11
e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 1 of 11 Hi Everyone, This Tuesday, December 1 st , is the official start of the meteorological winter for weather forecasters. With that in mind, I thought it would be an appropriate start by finishing a series started in the Winding Trails’ Winter Newsletters of 2014 and 2015, where I explored what lives in the top and bottom layers within the nivean world of winter. In this article, we’ll be exploring the intranivean or middle layer of this world. Before we begin, let’s review some background that was in the original articles. Nivean comes from the Latin noun ”nivis” which means snow. This world is divided into three environment layers supranivean, intranivean, and subnivean. The Latin prefixes give these layers the following meanings: “supra” is above or upon the snow, “ intrais within the snow, and “subis under or beneath the snow. The intranivean layer is formed by the accumulation of snow over the course of the winter. This accumulation causes different snow layers to form. Each layers structure is affected by the composition of the snowfall; wind action while the snow was on the surface; the temperature changes that occur in the surrounding air, snow, and/or ground; and the weight of the snow above. Looking at the image above, let’s explore how some of these snow layers form and how they are used by animals. The fresh snow layer is created by the composition of the snowfall. In this example, it is light and fluffy because the snow did not have a lot of water in it as it fell. This is the type of snow that one cannot make snowballs with. Seen within this layer, a ruffed grouse has created a snow cave by diving into the snow. There are two advantages to this technique the grouse can doze at a temperature that can be 30 o F to 40 o F warmer than the snow’s surface which ranges from 18 o F to 29 o F during a normal Connecticut winter. It also is able to keep away from predators that are hunting on the surface. Other animals, including rabbits and hares, will also create snow caves in this layer. The wind crust layer formed due to a strong wind packing the snow from a previous storm. This packing action breaks up the snow crystals and forces out some of the air between them. Seen within this layer is a springtail, which is also known as a snow flea. One need not worry about this creature since it is not really a flea. The springtail spends most of its life in the leaf litter on the ground or within the soil. They have a unique glycine-rich protein in their body which acts as an antifreeze allowing them to survive in the snow. As spring approaches, the springtails start to migrate up through Springtails Also known as Snow Fleas Ermine Ruffed Grouse White-footed Mouse Exploring the Intranivean World of Winter

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    1

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 1 of 11

Hi Everyone, This Tuesday, December 1st, is the official start of the meteorological winter for weather forecasters. With that in mind, I thought it would be an appropriate start by finishing a series started in the Winding Trails’ Winter Newsletters of 2014 and 2015, where I explored what lives in the top and bottom layers within the nivean world of winter. In this article, we’ll be exploring the intranivean or middle layer of this world.

Before we begin, let’s review some background that was in the original articles. Nivean comes from the Latin noun ”nivis” which means snow. This world is divided into three environment layers – supranivean, intranivean, and subnivean. The Latin prefixes give these layers the following meanings: “supra” is above or upon the snow, “ intra” is within the snow, and “sub” is under or beneath the snow.

The intranivean layer is formed by the accumulation of snow over the course of the winter. This accumulation causes different snow layers to form. Each layer’s structure is affected by the composition of the snowfall; wind action while the snow was on the surface; the temperature changes that occur in the surrounding air, snow, and/or ground; and the weight of the snow above. Looking at the image above, let’s explore how some of these snow layers form and how they are used by animals.

The fresh snow layer is created by the composition of the snowfall. In this example, it is light and fluffy because the snow did not have a lot of water in it as it fell. This is the type of snow that one cannot make snowballs with. Seen within this layer, a ruffed grouse has created a snow cave by diving into the snow. There are two advantages to this technique – the grouse can doze at a temperature that can be 30oF to 40oF warmer than the snow’s surface which ranges from 18oF to 29oF during a normal Connecticut winter. It also is able to keep away from predators that are hunting on the surface. Other animals, including rabbits and hares, will also create snow caves in this layer.

