites out everything.
Is the lake frozen, or not? A layer of water on the ice around noon gives the impression that the lake has thawed. By 4 p.m., however, the ice is back.
 
12.02.01
A southeast wind is bringing HEAT to northern Minnesota! Turn it off!!
The snow is shrinking back. Temperatures well above freezing make for sloppy trails.
 
12.01.01
A large flock of evening grosbeaks and redpolls (12+)
November 2001
11.30.01
Light snow falls off and on throughout the day.
 
11.29.01
It's official! Long Lake is finally frozen.
Snow measurements have now reached 9.5 inches.
 
11.28.01
Rene sees a snowshoe hare scamper into the woodpile.
A snow bunting makes an appearance for Britt and Schwampy.
Ice is advancing on Long Lake; the narrows are frozen now.
A.M. Final snow tally for the storm is 8 inches at LLCC.
5 p.m. Snow begins to fall again. 1 to 3 inches expected by morning.
 
11.27.01
LLCC is on the edge of the band of heavy snow that has buried most of Minnesota. Six inches falls at LLCC. SW MN claims a foot plus; up to 15" in Gilmar (NE of St. Cloud). MSP airport reports only 3 inches.
9:30 a.m. Moderately strong winds continue out of the northeast, and snow continues to fall.
A cardinal stands out in snow at Carlson's.
 
11.26.01
Snow, snow, and more snow! Finally!
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend wraps up with storm warnings and dire predictions of 8" to 12" of snow in swath from SW Minnesota through the Arrowhead.
 
11.25.01
It's official. . . November 2001 is the warmest November on record! (No matter how cold it may get this week.) All kinds of records fall: high highs, high lows, consecutive above average days, etc. So, let's talk again about this global warming thing. . . .
 
11.24.01
Flying squirrels are seen at the bird feeder at Britt's house.
Rain falls statewide. LLCC receives 1.00" (right on the nose). Perfect time for the ground to absorb moisture before freezing.
 
11.23.01
Foggy! ('nuf said.)
 
11.22.01
A flock of cedar waxwings (50, give or take) makes short work of crab apples at Pam and Dave's place. Happy Thanksgiving!
 
11.21.01
Water in the ditches along Hwy. 210 is frozen, and more ice encroaches on Long Lake. The goose flock is gone. See you next spring!
 
11.20.01
8 a.m. Chilly morning: 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The first ice is visible on the south shore of Long Lake and out in the narrows.
A.M. Britt and Barb took a canoe into the water and flushed the geese. Quite the racket! Will they be back, or will they take the hint?
4:30 p.m. About twenty of the geese have returned, after being gone most of the day.
 
11.19.01
Schwampy hears a flock of tundra swans pass overhead. They are not visible, but the stars blink as the swans "eclipse" them.
 
Sunset: on Long Lake this evening are three (one female and two males) ring-billed ducks, four hooded mergansers, and up to 150 Canada geese, both greater and lesser. We've never seen ring-billed ducks pass this way before; they are known to like "bigger water."
 
11.18.01
Cold front pushes through with light rain showers.
Early again! Clouds move into obscure the Leonid meteor shower. Only the brightest streaks show through the cloud cover. (In 45 minutes of watching near Aitkin, two meteors are bright enough to leave a long, glowing streak.)
 
11.17.01
3:30 a.m. Way early! Earth begins plowing through the Temple-Tuttle debris field.
Wow--what a day! The temperature reaches 60 degrees F before 10:30 a.m. 68 degrees F at LLCC. . . a record 72 degrees in Minneapolis. In fact, several records were set today. The most significant is 21 consecutive days of above-normal temperatures. (Last year on this day the lake was frozen and there was a dusting of snow on the ground.)
 
11.16.01
More heat and even some humidity--dew point nudges 58.
 
11.15.01
Really, really , really warm and beautiful weather.
Nearly 200 geese and 4 "hoodies" are on Long Lake.
A butterfly is flitting about the School House.
 
11.14.01
Fog, fog, fog! THICK fog at 4:30 a.m.
Saw a leopard frog near the shore of Long Lake.
Speaking of records. . . the first twelve days of November have been the warmest in 131 years. (More to come?)
 
11.13.01
8:45 a.m. A scruffy-looking, mature bald eagle (maybe he was out in the rain all night?) was perched in a low tree along Co.Rd. 5.
Early fog burns off to reveal another clear blue sky. The day is unseasonably warm.
 
11.12.01
11:30 a.m. An otter, swimming across the western/campus end of Long Lake, causes the flock of Canada geese to retreat. The otter occasionally dives and comes to the surface munching something.
 
11.10.01
The Wayzata Quilters find LLCC's resident porcupine at home in his den.
 
11.08.01
A large flock of Canada geese--more than 100 birds--have settled on Long Lake. The last flock to stop by was at least a week ago. Several hooded mergansers are also visible on the northeast side of the lake. One of the geese occasionally breaks away from the flock and flies over campus or grazes above the beach.
 
11.07.01
11:30 a.m. A bald eagle soared circles high over Hwy 210/169 just east of Aitkin.
Overcast and chilly, with cold, misty rain in late afternoon.
 
11.06.01
Aitkin County students tested the water of Long Lake for dissolved oxygen as a part of their Environmental Education Days. The average result was 12 mg/ml DO.
It is the second of two pleasant, sunny days, with temperatures in the mid-60s pushing 70.
Record highs for Minnesota over the weekend.
 
11.05.01
8 to 10 p.m. The interns enjoy a fantastic display of Northern Lights, as well as a beautiful moon and stars over the lake.
 
11.03.01
9:45 p.m. Three foxes came to Chris' bird feeder.
October 2001
10.30.01
9 p.m. Millie found a blue-spotted salamander in the dorms. He is currently residing in the intern apartment being nursed back to health. He's called Larry.
 
