Kinnickinnic River Land Trust

Working with the community to conserve and protect the beauty and health of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed.

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May Phenology Report

What is Phenology?

Phenology is the study of cycles in relation to biological occurrences. Phenology studies seasons, biological events, weather patterns, habitat changes, and any other shifts in nature through the passage of time. Anyone can practice phenology! It begs questions like: “Why do I hear more birds chirping in May than in April?”, “What time of year do deer have their fawns?”, or “Why does the shoreline of Kinni look a little different than it did last year?”. Phenology reports are important to protecting our natural resources because they allow us to notice changes and compare or contrast them to the past.


May Overview:

May is an exciting month full of new growth, birth, and ecological change. Migratory birds have made their journey back and the buzz of pollinators have returned. Taking a walk through the preserves looks different this time of year as wildflowers begin to pop up, trees are in full bloom, and birdsong fills up the sky. Rising temperatures in streams and rivers mean that fishing season is in full swing, and more people are engaging in outdoor recreational activity. May is a time of re-birth and soon you will be able to spot an increasing number of baby animals such as ducklings, goslings, and fawns. This month exhibits dramatic ecological change, as we shift from a long, cold winter, to a time of new growth and activity.


April Showers Bring May Flowers:

Wildflowers are a lovely sight to stumble across as you wonder through the preserves and areas around the watershed. Wildflowers aid pollinators in survival and the distribution of pollen; they can come in a wide variety of different sizes, colors, and smells. While dandelions are not the flashiest flowers, they are critical to the survival of bees, as they are some of the first and only flowers to bloom in early spring. Sharp-lobed Hepatica, common violets, and bloodroot are other spring ephemerals that grow this time of year.

Bloodroot is a common flowering plant that can be found all throughout the watershed in May. Bloodroot tends to grow is partially shaded areas such as the understory of forests or other areas with moist and acidic soil. The plant can be most easily identified by its delicate, white flowers, and its red-orange roots. Bloodroot can be used in natural dyes, as well as for topical uses, although it is not widely consumed. Look out for this dainty flower on your next hike around the Kinnickinnic River!

Pictures taken and provided by Molly Barritt

Spring Songs and Grassland Birds:

While sitting on a bench next to Kelly Creek Park Reserve’s natural spring, one can hear a variety of birdsong fill the air. Grassland and prairie birds are abundant this month and can be seen all throughout the watershed. May is a wonderful month to get outside and go birding, as the temperature is fairly comfortable, and the birds are plentiful. You do not need an extensive knowledge of bird species or fancy equipment to go birding; you simply need to get outside and have a good eye for spotting our feathered friends!

The Sedge Wren is a small bird that can be found in prairies, grasslands, and wetlands. They tend to forage for food in the soil, which can make them harder to spot, though the males often perch on vegetation to sing. The Sedge Wren is becoming more and more scare due to habitat loss and food scarcity. Sedge Wrens feed primarily on insects and rely on them for nutrients. In an interview with KRLT Board member Mark Ritzinger, he discussed their food scarcity issue; Mark explained “think about driving around in May even just a few years back; your windshield would be covered with bug debris. Now? Barely anything…”. Noticing these kind of changes is what phenology is all about!

The Bobolink is a grassland bird that has distinguishable white feathers on its back, and a patch of yellow feathers on its head. The Bobolink is a quirky little bird that has a unique flying display and an equally unique song; their song, though hard to describe with words, can be compared to something ‘bubbling’, ‘electronic’, or even ‘alien’. These birds embark on a long migration yearly by orienting themselves with the magnetic field and stars. Similarly to the Sedge Wren, the Bobolink population is declining; conserving the grasslands and prairie surrounding the Kinnickinnic River is crucial to protecting these birds.

 

Pictures taken and provided by Mark Ritzinger  Left Picture: Sedge Wren in Kelly Creek  Right Picture: Bobolink in St Croix County

Welcome Back Pollinators:

The blooming of flowers this time of year would not be possible without the aid of pollinator species. You may have noticed that bees, flies, butterflies, wasps, and beetles are a-buzz again after a long winter. Spring can be a difficult time of year for pollinators, as flowers that provide pollen and nectar are limited. The first monarch butterflies will most likely begin to emerge later this month, making it a great time to plant pollinator friendly flowers in your own space! Coneflower, goldenrod, and milkweed are examples of wildflowers that are beneficial to pollinators like bees and butterflies.

