Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
When you think of Christmas the familiar story of St. Nicholas probably comes to mind. That isn’t the only story though of how Santa came to be. I was listening to a podcast about mushrooms (Mycology (MUSHROOMS) with Tom Volk on Ologies with Alie Ward) and heard about how the story of Santa may have come about because of something a little different – magic mushrooms. I had never heard of this story before so had to do a little research and found all sorts of parallels between the Santa story we all know with St. Nick and the psychedelic mushroom story.
The main character, besides Santa, is the Amanita muscaria mushroom also known as the “most sacred” and “holy mushroom.” This mushroom is a psychedelic mushroom, or magic mushroom, and can be poisonous. It is the iconic looking mushroom with a red cap that has white spots. This story of Santa is from many years ago. Shaman (medicine men, magicians, or sorcerers) in Siberian and Artic regions who wore red robes with white ropes around the waist would give out gifts of dried mushrooms, usually psychedelic mushrooms. They would deliver these gifts around the time of the Winter Solstice. This time of year, there would often be snow blocking the door, so the Shaman would go through openings in the roof to deliver their gifts. Are parts of this story starting to sound familiar? A man from the Artic dressed in red and white clothing, bringing gifts near Christmas time, and dropping in through the roof... These aren’t the only parallels of the Santa story. The Amanita mushroom is found growing under pine trees, which is symbolized as the presents we put under the Christmas tree. The Shaman would dry the mushrooms by hanging them on tree branches, like how we hang ornaments on a tree. Now let’s talk about the reindeer, they’re a big part of the Santa story. Reindeer in the wild have a liking to the Amanita mushroom and seek it out. When people eat the Amanita they get a sensation of flying. So, the question is, do the reindeer also get this sensation, or is it that people see the reindeer when they’re tripping and think the reindeer are flying? And Rudolph, the most well-known reindeer has a red nose, which some say looks like the Amanita mushroom on his nose. Now this last point is a bit far-fetched, but some say that elves are the spirits that a Shaman encountered during a trip. Some think this connection between magic mushrooms and Santa is a bunch of hoopla, while others see a lot of merit to the story. While I was doing my research, I found a lot of information from professors and historians about Shaman and their traditions. There is even a professor at Harvard who gathers his students each year for the Winter Solstice and discusses the magic mushroom Santa story. So now that you’ve heard the story, you’ll have to decide for yourself – is it St. Nick or Santa of the psychedelics? Either way, this is an entertaining story to tell at the Christmas dinner table. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
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The holiday season is upon us meaning it is time for decorations, gifts, food, and more! Although these things bring us great cheer, they can also bring much unnecessary waste. Fear not, there are things we can do to “green up” our holiday and be a little more sustainable and environmentally friendly while not missing out on the festivities. Here are some tips and tricks to get your started on a greener holiday. Not only will these tips help you be more green, but often times that results in saving a little green (money), too.
1. Lights We love to decorate with lights this time of year, maybe it’s because they brighten up the long dark evenings and add a little cheer. When purchasing and decorating with lights there are a few things you can do to save some energy and also a little money with your energy bill.
2. Tree There’s a debate of whether real or fake trees are better. Whichever way you decide to go, there are some easy things to do to ensure your tree is as “green” as it can be. Real
3. Gifts The holiday season is a time of gift giving. Unfortunately, many gifts are short lived and end up being thrown away creating lots of unnecessary waste. Not to worry, there are plenty of great gift options out there that are better for the environment.
4. Shopping If you aren’t making your own gifts or regifting, there are a few things you can do while shopping to lower your environmental impact.
5. Wrapping Gifts Once you’ve made or bought your gifts it’s time to wrap them. This is a category that has a lot of variations on ways to be green, so you can get creative!
6. Christmas Cards Christmas cards and letters are a fun way to keep up with friends and family and what they’ve been up to for the year. They’re fun to send and receive but can end up being a lot of waste at the end of the season.
7. Cookies & Treats It is a fun time of year to get together and make cookies and memories. You can take it a step further and gift these cookies and treats you make. Cookies and festive treats are a popular gift to give, but if store bought, they often involve lots of unnecessary plastic packaging and wrapping.
8. Food The holidays mean food! But unfortunately, that can also mean a lot of waste.
Hopefully these eight tips and tricks will help you to “green up” your holiday and may even get you thinking of other ways you can be more environmentally friendly. Not only can these tips help for the holiday season, but they can be modified and used year-round. What may seem like a small thing can really add up, especially when multiple people are doing it. I hope you have a happy, healthy, and green holiday season! With November complete, the final count down is on! There’s just one more month left in my Big Year. I haven’t had a new bird in a while, so I’m hoping I’ll get lucky and be able to add a few more before the year’s end. Although I haven’t added any new birds this month, I’ve been doing plenty of birding – mostly watching the feeders. With deer hunting season in full swing I haven’t been visiting my usual hiking trails, but the cooler weather and shorter days have made the feeders popular with the birds and great for viewing. Here are some excerpts from my Birding Nature Journal this month: Thursday, November 12, 2021 It’s been nice starting my day off by watching the birds and doing an ebird list as I drink my tea. No new birds, but still enjoyable! Thursday, November 25, 2021 I did two ebird lists this morning watching the feeders in Red Wing. At one point, within just a few minutes, we had a Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple House Finch, and American Robin! Plus, many of the usuals, coming to 14 species total. Later in the afternoon as we were eating our Thanksgiving dessert a Cooper’s Hawk came flying through by the feeders to try and get itself a meal! November Birds: Birds Species this Year: 180! Species for November: 0 Days Birded this Year: 94 Days Birded in November: 8 I don’t have much of an update for October. Migration is basically over, and I wasn’t able to add any new species this month. I have a feeling this is going to be the trend for the rest of the year since all the warm weather birds are moved out and I have already gotten “the usuals” for winter birds. I’ve still been holding out hope for a rare vagrant to show up or maybe some late migrators to make a stop at the feeders. I only got out birding a few days this month and did most of my birding from the boat while out fishing. We saw a good variety of songbirds on the shore, and some waterfowl on the lake. We even spotted two Common Loons mid-month in central Minnesota which was an interesting surprise. Although I haven’t been able to add any new birds lately, I’m still enjoying my Big Year and all the birding I’ve done this year! October Birds: Birds Species this Year: 180! Species for October: 0 Days Birded this Year: 86 Days Birded in October: 4 Lifers in October: 0 With fall here, hunting season is upon us. With being married to an avid outdoorsman, I find myself trying lots of new recipes. This time, it was a little different. Instead of making a meal for us, I used some of his harvest to make dog treats! Duck and geese feet are great treats for dogs as their bones don’t splinter (since they aren’t cooked) and they’re full of beneficial cartilage. Dehydrated Duck Feet 1. Remove duck feet from the body, I use game shears 2. Clip off the nails as they can be long and sharp, I use the game shears for this also 3. Wash feet thoroughly. (The feet can be fed at this point to your furry friend, or you can dehydrate so they last longer). 4. Pat dry and arrange on dehydrator trays. 5. Dehydrate at 165 degrees Fahrenheit until dried 6. Store in an airtight container Clip the toe nails off I made some dehydrated duck feet as Christmas gifts last year for some four-legged family members and friends. My taste tester dogs were all shapes and sizes from a Rat terrier-Chihuahua to a Coonhound-Lab. Most of the dogs didn’t quite know what to do at first with the duck foot, but once they bit in, they all enjoyed them! Dehydrated duck feet are a treat your dog is sure to love!
