Phenology

By John Latimer

What's Phenology about?

Phenology is the rhythmic biological nature of events as they relate to climate.

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Phenology episodes:

04.25.2024
Phenology Report: How ants transplant plants and plants fatten ants
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of April 23, 2024.
04.24.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Cooper’s Hawk devours robin in front of elementary students
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
04.19.2024
Pam Perry: April phenology and a suet-scarfing warbler
Pam Perry, our favorite retired non-game wildlife biologist, stops by each month to talk about Minnesota phenology with our staff phenologist, John Latimer. Pam is broadly knowledgeable about Minnesota's environment and particularly excited about birds, reptiles and amphibians.
04.18.2024
Phenology Report: 'Capricious' Latimer whacks hazel catkins for an hour
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of April 16, 2024.
04.17.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Spring’s first bloodroots and dandelions begin flowering
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
04.12.2024
Phenology Report: Latimer thanks his 'spies all over the Northland'
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of April 9, 2024.
04.10.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Why do puffball mushrooms puff?
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
04.04.2024
Phenology Report: Cold weather brings a pause to seasonal progression
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of April 2, 2024.
04.03.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: 'Sap-sicles' sweetly melt as ephemerals emerge
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
03.30.2024
How Minnesota's 'off the charts mild' winter compares to past seasons
Setting aside the recent spring snowstorm in typical Minnesota fashion, the state's 2023-24 winter has been called the winter that never was, and the unprecedented mildness explains why.
03.29.2024
Phenology Report: A season in rewind
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of March 26, 2024.
03.27.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: March takes a chillier turn
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
03.21.2024
Phenology Report: Ruffed Grouses seeking spouses
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of March 19, 2024.
03.20.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Frisky eagles and a new turtle dynasty
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
03.15.2024
Something new every day: March birds with Pam Perry
Pam Perry, our favorite retired non-game wildlife biologist, stops by each month to talk about Minnesota phenology with our staff phenologist, John Latimer. Pam is broadly knowledgeable about Minnesota's environment and particularly excited about birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
03.14.2024
Phenology Report: Rambunctious red squirrels and early-season butterflies
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of March 14, 2024.
03.13.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Sandhill Cranes and Northern Harriers flood north
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, animal behaviors, weather patterns and other wonders.
03.06.2024
Phenology Report: Spring melt and migration comes a month early
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of March 5, 2024.
03.06.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Sap, swans and salamanders
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
02.29.2024
Phenology Report: Bald Eagles and brilliant bark
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota for the week of Feb. 27, 2024.
02.28.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: An early spring
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
02.23.2024
Phenology Report: Magnificent urban trees and a cohort of crossbills
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Feb. 20, 2023.
02.21.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Burgundy birches and all-white aspens
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
02.16.2024
Phenology Report: Time to scrutinize a bird nest
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Feb. 13, 2023.
02.14.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Animal poos and paws transfix student phenologists
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
02.10.2024
Phenology Report: Who hooted?
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Feb. 6, 2023.
02.07.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Sharp-tailed Grouse head to the dance floor early
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
02.07.2024
February birding with Pam Perry
Pam Perry, our favorite retired non-game wildlife biologist, stops by each month to talk about Minnesota phenology with John Latimer. While she is broadly knowledgeable about Minnesota's environment, Pam is particularly excited about birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
02.02.2024
Winter phenology at Sax-Zim Bog
Clinton Dexter-Nienhaus is the naturalist at Sax-Zim Bog in northeastern Minnesota. The bog spans 300 square miles from Zim in the north to Floodwood in the south. Photographers and birders flock from all over the world to see the bird...
02.01.2024
Phenology Report: Lots of rime, little reason in January 2024
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Jan. 30, 2024.
01.31.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Who's living under the ice?
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
01.27.2024
Phenology Report: John Latimer raves about ravens
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Jan. 23, 2024.
01.25.2024
State forester: Minnesota puts priority on maintaining healthy forests
Patty Thielen of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources discusses the current state of Minnesota forests and unique aspects of forestry in Minnesota. The "Local Forest History" series is produced by Mark Jacobs.
01.24.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Student phenologists mind the wildlife pees, have Qs
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
01.20.2024
Phenology Report: Wandering finch seeks seeds, becomes birding beacon
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Jan. 16, 2024.
01.17.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: From Lake Superior to the Serengeti
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
01.17.2024
Local Forest History: What can lasers tell us about our forests?
Dennis Kepler of the Minnesota DNR discusses how forests have changed in 40 years and how LIDAR, a type of remote imaging using lasers, is used to study forests.
01.16.2024
Why Red-headed Woodpeckers like habitats with explosives
Drumroll please: Pam Perry is back! Our favorite retired non-game wildlife biologist stopped by to talk about winter phenology with John Latimer.
01.12.2024
Phenology Report: An avian assessment
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Jan. 9, 2023.
01.10.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Shenanigans are afoot in New York Mills
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
01.06.2024
Phenology Report: Start the year with your ears
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Jan. 2, 2024.
01.03.2024
Phenology Talkbacks: Oddball observations
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
12.26.2023
Phenology Report: A brown Christmas
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Dec. 26, 2023.
12.22.2023
Phenology Report: December reflections
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Dec. 19, 2023.
12.20.2023
Phenology Talkbacks: A Snowy Owl with little snow
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
12.15.2023
Phenology Report: A frigid frog and a smidge of midges
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Dec. 12, 2023.
12.13.2023
Phenology Talkbacks: A marauding muskrat
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
12.07.2023
Phenology Report: A joyful John Latimer revels in perfect ice conditions
KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of Dec. 5, 2023.
12.07.2023
Phenology Talkbacks: 'Best skating ever, and lucky to be alive'
Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.
12.05.2023
Forest History Series: Rajala on the movement toward environmentally friendly forestry practices
John Rajala pointed out that consumers appreciate the concept of a natural working forest and will go out of their way to buy from ecologically responsible companies.

