Archive for November, 2010
Winter Fun in Your National Parks
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010You’ll be missing lots of adventures if you hide inside this winter. New escapades are available for visitors to many national parks in the winter. If you enjoy winter sports, there are parks for that. If you want to escape the winter, there are parks for that too. Here is a sampling.
Death Valley/NPS photo
Death Valley National Park is open year-round, but most visitors avoid the fiercely hot summer months and schedule a visit in the milder winter. The 61st annual Death Valley ‘49ers Encampment is the unofficial season kick-off and a big crowd-pleaser with activities like a pioneer costume contest, wagon train parade, western-style music, craft show, and much more. It just took place November 10-14. With average August highs around 115 and January highs in the 60’s, winter is the time to hike, camp, explore and enjoy the Mojave desert environment.
Big Bend/NPS/Dan Leavitt photo
Big Bend National Park encompases the Chisos mountains to Chihuahuan desert, so depending on where you go, winter temperatures range greatly. Generally, winter is the dry season, but storms can blow in suddenly with snow or cold rain. November to April is the popular season, peaking in March and April. Because of this diversity and latitude, birding any time of year here is fantastic. Over 450 bird species have been recorded. Hiking and camping and all sorts of activities are great here in the winter.
Early Snow in Grand Canyon tree/Nancy Condon photo
Grand Canyon National Park is also open for various winter activities. November 28th marks the seasonal close of the visitor center, campground, roads, and services at the North Rim, however primitive group campsites are still available to hikers and cross-country skiers with a backcountry permit. The South Rim’s amenities stay open year-round.
Winter scene in the Smokies/NPS photo
Great Smoky Mountains National Park reveals even more vistas in the winter when deciduous leaves are absent. The summer crowds are gone and locals enjoy this time of year most in the park where solitude is easy to find. Clingman’s Dome Road closes to vehicular traffic in winter, and becomes available to cross-country skiers or hikers. Periodic closures of other roads, especially Newfound Gap road is likely to occur due to snowy or icy conditions.
Skiing in Acadia/Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce photo
Acadia National Park offers a playground for winter enthusiasts. If you are looking for scenic drives in your car, better come in summer. Most of the Park Loop Road is closed to car traffic in winter, except two short sections. Sargaent Drive and Route 102A are also available to cars and take you to some scenic views.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing – The forty-five miles of carriage roads and the unplowed park roads provide fantastic opportunity for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Be aware that snowmobilers can also use the Park Loop Road.
Snowmobiling is permissible on the 27-mile Park Loop Road as well as the road up Cadillac Mountain. The carriage roads are for the skiers and snowshoers, with the exception of two miles as connector trails only.
Winter Camping – Blackwoods Campground is available for primitive winter camping from December 1 to March 31. A camping permit is required.
Winter hiking, ice fishing and even dog sledding and skijoring are winter sports enjoyed by Acadia visitors in the winter.
Shenandoah view/Ann & Rob Simpson photo
Shenandoah National Park is always open. Now when the deciduous leaves don’t obscure vistas and the cool temperatures improve visibility, it is a great time for some hiking and backcountry winter camping. That said, December through March you’ll find services such as lodging, food services, campgrounds, and visitor centers closed. Four picnic grounds: Elk Wallow, Dundo, Pinnacle and South River are open year-round. Inclement weather will occasionally close portions of Skyline Drive, which is normally open 24 hours a day. Even so, you can still enter the park on foot. Skyline Drive is also closed dusk to dawn mid-November to early January due to deer hunting season.
Don’t let winter close you inside. Your parks are still there awaiting your visit.
And, remember to download your NaturePod before you go. Northern parks with winter closures don’t have ranger programs available, so you’ll want to get the scoop from your own iPod or iPhone.
Attract the Right Birds with the Right Seed
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010Would you like to know what food to provide in your yard to attract your favorite birds? Mix and match the following types of winter birdfeed to attract, or deter, birds and other animals to your feeding stations.
In short, sunflower seed is the most versatile; stay away from fillers such as red or golden millet.
Striped and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Striped and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower Seed; black oil and striped
Grosbeaks, Nuthatches, Tufted titmouse, Chickadee, Cardinal Goldfinch, House finch, Purple finch, Mourning dove, Pine siskin, Junco, Woodpeckers
Safflower seeds
Safflower seeds
Safflower seed
Cardinal, Chickadee, Grosbeaks, Mourning dove, Native sparrows, Tufted titmouse, Purple finch
Fortunately, some of our less desired species such as house sparrow, European starling, and squirrel don’t like safflower seed, but recently, some have acquired a taste for it.
White Millet seed
White Millet seed
White Proso Millet
This small seed is a favorite for ground feeding birds such as Mourning Dove, Native American sparrows, Quail, Towhee, Junco, Cardinal, Indigo bunting. Unfortunately, it is also enjoyed by the Cowbird, Blackbirds and House sparrow.
Whole kernel corn
Whole kernel corn
Corn, whole and cracked
Grouse, Pheasant, Turkey, Quai,l Cardinal, Grosbeaks, Crow, Raven, Jay, Dove, Ducks
Unfortunately corn is also eaten by house sparrows, cowbirds, starlings, geese, bears, raccoons, deer and more. Corn can easily harbor aflatoxins, which are naturally occurring toxins produced by a fungus affecting a variety of crops. It is harmful even in low doses. Therefore, don’t let the corn get wet. Put out only enough that can be eaten in a day in wet or humid conditions and rake up old corn.
Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts
Jay, Crow, Chickadee, Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatches
This high fat food is also a favorite of squirrels, bears, raccoons, and others that you don’t want to supplement with feed. Keep peanuts dry as they also may contain aflatoxins and put out only that which can be eaten within the day.
Rapeseed
Rapeseed
Rapeseed
Quails, Mourning dove, Goldfinch, House finch, Purple finch, Juncos
Nyjer seed
Nyjer seed
Niger or Nyjer ® (also incorrectly called thistle seed)
Goldfinch, House finch, Purple finch, Indigo bunting, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed junco, Pine siskin
Suet
Suet
Suet
Chickadee, Nuthatches, Tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, Woodpeckers
Mealworms
Mealworms
Waxworms & Mealworms
A favorite of insect-eating birds such as:
Bluebirds, Flickers, Woodpeckers
Tangerine
Tangerine
Fruit
Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Bluebird
Do not provide
Red millet, Golden millet, or Flax. These are fillers. None of our birds prefer them, and in fact discard them for more preferable seed. If left on the ground they get moldy and harbor disease-producing organisms such as fungi and bacteria.
Get a new hobby by joining Project FeederWatch, a bird counting program through Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Count birds that come to your feeder or water source November to April. Novice to expert bird watchers can participate. Its not too late to sign up. Go to Project FeederWatch for more information and to sign up.
Sources:
National Bird-feeding Society
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology