UP Nature Notes (Blog)
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Tiny Bird with Huge Song - UP Nature Notes, No. 3
December 8, 2023
At 3 1/4 inches long, the winter wren is one of our tiniest birds, much smaller than a chickadee, but it sings one of longest and most complicated songs. Per unit weight, the Winter Wren delivers its song with 10 times more power than a crowing rooster. This one was…
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Spring Ephemerals - UP Nature Notes, No. 2
December 8, 2023
During mid-May, spring ephemeral wildflowers are in full bloom at the Dukes Experimental Forest in Skandia, which is part of the Hiawatha National Forest. Among the many species growing there, the two shown below are in the poppy family. The first image is Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), and…
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Mink Frogs - UP Nature Notes, No. 1
December 8, 2023
In mid-May, temperatures in the UP rise to the point that amphibians, like this mink frog, emerge from hibernation. Mink frogs are a small, northern species, with blotchy green-brown backs and green lips. They are a declining species of ‘special concern’ in Michigan that rely on cold wetland habitats, such…