Winter Begins

The cranes have left and there are very few birds in the area. Shrikes are the most common birds around but still can be hard to find. With the low deer harvest and light road kill eagles are scarce. Most of my shots have been after dark on the trail camera. I've heard that gray foxes are everywhere but haven't gotten one to cooperate yet. This red fox was passing by during a recent snowfall.

Bobcats on the move

I recently checked my trail cams and was surprised to find bobcat activity. We'll see if they were passing though or have established a territory when the cameras are checked later this week. Although it is hard to tell I think there were two cats, each at a different location, about a mile apart. Individual cats are identified by examining facial markings but only one stopped for a portrait.
Dale

Still here.

The cranes are edging south with the largest concentrations on Grettum and Dueholm flowages. The upper Phantom L. flock also remains. I didn't see any on the Refuge extension. The temperature this morning 14 degrees and the birds were roosting on the ice. Take off is precarious with lots of slipping down the icy runway. My curiosity finally pushed me to find the to answer the question of how those feet stay warm on the ice. They probably don't stay that warm but at least they don't freeze. Apparently there is a heat exchange between the blood flowing to the feet and the blood returning. As the warm blood heads toward the feet it transfers heat to the cold blood coming back resulting in warmed blood going to the heart and cooled, but still warm blood going to the feet. Why didn't I think of that?

Stuffed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

First Snowfall

I haven't been around for almost two months and was worried that the cranes might be gone before I returned. After rushing to beat the storm on Saturday it was a nice to see them again.
Dale

Look twice...

In the fall of 2008, 3 endangered Whooping Cranes were spotted at Fish Lake SWA and in the fall of 2009 one of those 3 returned to roost at Crex Meadows with the Sandhills. Currently there are estimated to be around 17,000 Sandhills in the area. During the day they go out to feed in the surrounding fields so as I'm driving around, I'm scanning the fields hoping to catch another sighting of a Whooper. This Sandhill in a field near County Road M south of Crex made me look twice.

The Sense of Smell

These images were taken in total darkness emphasizing the curiosity and keen sense of smell of this wolf. A large bear checked this camera out and probably licked it a few days earlier. The camera moving without the wolf in view is when it was nudging the camera. The red light flashes did not seem to bother it. The camera has been repositioned, we'll see if it was still attracted to it the next time the memory card is exchanged.

Millions of blackbirds

Several migrating songbird species are passing through but the most impressive are the redwing blackbirds.

Crane Season

The cranes are back in the refuge and roosting much closer this year than last year. The numbers are not very high yet but a good north wind will change that.

Fall Color

Bright and sunny did not last very long this morning. Sunrise was flat with some high clouds and the cranes were moving south off the Refuge continuously for the first hour after sunrise. Leaves are falling with the high wind but color should remain for a few days.

What was that?

This bear which I have dubbed big ears has been camera trapped several times at a couple different locations. At a previous camera location she may have been the bear that bent a rebar post to almost 90 degrees, try that some time. I think it was used as a scratching post. The same camera has been put at my all time favorite location monitoring a wolf scent post where this photo was taken.

First Frost

The thermometer said 19 degrees. My fingers said "frozen". Yesterday there was a frantic search for gloves, I finally found a matching set; left and right, blue and green. The geese were busy doing what they do best, eating. There was a set of opossum tracks in the sand on Phantom trail. I bet he was wondering how to get back to Iowa.

Trail Cams & Bears

There have been several bears moving in front of the trail cams this summer, most ignore it but others have taking an interest like this one. Another one used the rebar post the camera was attached to as a scratching post and bent the rebar to almost 90 degrees. I don't use a scent mask or blocker and although the camera may be out a week or more before the bear comes by they still seem to smell something. The camera used on this clip has an invisible infra red flash so I don't think the flash alerted it.

I prefer to have a bear notice the camera since one camera was cut off a tree by one of the primates walking in the woods. Fortunately the camera was found and returned by a more friendly member of the species.
Dale

Karner Blues Mating

I'm going through the butterfly videos from this summer and put this together. Karner's are so common here it is easy to forget they are endangered. There should be more around next year. Its common name was given to it by a Russian novelist who first discovered the species near Karner, NY. Now you can sleep easier.

Camouflage

This faded Mottled Duskywing blends in perfectly to the gravel. It would be almost impossible to see on a tree. Butterflies seem to use one of two options for survival: hide or being easily seen. All in all fascinating insects.

