A Northwoods Almanac for Jan. 8 – 21, 2010
Christmas Bird Count Results
The Christmas Bird Counts in Minocqua (12/19) and in Manitowish Waters (12/20) were relatively quiet in terms of total numbers of birds, but both counts still found a good number of species given that this is the Northwoods in December. The Minocqua count tallied 22 species with good numbers of bohemian waxwings (134!) and wild turkeys, as well as four red-bellied woodpeckers, a southern species still quite uncommon in the Northwoods.
The Manitowish Waters count tabulated 27 species, but with average to relatively small numbers of nearly every species compared to previous years. Winter finches other than goldfinches were scarce and remain scarce.
One way to measure the difference between northern and southern Wisconsin in terms of winter intensity and the effects on wildlife is to look at the Christmas Bird Counts. For instance, the Madison Bird Count tallied 93 species and 27,046 individuals. By comparison, we found, as noted above, 22 and 27 species in our two counts, and only 809 individuals in Minocqua and 978 individuals in Manitowish Waters (counts take place in a 15-mile diameter circle wherever the counts are done).
So, winter temperature matters. Snow depth matters. Ice cover matters. We have at least 150 bird species typically nesting in Wisconsin’s Northwoods during the summer, but of those nesting, only some 26 species may be seen in representative numbers during an average northern winter. And of those, many are still very uncommon (for example: northern goshawk, evening grosbeak, boreal chickadee, spruce grouse).
Clearly, Madison’s count is bolstered by the number of people who feed birds and by their higher number of people involved in the count. Perhaps if we had thousands of people feeding birds within our count circles, and a hundred more counters, we’d get higher numbers of individual birds and a few more species, too. But despite the additional free lunches, I suspect most birds would still find the prospect of survival up here very daunting and wisely glide south a few hundred miles where the living is typically far easier.
This was the 110th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count making the Count the longest continual wildlife-monitoring program in the world. Scientists rely on this remarkable trend data to better understand how birds and the environment are faring throughout North America – and what needs to be done to protect them. Data from this citizen science program has provided the basis for numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Celestial Events
The sun rises at 7:39 a.m. today, one minute earlier for the first time since June 11, 2009. Looking ahead, our earliest sunrises of 2010 will first occur on June 11, rising at 5:08 a.m. That’s something to look forward to!
On average, the coldest days of the year occur from 1/16 to 1/20 – we average a high of 18°F and a low of -1°F.
At dusk on 1/18, look for Jupiter about five degrees south of the waxing crescent moon.
For planet watching in January, at dusk Mars rises in the northeast, Jupiter is well up in the southwest, and Saturn rises in the east before 11 p.m. At dawn, Mars is low in the west, and Saturn is still well up in the south.
Sightings
Woody Hagge in Hazelhurst sent a picture of a gray squirrel eating a blue jay (see the photo). I’m not surprised at the squirrel eating the jay, but I do wonder how it came by it. Blue jays are very smart, and I’d be surprised if the squirrel was able to catch it. Perhaps the jay hit a window and was stunned long enough for the squirrel to make an easy capture. Or perhaps this squirrel was tops in its class in hunting skills and took the jay in a fair fight.
On 12/24, Sue and Al Drum in Presque Isle reported a flock of 15 to 20 evening grosbeaks feeding regularly at their home. Evening grosbeaks have been virtually absent so far this winter, so it’s good to hear that a few are present.
A northern hawk owl is being seen in Rhinelander in the vicinity of Hwy 17 and CTH W, most often on the west side of the road, and just north of that intersection. Northern hawk owls are rare visitors from the muskegs of northern Canada, so named because their long, rounded tail, perched appearance, and flight resemble a small hawk. This one appears to be hunting for rodents along the roadway and hopefully won’t be hit by a vehicle.
On 12/29, John Bie in Woodruff reported a varied thrush at his feeder (see the photo by Betsy Bie). That’s the second report of a varied thrush in our area, the other coming from Lake Tomahawk.
One Way to Avoid Hibernation
On 12/21, Gloria Johnson in Woodruff wrote: “This morning I had my Peace Lily plant in my kitchen sink giving it a bath and a good watering. Out jumped a cute little green tree frog [Eastern gray tree frog]- probably about 1 1/2 inches long. It jumped to the counter, then to the floor, then it started climbing up a counter stool and found a spot on the leg to "hide." My husband grabbed a tupperware container and we got it in there safely. I called the Wildlife Center here in Minocqua and Mark Naniot said he'd take it. Mark said it must've been eating well because it looked nice and healthy. That plant had not been outside this summer - so it must've come in on another that was.”
This little frog avoided the usual winter trials and tribulations that many frogs must undergo. Eastern gray tree frogs usually hibernate a few inches down in the forest duff, where their body freezes. They avoid death by removing water from their cells, which freezes between the cells but without harm to the cell structure. They then pack their cells with glycogen that serves as an antifreeze, allowing them to safely ride out the winter. This same strategy, called extra-cellular freezing, is utilized by trees in northern Canada to survive temperatures down to -80°F.
Winter Walking Paths
Mary and I frequently ski the Mecca Trail in Mercer because it’s well groomed and maintained by the local ski club, it’s close to home, and it’s a community-friendly trail. By community-friendly, I mean the trail policy is versatile – it allows people to bring their dogs, it’s got easy loops for families with children, it has skating loops for those looking for a work-out, it has a snowshoe trail, and it has a large warming cabin with picnic tables for people to gather and talk after skiing or snowshoeing.
While skiing the trail last week, we met a couple from Madison who were skiing with their dog, and they couldn’t say enough about how much they appreciated having a place where they could take their dog with them.
Meeting them brought home for us the recurring vision of every small northern town having a plowed winter walking path for its residents and visitors. It’s a long winter up here, and to enjoy it, we all need to get outside, breathe fresh air, get some exercise, and be amidst the beauty with which we’re blessed. Skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are the typical recreational options available, but those options all present their own limitations, one of which is that lots of folks have dogs that need the exercise just as much as they do, and dogs usually aren’t welcome on those trails. More importantly, there are also lots of people that would just like to take a walk when they get home from work, or elderly or less mobile people that need a safe and quiet place to briefly get outside without vehicle traffic. And there’s a genuine need for people just to see one another along a path and be able to stop and talk.
So, here’s a vote for every town board and every chamber of commerce to work together to create a plowed loop trail (or two!) for walkers and dogs and kids and the disabled and folks that work all day, all of whom just need a chance to get out and breathe. And while we’re dreaming, make at least part of the loop lit, so that the folks who don’t get home from work until after dark would have a place to walk as well.
Why should the chambers get involved? I suspect an array of tourists might also utilize the trails, helping to bring a little more income into our towns.
Many towns have bike trails that could partially be plowed. But if there’s no public land that could easily be used, perhaps a private landowner would permit placement of a trail loop on their land as a means of giving back to their community.
I know one thing – if kids and dogs could vote, it would be unanimous and done tomorrow.
Nature, Science, and Spirit
“The most beautiful and the most profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.” – Albert Einstein from The World As I See It
No comments:
Post a Comment