Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, March-April 2013

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Night Flight of the Woodcock 8 hh Blue Jays Are Not Angry Birds 26

36 March–AprilRails-to-Trails 2010 Biking 3 Contents

All Nature’s wildness tells the same story: the shocks and outbursts of earthquakes, volcanoes, geysers, roaring, thundering waves and floods, the silent uprush of sap in plants, storms of every sort, each and all, are the orderly, beauty-making love-beats of Nature’s heart. —John Muir

features

8 Sky DancerS Researchers visit the singing grounds of woodcock to better understand the habitat requirements of this woodsy shorebird. By Greg Hoch

18 after the Storm In the wake of a blowdown, landowners see trees in a new light. By Will Weaver 26 Big, BolD, anD Blue Young Naturalists take a closer look at the life of the ostentatious, obstreperous blue jay. By Christine Petersen

36 riDing the rail lineS Rails-to-trails bikeways make inroads to sublime Minnesota landscapes. By Keith Goetzman and Ashley Peters

52 PaDDler Down A cold-water canoeist finds that he’s in for a shock. By Keith Goetzman Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, March–April 2013 Volume 76, Number 447

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Go to www.mndnr.gov/magazine for videos, slide shows, teachers guides, and links to other resources.

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Minnesota Conservation Volunteer (usps 129880) is pub- lished bimonthly by the Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155- 4046. Preferred periodicals postage paid in St. Paul, Minn., and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4046. Equal opportunity to programs of the Department of Natural Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to DNR Affirmative Action, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4031, or the Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. For alternative formats, call 651-259-5365. Minnesota Conservation Volunteer is sent free upon request and relies entirely on donations from its readers. Printed on chlorine-free paper containing at least 10 departments percent post-consumer waste. © Copyright 2013, State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. Permission from the publisher 2 thiS iSSue is required to reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means. 4 letterS 6 natural curioSitieS Though the 57 thank you loquacious, brightly 72 minneSota Profile colored blue jay is disliked by some for its apparent aggression toward other birds, its behavior is often misunderstood. See story page 26. PHOTOGRAPH: ALLEN BLAKE SHELDON. COVER PHOTOGRAPH: GARY ALAN NELSON. This issue LEFT: LYNN ELLIS, DNR. RIGHT: ALLEN BLAKE SHELDON. ALLEN BLAKE RIGHT: ELLIS, DNR. LYNN LEFT: A 2008 windstorm at St. Croix State Park (left) helped initiate restoration of pine barrens and oak savanna at the park. Woodcock (right) thrive in young aspen habitat, which often emerges in the wake of disturbances such as storms and fire. Natural Disturbances Hurricane Sandy wasn’t bad for all wildlife, might regard such an old-growth tree as according to a short article in Audubon a landmark of stability, as comforting as a magazine. The October tempest that beloved grandparent. But given the changes destroyed parts of the Atlantic Coast also wrought by the storm, Weaver chooses a created habitat for some birds—outwash new point of view. He sees a chance to make fans of sand for foraging piping plovers, something of the fallen trees. nesting cavities for owls in standing dead In another part of the woods, Chip- trees, banquets of wood-boring insects pewa National Forest, wildlife biologist for woodpeckers, sunny openings in the Kelly Barrett sees other possibilities. Her forest canopy to sprout shrubs that shelter account of the same storm, “When the golden-winged warblers. Wind Blows,” appears on the Chippewa Disturbances create opportunities— forest’s website. She recalls her childhood openings—for something new to develop. sense of these north woods, where she now “After the Storm,” in this issue, offers Will works. To explain some of the physics of Weaver’s perspective on the straight-line wind and trees, she refers to the findings thunderstorm winds that ripped through of Lee Frelich, research associate and direc- the woods between Bemidji and Grand tor of the University of Minnesota Center Rapids this past July. He laments the loss of for Forest Ecology: With increasing wind a sentinel white pine on his land. A person speeds, a tree’s leaves turn sideways in line

2 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer with the wind, thus reducing resistance. Then small branches flex so that twigs line up, and larger branches bend and streamline the tree profile. “Some conifers can reduce their surface area by 45 percent in the wind,” she writes. “At some A reader-supported publication encouraging conservation and careful use of Minnesota’s point, however, no more streamlining can be accomplished.” natural resources. Large trees are likely to topple first. Magazine Staff In the days, weeks, and years after a big storm, winners Editor in Chief Kathleen Weflen and losers emerge. For example, the Chippewa’s population Art Director Lynn Phelps Managing Editor Keith Goetzman of rare black-backed woodpeckers could multiply as the Online Editor Michael A. Kallok birds feast on insects boring into broken pine trees. Aspens Database Manager David J. Lent Circulation Manager Susan M. Ryan could sprout in mixed conifer forest openings. Greg Hoch’s story, “Sky Dancers,” in this issue tells why Subscriptions and donations young aspens and shrubs scattered in open places make 888-646-6367 perfect habitat for woodcock. Populations of these woodsy Governor Mark Dayton shorebirds can thrive when logging, fire, storms, and other disturbances shape such clearings. As his story notes, golden- Department of Natural Resources winged warblers might also benefit. This species of wood warbler is declining dramatically across much of its breeding range. As home to about 42 percent of the world’s breeding population of golden-winged www.mndnr.gov warblers, Minnesota has an important opportunity to Our mission is to work with citizens to furnish habitat. These songbirds look for young hardwood conserve and manage the state’s natural forests, shrubby forest edges, alder swamps, and wet shrub- resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial tamarack edges for nesting. On their way up north from uses of natural resources in a way that Central and South America in spring, golden-winged creates a sustainable quality of life. warblers might also stop by trees or shrubs in your yard. All over the planet, scientists are studying trees—in Commissioner Tom Landwehr both tropical and temperate forests—to see how they work Deputy Dave Schad and how they might respond to changes. Natural distur- Commissioner Assistant Mike Carroll bances are as sure to come as death and taxes. No matter Commissioners Barb Naramore how stable the neighborhood, sooner or later, a storm, Erika Rivers fire, plague of insects, or some other force of nature will ravage a forest. In The Tapir’s Morning Bath, an account of Communications Director Chris Niskanen rain forest research, Elizabeth Royte writes, “The forest, it Division Directors Steve Hirsch, Ecological and Water Resources seems, is in perpetual motion. But what sets this motion Jim Konrad, Enforcement off? Apparently, it is the weather.” Ed Boggess, Fish and Wildlife Forrest Boe, Forestry Depending on which way the wind blows, and all kinds Jess Richards, Lands and Minerals of other uncontrollable circumstances, a creature might be Laurie Martinson, Operation Services lucky or not. Yet, like Will Weaver, everyone has a choice Courtland Nelson, Parks and Trails of what to make of the changes. Regional Directors Kathleen Weflen, editor, [email protected] Lori Dowling, Bemidji Craig Engwall, Grand Rapids Dennis Frederickson, New Ulm Keith Parker, St. Paul March–April 2013 3 Letters

“As we get older, we have to teach the young to fish.” —John D. Meyer

Reaffirming Ties currently awaiting the results from the 2011 The words and pictures in the Jan.–Feb. 2013 birds, and the 2012 results will be available issue overwhelmed me, and I had to read later in 2013. We believe that lead poisoning it page by page. I came to the article about in loons is still a concern, and encourage Michael Kallok and his wife, Kelly, walk- anglers to consider using nontoxic jigs and ing about and trout fishing in southeastern sinkers to reduce this source of mortality. To Minnesota. Many years ago, our family wan- learn more about loons, lead, and fishing dered about the same hills and creeks and tackle, go to www.pca.state.mn.us. enjoyed the times and the views thus afforded. Thank you so much for reaffirming my emo- Teach Them to Fish (and Cook) tional ties to that area. Your magazine is a great publication for Wilson Wells, Lexington, Kentucky Minnesota. My father, his brother, my grand- pa, and I were all great fishermen. As we get Loons and Lead older, we have to teach the young to fish. In my opinion you scored very high with John D. Meyer, St. Cloud the Jan.–Feb. 2013 issue with well-written, interesting, and informative subject The crappie fish batter recipe was so good matter—plus fantastic photos. In the loon (“Wild Cuisine,” Sept.–Oct. 2012). We research article, nothing was said about all have enjoyed this magazine since our kids the lead that loons are ingesting. I realize the were young. article focused on botulism, but is lead still Lynnette and Rich Hansen, St. Paul a big concern? The 3 percent mortality rate is a scary number. Tell Your Friends Ron Geppert, Mankato The Nov.–Dec. 2012 Sense of Place issue was wonderful. I want to share it and yet keep it to DNR Nongame Wildlife supervisor Carrol enjoy it again myself. Henderson replies: As part of our loon study, A. Jackie Lund, North Branch we are collecting dead loons found by the public and sending them to the Wisconsin Tell your family, friends, and neighbors: DNR wildlife health lab for necropsies to Subscribing to Minnesota Conservation determine the cause of death, including lead Volunteer is easy—just a phone call or an poisoning. In 2012 we picked up 17 dead online click away. Call 888-646-6367. Or go loons, and in 2011 we collected 23. We are to www.mndnr.gov/magazine.

4 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer

contributors

Greg Hoch, page 8, joined the DNR last year as a prairie habitat evaluation biologist. Before that, he collaborated on research projects studying golden- winged warblers and woodcock at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. STAN FELLOWS: DETAIL FELLOWS: STAN Author Will Weaver, page 18, resides in Bemidji. His most recent book, The Last Hunter, is a memoir.

Christine Petersen, page 26, has written more than 40 books for children and young adults. She is an enthusiastic pho- tographer who enjoys watching blue jays and other birds with her 10-year-old son.

Ashley Peters, page 36, is a former employee of DNR Parks and Trails. She now works in Juneau, Alaska, pining for Minnesota’s plentiful sunshine and biking opportunities.

Managing editor Keith Goetzman, pages 36 and 52, has logged more than MCV reader Jennifer Dahlen took this photograph in late a decade of accident-free paddling since December of a young moose near Fisher in northwestern his 2001 canoe spill. He now limits his Minnesota. Dahlen said the moose visited area farms for cold-water immersion experiments to a about a month. controlled setting involving friends, a sauna, and a hole in the ice. Share your photos of Minnesota wildlife at www.facebook.com/mcvmag. DNR INfoRmatIoN CeNteR www.mndnr.gov 651-296-6157 write to us Toll-free 888-646-6367 TTY (hearing impaired) 651-296-5484 We edit letters for accu racy, style, and length. Send your letter TTY 800-657-3929 and daytime phone number to [email protected] or Volunteer Programs 651-259-5249

MCV Letters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4046. State PaRkS ReSeRvatIoNS 866-857-2757, TTY 952-936-4008 www.mndnr.gov/reservations March–April 2013 5 Natural curiosities

martin moxie swim bladders wolf pups mud volcanoes fireworks fallout triangular boxes

My wife and I were crappie fishing on our lake and caught a couple of fish in about 32 feet of water. When we tried to release them, they immediately went to their side and appeared as if they would not survive. We gave them a few minutes, and they didn’t recover. Are these fish getting “the bends” when we reel them in? Will they eventually recover? Brian Lueck, Rochester

Probably not. The phenomenon you are witnessing is not the same as the bends, the underwater diving hazard for humans, also known as decompression sickness, says DNR aquatic education specialist Roland Sigurdson. A fish’s swim (air) bladder expands as the fish is raised from depth and external pressure is decreased. In extreme cases the air bladder might protrude from the fish’s mouth. Most research indi- cates that fish released within a short time can swim back down to a comfortable depth and be fine. This JUSTIN EDMAN recovery is more likely during the winter, when water Our neighbors have a birdhouse on a high pole temperatures are lower and more uniform in the lake. in their back yard where purple martins made a However, when water temperatures are higher at the nest. Whenever we go into our back yard, they surface, there is a greater chance that the fish will die divebomb us. Why do they do that? from stress and lack of oxygen. Gina Wege, Avon

Some folks manage purple martin houses for years and What happens to the pups when a female wolf is never experience the dive bomb, says DNR wildlife educa- killed by a hunter during the wolf-hunting season? tor Jan Welsh. Then one spring, a bird arrives and decides Dave Zimney, St. Louis Park it’s going to defend that nest with all its might, divebomb- ing the lawn mower, pets, and especially humans trying By fall wolves that were born in the spring are almost to check nests. There’s nothing you can do about it, but as large as adults and are well suited for survival with the behavior usually disappears after the young fledge. or without the breeding female in the pack, says DNR

6 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer wolf expert Dan Stark. Other wolves in the pack help works over the lake. The debris sinks into the water. take prey and maintain pack structure, and the young One year, half of the fireworks failed to explode and wolves are old enough to make their way on their simply dropped into the lake. What danger exists own or with their litter mates. Although wolves don’t for the aquatic environment and the humans that typically leave their natal pack until their second eat fish from it? to third year, first-year wolves have been known to Eric Enberg Sr., Alexandria successfully disperse and pair up with other wolves or join other packs. Fireworks used to contain phosphorus, a plant nutrient that can harm lakes at high levels, but federal regula- tions now prohibit it—along with arsenic, mercury, and other substances. Fireworks do, however, release perchlorate into the environment, says Minnesota Pollution Control Agency environmental scientist Mark Ferrey. Perchlorate can affect thyroid function at low concentrations. Ferrey is not aware of any studies show- ing perchlorate has an adverse effect on fish or other lake-dwelling organisms.

