Phenology

9/12/23: Baby snapping turtles are coming out of the nest on NLDC grounds and making their way to the lake. Watch your step!

8/28/23: First hints of trees beginning to turn colors

7/20/23: Aquatic plants on Statehouse lake are near peak growth

6/5/23: Snapping and painted turtles laying eggs on discovery center grounds.

5/31/23: Monarch eggs on emerging milkweed plants in NLDC gardens. Dragonflies emerging from their exoskeletons on the pier on Statehouse Lake

5/27/23: Monarch butterflies seen in the area

5/15/23: Spring ephemeral flowers and cherry trees in bloom

5/10/23: Filled the hummingbird feeders at NLDC, and right away the hummingbirds appeared!

5/1/23: Statehouse lake ice off

4/27/23: Salamanders are on the move to vernal ponds in the woods!  Grounds are uncovered with snow, still some in the woods and big snow piles around, forecast is up to 5 more inches of snow the next few days...will it ever end?  Statehouse Lake is about 30% uncovered from ice.

4/26/23: Wood frogs are croaking

4/20/23: Spring peepers are peeping

4/16-17/23:  Up to12 inches of snow fell in the area, covering back up the snow and confusing poor migratory birds that made their way up.  We have been buried yet again.

4/15/23: Loons are returning- however they are dropping from the sky due to ice on their feathers- major rescue efforts underway

4/14-15/23: Super warm temps 75-80!  snow melting fast, but still several feet in the woods, grounds becoming uncovered...winter storm warning issued for the next two days....

4/10/23: Sandhill cranes, robins, and ospreys were seen around NLDC! With temperatures in the mid 60's this week, there will be a huge and fast thaw3/31/23: Snowstorm!

11/21/22: Statehouse Lake is frozen over for the year!

6/1/22: Swallowtail butterflies are out!

5/31/22:  While we haven't seen monarchs yet, the small milkweed plants are covered in eggs!

5/20/22: Fringed polygala in bloom, bog plants starting to bloom

5/11/22: Birds singing this morning: black throated green warbler, yellow throated warbler, nashville warbler, redstart, least flycatcher

5/10/22: Trout lily, Dutchmans breeches, bloodroot, and spring beauty flowers starting to bloom

5/09/22 - first painted turtle rescue from Hwy 51 - hummingbirds in Presque Isle - first yearling fawn

5/02/22 - Ice is off the lake and spring peepers are in full swing

4/25/22  - wood frogs and peeper calling

4/24/22 - salamanders in the ponds in the forest - eggs being laid

4/22/22 - Loons reported to be back in what little open water we have

4/18/22 - hermit thrushes and yellow rumped warblers singing