Phenology

Observations by Gary Fewless for Green Bay WI (Lat.N 44.51° Long. W 88.02° ), except as noted. For flowers lacking conspicuous petals or sepals I define "anthesis" as release of pollen by mature anthers.

April 2001

Observations by Gary Fewless, except as noted

Date	Observation (Click on links for photos)
Apr30	Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) in flower, Cabbage Butterfly, UWGB (Gary Fewless). Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Towhees, Antigo, Langlade County (Alicia Bailey, via Wisbirdnet ). Baltimore Oriole, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Veery, Warblers: (Northern Parula, Cape May, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat, Golden-Winged) Yellow-Throated Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Solitary Sandpiper, lower Green Bay area (Andy Paulios). Warblers: (Tennesee, Blackburnian, Chesnut-sided, Northern Waterthrush) Blue-Headed Vireo, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Wilson's Phalarope City of Green Bay, Bay Beach (Dennis Keucherer and Joan Grant via WisbirdNET) Black and White and Parula Warlblers, Least Flycatcher, Vilas County (Jim Baughman).
Apr29	Hepatica, Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) in flower in Forest, Florence, and Oconto counties (Andy Paulios) Warblers: (Yellow, Black and White, Blue-Winged, Bay-Breasted, Nashville, Orange-Crowned) Empidonax flycatcher (Willow/Alder), Dunlins, Warbling Vireo, Point au Sauble (Andy Paulios) Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata) in flower, Town of Cooperstown, Manitowoc Co (Joel Trick).
Apr28	Alpine Violet (Viola conspersa), Toothwort (Dentaria diphylla), Cypress Spurge(Euphorbia cyparissias) in flower, UWGB (Gary Fewless). Hog-nosed Snake, Shawano (Joel Whitehouse) Bobolinks, Manitowoc County, Maribel/Cooperstown area. (Charlie Geiger via wisbirdnet). Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Oneida County; Black-Throated Green Warbler, Forest and Oconto Counties; Bank Swallows, Brown Co, Ken Euers Wildlife Area (Andy Paulios). Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), Town of Cooperstown, Manitowoc Co (Joel Trick). Last day for Tree Sparrows at my feeders, Brown County, Allouez (Gary Fewless).
Apr27	Swamp Red Currant (Ribes triste), Yellow Rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) in flower UWGB (Gary Fewless) Sand Violet (Viola adunca), Shawano (Joel Whitehouse) Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) calling, Brown Thrasher, Merlin flew over, being harassed by a crow, Town of Cooperstown, Manitowoc Co (Joel Trick). Whipoorwill, Vilas County (Jom Baughman).
Apr26	Gray Catbird, lower Green Bay (Andy Paulios) Red Admiral Butterfly, UWGB (Gary Fewless). Toads singing, Prairie Pond, UWGB (Gary Fewless) In flower, UWGB: Wood Anemone (Anemone Quinquefolia), Spring Beauty (Claytonia viriginica), Gill-over-the-ground (Glechoma hederacea), Gary Fewless. Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, N. Rough-winged Swallow. Ice is out on Trout Lake so it is probably off all Vilas Lake by now (Jim Baughman) Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), and Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)Town of Cooperstown, Manitowoc Co (Joel Trick).
Apr25	Sora, Brown Co., Allouez, an overnight road-kill near the East River (Gary Fewless). Soras common at Sensiba, Andy Paulios. Cattle Egret, Brown County, Spartan Road near UWGB; Semipalmated Plover, Palm Warbler, Brown Co, Ken Euers Wildlife Area (Andy Paulios). Willet and Piping Plovers, Northern Waterthrush, Brown Co, Ken Euers Wildlife Area. Savannah and Vesper Sparrows are back, Green Bay area. Box elder (Acer negundo) in flower, Allouez; Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), Purple Spring-cress (Cardamine douglassii), Cut-leaved Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata), False Rue Anemone (Isopyrum biternatum), UWGB (Gary Fewless). Palm Warbler, Vilas Co (Jim Baughman)
Apr24	Green Heron, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (Jay Roberts ) Green Heron, Purple Martin, Palm Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, House Wren, Point au Sauble (Andy Paulios and Rusty Japuntich) Field sparrow, Oconto Co, Mountain area; Eastern Towhee, Brown Co., Sensiba Wildlife Area (Andy Paulios). Sedge Wren, Marinette Co, Green Bay shoreline (Marty Evanson) Black-throated Green Warbler, Leopard Frog, Vilas Co (Jim Baughman).