Last summer there were purple triangular boxes hanging in trees in my area. What purpose did the boxes serve?

JUSTIN EDMAN Ann M. Klein, Palisade We saw 10 to 12 volcano-shaped mounds of mud near a drainage pond in Centerville. One was 5 The purple boxes are an early warning system to inches wide at the base and 4 to 5 inches tall. When detect emerald ash borers. These nonnative, invasive, a mound was destroyed, new ones would appear ash-tree-killing insects were first found in Minnesota in different spots. What are they? in 2009. Each box contains a scent that attracts Connie Grass, St. Paul emerald ash borers and a sticky substance that traps them when they arrive. Minnesota Department of The mud volcanoes are dredge piles left after crayfish Agriculture workers are hanging the boxes around have excavated a tunnel down below the water table in the state in hopes of detecting emerald ash borers search of a wet place to spend winter, says DNR aquatic as soon as they arrive in a new area so action can be education specialist Roland Sigurdson. Sigurdson suspects taken, such as cutting or treating ash trees, to slow that the especially dry conditions brought on by this past the insects’ spread across the state. summer’s drought caused more crayfish than usual to leave mounds like this along the edges of ponds. ask us Send questions and daytime phone number to [email protected] or Natural I fish on a 115-acre lake that has no inlet or outlet. Curiosities, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN The local community explodes Fourth of July fire- 55155-4046. Or post at www.facebook.com/mcvmag.

March–April 2013 7 By Greg Hoch SkyDancers The search to discover the habitat needs of young woodcock begins near the parents’ singing grounds.

An odd reclusive bird who delights those who see him and fascinate those who study him. — Guy de la Valdène on the woodcock in Making Game

It’s a late afternoon in mid-April at Tamarac National Wild- life Refuge in northwestern Minnesota. On these 43,000 acres, hardwood and coniferous forests meet prairie, creating a tapestry of habitats and a diversity of wildlife. Tamarac is on the western edge of the range of the American woodcock, a cryptic and elusive bird that researchers are here to study. Woodcock are declining across much of their range, except in Minnesota, offering wildlife experts here an opportunity to study a stable population. One of the most vulnerable times in a wild animal’s life is its first few weeks, especially for birds that aren’t yet able to fly. The researchers who’ve come to Tamarac hope to fill in some knowledge gaps about the specific habitats

that woodcock broods use. BILL MARCHEL

8 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer March–April 2013 9 The American woodcock Scol( - opax minor) is technically a shorebird—a family of birds most often seen on beaches, wetlands, grasslands, or tundra. However, the woodcock lives in the forest. Specifically, it pre- fers young hardwood forests, small forest openings, and brushy uplands. Many habitats that look scrubby and are hard for people to walk through will suit the woodcock. Woodcock winter along the southern Atlantic and Gulf Coast, especially Louisiana. Although the species of trees are different there, the dense stands of scrubby vege- tation are structurally very similar to northern aspen forests. Zoologist William Hornaday called the woodcock the oddest- looking land bird in North Amer- ica. It is a round-bodied bird with stubby legs, a ridiculously long bill, and enormous eyes. The tip of the woodcock’s long, narrow bill is full of nerves for feeling around underground for something to eat. The upper bill is flexible so that it can plunge into the damp soil and grab beetle larvae and earthworms. Its huge eyes, which allow it to see at dusk and dawn, when it is most active, are set so far back in the head that the brain is rotated almost upside down to accommodate them. The woodcock’s quirky behavior and appearance have inspired many nicknames, including mudbat, bog- sucker, mud dabbler, bog borer, and the delightful timberdoodle.

10 BILL MARCHEL Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Aerial Courtship. Male woodcock perform their sky dance at dusk each night through the spring across the Great Lakes region. The male’s arrival is silent. The woods are quiet, the only sounds the whisper of the wind and the low-frequency drumming of a dis- tant ruffed grouse. Suddenly, a loud, nasal peent cuts through the air. A woodcock appears, peenting repeat- edly and dancing on comically short legs. This small patch of ground in the forest clearing is his singing ground. Then, without warning, he spirals about 300 feet up into the night sky. He’s a speeding black shadow in a cobalt sky against a backdrop of twisting dark branches. He’s almost impossible to follow by eye, but not by ear. As he spirals through the air, he makes a sound that many observ- ers have described as a twitter. The outer primary feathers of the male woodcock’s wings are narrower than its other feathers. When held apart during flight, the feathers vi- brate as air rushes between them, creating the sound. At the top of the spiral, the woodcock “tumbles like a crippled plane, giving voice in a soft liquid warble that a March bluebird might envy,” wildlife biologist Aldo Leopold

On a spring night, a male woodcock ascends from his singing grounds. Males may perform sky dances at several singing grounds and often continue doing courtship displays after most hens have laid eggs.

March–April 2013 11 wrote in A Sand County Almanac. observe and determine the suitability of a po- The bird peents loudly and per- tential mate. He hopes the hens will fly into forms his stomping dance. Then, the nets and become entangled. Then Daly without warning, he launches him- will outfit each hen with a radio transmitter self into the air for more spirals. so he can track her and her brood through- Most nights this repeats over and out the summer. over for an hour or more, longer We spend the evening walking back and when the moon is full. forth between the sets of nets about every 30 minutes. We want to check the nets Sky Watchers. Tonight, a group of frequently, but we don’t want to disrupt 10 researchers meets in the Tamarac the birds. On the last check of the night, bunkhouse. Kyle Daly, a graduate stu- by now completely dark, my furry, four- dent at the University of Minnesota, legged assistant trots ahead and stops with has watched for sky dances in several his nose an inch away from a net. areas of the refuge on recent evenings. Now the fun begins: untangling a brown He has placed sets of three nets, each bird from black netting in the dark, work- 10 by 36 feet, around singing grounds ing as quickly as possible to minimize where he thinks we’ll have the best stress to the bird. The woodcock flew into chance of catching birds. the net head first, so the bird must come Daly and Wayne Brininger, the ref- out tail first. First, I free the feet and then uge biologist, assign people to differ- wrap them in the first two fingers of my ent nets. Volunteer Terry Petro and I left hand. I work the netting from under will watch two sets of nets about 100 the tail, over the back, around and un- yards apart along a forest road. derneath each wing. After I pull the last As any hunter or birdwatcher loop of netting over the top of its head, will attest, wildlife often show up at the bird is free of the net but still in my unexpected times, in unexpected hand. I quickly place my right hand over places, or not at all. In contrast, the the bird’s back with the first two fingers courting male woodcock is quite held on either side of its neck and the rest predictable. He begins his evening of my hand wrapped around the bird, show precisely when the sky has gently holding the wings against the body. the right amount of light, 0.05 foot- In this position the bird can’t struggle or candles, or about 19 minutes after hurt itself. sunset. If we know when a male first We attach a numbered aluminum band peented last night, we can predict toon one leg. Next, we measure the length of night’s first peent to the minute. The the bill. Less than 66 millimeters means it is location he chooses is also predict- a male, greater than 68 millimeters means able: He will land within inches of female. If that isn’t conclusive, we measure where he was in previous evenings. the length of the wing and the width of the Daly’s goal tonight is to catch three outer primary feathers. With these

woodcock hens when they come to numbers and Greg Sepik’s booklet called A SOURCE NATURESERVE. MAP BY BILL MARCHEL. PHOTOGRAPH

12 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Woodcock Range Woodcock migrate at night, embarking individually or in small flocks. They begin arriving in Minnesota in early March. Woodcock begin departing from northern states in September. Peak migration often occurs in October, though large flights have been observed as late as mid-November in Minnesota.

Key Summer breeding Year-round Winter

March–April 2013 13 DONNA DUSTIN, DNR

Lars, an English setter, stays steady on point (above) only on one side, the bird is an adult. after scenting a woodcock nest. With a bit of luck, This bird has a relatively short bill, short researchers spot and net the cryptically colored timber- wings, narrow outer primary feathers, and doodles before the hen takes flight. They measure each mottled and banded secondary feathers. chick (right) and attach a tiny identification leg band. He’s a first-year male. No need for a radio transmitter; Daly is putting radios only on Woodcock in the Hand, we can de- hens. After we record the data, I simply termine the gender of the bird. open my hand and the bird flies off into To determine age, we examine the the night. fifth to eighth secondary feathers on the back of the wing. If the feathers Dog Work. Three weeks later, in early have a narrow, dark band near the May, I meet Earl Johnson, retired DNR tip and mottling on both sides, the area wildlife manager from Detroit Lakes, bird is a juvenile. If the feathers and his English setter, Lars, at the refuge. lack that band and have mottling Using nets, Daly has already placed radio

14 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer DNR PHOTOS

transmitters on several hens and is monitor- son quickly moves in and scoops up ing their nests. Once the eggs hatch, he’ll use the three chicks. Each gets a band, the hen’s transmitter to find her brood and and one gets a very tiny transmitter. place a transmitter on one of the chicks. To determine age, we measure Then he can track the brood to determine the bill and apply a formula found the habitats they use through those first in Sepik’s booklet. The length of the months of life. bill in millimeters, minus 14, divided With any wildlife research, one of the larg- by two, tells us the age in days. These est problems is studying enough individuals fluffballs are 2 days old. We record to make accurate conclusions. Today’s task the location, age, band numbers, and is to find additional broods using the dog, so radio frequency. We place the chicks Daly will have more birds in his study. where we found them and leave Within 20 minutes, Lars is on point in a quickly. The hen is somewhere near- thick stand of hazel. The hen flushes before by, watching and waiting to return as we can drop a net over all the birds, but John- soon as we’re gone.

March–April 2013 15 BILL MARCHEL

Woodcock chicks (above) rely on maternal care for for aerial displays and females shelter for about a week after hatching. Hens nest and raise their nesting and raising young. young in stands of young aspen (right). The goal of the woodcock’s sky dance is to attract the ladies. The brush and short- Prime Woods. Woodcock, along statured trees of young forests make it easier with ruffed grouse, golden-winged for potential mates to admire his efforts from warblers, and many other wildlife their spot on the edge of his singing ground. species, thrive in young or early Historically, wildfires created and main- successional forests, which are of- tained these young forests. Today logging, ten dominated by aspen. Young windstorms, insect outbreaks, disease, or forests have dense stands of small- prescribed fires set by wildlife managers diameter saplings and brush, as can give rise to young forests. Much of the well as open patches. This habitat research shows that after about 10 to 15 mix benefits the woodcock in two years, these forests become less useful to ways: providing males with room woodcock and other young-forest wild-

16 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer DONNA DUSTIN, DNR

life. Some of Minnesota’s forests are actu- cock research at Tamarac should ally becoming too mature for these species. reveal what habitats those young Carefully planned young-forest manage- birds are using, so we can manage for ment, such as relatively frequent timber those forest types where appropriate harvests, is a focus for state and federal across northern Minnesota. wildlife agencies across the Great Lakes re- Spend an evening in Minnesota’s gion, as well as groups such as the Ruffed spring woods watching the flight of Grouse Society, Woodcock Minnesota, the woodcock and you’ll never forget and the Wildlife Management Institute. the experience. This delightful, odd That’s not to say that every tree should be little bird, the timberdoodle, could cut. Many wildlife species require mature for- be at the center of a bright future for ests, and we need to keep a significant amount Minnesota’s young forests. nV of this habitat on the landscape. The key is striking the right pattern of young and old Learn more about woodcock conservation at forests across a large landscape. The wood- www.timberdoodle.org.

