Tympanuchus Prairie

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

The Nature Conservancy logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

The Nature Conservancy

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

Tympanuchus Prairie is a The Nature Conservancy preserve in Polk County. It was acquired with funds provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created by the 2008 Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Its 160 acres of mesic and wet prairie protect habitat for the Greater Prairie Chicken, a species of special concern in Minnesota. is bordered on the east and in part on the north by Tympanuchus Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The southeast corner is adjacent to Thorson Prairie WMA.

The boundaries are well marked with yellow boundary signs. However, there is no wood routed or other sign showing the name of the site (2016).

Visitors to Tympanuchus Prairie in mid-summer will see many prairie plants at or near their peak blooming time. These include flat-topped, New England, smooth blue, white heath, and white panicled asters; Maximillian and stiff sunflowers; bottle and lesser fringed gentians; and giant, grass-leaved, late, Riddel’s, and stiff goldenrods. If they are lucky, they may even see a Great Plains ladies’ tresses in full bloom.

 
     
 

History

 
 

Tympanuchus Prairie was acquired with funds provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created by the 2008 Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

160 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

Park on the field access at the southeast corner of the site, on the west side of 170th Ave. SW. The field access is within the preserve boundary. Parking here will not block access to the adjacent agricultural field.

N47 40.824, W96 25.000

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Polk County  
          Northwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

None

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

Hunting and trapping allowed

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Tallgrass Aspen Parklands

   
  Ecological Section    

Lake Agassiz, Aspen Parklands

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Aspen Parklands

   
  Land Type Association    

Beach Ridges

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

Wet Prairie (Northern)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
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Parking

 
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Pond

 
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Mesic Prairie (Northern)

 
    Tympanuchus Prairie   Tympanuchus Prairie  
           
 

Wet Prairie (Northern)

 
    Tympanuchus Prairie   Tympanuchus Prairie  
           
 

Other Prairie

 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

8/23/2016

  8/25/2016            
 
 

Bacteria, Viruses, and Other Pathogens

 
  apical chlorosis of Canada thistle (Pst) (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis)   Pst  
 

Birds

 
 

Five bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

 
 

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

  American Goldfinch  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

autumn meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)

cabbage white (Pieris rapae)

common green darner (Anax junius)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

sword-bearing conehead (Neoconocephalus ensiger)

viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

willow pinecone gall midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides)

 

viceroy

willow pinecone gall midge

 
 

Mammals

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Mesic Prairie (Northern) UPn23b

Wet Prairie (Northern) WPn53c

     
 

 

absinthe wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa)

alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum)

American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus)

American plum (Prunus americana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

arctic brome (Bromus kalmii)

balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis)

bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)

bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

dark green bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)

dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata var. punctata)

dwarf false indigo (Amorpha nana)

falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata)

flat-topped aster (Doellingeria umbellata)

Flodman’s thistle (Cirsium flodmanii)

four-flowered yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora)

fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata)

foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum)

fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)

Great Plains ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum)

great water dock (Rumex britannica)

harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hemlock water-parsnip (Sium suave)

hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Kalm’s lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis)

large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

lesser fringed gentian (Gentianopsis virgata)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

long-headed coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

marsh vetchling (Lathyrus palustris)

mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis)

Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)

mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

narrow-leaved hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum)

narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. alba)

narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern plains blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis)

panicled aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)

Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus)

perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)

prairie ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata ssp. fasciculata)

prairie onion (Allium stellatum)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie smoke (Geum triflorum var. triflorum)

prairie violet (Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

pussy willow (Salix discolor)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

redtop (Agrostis gigantea)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Riddell’s goldenrod (Solidago riddellii)

roadside agrimony (Agrimonia striata)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper)

rough cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica)

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula)

silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata)

silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum)

silverweed (Argentina anserina ssp. anserina)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

small yellow water crowfoot (Ranunculus gmelinii)

smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)

smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

soft-stem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani)

southern yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis dillenii)

spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum)

spotted lady’s thumb (Persicaria maculosa)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus)

swamp betony (Pedicularis lanceolata)

swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata)

tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense)

tussock sedge (Carex stricta)

Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

water plantain (Alisma spp.)

white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides)

white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

wild mint (Mentha arvensis)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila ssp. pumila)

yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Agrimonia striata (roadside agrimony)

Agrostis gigantea (redtop)

Alisma sp. (water plantain)

Allium stellatum (prairie onion)

Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amorpha nana (dwarf false indigo)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

Anticlea elegans (mountain death camas)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Argentina anserina ssp. anserina (silverweed)

Artemisia absinthium (absinthe wormwood)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis (Canadian milkvetch)

Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Bromus kalmii (arctic brome)

Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)

Campanula rotundifolia (harebell)

Carex stricta (tussock sedge)

Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium flodmanii (Flodman’s thistle)

Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Doellingeria umbellata (flat-topped aster)

Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil)

Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower)

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)

Elaeagnus commutata (silverberry)

Eleocharis palustris (common spikerush)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Erigeron strigosus (prairie fleabane)

Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod)

Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe Pye weed)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Gentiana andrewsii (bottle gentian)

Gentianopsis virgata (lesser fringed gentian)

Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum (large-leaved avens)

Geum triflorum var. triflorum (prairie smoke)

Glyceria striata (fowl mannagrass)

Glycyrrhiza lepidota (wild licorice)

Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed)

Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian’s sunflower)

Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus (stiff sunflower)

Hieracium umbellatum (narrow-leaved hawkweed)

Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley)

Lathyrus palustris (marsh vetchling)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris ligulistylis (northern plains blazing star)

Liatris punctata var. punctata (dotted blazing star)

Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

Lobelia kalmii (Kalm’s lobelia)

Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil)

Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed)

Lycopus asper (rough bugleweed)

Lysimachia ciliata (fringed loosestrife)

Lysimachia quadriflora (four-flowered yellow loosestrife)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover)

Mentha arvensis (wild mint)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Muhlenbergia richardsonis (mat muhly)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Solidago riddellii (Riddell’s goldenrod)

Oxalis dillenii (southern yellow wood sorrel)

Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata (falsegold groundsel)

Pedicularis lanceolata (swamp betony)

Pediomelum argophyllum (silverleaf scurfpea)

Persicaria maculosa (spotted lady’s thumb)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy)

Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass)

Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla norvegica (rough cinquefoil)

Prunus americana (American plum)

Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint)

Ranunculus gmelinii (small yellow water crowfoot)

Ranunculus pensylvanicus (Pennsylvania buttercup)

Ratibida columnifera (long-headed coneflower)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan)

Rumex britannica (great water dock)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix discolor (pussy willow)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (soft-stem bulrush)

Scirpus atrovirens (dark green bulrush)

Setaria pumila ssp. pumila (yellow foxtail)

Sium suave (hemlock water-parsnip)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow thistle)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Spiraea alba var. alba (narrow-leaved meadowsweet)

Spiranthes magnicamporum (Great Plains ladies’ tresses)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides (white heath aster)

Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth blue aster)

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (panicled aster)

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)

Typha x glauca (hybrid cattail)

Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Vernonia fasciculata ssp. fasciculata (prairie ironweed)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root)

Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida (prairie violet)

Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

absinthe wormwood

alsike clover

American plum

bird’s-foot trefoil

black-eyed susan

bottle gentian

Canada anemone

Canadian milkvetch

common sneezeweed

Culver’s root

dotted blazing star

Flodman’s thistle

fringed loosestrife

golden alexanders

Great Plains ladies’ tresses

harebell

leadplant

lesser fringed gentian (ssp. virgata)

long-headed coneflower

New England aster

prairie fleabane (var. strigosus)

prairie ironweed

prairie onion

prairie smoke

prairie violet

rough cinquefoil

Russian olive

silverberry

silverleaf scurfpea

spotted Joe Pye weed

spotted water hemlock

stiff goldenrod

stiff sunflower (ssp. subrhomboideus)

swamp milkweed

Virginia mountain mint

white prairie clover

wild mint

yellow sweet clover

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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