Week of May 17th – 23rd

We welcomed Rushford-Peterson Schools, St. Casimir’s School, St. John Vianney, Lanesboro Schools, Pratt School, HOPE Community Academy, La Crescent Middle School, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Schools, New City Charter School, and She Is…Outdoors.

The 9th grade girls of Rushford-Peterson Schools came to Eagle Bluff on Monday for a morning of Group Challenges before heading back to school.

St. Casimir’s School arrived on Monday with their 8th graders for a visit until Wednesday. While they were here, they were able to experience Group Challenges, Canoeing, Archery, and East Treetops.

St. John Vianney also arrived on Monday. Their 6th graders participated in Pioneer Life, Fungus Among Us, Pond Life, Group Challenges, and West Treetops before leaving on Wednesday.

The 5th graders of Lanesboro Schools arrived on Monday for a visit until Wednesday. While they were here, they were able to take Stream Lab, West Treetops, Onetoa, and Fungus Among Us.

Pratt School arrived with their 4th – 5th graders on Monday for a trip until Wednesday. While they were here, they were able to experience Forest Ecology, Animal Signs, Earth Exploration, and West Treetops.

The 5th graders of HOPE Community Academy also arrived on Monday. They were able to participate in Earth Exploration, Beginning Orienteering, Birds, and East Treetops before leaving on Wednesday.

La Crescent Middle School arrived on Wednesday with their 6th graders. They were able to take Group Challenges, Fungus Among Us, Amphibians, Stream Lab, and South Treetops before leaving on Friday.

The 5th graders of Plainview-Elgin-Millville Schools arrived on Wednesday for a visit until Friday. While they were here, they were able to experience Group Challenges, Oneota, Pioneer Life, Animal Signs, Trees & Keys, and Treetops.

The New City Charter School arrived on Friday with their 7th-8th graders for an overnight visit. While they were here, they participated in Amphibians and Rock Climbing.

She Is…Outdoors held a weekend event at Eagle Bluff. Participants were able to experience different activities including Canoeing, Pioneer Life Root River Hike, East Treetops, Shotgun/Handgun practice, Archery, Yoga, Biking, Flora Hikes, Gardening, Kickboxing, Fly Fishing, Mosaic Crafts, Living Green Seminars, and Beekeeping.

Phenology:

Scarlet Tanager

• Great Crested Flycatchers have returned and can be heard calling. Renk Renk Renk
• Yellow Warblers have also be seen and heard singing. Sweet Sweet I’m so Sweet
• Wood Thrushes have been heard singing. Eee-Ooo-Laayy
• Baby Common Grackles have been seen in the nest.
• Canada Goslings are getting bigger.
• Scarlet Tanagers have been seen by the Root River.
• Indigo Buntings have also been seen by the Root River.
• June Bugs can been seen.
• Lightning Bugs can be spotted at night.
• A Red Fox was seen near our Orienteering course.
• Canada Anemone is blooming.
• Wild Raspberry is blooming.
• Walnut Trees are leafing out.

Thought for the Week:
“In spite of illness, in spite of the arch-enemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.”
Edith Wharton

NATURE TRIVIA QUESTION

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The overpopulation of White-tailed Deer have potentially caused a decline in the Eastern Wood-Pewee population. White-tailed Deer over-browse the intermediate canopy where the Eastern Wood-Pewee forages for food.

This Week’s Question:
What is a common material used in Great Crested Flycatcher nests?

Week of May 10th – 16th

We welcomed Dover-Eyota High School, National Trout Learning Center, Randolph Heights Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Dike-New Hartford Junior High, Longfellow School, Transfiguration Catholic School, St. Hubert School, New ERA, Northern Iowa Lutheran Youth Organization, and the Lewiston Girl Scouts.

On Monday, the 11th graders from Dover-Eyota High School arrived for the day to participate in East Treetops and GPS Pathfinders.

The National Trout Learning Center held another meeting at Eagle Bluff to establish the organization in Preston, MN.

The 5th graders of Randolph Heights Elementary also arrived on Monday for a trip until Wednesday. While they were here, they were able to experience Archery, Oneota, West Treetops, and Karst Geology.

Franklin Elementary also brought their 5th graders on Monday. They were able to participate in Beginning Orienteering, Wildlife Ecology, Stream Lab, and East Treetops before leaving on Wednesday.

