May: A month of birds, birth and beauty

By Brian Henkel,

        May 1, 2026

May: A month of birds, birth and beauty

        Frontenac State Park Association newsletter
May 2026 (Vol. 4, No. 5)
Comments, contributions, compliments, complaints? Reach your newsletter editor at pamelamarianmiller@gmail.com.
They're back! A pair of tall, elegant Sandhill Cranes has returned to us from Mexico or the southern United States, nesting again on Frontenac Pond. Check their domicile out from the wildlife blind along Frontenac State Park’s prairie trail southeast of Goodhue County Rd. 2. Last year, their single egg did not prove viable, so we are especially rooting for them this spring. The park’s wildlife blind, which sits on the trail on the west side of the pond, is a primo spot from which to watch migrating shorebirds and waterfowl in May. And while you’re there, check out the Chronolog time lapse of the pond; it’s fascinating. / Photo by Steve Dietz
May: A month of birds, birth and beauty
What do we even need to say about May? It speaks for itself, gloriously, with its welcome bursts of warmth, color and new life, all of which you can find in abundance in Frontenac State Park. See you there!
Upcoming park events:
Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m.: Birdwalk led by Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteers Janet Malotky and Steve Dietz. Meet at the main picnic shelter. We’ll be looking for warblers, warblers and warblers!
Saturday, May 9, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Fungi walk led by Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer Pam Miller. We’ll talk about spring mushrooms and their relationship to trees, and maybe find a few — or not (fungi are fickle like that). Meet at the campground shower building kiosk. Wear long pants, closed shoes and tick protection.
Saturday, May 16, 10-11 a.m.: Nature walk with park manager Jake Gaster. Ranger Jake will lead visitors along trails through the upland area of the park, pointing out a variety of natural features as they are encountered. Dress for the weather and bring sun and tick protection. Meet at the shower building in the campground.
Saturday, May 16, 1-2:30 p.m.: Lorry Wendland reads from and signs/sells copies of her new book, “The History of Frontenac State Park: The Land Before and After.” Florence Township Hall, Frontenac Station.
Thursday, May 21, 2 p.m.: Quarterly FSPA meeting, main picnic shelter.
Saturday, May 23, 9-11 a.m.: Bird walk with Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteers Janet Malotky and Steve Dietz. There should still be some migrating birds and  many breeding birds to look for. Meet at the main picnic shelter.
Sunday, May 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Presentation by Jackie Fallon of the Midwest Peregrine Society. The peregrine falcon, known for its dramatic migration and amazing flight, has long fascinated people around the globe. Jackie Fallon will present this program with several live birds to help us understand the past, present and future of peregrine falcons in Frontenac State Park, Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Meet outside park headquarters, near the park entrance.
Wednesday, June 10, 10-11 a.m.: Nature Explorers program for preschoolers (ages 3-6) with Project Get Outdoors interpretive naturalist Sara Holger and FSPA volunteers: Wild About Flowers. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the park’s main picnic shelter.
…and don’t forget about our biggest event of 2026:
June 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Prairie Dreams, when more than 140 stunning, prairie-themed quilts will be displayed along a Frontenac State Park trail. Come see this amazing and unique folk art, talk to the artists and FSPA folks, and enjoy some treats and a drawing for a free park pass.
“Minnie,” 2026. A quilt pieced by Kathy Ause of Wacouta Township and quilted by Janell Adler of Lake City. This work honors the goats who spend their summers eating buckthorn in Frontenac State Park, and one in particular sometimes called White Lightning. This colorful quilt will be among more than 100 on display in the park on Saturday, June 13. Find more information here.
Have you almost stumbled over  a newborn fawn curled in the woods or even in your yard in May? Most of you probably know it’s best to leave the little one be – its mother stashed it here and will be back for it in a few hours, when she’s done foraging for her own nutrition. May is the month when most fawns are born, along with lots of other wild creatures. / Photo courtesy of Richard Tsong-Taatarii
A prescribed burn in the park in mid-April. Just three days later, green shoots were evident. / Photo by Brian Henkel
Fire ecology: Why prairie burns are essential
By Brian Henkel, FSPA member
News reports often highlight devastating wildfires across the West Coast and remote areas of Canada — and occasionally, even in Minnesota, especially in the forested north. These fires can blacken vast landscapes, threaten communities, and require enormous resources to contain.
But when applied carefully and intentionally, fire is an essential tool for maintaining healthy prairies and woodlands.
Planned burning — often called prescribed or controlled burns — plays a critical role in sustaining prairie and savanna ecosystems. These burns provide several key benefits:
Nutrient cycling: Fire breaks down accumulated plant material, returning valuable nutrients to the soil, much like a natural fertilizer.
Stimulated growth and wildlife habitat: Removing dense, dead vegetation allows sunlight to reach and warm the soil, encouraging fresh, nutritious plants that benefit grazing animals and pollinators.
Control of invasive species: Many invasive plants are not adapted to fire, while native species — which often have deep root systems extending 6 to 15 feet — quickly recover and outcompete them.
