Mallard pair The bears are fine. The big news is that new foods are finally coming on as green-up gets into full swing. Yesterday there was a blush of green on some aspens and a tinge of green on some birches. Today, leaves advanced fast. The pictures here were taken between 6 and 7 PM.
Large-leafed AsterWhile posting this documentation of a late Minnesota spring, we got a call that southwestern Alaska had one of the earliest springs on record. Leaves are well advanced there.
Ant on anthillHere, the forest floor is turning green as Large-leafed Aster (Aster macrophyllus) reaches the stage that bears find irresistible. Ants are now active, getting a late start at producing the larvae and pupae black bears love.
In the mid-story, tiny leaves are appearing on hazel, elderberry, raspberry, tamarack, and a couple species of willow.
Willlows leafing outIn 
Elderberrythe overstory, leaves on Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) advanced a lot since yesterday morning. It’s the first tree to leaf out here, while its close cousin Big-toothed Aspen (Populus grandidentata) is one of the latest along with Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra). We don’t expect to see leaves on those until early June this year.
While Quaking Aspens are turning green, Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is turning red with the flowers that precede the leaves. Aspen leaves and Red Maple flowers are both bear foods.
Quaking AspenSpring 
Big-toothed Aspenis finally here in full force.
Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been back for about 8 days. The last couple days, we’ve heard the pulsing sound of their wings as they performed their pendulum displays for females that have now returned and are sitting prettily on a branch as the males display.
More big news. The federal government approved the North American Bear Center as an 
Paper Birchofficial recipient for donations from federal government workers as part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). 
Red Maple blossomsWe thank the staff and Lily Fans who did the voluminous paper work to achieve this.
Some of you noticed we erred in last night's update. Lynn identified a mother with 2 yearlings as RC but was reminded by a Lily Fan that RC would have new cubs this year. The bear he saw chase Bow and yearlings away was likely Braveheart who has 2 male yearlings. We apologize for the confusion.
Thank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center