What's Phenology about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Phenology episodes:

Phenology Report: How ants transplant plants and plants fatten ants

Phenology Talkbacks: Cooper’s Hawk devours robin in front of elementary students

Pam Perry: April phenology and a suet-scarfing warbler

Phenology Report: 'Capricious' Latimer whacks hazel catkins for an hour

Phenology Talkbacks: Spring’s first bloodroots and dandelions begin flowering

Phenology Report: Latimer thanks his 'spies all over the Northland'

Phenology Talkbacks: Why do puffball mushrooms puff?

Phenology Report: Cold weather brings a pause to seasonal progression

Phenology Talkbacks: 'Sap-sicles' sweetly melt as ephemerals emerge

How Minnesota's 'off the charts mild' winter compares to past seasons

Phenology Report: A season in rewind

Phenology Talkbacks: March takes a chillier turn

Phenology Report: Ruffed Grouses seeking spouses

Phenology Talkbacks: Frisky eagles and a new turtle dynasty

Something new every day: March birds with Pam Perry

Phenology Report: Rambunctious red squirrels and early-season butterflies

Phenology Talkbacks: Sandhill Cranes and Northern Harriers flood north

Phenology Report: Spring melt and migration comes a month early

Phenology Talkbacks: Sap, swans and salamanders

Phenology Report: Bald Eagles and brilliant bark

Phenology Talkbacks: An early spring

Phenology Report: Magnificent urban trees and a cohort of crossbills

Phenology Talkbacks: Burgundy birches and all-white aspens

Phenology Report: Time to scrutinize a bird nest

Phenology Talkbacks: Animal poos and paws transfix student phenologists

Phenology Report: Who hooted?

Phenology Talkbacks: Sharp-tailed Grouse head to the dance floor early

February birding with Pam Perry

Winter phenology at Sax-Zim Bog

Phenology Report: Lots of rime, little reason in January 2024

Phenology Talkbacks: Who's living under the ice?

Phenology Report: John Latimer raves about ravens

State forester: Minnesota puts priority on maintaining healthy forests

Phenology Talkbacks: Student phenologists mind the wildlife pees, have Qs

Phenology Report: Wandering finch seeks seeds, becomes birding beacon

Phenology Talkbacks: From Lake Superior to the Serengeti

Local Forest History: What can lasers tell us about our forests?

Why Red-headed Woodpeckers like habitats with explosives

Phenology Report: An avian assessment

Phenology Talkbacks: Shenanigans are afoot in New York Mills

Phenology Report: Start the year with your ears

Phenology Talkbacks: Oddball observations

Phenology Report: A brown Christmas

Phenology Report: December reflections

Phenology Talkbacks: A Snowy Owl with little snow

Phenology Report: A frigid frog and a smidge of midges

Phenology Talkbacks: A marauding muskrat

Phenology Report: A joyful John Latimer revels in perfect ice conditions

Phenology Talkbacks: 'Best skating ever, and lucky to be alive'

Forest History Series: Rajala on the movement toward environmentally friendly forestry practices