Outdoor Almanac Winter 2011-2012

The Outdoor Almanac is excerpted from Mass Audubon's Sanctuary magazine, which is sent to members three times a year.

|  December  |   January  |   February  |   March  |

December 22
Winter solstice.

December 24
New moon.

December 25
Look for evergreen Christmas fern in the snowy woods.

Back to top

January 1
Begin the New Year with a winter walk.

January 3
Watch for pine grosbeaks and redpolls in evergreens and birches.

January 9
Full moon. The Ice Moon.

January 12
Look for the bright stems of red-osier dogwood along stone walls.

January 14
Look for stoneflies basking on exposed rocks near running water.

January 18
Watch for fox and bobcat tracks.

January 23
New moon.

January 27
Great horned owls begin to nest about this time. Listen for their hooting from deeper woods.

Back to top

February 2
Groundhog Day.

February 7
Full moon. The Hunger Moon.

February 10
If there is a snowmelt, look for traces of tunnels dug by voles and shrews.

February 17
Titmice and chickadees sing their spring songs; starlings begin their whistling.

February 20
On warm sunny days, look for signs of snowfleas at the bases of tree trunks. They look like a sprinkling of pepper on the snow.

February 21
New moon.

February 23
Purple finches begin singing their spring songs.

February 25
Maple sap begins running. Watch for little icicles at the tips of sugar maple twigs.

February 29
Leap day; skunk cabbage sprouts in swamps.

Back to top

March 5
Watch for mourning cloak butterflies.

March 7
Look out for salamanders crossing roads on the first warm rainy nights.

March 8
Full moon. The Windy Moon.

Back to top