The wind crust layer formed due to a strong wind packing the snow from a previous storm. This packing action breaks up the snow crystals and forces out some of the air between them. Seen within this layer is a springtail, which is also known as a snow flea. One need not worry about this creature since it is not really a flea. The springtail spends most of its life in the leaf litter on the ground or within the soil. They have a unique glycine-rich protein in their body which acts as an antifreeze allowing them to survive in the snow. As spring approaches, the springtails start to migrate up through

Ruffed Grouse

Springtails Also known as Snow Fleas

Ermine

White-footed Mouse

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

White-footed Mouse

Exploring the Intranivean World of Winter

Page 2: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 2 of 11

the air spaces between the snow crystals. During this migration, they will eat the algae, bacteria, fungi, and dead plant material that became trapped within the snow.

The dense snow layer can form when a wet snow falls; temperature changes occur within the snow layers causing some melting; or the weight of the snow above compact the layer. This packed snow provides less insulation resulting in animals generally not using this layer for shelter.

An ice lens can form when the liquid water formed by surface melt or introduced by rain percolates downward in the snowpack and refreezes. Depending on its thickness, this layer could stop travel by animals between the layers.

At the bottom, depth hoar forms a layer composed of large crystals that were created when rising warm water vapor, from the unfrozen ground or the animals and plants below, reacts with the snow crystals. Beneath this layer, animals are able to live and travel via tunnels or in the leaf litter.

The air shaft shown can be created by animals tunneling through the snow or formed next to a tree trunk, plant stem, or rock as the snow melts away from them. These shafts are used by the small mammals, such as mice, living in the subnivean layer to find additional food on the surface. The ermine, also known as the short-tailed weasel, will use these air shafts to hunt the mice, voles, and shrews found under the snow for food.

So, next time you’re outside this winter, think about the relationships that are occurring beneath the snow’s surface. May you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Miss Judy

SCROLL DOWN THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER TO FIND THESE SECTIONS:

· WINDING TRAILS NATURE EVENTS . HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH . COMING NEXT MONTH · NIGHT SKY WATCHING · OTHER NATURE EVENTS IN CONNECTICUT

WINDING TRAILS NATURE EVENTS

Registration is required 3 days prior to event. If not enough signup, the program is cancelled.

Date/Time Event

Saturday, December 12th Explore the Night Walk 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Night Sky – What Is Up There?

If a clear night, plan on being outside to view the Geminid Meteor Shower. Non-Member Fee: $25.00 per Family – Member Fee: $15.00 per Family Open to the public and Winding Trails’ members

Click on this link to register: https://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=514

Page 3: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 3 of 11

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH

ALL DURING DECEMBER…

REPORT CANADA GEESE WITH YELLOW NECK COLLARS As part of ongoing research on migrant Canada geese, about 200 neck collars and tarsal bands were placed on Canada Geese in western Greenland this summer. This is the 3rd year that markers were placed on these birds originating from Greenland. Some of them will be passing through Connecticut this fall and winter. Typically these geese have a greater white front goose or two tagging along with them in the flock, so all the more reason to keep your eyes peeled! The collars are yellow with black alphanumeric markings and the series are: GPn, GSn, GTn, GUn, GVn, GXn, GnA, GnB, GnC, GnD, GnF, GnH, GnJ, GnL, GnN (i.e. where n can be a digit between 1 and zero) Series G2n, G3n, G4n, G5n, G6n, G7n, G8n, G9n (i.e. where n can be a digit between 1 and zero) And the following 2 symbol tarsus bands only (fitted to goslings too small to bear a neck collar): Series Gx, Gn and Hx (where n can be a digit between 1 and zero and x can be a letter between A and Z). Please report sightings to https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/ or http://greenland2013.wikispaces.com/Recoveries+and+resightings.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13th GEMINID METEOR SHOWER In the sky above from 8:00 p.m. to dawn in Connecticut The Geminid meteor shower, which will run from December 4th to 17th, peaks on the evening of Sunday, December 13th. This shower is expected to be one of the most spectacular of the year because the moon will set at 6:52 p.m. providing a dark moonless sky. It is possible that 50 to 100+ meteors per hour will be seen. The shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini because the meteors appear to emerge near the stars of Castor and Pollux in this constellation.

Not available on the 13th? The nights prior and post can provide a good show with a slightly smaller number of meteors per hour expected. Also, Miss Judy will be hosting an Explore the Night Walk on December 12th so consider joining her for a presentation of “The Night Sky – What Is Up There?” and hopefully some observation time of the meteor shower outside which is dependent on a clear evening sky that night.

