As the cold wind sweeps across Collins Marsh, it may appear lifeless and a bitdesolate, there is still activity to be seen and heard for those who take the time toobserve. Eagles and hawks grace the top of trees overlooking the snow-covered fields.Late in the day, white-tailed deer visit the clearings and move about to […]
January, the start of a new year, a time to take stock of where we have been and plan for where we are hoping to go. What goals do we want to achieve in the future? Afresh start for the calendar and a time when many people make New Year’s resolutionsplanning for self-improvement. Here’s an […]
The marsh in December is often quiet and may appear lifeless, but manyorganisms are simply in their wintering state, biding their time until length of daylight andtemperatures prompt them to become active once again. There are bird species thathave arrived to over-winter here and some of the regulars stay all year long, residentsincluding woodpeckers, cardinals […]
November, a chill in the air, the growing season has come to an end, so quickly itseems. The summer has slipped away, many of the beautiful fall leaves are coveringthe ground and life at Collins Marsh has shifted to a slower pace. Much of the fallmigration is complete and we await the arrival of migrants […]
October is one of the most beautiful months of the year in Wisconsin, flaming redand yellow leaves accent the tree line and in most places the grass is still green. Thedecorations come out in yards, on porches and children select their Halloweencostumes with excitement! Darkness arrives earlier each day and there is a coolfreshness to […]
September brings with it the shortening day length, cooler temperatures and aseason where plants are finishing seed production to ensure their species persists fornext year. Birds and some insects have decided to migrate in search of better foodsources for the winter or because of changing daylight and temperatures. Spiders areutilizing the tall grasses to spin […]
August is a great time for a visit to Collins Marsh. Although most of the migratingbirds of fall have not yet headed our way, there are many colorful residents that takeadvantage of the summer insect populations, tree swallows and purple martins arediving about, fly catchers hunt in the willows, egrets and great blue herons are […]
July on the marsh illustrates summer in full swing. There is activity everywhere,from our colorful migrant birds, flowering plants, croaking frogs to butterflies anddragonflies flitting here and there, too many things to see and experience in such ashort time. Summer in Wisconsin doesn’t seem to last that long, there are so manyplaces to visit and […]
June on the marsh is an exciting time of year! The world has become greenalmost overnight and with it the sound of life is everywhere, birdsong, buzzing bumblebees, hovering dragonflies and the leaves flickering in the wind with a breeze. Afreshwater marsh is a unique ecosystem filled with a high diversity of life, fromspecialized plants, […]
Wetlands come alive in May and Collins Marsh is no exception,booming with life! Under the serene looking waters there is a wholedifferent aquatic world that we don’t get to see. As the length of dayincreases and temperatures warm both on land and in the water, there is apalette of color before you. Green occurs in […]