Totally Envious...I want to see a Flying Squirrel

I want to see a FLYING SQUIRREL at MY feeders.

From lakecountynature.com

Why they are called FLYING squirrels from squirrelguide.com

There is a VERY good chance that we have them as they like forest but it is very hard to see these shy and fast squirrels because they only come out at night. My plan is to get a night capable motion camera and mount it next to the bird feeders at camp and Elliott House to see what shows up. I'll keep you posted and maybe I'll have my own pictures to show you.

House In the Wood is operated by Northwester Settlement

Did You Know There is a "CLOUD SEASON"?

Yep...there is a "CLOUD SEASON" where 50% or more of the month is overcast. Cloud season is November through April. The cloudiest months are November and December where over 18 days on average are overcast. This is followed by January and then March.

The upside to those clouds, of course, is this!

A camp sunset!

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

More Mating Season...

This is also when the mating season starts for the Red Fox, Beavers, and the Gray Squirrel. All of these animals are found on House In the Woods grounds.

Where am I getting all of this information about mating? The phenology calendar put out by the Aldo Leopold Center. Phenology is the study of life cycles based on seasons and climate for a particular area. The last year available is 2013 but the phenology is still accurate as it changes little from year to year. This information was gathered from midstate Wisconsin so I would guess that Southern Wisconsin where House In the Wood is located is a little earlier. I hope to start a House In The Wood phenology soon. It will take awhile to get one as it takes at least five years of records to get an average.

Here is the Phenology Calendar link if you would like to check for yourself.

http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/phenologycalendar13.pdf

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement.

Mating Season Begins...Black Capped Chickadee

Wisconsin Phenology per Aldo Leopold

We should start hearing the mating call of the Black Capped Chickadee this week. more info about their calls at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/lifehistory

House In the Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

The Answer...WHO goes there?

Did you guess? Notice the almost hand-like front paw and the long good-for-hopping and balance rear paw. 

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

LOOK WHO I FOUND!

There were about 6 of them near a drain pipe that was melting snow and thawing the ground so they could look for worms, grubs and insects. This was the day after we had minus 30 wind chill for two days and the temperatures had just started to rise to the mid-30's. I wonder WHY they didn't fly further south this year? The warm Fall we had this year? I wonder if they are finding enough to eat. 

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

NO Bears at House In the Wood

This is the closest that we get to BEARS at House In The Wood. There are bears in Wisconsin but they are in the northern half of the state. The bear population in Wisconsin has increased and the young male bears are looking for new territory to inhabit. There have been "sightings" of black bears in southern Wisconsin but even these are RARE in Walworth County where Delavan is located. Delavan is just NOT good habitat for bears--little cover, food, space and too many people.

The bear rug in front of Ms Val's fireplace--fake, of course.

The phenology of Wisconsin says that Black Bear Cubs are being born in dens this week but I don't think they are anywhere near Walworth County. Phenology is the study of lifecycles influenced by seasonal and climate changes.

HALT! Who goes there?

I love this time of year when I can see exactly WHO went where...and I can even tell roughly WHEN they did it.

Who goes here? Do you know? Answer coming in later post...

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement