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.

September 2001

Observations by Gary Fewless, except as noted

Date	Observation (Click on links for photos)
Sep 27	Leaf color is still somewhat low key on the UWGB campus. There is some yellowing of leaves, but many species are still green--the Red Oaks at UWGB in particular are still fully green. The coming weekend will probably be the best for fall leaf color north of Highway 64, and certainly north of Highway 70. Many geese are present in the fields in and around the Green Bay area.
Sep 24	Low temperatures this morning down to about 40 F in Green Bay and colder to the north and inland. Frost predicted tonight (if not freeze). This should result in a rapid turn of leaf color.
Sep 22	Migrant Canada Geese and Yellow-rumped Warblers commonly observed on Friday and Saturday, T. of Cooperstown, Manitowoc County (Joel Trick)
Sep 21	Flocks of migrating Double-crested Cormorants overhead, on the west side of De Pere (Joel Trick).
Sep 14	Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Dark-eyed Juncos noted at Point au Sauble, Brown Co, the beginning of the later migrants. Blue Jays migrating (Andy Paulios). Very high (barely visible) flocks of migrating Canada Geese, T. of Cooperstown, Manitowoc County (Joel Trick).
Sep 13	Migrating Sandhill Cranes flying high over the UWGB campus (Bob Howe). Flocks of Canada Geese feeding morning and evening in fields near the East River, Allouez (Gary Fewless). We have numerous geese that are full-year residents in this area, but no large flocks of geese have been feeding in the Allouez fields before now.
Sep 12	Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) at about maximum color in local fields. Very little color change in the tree leaves in the Green Bay area. This is the latest I can recall for the beginning of Fall colors. Usually by late August people are remarking how some Sumacs or Red Maples are turning red, and other species usually begin to show extensive yellowing by now. A familiar "V" shaped flock of Canada Geese were observed, heading south in Manitowoc Co in the evening (Joel Trick). We do have resident geese in our area, but this may represent the start of the annual southward migration.
Sep 10	New England Aster (Aster Novae-angliae)beginning to flower, Manitowoc Co., Town of Cooperstown (Joel Trick).
Sep 06	The invasive species Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was reported for a pond on UWGB. This species normally only grows outside of cultivation in the extreme southeastern U.S. Apparently someone intentionally introduced this species to the pond on UWGB. All available evidence indicates that Water Hyacinth will not tolerate a hard freeze, so we expect that this problem species will be eliminated in the next few months. The practice of indiscriminate release of plants and animals has historically resulted in a great deal of expense and disruption of natural and agricultural communities. One outcome of this surprizing event is that I will no longer scoff at unlikely reports of new plants or animals. (Gary Fewless)
Sep 03	Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) in flower, Brown County, Baird Creek Park area (Joel Trick).