To see video of this butterfly and others check out mnwindchill's YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/mnwindchill

Mimicry

I am on a butterfly photography mission these days and getting images of both new species and old friends. Among the old friends is the Viceroy butterfly. At first glance this is appears to be a Monarch but a couple things distinguish it from the Monarch. It is smaller and does not float in flight like a Monarch. It will will allow you to get a good look at it when its resting, something a Monarch rarely does. When looking at it the bar on the rear wing becomes obvious, something the Monarch does not have. There are lots of them around. The next time you are watching butterflies consider: Is that big orange butterfly a Monarch or Viceroy?

Gorgone Checkerspot

What's in a name? I'm fascinated by the common names of plants and butterflies. In Greek mythology there were three Gorgon sisters who had snakes for hair and would turn anyone who looked at them into stone. Fortunately this is not the case with this butterfly.

New Growth

This camera has been in the Fish Lake area for the last month and I braved the deer flies to see what was on the card. Only a couple deer and a work crew came by during that time. I am always amazed at the number of people who pass by such out of the way and inhospitable locations.
Dale

Milkweed Peak

Common milkweed are at or near peak and definitely at peak for butterfly photography. Not only is the photography excellent, the aroma of the flower is incredible. Just by watching a plant with camera in hand dozens of photo ops present themselves. These plants are a food source for almost everything that flies and even the crab spiders that lie in wait for dinner.

Shiny Teeth

This wolf came very close to the trail cam and showed its gleaming teeth. What impresses me the most is their small size. For some reason I thought the teeth would be bigger, probably a function of the mythic "big bad wolf" mentality. A pack of five passed through in mid June. The alpha male with it's shoulder stripe, a black male, 2 mid sized grays, and a small yearling gray bought up the rear. The alpha and the small gray have been in area intermittently but this is the first time this year the pack has been at the scent post. Based on tracks this is probably the pack that has been frequenting the Buggert L. area.
Dale

(Image cropped to 50% of original)

Karner Blues

This was an excellent year for both lupine and the first flight of Karners at Crex and Fish Lake. Several times I lost count of the number of butterflies flying about me. The Prairie Redroot this one is feeding on is similar to Jersey Tea but I believe it is Redroot. Karner caterpillars feed exclusively on lupine but the adults feed on several different plants. I hope the second flight later this month is as active as the first one was.
Dale

Cedar Waxwings

I  took a trip through Crex today even though it was raining. After 3 straight days of rain I was going stir crazy. I happened to see a pair of Cedar Waxwings on the corner of East and North Refuge Rd. I watched them as they pointed their heads upwards in unison several times and then they mated. I was pretty far away but snapped a few pictures anyway. When I got home I could see that one Waxwing had a small berry in it's mouth. Doing some research I found out this is part of their courtship. They pass a berry between them.  Interesting...
Kathy J.

Night Games

These guys seem to be having a blast. I was reminded of dance recitals that we attended in years past. This den is exposed and would have made a great site for photography except virtually all activity has been at night.
Dale

A Short Rest

There are a variety of uses of trails in Fish Lake WA. Occasionally it is used as a phone booth, albeit temporarily. In addition to the usual wildlife this young man was captured on the trail cam.
Dale

Wolf Dispersal

This young wolf says it all; thin, awkward looking, insecure, on the move. Food is at the low point during the spring with hungry mouths to feed at the den so the yearling siblings start moving to new territory looking a mate and for space to claim for a new family. Other dispersers are alpha males who have lost their leadership role. The wolves of Crex are a dynamic group with a different alpha male taking over last fall. This spring wolf activity has been limited to hunting signs, a definite change from the last two years. The high water may limit the small mammals and deer may still be the primary food source causing the wolves to stay in the woodlands.
Dale

Phantom Trail

I was walking down Phantom Trail early one morning last week and found these tracks of fellow wanderers. The bear which had been heading toward me turned around and left the trail. The wolf continued on its way ahead of me. Male bears are starting to look for partners and young wolves are dispersing looking for a new family to join. I was enjoying the early morning sights and sounds.
Dale

Realistic or Impressionistic

For the last couple weeks I have been exploring Phantom Lake Trail. While looking for signs of spring to photograph earlier this week I walked along the hilltop at the Phantom overlook and spent an hour looking for photos. The sun was just breaking through the trees and the white flowers were brilliant against the grays and greens. Dale

