December 2020

December 1, 2020

Dispatch from Deer Camp, 2020

Dave Mance III, December, Dispatches

My father tore the tendon that attaches his thigh muscle...

Read more.
December 2, 2020

A Year of Winter Finches Ahead

December, Dispatches, Virginia Barlow

It’s predicted that the finch species that nest and winter...

Read more.
December 3, 2020

Still no snow on the ground. Rain-soaked brown leaves cover paths but in the woods mosses and liverworts in many shades of green brighten things up.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 4, 2020

Most evergreen perennials are low to the ground, for good reason. Winterberry, pippsissewa, partridgeberry, and goldthread are all in the carpet family.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 7, 2020

The tufted titmouse at our feeders (they get taken in at night) has now been joined by another. They rarely used to be here but in the last few years have become reliable companions.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 8, 2020

On some birds the contour feathers have what’s called an afterfeather, a little fluffy plume from the same follicle as the big feather. This provides extra insulation and is especially common in grouse.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 9, 2020

The Newton Farm

December, Dispatches

As we work on this project, we’re constantly reminded of...

Read more.
December 10, 2020

Jupiter and Saturn are getting closer to one another (from our vantage point). They’ll be at their closest on December 21st, so stay tuned.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 11, 2020

Warmer temperatures are known to increase photosynthesis in the higher latitudes and Siberia has been getting greener. This isn’t working so well in boreal North America where stresses such as fire, pests and droughts have made things browner overall.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 12, 2020

The beavers on the brook nearby seem to have nestled into their bank den. No tracks in the light snow and no new wood chips on the ground.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 13, 2020

Late in the evening tonight and through the early hours of the 14th, the Geminid meteor shower will put on a good performance if it’s clear. The new moon will not interfere and these quite reliable meteors come in yellow, green, and blue, as well as white.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 15, 2020

Beginning in 1995, there’s been a ban on spreading manure in Vermont from today till April 1.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 16, 2020

Now that the ground has really frozen, some of us can cross a few jobs that we didn’t quite get to off the list.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 17, 2020

As of 11 a.m. this morning, the storm has dumped 26 inches of snow in Dorset.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 18, 2020

Some like it cold, including winter crane flies. Well, not too cold, but if it’s above freezing male winter crane flies form loose, bouncy swarms. Females fly up from the ground to choose a mate and then they lay eggs on the forest floor. Craneflies are easy to see against the surface of the snow or when they perch on windowpanes.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 19, 2020

About one in a thousand ash trees is able to kill some emerald ash borer larvae and forest geneticists have crossed these rare trees with each other in the hope of finding an ash tree that can kill all the larvae.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 20, 2020

Snowy owls have recently been seen in Vermont. We’ve all heard that they leave their arctic home when food there is scarce but another reason for these erratic irruptions might instead be that they occur following an unusually successful breeding season – successful because of an abundance of prey.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 21, 2020

Snowshoe hare are packing down their main trails. Single-use paths peel off in what looks to be a random way, but there may be a plan.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 22, 2020

It seems impolite to mention it, but it’s not inexpensive to keep our fleet of little birdfeeder birds fed.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 24, 2020

Most Christmas tree growers sold all their trees a while back. Has Covid somehow brought out a longing for the sweet smell of balsam?

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.
December 25, 2020

Proving once again that a hard rain is the best way to get rid of snow. Our 8 inches or so of snow was reduced to zero to 2 inches overnight. Creeks are rising.

December, Ginny's Calendar

Read more.

March 2020
April 2020
May 2020
June 2020
July 2020
August 2020
September 2020
October 2020
November 2020
December 2020
January 2021
February 2021
March 2021
April 2021
May 2021
June 2021
July 2021
August 2021
September 2021
October 2021
November 2021
December 2021
January 2022

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

About
A Look Inside
Volume Indexes
Order / Donate
Dispatches
Sponsors
Contact

Scroll to top