10.30.01
1:30 p.m. Three hooded mergansers are floating and diving in the lake, very close to the beach. (They may as well dive; it's raining anyway.)
10 a.m. Anne watches a barred owl fly through the woods south of the North Star Lodge.
A.M. Pat, Laura, and Armatage KP-ers see a black squirrel outside the Dining Hall.
 
10.28.01
A small flock of snow buntings was gathered 4 miles north of Aitkin.
 
10.27.01
Millie sees two bald eagles on her way to work.
 
10.26.01
A small amount of snow still sticks in shady areas covered by fallen leaves, and occasional snow flurries are falling today.

10.24.01
A.M. Snow covers the ground for the first time this season!
(The Fargo-Moorhead area is seriously slowed down by a blizzard.)
 
10.23.01
A.M. Dense fog for the morning drive between LLCC and Aitkin.
P.M. Wilderness meal groups discover a garter snake under a log.
2:30 p.m. St. Michael-Albertville CCC group saw two mature bald eagles and one immature.
8 p.m. Two buck deer were heard snorting during Night Trek.

10.22.01
12 a.m. Severe thunderstorms swing low over LLCC. The intern apartment shakes with thunder as the center takes a direct hit.
10.20.01
9 p.m. At least 9 deer are grazing in small clusters between the North Star Lodge and the Dining Hall. Most stand very still and wait as human passers-by stay on campus paths. A few snort and bound away.

10.18.01
A.M. By the School House, a doe shrugs off twin fawns trying to nurse.
 
10.16.01
3 a.m. A lot of coyotes are heard barking and howling behind the North Star Lodge.
 
10.15.01
7 a.m. 25 white-tailed deer are in Pat's field. Later, a red-tailed hawk puts in an appearance.
 
10.11.01
9 p.m. Rene, Laura, and Mollie see faint Northern Lights!
 
10.07.01
Large flocks of robins and yellow-rumped warblers move through in the p.m.
Another chilly night: 27 degrees F. Daytime temperatures, however, rebound to 60 degrees.
 
10.06.01
An overnight low at LLCC of 26 degrees. Embarrass and Orr both sink to 19 degrees.
 
10.05.01
Snow!! At 1:32 p.m., we see a few very light flakes--the first of the season.
 
10.03.01
5 p.m. Tagged and released a female monarch butterfly.
Wood ducks are resting on Long Lake while passing through.
 
10.02.01
Temperatures contrast widely within the state: International Falls is at 48 degrees Fahrenheit, while Montevideo is at 91 degrees!
And. . . here comes the first major blast of cold air.
 
10.01.01
A.M. Heavy fog this morning burns off to reveal peak autumn colors.
2:35 p.m. Two large eagles are feeding on roadkill on Hwy. 3.
 
September 2001
09.30.01
White-throated and chipping sparrows are moving through our "neighborhood."
 
09.29.01
8:30 p.m. Wind picks up and blows in clouds, keeping the night warm.
 
09.28.01
A kingfisher is perched on a dead stump in the lake.
 
09.27.01
A mink crosses that beach during Wilderness Meal.
Mourning cloak butterflies are flitting about.
This is yet another Chamber of Commerce Day.
 
09.26.01
A pair of pie-billed grebes is resting and feeding on Long Lake.
 
09.26.01
It's official--Indian summer has arrived! Spectacular weather!
 
09.25.01
Another clear, cold, and frosty dawn; low temperature 28 degrees F.
 
09.24.01
LLCC wakes up to the first hard frost of the autumn. In addition to roofs and gardens glazed with frost, the Schwaderer's bird bath was iced over and a blue jay unsuccessfully tried to splash in the Carlson's bird bath. Temperatures down to 26 degrees Fahrenheit were reported.
A female flicker is feeding on the ground between the office and the lake.
A wooly bear caterpillar is crossing Co.Rd. 88.
 
09.23.01
A hummingbird is reported at Goodland, MN, forty miles north of LLCC.
 
09.22.01
The autumnal equinox treats us to a golden sunrise.
 
09.21.01
"Billions and billions" of bluejays are preying on hapless acorns.
A large flock of snow geese lands on Long Lake at sunset.
 
09.20.01
After more than a week of clouds and rain (0.54" total), the sky finally clears and stars shine brightly.
 
09.19.01
How long have we gone without sun? Some have said since the tragic attacks on the east coast. Today a brief hour of sun and blue sky was followed by a quick and strong rain shower.
P.M. On the bog walk, the red group spotted a huge garter snake that was 3 feet long and the diameter of a silver dollar!
09.18.01
Bracken ferns are turning bright orange and red all along the lake.
 
09.17.01
5:45 a.m. A red fox is seen on LLCC's road.
 
09.16.01
Flickers are flitting about on LLCC's campus.
The last hummingbird of the summer (?) seeks a pollen snack from Carolyn's flowers.
 
09.14.01
An osprey circles close to the office, checking out Vanna Red (the Schwaderer's dog).
 
09.12.01
The interns found a beautifully-colored northern red bellied snake.
Another flock of sandhill cranes (12) flies over Long Lake at high noon.
 
09.11.01
Black ash trees are in full color. They're the yellow ones.
 
09.10.01
Immature hummers are gone too.
 
09.05.01
Chris saw a bear cub by the Marcum House.
 
09.04.01
Robins and blue jays are coming through in waves.
 
09.03.01
A turkey vulture sails over the North Star Lodge so close Schwampy could see its red eye.
9 a.m. Three deer were standing in the bus parking lot, one fawn with spots.
Three sandhill cranes circle and call over Long Lake.
 
09.02.01
More than a hundred Canada geese are resting on Long Lake.
A very early full harvest moon rises tonight.
 
09.01.01
Around 7 pm, close to 50 greater Canada geese flew northwest over Long Lake, passing almost directly over the beach. A few minutes behind them, a single great blue heron circled the lake shore. A few minutes behind him, almost 30 lesser Canada geese passed over.
August 2001
08.31.01
A definite fall feel is in the air this morning. The temperatures fell to the mid-40s and upper-30s overnight.
Morning fog is outlining numerous spiderwebs in the fields.
A pair of pie-billed grebes is sitting out on Long Lake.
A.M. A great blue heron is standing on the swimming raft at the Long Lake shore.
 
08.29.01
Adult ruby-throated hummingbirds have left for Central America. Bye bye!
08.28.01
Roadkill seems to be proliferating (is proliferating an appropriate word?) on the highway these days. . . skunks, raccoons, and groundhogs.
Acorns fragments, shells, and caps crunch underfoot on the walkways in front of the lab. Chipmunks and squirrels have been busy.
 
08.22.01
A flock of nighthawks is near Turner Lake.
 
08.20.01
A sandpiper is on the shore of Long Lake.
 
08.17.01
Significant rainstorm drops 2.2" of rain on LLCC's campus.
 
08.15.01
Monarchs are on the move. The LLCC naturalist staff released their first tagged monarch today.
Maples branches outside the School House and Dining Hall are beginning to show early fall color; a few popples are just starting to fade to gold. One maple sapling out the windows of the dining room is already decked out in red and yellow.
Big-toothed aspen (P. grandidentata) and basswood (T. americana) are getting yellow. Also, the basswoods are full of fruit.
Acorns are raining (hailing?) down from red oaks (Q. borealis).
Night hawks were observed migrating south, pushed along by a major cold front.
Gray squirrels are zooming about more actively on campus than in the past weeks.
4:30 pm, a thunderstorm appears abruptly, seemingly out of nowhere, and passes in an hour.
 
08.13.01
Hands down, today is the nicest day of the summer, a counselor claims.
 
08.10.01
The Boundary Waters crews return to civilization and eventually to LLCC, observing a duck with surprisingly small ducklings near the last channel toward the Lake One landing.
 
08.09.01
First white underwing moth found at light.
Cool and partly cloudy at LLCC.
A serious wind from the northwest greets BWCA canoeists on an otherwise beautiful and much cooler day. One group watches a bald eagle float motionless facing the gale.
 
08.08.01
Hot, with a sprinkle at LLCC around 5 pm. Then it turned cooler.
Crews in the BWCA get hit with a significant storm in early evening, with fierce wind gusts and heavy lightning and thunder. Rain in the evening is light, and a rainbow appears near sunset. Overnight, however, three storms follow dropping at least an inch, possibly two, of rain.
 
08.07.01
Very early a.m. (late night) caught a giant water bug.
Josh observes that there are markedly fewer lepidoptera now than in early and mid-July. The most noticeable decline has been in the past two weeks. The full moon could be the cause of fewer being seen at night, though red admirals and poplar sphinx moths are rarer now.
On the other hand, monarchs are increasing.
Meanwhile, on Rifle Lake in the BWCA, Anne watches as a dragonfly nabs a black swallowtail in midair. After settling on a spruce branch, the dragonfly's jaws work steadily away at the butterfly's abdomen, and the butterfly eventually stops fluttering.
 
08.06.01
Hot and humid again.
 
08.05.01
A hot and very humid day, with temperatures more than 90 degrees F. Crews sweat as they prepare for the Boundary Waters trip by hauling canoes and sorting gear. (Please drink lots of water!) Who wants to pack a sleeping bag in this heat?
 
08.03.01
10:30 a.m. A humming bird hovers briefly outside Anne's window in the office.
 
08.01.01
A maple along 210, just west of Co.Rd.5 is waving the red flag on one whole branch, the first signs of fall color that we've seen. Can it be that fall is approaching already?
 
More heat and humidity in the morning, which breaks near noon with a "cold front," which turns out to be a "still hot but significantly less humid" front.
July 2001
07.31.01
Hot and humid again; thunderstorms at night. Heat indices all over the state break 100 degrees F. southern MN sees a 110 degree heat index; LLCC area is 103-104. Counselors work hard to keep campers full of water and taking it easy.
 
07.30.01
Pat sees three osprey heads near the edge of the nest along 210/169 north of Aitkin. There are possibly two young, now near fledging.
Warm and humid again; dewpoints hover over 80. Lots of condensation on dining hall floors caused by excessively humid conditions.
 
07.26.01
Cooler today. All manner of joy resounds among campers and staff that the humidity has given some relief.
 
07.25.01
Between Palisade and LLCC along Co.Rd. 5, Schwampy sees a coyote and the coyote sees Schampy.
 
07.24.01
The crested flycatchers that have been inhabiting the nest box outside the dining hall are gone, gone away.
 
07.23.01
More storms in early morning south and west of LLCC. Is cooler and drier air due? (Just ask our staff how much cool air is owed them.)
10:30 a.m. A loon flies rapidly over campus, calling along the way, but choses not to stop for a swim on Long Lake.
 
07.22.01
Yet another scorcher bakes Minnesota. . . temps in the 90s. (92 degrees at LLCC); dewpoints in the 70s. Between the two, the heat index is almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scattered storms stomp southern sections of the state.
We've now had a week of steamy weather, broken by regular thunderstorms.
 
07.21.01
Warm and muggy night, but only partly cloudy. Lots of bugs are out!
 
07.20.01
5:45 a.m. A grey owl is perched on a hay bale on Co. Rd. 5.
Three more great tiger moths are seen.
 
07.19.01
The great crested flycatchers are feeding their young in the nest box outside the Dining Hall.
Night: Josh sees a great tiger moth, the first identified here this summer.
 
07.18.01
A.M. A very foggy morning on Long Lake (despite sun and blue skies in Aitkin.)
Day: Hot and humid. . . how hot? 93 degrees!
Another wild and stormy night, with huge storms raking northern and western Minnesota. Light rain at LLCC adds to a weekly total of 1.95" so far.
Night: A red-bellied snake (smaller than ours) is found by the Dining Hall.
 
07.17.01
Night: Loud and stormy night after a scorcher of a day: 0.32" of rain.
11:45 a.m. A monarch chrysalis is getting black on top on a milkweed plant near the bus parking lot.
 