Prevention of woody encroachment: Fire helps keep prairies open by limiting the spread of shrubs and trees.
While controlled burns improve ecosystem health, timing is critical to minimize impacts on wildlife, especially during nesting seasons. Most burns occur in early spring, after snowmelt, but before active plant growth begins. Late fall, after plants have gone dormant, is another common window.
At Frontenac State Park, staffers conduct prescribed burns on a regular basis. If you see columns of smoke rising from the prairie in spring and fall, you can be confident it’s a carefully planned and expertly managed effort to keep the landscape healthy and vibrant.
“Who are you calling Butter-butt??!!” this little one seems to be indignantly asking. Formerly known as the Yellow-rumped Warbler, the newly renamed Myrtle Warbler is one of many warblers you’ll see in the park during the May migration. / Photo by Steve Dietz
FSPA stalwart Wally Siewert spotted this nesting wild turkey hen recently as he walked in the park. She’s not just any old wild turkey hen: This white-phase turkey is a rare sight, a genetic variant caused by a partial loss of pigmentation called leucism (not albinism). Such beautiful surprises are “why I love walking my bluebird trails,” Wally told us. He’s one of several FSPA members who monitor Eastern Bluebird trails in the park. According to the DNR, wild turkeys mate in April and May. Hens then lay 10 to 12 eggs, minding them till they hatch in about 28 days. The young, called poults, hang out with their mothers for about four months. / Photo by Wally Siewert
Birdnote: Spring in the North Country
By Janet Malotky, Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer
I was recently in Costa Rica, enjoying the abundance of bird life. The colors! The sizes! The behaviors! The habitats! Coming from our Minnesota winter, where a walk in the park generally reveals at most 10-ish bird species, the 354 species I saw in two weeks there was a lush, almost overwhelming experience. And the landforms, precipitously rising and falling, foothills crashing into mountains and then plunging into valleys, all covered in green! I have never driven so many switchbacks in all my life. It was extraordinary.
Left: This Collared Aracari appears especially exotic to Minnesota visitors in Costa Rica. / Photo by Janet Malotky Right: It’s easy to forget how amazing our own everyday birds are. For instance, the Wood Duck. / Photo by Steve Dietz
I was surprised, however, when the sun set before 6 p.m. on our first night there. The early darkness in warm weather was jarring. And it’s like that all year round. No long summer evenings for Costa Ricans.
Why is this? Because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the angle at which sunlight strikes it varies as it rotates around the sun. The variation is slight near the equator and increases as one moves north or south. Costa Rica is much nearer the equator than we are in Minnesota. For Costa Rica, this equates to sunset and sunrise times that stay consistent within a 40-minute range all year round, while our day length changes by nearly seven hours from summer to winter.
For the same reason, the temperature in Costa Rica doesn’t vary much over the course of the year. Their seasons consist of a rainy one and a dry one, but if you’re at low elevation, the melting heat and humidity are the way it is. At mid-elevations, it’s comfortably warm but humid, and up at the mountaintops, the humidity comes with cool temperatures, all with little variation over the course of the year.  
Our group spent several days in the lowlands, sweating buckets just from breathing, and while I was peeling off yet another set of drenched clothing, knowing this was the daily offering with little variation for the people who live there, I thought fondly of our crazy Minnesota weather. I was appreciative, especially, of the changes, the yearly patterns we come to know, anticipate and (usually) love. “Never a dull moment” took on new meaning, in such a good way.  
And now here I am, back just as our Minnesota spring begins its voluptuous push. You can feel it burgeon in your bones. Soon the park will be plush with birds, maybe even a few we saw in Costa Rica such a short time ago. They’ll be singing in their multitudes from every location. A walk to enjoy them that takes an hour in the winter will stretch to three or four, and the species count will swell into the 50s. It will be overwhelming. It will be glorious. I’m so excited.
Your newsletter editor and some of her sharp-eyed younger relatives found this enviable bunch of morel mushrooms, gray and blond (both Morchella esculentoides), in or near Frontenac State Park back in May 2019. Since then, we’ve only found a few each year. But … they’re out there, as habitat and rain allow. And what’s more fun than wandering the woods looking for something? Especially morels, in May! They’re probably our most delicious, and coveted, wild mushroom. / Photo by Pamela Miller
Notes from the field: In praise of nettles(ome)
By Steve Dietz, Master Gardener volunteer
One of my favorite spring activities is bushwhacking. Before trees and shrubs leaf out into impenetrable tangles, it’s possible to follow wildlife trails and discover patches of spring ephemerals and mushrooms without getting too many scratches. In particular, by June or July, the Sand Point trail is hemmed in by 6-foot stinging nettles, and you wander off trail only rashly. So to speak.
Even if you are not in a rush for a rash, as was reputed of Roman legionnaires in Britain, who would switch themselves with nettles to ward off the effects of damp weather and perhaps drowsiness, we must marvel at the botanical mechanics of Urtica diocia.  
