Green Herons, Amazingly Enough

What: Amazingly enough, a pair of Green Herons are nesting in a pine tree, with a view of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Where: Hoping that these birds will successfully raise their young, I won't be too specific about the exact location. Except to say that it is remarkable they didn't choose a spot further from city noise and disruption.

When: After repeat sightings on May 9, 10, and 11, we're concluding that these herons are not just passing through --- they are established residents with a nest and hopefully offspring.

Observers: Christina, Rachel, Abbie

Open Phenology is now micro-blogging!

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Christina and I went nest-spotting in the arbor vitae hedges that line the Garden's four courtyards. We saw one aggressive Common Grackle chasing a Gray Squirrel. We saw a silent Mourning Dove on its nest. And we saw an anxious, vocal pair of Common Grackles, possibly with their nestling? Wish I could be more confident about this observation, but the individual was obscured by foliage and I didn't have my binoculars.

Suggested Reading: Microattention by a Contemplative Scientist

http://ttbook.org/book/david-george-haskell-forest-unseen

An inspiring interview with author David George Haskell discussing his book The Forest Unseen: A Year's Watch in Nature.

New landmarks on the Field

Last Thursday, there was a dedication ceremony for the Walker's newest outdoor sculptures, Jim Hodges' Untitled (2011). I'm curious about how these structures will alter the micro-environment for birds, plants, and insects.

Panoramic view of the newly installed sculptures
Photo courtesy Greg Beckel's blog post, Walker Art Center

Meanwhile, in the Garden

I've recently seen a few things in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden that are worth noting.

What: American Robin with partial leucism
Where: by the grove where the Pierre Huyghe chimes are installed
When: Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 and 19, both times seen in the morning
Observer: Abbie and Lindsay

Photo by Steve Burt, Flickr

What: Red Admiral Butterflies
Where: the Arlene Grossman Memorial Arobr
When: Wednesday, April 18, about 9: 20 am
Observer: Abbie and Lindsay

Photo by David Maher, Flickr

What: Chipping Sparrow
Where: atop a pine tree, near the Arbor at the north edge of the Garden
When: Friday, April 20, about 8:20 am
Observer: Abbie

It's Lilac Time

May  12, 2011

April 13, 2012

What: Lilacs flowering. Though in other parts of town I've seen lilac buds opening since about April 7, these individuals were slower to flower.
Where: At the southwest corner of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and across the street, these lilac shrubs are part of the condo building's meticulous landscaping.
When: The photo on the right was taken this year, on Friday, April 13 at about 11:45 am. The photo at left was taken last year. The discrepancy in timing (about 4 weeks) is just one of several indicators of the early and fast-paced spring we've had this year.
Observer: Abbie
Conditions: Overcast, cool, and precipitation sprinkled throughout the day

From bloom to seed

What: Today is the first day I've seen dandelion flowers gone to seed. When I spotted the season's first open blooms on April 2, I made a promise to record the timing of the next stage.
Where: These tall stems were growing along the west edge of Cowles Conservatory in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
When: Wednesday, April 11, at about 3:30 pm
Observer: Abbie
Conditions: Sunny but brisk. Last night brought frost.