07.16.01
Late A.M. Not too mosquitoey or buggy in the woods. . . very nice!
 
07.15.01
A.M. 2 black squirrels in Chris' yard, in northern Aitkin County.
A.M. Scattered showers drop a much-needed 1.53" of rain at LLCC. After a very wet May and June, July has been bone dry.
12:20 p.m. Tiny wood frogs cover the walkways at LLCC.
 
07.14.01
Day: Some type of golden rod is in bloom between the Dining Hall and North Star Lodge.
P.M. A turkey vulture is feeding on roadkill in the Swatara area.
 
07.13.01
Night: Deer are seen almost every night on LLCC's campus.
 
07.12.01
6 a.m. An albino crow is seen 1.5 miles from Pat T's house.
2 p.m. A mature bald eagle flies across Hwy. 210 (between Hwy 169 and Co. 5)
A grouse has been struck and killed on the road.
Fireweed, wood lilies, Turk's cap lilies, milkweed, and Joe Pye weed are blooming in road ditches. Also common are yarrow, tansy, ox-eye daisies, and black-eyed Susans. Baneberry is ripening in the woods.
 
07.10.01
Day: Native orange lily (lilium michiganense) in bloom on the way to the Crow Wing River.
The Wild River Canoers depart LLCC on a beautiful day, clear skies, with temperatures expected in the low/mid 80s.
 
07.09.01
Night: identified a polyphemus moth.
Afternoon: Saw a dragonfly eating a fly by the oarhouse. (Hope it was a deer fly.)
 
07.08.01
Night: Ilia underwing moth (catocala ilia form conspicua)--freshly emerged. The first of this large genus we've seen this year.
Red admiral butterflies are particularly abundant this year. Record year according to 15+ years of observations in southwestern Wisconsin; perhaps also a record year here at LLCC.
Warm temperatures and low humidity=a "pretty nice" (Minnesota understatement for nearly perfect) summer day.
 
07.07.01
12-ish p.m. Water lilies have blossomed over the past couple days and are open all over Long Lake.
1 p.m. Saw a fawn along the white trail.
A northern pitcher plant is in full bloom on the floating bog.
 
07.06.01
Afternoon: A cloudy day. . . breezy. . . rainy. . . dragonflies are not very active. A brief storm drops 0.15" in the rain gauge.
 
07.05.01
5:30 p.m. A red fox sprinted across Co. Rd. 5 toward Wilkins Lake.
Chilly July morning: International Falls falls to a record 34 degrees, while Embarrass, Tower, Ore, and Babbit are at 27 degrees. That'll slow down the bugs.
The body of an alderfly on the walkway is being consumed and divvied up among busy red ants.
AM: Chased by a grouse in the woods--probably one with young.
Late morning: Ants have been marching around all over the walk near the Marcum House.
 
07.04.01
10:30-12 pm: A porcupine was spotted underneath the Marcum House deck for two nights in a row now.
2:30 p.m. Adult osprey spotted in nest on top of telephone pole on road outside LLCC.
Io moth (very pretty) found at light during day from previous night.
 
07.03.01
4:30 p.m. Pam watches a medium-sized black bear (last year's cub?) cross Co.Rd. 5 en route to Wilkins Lake at the end of Co.Rd 88.
6 p.m. Two great blue herons flew over Long Lake near the shoreline. Such grace!
6:30 a.m. One of Long Lake's residents, Mr. Beaver, was spotted in Long Lake taking a lily pad back to his lodge.
 
07.02-04.01
Hawk moths: apple sphinx, laurel sphinx, waved sphinx (several), big poplar sphinx (several), twin-spotted sphinx (several).
June 2001
06.20.01
Another lovely start, but with a few isolated cumulous clouds.
 
06.19.01
Nancy D's lilies are blooming; ditto for the blue flags.
Gorgeous day. Low temps and humidity, clear blue skies. This is what Minnesota summer is supposed to be like!
A pair of loons and two babies are on Hill Lake in northern Aitkin County.
 
06.18.01
Bumpy night as storms rumble through Minnesota--LLCC receives 0.40 inches. Just what we need.
Major cold front pushes through. Funnels rake east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin.
Siren, Wisconsin, is flattened. Three deaths in a nearby hotel.
 
06.17.01
Increasing humidity has mosquitos on a feeding frenzy.
 
06.15.01
3.00 inches of rain since Sunday, June 10. 5.33" for the month. Wet one, eh?
 
06.13.01
In the mid-evening, twisters hit Brainerd, damaging several homes and knocking out power.
 
06.12.01
The only dry day of the week, and a nice one for the first annual Great River Bike Ride.
 
06.11.01
6:30 a.m. Barb and Kevin saw a fawn and mama crossing the walking path.
3 p.m. Several trees in the city of Aitkin, a few on the courthouse grounds, were blown down during a thunderstorm.
 
06.08.01
A 12-inch snapping turtle tried to come into the Dining Hall. For the lasagna?
 
06.04.01
A male deer was seen along Co. Rd. 5 with new antler growth.
 
May 2001
05.30.01
Horse flies are making their first appearances.
Yellow water lilies are blooming in the lake.
A.M. A great blue heron is on the lake.
P.M. Tiger swallowtail butterflies are flying near the pathway to the Red Pine plantation.
 
05.28.01
Pair of Tr. swans are proud parents of 2 babies at the Moose Willow Wildlife Area in northern Aitkin County.
Cedar wax wings, bluebirds, and a hummingbird in an apple tree in Palisade.
Saw another monarch.
"The mosquitos are too many," says the phenology board. Fact or opinion?
Canada goose, one parent in front and one in back, with a gaggle of goslings between them, were swimming in the lake, and later walking in a row through the fields.
Large bear sighted 1/2 mile from Pat T's house.
In bloom at Savannah Portage State Park: several varieties of trillium (Trillium grandiflora), Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis), bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), star flower (Trientalis borealis), lots of purple, white, and yellow violets (Viola spp.), columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum).
 