March–April 2013 17 18 Stan FellowsMinnesota Conservation Volunteer

Illustrations by After the

In the wake of a landowners see trees in a new light.

blowdown,

ULY 2, 2012, began as just another warm, humid Jday. By midafternoon the temperature in Bemidji was 90 degrees with 50 percent humid- ity. Cumulus towers rose up in slow motion, shining and mushroom-capped, then collapsed like giant popovers. Far-off thunder muttered Will Weaver and grumbled. By late afternoon the energy-lad- en skies carried incipience like Saturday night at the State Fair: sweaty, hot, a little bit dangerous. SAt 6 p.m.t myo wife, Rose,r calledm me in from our By riverside dock. “You should look at this,” she said, pointing to the weather radar on the television. A perfectly round storm cell had blown up west of Bemidji. The pink blob, widening even as we watched, was tracking due east. Its path would take it directly

March–April 2013 19 over Bemidji, then down the Mississippi In a momentary pause, the trees straight- River toward our home nestled in the pines. ened partway, only to be hit with a knock- “We’d better get ready,” Rose said, she out gust. The ripping, cracking of tree bark who usually takes the weather more seri- and wood fiber resounded all around the ously than I do. house, and then the seismic Whump! of I went outside to batten down the yard— trees hitting the ground. secure the lawn furniture, check the pon- “Our trees!” Rose cried, her voice breaking. toon ropes, turn over the canoe—the usual Suddenly, like a bullet train thundering routine. I did not pause to look at “our” through a small station, the storm passed on. grand old white pine with its signature, An unnatural light illuminated our tall lyre-like trunk curving out over the river. windows. Not only were many of our shade But I should have. trees gone, the river was missing—hidden When we had done all we could to pre- beyond the tangled mess of fallen pines. pare, I went to our screened porch to wait The temperature had plummeted to 65 for the oncoming weather. I take a child- degrees. In the littered yard, we surveyed like pleasure in thunderstorms—their raw the damage. Two giant white pines lay power, their capacity to jolt us from our crisscrossed over our canoe. Several Nor- routines, to gather us in the same room or way and jack pines had snapped off halfway shelter, to unify our thoughts. When I was a up their trunks. Several smaller pines had child, thunderstorms brought my father in lost their tops, which lay scattered along the from the fields or barn to the safety of the driveway as if someone had spilled a load house. He would have coffee and cookies, of Christmas trees. Luckily, our house had or a nap and afterward a game of checkers not taken a hit. with us kids. A good old-fashioned thun- “The big pine!” I said suddenly to Rose. derstorm was a gift of rain and family time. “I don’t want to look,” she answered. But on July 2 my wind chimes rang sharp- But we clambered over the fallen trees ly. Aspens fluttered the whiter undersides of toward the tip of the peninsula, where a their leaves. A chilly breath washed through strange new light glowed as well. The old the screened porch as if someone had sentinel pine, twisted off at its roots, lay in opened a giant refrigerator door. Then from the water, its limbs still reaching for the sky. the west came a shimmering wall of straight- line wind. Rain hit the porch screens and exploded like cold aerosol spray. Recovery I hustled inside with Rose and watched We first checked on our neighbors. No the river grow whitecaps, a rarity on this one reported injuries, but some had punc- protected stretch of water. As the noise and tured roofs, upside-down pontoons and wind velocity increased, our birch trees, docks, and twisted boatlifts. Ted, a younger heavy with midsummer leaves, bowed low- Stageneighbor, One: came by to check on us. Packing er and lower. Flying leaves plastered them- his chain saw, he helped clear a path to our selves on wet window glass. dock. Surveying the pitch-scented, wet mess

20 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer March–April 2013 21 22 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer of limbs and tree trunks, he shook his head logs into boards. It was mid-September sadly. Then, in true Minnesota fashion, he by the time Bill and his portable mill came said, “Well, you’ve got some nice saw logs.” rattling down the road, and none too soon. A few days later, Ted and his college-age Some of the logs had begun to “blue” on son returned with chain saws, tape measures, their faces: From summer heat and moisture and chalk. We marked the fallen trunks for ef- in the trees, a blue-gray mold was setting in. ficient use—lengths of 8, 10, or 12 feet—then By spring the logs would be stained through cut them into logs. Chain saws spewed pine and greatly reduced in value. chips while I stacked limbs and branches. I waved Bill and his portable mill—a Gradually, the river reappeared. Our canoe long, skinny, orange contraption—into was miraculously unscathed. position close alongside the log pile. After Taking a break, Ted patted the log he a quick greeting, he set to work. He read- was sitting on. “You’ll need some heavy ied the mill with its arcane mix of wheel equipment with these guys,” he said. It was chocks, levers, and leveling blocks. His a kindly way of saying, “Don’t try moving moves were efficient, practiced, and mind- these logs alone.” ful of time; the September days were already much shortened. The last piece of the sawmill puzzle for Log Pile Bill to place was its blade, a toothed hoop Several days later a friend arrived with a of razor-sharp, stainless steel. The gleaming skid-steer loader and a grapple attachment. band-saw blade was alive—it quivered and Taking care not to damage the riverbank, made whoop sounds—as Bill fit it onto the he clamped onto my logs one by one and saw carriage with the care of a snake han- Stagemoved them Two: to a nearby meadow. dler. After a final walk-around safety check, To make an orderly pile, we first set Bill gave me a thumbs-up signal and fired down two “stringer” logs, then laid the the engine. heavier saw logs perpendicular atop. Soon A traditional sawmill brings logs to its we had a tall rick. blade. A portable mill brings blade to log. “Don’t let anyone climb on this pile,” he With a lever, Bill lowered two steel arms warned. “Logs can roll and crush you.” toward the log pile where a neighbor fel- This I didn’t doubt, for I knew a man low and I used old-school log jacks to confined to a wheelchair from just such tumble a log down onto the hydraulic- an accident. However, when it comes to powered arms. The weight of the big log logging safety, no one minds a reminder. made the motor groan as the log was lift- ed into place and clamped down. After some quick measurements on the Sawyer face of the log, Bill guided the carriage and Bill Hubble is a school paraprofessional and its humming band saw forward. Sawdust coach by day. But on evenings and most sprayed, and the first slab came loose. It weekends, he’s a sawyer—a guy who cuts was the tenders’ job to “throw slabs” —four

StageMarch–April Three: 2013 23 of them come from each log—as the saw- 2-by-8-inch planks. From one of the last yer cuts the log into a square beam. Once logs in the pile, a true “grandfather” pine, milled evenly on four sides, the beam now we cut 1-by-20-inch boards. can be cut into individual boards. “Try asking for one of these babies at It was also the tenders’ job to stack the Home Depot!” Bill called above the noise. “green” boards into a tidy pile. That in- He grinned broadly amid the sawdust, cluded “stickering” the rick, that is, laying haze, and noise. A true sawyer, he never down spacers between each layer of boards. met a tree he did not respect. The spacers allowed air to flow through the We finished in the twilight. The last lumber pile and gradually dry the boards; slabs were thrown, the final board stacked, without spacers, the lumber would mold as and Bill killed the engine. Exhausted, I sat quickly as if it were one giant dead tree. on my new, sweet-smelling pile of boards. It took a half-hour for our crew to find its My big, old trees had been reduced to rhythm. Sawmill work is noisy and danger- several hundred board feet of lumber, for ous, and we made sure to keep our walking which I had plans. areas clear and to watch out for one an- Bill seemed to read my thoughts. “I other. A couple of hours into the pile, about cut lumber all the time,” he said as he re- the time when a worker can easily get over- moved the band-saw blade, “but I hardly confident, I spotted a nail in a log. I threw ever see what people make of it.” the universal throat-slash hand signal: Bill “I’m thinking of a little barn that could halted the carriage and blade in the nick of double as a hunting shack,” I said. “Or time. We gathered to examine the big, old maybe a free-standing outdoor sauna.” spike protruding from the bark. “Be sure to send me some pictures,” “Probably pounded in there by swim- Bill said. mers,” I said of the riverbank tree. “People In the end, Bemidji’s windstorm affect- tell me they used to come out here and ed about 200,000 acres. With winds esti- skinny-dip.” mated at more than 80 mph, the storm cut “Then you went and ruined it by build- a path up to 15 miles wide in places and ing a house here,” Bill laughed. 70 miles long. However, the storm left us It was good to take a short break, a some gifts. drink of water. My wife and I have “improved” access “I once hit a horseshoe,” Bill said as he to and a view of the river and all the eagles, rotated the log to a new position. “It was ospreys, otters, loons, ducks, swans, kayak- grown right into the tree. Spikes, deer ers, canoeists, and boaters that come by. We hunters’ bullets, I’ve seen it all.” certainly have plenty of firewood and lum- The next log had a particularly irregu- ber. But we also have a greater understand- lar side, and Bill glanced at my wish list ing of loss and change—of what we can live of lumber before continuing. He gestured without. The big sentinel pine that I always for the log to be rolled 90 degrees—the worried about is gone, but from my lumber geometry of milling—and from it came pile, it will rise again. nV

24 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer March–April 2013 25 ,

= Big, and Blue BOLD

Theblue jay can be noisy and rowdy, but this bird is not a bully.

By Christine Petersen

Almost 200 years ago, a young naturalist named John James Audubon decided to paint pictures of all the birds of North America. Wherever Audubon went to look for birds, he saw blue jays. These long-tailed, robin-size birds show up in woodlands, farm fields, parks, and back yards. They are hard to miss, traveling in flocks that stay in touch by calling out loudly—Jay! Jay jay jay. Audubon thought the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) was beautiful, but he didn’t always understand its behavior. His painting shows three jays eating another bird’s eggs. He wrote that blue jays attack rival birds and mammals. Today, scientists know that blue jays are not likely to go after other birds unless usual foods are scarce. When Audubon heard jays mimicking hawk calls, he mis- takenly thought jays were trying to scare smaller birds away from food. Some people still think blue jays are bullies that chase other birds away from bird feeders. In fact, blue jay calls can alert other birds when a predator is nearby. Though sometimes noisy and rowdy, blue jays are actually

good neighbors. BILL MARCHEL 26 ▼ oung Y naturalists

March–April 2013 27 The blue jay is known for a loud, shrill call—Jaaaay. This songbird can mimic lots of sounds.

=Big Talkers CHRISTINE PETERSEN Blue jays have a large vocabulary. Jays on a bare branch. She bows and bounces. whistle, peep, squawk, mew, buzz, twit- Then, stretching her long, gray legs, she ter, click, clack, and cluck. They imitate throws back her head and calls in a high- all kinds of sounds, from a cat’s meow to pitched, harsh voice. This call is not the a screech owl’s whinny. familiar jay! that gave the species its name. How does a blue jay make all those It sounds more like a creaky, old wagon. sounds? Birds have a Y-shaped voice- Squeedle-dee! Squeedle-dee! box called the syrinx. The two sides of Other jays copy her call, like kids play- the syrinx reach down toward the lungs. ing a game of “telephone.” Then the female A jay, like many other songbirds, can takes off. Male jays immediately appear and control the flow of air through each side fly in line behind her. She leads them on a to produce two different sounds at once. winding aerial chase that curves around trees, between buildings, and over fields. Alarm calls. People might find blue jay After a while, she and one of the males calls irritating. But that noise usually has land in a clump of bushes. Sitting close, a purpose. When a jay sees a hawk, an they exchange whisperlike sounds. owl, or another predator, it starts to call. These “conversations” help to form the Jeer! Jeeeer! The metallic sound carries pair’s lifelong bond. Most jays live about far across the landscape. Other jays fly in seven years, but if these mates are lucky to help make noise to drive the predator they could live more than 16 years. away. Smaller birds seem to recognize the jays’ warning calls. They quickly go into Feeding sounds. A lone jay makes a soft hiding, letting jays do the dangerous work. cluck as it eats seeds at the bird feeder. A pair of jays might also make this sound as

Contact calls. A female blue jay perches they forage for food in the forest. LITWAK TAINA

28 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer March–April 2013 29 Quiet= Zone Jays become quieter and more secretive food. Once the eggs hatch, this becomes a in early spring as they begin to nest. They full-time job. The blind, featherlesshatch - build a nest in a well-hidden place, such as lings grow amazingly fast. The female joins where a branch meets the tree trunk. Each her mate in constantly delivering insects to parent brings twigs, grasses, and mud to these hungry mouths. make a cup-shaped nest. The birds don’t Three weeks after hatching, young rush this important job. After a few weeks, jays have fledged, grown feathers to fly. the female lays several speckled eggs. Then Standing on the edge of the nest, they she sits low across the nest to keep the eggs flap their wings to build strong muscles. warm and hidden from predators. For Within two or three days, the fledglings about 18 days, she leaves only briefly to begin making short, wobbling flights to stretch her wings or bathe. nearby branches. Soon they can fly with Meanwhile, the male bustles around the their parents. The family makes daily neighborhood gathering insects and other rounds to familiar places to find food.

