Almanac for December 2008
Natural events, happenings, and fearless predictions based upon 25 years of observations at Hidden Pond. Your observations may vary! Hidden Pond is not responsible for errors, erratic behavior or other whims of nature.
- 1st week: Leafless trees and shrubs reveal the birds
nests of the past summer. Great horned owls
hoot at each other in courtship. Though
she is larger than he, his voice is lower. Birds
carefully inspect the bark of trees, under
which hide dormant spiders, insects and their eggs.
- 2nd week: The Full "Cold" Moon rises on the 12th. Amphibians and reptiles hibernate under rocks and logs. They have a glucose antifreeze in their blood that prevents tissue damage even if they are frozen solid. Spring flowering trees and shrubs have their buds ready for next spring. Notice the green clumps of mistletoe in the tops of some maples and oaks; a semi-parasite, mistletoe carries on photosynthesis to make food but obtains water and nutrients through the bark of the host tree.
- 3rd week: Winter solstice comes on the 21st "the darkest evening of the year" just 9 hours and 27 minutes of sun for us at this latitude. The sun rises in the southeast, climbs to only 28° above the southern horizon at noon (this is why it always seems to be shining in our eyes), and sets in the southwest. Normally, ponds are now covered with ice. Turtles may be seen slowly creeping about under the ice.
- 4th week: Wildlife must now rely almost exclusively on stored fat and the seeds, berries, nuts and dormant insects found in natural habitats. The oblique rays of the sun illuminate the woods from a low angle. Late on clear afternoons we see shiny spider silk and other small floating and flying things catching the sun's slanted beams.
Hidden Pond Nature Center, Fairfax County Park Authority
8511 Greeley Boulevard, Springfield, VA 22152. Phone 703/451-9588
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