Spring ephermerals and the vernal dam hypothesis
Every year I know that spring has arrived when it’s time for my family to forage for ramps on a two-acre patch on the hill above my house. We have just a few weeks to enjoy their spiciness before they disappear from the landscape, along with other spring ephemerals.
Why did the frog cross the road?
In spring, when temperatures rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and usher in gentle rains, a plethora of life emerges from the forest.
In search of cellar holes and old foundations
Stone foundations are the less-talked-about cousins of the storied stone walls that trace the landscape. Both are legacies of the glacier that covered all of New England until 13,000 years ago, leaving a layer of till – tumbled-up dirt and stone of every size.
Lengthening days of spring
Light in the evening brings the first sign of spring’s arrival. Before the snow has fully melted or any scraps of green start to appear, those lengthening days are a promise.
Gobbling and strutting through wild turkey mating season
As the days get longer and warmer, wild turkeys start feeling the urge to begin the spring shuffle, wandering in search of breeding opportunities and nesting sites.
Backyard neighbor: Ubiquitous, melodious song sparrows
In early March, birds that have been gone all winter begin appearing at my feeder. One of the earliest of these spring migrants is a brown-backed sparrow with a white breast coarsely streaked with brown
Fishers inherently practice family planning
Fishers have a reputation as the northern forests’ ultimate misanthropes. These mesocarnivores are so territorial that within six to eight months after their birth, young fishers are unceremoniously pushed out of their mother’s home range to fend for themselves.
Seeds, frazil and flocs tell the story of ice
During some recent winters, climate change has brought unseasonably warm spells, incomplete ice covers, decreased water levels, and insignificant snowfall, all of which expose ice formations normally unseen. These formations are known as frazil (often referred to as “frazil ice”), and they don’t begin in water; they begin in the air.
Soil microbes bundle up in winter
Although we may be aware that other creatures are preparing for the cold, building their nutritious stockpiles and cozy dens, few of us think about the ground beneath our feet. Yet here as well, a whole world gets ready for winter.
Tiny king of the winter woods: Golden-crowned kinglets
Golden-crowned kinglets are ping-pong-ball-sized (and -shaped) songbirds that breed almost exclusively in coniferous forests. For seven months of the year, they wear the crown of smallest bird in the Northeast, surpassed only by the ruby-throated hummingbird in summertime.
Great gray owls are winter’s elusive visitors
The great gray owl is a northern raptor that only occasionally graces the northeastern U.S. Called the phantom of the north, great grays have a fierce appearance with luminous yellow eyes, an impressive size, and large talons.
A rare winter flicker of red and yellow
While many of our region’s colorful birds fly south for the cold months, resident woodpeckers offer a reliable contrast to this season’s monochrome palette.
Life beneath ice and snow: Turtles in winter
Some water turtles, such as painted turtles and common snapping turtles, search out the soft substrate at the bottom of ponds, rivers, and lakes, and burrow down into the mud to survive the winter.
The incredible shrinking shrew
Masked shrews are one of our smallest mammals, tipping the scales at between 3 and 6 grams (one to two pennies), with a 2.5-inch-long body and a 1.5-inch tail.
Native hollies offer more than holiday cheer
while Christmas holly (Ilex aquifolium) originates across the Atlantic, our region has two native holly species of which to boast – and they do much more on the landscape than brighten homes and spirits at yuletide.
Spotting giant silk moths in winter
Late fall and early winter are the best times of year to spot giant silk moth cocoons in New England.
Rough-legged hawks come visiting
In late autumn, cold air masses come barreling down from the Canadian Arctic like an atmospheric avalanche, bringing with them a visitor from the North: the rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus).
The quiet persistence of clubmosses
Despite their name, clubmosses are not true mosses. They are the oldest group of vascular plants, which have specialized tissue called xylem that transports water and nutrients.
Factors behind burgeoning black bear populations
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department set a statewide population goal of 3,500 to 5,500 black bears, based on available habitat for food, cover, and winter denning, as well as the size of black bear territories. But in 2024, the population numbered between 6,800 and 8,000.
Moving on: Porcupettes no more
Young porcupines are dispersing from their mothers this time of year, and with that, leaving behind the cutest name for a baby animal – porcupette – as they strike out on their own.