It doesn’t take a lot of skill to watch a meteor shower. Here are a few tips to help improve your viewing enjoyment: - If you have lots of light in your neighborhood, get out of the area to an open space with little to no light. - Wear comfortable warm layers of clothes so you will enjoy your viewing experience. - Position yourself facing south since the Gemini constellation travels from east to west across the southern sky.

It can be located in the southeast above the constellation Orion. - Bring a blanket or sleeping bag with a comfortable reclining chair with you. Viewing meteors, just like any other

kind of star gazing, is a waiting game so being comfortable during the process is important.

Page 4: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 4 of 11

- Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at least 20 minutes time to adapt to the dark. Often, meteors come in spurts and are interspersed by lulls, so plan on at least an hour to watch.

Unlike most other meteor showers, the Geminid are not associated with a comet. Instead, the near-Earth asteroid 3200 Phaethon is the origin for this show.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19th to SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd 116th ANNUAL NATIONAL AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR CONNECTICUT At these locations http://www.ctbirding.org/calendar.htm This month, the 116th Annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts for Connecticut will be going on throughout the state. You don’t need to be an expert to take part so birders of all skill levels are appreciated even beginning birders can add to this important data gathering opportunity. The link above lists all count locations for Connecticut. Find you local Count Area and contact your area’s complier for details before the count date. If your home is within a count circle, you can even count from the comfort of your home by watching your feeders. For those of us near Hartford, I’ve listed our information below.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20TH HARTFORD 116TH ANNUAL NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Hartford Count Compilers: Jay Kaplan… [email protected] 860-693-0263 (days), 860-693-0157 (evenings), Steve Davis… [email protected] 860-242-2135. (Hartford Audubon Society)

Since the Christmas Bird count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers. The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 100 years of citizen science involvement. It is an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the US, Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere, go out over a 24 hour period on one calendar day to count birds.

How does participation work? There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate. Each count takes place in an established 15-mile wide diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It's not just a species tally--all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day. If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler.

Page 5: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 5 of 11

NIGHT SKY WATCHING

FULL MOON INFORMATION The full moon for December is known as the Full Cold Moon because this is the time when the winter cold fastens its grip on the weather. This month’s full moon will occur on Friday, December 25th at 6:11 a.m. EST in the Hartford area. Another name for this month’s moon is the Full Long Night Moon. This name is used since the Winter Solstice, which has the longest night or time of darkness, occurs this month just days prior to this full moon.

OTHER SKY INFORMATION This month is the 20th anniversary of the Galileo spacecraft arriving in orbit around Jupiter on December 7th, 1995. Astronomers already knew a lot about the giant planet and its moons from their observations on Earth. They quickly learned more from the spacecraft images of the surface of the moon Europa which revealed large ice sheets that had dislodged and floated to new locations before freezing in place. These lead scientists to conclude the moon was covered by a vast sea of liquid water.

The Geminid meteor showers, which run from December 4th to 17th, will peak the evening of December 13th. For more details about watching, look at the HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS MONTH found earlier in this newsletter.

The Ursid meteor showers, which run from December 17th to 23rd, will peak around December 21st. During good conditions, up to 10 meteors per hour can be seen. Unfortunately, this year the peak coincides with the full moon. The meteors radiate from the direction of the constellation Ursa Minor also known as the Little Bear or Little Dipper.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS THIS MONTH INCLUDES: Mercury Reappears as an evening planet in the southwest sky during December Venus Continues as the brightest morning planet in the eastern predawn sky Mars Appears along southeastern horizon after midnight… seen high in the southeast sky at dawn Jupiter Evening planet in December that rises in the east before midnight Saturn Reappears in the southeastern predawn sky in late December

December 3rd Moon phase – last quarter

December 5th Look southeast before dawn, to view the planets Venus and Mars are below and above the waning crescent moon and the star Spica respectively

December 6th Moon phase – waning crescent

December 7th 20th Anniversary of the Galileo spacecraft arriving at Jupiter

December 11th Moon phase – new moon

December 11th to 15th Geminid meteors peak… expected to be good due to no moon

December 16th Moon phase – waxing crescent

December 18th Moon phase – first quarter

December 20th to 22nd Ursid meteors peak… difficult to see due to full moon

December 21st Winter Solstice at 11:49 p.m.