Try them out and let me know what your dog thought of them! Wanting to try more wild game dog treat recipes? Check out this article from the Nebraskaland Magazine: September was still slow, but I did get a few new birds! Birds have been migrating through, but quite sporadically. In the spring you can time when they’ll be here because of the weather, and you get a big push of birds all at once. In the fall, they trickle through, each bird choosing when they want to migrate, the weather not influencing them as much. You see a few here and there but nothing like the influx of birds during “Warbler Season” in May. Fall migration also has more challenges than spring migration; like more leaves on the trees and quieter birds. In the spring the woods are full of birds calling and singing as they look for mates, but in the fall they’re considerably quieter so you can’t bird by ear as much. We had a few cooler days pushing the Warblers through faster, but overall the weather in September has been great for getting outside, even a little warm on some days! Trees are still holding onto their leaves making seeing birds a little tricky, but my last three outings of the month produced, adding three new birds to my Big Year list and bringing me to 180 species! Just three more months of the year left to see what else I can add to my list. Here are some excerpts from my Birding Nature Journal this month: Friday, September 10, 2021 I went back to the Izaak Walton Wetlands this morning and I got my first new species since July! It was a Chestnut-sided Warbler! The Warblers and Vireos have been hard to spot/ID lately because of all the tree cover. This Warbler gladly showed off the chestnut colored flanks so I knew who I had! Monday, September 20, 2021 This morning I was back at the Rock Dell WMA. At the beginning near the woods, I saw two birds flying so once they landed, I quick got them in my binos so I could see who it was. The bird was backlit from the sun, but I could see it had red on its head. So, I walked a little more down the path to get a better view, and it was a Red-headed Woodpecker! This bird has been eluding me this year! Not only was there one, but there was also a juvie with it! They even called back and forth to each other giving me a show. Later as I was heading back to my car, I looked at a hole in a tree with my binos and there was a Red-headed Woodpecker looking back out at me! Such a fun way to see this bird! Thursday, September 30, 2021 I squeezed in one more day of birding this month with a short hike out at Rock Dell WMA. In the prairie there were some birds flitting about eating the seeds from prairie plants. They were hard to see but I got a few good glimpses. Luckily, there were a few that came closer and were calling to each other so I could get a positive ID of a Lincoln’s Sparrow! September Birds: (The first number represents the number of species for the year, the number in parenthesis represents the number of species for the month) September 10 – Izaak Walton Wetlands, Rochester, MN 178. (1) Chestnut-sided Warbler September 20 – Rock Dell WMA, Rock Dell, MN 179. (2) Red-headed Woodpecker September 30 – Rock Dell WMA, Rock Dell, MN 180. (3) Lincoln’s Sparrow* Birds Species this Year: 180! Species for September: 3 Days Birded this Year: 82 Days Birded in September: 6 Lifers in September: 1 (Birds with an (*) are Lifer Birds) Read my other Big Year related posts by clicking the button below.
July was slow, but August was slower. I didn’t get out birding much because there hasn’t been much bird movement, so it was just the usuals around. Resulting in no new birds for the year. Next month things should start heating up a little more as birds are moving for their fall migration. Although there wasn’t anything new, the few times I did get out birding were fun and a good excuse to get outside. Here are some excerpts from my Birding Nature Journal this month: Saturday, August 7, 2021 This evening we got together to do our annual Chimney Swift count! We counted only 40 swifts that went into the chimney, less than other years, but the weather was cloudy with some rain all day so that may have played in a role in how many birds we saw. Even though we didn’t see a ton of swifts, it was still fun to watch their nightly ritual as they group together during migration. Sunday, August 29, 2021 Today I checked out a new area, the Izaak Walton Wetlands near Rochester, MN. I saw 19 species, along with 3 birds that I didn’t get a positive ID on. Our warblers are starting to head south so they’re making an appearance again. During my hike I also saw a huge snapping turtle, a painted turtle, and a coyote! Bird Species this Year: 177 Species for August: 0 Days Birded this Year: 76 Days Birded in August: 3 Lifers in August: 0 Read my other Big Year related posts by clicking the button below.
