February 2002

Reported on February 26, 2002

What's blooming? The usual winter wildflowers are either already blooming or getting ready to bloom. False rue anemone, dwarf nettle, and winter cress have been joined by purple dead nettle and its close relative henbit, and by tiny sandworts and mustards. Dandelions (which actually bloom year-round), are favorite nectar sources for honeybees and butterflies on mild winter days. Although domestic daffodils and quince have been lured into early blooming, spring wildflowers do not seem to have been fooled too much by the mild winter. Oklahoma's state floral emblem, mistletoe, is in bloom now, but usually only people sensitive to the pollen would notice.

Many trees are blooming: Eastern red cedars, a.k.a. junipers, maples, and elms are all contributing to the pollen count.

The prairie burn season at Oxley Nature Center and Redbud Valley has begun. Several successful controlled burns should help keep woody species from taking over prairie areas.

Butterflies and other insects: Some very ragged-looking Clouded Sulphurs are out foraging, as well as Mourning Cloaks and some early Questionmarks. At Redbud Valley on February 23 a pale orange Questionmark was feeding on a sugar maple drilled by a sapsucker, along with flies and other insects.

First tick of 2002!

Herps: A few frog choruses are beginning. Strecker's chorus frogs (they make high-pitched "PEEP! PEEP-Y! PEEP" sounds) and Upland chorus frogs (they sound like a thumbnail running along the teeth of a comb) are usually the earliest ones to start calling.

Birds: three Purple Martins were reported at Grand Lake Feb. 23. The earliest Tulsa arrival date for martin scouts is Feb. 13, so it is time to clean, open, and put up martin houses.

Mammals: The groundhog saw his shadow at Oxley on Feb. 2, which is supposed to mean six more weeks of winter. On Feb. 26 the staff saw a groundhog race past the feeders outside the Interpretive Building.

Sky: According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, February's Full Moon is the Snow Moon, and is due to fall on Feb. 27 at 3:17 am. Watch the western sky just after sunset: when will be the first evening that you can spot Venus? It will become a brilliant Evening "Star" during March.