Apr23	Chimney Swift, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Purple Finches (?), Point au Sauble (Andy Paulios). Spring Azure butterfly, UWGB (Gary Fewless) Forsythia flowering, Allouez (Gary Fewless) 4 Double-crested Cormorants, and 10+ Greater Yellowlegs in Vilas Co. (Jim Baughman)
Apr22	Spring Azure butterfly (1), Brown County Reforestation Camp; Black-crowned Night Heron (1), Sensiba Wildlife Area, (Joan Berkopec and Ron Eichhorn) American Toads, City of Green Bay (Andy Paulios) Flock of Greater Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers in Shiocton, Andy Paulios. Prairie Willow (Salix humilis) in flower, UWGB (Gary Fewless) 5 Horned Grebes on Franklin Lake and a Pine Warbler singing by the shelter at Franklin Campground/Picnic area. I heard a Greater Yellowlegs, Haymeadow Flowage, Forest Co(Jim Baughman).
Apr21	Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba), Manitowoc Co, Cooperstown (Joel Trick) ; Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) in flower along 172 in city of GB (Joel Trick) Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly, Plants Hepaticas, Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) and Leatherwood (Dirca palustris) flowering, Peninsula Park, Door Co. (Joan Berkopec and Ron Eichhorn) Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), releasing spores, UWGB (Gary Fewless) About 500 Ringneck Ducks (at least) on Upper and Lower Ninemile lakes (Vilas County) along with some Lesser Scaup, 4 Canvasbacks, Coots, Black Ducks and a Wigeon (as well as other duck species that have been around for awhile already. I also had a Broad-winged hawk fly over calling (in the woods) at Lower 9mile (Jim Baughman).
Apr 20	Forster's Terns and Caspian Terns, Bonaparte's Gulls, Squill (Scilla sibirica) in flower, Point au Sauble (Andy Paulios)
Apr 19	New in flower on UWGB: American Elm (Ulmus americana), Large-toothed Aspen (Populus grandidentata), Pussy Willow (Salix discolor), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). First Suckers in Mahon Creek, UWGB. First day for Wood Ticks, Shawano (Joel Whitehouse) Thousands of migrating Canada Geese overhead in Forest and Florence counties; Lesser Scaup, Gordon Lake, Forest County (Andy Paulios). American Bittern, Shawano (Joel Whitehouse)
Apr 18	Snapping Turtle and Painted Turtle basking, Brown County, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve (Steve Price); .
Apr 17	Great Egret, Brown Co., Duck Creek at Hwy 41 bridge (Andy Paulios) Osprey, Forest Co, Laona (Andy Paulios) Broad-winged Hawk, Manitowoc Co, Cooperstown (Joel Trick) Turkey Vulture/Osprey/Sharp-Shinned Hawks, Eagle River; Northern Saw-whet Owl, Vilas County - East of Phelps (Andy Paulios) Black Crowned Night Heron, Sensiba Wildlife Area (Joan Grant via Wisbirdnet)
Apr 16	Snow flurries and overnight (into the 17th) enough snow to whiten lawns in Green Bay. Red-necked Grebe, Lake Minocqua (Paul W. Bowman Jr). Fox Sparrow, Vilas County (Jim Baughman).
Apr 15	Painted Lady butterfly, Brown County, Allouez (Gary Fewless); Yellow-headed Black Bird, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, Eared Grebe, Brown Co, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve (Andy Paulios); Caspian Tern, Marinette (Cynthia Bridge on "Wisbird") Osprey,a pair of Green-winged Teal, a Hooded Merganser, Vilar County, Jim Baughman.
Apr 14	Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Brown County, UWGB (Gary Fewless); Chipping Sparows, Manitowoc Co, Cooperstown (Joel Trick). Winter Wren, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Bluebird, Common Loon, Tundra Swan, Vilas County (Jiim Baughman) Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs, Winter Wrens singing, Headwaters Wilderness area (Andy Paulios) Ruby-crowned kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers, white-throated sparrows, a female cowbird, Swainson's thrush, yellow-bellied sapsucker, Door County (Charlotte Lukes on "Wisc Birders Network").
Apr13	Barn Swallow, Osprey, White Throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Brown County, Pt Au Sauble, also Northern Goshhawk (Andy Paulios); Chipping Sparrow, City GB (Amy Wolf); The first Dandelion in flower, Brown County, UWGB (Gary Fewless) in a lawn on south facing slope adjacent to a brick building (ie it warms very early there). Ruffed Grouse drumming, northern Oconto Co, (Andy Paulios). Yellow-rumped Warbler, Flicker, Y-bellied Sapsucker, Phoebe, Snipe, Rusty Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Blue-winged Teal, No. Pintail, No. Shoveler, Tree Swallow and Rough-legged Hawk, all from Vilas County (Jim Baughman)
Apr 12	Common Loon, Wood Duck, Hermit Thrush (calling), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (saw, then heard singing), Eagle River (Jim Baughman). Turkey Vulture in Vilas County. Red-backed salamander, Door County, Baileys Harbor area (Steve Price)
Apr 11	Beacked hazel (Corylus cornuta), Brown County, Allouez (Gary Fewless). Windy days with light rain, have essentially stopped development of plants, Green Bay.
