September 1 - 10

 

Racine has 12 hours and 44 minutes of daylight and Superior has 12 hours and 50 minutes of daylight at the end of the period. Southern Wisconsin loses 28 minutes of daylight and northern Wisconsin has 33 minutes less than the previous period. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall bird migration: Early September is peak warbler migration for Wisconsin, even though some species have mostly departed from the state. Finding a Yellow Warbler in September is a rare even indeed. The day following a cold front - when the winds switch to the northwest - can be outstanding for view migrating warblers and other migrants.  Areas protected from the cold winds, especially on edges of wetlands can be very productive.  In fall, these areas harbor many more bugs and fruits, than the interior of forests and the birds will gravitate to the food.

 

When a naturalists look at the full breadth of the fall migration, they must be impressed by the protracted nature of this annual event. The first fall migrants appear in late June and the last migrants linger until early January.  However, for each neo-tropical migrant species the event usually last for about 2 months from the first migrant of a species and the last one to leave.

 

Many persons surmise October is the peak for fall migrant birds. Bracing cold can follow the cold fronts in October, whereas a cold front in late August is barely noticeable. In most circumstances, the August front will have many times more birds than a similar event in October. The reason observers make the connection is due to the fact the October migrants are either day time fliers, such as ducks, geese and hawks, or they are seed eaters, which usually makes them more observable. By October, the birds that eat insects are mostly gone. The following table highlights the species reaching their peak migration numbers during this period.

 

Table1: Phenology Average Departure Dates for Selected Species

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early September floral and fruiting peaks: Peak blooming is most predominant in open wet areas, such as prairies, sedge meadows, and fens. Although, forest areas are showing well with goldenrods and aster coloring the forest floor both north and south. Early September blooming plant and fruiting observation is best accomplished by visiting these habitats.  Several earlier blooming species are setting fruits in Early September.

 

Table 1. Native Wildflowers with peak blooming/fruiting times September 1-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginseng: High prices paid for dried ginseng root – the prices vary annually and have ranged as high as $1000 per pound – has resulted in this species becoming quite rare in Wisconsin’s woodlands. The species grows in rich deciduous woods and blooms in June.  By early September the plants fruits ripen turning from green to a bright red. Some collectors know how to sustain populations over time. Carefully planting the red berries in the same general area and coming back several years later to repeat the process can sustain ginseng in near perpetuity.  Unfortunately, many harvesters are after the quick buck and either dig the roots when the berries are green or leave the ripen berries on the surface to be consumed by chipmunks.

 

Smooth green snakes: Green snake or sometimes called grass snakes are an emerald green color. They inhabit green grassy areas where they are near invisible during most of the year. Their preferred habitat is prairies, oak savannas and barrens, pine barrens and the edges of dry forests.  September is a good time to observe this cryptic species. During warm late summer or early fall rains, they can be seen crossing roads adjacent to their preferred habitat. Naturalists should look for these species from now through early October as they migrate to their hibernating sites.

 

Paper wasps: Paper wasps chew pieces of plant cellulose and mix them with saliva to produce a paper-like substance. The queen starts the nest early in the year and cares for the first brood of workers. Thereafter, the workers keep foraging for insects and pollen, feed the egg-laying queen and continue to build the nest. The paper nest can reach 18 inches in diameter and is placed in the trees or shrubs. In late summer, the population reaches its largest size. After mating with males, new queens put on a little fat, burrow into the ground to overwinter. The workers will stay with the nest until very hard frost in late fall.

 

Tidbits:

• The bird’s-nest fungi are curious-looking and easy to identify. They are found on sticks and woody debris.  Look for dime-sized cups with little eggs inside. The spores develop inside these little eggs and they are dispersed when a drop od rain “splashes” them out of their cups.

• Lepidopterans reaching peak numbers include:

• Leonard’s skipper is a skipper found on native prairies and old fields with bluestem.

• Ruby tiger moth is found in wet meadows, where its several host plants grow.  

• Aricgera flower moth is identified by its yellow and black hindwings and can be found anywhere asters grow.

• Sordid underwing is a species of barrens and pine forests that feeds on blueberries.

• Occasionally in barrens areas, backwimmers can be seen or felt as they crash into you. This time of year, they embark on flights to find new habitat. This aquatic species can be found well away from water and seemingly hostile territory.