30 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Big= Eaters Blue jays are omnivores—they eat a variety of plants and animals. Blue jays find most of their insect food by peeking under leaves and bark or using sharply pointed bills to poke in the grass. They eat beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders. Sometimes STAN TEKIELA STAN blue jays catch moths and dragonflies right out of the air. Fledglings must learn which insects to eat and which to avoid. For example, they should not eat monarch but- terflies because these insects carry toxins that cause jays to vomit. Forest tent caterpillars are a healthier item on the menu. These fuzzy, blue-and- black moth larvae chomp on the leaves of oak trees, aspen, basswood, and other BILL MARCHEL deciduous trees and shrubs. Blue jays help the forest by eating hungry caterpillars before they eat all the leaves on a tree. Jays visit farm fields and orchards to gather grains and berries. Bird feeders are popular too—especially those with pea- nuts, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn. In autumn, acorns and other hard nuts are the most important food for blue jays. When food is hard to find, blue jays eat

whatever is available. Sometimes they hunt TEKIELA STAN small mammals or eat carrion, the meat of Blue jay parents build a nest (left) in a secret spot dead animals. Once in a while, blue jays eat in a city, on a farm, or in a forest. At first the father brings food to the chicks. Later both parents feed eggs and chicks of other birds. In a study them. When they hatch, the chicks are featherless of 530 blue jays, only six had parts of eggs with closed eyes. After seven days, their eyes have or chicks in their stomachs. Jays have been opened and pinfeathers have popped out. At 21 days known to grab kibble from dog bowls. old, they have their flight feathers.

March–April 2013 31 = Not Blue When a blue jay raises the feathers on its head, the crest shows the bird is alert and watching. TRUE

Blue jay feathers contain no blue pigment. jays approach. Since Audubon’s time, They look blue because of the movement people have taken this as a sign that blue of light waves through millions of hollow, jays are bullies. But if you watch a bird transparent cells in the feathers. Light feeder for a while, you might see that bounces through these cells. Only blue woodpeckers, grackles, and doves also light is reflected back. This is what we see cause little songbirds to scatter. To be safe, when we look at a blue jay. they flee when any larger bird appears. The smaller birds watch from a hidden False Alarms perch to make sure no hawks or other Chickadees, goldfinches, and other small predators are nearby. They soon return to birds usually fly away in alarm when blue feed, even if jays are still around.

32 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Jays on Guard have noticed that some blue jays stay near their Picture this scene at a backyard nests throughout the year. Other jays move feeder: A family of jays is feed- around a lot, except when they are nesting. Some ing when one gives an alarming migrate long distances in the fall or winter. Orni- squawk. As most of the flock scat- thologists are not sure whether these wandering ters into the shadows of nearby jays return in spring to the same nesting places trees, the squawking jay takes a or to new ones. position atop the feeder pole. The Like travelers stopping at a restaurant, differ- bird raises the feathers atop its ent jays might visit your feeder each day. head. This sharp, triangular crest is a sign of agitation and alertness. Tipping its head, the guard bird peers this way and that. Suddenly, a sharp-shinned hawk plummets out of the sky. Hardly bigger than the jay, this young hawk is hungry. The blue jay rockets into flight, making a tight turn around the feeder. The hawk’s sharp talons (claws) narrowly miss the jay. In a heartbeat, the jay flies back STAN TEKIELA STAN to its perch. The hawk flaps away in search of an easier meal. The jay bobs smartly up and down as it scolds the departing predator. Jeer! Jeer jeer! Jays never make easy prey. Still, the family was lucky this time.

Friendly Travelers As summer ends, young blue jays leave their parents. Young jays from many nests may join together to Blue Jays. John James Audubon painted this form a large social group. watercolor of jays eating another bird's eggs, which Ornithologists studying blue jays they might do if they could not find any other food.

COURTESY OF THE BELL MUSEUM March–April 2013 33 In fall, the blue jay stores a favorite food—acorns from oak trees—in a cavity in a maple tree. In winter the jay will return to this and other storehouses, or caches, to eat the nuts.

=Seed Savers Jays that stay in Minnesota for the winter have a single goal: finding and storing a supply of food to last through the cold, snowy months. Acorns are their favorite. A blue jay can cache several thousand acorns in just a few weeks. The jay inspects each acorn for insect holes. The bird also shakes each acorn. If the jay hears a rattling sound, that acorn is dropped because an insect larva has gotten inside. The nut will not be good to eat. All oaks produce acorns. The blue jay looks first for pin oaks because these trees produce small acorns. The jay’s throat bulges as it swallows the acorns down— 1 … 2 … 3 … 4 … 5! An expandable throat pouch temporarily stores them. Tree Planters The jay grabs an extra acorn in its beak, Blue jays have exceptional memories, so then flies away to store all six. they can find many of their stored acorns, The jay flies up to three miles to find even months later under deep snow. A an opening in the woods where sunlight certain part of the brain recalls places and reaches the ground. Landing there, the jay directions. In blue jays, this part of the coughs up its load of acorns. The bird tucks brain is large compared with that of a bird one under a layer of leaves and others un- that doesn’t cache food. der loose soil. Sometimes the bird jams an Still, some acorns are always forgotten acorn’s point into the soil and whacks the and left behind. Fortunately, blue jays nut with its bill. The jay’s extra-thick skull cache acorns in just the right places for absorbs vibrations from this pounding. trees to grow. Poked into crumbly soil

34 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer STAN TEKIELA in a sunny spot, the acorn sprouts and a young oak seedling shoots upward. A= Note to Teachers Until 12,000 years ago, glaciers covered Find links to teachers guides to this and much of what is now Minnesota. After other stories online at rising temperatures melted the ice, plants www.mndnr.gov/young_naturalists. began returning to the landscape. Blue jays carrying acorns north onto open land may To learn more about the color of blue jay feathers, see "The Nature of Feathers," have helped oak trees spread faster than Jan.-Feb. 2004, in the MCV archives at they would have otherwise. http://go.usa.gov/48hx. Today, jays continue to plant acorns in parks, woodlands, and empty spaces in Minnesota. nV

March–April 2013 35 By Keith Goetzman and Ashley Peters

36 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Rails-to-trails bikeways make Riding inroads to sublime Minnesota the landscapes.

Rail The scent of creosote wafts from a sun-warmed trestle bridge. Sentinel-like mileposts Lines and onetime train depots mark the travel corridor’s history. Signs of Minnesota’s railroad-crossed past appear along many of the state’s multiuse recreational trails. Where freight cars once hauled coal, timber, and other commodities, people now bike, stroll, and roll. This ingenious transportation conversion from railroad lines to multiuse trails is partly an accident of history and largely the result of decades of By Keith G work by trail advocates, planners, and builders. and Ashley Peters The gentle grades, gradual curves, and lacelike oetzman network of railways have made them naturals for trail development. Repurposed railways make up 560 of the 620 miles of paved trails managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Cities, counties, and other municipalities oversee many more miles. One DNR rails-to-trails project is converting the six- mile line of the Minnesota Zephyr dinner train, which ran for 23 years between the cities of Stillwater and Grant. Dubbed the Brown’s Creek State Trail, it will connect the Gateway State Trail and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Bikers and other nonmotorized travelers will wind through woods, by historic sites, and along a trout stream and the St. Croix River. The DNR manages state trails, paved and unpaved, for use by all kinds of travelers—from bicyclists to horseback riders, hikers to runners, skiers to snowmobilers. This story profiles biking on four state trails— Central Lakes, Paul Bunyan, Casey Jones, and Sakatah Singing Hills.

Photography by Gary Alan Nelson 37 Central Lakes Central Lakes State Trail About 20 miles down the Big Ole looms 28 feet above stretches 55 miles between trail, just southeast of Ashby, the trail next to Lake Ag- Fergus Falls and Osakis, riders will spot seven prairie- nes. Nearby, an old depot winding through glacial ter- covered knolls, often called recalls the Great Northern rain of lakes, rolling prairies, the Seven Sisters, on the line that once plied this cor- and hardwood hills. Riders shores of Lake Christina, an ridor, and the Runestone setting out from Delagoon important pit stop for water- Museum beckons with lo- Park in Fergus Falls head fowl during migration. cal lore and history. southeast past Swan Lake. Rolling into Alexandria, A 10-mile side trip north They pedal past wetlands a rider can’t miss the re- of Alexandria leads to Lake rife with redwing blackbirds, gion’s Scandinavian heri- Carlos State Park. There egrets, and geese. tage as the Viking statue a weary cyclist can camp,

38 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer in tent or camper cabin, Bicyclists find wetlands among basswoods and (above) are a common sight maples. The park includes a on the Central Lakes State tamarack bog, grasslands, Trail. In Alexandria the trail and historic buildings. passes alongside the old Arriving at Osakis, the Great Northern depot (left). traveler might decide the Once the hub of commerce journey doesn’t have to end: in this community, the The Lake Wobegon Region- remodeled depot now houses al Trail intersects the state a restaurant. trail and runs another 50 miles east to St. Joseph.

March–April 2013 39 Just west of Osakis on the Central Lakes State Trail, a bike rider (above) passes under a bridge where roadway and railway once crossed paths. Bicyclists make up more than two-thirds of people enjoying the DNR’s paved, multiuse state trails. Unicyclists (below, left), in-line skaters, wheelchair users, walkers, and runners also use the trails.

40 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer The Central Lakes trail passes over a historic stone arch bridge (above), which spans the Pomme de Terre River west of Dalton. Along the trail, glacially carved swales (below) form an undulating landscape. On another stretch, glaciers left an even larger calling card: the Seven Sisters, a group of prairie-covered knolls on the shores of Lake Christina.

March–April 2013 41 Pau l Bunyan At 112 miles the Paul Bunyan State Trail seems as big as its name: It’s the state’s longest continually paved trail, running north–south between Bemidji and Brainerd. Travelers can begin their trip among tall pines in Lake Bemidji State Park. In summer, red-eyed vireos, American redstarts, and indigo bun- tings flit along some stretches of the lakeside trail. Water abounds along the Bunyan: The trail passes streams, rivers, and The Paul Bunyan State Trail is one of the state’s many lakes. At Leech Lake, it traces the most popular recreational routes. Its mythical western edge of Walker Bay and inter- namesake is immortalized in local lore and, of sects with the Heartland State Trail, course, large statues (below) like this one which runs 49 miles between Cass Lake in Hackensack. and Park Rapids. Continuing south, cyclists zip over new bridges, under tree canopies, and past remodeled train depots. A mile south of Pine River, they might stop overnight at a bike-in campground. Picnic spots and lakes pop up around Brainerd and Baxter. Soon a new seven-mile spur will be paved to Crow Wing State Park along the Mississippi River. Among the pines, a visitor can imagine the frontier town of Crow Wing, which died when Brain- erd got the railroad bridge over the river. The Bunyan trail crosses the not-yet-mighty Mississippi River (above) near Bemidji and meanders past woods, rural communities, and pristine wetlands (below) on its way to Brainerd.

March–April 2013 43 Parts of the Paul Bunyan State Trail are remote, such as the stretches that pass by Beuber Lake (above) and Foot Hills State Forest (left). But in other places, travelers can see remnants of the railroad era, such as the Lake Hubert Depot (right) southeast of Nisswa.