Nettles spread through a dense network of creeping rhizomes that store carbohydrates over winter. They draw upon that energy in spring to push up their stems very quickly, taking advantage of light through the leafless overstory like their more comely spring ephemeral cousins. Rather than quickly dying back, however, nettles keep growing. They send up hollow or pithy stems that reduce material costs while still providing height and structural support. Because herbivores also don’t like to be stung, nettles sustain very little browsing damage. The plant rarely loses much time to setbacks and does not have the usual brakes on vertical growth, allowing it to reach up to 6 feet in a single season.  
Interestingly, it was not until 2011 that nettles’ stinging was known to have a mechanical component, not just a biochemical reaction. Nettle leaves and stems are covered in hollow, needle-like hairs called trichomes — essentially tiny hypodermic needles made of silica. Each hair has a bulbous base containing the chemical payload, and a very fine, brittle tip. The tip is so fragile it snaps off at the slightest touch, leaving behind a sharp point that pierces skin easily.
Left: Exposed skin sample at ×100 magnification. The spicule from the nettle plant is seen penetrating the skin surface. Right: View of the base of a nettle spicule protruding from the skin surface magnified ×500. / Cummings AJ, Olsen M. “Mechanism of Action of Stinging Nettles” in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2011.
To think of nettles only as troublesome, however, would be rash.  As early as 77 CE, Pliny the Elder wrote in “Natural History” about “The Nettle: Sixty-one Remedies, ”and for centuries, indigenous healers have relied on it for a range of therapeutic as well as culinary uses. Wear gloves to pick the leaves of young plants — the older they are, the more bitter they become. Either dry the leaves for later use or rinse them repeatedly in cold water to remove the prickles, and then use them in many of the same ways you might use spinach—- in salads, soups and pasta dishes. One of my favorites is nettle pesto. Just use your regular pesto recipe and substitute the nettles for basil. Or mix it up. It’s all good. Same with soups.
It’s also possible to create a strong fiber out of nettles. Its use has been documented in Bronze Age textiles as well as in contemporary sustainable designs. In our region, the Anishinabe have used it to construct fish nets and to tie bundles of wild rice.  
Left: Anishinaabe people have been utilizing the materials in their environment for thousands of years, one of which is the stinging nettle plant and its fibers. When split open, the stinging nettle has strong, string-like fibers that are great for making fish nets. In fact, these nets were so durable we still have intact Ojibwe nets from generations ago. Right: Nettle twine cords are made through a process of boiling, drying, and the separation of fibers, followed by the dampening and rolling of fibers. Balls of coarse nettle fiber are used to make fish nets, bags and rope. Maude Kegg collected the fiber in the fall in the Mille Lacs, Minn., area circa 1950-1980. / Minnesota Historical Society; “The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary”
Next time you hear of a situation or a person described as nettlesome, look beyond the initial irritant and consider all the beneficial possibilities.
iNaturalist moment: A beetle with a beat
A cylindrical click beetle spotted in Frontenac State Park on May 7, 2023.  “When a click beetle is touched, it falls on its back and plays dead. To right itself, the click beetle bends its head and thorax forward, hooking a spine into a notch on the abdomen. When the spine is released, it makes a click, and the beetle is hurled into the air.” Britannica / Photo by lordofweevils on iNaturalist
Spoiler alert: Plants to watch out for, and to avoid
By Brian Henkel, FSPA member
Minnesota is home to a number of plants that are better observed than touched, some of which can be found in Frontenac State Park. A few of these have the potential to ruin an otherwise amazing weekend. But most are easy to avoid — if you know what to look for.
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
“Leaves of three, let it be” is a helpful reminder. This native plant can grow as a vine or small shrub and produces berries that wildlife enjoy — but humans should steer clear of. The oil (urushiol) found in the leaves, stems, and roots causes an itchy rash that can last for weeks. If exposed, wash the area promptly with soap and water. The rash may seem to spread, but this is usually due to lingering oil on skin, clothing or gear.
Poison ivy: We may not like it, but it’s a native species that serves as a food source for several species. / Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Stinging nettle (Urtica spp.)
Not poisonous, but certainly unpleasant. Brushing against nettles causes tiny hairs to inject irritating compounds into your skin, resulting in a burning, itchy sensation that can last up to 24 hours.
Stinging nettle is native and nutritious, and popular with many foragers in the spring. But yeah, it stings. / Photo from iNaturalist by mediachef
Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
An aggressive, fast-spreading plant that grows 2 to 6 feet tall, with flat-topped yellow flower clusters blooming from June through August. Its sap can cause phytophotodermatitis, a reaction where skin becomes highly sensitive to sunlight, leading to severe burns and blisters. If contact occurs, wash the area immediately and avoid sunlight for at least 48 hours.
Wild parsnip: Non-native, it first appeared in Minnesota in the 1990s, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. / Photo by cmlr, iNaturalist
A little awareness goes a long way. With these plants in mind, you can explore confidently and enjoy everything Frontenac State Park has to offer.
Poem of the month
“May-Flower”
By Emily Dickinson (American; 1830-1886)

Pink, small, and punctual,
Aromatic, low,
Covert in April,
Candid in May.
Dear to the moss,
Known by the knoll,
Next to the robin
In every human soul.
Bold little beauty,
Bedecked with thee,
Nature forswears
Antiquity. 
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are omnivores, consuming beetles, fruits and seeds. / Photo by Steve Dietz
Interested in joining the FSPA?
If you are a member, thank you! You help us pursue our mission of supporting this treasured park in myriad ways.
If you’d like to join us, we’d be honored to have your support, especially as we build our 2026 membership list – remember to renew if you’re already a member! Dues are $25 per year for an individual, $35 for household membership. Here’s a link with signup information.
A reminder that  joining us occasionally to help with volunteer efforts is awesome too, even if you’re not a member. The FSPA’s goals are to support Frontenac State Park activities and  share our love of this beautiful park with as many people as possible.
To sign up to regularly receive this free, spam-free monthly newsletter, click on “Subscribe” below. Feel free to send questions or comments to your newsletter editor at pamelamarianmiller@gmail.com. Questions about the FSPA? You can reach FSPA president Steve Dietz at stevedietz@duck.com.
Look for these Cliff Swallows at the bridge over Wells Creek. / Photo by Janet Malotky
Handy links for more information and education
Frontenac State Park
Frontenac State Park Association
If you take pictures in the park, tag us on Instagram
Frontenac State Park bird checklist
Frontenac State Park on iNaturalist
Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota
Website for our township, Florence Township
Minnesota Master Naturalist programs
Red Wing Environmental Learning Center
Lake City Environmental Learning Program on FB
Visit Lake City
Zumbro Valley Audubon Society
Bruce Ause’s Wacouta Nature Notes blog
Marge Loch-Wouters’ Hiking the Driftless Trails blog
FSPA volunteers monitor seven Eastern Bluebird trails in the park. Bluebirds begin laying their eggs in late April and May. / Photo by Steve Dietz
Frontenac State Park staff
Jake Gaster, park manager; Amy Jay, assistant park manager; Amy Poss, lead field worker.
Parting shots
An American Kestrel. We’re hoping for a successful brood for a third year in the nesting box that FSPA placed in the prairie. / Photo by Steve Dietz
The common garter snake, which can reach up to 3 feet in length, is nonvenomous — and priceless in the intricate dance of nature in our biomes. They eat frogs, rodents, insects and invasive earthworms. According to the DNR, garter snakes give birth in late summer or early fall. Immediately after birth, baby garter snakes live on their own, and more than half die within a year. / Photo by Earl Bye
It’s a treat to see an American Wigeon (Mareca americana) on the Sand Point trail beach during migration. These ground nesters feed on plants, seeds, discarded grain and invertebrates. / Photo by Steve Dietz
Thank you, readers and park visitors!
This is Volume 4, No. 5 of the Frontenac State Park Association newsletter, which was launched in April 2023.
Here’s where you can browse the full archives of this newsletter.

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Frontenac State Park Association

May: A month of birds, birth and beauty

May: A month of birds, birth and beauty

Upcoming park events:

Fire ecology: Why prairie burns are essential

By Brian Henkel, FSPA member

Birdnote: Spring in the North Country

By Janet Malotky, Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer

Notes from the field: In praise of nettles(ome)

By Steve Dietz, Master Gardener volunteer

iNaturalist moment: A beetle with a beat

Spoiler alert: Plants to watch out for, and to avoid

By Brian Henkel, FSPA member

**Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)**

**Stinging nettle (Urtica spp.)**

**Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)**

Poem of the month

“May-Flower”

By Emily Dickinson (American; 1830-1886)

Interested in joining the FSPA?

Handy links for more information and education

Frontenac State Park staff

Parting shots

Thank you, readers and park visitors!