Winter? When is winter? For me, winter is when summer ends. When trees begin to drop their leaves, when plants stop growing, when birds quit laying eggs and fly away, when butterflies and other insects quit flying and crawling about, when bears are done munching apples in the orchards, summer is over and winter has arrived. When growth, reproduction and production come to a halt, summer and winter hold hands. Autumn is the meeting of summer and winter. It introduces us to winter. Winter is ushered out with spring and because spring just can’t stop exploding, it brings on the summer season.
However, when winter comes, life doesn’t end. Plants are only dormant while they hold last summer’s abundance ready to transform into summer’s verdure and varied colors. Squirrels sleep off cold winter days. Dormant butterflies, caterpillars, chrysalises and insect eggs lay secluded in sheltered crannies. Plants’ “foundations” draw warmth from nearby tree roots, from earthy depths, from warm seeps and from warm basements walls. For some wildlife, winter only slows them down and brings change to their habit. For some humans, watching winter wildlife is a bit more difficult than in summer, scooting about with binoculars in hand.
In cold weather fashions, but in less numbers, we continue to be tough, or pretend to be, while we pursue winter wildlife. It has only in recent years fully occurred to me that, even in winter, there is more wildlife watching humans than humans watching wildlife. It might be a bit disconcerting, for some people, that their every move is being eyed by probably several forms of wildlife.
Many times, standing by a swamp bush, gazing about in the cold and snow, I have abruptly become aware of a song sparrow quietly sitting on a secluded limb keeping a watchful eye on my boring form. Suddenly it speaks out with an “enough of that” chirping and heads away into the frozen swamp. Then, there was the sleeping squirrel with its tail over its dorsal, perched with its back to a tree trunk while attempting, in late winter, to draw warmth from the sun’s rays. This New Brunswick kid just about got to tickle the squirrel when soft padded feet were felt on the other hand that was holding onto the trunk of the spindly aspen.
Then, more recently, there was the time when I, suspecting a cougar to be in the area, watchfully and quietly walked up the trail, looking all around, not seeing any sign of this cat. I stopped at a height of land, looked all around, turned back to the route I had come over and there it was, somewhat concealed by a low cedar branch 12 feet away. Curiosity “killed” the cat but satisfaction didn’t bring it back. With a gusto “Git” and an emphatic foot stomp, it gave up on its broadside gaze at 20 feet and trotted away. So, one never knows if one is doing the watching or the watched is doing the watching.
Many people enjoy looking for and seeing birds in winter and sometimes go to great lengths to find them and also attract them. Birdbaths and feeders supply birds with essential things that are just as important to them in winter as in summer. Recently, a local citizen approached me in the grocery store about keeping the water in the birdbath or water pan from freezing. Many methods have been tried. Some enclose a strong light bulb or heater below the birdbath or water container. That works, except if it gets extremely cold or the bulb burns out. Others have tried a block heater, but a water heater for birdbaths, having a built in thermostat, works more effectively. Another method is to run a fine stream of water through a small plastic tube from overhead into a shallow plastic pan nestled in some Styrofoam. Even the slowly moving water will not freeze as readily as still water .Some people rotate the use of several water pans, bringing them inside when they become frozen. Too much bother, perhaps? Perhaps not?
Birds and other wildlife do find natural sources of water in winter. Just because we do not see them doesn’t mean they are not there. From warm seeps, springs, trickles and little brooks in forest places we would not expect, creatures find this essential element. I recall several times, on freezing but brilliant sunny mornings, I observed birds drinking from tips of evergreen branches where drops of water from barely-melted snow were suspended like jewels in the sunlight.
Watching winter wildlife can be a very, almost non-purposful activity. Many times I have had memorable winter watching opportunities when not even expecting them, when just going on a walk, hike or some other kind of outing for the sake of exercise or to accomplish some task, say, gathering wood. The snowshoe hare (varying hare) is one to sit tight and watch someone go by a half-dozen times, gathering wood, before that someone happens to see them.
Then, many surprises show up on trips and outings specifically geared to find birds or other winter wildlife. Each year, many people across the continent participate in the Christmas Bird Count. One such event is held annually in the Creston Valley and will take place this year, on Dec. 27. It begins at 8 a.m. with a launch at the Redeemer Lutheran Church’s basement. It takes some effort to put this together each year and the one to get information from is Sharon Laughlin at 250-428-7289.
Watching winter wildlife can simply mean getting out there some way or another, for a little while or a longer while. Look where you would find wildlife — where there is food, water and/or shelter, things birds and animals also need. Look where there are running or open waters, cones and tender tree buds, fence posts, isolated posts and trees, and fruit and berry-bearing trees and shrubs — rose hips, mountain ash and even snowberry. And don’t forget to check out the birdfeeders. Take warm water, wear warm clothes and boots, and take a lunch if necessary. Otherwise, if you don’t, it may turn into a mishap, a “bad” happening. Take a friend, too!
Ed McMackin is a biologist by profession but a naturalist and hiker by nature. He can be reached at 250-866-5747.