DDEEPPAARRTTMMEENNTT OOFF NNAATTUURRAALL R REESSOOUURRCCEESS M MAARRCCHH––APRILAPRIL 20201133 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 see more online Go to www.mndnr.gov/magazine for videos, slide shows, teach- ers guides, and links to other resources. www.facebook.com/mcvmag 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 branch- es 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.