05.27.01
Pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)is blooming in the bog.
Cotton grass (Eriophorum spissum) is blooming all over in the bog.
The first monarch butterflies are here! Eastern swallowtails, too.
Water lily (yellow) started blooming. White ones are close.
On the lake in the evening: the beaver, a great blue heron, and an osprey.
The laborador tea is in bloom in the bog.
 
05.26.01
We saw the first bat!
Gosh, what a surprise. . .more rain? 0.71 at 0800. Nearly 3.5" rain for the week.
Heaps of mayflies are hatched out at Mille Lacs.
 
05.24.01
A baby porcupine stayed around the Marcum House all night. (The kids from Cedar Island called it "Peggie.")
The first of the Water Arums--wild calla (Calla palustris) are in flower at the edge of the lake.
 
05.23.01
P.M. The Lady Slippers (Cypripedium reginae and acaule) are blooming in the bog.
Evening: A great blue heron was flying low along the Long Lake shore.
 
05.22.01
Two T. swans on Moose river on Hwy 169.
6 p.m. Briefly the rain switches to snow and slushy sleet. This is not Sardinian spring, say Giuly and Silvana!
Why won't it stop raining? 0.76 inches were in the rain gauge today, adding up to 2.14" rain since Sunday/May 20.
Reports from International Falls claim 3.5" of snow.
 
05.21.01
P.M. Heard a loon calling near Long Lake.
In the bog, the orchids are among several species blooming now.
 
05.20.01
An osprey is spotted on Long Lake.
 
05.18.01
Bog rosemary is blooming.
In the early evening, a blue heron crossed the lake several times in the course of an hour.
 
05.16.01
A June bug in May! It was spied crawling on the Dining Hall sidewalk.
More popple fuzz in the air looks like snow flurries among the leaves.
 
05.15.01
Bog laurel is blooming: little flowers and blossoms are visible everywhere in the bog.
More heat--lots more. LLCC hits 91 degrees. Minneapolis sets a record at 94.
A line of thunderstorms sweeps rapidly across Minnesota; some are severe.
LLCC measure 0.55 inches of rain.
A woodchuck is roaming casually between the School House and the office.
 
05.14.01
Poison ivy is leafing out by the oar house.
Mosquitos swarmed around the students and naturalists during evening Thicket.
6 p.m. A porcupine is sitting in the middle of the road outside the gate, gnawing on the fur of his hind leg.
Populus fluffs fill the afternoon air.
A snapping turtle crossed the path in front of the Dining Hall at 10 p.m.
Summer arrives early in Minnesota--Appleton (SW MN) reaches 90 degrees F. Minneapolis/St. Paul tops out at 95. LLCC stays relatively cool, at 82 degrees.
 
(But really, this day was quite lovely; not nearly so bad as this small phenology report would have it appear.)
 
05.13.01
Bobolinks are back north of Aitkin.
Also, yellow warblers.
Shad brush trees are blooming.
Oak trees are leafing out.
Big-toothed aspens starting.
P.M. Two huge porcupines were out behind the Marcum House.
Violets are blooming in the woods.
P.M. Three deer were grazing in the wetland behind the North Star Lodge.
First thing heard getting out of the car at LLCC in the evening: bzz zzz bzzz. Mosquitos have hatched.
 
Seen on the weekend camping trip to the North Shore, between Duluth and Sibley Peninsula (Ontario): a red fox with a small rodent in its mouth; at least four extra-large porcupines; a half-grown (yearling?) black bear; numerous white-tailed deer, looking progressively more gaunt farther north; loons on Lake Superior. At Judge Magney State Park, the campsite yielded deer, bear, and probably coyote scat; up the trail, several wolf scats. Also, an as-yet-unidentified saprophyte.
 
05.12.01
Bell worts are blooming. . . here come the mosquitos!
 
05.11.01
A.M. A beaver was swimming in the drainage ditch along Hwy 210/169 three miles east of Aitkin.
The robin's nest at the Marcum House is now empty--the eggs are gone.
A baltimore oriole is in a tree by the office.
 
05.10.01
A ruby-throated hummingbird checks out the office window.
An oriole is singing in the early AM.
Spruce trees by the office are "candling."
 
05.09.01
The kids saw two white-tailed deer during a a trek before dinner.
 
05.08.01
A red fox loped across County Rd. 5.
Two kildeer were taking a bath on the Long Lake shore in the late afternoon.
A rose-breasted grosbeak is munchin' Schwampy's sunflowers.
Wild plum trees are blossoming. Therefore, according to Schwampy, mosquitos are seven to ten days from hatching.
An oven bird is singing along the trail to CCC.
Two robin eggs are in the Marcum House nest.
A coyote is seen stalking mice on the SW edge of the "prairie," east of KKIN near Aitkin.
 
05.07.01
Weekend rains totalled 1.6". No wonder the walkways were "paved" with worms.
 
05.06.01
In the late afternoon, Silvana found two painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) beside the administrative building.
P.M. Gold finches were at Pat F's bird feeder.
Turtle egg shells were near her driveway on the county road.
10 p.m. It's rainy--plenty of earthworms have crawled ashore on the walkways.
A woodcock nest with 4 eggs has been seen in the archery range field.
 
05.05.01
In the bog, the leather leaf is blooming.
At the very edge of the bog, marsh marigolds are blooming too.
 
05.04.01
Sweet coltsfoot leaves are now growing up around its white bloom.
Saw two white-tailed deer behind the archery range during the woodcock sky dance.
 
05.02.01
Marsh marigolds blooming at edge of the bog, near boardwalk.
Students spot a red-bellied snake (about 6" long) slithering on the edge of the bog boardwalk.
 
05.01.01
A major cold front pushes through Minnesota, spawning funnels, severe storms, hail, wind, and rain. Damage in Glenville, east of Albert Lea. Local rain amounts: LLCC, 0.37 "; Hill City, 1.00". Pea-sized hail at LLCC.
Two sand hill cranes flew over the beach during morning canoe program.
Poplars have tiny, light-green, tender leaves.
A painted turtle is spied resting on a log in Long Lake.
Students find a damselfly and dragonfly nymphs (among other insects) along the edge of Long Lake during Lake Bottom Organisms.
 
