Notes from Ney: The Ney Nature Center Blog

As someone who feels like December is going by so quickly – I also love the slow down of the winter season. If you are looking for some good advice on surviving and thriving in the cold season, NPR’s LifeKit released a great episode called “How to thrive, not just survive in winter”. One of the pieces of advice they have is to find things you love to do in the winter and are more fun when it is cold outside. At Ney Nature Center, we have so many things we can only do in winter, and that is the joy we have surrounding all of our seasonal activities.

While the park is open year-round, and we are always in support of a hike, only in winter can you enjoy the park via snowshoes or cross-country (nordic) skis. With a few miles of groomed xc ski trails and many more miles of snowshoe & hiking trails, we love the new visitors that we only get during these months, drawn in by the new way to enjoy the park. If you’ve never snowshoed or xc skied before, no problem! We have equipment for rental once the snow has settled and the trails are groomed, so you can try it out at a low cost before investing in your own pair. Open 7 days a week, with late hours on Thursdays, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. In addition, if you would rather take a class, we have options for youth and adults. Starting on January 23rd, we will have once-weekly Youth Nordic Ski Club for 4 weeks for ages 8-14 years. Those 15 and up are welcome to join us for a 3-hour workshop on January 25th covering the basics of xc skiing, focusing on technique. 

Not into skiing but want to enjoy the outdoors as a part of a class at Ney? Families may be interested in our upcoming winter break classes, listed below in the graphic. Otherwise, we also have monthly Tiny Trekker (4-6yrs) and Nature Detective (7-11yrs) classes covering a variety of topics, including Snow, Crows, and Maple Syrup!

Everyone is welcome at Snowshoe Saturdays, a monthly program beginning in January where you can explore different parts of the park with a naturalist. We also welcome adults to look into our Lifelong Learner Lunches, another monthly program, with these taking place in the education building, focused on new topics each month, including Zoos, Chimney Swifts, and Extremophiles.

If you aren’t able to make our classes, we always love to see visitors enjoying the park. It is open for free to the public from 6am-10pm 365 days a year, and park maps are available on our website, as well as in the kiosks in the parking lots. In the winter, please make a note to only use the snowshoe/hiking trails when the xc ski trails are groomed. It makes it much harder to ski when the trails have been flattened! 

In summary, there is so much to do at Ney Nature Center in the winter, we hope you take at least some joy in this weather and appreciate the snow and cold while it lasts (it also kills off the ticks!) Don’t hesitate to reach out for trail recommendations or with any questions you may have. Happy Winter!

We are settling into the season with our annual Ney Winter Bird Count.  This will be our 28th year counting birds as part of the larger National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  The CBC is the longest running citizen science project in the world, with this winter’s count being the 125th CBC.  Our Winter Bird Count will be held on Saturday December 14th this year.  We will be meeting at the Education Building for a brunch and presentation to celebrate.  People are welcome to stay and count at our feeders, go out together in groups, or hike through the park with Ney Center staff to look for birds.  It is going to be an exciting day!

We are still coming up with our menu, so make sure that you specify any dietary restrictions that you have during the registration process.  You are welcome to register online or in person until December 10th.  Please register ahead of the event so that we can ensure that we have enough food for everyone.  We will, of course, have coffee.  🙂

We will kick the event off with a presentation by staff members on the history of the CBC as well as our count here at Ney before handing the floor over to Art and Barb Straub.  They will be giving us an update as to what they have observed already before moving on to talk about birds.  They will be focusing on Shrikes, Bluejays, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Snow Buntings.

The CBC started as an alternative to a tradition of “side-hunts” which occurred around Christmas in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  What had started as a way to supplement a family’s winter food supply eventually became a competitive sporting day.  Hunters would gather up in groups and form teams.  The goal was to go out in these teams and see how many different animals the hunters could shoot in one day.  This was, understandably, devastating to wildlife populations.  Concerned by the reduction of bird populations, naturalist Frank Chapman convinced other hunters to participate in a bird count instead of a side hunt, and the CBC was born.  With only 27 counters, 18,500 birds from 90 different species were counted.  This kicked off a new tradition that has spread worldwide.

Our Winter Bird Count started 28 years ago thanks to Larry Granger, Barb & Art Straub, Ollie Heitkamp, and other passionate birders.  With the help of many dedicated naturalists and volunteers, we managed to establish a solid tradition here at Ney.  Over the years we have seen our winter bird populations change with many bird species that used to migrate now overwintering locally.  From Blue Herons to American Robins, we have seen a variety of different species that have started to delay their migration or skip it altogether.

