Montour Preserve Winter 2012 Newsletter

Sky Watch
January brings a brief but intense meteor shower on the 4th. The Quadrantid meteor shower will be best seen between moonset and twilight (from about 3-6 a.m.) if skies are clear.
 
Clear winter nights provide a great opportunity to find your way around the stars and constellations. The brightest of all the winter constellations is Orion, the Hunter. Look for Orion in the southern sky. Above and to the right of Orion is Taurus, the Bull with its V-shaped face. The bright orange star, Aldebaran, forms the eye of the bull. Above Taurus is a bright cluster, the Pleiades.
 
Look for Jupiter in the twilight in the west-southwest in January. It will be the first bright object you will see in the evening sky. Mars climbs into the eastern sky by 10 p.m. at the beginning of the month, rising earlier as the month progresses.
 
Full Moon occurs on Jan. 8 while last quarter is Jan. 16. New Moon is on Jan. 23, first quarter is on Jan. 30.  From Jan. 24-26, the crescent moon moves from below to above Venus in the west-southwest about an hour after sunset.
 
In February, Orion and Taurus continue to dominate the southern sky. Follow the diagonal line of Orion’s belt down to the bright star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. Once again this month a crescent moon rises past Venus from Feb. 23-25. On the 26th it is just to the right of Jupiter shortly after dark.
 
Full Moon is on 7th and last quarter is on Feb. 14. New Moon is on Feb. 21 and first quarter is on the 29th.
 
March brings a special astronomical event. For the first three days of the month you can see the six brightest objects of the night sky above the horizon at the same time.  Look about 45 minutes after sunset to see roughly from west to east, Mercury (low in the sky), Venus, Jupiter, Sirius, the Moon and Mars (low in the sky). All will continue to be visible until March 7 when Mercury begins to fade.
 
Spring equinox is on March 20. Spring officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere. March’s Full Moon occurs on the 7th and last quarter on the 15th.  New Moon is on the 22nd, first quarter on the 30th.  A crescent moon is near Jupiter on the 25th and near Venus on the 26th about an hour after sunset in the western sky.
 
Nature Notes
Great horned owls begin calling at dusk on cold winter days as males defend their territory and call to females. By mid to late February, Great Horned Owl females will begin nesting.
 
January and February are good times to watch for winter raptors. Red-tailed hawks and American kestrels hunt over open fields as do visiting Rough-legged hawks. Smaller birds visit feeders on a regular basis this time of year and can attract accipiters like sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks. Both specialize in catching and eating smaller birds. The concentration of birds at winter feeders provides good opportunities for food when it is most scarce and these two accipiters take advantage of the situation.
 
Beginning in February, some of our native mammals begin their courtship and mating. Mink are active beginning early in the month, and both raccoons and groundhogs are more active toward the end of February. Tracks in the snow and road kills are good indicators that these animals are out and about at night. Eastern chipmunks begin emerging from hibernation near the end of February also. They might show up at bird feeders during this time of year, especially if food is scarce.
 
January Programs
 
LEGENDS OF THE WINTER SKY
Friday, Jan. 13
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Meet in Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Jon D. Beam, Senior Naturalist
 
The hunter and his dogs face a charging bull. The great bear sleeps through the winter while a queen sits upon her throne. Stories from ancient times are still associated with patterns of stars in the night sky. Today we know these patterns as constellations. Join us as we explore the folklore, and identification of some common winter constellations. If the weather permits, we’ll start indoors with a brief introduction and then go outside to explore the winter sky. If the weather does not cooperate, we’ll spend our time indoors. Dress warmly and be prepared for a night walk outdoors.
 
WINTER TREE WALK
Saturday, Jan. 21
1:30-3 p.m.
Meet in Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Jon D. Beam, Senior Naturalist
 
Winter is a quiet time for trees. They are leafless and dormant through the colder months. Without leaves they are more difficult and challenging to identify than during the summer months. Join us for a walk in a winter woods. We will discuss how trees adapt to the cold of winter. We’ll also explore tips and techniques for identifying some common trees using bark, twigs and buds. Dress for the weather and time outdoors.
 
 
AT HOME IN THE WOODS: STAYING SHARP
Saturday, Jan. 28
1:30-3 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Jon Beam, Senior Naturalist &
Fred Gast, Supervisor, Montour Preserve
 
Edged tools have been used by humans for thousands of years. Although they have become more refined through time, the knife and axe still do the same jobs today as they did centuries ago. Join us as we share information and experience in choosing the “perfect” outdoor knife. We’ll discuss specific features, knife use, safety and care. We’ll also take a look at another tool, the camp axe. We will have a variety of each tool to show and there will be live demonstrations on practical applications and safety.
 