First Adventure

I look forward to the emergence of fox kits each spring. There innocence and curiosity is tempered by a strong instinct to return to the den at the slightest unusual sound.
Dale

On to the birds

The spring ephemerals are on the decline and babies are starting to show up. Goslings are on the roads and fox kits are peaking out of the den. Warblers, those tiny birds that don't hold still, are starting to come through following the path made by the yellow rumps. Whippoorwills start their 3 AM serenade to alert the rest of the bird world to impending dawn. This is the time of year when the Crex orchestra is at its most diverse. Go for a walk and enjoy spring.
Dale

Sweet Tooth

This yellow-bellied sapsucker is enjoying a sugar fix. Later in the year it will drill tiny holes to attract insects to the leaking tree sap. Earlier a red squirrel was on the same tree licking up the sap. There's something universal about sugar cravings. Bring on the chocolate!
Dale

Chipmunk in Motion

I hope this short video brightens an otherwise dark April day. It was filmed last spring on Phantom Trail while the chipmunk was busy foraging and was very tolerant of me. The challenge in assembling the clips was finding background music to match its energy and movements.
Dale

Bobcats and Butterflies

When I set this camera up last week it was 70 degrees, I was in my t-shirt, and butterflies were dancing along the trail. Yesterday the wind chill was in the low 20's, there was snow on the ground, and I had three layers on to keep warm. One of my biggest fears with trail cams is theft or vandalism so I usually place the cameras where their is little anticipated human activity. Boy was I wrong this time! In addition to a fisher, raccoon, several porcupines, a couple deer, and this bobcat there was a group on horseback (illegally) and a couple guys in knee boots. The good news is the camera was not molested. The best news is this bobcat stopped for a photo. The wood planks are 2 by 6's and give a sense of size to the bobcat. Earlier in the year one was harvested by hunters and this one moved into the vacated area about a month ago.
Dale

Tundra Swan Migration

Last week thousands of tundra swans were crossing over Crex and the surrounding area. A few stopped to rest along the way and I was lucky to watch this group rest then group up to take off and continue their migration. The whistling chatter was amazing and to me much more pleasing than the raucous sound of trumpeters. This group was on North Fork Flowage.
Dale

Spring, again!

No more false promises, it has finally arrived. The next several days should be peak for early season migrants. A couple of unusual sightings, at least in my experience, occurred yesterday. A golden eagle was sharing a tree with an immature bald eagle providing a unique chance to compare them. As I was ending my day a short eared owl nearly took my cap off. I was too shocked to move when I saw a bird coming at me in near darkness. I must have done something because at ten feet in diverted.

Butterflies have also warmed up. Two hibernators were out yesterday: the eastern comma and mourning cloak. The orange of the comma was a welcome sight as it floated about. For the plant lovers the skunk cabbage are out in the seeps along the St. Croix.

This weekend promises to be a spectacular show of early spring at Crex Meadows.
Dale

Reading Bones

With the temporary return of winter it is a good time to read an article that has been around awhile, since 1949! A wildlife pathologist by the name of E. L. Cheatum published a landmark article on bone marrow analysis of white tail deer which gives an estimate of the animal's nutritional status at death. The bone marrow consists of fat and blood cells giving a normal bone marrow the color and consistency of fat. Once a fawn reaches 4-6 months its marrow is the same as an adult. Cheatum determined that when marrow fat becomes 50% depleted the other body sources of fat have been utilized for energy, the marrow then becomes a solid red color. How does all this relate to the two coyote killed deer I found last month? One deer was in good shape and the other was severely malnurished.

A copy of the is interesting article is available on request.
Dale

It must be Spring!

Fifty degrees yesterday and rain during the night means I can now rely on my solar powered snow shovel for the rest of the season. Any new snow will soon be gone. This time of year is a good time wander around looking for evidence of old foundations, basements, and other signs of previous human use. There are no insects, the ground is hard: perfect for wandering. No luck finding an old homestead yesterday, just a nice dropped antler.
Dale

An Otter with Attitude

I watched this otter most of last week and one day there was an intense confrontation between the otter and two trumpeter swans. With limited open water each was vying for space but different foods. I'm sure the swan feet were disturbing the fish for the otter. In any event it was willing to take on two swans to protect its turf. In the end all left the area and returned the next day.
Dale

