Articles

Whether you are in the doldrums of January or the sweltering heat of August, Nature’s Year –Changing Seasons in Central and Eastern Ontario, has many fascinating facts to alert you to the ongoing rhythms of the natural world. This book is written by Drew Monkman a retired teacher, naturalist and newspaper columnist. Each monthly chapter describes exactly what the birds, bees, mammals, fish, weather, plants and fungi and also the night sky is doing. This organization allows you to read the most relevant information and return to the book many times. If you are reading in your armchair, I’ve found it stimulates your interest in the outdoors. It helps interpret the many inter-relationships going on out there. If you are walking in the woods, the book tells you what to look and listen for. It also mentions typical smells of the season such as maple syrup. For the current chapter, “March – Waiting for Spring-To-Be” we can be assured that migrating birds are returning throughout the month So let those bird songs be your cue to take a walk in the woods to hear the owls or a bike ride along the lake to check out shorebirds or a trip to the countryside to collect pussy willows. Here is a small checklist of birds back now. Robins Red Winged Blackbirds Red Tailed Hawks Grackles Turkey Vultures Tree Swallows I’ll bet you’ve seen them because it’s all true. Wondering what will happen in April? – Frog Song and Sky Dancers page, 82!