The 8th graders of Dike-New Hartford Junior High also came to Eagle Bluff for a Monday – Wednesday visit. While they were here, they were able to take Pioneer Life, Competitive Orienteering, Forest Ecology, and South Treetops.

The 5th graders of Longfellow School arrived on Wednesday. They were able to experience Group Challenges, Root River Hike, West Treetops, and Animal Signs before leaving on Friday.

Transfiguration Catholic School brought their 6th graders for a visit from Wednesday – Friday. While they were here, they were able to participate in Group Challenges, Beginning Orienteering, Karst Geology, and East Treetops.

The 7th graders from St. Hubert School also arrived on Wednesday. While they were here, they took Forest Ecology, GPS Pathfinders, Pond Life, and South Treetops before leaving on Friday.

New ERA (Energy Resource Advisors) held a workshop at Eagle Bluff and had such topics as Composting/Food Waste/Locally Grown Food, Off the Grid Home tours, Birding, Green Job Opportunities, Solar and Wind Power, etc.

The 7th – 11th graders from Northern Iowa Lutheran Youth Organization came for an overnight visit on Saturday. They were able to experience South Treetops and some Group Time while they were here.

On Sunday, the 4th grade Lewiston Girl Scouts came for a day of Group Challenges and West Treetops.

Phenology:

• A Bobolink was seen in a nearby field.
  

  Bobolink by Jim Williams

• Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers can be found on their nests.
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are back.
• Red-eyed Vireos are also back.
• A Scarlet Tanager was heard calling. Chip-burr Chip-burr
• Eastern Wood-Pewees were heard. Pee-a-weeeeee
• Common Yellowthroats were heard singing. Whichity Whichity Whichity
• Blue-winged Warblers were also heard singing. Beeee-Buzzzz
• A Green Heron was seen flying by the Root River.
• Killdeer are still around.
• Baby American Robins can be found in nests.
• Indigo Buntings were seen by the Bike Trail in Lanesboro.
• A Red-headed Woodpecker was seen.
• A bunch of yellow Morel Mushrooms were found in a stand of Pine Trees. Yum!!
• Poison Ivy can be found.
• Dogwood is blooming.

Thought for the Week:
“If I have to swim across the sea to get what I want, I will learn how to swim, then I’ll swim it. If I have to climb the highest mountain to get what I want, I will learn how to climb, then I’ll climb it. If I have to dive the deepest ocean to get what I want, i will learn how to dive, then I’ll dive it. If I get disappointed because things did not appear as I wanted, I will learn how to accept it, then I’ll try to accept it. At least now I have experienced how to swim, to climb and to dive and also how to accept everything that comes from my effort. Thing, I will try again to do better.”
Johni Pangalila

NATURE TRIVIA QUESTION

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
A Gray Catbird’s song can last and impressive 10 minutes!

This Week’s Question:
What mammal (not including humans) affects the Eastern Wood-Pewee’s population?

Week of May 3rd – 9th

We welcomed Riverland Community College, Holy Childhood, Grand Meadow Elementary, Southland Schools, Lewiston-Altura Schools, Central Intermediate School, and held our annual Mother’s Day Brunch.

Criminal Justice students from Riverland Community College came to Eagle Bluff on Monday for a day of East Treetops and Group Challenges.

Holy Childhood brought their 5th – 8th graders to Eagle Bluff for Monday – Wednesday visit. While they were here, they were able to experience Fungus Among Us, Archery, Amphibians, and East Treetops.

Grand Meadow Elementary came to Eagle Bluff  twice; Monday – Wednesday with their 4th graders and also on Wednesday – Friday with their 6th graders. The 4th graders took Oneota, Beginning Orienteering, Stream Lab, and West Treetops while they were here. The 6th graders participated in Karst Geology, Fungus Among Us, Stream Lab, and Rock Climbing while they were here.

The 7th graders of Southland Schools arrived on Monday. They were able to experience Oneota, Pond Life, Group Challenges, and South Treetops before leaving on Wednesday.

Lewiston-Altura Schools brought their 5th graders for a Monday – Wednesday visit as well. While they were here, they were able to participate in Pioneer Life, Root River Hike, Animal Signs, and East Treetops.

Central Intermediate Schools arrived on Wednesday with their 5th graders. They were able to take Oneota, Pioneer Life, Group challenges, Earth Exploration, GPS Pathfinders, Minimum Impact Camping, Treetops, Wildlife Ecology before leaving on Friday.

