Feature: This Month's Speaker: Dr. Art Boucot
President's column: "Flight Adaptations in Birds, Bats, and Insects," by Nathan Tublitz
Salamanders
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Feature: This Month's Speaker: Dr. Art Boucot President's column: "Flight Adaptations in Birds, Bats, and Insects," by Nathan Tublitz Salamanders |
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December 14, Thursday, 7 p.m. "Sacred Times," An Evening slideshow and lecture by Rick Ahrens, Arboretum nature guide and LCC Instructor. Rick will present an examination of the connection of the Earth's seasons to our human celebrations, at the Eugene Garden Club (High Street between 13th and 14th). Suggested donation: $3. |
Now is the time for all good bird watchers to come to the aid of this years Chrisrtmas Bird Count. On December 31 twenty-two teams will be out tallying all the birds they can find inside our 15 mile diameter circle. Each team has a particular sector of the circle to check. Team leaders will be responsible for accurate identification if a problem species turns up. Team members do not have to be experts. Anyone is welcome to come along to help spot birds and/or keep track of the numbers seen. The count runs all day but most teams are out for only portions of the day, depending upon the size of the area being covered. We always order nice weather (and frequently get it) so it's a good opportunity to get out and enjoy the day, especially since we are ringing out the old millenium and starting the next (depending on your point of view). For information and to sign up call Herb Wisner at 344-3634, soon. |
I have been keeping weather notes for 25 years and never has there been a dry November such as this. The cold and clear weather is very reminiscent of similar annual spells in December, but those cold spells follow a rainy fall. Dig in the soil. It is still very dry as you get 9 to 12 inches down. Our pond has been completely covered with ice for the last six days. No ducks to be seen, and even our blackbirds are not singing much. A week ago a bat flew by me at dusk when I was in the field with the dogs. It could not have been hunting as the temperature was below freezing. Do bats take cleansing flights? Chicadees, nuthatches and occasionally house finches are at the feeders with towhees and juncos feeding on the ground. The star of the winter feeder scene is our Douglas squirrel [chicaree], who spends hours divising better and better ways to launch himself across the void between the oak tree and the feeder. When he is successful he clings and swings from the feeder, usually upside down, while gorging on sunflower seeds. Reida Kimmel 12 Mountain Quail still visit us daily. The young are plump and fully fledged and have learned patience. Instead of shotgun flight at the first sign of danger, they become statues, often for a longer period of time than we can observe. And I can never call observation procrastination. Melody Clarkson |
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Page last modified: 3 January 2001 Location: http://biology.uoregon.edu/enhs/archive/dec00/dec00.html E-mail the WebSpinner: cpapke@gmail.com |