04.30.01
Green herons heard and seen during canoeing lesson.
Buds on the tree twigs are active. Pussy willows, oaks, aspens and birch trees have flowers. Tiny needles are distinguishable growing up on the tamaracks in the bogs.
A yellow-headed blackbird is seen four miles north of Aitkin.
An herb with a white flower head has shown up in front of the North Star Lodge. After some dispute, it has been identified as a sweet coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus). No leaves are visible on it yet.
 
04.29.01
Immature leaves have begun to open out of the buds on bushes and shrubs.
 
04.28.01
Bluebird in Pat F's field.
9:45 a.m. A tree swallow is scoping out the nest box on sign post outside Dining Hall.
P.M. A woolly caterpillar crosses the road near the Archery Field.
During their bird hike, stampers with "Burnin' Rubber" observe the following birds: common snipe (winnowing), two pairs of wood ducks, phoebe, tree swallows, yellow-bellied sap suckers, (tapping and nest-building), many ruby-crowned kinglets, yelloe-rumped warblers, palm warbler, nashville warbler, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, goldfinch and red-winged blackbird. (Contributed by Holly Peirson)
Wood ducks, male and female, are foraging in Schwampy's yard.
 
04.27.01
Around 12 p.m. the woodchuck puts in another appearance.
Popple catkins are distending.
Pussy willows are opening.
Pussy toes are growing by the pumphouse.
 
04.26.01
2 p.m. A woodchuck is spotted behind the Energy Center.
11 p.m. Bob E. sees bats flying near the School House after Scott B's wedding shower/farewell party.
 
04.25.01
Silvana joins Schwampy on a bike ride to Palisade. Sightings include:
two goshawks near Art Goetzke's on the Mississippi River;
two separate wooly (bear) caterpillars crossing Co. Rd. 10;
three fox pups cavorting outside their den at the end of Co. Rd. 88. Also saw two turkey vultures and several killdeer, and heard a sap-sucker pecking.
 
P.M. Jessica spots a green darner dragonfly passing through the orienteering field.
 
04.24.01
Silvana and Schwampy spot a yellow-bellied sap sucker near "cook's shack."
Two sandhill cranes fly over Long Lake.
Hepaticas are blooming near the Marcum House.
Keith sets up the row boat and buoys for the canoe program.
Scott and Jessica see a kingfisher while canoeing on Long Lake.
 
04.23.01
A.M. Snow falls in big, fat flakes.
The porcupine is in its den by the bog.
Palisade and McGregor firefighters tour LLCC's campus, and a barred owl asks them, "Who cooks for y'all?" A female ruffed grouse struts for firefighters on the field by the woodpile.
 
04.22.01
Ice is out! Intern Jessica wins bragging rights for guessing the date.
8:30 a.m. A Canada goose is alone on the Lake, until a great blue heron flies over and takes his place on the northern shore.
The temperature during the day hovers around 32 degrees F. Rain is mixed generously with sleet, occasionally snow.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. 2.5 inches of wet, heavy snow hits Hill City. Bemidji gets 5 inches. McGregor gets 3 inches. Major rain, wind, rain, lightning, rain, thunder, and lots of rain.
 
04.21.01
Two loons are bobbing on Long Lake, and--what's that?--a canoe?
 
04.20.01
A wood tick is found crawling up an arm after a walk through a field.
19:00 Belted kingfisher perches on utility wires along Hwy 210 west of McGregor.
Wet day and foggy evening. . . lots of tree frogs, spring peepers, and earthworms, several blue spotted salamanders, and a predaceous diving beetle are out and about in the late evening.
The ice on Long Lake is melting very rapidly, helped along by mist. A reflection of trees is visible in water around the edges.
 
04.19.01
Swallows flying over orienteering field.
King fisher at beach area.
Wet evening--a lot of little frogs around campus, and a blue-spotted salamander.
The kids enjoyed the woodcock dance at sunset during Pat's and Jim's classes.
 
04.18.01
P.M. Heard a baby crow being fed in the trees by the orienteering field.
P.M. Saw osprey in nest on telephone pole near Aitkin.
 
04.17.01
A.M. Bald eagle is seen soaring over orienteering field.
8:30-9:30 p.m. Scott and Jessica observed and heard woodcock displays up at the archery field. Two woodcocks were in the area at the time. They also saw a fox in the archery field, and heard barred owls, peepers, and chorus frogs.
 
04.16.01
A.M. An otter collided with Barb L.'s car on Hwy 210. It looked like it was okay as it ran across the road.
 
04.16.01
LLCC wakes up to a light dusting of snow and cold winds. International Falls suffers under 5-8 inches of snow.
Meanwhile, flood warnings continue on the Mississippi, the Minnesota River and Red River begin to stabilize.
 
04.15.01
Two egrets near Grandy. Loons on a pond near Mora, and two turkey vultures soaring near Mora.
 
04.14.01
Noonish--a turkey vulture flies over the Schwaderer house. No carrion here!
Early p.m. Chorus frogs "chirruping" in water puddles just west of Fleming Town Hall.
A.M. saw 2 otters, common mergansers, hooded mergansers, and a loon on French Lake.
Two woodcock "dancing" in the usual spot near the Archery Range.
Bob E's mom got bitten by a mosquito.
Marsh marigolds sprouting up near the beginning of the bog board walk.
P.M. Frogs singing at Pat F.'s
 
04.13.01
A phoebe is calling outside the School House.
 
04.12.01
9 a.m. Brief snow flurries cause shrugs and a few grumbles at an LLCC staff meeting. Heavy rainfall in the past few days has exacerbated moderate flood conditions in the Aitkin County area.
 
