Articles

Northland Nature: Anthills take advantage of March sunlight

Whether we like it or not, by the time we come to this time of March, winter is waning. We will continue to get chilly mornings, and snowfalls of March can be quite substantial, but with longer periods of daylight, the trend is towards warming. We have now reached the return to daylight saving time and soon will be at the vernal equinox, the first day of spring.

• Anthill

Northland Nature: Snow fleas pepper the snow

Tiny insects (less than a tenth of an inch) living in the leaf litter of the forest floor all year, including under the cover of the snow, are now coming to the surface.

• Snow fleas
• Snow fleas

Northland Nature: Grouse gladly make use of newly ample snowpack

The first half of February was colder than normal and saw more than the usual precipitation — two conditions that the Northland has not seen much in the last few years.

• Ruffed grouse
• Snow holes

Northland Nature: Encounters with pileated woodpeckers

During the latter half of February, birds change their activities and though we may have been watching them at the feeders throughout the winter, they start acting differently now.

• Pileated woodpecker
• Wood chips

Northland Nature: Squirrels resort to early meals of maple tree bark

According to the calendar, we have passed midway in our trip through winter. The actual weather during the next coming weeks will often show that winter is still with us.

• Signs of squirrels
• Signs of squirrels

Northland Nature: Owls do more calling on February nights

It is the owls that I find so interesting on February nights. Some years our region will host several species of these predaceous birds from the far north.

• Owl

Norrthland Nature: Despite the cold, lichens grow out in the open

We have not had many days this season when the temperature has gone into the subzero range, and when it did it was of short duration. Now, in the latter half of January, we are getting some of the chill that eluded us.

• Lichen

Northland Nature: A shrike lingers at the bird feeder

Recently another wintering bird came to mingle at the feeders. The bird was about the size of a blue jay with black wings and tail, a gray back, a white belly and a black mask. I was watching a northern shrike.

• Northern shrike
• Northern shrike

Northland Nature: Deer and squirrels dig for winter meals

As expected during this month, we have a snow cover throughout the region. The blanket is a bit less than usual by this date, but we do have a few inches of snow.

• Winter in the woods
• Winter in the woods

Northland Nature: Cottontail rabbits in the yard

While the snowshoe hare is found in the forests and changes to a white coat for the winter, the cottontail rabbit remains brown (with its namesake short white tail) and is found in more open woods, fields and yards during this time.

• Cottontail rabbit
• Cottontail rabbit tracks

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Animal Tracks in Snow