Why not start a phenology journal at home? Each day over dinner perhaps, your family can share your observations from the day and write them down. Next year you’ll be able to look at your notes and compare to this year. Did it snow sooner or later than last year? When did you hear the first robin?

Here are a few things to look for throughout the month of January.

THIS WINTER

Snowy owls have migrated to the upper Midwest from the Arctic regions in search of food.  Bird watchers can spot them in flat, grassy plains where they are known to next on the ground.  Biologists urge watchers to keep their distance so the owls are not frightened.

FIRST WEEK, JANUARY 1-7

• Pheasants can be seen feeding in corn stubble fields and picking up roadside gravel to assist in digestion.

SECOND WEEK, JANUARY 8-14

• Great horned owls begin to set nesting territories – pairs can be heard hooting duets.
• White-tailed deer bucks drop their antlers.  Those bucks that do not drop their antlers this month will retain them until March.
• Leopard frogs hibernate beneath ponds for the rest of the winter.

THIRD WEEK, JANUARY 15-21

• Winter birds are fond of suet offered at feeding stations.
• In Northeastern Minnesota, common ravens display aerial performances and songs – part of a ritual they partake in as they make their way to their nighttime roost sites.

FOURTH WEEK, JANUARY 22-28

• Northern cardinals and black-capped chickadee’s begin singing their spring songs.
  • Northern cardinals: “what-cheer, cheer, cheer…”
  • Black-capped chickadees: “fee-bee”
  • Snow buntings can be seen in large flocks throughout northwest Minnesota

FIFTH WEEK, JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4

• American crows display communal roosting habits – roosting in large flocks (15 or more), every morning they disperse to find food, and then return at sunset for the evening.
• Raccoons begin to wake from their dormancy.

Source: Freshwater Society – Weatherguide

12:30 Creature Feature

2:00 River Otter Snacktime

4:00 Freshwater Stingray Feeding or St. Louis River Feeding

Animal care may require last minute program changes or substitutions.

Visiting on a Wednesday? Click here for the Wednesday schedule.

Check out our 2012 Summer Camps!

Click here to see what’s happening.

Join us on March 3 for an “otterly” great time.

Special shows, otter activities and the chance to meet the mascots!

Check out the schedule here.