Overall, this continues to be a wonderful opportunity to get involved in birding, and we are always happy to welcome new birders to the event! 

At Ney Nature Center, we’re all about growing, learning, and working together to create one-of-a-kind experiences for our community. Every year, we are so excited for the Minnesota Naturalist Association (MNA) Conference—a big event that brings together environmental educators, naturalists, and outdoor lovers from all over Minnesota. It’s a place to learn, connect, and get inspired. Over the years, our staff has been heavily involved, not just attending but also stepping up as Workshop Coordinator, Conference Coordinator, and even President!

The conference is always a treasure trove of knowledge, with sessions led by local experts diving into Minnesota’s biodiversity. Topics range from climate change and wildlife tracking to indigenous knowledge and how to engage diverse audiences. Plus, there are hands-on workshops where you can try out bird banding, nature journaling, and habitat restoration. We always come back with more ideas than we can count for the nature center.

This year’s conference, held November 15-17 at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN, didn’t disappoint. With over 6,300 acres of stunning landscapes—glacial hills, lakes, rivers, and bogs—it was the perfect spot. If you haven’t visited, add it to your list!

Our crew joined more than 130 other outdoor educators for the weekend, soaking up the sense of community and shared passion. Here are some of our favorite sessions:

• Eva: How to do a Raptor Program without Giving Folks the Bird by Brett Sieberer and Pam Welisevich
• Liz: Summer Camp for All: Amazing Parks Adventure Camp by Katie Frías
• Madi: Canids 101: Ecology of Minnesota’s Wild Dogs by Griffin Bray
• Sara: Culturally Responsive Teaching in Nature by Josh Leonard, Amanda Herrera-Gundale, and Oakley Biesanz
• Sam, and Beth: TBD—some folks weren’t in the office when this was written. Sorry, team!

Other highlights? Networking with amazing people, a cozy bonfire sing-along, hiking to the bog to check out beaver dams and carnivorous plants, and spotting so many porcupines.

Spending a weekend surrounded by nature and learning reminds us why we do what we do: to share our love for the outdoors and inspire others to protect it. Huge thanks to the Minnesota Naturalist Association for putting on such a fantastic event. We’re already looking forward to next year!

With the temperature outside slowly going down, bears are getting ready for winter. Not drown or black bears, woolly bears! You may have noticed more of what many refer to as woolly bear caterpillars in the fall, but how much do you really know about these adorable insects?

There are many different types of “woolly bear” caterpillars but the most common one and the one that we’ll be referring to is the banded woolly bear that becomes the isabella tiger moth. The scientific name of these caterpillars/moths is Pyrrharctia isabella. Isabella tiger moths range from southern Canada throughout the United States and into northern Mexico. Tiger Moths are a common species found in Minnesota but are more commonly found in the fall as their larval stage as caterpillars. With black bristles or “setae” on both ends and a ring of reddish brown in the middle, these caterpillars can easily be distinguished from others. 

While it has been said that the colors on a woolly bear caterpillar can be used to predict the winter, no evidence supports this theory. (The amount of black on the ends is more likely related to age.) While they may not help us prepare for the winter ahead, these amazing creatures are more than well-equipped for whatever Minnesota winters can throw at them. The setae that cover the bodies of woolly bears and give them their name are used to detect freezing temperatures. When these low temperatures are detected the caterpillar uses “cryoprotectants” to protect its vital organs. These cryoprotectants work like a natural antifreeze and according to the National Weather Service, can keep woolley bears alive at temperatures as low as -90℉. With this ability, woolly bears are even able to live in the Arctic! 

Winter is not the only challenge for the woolly bear though, many predators are undeterred by the hairs that cover their bodies. Parasitic wasps, mantids, and other insects feed on woolly bears. As an adult, the moth lacks the hairs and colors that prevent some larger predators like birds from eating them. The other dangers of course are habitat loss, climate change, and toxins such as pesticides. 

These moths will go through two life cycles each year, the latter being the generation that must survive the winter. After hibernating, the caterpillar will continue to eat and grow before pupating and creating a cocoon. It takes 1-3 weeks for the adult moth to emerge from the cocoon, find a mate, and lay eggs. As an adult, the female moths use a scent to attract a mate. The males fly in a zig-zag pattern to help detect this scent. Once ready the female will find a place to lay her eggs and the male will search for another mate.  After hatching out of the egg, the small larva (caterpillar) begins eating, growing, and shedding. When ready it will pupate and begin the cycle over again. 