04.11.01
A.M. A group partaking in a helicopter demostration on the orienteering field looked up and watched a flock of around a hundred robins fly over, followed by waves of more robins in large groups, totalling perhaps 500. The robins were followed by a small flock of geese, flying silently. Why weren't they honking? The geese were followed by a raptor, possibly a merlin. . . waiting to pick off the weak.
04.10.01
Large night crawler spotted on pavement near NSL.
A.M. Both ospreys are on the Town Line nest.
10 a.m. Spotted the porcupine in its den on the edge of the bog during Giuly's bog trek.
8 a.m. Two pair of Canada geese flying over LLCC campus.
Raccoon tracks are seen during Wilderness Meal.
A woodchuck is mucking about under the porch of the School House.
 
04.09.01
A raft of shovelers was at Rice Lake Refuge.
A.M. An opossum was seen two hours north of the Twin Cities.
A pair of cranes were seen south of MacGregor.
Two eagles are seen in LLCC skies.
During Silvana's Bog Trek, the kids saw a big snowshoe hare (around 4 p.m.)
9 a.m. A pine marten (or possibly a small mink?) is bent on a cross-campus mission, first spotted hurrying over the road by the orienteering field, and a few minutes later spotted zipping along the sidewalk between the School House and the administrative building.
1 p.m. A pair of hooded mergansers are floating and diving on the open water at Long Lake's edge.
A.M. An osprey was sitting on the Town Line Rd. nest.
Strong northeast wind. . . is it bringing bad weather?
 
04.08.01
An earthworm corpse appears on a sidewalk--flooded up from the ground during the and was left to perish on the concrete.
Scott sees what he tentatively identifies as a large mink.
P.M. A mallard drake was bobbing in the flooded ditch along Co. Rd. 5.
Red-winged blackbirds have returned to the marshes north of Aitkin.
A song sparrow was at Pat F's feeder.
Rains and runoff conspire to overflow the Red River of the North, Minnesota River, and many of their tributaries.
Tundra swans and Canada geese invading sloughs and potholes.
Meltwater in ditches is running deep, dark, and fast.
 
04.07.01
Early morning thunderstorms, with major thunder and lightning, cause rapid snow melt! 1.6" total rain.
Mallards in Pat F's field.
Ice off Mississippi River between Palisade and 169 bridge.
Acorn caps litter walkways.
 
04.06.01
A bald eagle circles over the North Star Lodge.
More pitcher plants are uncovered in the bog.
A wood duck is in Pat F's flooded field.
 
04.05.01
A.M. Spotted a redtail hawk looking for breakfast. It caught a small rodent.
A.M. Thunder and lightning with a shot downpour of rain.
A.M. Flock of purple finches at sunflower feeders.
A great blue heron arrives and chases the bald eagle away from the "Bullhead Hole" on Long Lake.
Bog-trekkers hear pileated wood pecker calling and pecking in the woods.
4 p.m. Students saw a great blue heron on Long Lake.
Pitcher plants revealed in the bog with ice in their cups!
 
04.04.01
Sandhill cranes at Pat Turner's! Also, at least ten magpies.
A.M. Discovered a new sidewalk appearing from under melting snow in front of Dining Hall.
P.M. Mourning Cloak butterfly by compost.
A.M. Killdeer heard in Pat F.'s field.
 
04.03.01
8:50 p.m. Heard small flock of Canada geese calling north of Long Lake.
P.M. Saw red-winged blackbirds and a robin at Pat F.'s.
A mosquito appears on a window. Rats!
Severe thunderstorm and heavy rain last night.
 
04.02.01
Faint northern lights.
11:30 p.m. Heard barred owl calling north of Long Lake.
Kestrel perched in a tree along Hwy 169/210.
Students see three deer outside North Star Lodge during thicket.
More April Fool's Jokes? Another thin layer of snow covered roofs and walkways again last night. Up to three inches north and west of LLCC.
A.M. Pam saw a pair of Canada geese fly over the lake, apparently hoping for open water.
A.M. Chipmunk tracks cover the sidewalks.
 
04.01.01
Saw crows carrying nesting material on campus.
A mourning dove was in Pat's yard.
Red-tailed hawks are back!
A robin is looking for worms at Schwampy's feeder, but settles for corn.
A male purple finch is among a group of pine siskins.
 
03.31.01
Spotted a flying squirrel in front of Lakeside Lab at 9:30 p.m.
Young male American goldfinch samples sunflower seeds.
Northern harrier is hovering over prairie northeast of Aitkin.
 
03.30.01
The lake is white again--we had two inches of wet and sloppy snow last night.
Foggy morning and rainy day--very wet.
Grass is green around the edges of the Dining Hall.
 
03.29.01
Students meet up with a red squirrel defending its territory.
An osprey was hunting near Townline Rd.
A bald eagle is fishing on Long Lake at an open hole.
 
03.28.01
A male northern harrier was flying in the fields north of Aitkin on Co. Rd. 1.
 
03.26.01
Thirteen (count 'em--13) deer in Schwampy's yard at 18:00.
3 deer and a grouse on east side of Long Lake.
A shrike was seen just north of Aitkin.
Clear and sunny means cold temperatures continue.
9 a.m. A chipmunk is running around under the steps to the Administrative building.
 
03.25.01
Female American goldfinch at Schwampy's feeder.
 
03.24.01
Katie Schwaderer sees a robin in Aitkin.
Brr--will winter never end? Temperatures dip to -2 degrees overnight, with a cold NW wind.
9 p.m. A raccoon visits Bob E.'s bird feeders looking for a snack.
5:35 p.m. 10 deer. 8 deer on west and east side Mississippi River on Hwy. 3.
 
03.23.01
Flurries fluttered about.
p.m. Caterpillar on walkway.

03.22.01
Spider spotted on walkway.
7:45 a.m. An otter pokes his head up along Co. Rd. 5 near Fleming Lake.
 
03.21.01
Dense fog and hoar frost.
Road kill snowshoe hare shows that its coat was going brown again.
 
03.20.01
Porcupine in tree along ski trail.
Ospreys back near Townline Rd. nest.
Bald eagle on east side of lake.
Spring rain at LLCC.
Ice on Long Lake changed color, with water on top.
Temperature stayed above freezing all night.
Heard coyotes during 2nd Alpha Wolf.
 
