April: What are you Watching?

Everyone has been watching for something in April. Anticipation and excitement spreads across northern Minnesota in April with the seasonal change.

Weather changes, temperatures rise and fall, snow falls and melts, and ice melts exposing the water of lakes and rivers. The first Compton’s Tortoiseshell and Morning Cloak butterflies are out. Black-capped chickadees and pileated woodpeckers are excavating nest cavities. Bald eagles and common ravens are sitting on nests.

Some people are watching species arrive, court, form mating pairs, while others are already celebrating their first sightings from migration or out of hibernation.

During this past week, I saw my first eastern chipmunk, ringnecked ducks, turkey vultures, American kestrel, mourning doves and eastern garter snakes of 2024.

Garter snakes are in hibernacula underground during the winter. When the ground thaws and temperatures rise above 50 degrees the snakes become active and venture out on the rocks, ground and vegetation at a hibernaculum.

April 10 the temperature was above 50 degrees by mid afternoon along the Echo Trail and by reaching 60 degrees many snakes were out. Males were actively seeking females, because this is the time to mate before the snakes disperse for the summer.

As weather changes from day to day at this site, more activity will occur on the warm days in the sun around this fractured ledge rock.

Pick you place or your species, explore and everyday provides the adventure of discoveries.