February Programs
 
YOUNG EXPLORERS:
WOODCHUCK WONDERS
Ages 3-5
Advanced Registration Required
Thursday, Feb. 2
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Jon D. Beam, Senior Naturalist
 
Join us to celebrate Ground Hog Day with a story and some fun activities. We’ll explore the life of a ground hog and learn what this special day is all about. If the weather permits, we might just look at a groundhog den. Please register by calling the preserve office at 570-437-3131 or email at: pplpreserves@pplweb.com
 
 
MAPLE SUGARING PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS
 
Maple sugaring programs will be offered for schools Tuesday through Friday (except the first week), Feb. 23 through March 11. Schools and home school groups can contact Montour Environmental Preserve at 570-437-3131 to schedule a program. Please provide your name and school, number and grade(s) of students, approximate time of arrival and contact phone number. Registration begins Jan. 5.
 
Each maple sugaring program lasts about two hours. Program participants should be kindergarten age or older. Minimum group size is 10. Dress for the weather time outdoors.
 
MAPLE SUGARING OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, Feb. 25
Noon to 4 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Preserve Staff
 
Programs begin on the hour (noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.) in our Environmental Education Center with a talk and film featuring the natural and cultural history of making maple sugar. Afterward, a short walk through Goose Woods takes you to the Sugar Shack to experience the sights, sounds and scents of maple sugaring. Join us for this family experience and follow the sugaring process from sap to syrup. Scouts, 4-H and other groups are welcome to attend either day. Plan to arrive on the hour at the Environmental Education Center auditorium to enjoy the entire sugaring program. Outdoor demonstrations end at 4 p.m. Maple products will be available for purchase at the Sugar Shack. For your comfort, we suggest you dress for the weather and a short walk outdoors.
 
March Programs
 
MAPLE SUGARING OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, March 4
Noon to 4 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Preserve Staff
 
Programs begin on the hour (noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.) in our Environmental Education Center with a talk and film featuring the natural and cultural history of making maple sugar. Afterward, a short walk through Goose Woods takes you to the Sugar Shack to experience the sights, sounds and scents of maple sugaring. Join us for this family experience and follow the sugaring process from sap to syrup. Scouts, 4-H and other groups are welcome to attend either day. Plan to arrive on the hour at the Environmental Education Center auditorium to enjoy the entire sugaring program. Outdoor demonstrations end at 4 p.m. Maple products will be available for purchase at the Sugar Shack. For your comfort, we suggest you dress for the weather and a short walk outdoors.

DELIGHTFUL DULCIMER AFTERNOON
Sunday, March 18
2-3:30 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: A.J. Bashore II
 
Celebrate the beginning of spring with the delightful sounds of dulcimer music. A.J. Bashore II will treat us to a mix of old-time, Celtic, Appalachian, contemporary and original music. What better way to chase away the winter blues than to enjoy a music-filled afternoon? This special performance promises to delight both young and old with the unique music of the Appalachian lap dulcimer.
 
 
TIMBERDOODLE TIME
Friday, March 23
7-8:30 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Jon D. Beam, Senior Naturalist
 
It is dance time and you are invited to come and watch. This dance is unlike any you have experienced before. It is the unique courtship ritual of the timberdoodle (a.k.a. the American woodcock). An indoor talk will focus on the natural history and behavior of this unusual bird. Afterward, we will go outdoors to watch and hear the ancient song and dance of the “timberdoodle.” Dress for the weather and be prepared to spend some time outdoors.
 
 
SPRING JOURNALING
Saturday, March 31
1:30-3 p.m.
Environmental Education Center
Presented by: Jon D. Beam, Senior Naturalist
 
Spring is here and the signs of spring are all around. It’s not just the first robin of the season that signals this change. There are many other natural events happening if you take the time to look and listen. Why not celebrate spring by starting a nature journal or adding to one you have started? Join us for a brief introduction to nature journaling and then a trip outdoors to explore the signs of spring and make some entries in your nature journal. Bring a journal or notebook and pen or pencil and plan to spend time outdoors.
 
 
AROUND THE PRESERVE
 
Winter hours: The Visitors Center will be open one weekend day (usually Saturday) from mid-January through March on the days of a regularly scheduled program. The hours for that day will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will also be open weekdays.
 
 
From the Montour Preserve staff to all our visitors of the past year: We thank you for your support, suggestions, critiques, observations and donations. We wish you a healthy and happy New Year and look forward to your return visit in 2012. And for all of you who did not have an opportunity to visit in 2011, we also wish you a wonderful new year and look forward to your visit in the coming year.