Minnesota Seasons - Clinton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area


Clinton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

County	Big Stone
GPS	N45 27.436 W96 33.885
Size	160 Acres
Habitat	Upland blacksoil prairie
Hiking Trails	None

Links	Minnesota DNR

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Birds	Chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), a Minnesota endangered species, can be found here. Other birds commonly seen here, along with those listed below, include red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis), marsh wren (othorus palustris), common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida), and savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis). Minnesota DNR Bird List

	bank swallow (Riparia riparia) barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)


Insects	Powesheik skipperling (Oarisma powesheik), a Minnesota special concern species, can be found here.

	cherry-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) common green darner (Anax junius) dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole) dog day cicada (Tibicen canicularis) goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus) monarch (Danaus plexippus) orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)


Plants	Other plants that can be seen here, along with those listed below, include ground plum (Astragalus crassicarpus var. crassicarpus), western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis), hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens), palespike lobelia (Lobelia spicata var. spicata), prairie turnip (Pediomelum esculentum), bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus var. nitidus), mountain death camas (Zigadenus elegans ssp. glaucus), and prairie violet (Viola pedatifida). Minnesota DNR Plant List

	alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa) big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii var. andrewsii) Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis var. canadensis) Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis) candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica) common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) common lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium album var. album) common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) curly dock (Rumex crispus ssp. crispus) downy gentian (Gentiana puberulenta) field sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis) fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera) hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium ssp. angulata) Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) leadplant (Amorpha canescens) marsh hedge nettle (Stachys p alustris) Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximilianii) Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis var. fasciculata) Mystery Plant A narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia var. angustifolia) Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) prairie ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata var. fasciculata) prairie onoin (Allium stellatum) prairie rose (Rosa arkansana) purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea) purple rattlesnake root (Prenanthes racemosa) rough blazing star (Liatris aspera) rough false pennyroyal (Hedeoma hispida) silky aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum) silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum) stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida) stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus) swamp smartweed (Polygonum amphibium var. emersum) tall cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta ssp. arguta) tall meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides) white meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. alba) white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida) white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana) white sweet clover (Melilotus albus) wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius) yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)


Visits	9/4/2009