February 1999

     Happenings in and around Linnaeus Arboretum

February is usually the most pleasant month of the winter. The first half of the month normally remains cold and cloudy but warmth and sunshine appear in mid-February and continue throughout the month.

Listed below are a few observations from a year ago in the Linnaeus Arboretum area, and out of the area when indicated. These events can be used to anticipate upcoming winter happenings and will help to compare this year with last.

1 - First raccoon out and about. House sparrow carrying nesting material. Cedar waxwings and wintering American robins feed on crabapples clinging to trees.

2 - Beautiful dark tree shadows on the snow cover this sunny morning. Red squirrels feed on pine cones, mushrooms and nuts which they gathered and stored last fall, often following tunnels they dig in the snow.

3 - White-tailed deer continue shedding antlers. Short-tailed weasels come to suet feeders.

4 - European starlings bathing in puddles on this sunny afternoon. More striped skunks out. Gray squirrels chasing each other around; red squirrels too. The Mississippi River at Hastings is mostly open. Thousands of ice fishing houses on Mille Lacs Lake.

5 - It's the mating season for raccoons. More bills of European starlings are turning from black to yellow as the nesting season approaches.

6 - Five types of birds declare that one season slides into another and the awakening season is on its way. Northern cardinals, black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches blue jays are vocalizing their special spring songs, and woodpeckers are drumming.

7 - American goldfinches are taking on bright yellow feathers for spring. Great horned owl on nest, incubating high up in an evergreen tree, in Brooklyn Park. First bird species to nest each year in Minnesota.

8 - Spring in winter! First muddy country roads. Maple sap ran a bit. Runners out in t-shirts and shorts. Some mosses lush green.

9 - We sure notice those bright red twigs of the red-osier dogwood. Lake Superior is still wide open, even in front of Duluth Harbor.

10 - Watch for finger-thick tunnels meandering just beneath the snow near birdfeeders; these are made by short-tailed shrews looking for seeds to snack on. First early migrating horned larks seen in Cologne area.

11 - Tiny springtails, also called snowfleas, jump on the snow. Because of the Sun's position this is usually the day when greenhouse plants take off and begin growing, plus it's hot and humid in greenhouses on sunny days starting now. In northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, northern ravens perform awesome aerial acrobatics in February's skies, preparing for courtship.

12 - Fifteen American robins, at Chaska, took shelter from cold winds this mid-morning in a Scotch pine. At a feeding station in Hastings, 28 mourning doves eat white millet on the ground. Honey bees balled up deep within hives keep themselves warm with their beating wings.

13 - On this sunny morning there is melting in streets even with an air temperature at 20 degrees F. At Timber Lake Orchard, south of Fairmont on Iowa border, apple trees are being pruned and cedar waxwings are feeding on full-size apples still clinging to trees. Nearby, ring-necked pheasants are out gleaning in old soybean field.

14 - Mating season for gray squirrels has begun. Begonia and geranium seeds should be started indoors now. First eastern chipmunk out and about in Victoria area. The Minnesota River ice cover at LeSueur and Belle Plaine has big open areas now. About 32 inches of ice on Lake of the Woods.

15 - First easter chipmunk out and about in Victoria area.  The Minnesota River ice cover at Le Sueur and Belle Plaine has big open areas now.  About 32 inches of ice on Lake of the Woods.

16 - Cottontail rabbits come to feeding stations very late at night. It's the mating season for red, flying and fox squirrels.

17 - Some observers in the Twin Cities area, and even a little further north, continue to see opossums, especially at birdfeeders and dogdishes. Opossums don't hibernate but they will sleep for several days during periods of very cold weather.

18 - Red-osier dogwood shrubs are now becoming very red in color on the early approach of spring. Fantastic display of northern lights over northern Minnesota.

19 - Weeping willow twigs are looking golden-yellow. First horned larks arrive in Grygla area.

20 - Red foxes seen in pairs. Opossum, in Bloomington, seen gathering nesting materials.

21 - Cardinals whistle loud and clear, and for long periods. Between now and the last of March is a good time to prune grape
vines. Apple tree pruning continues.

22 - Minnesota is unique because it supports about 2,400 timber wolves. Wisconsin has about 160 timber wolves. They are the living symbol of the wilderness. February is the month timber wolves mate. Flock of Bohemian waxwings spotted in Grand Marais.

23 - Two male ring-necked pheasants seen up in a small crabapple tree eating the fruit. Dripping sap noticed from pruned maple tree branches.

24 - Both downy and hairy woodpeckers are drumming like mad on resonant trees. They hammer for several reasons: to announce their territory, attract a mate, or establish pair bonds. Horned larks singing on territories in open fields of Brooklyn Park.

25 - Temporary ponds dot the landscape. Two black sugar maples tapped at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault. This afternoon the trees ran at 90 drops per minute - a good run.

26 - Wintering-over mourning doves have begun cooing. Evening grosbeaks observed feeding on crabapple fruit in Brooklyn Park.

27 - American crows making rattle calls, a spring sound. Pussy willow catkins out enough so twigs can be cut and brought indoors
for a touch of spring.

28 - Migrating merlin hawk seen over Brooklyn Park. Wintering-over common flicker comes to Lake Waconia feeding station for sunflower chips. Melt-down continues with 90 percent of landscape between Twin Cities and St. Peter free of snow, and lake ice covered with water.