Elk Rapids Almanac-December 2019
December 4 - Looking out my kitchen window around 7:30 a.m. as I was fixing my morning coffee, I looked across the creek that runs by the house into lake Michigan. I then had the pleasure to witness three river otters chasing each other and playing before they ran off towards Birch Lake for a swim. - Katrina Childs
December 11 - I was sitting by the window working on a project and I noticed quite a few woodpeckers visiting the feeders. 5 different kinds showed up: Red Headed, Red Bellied, Hairy, Downy and Pileated. At least they are not as aggressive to the other birds as the blue jays are. -Jane Stauffer.
December 12 - While warm sunny days are pleasant, I find winter invigorating. Beach walks present a different kind of beauty in cold weather. It’s interesting to find different ice formations, like this one taken at Wilcox-Palmer-Shah Preserve. -Ellen Baird. See photo below.
December 15 - Christmas Bird Count in Antrim County. The Elk Rapids area bird count is coordinated by John Kreag and local Audubon Society members. (inquiries at jkreag@charter.net). They report that the count was down this year because birds stayed in Canada where there is lots of food still available. Through a number of such programs, The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology Citizen Scientist Projects engages thousands of people around the world to contribute bird observations to their lab each year. Scientists then use these data to reveal how birds are affected by habitat loss, pollution, disease, climate, and other environmental changes. Citizens trace bird migration, nesting success, and changes in bird numbers through time, contributing to conservation plans and actions to protect birds and habitats. If you enjoy watching birds, are interested in science and conservation, whether by watching birds at your feeders, monitoring nests, or sharing your sightings any time, anywhere, check out the list of possibilities at: www.birds.cornell.edu/citizenscience
December 21 - The winter solstice is Saturday December 21, at 11:19 p.m., 2019. This is the astronomical first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day of the year. At the winter solstice, the Sun appears at its most southerly point and is directly overhead at “high-noon” on the solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn. The next day, the path will begin to advance northward. The word solstice comes from Latin sol“sun” and sistere “to stand still.” So, loosely translated, it means “sun stand still.” For a few days before and after the solstice, the Sun appears to stand still in the sky. The change in its noontime elevation is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still.
Think of it this way. The solstice brings the return of more sunlight. It only gets brighter from here! -The Farmer’s Almanac.
More lore and science at: www.almanac.com
December 4 - Looking out my kitchen window around 7:30 a.m. as I was fixing my morning coffee, I looked across the creek that runs by the house into lake Michigan. I then had the pleasure to witness three river otters chasing each other and playing before they ran off towards Birch Lake for a swim. - Katrina Childs
December 11 - I was sitting by the window working on a project and I noticed quite a few woodpeckers visiting the feeders. 5 different kinds showed up: Red Headed, Red Bellied, Hairy, Downy and Pileated. At least they are not as aggressive to the other birds as the blue jays are. -Jane Stauffer.
December 12 - While warm sunny days are pleasant, I find winter invigorating. Beach walks present a different kind of beauty in cold weather. It’s interesting to find different ice formations, like this one taken at Wilcox-Palmer-Shah Preserve. -Ellen Baird. See photo below.
December 15 - Christmas Bird Count in Antrim County. The Elk Rapids area bird count is coordinated by John Kreag and local Audubon Society members. (inquiries at jkreag@charter.net). They report that the count was down this year because birds stayed in Canada where there is lots of food still available. Through a number of such programs, The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology Citizen Scientist Projects engages thousands of people around the world to contribute bird observations to their lab each year. Scientists then use these data to reveal how birds are affected by habitat loss, pollution, disease, climate, and other environmental changes. Citizens trace bird migration, nesting success, and changes in bird numbers through time, contributing to conservation plans and actions to protect birds and habitats. If you enjoy watching birds, are interested in science and conservation, whether by watching birds at your feeders, monitoring nests, or sharing your sightings any time, anywhere, check out the list of possibilities at: www.birds.cornell.edu/citizenscience
December 21 - The winter solstice is Saturday December 21, at 11:19 p.m., 2019. This is the astronomical first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day of the year. At the winter solstice, the Sun appears at its most southerly point and is directly overhead at “high-noon” on the solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn. The next day, the path will begin to advance northward. The word solstice comes from Latin sol“sun” and sistere “to stand still.” So, loosely translated, it means “sun stand still.” For a few days before and after the solstice, the Sun appears to stand still in the sky. The change in its noontime elevation is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still.
Think of it this way. The solstice brings the return of more sunlight. It only gets brighter from here! -The Farmer’s Almanac.
More lore and science at: www.almanac.com
Winter at Wilcox-Palmer-Shah. Photo: Ellen Baird