December 23rd Moon phase – waxing gibbous

December 25th Moon phase – full moon at 6:11 a.m. EST

December 29th Moon phase – waning gibbous

Sources: Old Farmer’s Almanac - Astronomy http://www.almanac.com/astronomy Lunar Calendar 2015 Universe Publishing A Year of the Night Sky Calendar 2015 Ziga Media

Page 6: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 6 of 11

· Visit this website to obtain a star map. http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

· Visit this website to see a YouTube video of night sky events for this month. http://hubblesite.org/explore_astronomy/tonights_sky/

AT WINDING TRAILS Join Miss Judy on the evening of Saturday, December 12th at Winding Trails for the Explore the Night Walk. The sun sets at 4:20 p.m. EST with the moon follows at 5:53 p.m. EST. The evening topic is “The Night Sky – What Is Up There?”. Hoping for a clear night to include some viewing of the Geminid meteor shower so come prepared with warm layered clothes and something to sit or lay on… a blanket, a sleeping bag or a reclining lawn chair.

AT WHITE MEMORIAL IN LITCHFIELD No Astronomy Programs scheduled for December or January. Programs resume in February 2016.

Full details can be found on their website at http://www.whitememorialcc.org/whats-happening/calendar/ to check out their calendar for more information or call The Conservation Center for more details at 860-567-0857.

AT THE COPERNICAN OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM IN NEW BRITAIN The Copernican Observatory and Planetarium at the Central CT State University in New Britain has regularly scheduled programs listed in their calendar that is posted on their website. The planetarium and observatory offers free monthly programs that are open to the public.

Planetarium Shows and Events: On Saturday, December 5th at 8 PM, they will have their regularly scheduled free show in their planetarium.

For planetarium shows, seating is first come, first served. The planetarium is located in Copernicus Hall (Building 23 on thehttp://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=4191 map). Convenient parking is in the Copernicus (South) garage (building 17).

Observatory Events: On Saturday, December 5th join them for a free observing session directly after the planetarium show. This is dependent on weather conditions since they need a clear sky. The observatory is located on the roof of Copernicus Hall. Take the elevators to the 5th or 6th floor and follow the signs.

For additional information, visit this link: http://web.ccsu.edu/astronomy/

AT THE WESLEYAN VAN VLECK OBSERVATORY IN MIDDLETOWN The Wesleyan Van Vleck Observatory in Middletown will resume offering their Wednesday night High School and Friday night Elementary aged programming in December. The programs are run by college astronomy students as part of their academic year projects. To get on their Astronomy Public Events Email List, scroll to the bottom of the following link to sign up. http://www.wesleyan.edu/astro/events/index.html

Kids’ Nights for Observing (Aimed at Elementary School Ages, Yet Open to Anyone) First and Third Friday of the Month at 8:00 p.m.

(December 4th – No program on December 18th due to holiday break)

Kid-friendly space-related activities, led by our grad and undergrad students, which include observing with our telescopes when it’s clear.

For parking, use Lot V on Vine Street and walk up the hill to the observatory. The campus map is available at this link: http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/images/CamMap_0824_WEB.pdf.

Page 7: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 7 of 11

Space Night (Aimed at Adults & High School Students, Yet Open to Anyone) Every Wednesday At 8:00 p.m.

(December 2nd & 9th – No programs on December 16th, 23rd, & 30th due to holiday break)

It begins with a half-hour interactive presentation by one of our astronomy majors or masters students, on some topic of space news or recent discoveries in astronomy, followed by observing through the telescopes if the sky is clear. The program occurs at the Van Vleck Observatory at 96 Foss Hill in Middletown, CT.

For parking, use Lot V on Vine Street and walk up the hill to the observatory. The campus map is available at this link: http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/images/CamMap_0824_WEB.pdf.

Monthly Saturday Night Observing (Runs All Year Long) December 5th 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Program can cancel based on based on weather conditions so check website before coming.