Casey Jones Designated as one of Min- at the End-O-Line Railroad bloody history as soldiers, nesota’s first state trails in the Park and Museum, just off settlers, and Dakota Indians late 1960s, the Casey Jones is the trail’s Currie Loop. This clashed in the U.S.–Dakota a profile in patience, still be- paved six-mile segment War in 1862. ing patched together toward links Lake Shetek State Park On another rail-straight an eventual goal of more to the town of Currie. segment of the Casey than 100 miles. But even its One of three currently Jones, between the towns current 21 miles make for a open segments, Currie Loop of Woodstock and Pipe- friendly introduction to the allows glimpses of the native stone, wind turbines tower prairie and farm landscapes landscape of prairie grasses, over this flat country. The of southwestern Minnesota. oak trees, and wetlands. futuristic-looking turbines You can’t miss the railroad Cornfields growing almost harvest renewable energy roots of the Casey Jones to the trail’s edge evoke the from air currents, which State Trail any more than modern agricultural era. lift red-tailed hawks as they you can miss the behemoth Interpretive signs remind circle above and bikers steam engine that sits idle visitors of the region’s glide below.

46 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer The Currie Loop of the Casey Jones State Trail traverses farmland and grassland (above) and leads to the End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum (below) in the town of Currie. Along the Casey Jones State Trail, prairie grasses (above) reach for the sky. On a yet-to-be developed stretch near Woodstock, travelers will pass by wind turbines (below) towering over cornfields. Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail (right) features patches of prairie and woods. Sakatah Singing Hills Bearing a poetic-sounding name from the Dakota language—Sakatah, meaning “singing hills”—this state trail stretches 39 miles between Mankato and Faribault. An attrac- tive day trip for Twin Cities bicyclists, it is also a more routine con- duit for people who live nearby. Running parallel to State Highway 60 for much of its length, Sakatah Singing Hills frequently wanders away from the road. It passes through several small towns, by a dozen lakes, and past patches of prairie and Big Woods. Three miles run through Sakatah Lake State Park, which includes trailside campsites. Several new bridges and miles of fresh, smooth pavement are part of a renovation from Waterville to Faribault, and more work is planned in coming years on the 33-year-old trail. Sakatah Singing Hills may also one day be part of a bigger whole: The DNR and trail advocates, including the Parks & Trails Council of Min- nesota, are developing a Faribault- to-Cannon Falls link, the Mill Towns State Trail, which will connect to the Cannon Valley Trail. One day it might be possible to pedal all the way from Mankato to Red Wing on these three trails that trace the former route of the Chicago Great Western railway.

March–April 2013 49 A railroad mile marker (above, left) stands alongside the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail at Sakatah Lake State Park, where a hardwood canopy (above, right) shades the trail. A newly rebuilt bridge (below) crosses the Cannon River west of Warsaw. At day’s end, the setting sun (right) silhouettes a tree on the shore of Sakatah Lake.

50 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer To learn more about which state trail is right for you, visit Minnesota State Trails Start-up at www.mndnr.gov/state_trails. nV 52 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer March–April 2013 2013 March–April Paddler By KeithGoetzman I swam to and put on. pack. And there was my flotation personal a device, which vest, slowlydrifted away. There was paddle. my There was my back water engulfing body toldmy me I had to get outsoon. in a few heartbeats justalized how serious itfrigid was. The breeze, and next the Iwas treading water. canoe inasolo on paddling lake inaslight asmall I had been able, slapstick like evenridiculous, bad comedy. One moment finds thathe’sA cold-watercanoeist inforashock. Suddenly My few belongings around bobbed me as my empty canoe I impulsively wanted to laugh at my predicament, until Ire - I was water, inthe inconceiv and seemed this

D own

Illustrationsby TomFoty - - 53 I’m still not exactly sure how this acci- showed no big winds or severe weather. Fi- dent happened. But I believe that I swiv- nally, I had brought my life vest. eled my head around to look at the shore These measures were no match for my behind me, and the slight shift in my body other lapses. The single biggest one: Without weight caused the canoe, a borrowed and training and practice in canoe self-rescue, I unfamiliar craft, to roll under me and shouldn’t have been paddling solo, especially transfer me neatly, with hardly a splash, on cold water in an unfamiliar boat. from the comfortable cane seat into the If I had even logged some simple prep very uncomfortable water. time perusing canoeing books, videos, or It was mid-April. The ice on this metro- the Internet, I would have known that after area lake had gone out only recently, and falling into the water, my best course of ac- the water temperature had barely climbed tion would be to climb back into the canoe. above 50 degrees. A person immersed in Cold water robs the body of heat 25 to 30 water this cold could expect to have three times faster than air, so I would have stayed to 30 minutes of what safety experts call warmer longer in the canoe. Even a totally “meaningful movement.” After this, it’s just swamped canoe can be paddled, albeit slug- flailing—slower and slower flailing, that is. gishly, to shore while the paddler keeps his In 30 to 60 minutes, most people would be- body core up and out of the water. My canoe come hypothermic and lose consciousness. was not swamped and, in fact, had barely a I didn’t know these statistics at the time. drop of water in it, yet I didn’t realize it was But I knew that I needed to act fast. With my best route to safety. It simply didn’t seem my life endangered and the clock ticking, I possible that I could get back into it. had to make rational, informed choices in As I later learned, re-entering a canoe order to survive. Unfortunately, I lacked the from the water isn’t something you just pick information, preparation, and practice nec- up naturally. It’s a demanding, unnatural, essary to make the best choices. I had long and ungainly maneuver that requires the considered myself a pretty experienced ca- paddler to make swift scissor kicks while noeist, but like far too many swimmers, an- hoisting himself up over a gunwale and into glers, and boaters, I had some serious gaps the boat. Bruises, scratches, and awkward in my self-professed knowledge. The day’s body positions are almost inevitable. events would make me urgently, painfully With a bit of training in self-rescue tech- aware of what I didn’t know. niques from a local paddling club, I would likely have been able to end my predicament much more quickly, happily, and in- I had done a few things right. First, dependently. Spending a few hours at a I had notified someone of my plans, tell- local lake practicing the techniques would ing my girlfriend I was going canoeing at have almost certainly ensured this outcome. Howard Lake in the city of Columbus—a Instead of attempting re-entry, I put on spot of blue I had randomly picked off a my life vest, squirmed out of my rubber map for my first paddle of the year. Next, boots, and began swimming toward the I had checked the weather forecast, which nearest shore as fast as I could. I also be-

54 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer gan issuing high-volume, targeted bursts after all. Why hadn’t I married my girl- of sound specifically intended to alert on- friend? Had some children? Cashed in the lookers to set in motion a rescue. In other skydiving gift certificate I once got? words, I swore. I noted, to anyone who Apart from surveying my regrets, I felt might be listening, that I was “(adjective) an overwhelming sense of embarrassment freezing,” in case there was any doubt about and stupidity. I had rafted remote rivers, ice- the severity of my situation. climbed glaciers, backpacked rugged moun- Also, if I died, it would have to be said tains, and taken more canoe-country trips that I went down cussing—raging, in my than I could tally, and here I was thrashing own way, against the dying of the light. around in a piddly little city lake like a tod- dler tossed into a water fountain. Suddenly, whatever good luck I had ac- As I swam, my life didn’t flash be- crued in my life kicked in. Of all the ran- fore my eyes. I thought not about things I dom lakes to canoe on, I had chosen one had done, but about things I should have that had a fire station on its shore. A man done. That’s what I would miss out on, who was jogging at a nearby park heard me

March–April 2013 55 Cold-Water Safety Minnesota’s year-round tem- recreational boating accidents skill-building classes. Three Rivers perature variability and abun- were fatal. In water below 59 Parks (www.threeriversparks.org) dant water bodies mean that degrees, more than 36 percent in the Twin Cities and the Rec- anyone who spends time on or of accidents were fatal. reational Sports and Outdoor near water needs to be aware Canoeists and kayakers are Program at the University of the dangers of hypothermia more often at risk of ending of Minnesota Duluth (www. from cold-water immersion. up in the water because smaller umdrsop.org) offer canoeing Hypothermia occurs when your watercraft are more vulnerable and kayaking courses. The body loses heat faster than it to capsizing. Fortunately, most Superior Kayak and Outdoor can produce it. The resulting paddlers wear life vests (86 per- Adventure Club (http://skoac. drop in body temperature can cent in one DNR study). How- org) offers sea-kayaking in- impair the functioning of your ever, in a 2007 study of Twin struction. heart, nervous system, and Cities metro-area boaters, only To learn more about boat other organs, and it can lead 18 percent wore life vests. and water safety, go to www. to death. In water between 70 To help ensure safety while pad- mndnr.gov/safety/boatwater/ and 79 degrees, 11 percent of dling, consider taking safety and education.html.

and ran straight to the station. The Forest alive rather than bobbing lifeless in the lake. Lake Fire Department dispatched its brand- That was more than a decade ago. I have new airboat, which the local Lions Club had since married my girlfriend and had three recently helped it purchase. children, assuaging some of my earlier re- I was approaching the shore—actually a grets. (Skydiving can wait.) I’ve also gotten thick stand of nearly impenetrable cattails my own, more stable solo canoe, though growing in muck—when I heard the sirens. I’ve avoided open, cold water when pad- Even though my thoughts were becoming dling alone. scrambled, my mind at once racing and Ever since the incident, my ears perk up bogging down, I was conscious enough to and my empathy flows when I hear news feel a great sense of relief at the sirens’ whiny of a boating accident. Last fall the sad news din, knowing that my chances of living emerged that a couple had been found dead through the ordeal had just shot up greatly. in their life vests, near their overturned ca- I ended up taking a nice, warm ambulance noe, on a Boundary Waters lake after cold, ride to a nice, warm hospital, where nurses windy weather had swept in. The two, wrapped me in an inflatable blanket called Thomas and Cynthia Pineault, were known the Bair Hugger, which worked like a forced- to their friends as expert canoeists. air heater to slowly bring my core body tem- Among many who heard the news, there perature back up from 93 degrees. I must was a sense of mystery about the couple’s have looked ridiculous, like an absurdly over- deaths. How could such a thing have hap- sized marshmallow, but I was happy to be pened? But I did not wonder. nV

56 Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Thank you

Thank you to every MCV supporter. We gratefully acknowledge those who gave $50 or more in May through December 2012.

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Hoppe Steven Jacobson Gary W. Gustafson Bonnie L. Harper-Lore Peter & Trish Herbert Bryce Hoppie Thomas E. Jacobson Steve Gustafson John & Kathy Harris Daniel J. Herbst Richard R. Horecka Mike Jaeger Todd D. Gustafson Pam & Dave Harris Michael Hermanson Lee Anne & Frank J. Caroline Jaffray Susan Guthrie Scott Harrison Joshua & Ben Horvath Stephen & Karen Jakala Jack L. Guy Laurie Harsh Hermerding N. & Mary K. Horvath John C. James Richard Guyer Kurt H. Harstad Judy Herrick Wayne Hoshal Ken & Juliane Janey Richard H. Gylfee Daniel R. Hart Billy Herring Shirley Houg Leonard Jansen Becky & Ted Haaf Lyth & Mary Hartz Herrmann family Melvin S. Hougen Nancy Jansen Eugene L. Haak A.G. Harvell Linda & Dale Herron Carole A. Houghton David A. Janssen Ethel A. Haakenson Wayne & Lynn Hass Warren R. Hershner Debra Houle Jeff Janssen Robert & Janet Haarman Lois F. Hassett Marc & Jackie Hertz Roberta C. Houle Robert A. Jantzen Bill Haas Mel & Marianne Hauck Kathryn A. Hesse John Houseman Arvid M. Jaranson Jerome B. Haberle Fred & Cathleen Warren Hesse William & Katherine Michael Jasper David J. Hacker Hauenstein H.A. & Patricia Hetland Howard Leonard Jax Scott C. Hacker Dale & Cindy Haugen Tracey Hetland Mike Howe Michael Jeffers Norman Haedtke Ken & Diane Haugen Steph Heurung Bruce L. Howell Karen Jeffords-Brown Charles Hafner Oliver Haugo Paul & Janelle Higdem Kathryn Hoyman Michael J. Jellinek Hagemeyer & Company Richard Haus Larry E. Hilgendorf Colleen & Larry Hoyme Bill & Darlene Jenison Alaina Hagen Dr. Charles Hauser Darryl Hill Seth & Nancy Hoyt Paul Jennings David Hahn Joe Hautman Jan Hill Bryan Hoyum Randolph Jennings & Gerald H. Haider & Morris Haverland Jenny & Bob Hill Dave & Toni Huber Mary Griep Jeanne Lee Robert A. Havlik John & Laurie Hill Mark & Cindy Huber Tom Jensch Mary & John Haider Armin Hawkins Nancy Hill Deborah Huberty James M. Jensen William Haider Bret Hawkinson Harry P. Hillegas Ken Hudalla Joel & Laura Jensen Mark & Kathryn Haidet Pete & Julie Hayek Donald O. Hilligoss Michael Hudalla Ron & Pat Jensen Bonnie Haines Greg & Sarah Hayes Greg Hillman Steven D. Hudson Douglas Jeranson Diane K. Haines Jack N. Hays Bill Hink Curtis L. Huelsnitz Joseph & Carol Jerkovich James M. Haining Joseph A. Headley Larry J. Hink Lee Ann Huezo Lois A. Jessen Bill T. Hakala Dave Heath Mel & Ellen Hintz Michael Hughes John & Maryann Jindra Gene Halberg Donald K. Heath Sterling Hintz Marvin F. Huiras Neil R. Jirele John W. Hale Dennis & Nancy Hebrink Beth Hippert Vernon Hukriede Michael D. Joachim Tony Halek Loren Hed Merrimon & Carol Hipps Jim Hulbert Jean Johansson David & Susan Haley Steven Hedberg N. Jean Hjellming Patricia Hull Ron & Sandy Johansson Christopher Hall Derrick A. Heddlesten Larry A. Hoagland Willard A. Hultgren Kenneth Johns Mark Hall Carter & Florence Rick Hocevar Gerald J. Hults Allan Johnson Richard Hall Hedeen Leonard D. Hockert Shirley Humburg Arden Johnson Ken Hallberg Richard & Meredith Marcia Hockert Susan Humphrey Arthur & Geraldine Edward & Clara Halls Hedenstrom Bill & Sue Hodder John E. Hunt Johnson Arnold T. Haman Marvin Hedlund Michael T. Hodges John J. Hunt Audrey M. Johnson GARY ALAN NELSON