At each life cycle these insects consume different food. As a caterpillar, they eat a variety of leafy plants and foliage. The adults, without the proper mouthparts to chew on plants, drink nectar from flowers. Nectar also has a high sugar content which can help give the moths the energy they need to fly. The eggs and pupal stages, of course, do not eat which makes it essential for the caterpillars to find enough food to give them energy for this transformation. 

While woolly bears are very common to find at this time, there are some lookalikes to keep your eyes out for as well. The caterpillar of the giant leopard moth looks similar to banded woolly bears but is all black. It curls in defense very similar to the woolly bear revealing red bands under its setae. 

This individual was recently found at Ney crawling through some leaf litter and grass:

Alternatively, you may encounter a “yellow bear” of an entirely yellow woolly bear that will become a Virginian tiger moth. No matter what the individual, I always recommend knowing what you are picking up before touching it. Some individuals such as the dagger moth have hairs that can cause stinging or itching. They can be identified by long black tufts that contrast the west of their yellow hairs. It’s important to remember that they don’t want to hurt you and can be observed with just a little space. 

Even though many of our insects have left for the year, we still have time to find some that will be spending the winter here with us. And, If you’d like to help these fuzzy friends stay safe over the winter, wait until next spring to remove the leaves from your yard!

Welcome to the end of Spooky Season!  With all of the Halloween decorations that have bats in them, I thought that this would be a great time to talk about these amazing creatures. While all of the species of bats that live in MN are insectivores, bats are also excellent pollinators and seed dispersers world wide.  Often given a bad reputation in stories, shows, and movies, bats are wonderful members of their biotic community.  Without them, we would have more insects, less fruit, and less flowering plants.

Bats are the most numerous mammals after rodents, composing an estimated 20% of the worldwide mammal population.  They are the only mammals capable of true flight (as opposed to gliding) thanks to highly modified hands.  Bat wings are more flexible than bird wings, allowing them to be very agile fliers.  They live 3.5 times longer than other mammals of similar size and bat sizes cover an impressively wide range.  The smallest bat in the world, Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat, is about the size and weight of a bumblebee.  The largest bat in the world, the Golden Crowned Flying Fox, weighs 3.5 pounds and has a wingspan of 5’7”.

Bats have one pregnancy a year, usually birthing a single pup.  Birthing is done in a horizontal or head up position so that gravity can assist with the delivery.  The pup can be up to 40% of the mother’s body weight at birth.  The pelvic girdle is attached by a ligament allowing it to expand to accommodate the pup.   Pups are born rear-end first and then are cradled by the mother in her wing and tail membranes.  Some scientists speculate that this prevents the wings getting tangled during birth.

Bat populations are in decline worldwide due to habitat loss and the rise of disease.  Climate change is also affecting bats, with changing temperatures resulting in populations leaving previous ranges to move to more hospitable ones.  Evening Bats, which were previously thought to only live as far north as Illinois, have been found moving steadily north into MN and were found in Ramsey County in 2016. (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/bats.html)

The Big Brown Bat is the most common species of bat found in MN.  They commonly roost in buildings in the Summer and will return to these roosts year after year.  These seasonal roosts are referred to as maternity roosts or maternity sites.  Big Brown Bats are often seen in urban areas roosting in buildings, barns, bridges, bat boxes, and tree cavities.  They are the only bats in MN who can hibernate in buildings, but will also overwinter in caves and mines.  While Big Brown Bats are susceptible to White Nose Syndrome, it has not affected their population as much as other MN bats. White Nose Syndrome has devastated some of our state’s bat populations.

White Nose Syndrome is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd for short.  (https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/what-is-white-nose-syndrome)  This fungus prefers to grow in cold, moist places.  The overwintering sites for many North American bats fit these criteria very well.  When the fungus infects a colony it will grow on the faces and exposed (not furry) parts of the body.  This is very irritating to the bat and results in them coming out of hibernation early as their body temperature rises to fight off the fungus.  The higher body temperature burns off their food reserves that they need to survive the winter.  The bats are often unable to re-enter hibernation and are observed engaging in erratic behavior.  This erratic behavior has led to the name White Nose Syndrome.  For more information on White Nose Syndrome and the fungus that causes it, please visit the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team website at https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/.  I strongly encourage you to educate yourself on White Nose Syndrome prevention to help protect our bats the next time you visit a cave, mine, or other known roosting site.

I hope that you have enjoyed learning about bats!  While they are tucked away for hibernation now (or they soon will be), these wonderful creatures will grace our skies again in the Spring once the insects return.  Have a great day, and Happy Halloween!