Happy February! Did you catch the aptly-named full Snow Moon illuminating the snow on Sunday? We may be experiencing a long cold snap, but signs of spring are just around the corner!
Great-horned Owl are nesting and the owlets will be hatching soon, emerging as fuzzy bundles about the size of baby chickens. Look out for flying squirrels visiting your bird feeders at night; their ability glide through the air makes even the most squirrel-proof feeders sources of an easy snack! Bald Eagles are active on the southern section of the Connecticut River, where their favorite food (fish!) isn't blocked by the ice found further north. Red-winged Blackbirds are arriving in flocks, often mingling with Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds.
P.S. Keep an eye on river banks for mink and otter tracks now that we have plenty of snow! These semi-aquatic mammals are active all winter long and take advantage of snowy days to glide on their bellies from stream to stream in search of food, leaving distinctive slide marks behind in the fresh snow.
