Global Course!

There is a new on-line course coming up this summer from the University of Minnesota that you might like to enroll in if you are interested in  food production.

You can find more information here!

Nature--Good for the Head!

There is some new research on the value of nature to the human brain. The research is really interesting! Check it out here. I ventured into the Bethel Highland's forest recently, on skis! Bethel's forest has many trees, among them white oak. It would be interesting to do a survey of the types of flora in the woods. Buckthorn, an invasive species, is also prevalent in the forest and should be removed to sustain biodiversity of native plants. I'll be writing more about invasive plants in the next entry.

But, if you would like to understand the biology of invasive plants, watch the recent Nature video and pay attention to what is happening on rangeland in Montana.

The Spring Melt Has Begun

The spring weather we have been having has started to reduce the snow piles around Bethel Highlands to provide much needed moisture to the land!  The photos of the prairie below were taken in mid-March. The lower picture is a photo of a deer trail, which, when followed, revealed areas where the deer had spent the night under cedar trees.

 

Also, here is a link to a talk presented at the U of MN that I mentioned in an earlier blog. There are many other interesting environmental presentations found here too! Happy Spring!

Bald Eagles at Highlands!

Yesterday, around 3 PM, I saw two Bald Eagles catching some afternoon sun in the trees at Bethel Highlands. They stayed there for at least 15 minutes or so, long enough for me to pass them by and get my good camera to take these photos. I have often seen them flying over the area, but this is the first time I have observed them roosting in the trees at  Highlands!

I wasn't the only one stopped to watch them; the pair captivated several passers by! For more information on eagles in the our area, check out the 2011 eagle and osprey survey by the Wisconsin DNR. Information on summer viewing by the Minnesota DNR is also available on-line.