July was my slowest month yet. Although I only got a handful of new birds, they were all Lifers! Not a lot for new birds, but there are still plenty of birds around. With shorter days, and cooler temps coming in the next few months I anticipate birds to be preparing for migration and moving around soon. So we will see what the coming months have to offer. Here are some excerpts from my Birding Nature Journal this month: Friday, July 9, 2021 This morning I went to the Rock Dell WMA. There were tons of Dickcissels calling in the prairie. I also heard some Field Sparrows and a Clay-colored Sparrow! I heard the Clay-colored Sparrow throughout my walk, but finally got a great view of it perched in a tree right at the end! Friday, July 23, 2021 I went to my local patch, Lower AP Anderson Park, to see if I could add any birds to the eBird list there, and I was able to! I saw four Cooper’s Hawks and what I believe is their nest! They flew into the woods and two perched close enough that I could identify them! I’m guessing it was an adult with young. No new birds for the year, but it was a very cool sighting! July Birds: (The first number represents the number of species for the year, the number in parenthesis represents the number of species for the month) July 2 – Drive to Paynesville, MN 174. (1) Bobolink* July 5 – Oxbow Park – Byron, MN 175. (2) Field Sparrow* July 9 – Rock Dell WMA, Rock Dell, MN 176. (3) Clay-colored Sparrow* July 18 – Red Wing, MN 177. (4) Peregrine Falcon* Bird Species this Year: 177 Species for July: 4 Days Birded this Year: 73 Days Birded in July: 8 Lifers in July: 4 (Birds with an (*) are Lifer Birds) Read my other Big Year related posts by clicking the button below.
Something I look forward to each summer is the blooming of the prairie flowers. Blooms of various colors, shapes, and textures peeking through the sea of green vegetation. As I walk through the prairie this time of year, I can’t help but stop and marvel at the beauty of all the flowers. There are many, many different plants that call the prairie home, but here are a handful of ones you might encounter. When you’re admiring these beautiful plants, take a little closer look and see what tiny creatures may be visiting, too! Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) The Compass Plant is part of the Aster family. It blooms during the summer and into the fall. It is the tallest of the prairie plants, some reaching 12 feet tall! It has very hairy stems with large leaves. The leaves are oriented North to South to collect the maximum amount of sunlight, this orientation is how the Compass Plant got its name. The sap can also be used as a chewing gum substitute. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Butterfly Weed is part of the Milkweed family. Milkweed get their name because of the milky looking sap, although instead of the milky sap, Butterfly Weed has clear sap instead. Butterfly Weed blooms in the spring and summer and is a host plant for Gray Hairstreak and Monarch caterpillars. Many other butterfly species also enjoy visiting this plant for its sweet nectar. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Black-eyed Susan is part of the Aster family. It blooms in the summer and fall. Black-eyed Susan got its species name hirta which means “hairy” or “rough” because of its hairy stem. In the fall, American Goldfinches and House Finches enjoy feasting on its seeds. Black-eyed Susan is a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot caterpillar who camouflages itself by attaching plant parts with silk to itself for protection. Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) Daisy Fleabane is part of the Aster family. It blooms spring through fall. There are at least seven species of Fleabane in Minnesota. Depending on the species it can have 40-100 petals per flower and the petals can be either light pink or white. Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Gray-headed Coneflower is part of the Aster family. It blooms in the summer. After pollination, the cone dries to a light gray color, giving it its name. The cone has a strong, pleasant smell when crushed or rubbed. Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) Lead Plant is part of the Pea or Bean family. It blooms in the spring and summer. Lead Plant can live for centuries, not growing larger than three feet. The roots go down 10 feet below the soil and has been given the nickname “Prairie Shoestring” because of the roots. Lead Plant gets its name because it was found growing on top of areas with Lead Ore deposits. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) Purple Coneflower is part of the Aster family. It blooms in summer and fall. Many people also know this plant by its scientific name, Echinacea. Purple Coneflower is used in many herbal remedies. While blooming, many butterflies and bees are attracted to the plant for its nectar, and in the fall Goldfinches enjoy their seeds. Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Rattlesnake Master is part of the Carrot family. It blooms in the summer. It has a large rootstock that stores water during droughts. Rattlesnake Master has thick, fleshy, leaves with small spikes on them, similar to that of a yucca plant. Rattlesnake Master gets its name because its root was once used to treat rattlesnake bites. Native Americans also used the leaves for weaving things like sandals and baskets. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Wild Bergamot, also known as Monarda or Beebalm is part of the Mint family. Members of the mint family have a characteristic square stem. Wild Bergamot blooms in the summer. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds all enjoy visiting this flower’s blooms. Crushed leaves and flowerheads have a strong scent that is similar to that of Bergamot, a small citrus tree native to Europe. Culturally this plant has been used to make tea for respiratory and digestive ailments. The essential oil from Wild Bergamot is an important ingredient in Earl Grey tea. White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) White Wild Indigo is part of the Pea family. It blooms in the spring and summer. This plant appears more as a bush with its large shape and woody structure. The leaves of White Wild Indigo are greenish-blue and blacken in the fall. When it blooms, the flowers at the base of the flower stock bloom first and blooming continues up the stock. It has very large seed pods that usually stay attached to the stem through winter. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Common Yarrow is part of the Aster family. It blooms in the summer and fall. The Genus name Achillea comes from a legend that Achilles used the plant during the Trojan War to treat bleeding wounds. Yarrow is used medicinally in many cultures. The fern-like leaves of the Yarrow plant have a strong aroma. Wildflowers can be a bit daunting since there are so many of them! Here are a few characteristics to look at to help you identify them.
Tips for identifying wildflowers: Look at the
If you need some help with your flower ID, check out these great resources. Wildflowers of Minnesota by Stan Tekiela What's Doin' the Bloomin'? By Clayton & Michele Oslund https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/ As anticipated, June was a slow month of birding. May spoiled us with resident birds arriving and migrants flying through. Now into the nesting season we’re left with our resident birds and the migrating birds are in their home ranges. Things will continue to stay slow until fall when migration will start up again. Although it’s been slow, it has still been fun to get out and bird and see who’s around for the summer. I’ve even been lucky enough to find some nests with little ones squawking away begging for food in them! Here are some excerpts from my Birding Nature Journal this month: Friday, June 11, 2021 I spent a long weekend down in NE, today after supper we went and walked at Yanney Park in Kearney, NE. There was a pair of Mute Swans with 5 cygnets. Some swallows and Purple Martins flying over the lake and Dickcissels singing in the prairie. One Dickcissel flew and landed on a grass stem right in front of us, singing and giving us a great view! Thursday, June 17, 2021 This morning I went to Sand Point Trail. I saw 27 species, many of the “usuals.” Just before getting to the beach I heard rustling in the reeds. I stopped and looked trying to see who was making the noise. Soon a red fox came trotting out! It didn’t see me at first but when I started walking it barked at me! When I got to the beach the water was down from where it was last time. There were 5 Great Blue Herons looking for fish. Lots of swallows, including a Cliff Swallow. Then back at the parking lot I heard the “drink-your-teeaaa” call of and Eastern Towhee. I didn’t have time to spot it, but heard it. In the evening I went to Lower A.P. Anderson Park to add to the species list on ebird for that location. I heard an Eastern Towhee and got a great look at it! June Birds: (The first number represents the number of species for the year, the number in parenthesis represents the number of species for the month) June 6 – Lower A.P. Anderson Park, Red Wing, MN 167. (1) Eastern Wood Pewee* June 11 – Yanney Park, Kearney, NE 168. (2) Mute Swan* 169. (3) Purple Martin 170. (4) Dickcissel* June 16 – Oxbow Park, Byron, MN – Maple Trail 171. (5) Barred Owl June 17 – Sand Point Trail, Frontenac State Park, Frontenac, MN 172. (6) Cliff Swallow 173. (7) Eastern Towhee Bird Species this Year: 173 Species for June: 7 Days Birded this Year: 65 Days Birded in June: 5 Lifers in June: 3 (Birds with an (*) are Lifer Birds) Read my other Big Year related posts by clicking the button below.
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