Betsy Johnson Don & Fran Jueneman Larry Klein Beryl G. Kruempel Carron Lauseng Bill Johnson Jay Juergens Don & Deb Kleven John Kruse Jon Lawrence Bonnie Johnson Robert W. Julen Larry Kleven Michael P. Kruse Sharon Lawrence Byron & Virginia Johnson Tim Junkert Dr. Lowell H. Kleven Chris & John Kuderka Albert T. Layman Cliff B. Johnson William E. Jurney Jr. Edward Klinkhammer Larry & Carolyn Kuechle Gary A. Layne Dan A. Johnson Kaardal Insurance Robert Klofstad Harry & Kay Kuefler John Lazor David & Jeanette Johnson Agency Inc. Rev. Raymond F. Klug Connie Kuehn Charles R. Lea David L. Johnson Donald G. Kaddatz Robert J. Klukas Tom & Jean Kuehn Tim Leach Harold E. Johnson Dr. Arthur W. Kaemmer Barry Knapp Steven R. Kufus Glen Le Claire Hazel M. Johnson Steve Kahlenbeck Lee & Linda Knase Rodney W. Kugler Ronald Le Claire J.E. Johnson Susan Kainz Lee Knight Jerry D. Kuhlman Ashton Lee J. Merriman Johnson Harold L. Kallio Gary E. Knoll Barbara J. Kuhnley Linda Lee Jason A. Johnson Dan Kaminski & Mark Skala Randy D. Knopik Thomas & Disa Kullman Nadine Lee Jeff Johnson Patricia Kane Charles P. Knopp Dennis F. Kumlin Vernon A. Lee Jerel D. Johnson Karen A. Kanis Lori Knosalla James Kurle Wayne Lee Judy A. Johnson Ken Kappes David A. Knutson Paul Kuske Joy Le Febvre Judy L. Johnson Roger L. Kapsner Eric N. Knutson Chuck Kutzera Greg Lefevre Kenneth G. & Margaret Gwen & Jason Kardell Troy Knutson David Kvam Mark B. Legatt & Johnson Daniel & Cindy Karg Lorraine Kobberdahl Molly Kwakenat Kathy Mulier Kyle Johnson Paula Karl Hans Koch & Amelia Steve Laak Ken Lehman Larry Johnson John D. Karpan Kennedy Mary Lacher Rebecca Lehman Laverne A. Johnson Richard N. Karpan Lowell Koch Scott & Mary Lagaard Steven R. Lehman Marvin Johnson David & Maureen Karsnia Michael Koch Arnold & Lynn Lahd Mel E. Lehmann Mary H. Johnson Michael Kasel Lynn R. Koechel Jennifer S. Lahmann Roger Lehti Michael N. Johnson Maureen G. Kasten Duane D. Koehnen Roy & Peggy Laine Jeff, Jenni, & Nik Lehtinen Millicent M. Johnson Lauren L. Kath Wayne Koehnen Terry E. Laine Keith & Patty Leiseth Mitchell & Dawn Johnson Bob & Connie Charles E. Koenig David & Kristina Laliberte Laurie K. Leitch Palmer G. Johnson Jr. Katzenberger Koester family Jennifer Lamberson Vernon D. Leitch Pamela L. Johnson Erik & Tara Kaufman Karen Koester Charles E. Lamberton Richard Lembke Paul Johnson & Sharon Kauth Pete Kofoot Don Lamoureux Patricia Lenoch Laura Hedlund Karen Kavan Mary Kohman Jerry Lamp Richard W. Lenski Paul & Barb Johnson Kirk J. Kedrowski Michael Kohout Michael N. Lampi Ralph J. Lentz Pearl Johnson Louis P. Kedrowski Pat & John Kojis Robert & Anne Lamppa Gerald Lenz Richard S. Johnson Merlene Keeler Maria Koland Paul Landgrebe Ron & Shelly Lenz Robert M. Johnson Faris Keeling Steve & Laura Kolar Jay Landowski Howard H. Le Pier Ron Johnson Randy Keen Anne Kollmann R. Landry John Leshuk Seth Johnson Bob Keller Barbara E. Kolpin John Lane-Bina Carolyn Lester Stuart Johnson Mark Kelliher Matt Koonmen Richard Lange Paul & Carol Thomas J. Johnson Edward & Roseann Kelly James H. Koplin Robert & Diana Lange Letourneau Tim Johnson Mary A. Kelly-Wright David Koppe Ron Langer Kurt Leuthold Wade F. Johnson William Kelm Mary Kor John & Andrea Sandra Levendowski Walter & Harriet Maynard J. Kelsey William Korman Jr. Langworthy Kevin Leverentz Johnson Michaeleen Kelzenberg Deb & Russ Korneck John Lannon Michael Levinski Ward Johnson Robert & Joanne Kemkes Joe & Carol Korte W.C. Lantz Benedict T. Lewandowski William J. Johnson Steve & Leigh Kennel Lorraine Korts Ed & Barb Lanz Luverne Lewerenz Jennings Johnston John Keppers Jill & Al Koshiol Gerald & Judi Lapp Greg & Mary Lewis Alan L. Jokela Todd Kerkow & Paula M. & Mike Koshmrl Dean Laraway Delmer & Theresa Leyh Raymond E. Jokinen Amber Setter James Koski Gene Larimore Ronald L. Libertus Thomas R. Jokinen John J. Kermouner Kirby Koster Mark C. Larkin Albert Libke Erling Jonassen Robert Kesti Robert J. Kostichka David La Rochelle Beau & Judy Liddell Arthur Jones Gerald W. Ketcher Bruce & Jerilyn Kraft Joel M. Larsen Lorene & David Liddle Eldon D. Jones Clyde W. Ketelsen Kathi & Guss Krake Larry & Donna Larsen Michael R. Lidgerding John Jones Lorrie & Fred Keup Gene B. Kramer Virginia C. Larsen Ron & Kay Lien Karen L. Jones Robert C. Kieffer Georganne Kramer C. Leroy Larson Midge & David Lilja Kathleen A. Jones Patricia G. Kielb Mat & Anne Kramer Dan & Sally Larson Joni R. Liljedahl Marilyn C. Jones Robert Kiewatt Jr. Greg Krampe Dave Larson William Liljemark Mark Jones M.A. Kight Lawrence A. Krantz Deanna K. Larson Roger D. Lillemoen Peter K. Jongewaard & Shari Kile Leonard Krause Gary Larson Dorothea M. Lillestrand Sandy Roggenkamp John & Mary Killen Carol Krebs Glen & Brenda Larson Andre Lima Russell & Kathryn Gerald Killian Julie Kress James A. Larson H.D. Lind Jongewaard Clifford E. Kimball Lorraine A. Kretchman James G. Larson Wilfred N. Lind Orville & Kathryn Diane K. King Richard Krey Kathryn Larson Marc Lindbeck Jonsrud John King Earl T. Krieger Kenneth D. Larson Dean Lindberg Julie Joplin Richard P. King James & Rene Krieger Mark A. Larson Jim W. Lindberg Larie Jordahl Jerry Kinney Kriesel Brothers Robert E. Larson Robert R. Lindmeier Frank & Nancy Jordan Julie & George Kinney Arlene Kringle Steve Larson Malcolm Lindsay Jr. Ray Jordan Timothy Kinney Thomas L. Krinke Sr. Susan Larson John Lindstrom Tom Jordan Jennifer Kinzer Mark Kristensen Wayne Larson Steve Lindstrom William T. Jordan Matthew Kisch Roger H. Krogen Randee La Salle & Mr. & Mrs. William F. Dr. David Jorde Rick Kjolsing Leslie A. Krona Kevyn Schweim Lindstrom Anne & Pete Joria George & Mary Klacan Roger & Barb Kronholm Jack R. Laudenbach Edward Jose Jim Klancke David & Susan Kroska Dale & Judi Lauer Gregory Joslin Darlene P. Klein Dennis Krueger Florian I. Lauer Andrew J. Joyce Jim & Karyn Klein Keith & Joanie Krueger Mark D. Laumann 61 Thank you donate at www.mndnr.gov/magazine or call 888-646-6367