Apr 10	Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa) in flower, UWGB (Gary Fewless). Leopard Frogs singing, many Rusty Blackbirds and at least one singing Brewer's Blackbird, female Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-Breasted Mergansers at Pt Sauble, Brown County. Eastern Bluebird, Song Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, near Eagle River (Ken Damro). First Woodcock displays, Mallards, Eagle River, Jim Baughman. Ruffed Grouse drumming, Vilas Co, flock of 60+ Bohemian Waxwings have been visiting some red cedars at the Vilas County HWY Dept. office the last several days (Jim Baughman).
Apr 09	Common Merganser, near Eagle River (Ken Damro); Song Sparrow, Sandhill Crane, Bufflehead, Ring-neck, Goldeneye, Eagle River (Jim Baughman)
Apr 08	Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs, Chorus Frogs calling at Navarino Wildlife Area, Shawano County (Ron Eichhorn and Joan Berkopec), also at Shawano (Joel Whitehouse); First Spring Peepers calling, Manitowoc County (Joel Trick); Wood Frogs calling Neshota County Park, Brown County (Gary Fewless). Wood Frogs and Peepers, northern Oconto Co. (Andy Paulios) Garter snakes conspicuous on UWGB's Cofrin Arboretum (Rusty Rapuntich). Common Green Darner (Anax junius), Mourning Cloaks and Eastern Commas common throughout the woods, Navarino (Ron Eichhorn and Joan Berkopec). Mourning Cloaks also at Pt Sauble (Steve Price) and Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (Andy Paulios) Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallows, Greater Yellowlegs, Turkey Vultures, Navarino Wildlife Area, Shawano Co. (Ron Eichhorn and Joan Berkopec). Hermit Thrush, Golden and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Northern Flicker, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (Andy Paulios); Ruddy Ducks, lower Green Bay (Andy Paulios). Winter Wrens, Brown County, Pt Sauble (Steve Price) Ice off of Prairie Pond, UWGB (Gary Fewless) and many other ponds in the area, including Manitowoc County (Joel Trick) Many Silver Maples (Acer saccharinum) now in flower throughout the area, and the early individuals of Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa).
Apr 07	Temperatures rise quickly into mid-70's causes a major advance in phenological events (see April 08). Garter Snake, Manitowoc County (Joel Trick); big movement of Turkey Vultures, widely in Wis (Andy Paulios).
Apr 06	Tree Sparrow and Hooded Merganser, Eagle River area (Jim Baughman)
Apr 05	Belted Kingfisher, Brown County, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (Dave Marks). Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Madison, WI, near MATC-Truax Campus (Dave Fallow)
Apr 04	Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) in flower, City GB (Gary Fewless). Last year the same tree (the earliest flowering individual of which I am aware) flowered first on March 6, the earliest date in the last 15 years. The latest date in this period was 0405 in 1996. The average flowering date over this period was March 24. Water striders on Mahon Creek, UWGB (Gary Fewless), last year they were on the same spot beginning March 14. At Pt Sauble, Brown County: Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal, Fox Sparrow, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Loon (Andy Paulios). Woodchucks out and about at Pt Sauble. Northern Pike in Wequiock Creek, Brown County (Andy Paulios). Great Blue Heron and Killdeer near Eagle River (Jim Baughman), the night of 04/04 - 04/05 was the first there that temps did not fall below freezing. Still about 14 inches of snow on the ground in the forest near Eagle River.
Apr 03	Merlin, taking a Starling, south of Suring (Andy Paulios); Kestrel, Eagle River, Jim Baughman.
Apr 02	Scaup (Lesser?) and Buffleheads, Collins Marsh (Brad Helmandollar); female Brown-headed Cowbirds in large numbers, UWGB (Andy Paulios)
Apr 01	American White Pelican, mouth of Fox River; Song Sparrow (many!), Bay Beach shore; American Wigeon, Pulliam Plant wetland (Bob Howe); Northern Shoveler, Schiocton (Gary Fewless) 32 Blue-spotted salamanders (Ambystoma laterale) found on the morning of April 1st despite snow. Last year, the migration began a month earlier, UWGB (Steve Price). East River ice completely off, Beaupre St, Allouez (Gary Fewless). Last year the ice came off 03/05. The average since 1986 is 03/21, the earliest was 02/24/1998(!) and the latest was 04/10/1996. Northern Harrier near Gillet (Andy Paulios).