"Wacouta Prairie A Pollinator Haven"

With prescribed burns taking place in two sections over the past two springs, the prairie has sprung to life with numerous colorful prairie forbs.  These prairie plants are offering a wealth of opportunities for numerous pollinating insects.

Monarch And Giant Blue Hyssop

This prairie plant attracts a variety of pollinators and is tolerant of browsing deer.  One individual plant is capable of producing up to 90,000 flowers.  While monarch sightings the first half of the summer were few and far between,  since the prairie has come to life sightings are more common.

Monarchs roosting on pine trees

From August 21 thru 23, I started to notice a big influx of migrating monarchs roosting in the tree line of our yard next to the hiking trail. Evidently, the butterflies are spending the day feeding out over the prairie. As the sun goes down, they seek protection of the trees against colder temps and possible night breezes.

On the evening of August 22, I received a call from our neighbors Steve and Sue Betcher who were on a short walk. In a distance of less than 100 yards from Lakeview  Ave, they counted no less than 100 roosting monarchs!  This is an exciting time of the year.

Bumblebee And Giant Blue Hyssop

The crushed leaves of hyssop give off the sweet smell of anise.  The anise scented leaves can be used for making a refreshing tea.

Bumble Bee On Wild Bergamot

This prairie plant is sometimes referred to as bee balm.  Wild bergamot is considered medicinal by many Native Americans.  The leaves are frequently made into a tea to treat colds and other respiratory conditions.

Sideoats Grama

The prescribed burns in the prairie not only stimulated the growth of the colorful forbs, it had a profound impact on prairie grasses.  As you walk along the trail, you will notice grass with erect stems and oat like seed spikes which hang from just one side of the stems.  These seed spikes are purplish color now and change to a tan color by fall.

In the background of this photo, you will notice the much taller prairie grass known as Big Bluestem.  This species of grass was one of four main grasses in the original Midwestern prairies.

American Goldfinch

The American goldfinches are one of our latest nesting birds.  Most seed eating birds feed their young nestlings insects.  However, goldfinches feed their young seeds which have been shelled and partially digested.  These seeds are regurgitated into the mouths of hungry babies.

Bull Thistle

By the month of August, milkweeds have gone to seed and are used to line the nest by the females.  A couple of weeks later, the thistles have also gone to seed and provide a major food source for the young birds. 

Trumpeter Swans

On my Nature Notes post of November 18, 2024, I mentioned trumpeter swans are native to Southern Minnesota and have made an incredible comeback since the 1960's.  

In the winter, large numbers of these swans are attracted to our area because of the open water on the Mississippi River and available food in picked cornfields nearby.

With the arrival of nesting season, they spread out and seek small isolated ponds and lakes.  On July 29th, Kathy and I observed our first ever trumpeters swimming on Wacouta Pond.  There were no signs of any young cygnets.

Bluebirds on Trail Photo by Steve Betcher

In the immediate area, we had a very productive year for bluebirds using artificial nesting boxes.  As we get later into the summer, some of the insect populations bluebirds have depended upon to feed their young start to decline.  

At this point, adult bluebirds start to transition to a diet of fruits and berries to supplement the diets of their young nestlings.  By gathering in flocks, they are more successful locating and securing  these new foods.  While on the trail on July 24, Steve Betcher took this photo of ten bluebirds in a small area.

Bald Eagle Swimming Video Provided by Nancy Barth

Nancy Barth has provided a video of an eagle swimming in the lake out in front of their home.  This behavior is fairly unusual, but not that all uncommon.  If eagles encounter a fish in the water too heavy to lift off and fly to shore, swimming with it in their grasp is the next best option for a good meal.

One cold January day I was volunteering for the VCB Eagle Watch at Colvill Park, I was fortunate to observe similar behavior.  

An immature bald eagle was feeding on a large carp at the edge of the ice when an adult eagle dove down and attacked the young bird.  Immediately after chasing the young eagle away from the fish, the adult tried to fly away with the food.  With  a very short flight, it landed in the open water.

It wasn't long before it decided to grasp the fish with it's talons and start swimming across the open water to another shelf of ice.  My only regret was not having a video camera.

Doe Deer with Triplets Photo by Nancy Barth

Nancy Barth has once again contributed to Nature Notes.  In full disclosure, her amazing photo was taken in Vasa township not Wacouta.