21 February, 2025 The days have been lengthening since the winter solstice 62 days ago. In 28 days we'll reach the vernal equinox when the daylight and nighttime hours are equal, and then on to the longest day of the year at the summer solstice on June 20th.
Nature
February 20, 2025 This afternoon at Anson B. Nixon Park the snow was flying, until it wasn't. A day of dramatic skies, bursts of snow and a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers. Pileated Woodpeckers will excavate a number of cavities in trees throughout the year. One they will use
Nature
February 19 , 2025 The sun was variable, the temperature cold, the wind was rather mild for the past few days. A flock of robins were hard a work picking through the leaf litter in this season of the hunger moon. The days are short and what food the summer left
Nature
A bright, cold mid-February day. I heard more than I got decent pictures of. About iNaturalist About Anson B. Nixon Park About cagksq
Nature
You've likely seen the work of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker whether you know it or not. Sapsuckers make wells in trees to access sap. These wells form neat lines. Sometimes, many old wells on a tree can look like a natural pattern in the bark. Look at some local
Nuthatches (around here almost always white-breasted, although you'll see a Red-breasted Nuthatch now and again) are smaller birds that forage for insects in and on tree bark. Their unmistakable nasally "pheent" is frequently heard, but they less often spotted. Nuthatches are always on the hunt for
February 14, 2025 A wonderful cold, yet sunny February Morning between long stretches of gray days. The residents of the park were actively trying to make up for lost time. About iNaturalist About Anson B. Nixon Park About cagksq
Nature
February 14, 2025 Wintering birds could warm up by foraging in direct sunlight. However, research shows that mixed-species flocks of wintering sparrows chose to avoid predators and forage in the shade, even in cold weather when sunlight would offer warmth. Researchers found that foraging in sunlight makes birds easier targets
Seen Around Town
February 12, 2025 A quiet, light snow in my neighborhood this morning. Out of the bosom of the Air, Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken, Over the woodlands brown and bare, Over the harvest-fields forsaken, Silent, and soft, and slow Descends the snow. -Longfellow About iNaturalist About Anson
Nature
February 12, 2025 If you want to understand nature (and have a bit of fun), you need to learn about taxonomy. If you paid attention in high school biology, you might already know what's coming, but stick with the rest of us while I explain—it's
February 10, 2025 A seasonably frosty day, but the first full sun in several mornings. My walk started just after 9 AM and lasted about an hour. About iNaturalist About Anson B. Nixon Park About cagksq
Nature
Many birds can sleep with one half of their brain while the other half remains awake.