03.19.01
Saw moth fluttering outside staff room window at dinner.
7 a.m. On Co. Rd. 15 west of Aitkin: two white-tailed deer and two Canada geese, flying (?) south.
 
03.18.01
p.m. Two deer seen along LLCC driveway.
7:30 a.m. A pigeon was scrounging at the side of the Hwy 169 with three crows.
 
03.17.01
2:30 p.m. A porcupine was in the tree along the ski trail, during U. of Minnesota / AREA Wilderness Meal.
 
03.16.01
A downy woodpecker is rapid-drilling along the road.
Purple finches are seen and heard on campus.
Pat spots a chipmunk.
Three crows are in a tree near the Energy Center.
A purple finch is spotted near the School House.
p.m. Pileated woodpecker is seen at the crossing near Hwy 5. Two deer are browsing near Aitkin.

03.15.01
p.m. A bald eagle is sitting on the lake.
7:20 p.m. A sharp shinned hawk is perched in a tree near the bird feeder.
Skunks are out--crows are feasting.
While cross country skiing, Janna saw a white-tailed deer on the long trail.
Cross country skiers saw fox scat on the east end of the ski trail.
Millie spots 2 bald eagles and an otter on the lake. The air temperature is really increasing.
a.m. Woodpecker sounds are heard throughout the ski trail.
 
03.12-16.01
Red squirrels are going nuts chasing each other and "chirring," running through kids legs, etc.
 
03.15.01
7:30 a.m. Twelve (give or take) horned larks were seen beside Co. Rd. 1 north of Aitkin.
 
03.14.01
49 degrees max. It's the end of winter! No, really.
12:45 p.m. A really big otter is feeding at the hole on the north shore of Long Lake.
7:30 a.m. Millie finds a butterfly under the basketballs. She thought it would be too cold to fly, but when she showed it to Keith it fluttered.

03.13.01
Coyotes were heard calling, by the interns in their apartment.
7:30 a.m. Scattered pockets of very dense fog between Aitkin and LLCC.
a.m. Cross country ski class watches two bald eagles fly over.
 
03.12.01
As snow falls, Christine sees nine owls separately , all in the 80 miles between Hill City, Hwy 200, and 194 Duluth, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 5 Great Gray Owls; 3 Gray Owls; 1 Barred Owl. It was a great sight!
Schwampy watches blue jays participate in a pair-bonding exercise: one flies down to the feeder, carefully selects a sunflower seed, and returns to the branch, where the other, with some coaxing, accepts the gift.
Squirrel scampers across Barb's foot at the School House.
Pretty intense storm threatens SE and NE Minnesota with heavy snow. LLCC gets 4". Meanwhile, tornadoes clobber TX, LA, MS.
 
03.11.01
Spectacular double sundog in LLCC skies.
Grey squirrel on Marcum House deck.
Snowy owls are still hanging out north of Aitkin.
Pine siskin population at LLCC falls by half as they begin moving north.
Chilly morning. 0 degrees at LLCC; -5 in Ely.
 
03.10.01
Cloudy a.m. with weak "clipper" cruising through Minnesota/Wisconsin--no snow.
 
03.09.01
Raccoon roadkill on Hwy 210, between Co. Rd. 5 and junction w/ 169.
 
03.08.01
Bald eagle spotted during Jessica's thicket game.
 
03.08.01
Despite northern winds and snow flurries, the sun's rays continue to melt snow.
 
03.08.01
Chance encounter between Vanna Red and a shrew. Score: Golden retriever-1; shrew-0.
 
03.06.01
8 a.m. Anne hears a mourning dove in Aitkin.
Snow storm clobbers both coasts; meanwhile, the Minnesota meltdown continues.
 
03.02.01-03.03.01
Saw bald eagle on lake again; high temp 48 degrees F (too warm!); low, 18 degrees F.
 
03.03.01
More heat--meltdown underway. Lots of water and emerging mud!
 
03.02.01
AM: fog sublimating off snowy fields north of Aitkin.
Six whitetails spotted at 6:45 on NW road.
PM: Skunk spotted (striped) off Hwy 210.
 
03.01.01
2 PM, 42 degrees F. Snow very sticky, sinking around trees.
Red squirrel crossed walkway between Big Foot Den and Marcum House.
 
02.28.01
Two--count 'em, two-- eagles on the lake dipping for catfish. Millie spotted them about noon.
 
02.27.01
Clear, calm, chilly morning. -18 degrees F at LLCC; -35 at Embarrass, MN.
 
02.26.01
Snowshowers and skiers observe a pileated woodpecker drilling a large hole in an oak tree near the ski trail.
 
02.26.01
Alberta clipper cruises through over night. Another inch of snow.
 
02.26.01
Starling count now up to 8! Where are they coming from?
 
02.26.01
The eagle and two crows are on the lake; the eagle's eating (what else?) while the crows are eyeing him (what else?).
 
02.25.01
Major snowstorm broadsides the Gopher State.
LLCC gets 16 inches of snow (Keith says 18.)
Duluth gets 20 inches.
Askoo and Finland each get 23".
Minneapolis/St.Paul gets 5" snow, then freezing rain (yuck!), then more snow.
Mississippi gets tornadoes--at least 5 dead. All part of the same storm.
 
02.24.01
First storm dumps 6" overnight--more on the way.
 
02.24.01
Male and female cardinals in Palisade.
 
02.24.01
Major snowstorm predicted for Minnesota.
 
02.22.01
4 Rose-breasted grosbeaks and 8 pine grosbeaks at Pam's feeder.
 
02.21.01
-20 degrees F at LLCC. No records fall, but it's way cold.
 
02.20.01
Hwy 65 showing more potholes and frost bumps.