Phenology Calendar April

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Third Week of April

Common loons return soon after lake ice melts.

Trout lilies are blooming. The pretty yellow flowers follow the sun during the day and close at night.

The question mark is the largest of the angel wing butterflies. The beautiful adults overwinter and rarely visit flowers. Instead, they can now be seen seeking out carrion, dung, and the nutrients found in puddles.

Fourth Week of April

When given a choice, bluebirds in one study opted for 4x4-inch nest boxes instead of 6x6-inch ones. These lovely birds are bringing in pine needles and grasses for their nests now.

Male spotted salamanders arrive at vernal pools before the females. This is the best time of year to see them; back in the woods they are almost always out of sight, usually underground.

Fox sparrows are passing through; they're the big, handsome sparrows that kick up grasses.