To hibernate, or not to hibernate? That is the question.

The days are beginning to get a little longer, seed catalogs are filling the mailbox, and I'm starting to get milkweed seeds ready for planting. We still have a couple of months left of winter. My woodpile is starting to dwindle, but I still have plenty to make it through the remaining days of cold. 
But, what do mammals do to get through the long, dark days of winter? They have a few different strategies. Animals, like squirrels, remain active during the Winter. We have all seen those extra chunky squirrels during the late Fall and Winter. Extra weight can help an animal stay a little warmer, but more importantly, if the weather is bad, and they can't get out to search for food, their body will be able to convert the fat into the energy they need to survive.
Some mammals in other parts of the country might migrate in herds.
Now, what about hibernation? Not all mammals that hibernate are 'True' hibernators. A true hibernator, like chipmunks, will go into a burrow or den, and as the temperature drops, their body temperature also drops. It can go from being around 100 degrees down to just above freezing at 35 degrees. Their heart rate will go to about 1 beat per minute, and their brain activity will nearly stop. In Spring, as the weather gets warmer, their body temperature and brain activity increases, and they begin to wake up.
Bears, skunks, raccoons, and opossums are not true hibernators. They can spend extended time sleeping, but their body temperature does not drop as dramatically as a true hibernator. They might only drop between 5-10 degrees below their normal 100. These animals will wake up on warmer days, and venture out to look for food.
Many mammals will also grow a thicker fur coat in the Winter.
To learn more about Hibernation, check out this wonderful book by Bobbie Kalman, entitled 'What is Hibernation?'
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0865059640/ref=mp_s_a_1_107…



Squirrels are good at finding food that they have 'squirreled away' for a Winter day.



Chipmunks will fill their burrows with comfy, warm bedding and food stores. The food will be for when they begin to wake up in the Spring.



Bears will build up fat stores in their bodies that help them to survive. Bears are not true hibernators. They will spend days sleeping, but will wake up, move around, leave the den, and search for food. 
Photo courtesy of Wayne McGee, owner of Alaska Trophy Adventure Lodge.



Raccoons will huddle up in groups in dens, or tree cavities for warmth.

Is seeing a Robin in January a sign of an early Spring? Is the Robin confused?

A friend of mine recently told me about an American Robin that she saw this week in JANUARY! Does this signal an early Spring? Is the bird confused? Will it be ok?

Well, not all Robins migrate! Surprisingly, getting cold is not the main reason birds migrate, but lack of food. Birds go to where the food is. Migration takes an extreme amount of energy to do, and if they don't have to, they won't. Most Robins will migrate, but some will stay put. I tend to notice more males stay, than females. One of the advantages for the males to stay here, is that they can stake out and claim their territory well before the females return.
So, what do they eat in the winter? Don't they eat worms? Robins do eat worms and other insects in warmer seasons, but will also eat nuts, and fruits. Some Winter days, my ornamental pear will have a small flock of Robins in it eating the little pear berries. I was also just informed that they love raisins!
So, does this mean Robins can't be a sign of Spring? A Robin sighting...not so much. A Robin singing...much better sign! As mating season approaches, a little switch in their brain turns on the singing. These songs are longer than the little chirping sounds we might hear now. For me, a Robin singing is a sign that Spring is just around the corner!
A special 'Thank you!' to my friend, Therese for providing me with this pic of one of her winter Robin visitors.
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Frogs in Winter

I have to admit, on these cold January days, I anxiously await warmer, longer days. But, in the meantime, I stoke my wood stove, cuddle under a quilt and enjoy a nap. Humans have the ability to get out of cold. Amphibians, not so much.
Many of you have probably seen that picture going around of a 'Alaskan Tree Frog' totally frozen, covered in ice crystals, hanging over the edge of something. Hate to break it to you, but there isn't such a critter. That picture is probably just one of those little flower pot ornaments. It's cute, but not real. There are Wood Frogs that do live in very cold climates, that do totally freeze, appear dead, but then, thaw in the Spring. It's nothing short of amazing!
So how do frogs and toads survive? Well, with frogs, they will hunker down in the mud and leaf litter at the bottom of ponds. Their body temperature will drop, and go into a state of hibernation. They might slowly swim along the bottom, but will barely eat, if at all. With Bullfrogs, it can take a couple of years to go from egg to adult. The tadpoles will also just slowly swim close to the bottom.
Toads, which tend to be terrestrial, will dig down below the frost line (1'-2') where they will hibernate.
One of my favorite sounds of Spring is when the Spring Peepers, and the Chorus Frogs begin to call.
Here is a very cool video explaining more about how a Wood Frog freezes, and thaws.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UuhEHNey37Q
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This is the image I am referring to that is of a garden ornament.

