Did You Know?
About 96% of birds that live on land use insects and arthropods (spiders) to feed their young.
Some Past In Season Blog Posts on Spring Events
Nature in Spring: an overview of the season
Early Spring Butterflies
Spring Starts from the Ground Up
Spring related articles from Around the Web
Why Birds Sing – http://birdnote.org/show/why-birds-sing
Learn How to Identify Birds by Song – http://birdnote.org/node/11603
Safe Backyard Bird Feeding http://birdnote.org/your-back-yard
Indigenous Environmental Network – http://www.ienearth.org/ – for indigenous environmental news
Honor the Earth – http://www.honorearth.org/ – for awareness of Native environmental issues
Seasons
Seasons Imbolc – February 2 (Groundhog Day) – Spring begins to show
Spring Equinox – March 20th (day and night are of equal length, the days begin to grow longer after today)
Beltane Cross-Quarter Day – May 4th, Summer begins
Full Moons
March Full Moon – March 8th – Worm Moon (worms seen above ground)
April Full Moon – April 6th Pink Moon (pink Phlox Blooms)
May Full Moon – May 5th – Corn Planting Moon, Full Flower Moon (flowers are abundant)
Full moons always rise near sunset
Seasonal Events
Animals: Chipmunks emerge from hibernation
Birds: Waterfowl begin northward migration, Early nesting species begin breeding, you begin to hear birds sing
Flowers: In bloom – Skunk Cabbage, Snow Trillium, Marsh Marigold, Spicebush, American Hazelnut, Eurasian plants
Trees: Tree buds swell, pollen released
Citizen Science to Participate In:
Where’s the Elderberry Longhorn Beetle?
Spearheaded by Drexel University’s Dr. Dan Duran this search for a once common beetle can be conducted anywhere. All you need is a camera or camera phone. The best time to find the beetle is in June. (added 4 Aug 2013 – keep in)
http://scistarter.com/project/805-Where%27s%20the%20Elderberry%20Longhorn%20Beetle%3F
The Journey North – A Global Study or Wildlife Migration and Seasonal Change
This citizen scientist program is geared to children but an adult would find it activities fascinating. – http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Project Bud Burst – a citizens science project which monitors plant phenology
http://www.budburst.org/
That’s all for this issue. Look for the next Naturalist News at the beginning of summer.