 

Pictures provided by KRLT

My name is Jane Taylor, and I write phenology reports for the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in 2021 with a degree in Environmental Conservation. I have been passionate about the outdoors from a young age, and as I have grown up, I have realized more and more just how important it is to protect our natural resources. I live near the Twin Cities and when I am not writing phenology reports for the KRLT, I am working as an Interpretive Naturalist at a park in Shakopee, Minnesota. I love to spend as much time as possible outdoors; my favorite outdoor activities include birding, camping, and spending time at the lake.


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Annual Meeting 2023

THOUGH IT CAN’T LAST – A Dialogue between a poet and a photographer.

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Gage/camera location is upstream of Highway F. Source: USGS National Water Information System

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Get to know staff member, Steve Leonard! Steve i Get to know staff member, Steve Leonard! 

Steve is the Executive Director at Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. Steve has many responsibilities within the Trust and stated, "I listen to people who already have a sense of connection with the Kinni River; it helps me understand their personal passions of why they love the river so much, their concerns of keeping it clean, and what the future might look like. For others who might not have a personal connection to the river, I hope to develop a sense of place, so they too can develop a passion to help us protect the Kinni River, for many generations to come". 

 #wisconsin #phenology #earth #riverfalls #nature #conservation #prairie #landtrust #mothernature #green
Take a walk through the Community Forest 🌲 The Take a walk through the Community Forest 🌲 The Community Forest is a wonderful place to take a walk as the forest is alive with beautiful plants and animals this time of year!
It's Phenology Friday! 🐝 You may have noticed It's Phenology Friday! 🐝

You may have noticed that a buzz has filled the air as our pollinator friends are active again after a long, cold winter. Bee's rely on flowers for nectar and pollen, and these tiny insects pollinate a majority of the crops we, as humans, rely on for food. Native prairie on KRLT preserves host a variety of wildflowers, making the preserves a wonderful haven for the bees, and a great spot for us to catch them in action!

 #bee #wisconsin #riverfalls #conservation #flowers #earth #nature #prairie #landtrust #phenology
Join us tomorrow from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for Get O Join us tomorrow from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm for Get Outside and Leave No Trace hike at The Community Forest and neighboring City of River Falls trails! 

There are two locations where you can chat with KRLT, @kinnicorridorcollaborative , and the @leavenotraceorg team about ways to leave no trace when enjoying the great outdoors! 1st location is at The Community Forest parking lot off of HWY FF the 2nd location is Trailhead #11 off of River Ridge Road (see map). 

This is a self-guided hike. There will be a light cleanup and nature scavenger hunt for the kiddos! Gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Hope to see you there!
Get to know KRLT staff member, Marty Engel! Marty Get to know KRLT staff member, Marty Engel!

Marty is the Land Stewardship Manager at Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. Marty works with landowners to protect conservation values on their property and helps to facilitate fish, wildlife, and habitat improvement on conservation easements. 

KRLT appreciates all the hard work that Marty does to protect the Kinni!
Let's talk about Kelly Creek! Kelly Creek was pu Let's talk about Kelly Creek! 

Kelly Creek was purchased by the KRLT in 1998 and consists of 70 acres of restored prairie and oak savanna. The Kelly Creek Preserve is a great place to visit to enjoy activities such as hiking, fishing, foraging, and observing wildlife. Make sure to check out the preserve this month as wildflowers begin to bloom! 🌸

 #kinniriver #riverfalls #earth #nature #flowers #discoverwisconsin #wisconsin #conservation #mothernature #green
It's Phenology Friday! 🌸 The May Phenology Rep It's Phenology Friday! 🌸

The May Phenology Report is out now on the KRLT Website. Read through this month's phenology report to discover what ecological changes are occurring during this time of year. Click the link in the bio to check it out!

 #phenology #greenspaces #nature #grow #kinniriver #earth #landtrust #riverfalls #prairie #flowers
Due to the weather, this morning's highway cleanup Due to the weather, this morning's highway cleanup has been canceled. Here's a little sunshine from last summer at Kelly Creek Preserve!
Get to know KRLT staff member, Molly Barritt! Mo Get to know KRLT staff member, Molly Barritt! 

Molly is the Donor and Community Relations Manager at Kinnickinnic River Land Trust. Molly is passionate about conservation and educating our youth on the importance of spending time in nature. 

Pictured is the first trout that Molly caught next to the Community Forest!
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