Birds keeping warm in the winter

Brrrr, it's cold out there! Layer, layer, layer. That's how we survive our runs out to the car, mailbox, or to get firewood. Coats, scarfs, mittens, and boots, oh my!
Sometimes, we spy a bird and wonder, 'how do they keep warm?' But, then we never follow through to find out the answer, and just accept that they do.
Most definitely, winter is harder for them, but they do have some things going for them.
First, their body temperature is warmer than ours at 105 degrees. Secondly, they are wearing layers! Have you ever looked at a bird a thought it looked 'fat'? If a bird actually got fat, it wouldn't be able to fly. Underneath the feathers that we see are light, fluffy down feathers. When we get 'goose bumps', that is a reflex to stimulus that we have very little to no control over. Birds can control it. They can fluff out their feathers. The fluffed out feathers increases the amount of body heat that is trapped under the feathers, and increases the distance of the cold air to their body. The down feathers are such a good insulator, that people have used those feathers in coats, comforters, and pillows for hundreds of years. Today, there are many good alternatives to down.
Birds also have a higher metabolism that helps to keep them warm. But, because they burn energy more in the winter trying to keep warm, they need to eat more. That's part of the reason you may see many more at your bird feeder in the winter.
But, what about their feet? A lot of times you might see them standing on one foot. They will tuck one up to get warm, and then switch. They also might squat down over their feet. The way their circulation works, also helps to keep their feet warmer. The legs, and feet are also covered by hard scales that can tolerate cold and resist frostbite.
Some birds, however, because of the unavailability of their food source, will expend a great deal of energy, and migrate to warmer climates.
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Sparrows all fluffed up, keeping warm.



Female Cardinal



Down feathers, and a semi-plume feather. Semi-plume feathers are a combination of outside contour feather, with down at the base of it.



Semi-plume feathers.



Down feathers at 21x



Hard, scaly skin of my macaw's foot. Thanks for not biting my iPhone, Sam.

Rabbit scat in the snow

Yes, even finding rabbit scat on the snow in my backyard can make me happy😉

Getting to know the Elderberry

Have you ever met someone, and really looked forward to getting to know them better? I felt that this past September about Elderberry. I've always heard about 'Elderberry wine', which I have yet to try, but never really knew anything about the plant.
There are a few of the bushes at a local forest preserve, Churchill Woods. Now that I know where they are, I want to follow their progress through the seasons. I look forward to photographing the buds and blossoms this Spring.
Elderberry flowers are used to make syrups, cordials, and liqueurs. Marshmallows can even be made from Elderberry syrup. My favorite use is in the liqueur 'St. Germain'. My husband makes an excellent Pear Martini using it. So, 'Thank you, Elderberry!'
The berries can be made into wines, cordials, jellies, and pies. However, the uncooked berries can be toxic! You shouldn't eat quantities of them raw.



Elderberry berries



I think I could go for a Pear Martini

Tools I use

'All the better to see you with'
Many people have asked me how I get my images. All of my pics are from my yard, or from the path that runs behind my house. Occasionally, I will get some from the nearby forest preserve. All of the images were taken with my iPhone 6 with an Ōlloclip macro lens attachment with 7x, 14x, and 21x.
Years ago, I became very aware of the power, that seeing at that level, has in drawing in children, and igniting their imagination, curiosity, and desire to learn more.
One of my favorite tools has been a hand-held lighted microscope 30x (anything stronger is a little too much for this purpose).
Of course, for little kids, big plastic magnifying glasses are a good introduction.
Another item that I just picked up for $5 at a camera store, is an 8x loupe. The link I found has them for about $10. This will be perfect for the 3 yr old that can't quite manage how to close one eye to look in a scope.
I also have a student microscope set up for the gkids to use anytime they want.
Links will be provided in the comments under the pics on how to acquire these items.



https://www.olloclip.com/



http://www.specialtyoptical.com/product/microscopes/pocket-microscope-illuminated-30x-power/?gclid=CNzXv--KhMoCFYVAaQodqtMFVA



I found these at the toy store



Antique magnifying glass on stand



Loupe for viewing photograph contact sheets

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O&sku=798855&gclid=CL7jx5-QhMoCFQGTaQodZVMCqA&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&Q&A=details



Microscope