North Woods Phenology

Series produced by WTIP

Series image
Image by: Martha Marnocha 

Phenologist Chel Anderson shares information and insights about the great outdoors in Northeastern Minnesota

The features range from 5-10 minutes. We have chosen to share the features that have a wide appeal.


388 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Early spring scene
March was a warm one. Spring seemed to be in a hurry to get here. As such many birds and plants also started early. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shor...

Bought by Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Mar 27, 2012
  • Length: 07:24
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: North Shore ice
Moving from February into March, there are many natural phenomena occurring as we edge to spring. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio ...

  • Added: Feb 28, 2012
  • Length: 06:29
Caption: Black-capped chickadee
Are chickadees being fussy when they pick up a seed at your feeder and drop it for another? What to blue jays do with all those seeds they gulp dow...

Bought by Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Feb 23, 2012
  • Length: 07:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Beavers in winter
Some mammals like beavers and muskrats can get wet in the winter with no apparent problems. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke ...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Feb 14, 2012
  • Length: 08:07
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Black bear
True hibernators and especially black bears, are giving birth this time of year. They have a special feature that helps them birth in winter. Jay A...

Bought by KSRQ, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Jan 26, 2012
  • Length: 07:11
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Male pine grosbeak
Unlike their raucous evening grosbeak relatives, pine grosbeaks are calm, melodious and are generally better mannered. Jay Andersen of WTIP North S...

  • Added: Jan 17, 2012
  • Length: 08:02
Caption: Bobcat
The Arrowhead has three large cats, and one of them seems to be more apparent this winter. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke t...

Bought by KSRQ, Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota, and WDSE


  • Added: Jan 10, 2012
  • Length: 07:06
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Winter in the wilderness
We’re coming to the end of the year, and there are plenty of changes and activities to look for when we’re out on winter walks. Jay Andersen of WTI...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Dec 20, 2011
  • Length: 06:45
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Mink by the lakeshore
There’s a very busy member of the weasel family that populates our lakeshores and streams. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke t...

Bought by KSRQ and WDSE


  • Added: Dec 13, 2011
  • Length: 05:50
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Flying squirrel
They’re small, secretive soft and they can fly – or at least glide a good distance. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to loca...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Nov 29, 2011
  • Length: 07:26
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Autum willow
The woods and wetlands are full of willow species. One of them keeps its catkins well into winter – and that’s a good way to identify them. Jay And...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Nov 23, 2011
  • Length: 06:55
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Lake Superior herring
When Scandinavian immigrants came to the north shore, they brought with them remembrances of herring fishing in the oceans. Lake Superior herring a...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Nov 15, 2011
  • Length: 07:12
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Evening grosbreak feeding young
For years evening grosbeaks have been common at local birdfeeders. Not so much recently. Is the decline just a cycle or a major change for these co...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Nov 08, 2011
  • Length: 07:10
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Stand of birch
The paper birch is an iconic symbol of the north shore and north woods. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist ...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Nov 01, 2011
  • Length: 07:37
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Northern shrike
Fall moves toward winter – sometimes in slow motion, sometimes quickly. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Oct 25, 2011
  • Length: 07:23
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Autumn leaves
If trees didn’t lose their leaves in the fall, a whole lot of good things on the forest floor just wouldn’t happen. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Sho...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Oct 18, 2011
  • Length: 06:44
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Wolly aphid
Tiny bluish insects with skirts and millions of very small moths. It’s autumn on the North Shore. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio ...

  • Added: Oct 11, 2011
  • Length: 07:39
Caption: Tamaracks along the shore
Along the roadsides and out in the lowlands, the golden tree we see are tamaracks. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local ...

Bought by KSRQ and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Oct 04, 2011
  • Length: 07:00
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Short-tailed shrew
They’re small – even tiny – but bundles of energy and this time of year you can see them scurrying about in search of food. Jay Andersen of WTIP No...

  • Added: Sep 27, 2011
  • Length: 07:32
Caption: Woodchuck
Bears hibernate, but many don’t consider them true hibernators. We do have three mammals locally who truly hibernate. WTIPs Jay Andersen spoke to l...

Bought by WRNC-LP, KSRQ, and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Sep 21, 2011
  • Length: 06:47
  • Purchases: 3