On Sunday, we held our annual Mother’s Day Brunch. Over 200 people came out to celebrate Mothers Day. The menu included made to order omelets, fresh vegetable quiche, traditional eggs Benedict, roasted red potatoes, steamed asparagus, locally raised beef and pork in a drunken mushroom sauce, locally raised and processed bacon and breakfast sausage links, whiskey crab bisque, fresh spinach and strawberry salad, fresh fruit and vegetable bar, assorted muffins, scones, sweet rolls and fresh breads, fruit and cream filled crepes, strawberry rhubarb crisp, kahlua mousse stuffed chocolate shells.

Merlin by Jim Williams

Phenology:

• Female Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived.
• Ovenbirds have returned and can be heard singing.
• A Merlin was seen at Eagle Bluff.
• Gray Catbirds are back.
• Scarlet Tanagers are starting to return.
• A Golden-winged Warbler was seen.
• Blue-winged Warblers were seen and heard.
• Female Baltimore Orioles have returned.
• A Great Blue Heron was seen near a pond.
• A Great Egret was seen.
• Showy Orchis‘ are in bloom.
• Nodding Trillium are in bloom.
• Wild Columbine is in bloom.
• Dame’s Rocket is in bloom.

Thought for the Week:
“Birth, life, and death — each took place on the hidden side of a leaf.”
Toni Morrison

NATURE TRIVIA QUESTION

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The barbs on the primary feathers of the male Northern Rough-winged Swallow are distinctly hooked; those of the female are smaller and straighter. Running a finger from base to tip along the barbed wing edge yields a sensation similar to that of touching a rough file.

This Week’s Question:
How long can a Gray Catbird’s song last?

Week of April 26th – May 2nd

We welcomed ECHO Charter School, Richfield Career Education Program, Cannon Falls Elementary, Chatfield Elementary, Eagle Bluff Elementary, First Lutheran Church, and the Cartwright/Schumacher Reception.

The 6th-8th graders of ECHO Charter School arrived on Monday for a visit until Wednesday. While they were here, they were able to participate in Archery, GPS Pathfinders, Stream Lab, and East Treetops.

Richfield Career Education Program also arrived on Monday with their high schoolers. They were able to experience Wildlife Ecology, Trees & Keys, Owl Pellet Dissection, and South Treetops before leaving on Wednesday.

The 4th graders of Cannon Falls Elementary came to Eagle Bluff for a Monday-Wednesday Visit. While they were here, they took Birds, Beginning Orienteering, Pioneer Life, Fungus Among Us, West Treetops, Archery, and Onetoa.

On Wednesday, Chatfield Elementary brought their 5th graders for a trip until Friday. While they were here, they were able to experience Pioneer Life, GPS Pathfinders, Pond Life, and West Treetops.

Eagle Bluff Elementary also arrived with their 5th graders on Wednesday. They were able to participate in Archery, Oneota, Group Challenges, Earth Exploration, and East Treetops before leaving on Friday.

First Lutheran Church arrived on Friday for and overnight visit and while they were here, they were able to participate in South Treetops.

On Saturday, Eagle Bluff was the host for the Cartwright/Schumacher Reception.

Phenology:

• Chimney Swifts are back in Lanesboro. Look for the birds that look like flying cigars.
• Northern Rough-winged Swallows were seen flying over one of EB’s ponds eating insects.
• Barn Swallows have also returned to this area.

• 

  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

• Bank Swallows were seen excavating their nest cavities.
• Indigo Buntings were heard singing.
• Baltimore Orioles have returned to the area so get your feeders ready!
• House Wrens have also returned.
• Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers were seen and heard back in the area.
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been seen.
• Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been seen at our feeders.
• American Robins can be seen laying on their nests incubating their eggs.
• Spring Peepers are still calling.
• Western Chorus Frogs are also still calling.
• American Toads are calling.
• Gray Treefrogs are also calling.
• Bane Berry is in bloom.
• Wild Strawberries are in bloom.
• Morel Mushrooms are beginning to pop up. Yum!
• We are gaining more daylight everyday!
• We are halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.

Thought for the Week:
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Will Rogers

NATURE TRIVIA QUESTION

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The Jack-in-the-Pulpit gets its common name from its odd flower: a pouch-shaped spathe (“pulpit”) with an overhanging hood that surrounds a fingerlike central spadix (“Jack”).

This Week’s Question:
Where does the Northern Rough-winged Swallow get its name?