Week of January 23rd – 29th

We welcomed Hazel Park Prep Academy, Shattuck St. Mary’s, Thomas Lake Elementary, and Hastings Quilters.

The 5th graders of Hazel Park Prep Academy arrived on Tuesday for a visit until Thursday. While they were here, they were able to experience Pioneer Life, Wildlife Ecology, GPS Pathfinders, and East Treetops.

Shattuck St. Mary’s arrived on Wednesday with their 6th and 7th graders. They were able to participate in Winter Pond Lab, Winter Survival, Animal Signs, and Snowshoeing before leaving on Friday, as well as beat some of the Eagle Bluff staff at a game of knee hockey.

Thomas Lake Elementary brought their 4th graders on Friday for a visit until Sunday. While they were here, they took Pioneer Life, Animal Signs, West Treetops, Rock Climbing, Trees and Keys, Oneota, and Big Freeze.

The Hastings Quilters quilted the weekend away!

Phenology

• The Northern Lights were seen from Eagle Bluff’s driveway.
  

  Northern Lights

• A Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk was  seen hunting a flock of House Sparrows.
• A Northern Shrike was seen.
• There has been a flock of Eastern Bluebirds at Eagle Bluff.
• Black-capped Chickadees have been heard singing.
• American Goldfinches are beginning to grow their yellow breeding plumage.

Thought for the Week

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there really is no such thing as bad weather, only different types of good weather.”
John Ruskin

Nature Trivia Question

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The scientific name for Coyote, Canis latrans means “barking dog” in latin.

This Week’s Question:
What causes the Northern Lights?

Introducing….

…the Northern Saw-whet Owl! The newest addition to Eagle Bluff ELC’s raptor program arrived yesterday January 25th. This little owl was found by the side of the road last October and presumed to have been hit by a car. The Owl was in the care of veterinarian/wildlife rehabilitator since then. When it was determined that the Northern Saw-whet Owl (let’s refer to the owl from now on as NSWO, the four letter alpha code) was non-releasable due to a broken wing that didn’t heal properly, we began the process of building an enclosure for the NSWO obtaining permits to use it(we’re not sure of the sex yet) in educational programs. As you can see in the following pictures, these owls are small – they’re actually the smallest owl in the eastern part of North America!

We’re very excited to have the NSWO here and begin training so it can be used in programs.

First thing was to put equipment on the NSWO. Such small feet!

Raptor Handler and Naturalist Jenna Moon is excited about the owl too!

Making sure the equipment is fitting properly.

The NSWO is getting used to being handled.

Weighing in at 97.8g. On average NSWO's usually weigh around 80g.

We hope that you enjoyed the first photos of the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Look for it to be in upcoming programs!

Week of January 16th – 22nd

We welcomed Richfield Middle School and U of M Women’s Tennis.

The 6th graders of Richfield Middle School arrived on Tuesday for a visit until Friday. During their 14th visit to Eagle Bluff, they were able to experience Birds, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Group Challenges, Wildlife Ecology, Winter Survival, Animal Signs, Winter Pond Lab, Rock Climbing, and Treetops.

The U of M Women’s Tennis team arrived on Friday night for a weekend of team bonding and East Treetops.

Phenology

• Coyotes were seen running together.
  

  Ermine

• Weasel Tracks were seen in the snow.
• Ring-necked Pheasants have been seen and heard around Eagle Bluff.
• Ruffed Grouse have been scared up.

Thought for the Week

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
Henry David Thoreau

Nature Trivia Question

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The ice on a lake or pond must be at least 4″ thick to walk on or ice fish. At least 5″ thick for snowmobiling, 8″-12″ thick to drive a car or small pickup truck on, and 12″-15″ for a medium truck to be driven on the ice. If the ice is 2″ or less, it is not safe, stay off.
Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.

This Week’s Question:
What does the scientific name, Canis latrans translate as?

Week of January 9th – 15th

We welcomed the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Garlough Environmental Magnet School, and held a C.I.G. Training.

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium arrived on a Sunday and left on Tuesday. While they were here, the high schoolers presented their projects to each other and was able to participate in Karst Geology and East Treetops.

The 4th graders of Garlough Environmental Magnet School arrived on Wednesday for a visit until Friday. While they were here, they were able to experience Oneota, Karst Geology, Big Freeze, and Winter Pond Lab.

Eagle Bluff held a Certified Interpretive Guide Training (C.I.G. Training) through the National Association of Interpretation for the staff Naturalists we have on site. The training was led by Certified Interpretive Trainers Carolyn Rock of Whitefish Dunes State Park in Wisconsin and Eagle Bluff’s own Jeff Boland. The training lasted from Tuesday through Friday with everyone passing and doing a great job, congratulations!

Phenology

• Bald Eagles are pairing up.
  

  Ice Houses and Shacks!

• A Red Fox was seen near our new overlook.
• A Bat was seen flying around near Sandstone, MN.
• We finally got some Snow!
• There has been a record low number of Ice Houses on lakes in Minnesota. Last year, there were around 700 and so far this year, there are only about 100 due to poor ice conditions.
• The Root River is extremely low.

Thought for the Week

“The most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”
Helen Keller

Nature Trivia Question

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The oldest Bald Eagle ever recorded in the wild was 28 years old and the oldest captive Bald Eagle on record lived to be 36 years old.

This Week’s Question:
How thick should ice be on a lake or pond for someone to safely walk on it?

Week of January 2nd – 8th

We held our first Dinner on the Bluff of 2012.

On Saturday night’s Dinner on the Bluff, landscape photographer Craig Blacklock to share some of his amazing nature images and tell us about the thought process that goes into landscape photography. At Dinner, we enjoyed a Caramelized Carrot Soup, Brussel Sprout Salad, Goat Cheese and Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast, Maple Glazed Roasted Vegetables, and Raspberry Chocolate Mousse.

 

Phenology

• In the same day, a person was seen rollerblading wearing shorts in Rochester, MN and people in Lanesboro were seen ice skating on the Bass Pond.
  

  Bald Eagle by Jim Williams

• January is 12 Degrees Warmer than usual (on average).
• A Honeybee was seen being active.
• Assassin Bugs were seen.
• Midges are active as well.
• A Rough-legged Hawk was seen in the area.
• Bald Eagles were seen displaying.
• A Striped Skunk was able to be smelled.
• The Black Bear at Oxbow park in Byron, MN was not in torpor.

 

Thought for the Week

“Genius is nothing but great effort applied.”
Awa Kenzo

 

Nature Trivia Question

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
The warmest January temperature ever recorded in Minnesota was 69 degrees F in Montevideo on January 24th, 1981.

This Week’s Question:
What’s the longest that a Bald Eagle has lived in the wild and captivity?

Week of December 26th – January 1st

We would like to welcome all of our staff back from visiting families during the holidays, we hope you had a great time and a Happy New Year!

Phenology

• The Northern Shrikewas seen again on the power lines on Eagle Bluff’s driveway.
  

  This is what Eagle Bluff should look like this time of year!

• American Kestrels have been spotted in the area.
• It has been Unseasonably Warm lately.

Thought for the Week

“Hope is the dream of a man awake.”
French proverb

Nature Trivia Question

Answer to Last Week’s Question:
Ruffed Grouse will sometimes dive into soft snow piles to spend the night. Ruffed Grouse will often startle people walking past it by bursting out of the snow piles.

This Week’s Question:
What is the warmest January temperature ever recorded in Minnesota?