Organized and hosted by the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford (ASGH), this is a great opportunity to view the sky through our beautiful 20" refractor. Re-furbished in recent years in honor of Walter Scott "Scotty" Houston who used this instrument many nights, we can now share this telescope with the public on regular occasions. For parking, please note that we are NOT permitted to park at the observatory building on observatory hill. Please use Lot V on Vine Street and walk up the hill to the observatory.

The session will be cancelled should the weather not permit observing, such as cloud cover, high wind, or threat of precipitation. Cancellation notices will be posted on their website by 6:00 p.m. the day of the observing event. For up-to-date details, please visit the http://www.asgh.org/observe.htm.

For parking, use Lot V on Vine Street and walk up the hill to the observatory. The campus map is available at this link: http://www.wesleyan.edu/about/images/CamMap_0824_WEB.pdf.

SPACE STATION OBSERVING NASA’s Spot the Station service gives you a list of upcoming sighting opportunities for thousands of locations worldwide, and will let you sign up to receive notices of opportunities in your email inbox or on your cell phone. The space station looks like a fast-moving plane in the sky and is bright enough that it can even be seen from the middle of a city! It can traverse the entire sky in 3 to 7 minutes. The notice gives the date, time, duration of visibility, and direction of travel. Enter in the town closest to your viewing location. Do note that there can be a series of dates during the year that it is not visible over Connecticut. The link for further information is http://spotthestation.nasa.gov. To learn more about the space station, its international crew, how they live and work in space, and some great views of Earth, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html.

Page 8: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 8 of 11

OTHER NATURE EVENTS IN CONNECTICUT

ANSONIA NATURE & RECREATION CENTER – Upcoming Events – Preregistration is Required!

· December 4th Nature’s Child: Getting Ready for Winter · December 5th Back To Basics: Needle Felting · December 6th Winter Wreath Workshop · December 11th Natural History Series: Eagles of New England · December 13th Pet Loss Grief Support Group · December 19th Annual New Haven Christmas Bird Count for Adults · December 19th Drum In The Winter Solstice · December 29th to 31st Holiday Nature Days for Children 5 to 10 Years Old

Visit their website for more details and additional events at this link during the month of December!

http://ansonianaturecenter.org/programs-events/calendar-of-events/

CT DEEP Events in CT – Upcoming Events – Preregistration is Required!

· December 1st to 19th Osborne Homestead Museum Holiday Tours – Holiday at the Farm Theme At Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby, CT

Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5649

· December 1st Exploring Climate Solutions Webinar Series: Boston Green Ribbon Commission Online – Preregistration Required Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5856

· December 4th Exploring Climate Solutions Webinar Series: Connecticut Hydrogen Fuel Cell Coalition Online – Preregistration Required

Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5879

· December 4th & 5th Connecticut Grown Holiday Market Place At Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby, CT Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5874

· December 8th Exploring Climate Solutions Webinar Series: CA EPA Greenhouse Gas Report Card Online –Preregistration Required

Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5880

· December 11th Exploring Climate Solutions Webinar Series: CT’s Clean Energy Future – Climate Goals and Employment

Online – Preregistration Required Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5875

· December 15th Exploring Climate Solutions Webinar Series: Workplace Charging Station Challenge Online – Preregistration Required

Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5881

· December 29th Christmas Bird Count for Kids At Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby, CT Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5887

Page 9: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 9 of 11

· December 30th Fur, Feathers, and Ferns Hike and Program At Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Avenue, Derby, CT

Link: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5886

CT Forest & Park Association – Upcoming Events

· December 1st CFPA Activity Leader Volunteer Training At CFPA Headquarters, 16 Meriden Road, Middlefield, CT

Link: http://www.ctwoodlands.org/CFPA-events/activity-leader-volunteer-training-0

· December 26th CFPA Ramble: Highland Park History Hike At Case Mountain Trails, 627 Spring Street, Manchester, CT Link: http://www.ctwoodlands.org/CFPA-events/cfpa-ramble-highland-park-history-hike-0

Visit their website for more details and additional events at this link during the month of December!

http://www.ctwoodlands.org/CFPA-events

CT River Watershed Council – Upcoming Events No Events Listed At Publication Time

Visit their website for information at this link http://www.ctriver.org/news-events/.

