https://vermontalmanac.org/virginia-barlows-calendar/

I’m happy to have the company of western conifer seed bugs in the house in the winter. They are beautiful – try looking with a hand lens to get the full picture – and not harmful. Just trying to keep warm.

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The male catkins on beaked hazelnuts are fully formed. Good to know that somebody’s thinking about spring.

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Nine species of dragonflies in North America are known to be migratory. The ones that breed in New England are now shipping out.

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What a difference a rain makes. Brooks from a trickle to a torrent overnight. Our neighbor measured three and a half inches of rain.

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Ginkgo trees are unusual in that they often lose all their leaves at the same time. Our butternut tree did that same thing last night but perhaps high wind and not tree physiology is the reason.

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Finches aren’t nearly as dependent on insects as most other birds are. They’ve mostly done okay in recent years. It’s the insectivorous birds that have suffered great losses.

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Not only are they pretty, but the various goldenrods are used by 122 moth and butterfly species as host plants for their caterpillars. Most birds depend on caterpillars when raising a family.

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Raking leaves and cutting down perennials can be a chore. Ecologist Doug Tallamy, suggests that we do as little as possible of both. Birds can eat the seeds over the winter and it’s best not to disturb the many insect pupae that lie among the fallen leaves.

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On a tip from a friend, I looked at the trunks of maple trees today and sure enough, I saw maple leafcutter caterpillars poking their front ends out of their sandwiches, looking like small circles of maple leaf climbing upwards,. How peculiar is that?

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Maple leafcutter sandwiches are all over the ground and the road. Yellow-rumped warblers seem to be picking them open and eating the contents. Sadly, not enough yellow rumps to put a dent in the population.

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