Wisconsin Confrontation

I prefer this confrontation to the one in the news. This otter was minding its own business when swan 24A and its mate decided to eat in the same area. With the odds of size and 2 on 1 it seemed clear who would win. However the otter chased both birds out of the water before swimming away, leaving the pool empty except for the food each was vying for. There might be a political message here.
Dale

Grettum Pines Cafe

I came across the remains of this deer while exploring the Grettum Pines area. As I was following a trail there suddenly was a profusion of tracks. Looking ahead the deer ribs immediately caught my attention. The recent snow had obscured the details of the myriad of tracks leading to it making species identification impossible. Once at the site the overlap from multiple species further complicated track identification. A fox or coyote had bedded down to keep watch on the carcass. The absence of the skull and distance of the skeleton from the entrails may be meaningful to a trained biologist, however, to me these details raise intriguing questions but no answers. Square patches of fur are pulled off to the side in multiple directions where something has been chewing. It is tempting to assume this is a wolf kill but other predators also kill deer or perhaps this is a winter kill. Clearly the deer is feeding many hungry customers.
Dale

I checked the bone marrow with Steve Hoffman and this animal was malnourished but not starving at the time of death therefore it was a predator kill. Since the skeleton is relatively intact it was not killed by wolves. The remaining possible predators are a bobcat, bear, or coyotes. It seems to remote for a dog kill.
Dale

Exploring

Lots of time on the snowshoes this winter have lead to some interesting sights. We started at the Grettum/Hickerson intersection and have been working our way north. The nice thing about snowshoeing is the walk out is much easier than the way in. During my wandering on Thursday I came upon what looked like a bear den however the flashlight was in the truck so I couldn't see into it. My first thought was I'll never find this spot again in a million years and started home since it was after 4 PM. Shortly after leaving the site there were fresh snowshoe tracks to follow out to the truck. Imagine my surprise 15 minutes later when I was back at the bear den. It was time to break out the compass.
Dale

Three Dog Trail

The Upper Phantom Ski Trail is being groomed this year for the first time in my memory. It is in excellent condition and a great hour loop. Sandi and I skied it last week and were greeted by a wolf scent post within a 100 yards of starting the trail. The wolf was making it's rounds, soon it was joined by coyote tracks. Later a fox used the trail. The wind was brutal until we got into the trees where we found a porcupine nest of pellets at the base of a tree. Most would not think of taking a nap on droppings however there is a theory that porcupines stay warm this way since the droppings are almost exclusively wood chips at this time of the year. The three dog trail was followed by a three dog night with the temp dropping to minus 34 degrees at the cabin. This prompted me to wonder where the animals sleep. The birds have it worst, perched in the wind. This red fox has a nice warm shelter.
Dale

Top Dog

The Crex wolf pack is busy patrolling the roads again this winter. There are four members in the pack and they make miles wandering in search of food. I would expect them to settle in close to a deer yard soon. This pack had 7 members in October and now has only 4. Pack size is based on biologic efficiency. A wolf can eat almost a quarter of its body weight (about 100#) at a sitting, deer weigh about 100+ pounds therefore a pack size of 4-5 animals ensures all get enough to eat at each deer kill. The entire deer is consumed with the marrow being the most nutritious for its fat content.

In addition to this pack there may be a pair of wolves in the Buggert Lake area. I hope it stops snowing for awhile so the tracks can be patterned and common routes identified. There are a pair of wolves on Fish Lake that I would like to camera trap.
Dale

Tracks and more tracks

Over 40 people attended the track training class held last Saturday at Crex led by Steve Hoffman and Bob Hanson of the WDNR. The morning was spent in classroom instruction and the afternoon was spent out in the Meadows doing field work. Upon completion of this class you are eligible to assist with the WDNR's winter carnivore tracking study. It's not as easy at it seems so anyone is welcome to go out with Steve and Bob for more hands on training.

Steve Hoffman identifying tracks. 

 Bob Hanson showing this group a set of Fisher tracks. 

We were able to see and try to identify fox, weasel. coyote, fisher and wolf tracks.

Kathy J.

Happy New Year!

We share a number of traits with animals, fortunately most of the shared traits are not a requirement for our survival. I am sure this deer could smell something that reminded it of food and was not just curious about the little box on the tree. Over the years our curiosity can be blunted or even lie dormant. On the other hand it can be a trait the makes the world alive each day. May your curiosity be rekindled in 2011.
Dale