CT State Museum of Natural History & Archaeology Center at UConn – Upcoming Events

· December 6th Ancient Human Evolution During the Late Middle Pleistocene in Armenia Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UCONN Campus, Storrs Link: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#human_evolution

· December 12th Connecticut’s Earliest European Settlers Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UCONN Campus, Storrs

Link: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#earliest_settlers

· December 19th Kids Drop-In Activity: Make a Bird Feeder! Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UCONN Campus, Storrs Link: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#birdfeeder

New! You can now sign up and pay online for programs that require advanced registration by using this link:

http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar_regonline.html.

Visit their website to check out for calendar updates at this link during the month of December!

http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html

If you would like to be added to their mailing list to receive a printed copy of their programs, please email [email protected] or call 860-486-4460.

Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut – Upcoming Events

December 12th & 13th Santa’s Farm

At Indian Rock Nature Preserve, 501 Wolcott Road, Bristol, CT

Link: http://elcct.org/event/santas-farm/

Visit their website for more details at this link during the month of December! http://elcct.org/

Page 10: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 10 of 11

Farmington River Watershed Association – Upcoming Events

No Events Listed At Publication Time

Visit their website to check out their calendar at this link http://frwa.org/programs-and-events/.

Roaring Brook Nature Center – Upcoming Events · December 14th Adventure Story Hour for Ages 2 to 5 · December 20th Almost Winter Solstice Activities & Guided Walk · December 28th to 31st Winter Wild School Vacation Programs for Grades K to 5th

Visit their website to check out their calendar at this link for more information! http://www.roaringbrook.org/events/events.html

Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington, CT – Upcoming Events · December 12th Wildlife in Winter Walk

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5853

Visit their website to obtain their trail map: http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/wildlife/pdf_files/maps/maps_other/swtrail.pdf

Sharon Audubon Center in Sharon, CT – Upcoming Events

December 20th Trixie Strauss Christmas Bird Count

Visit their website for more details at this link during the month of December! http://sharon.audubon.org/upcoming-eventscalendar-events

Or call the Audubon Center for information at (860) 364-0520 For a copy of their trail maps, visit: http://sharon.audubon.org/trail-maps

White Memorial Conservation Center – Upcoming Events

· December 2nd Hiking and Healthful Eating with Gerri Griswold Link:

http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/hiking-and-healthful-eating-with-gerri-griswold-6/

· December 5th All About Trees! Watercolor Workshop with Betsy Rogers-Knox Link:

http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/all-about-trees-watercolor-workshop-with-betsy-rogers-knox/

· December 11th Museum Open House Link: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/museum-open-house/

· December 12th Crack o’ Dawn Owl Prowl and Lazy Bones Nature Walk with Gerri Griswold and Fran Zygmont Link:

http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/crack-o-dawn-owl-prowl-and-lazy-bones-nature-walk-with-gerri-griswold-and-fran-zygmont/

· December 19th Five Ponds on the Cusp of Winter Link: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/five-ponds-on-the-cusp-of-winter/

Page 11: e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December...e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015 Page 4 of 11 - Best time from mid-evening until dawn. Give your eyes at

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - December 2015

Page 11 of 11

· December 20th Litchfield Hills Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count Link:

http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/litchfield-hills-audubon-society-christmas-bird-count/

· December 21st to 27th Museum Children Free Week Link: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/museum-children-free-week-8/

· December 25th Museum Closed for Christmas

· December 26th Film: People of a Feather Link: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/film-people-of-a-feather/

· December 29th to 31st Wild and Wacky Winter Camp Link: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar-entry/wild-and-wacky-winter-camp/

Visit their website to check out their calendar at this link for more information! http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar.html#December Or call The Conservation Center for more details at 860-567-0857. For a copy of their trail maps, visit: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/maps.html

Look forward to seeing you out and about!

Miss Judy Judy Witzke, Park Naturalist Winding Trails, Inc. 50 Winding Trails Drive, Farmington, CT 06032 Office: (860) 677-8458 ext. 33 Fax: (860) 676-9407 E-mail: [email protected]

Fostering a Love for the Outdoors/Creating a Sense of Community/Developing Leadership and Life Skills