Carla Lininger Jim Maderich Ron Max Michael C. Meyer Duane Muri Larry Linse Larry & Carol Madison Melisa Maxwell Stanley J. Meyer Wes Murnane Bill & Sharon Lipp Carole & Hans Madland Sarah Maxwell Chet & Miriam Meyers Dennis Murphy A.M. Lips John Madson Mayer Optical Shop Anthony C. Michelich Leonard & Sonia Murphy Tom Little Eilene Magnuson Tony V. Mayer John Michelich Pattie Murphy James T. Livingston Gerald Mahon Charles & Marlene Charles Michels Jack Murray Eric & Susan Locher Jim Mahoney Mayhew Raymond C. Mickow Adeline M. Murtaugh Fred L. Lockwood Kenneth E. Maine Patti & Patrick McAdaragh Rand Middleton Mike Musta Mike Loeffler Mike Majerle Ray H. McArthur Arvo & Deloris Mikkanen Timothy Musta John Loegering Mark Majorowicz Jean McBean C. Milbrath Steve D. Myerchin Joe & Miranda Loehle Jon R. Maki Mary McBride Doris Milem Jim Myers Mildred Loffredo Suzanne J. Maki Renee E. McCabe Diane & Steven Millard Mason C. 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Lonson Robert & Julie Manuel Jan McElfish & Tom Ajax Peter & Durayne Mitby Wallace Neal Loon Point Resort Dominic Maras Laura McEntyre Caren & Todd Mitchell Scott Nebel Richard & Cheryl Loose Gail Marchand Mary Ellen McFarland Janet Mitchell Phyllis Neff Andy & Dian Lopez Frank & Cheri Marchio Tony T. McGinnity Lucy & Bob Mitchell Philip & Shelley Nehl Patricia Lorsung Stephen Mareck M. McGinty Curtis Moe Ken Neihart Robert Loscheider Jeffrey P. Mark Dennis J. McGovern David E. Moeckel Terry C. Neill James Losleben Nancy D. Markey Richard & Diane Jean L. Moeckel Chrisanne L. Nelson Scott W. Lounsbury Daniel & Sharon Marks McGowen Allene & Guenther Clareyse E. Nelson Donald J. Lovas Elizabeth C. Marks McIntosh family Moesler Courtland & Mitzi Sylvia Lovett Andrew J. Marlow Stewart & Kathy Paul Mohlke Nelson Jim Loving Mark Marotzke McIntosh Judith M. Molenaar Donald H. Nelson Patrick A. Loyas Marquette Honey Farms Thomas J. McIver Pete Mollick Gary & Carol Nelson Gino Lucia Rita Marrinan Hank & Mary McKinney James C. Mollner Gary M. Nelson Ludlow’s Island Lodge Alan Marschall Anne McKinsey Judith L. Grandel Molloy Gerald Nelson Michael Ludwig Wayne Marsh Deborah K. McKnight & Robert C. Momsen Gloria & Wyman Nelson Pamela & Rodney Ludwig Janet Marshall James Alt Mike Monahan H. Scott Nelson Neill F. Luedtke Raymond O. Marshall Wayne L. McMillen Brett A. Monson J. Robert Nelson John & Debra Luetmer Greg Marshik David McNair Mary Monte Jack Nelson Pat & Lisa Luetmer Jonathan Marshik Garwin McNeilus Jerry & Karen Montonye Jacqueline Nelson Jeff Lukanen Edward C. Marsolek Bion & Anita McNulty Marilyn M. Moon John & Donna Nelson A. Jackie Lund Richard Marsolek Tom & Kim Medin Moore family Kathleen Nelson Alan & Verena Lund Amber Martin & Ralf Mehnert-Meland Bruce Moore Kristen Nelson Charles B. Lund Paul Robinson Myron & Carolyn Meier Stephen Moore Lloyd & Donna Nelson David Lund Dennis O. Martin Thomas Meilander Gwen L. Moorhead Orville T. Nelson Elizabeth Lund Ed Martin Karen & Jim Meinz William Morgan Roger L. Nelson Janice L. Lund Gordon & Jewell Martin Mark Meis Leroy Moritz Scott & Barbara Nelson Jessica Lund Michael C. Martin Allan R. Meixner John Morley Steven Nelson Paul Lund Dr. Roy & Lisa Martin Jon & Pam Melander Jean & Dick Morse Terry & Linnaea Nelson Tony & Cris Lund Ruth Martin Steven J. Ed & Beth Morsman Vordyn Nelson Walt Lundeen Su & Pete Martinetto Melander-Dayton Kathleen Mortensen Mark Nemec Kathleen Lundgren Tony & Carolyn Martino Sherwood O. Mellom Alice & Mort Peter Ness Mary Lundgren Randy Martinson Chuck Melton Mortenson Dorothy J. Neudahl Steve Lundorff Terry & Jeneice Maruska Todd Meltzer Carl “Rudy” Mortenson Claudia Neuhauser Elsie Lundquist Maryview Beach Resort, Alan Mendel Jerry Mortenson Gwendolyn O. Neumann Gerald Lundstrom Dale & Donna Lidberg Henry J. Menke Mike Moser Stephen Neumeister Larry L. Lurch Margaret Mason Edna A. Menning W. Keith Moser Duane Neveau Joe Luskey Samuel R. Mason David Mennis Alonzo R. Moses Robert & Dawna Newby Steve & Lynn Lutz Jeff Masten Cathy Menssen Wayne F. Mosey Deborah Newcomb Peggy Lynch George & Annette Master James J. Merchlewicz Jeanne Motzko Mark Newman Roxanne Lynch Jennifer A. Mateer Dorothy & Earl Meredith Barbara M. Moulton Paul & Beth Newman Michael Lyon Mila Matney Bruce W. Merrell Doug Mroz Raymond Newman Jr. Brenda & Tom Lyseng Brian Matteson Paula B. Merth Robert Muehl & Bill L. Newton Mary Lyslo Kyle Matti Adeline Meskan Julia Foster Dave Nichols Paul & Barbara Clarice Mattson Jeff Messerich R.W. Muelhausen Terry Nichols MacGregor Environmental Timothy P. Metcalf Daniel L. Mueller Nicollet County SWCD Pat Mach Foundation Chuck Meyer Jamie Muellner Donald Niece Sherry Machen Norman Mattson Cindy J. Meyer James A. Mullin Ron Niedzielski Leroy & Rosemary Steve Mattson Joel & Heather Meyer Muriel N. Mullin Bill Nietz Machulda Richard R. Mau John Meyer Tom Mulvaney Terry & Caroll Dianne S. Maciosek Mary Anne Mauer John D. Meyer Leona W. Munsch Niewolny GARY ALAN NELSON

Bernard Nigon Richard S. Olson Thomas J. Peck Louis Pignolet Richard J. Remer Randy Nilson Steven H. Olson Roy A. Pedersen Richard & Rose Pinomaki Pamela Renkel Arnie Nimps Thomas K. Olson Doug Pederson Stuart & Roberta Pinsky Richard Renner Richard J. Niss Todd & Andrea Olson Kevin Pelkey Steve & Nancy Piragis Steve Renner Cyril & Nora Nix Vicki Olson Robert H. Pelto John Pitera & Ronald L. Ress William Nixon Jr. Donald Olstad Dean & Jackie Pelton Katherine Patterson Joe Rethmeier Steven J. Noakes Jann Olsten Paula S. Pendleton Richard L. Pitts Steven R. Rettke Dr. David P. Norden David & Leigh Oltmans Steve Penick Mary Lou Pivec Daniel Reuter Dr. Paul Nordlie Lynn K. Olund John & Terri Penshorn PKT Enterprises Joe & Pat Reymann Sandy Nordquist Janice Omacht & Pentair Technical Stephen Plantenberg Aaron Reynolds Jeffrey Norell Peter Anderson Products Robert G. Pleban Julie Rhoda Ryan Norell Zach Omann Tony & Irene Perpich Lew A. Plonty Peter S. Rhode Robert L. Norenberg Wendy O’Neil Ethan Perry Brad Point Terry Rhodes Ronald & Susan Norha Margaret O’Neill Jon W. Perry Jason Poirier Bradley A. Riba Mahlin A. Norine Margie Onstott Lou Ann Perry Sally B. Polk Angie Ribar William Norquist Bernard J. Opferman Al & Marillyn Persch Elisha Polomski Grace V. Rice Richard L. Norrish Michael Opitz Melvin R. Peters Robert W. Polzin Pat & Calvin Rice Jacobson Norsten Earl Orf & Robert L. Peters Christine Pomrenke Robert E. Rice Northern Precision Diana Hestwood Bob M. Petersen Steven Potvin Thomas J. Rice Machine David W. Orr Norville Petersen C. & E. Pouliot Jeff C. Richards Daniel P. Norton Bruce Osborn Ronald & Rosemary Lyle & Rick Powley LeAnn Richardson Scott Norton Reed Osell Petersen Prairie Restorations Ronald Richardson Norway Ridge Gary Osen Beth C. Peterson Robert Prestebak Sylvia J. Rick Supper Club Donald V. Osier Bruce & Donna Peterson Barbara J. Pribyl Jerry L. Rickard Ralph Notch Philip J. Osmundson Daniel K. Peterson Ryan R. Prins Phyllis & Jack Rickert Douglas L. Novack Oliver & Lana Ossanna Dorothy Peterson Curtis Pritchard Russ Ridgewell Glen & Yvonne Novak David L. Ostrander Douglas Peterson Dennis Probst David C. Ridler Mike & Joann Novak Gary & Marion Otnes Elizabeth A. Peterson Terrance Purcell Kenneth H. Riedemann Jim Novotny Irene M. Ott Harvey M. Peterson Charles Purdham Rick & Diane Riegert Tom Noyes Dan Otte James E. Peterson Clarence Purfeerst Norman F. Riihiluoma Paula Nuessmeier James H. Otte Jerry & Donna Peterson Brian Quarstad Kevin Riley Bernie C. Nundahl Paul E. Otto Kathleen Peterson Ken & Bobbi Quass Lisa Ringer Richard W. Nunn Gratia H. Ouellette Keith Peterson John E. Quast Richard A. Ringstad Jon Nygaard Outdoor News Keith H. Peterson Lynn E. Quenemoen Edward C. Ritter Norm Nystrom Susan Overby Mabel L. Peterson Darryl Quern Linda Ritter Barbara & Peder Oase Todd Overland Merle & Betty Peterson Gary C. Quick Colleen Roberts Peggy Oberg Nancy Owen Patti & Steve Peterson Arthur J. Raak Jim & Barb Roberts John & Mary Ochsner Douglas & Suzanne Paul & Marilyn Peterson James Racek Ken Roberts Alex J. O’Connell Owens-Pike Phillip M. Peterson Orville Radel Kimo Robertson Carol O’Connell Marv Packer Richard I. Peterson Darryl Radford Paul E. Robey Dr. Rita O’Connell Irvin & Lyla Pagels Richard J. Peterson Rex C. Radford Louise L. Robinson Tom R. O’Donnell Ellen Pahl Dr. Rolf & Carolyn Donald H. Raether Stephen J. Roddy Rosemary O’Donovan Ralph Painter Peterson William Rahm John S. Roden Lee Oestreich Raymond C. Painter Rolf & Kathy Peterson Dale Rainey Darrell Rodenz Anne O’Flynn Warren W. Pakulski Ronald A. Peterson Harry & Lois Ramaley Daniel M. Roebbeke Norma O’Gary Roberta Palen S.C. & K. Peterson Jr. Erich & Nancy Ramp Jon A. Roeder Alan L. Oines Gregory & Kristin Palfe Sherwood Peterson Ramsey County SWCD Oliver Roen Phyllis Okeson Kari & Mike Palmer family Bonnie J. Ramsey-Davis Joe Roessler Raymond Olander Peter B. Palmer Sylvia Peterson Dale Randall Richard Rogers Oldakowski family Steven & Valerie Palmer William H. Peterson Gyles W. Randall Maryn & Thomas Rogge John & Yvette Oldendorf Sue Palmer Joan & John Petroff Patricia Raschio Jim E. Rogne Dan & Brenda Oleson Robert & Carolyn Papke Roger W. Petry John & Christie Robert H. Rogotzke Eric O’Link Dean T. Parisian Jerome M. Petsch Rasmussen Roiger family Dale Oliver Dennis M. Partika Bill & Mary Pettit Rick Rasmussen Helen Rolloff Jim Olmstead Carroll Partridge Robert Petty Sue & Greg Rasmussen George Roman David Olsen Mark Pass Lee Pfannmuller & Muriel D. Rassier Ronald & Bettye Ronning Gordon & Midge Olsen Robin Passer Gary Seim Beverly Rath Barbara J. Ronningen Rick & Susy Olsen Kevin Patty & Mary Charles C. Pfeffer Jr. Raymond R. Rath Earl J. Rook Arthur D. Olson McDowall Betsy & Tom Pfeifer Betty Rauvola Leslie Roos Bruce & Paula Olson David L. Pauba Jerry Pflepsen Patti & Dick Raymond Robert & Alice Charles D. Olson Jack Paul Joseph D. Phelps Bill Rebischke Rosengren Daniel C. Olson Kenneth Paul Theresa A. Phelps Thomas S. Rector John Rosnau David G. Olson Lloyd W. Paulson Everett Philipsek Ronn Redemske Mary Ross Doug R. Olson Marvin & Victoria E. Sue Watlov Phillips Richard Regnier Patricia Ross Emily J. Olson Paulson Lois J. Picha James W. Reichert Joe Rossi Gary G. Olson Gary Paulu Genea & Jack Pichotta Dr. William O. Reid James D. Rostvold Gaylon Olson Anna Pavlik Bill Pickett Edward & Kate Peter Rothe & Gail James J. Olson Chuck Pavlish David G. Piepgras Reilly-Wolford Amundson Ken & Lynn Olson David Payne Greg Pierce James & Julie Reimer Mark Roubinek Lowell E. Olson Payroll Professionals Inc. Chris D. Pierson Richard O. Reinhart Eric & Sarah Rousar Maren Olson & Donald J. Pearce Pierz Pioneer Bruce Reischl Jamie McBride John W. Pearson Elementary School Steven & Deena Reisman Mary Olson Leland & Doris Pearson Ron Pietila Jr. David Reisner Richard & Meg Olson Lyle R. Pearson Jr. Pietz Farms Inc. David & Colleen Reitan 63 Thank you donate at www.mndnr.gov/magazine or call 888-646-6367

