Humans have recorded natural events since the beginning of time, from sunrise and sunset to the arrival of migratory birds and the ripening of various crops. Recording these natural events is known as phenology. Below is a list of the natural history events occurring in our area right now. You may use this as a guide while exploring the Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods Nature Centers. Please note that the timing of events always depends upon weather and various environmental factors.

April
Thanks to our snowy winter, April’s trails should be spectacularly adorned with spring wildflowers. From timber phlox to Dutchman’s breeches and bloodroot - they really put on a good show. During this time of year, the toms of the turkey tribe dance to ‘impress the ladies’ and purple martin scouts choose their real estate. Hawks and warblers begin arriving in the area, along with the occasional string of pelicans weaving between the clouds. At April’s end, our Great Marsh will be teeming with the year’s first mammal babies. Business at the forest is definitely booming!

May
The forest’s floral bouquet becomes a little more colorful with the addition of blue Siberian squill, Virginia bluebells, mauve Dame’s rockets and yellow downy violets. Look closely as you hike for hidden, green Jack-in-the-pulpits! If we have a wet April and a warm May, morels will pop up overnight mid-month. The noise level at the marsh increases as migrating late-comers set up residence. Keep your eyes open for herons, ducks, thrushes and ruby-throated hummingbirds along our trails. You may also see baby turkeys (poults) running to keep up with their mother as she attempts to hide them in the grasses. The mammals are weaning their young by the end of the month and Monarch butterflies return. Summer is on its way!

June
June’s skies come alive with butterflies loop-de-looping in the warm days while dragonflies and damselflies skim the marsh and stream. At dusk and dawn, the marsh is a popular place for bucks to visit at this time of year. If you are lucky, you may even see a doe with her fawns. Throughout the day, turtles of all sizes sunbathe on logs along the water’s edge while frogs and toads add their songs to the cacophony in the air. Look along the trails and the marsh’s edge for the tracks of raccoons, mink and opossums. You will also likely see goslings swimming behind adult geese and Jewelweed blossoms offering their nectar to hummingbirds. A hike at dusk may reveal a few bats swooping to catch early mosquitoes in the air.

Visit http://fnaNatureSearch.org to explore the forest at home.