Sherry Rovig & Barb Crow Daniel K. Schaitberger Leo Schumacher James Simmer Don Spolum J. Thomas & Mary Rowe Howard C. Schaitberger James Schuster Mary H. Simmons Grant & Pamela Springer James E. Rowe Dan Schaub Ralph & Sandra Schuster Kirsten Simon James Stabno Dr. Nathaniel H. Rowe Darrell D. Schaub George E. Schwagerl Frank R. Simon Denise Stacklie David Roxberg Gary & Shirley Schaub Robert Schwalboski Martha Simonett John A. Stackpole III Jennifer Roy Dan & Mary Schauer Peter & Linda Schwamb Caroline H. Simpson Chris Stage Tom & Carol Rubbelke Kim & Darren Denise & James Schwandt Wally & Sally Simpson Robert J. Stahl Larry F. Rucker Schaufenbuel Clayton A. Schwanke John & Maxine Sinclair Herb Stahnke Mark W. Ruckle David & LuAnne Scheerer Paul Schwartz H.R. Sinex Ernest Stalock Tim & Carol Ruda Fr. Leroy Scheierl Roger Schwartz Jimmy Single Mike Stalpes John Rudawski Don & Jean Roger & Janice Schwartz Dennis Sippel Sr. Mary Stanley James & Arlene Rudbeck Scherfenberg Roger D. Schwartz George Sivanich Patrick Stanton Laura G. Rude Eugene J. Schiemann Lola Schwarz Charles R. Sjodin Doug Stark Louis Rudnicki Barbara Schillo Robert Schwegel Jack Sjoholm Jr. Florence K. Stater Stuart L. Ruehle Kevin Schimnich Gary Schwitzer Julian Sjostrom Debi Stave Robert Rupp Tony & Julie Schippers Phil Scollard Frances Skala Bob Steckling Thomas & Lynn Rusch Charles E. Schlatter Bob Scott Dr. Steven & Steffen family David L. Ruschy Rita Schlief Charles R. Scott Corilee Skildum Dan Steffen Michael Rutten Betty Schloemer Darlene & Glen Scott Dennis & Judy Skinner John P. Steffen Steve & Marie Rutz Betty Schlosser David R. Scott Todd D. Skinner Tom Steigauf David & Kathleen Ruud Lori & Brian Schmaltz Davis A. Scott Kenneth R. Skjegstad Robert & Mary Stein James Ruyak Mark Schmid & Deloris V. Scott Russell Skov Richard E. Steindorf Eileen Ryan Sandra Dennis Robert Scott Jr. Glen & Anna Skovholt Stephen J. Steinhagen Dr. & Mrs. J. Michael Ryan Pat Schmid Monty Scrabeck Mike Skweres Donald J. Steininger Michael & Marjory Ryan Adam Schmidt Tom R. Scully Grace L. Slagle Charles Steinweg Richard J. Ryan Bruce Schmidt Rod & Ruth Searle Roger & Kay Slater Richard Stelling Marshall Rygh Frederick R. Schmidt Rich & Cindy Sebastian Greg & Martha Smetana Ashton R. Stenberg Vern Rylander John G. Schmidt Maija Sedzielarz Ken & Gail Smidt Sally Steneman Mark A. Saba Milton & Susan Schmidt Fred Segler Amy & Cory Smith James B. Stenglein Thomas & Yvonne Sabyan Steve Schmidt Mary Seidel Bob Smith Fred Stenman Elizabeth Sackett David Schmidtbauer Steve & Mary Seidlitz Brett & Kathy Smith Stephens family Mitchell Sadoff & Elmer Schmidthuber Bob & Marree Seitz Carolyn A. Smith family Joyce L. Stephenson Nancy Appel Milan Schmiesing Dale Selby Chuck Smith William Stets Bernard St. George Steven Schmit George Selcke Dale L. Smith David R. Stevens Bill St. Martin Bill & Liz Schmitt George & Arlyce Selvestra Harriet Smith Florain J. Stevens Saint Therese Paul H. Schmitt Norman Senjem Joan Smith Sandra A. Stevens Elementary, Janet C. Schnabel Janet Senst Joe & Caroline Smith Darrin & Kristin Stewart Carla West Charles P. Schneider Ron Sermon John G. Smith Thomas E. Stewart Duane Sakry David & Deborah Irene R. Serr Kevin Smith Glenn Stickney Rex Sala Schneider Lonny & Barb Serreyn Leslie Smith John & Jolene Stiglich Robert E. Salisbury Richard W. Schneider Surendra Sethi Newton Smith Lela M. Stillwell Raymond O. Salmonson Jerry Schnettler Dale & Michelle Shirley & Richard Smith Dr. Thomas Stillwell Gavin E. Salsbery Norman Schnieder Setterholm Steve Smith Glenn & Phyllis Stimler Leander Salzl Ralph J. Schnorr Janice Severs Terry & Bonnie Smith Gordon & Mary Jean Don & Bridgett Salzmann Betty Schoeberl Keith E. Severson Theresa Smith & Stobb Dan & Mary Sand Steve & Maureen Scholl DeNell M. Sexe Mark Danielson Chuck Stockman Bella Sanders Nancy Schollett Stanley J. Seys Carl & Pam Snell Earl Stockman David Sanderson Jerome Schoumaker Shamrock Marina Resort Jim & Michelle Snyder Timothy Stoddart Jane & John Sandness Donald R. Schow II Patrick Shannon Thomas C. Sobolik Vicki L. Stoffel David T. Sandquist Rolfe & Theresa Schrader Cary & Michelle Sharp Jay A. Sockness Roger A. Stoick Jean & James Sandrock W. Melvin Schramm Geoffrey & Gina Sharples Dan Soderholm Derrick W. Stolen Timothy & Betsy Sands Mike Schrank Craig H. Shaver Jeff Soderholm John D. Stone Dorothy & Lee Sanford D.T. Schrantz Floyd N. Shaw Glenn Soine Angela Storlie Evelyn R. Sanford Brian Schreiber Dr. Kathleen L. Shea David & Carol Solberg Jesse Storlie Maureen Sanford Jeff Schreifels Kelly G. Sheehan Donald L. Solem Peter Storlie Alyce V. Santa Camille & Paul Schroeder Grace & Rick Sheely Michael Sommers Margaret Stoy Patrick & Jane Sarafolean Carson Schroeder Gary Sheets David L. Sorensen Bruce & Pat Strand Donohue & Marilyn Sarff David E. Schroeder David O. Shefland Lowell F. Sorenson Dr. Roger W. Strand Corey Sargent Ernie Schroeder Larry A. Shepard Sheryl A. Sostarich Jim L. Strande Alice Sarkela Gretchen Schroeder Martha Sheppard Alvin Soukup Tim Stratton & Alice M. Sateren Kenneth W. Schroeder Charles H. Sheridan Greg Soukup Suzanne Wasilczuk William B. Satterness Russell Schroedl Alvhild M. Sherve George W. Soule & William R. Stratton Jerry Sauer Lon Schueth Wayne Sherwood Lisa McDonald Bill & Charlotte Strei Axel & Bertha Saukko Sandra Schulberg Jay & Debbie Sieling Jason R. Spaeth Judy M. Stringer John D. Saunders Kathleen Schulenberg Bill & Mitzi Shimp Curtis Sparks Charles Strinz & Gene Sauter Elaine Schulstad Vivian Shol Dennis C. Sparks Kathy Rice Beverly Scalze Dan Schultz Steve Shor Judith Spellman Jeanne Strobel Mr. & Mrs. Joseph A. Dave Schultz Pamela Shubat Michele & Rick Speltz Harland G. Strohschein Schaal Kathleen Schultz James & Joyce Sidman Mark Spencer Leo Strub Timothy D. Schackman Kenneth W. Schultz Marjorie L. Sieberer James L. Spenger Patricia Stuart Calvin B. Schadel Marvel Schultz Glen Siegle V.L. Spicer Peggy Stuart Schad-Haggard Associates Mel & Maryann Schultz Carolyn Sieraski Peter Spink Alice M. Studt V.J. Schaefer Bob Schulze Linda Sigtenhorst Mike Spittler Joseph R. Sturdivant Mary Schaefle Kay Schumacher Jon Sikkila Thomas Spoden Vince Sturm GARY ALAN NELSON

Donald Sukke Tom & Judy Thompson John & Darlene William T. Wasnick Greg Wiese Cher & Jim Sulerud Tracy D. Thompson Vandermyde Ann & David Wasson Rob Wight Gene Sullivan Virginia & Josephine & George Vania David Watercott Warren C. Wildes Timothy A. Sullivan Donald Thompson Kristin K. Vann Thomas N. Watson Richard F. Wiley Don & Stephanie Supalla Wallace J. Thompson Jim & Marcy Vavricka John Waugh Linda A. Wilford Tom Supinski Bob & Bonnie Thomsen James Vculek George & Barbara Larry Wilkens John & Marian Suter Tom & Sandy Thomsen Tom C. Veblen Weatherston Jeff & Wendy Wilkinson Thomas Suther Allan Thoren Ronald Vegemast Roger & Kathy Weaver Annie Will Dennis Sutliff Bruce M. Thorfinnson Joseph & Cathy Vene Donna Webb Mona Will April Sutor Arnold Thorin Elon S. Verry Carol M. Weber Bert T. Williams Richard & Kathy Svanda Harvey Thorleifson David & Julie Verworn Don & Peggy Weber Gary Williams G. Rolf Svendsen Tom F. Thornton Steven Vickerman Jim Weber John D. 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Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)

Appearance. The freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead, is a deep-bodied, silver and gray fish with a steep, sloping head, which gives it a humpbacked appearance. The drum’s unusually long lateral line—a sense organ used to detect vibrations—extends all the way to the tip of its rounded tail. Anglers in Minnesota frequently catch drum that are 2 to 3 pounds, but drum can grow much larger. In 1999 an angler caught the current state record: a 35-pound, 3.2-ounce drum from the Mississippi River in Winona County.

Name. The freshwater drum’s species name, grunniens, is Greek for “grunting.” In spring the male drum produces a deep rumbling sound by rubbing its tendons against its swim bladder. This noise is audible above water and is thought to attract female drum.

Habitat and Range. Freshwater drum are commonly found in shallow lakes as well as rivers and streams and can tolerate murky conditions. In Minnesota, drum are common in the Mississippi River as far upstream as St. Anthony Falls and in the Minnesota River. Drum are abundant in upper and lower Red Lake and in the Red River of the North. Their continen- tal range extends from Guatemala north along eastern Mexico to Hudson Bay in Canada. Freshwater drum are found as far west as Montana and as far east as Quebec.

Life Cycle. Freshwater drum spawn when water temperatures reach 66 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, May-July in Minnesota. Male and female drum meet near the water surface where female drum release as many as 300,000 eggs at a time. Often drum complete this spawning ritual far from shore. Drum eggs float, which is uncommon among native North American freshwater fish. This allows currents and waves to spread drum eggs throughout a waterway. Drum can be very long-lived fish. In one Minnesota study, two drum were aged at more than 70 years old.

Diet. The drum uses its nose and head to turn over rocks in search of prey. Its lipped mouth, positioned halfway between the front and bottom of its head, allows it to effectively forage on a variety of foods, including invertebrates, larvae, and small fish. Heavy molars line the drum’s throat, enabling it to feed on snails, clams, and mussels—including invasive zebra mussels.

Status. Abundant in Minnesota, the species is in no danger of overharvest. Walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge eat young drum. While not a popular food in Minnesota, drum fillets are mild, white, and boneless—not unlike walleye. Commercial netters in Minnesota annually harvest about 300,000 pounds of drum from the Mississippi River.

Michael A. Kallok, online editor ERIC ENGBRETSON ERIC ENGBRETSON well asred drumandblackdrum, allofwhichlive insaltwaterandare popularfoodand sportfish. Freshwater drum aretheonlyfreshwaterspecies inthedrumfamily. They are related toseatrout as Spring’s Return. Take in the sights and sounds of spring on Minnesota state trails. From DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MARCH–APRIL 2013 the north woods to the prairie, 620 miles of trails wind through the diverse landscapes of Minnesota. See story page 36. American woodcock (below) return to young hardwood forests in March. The bird’s populations have been declining across much of its range, but in Minnesota its numbers are stable—providing researchers an opportunity to learn more about the woodcock’s habitat requirements. See story page 8. Front cover photograph by Gary Alan Nelson. Back cover photograph by Richard Hamilton Smith.