Walker Nature Center
A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar of Events 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • WebTrac 8
BRANCHING OUT
Nature Notes
Footprints in the Snow
DECEMBER
Crisp winter walks were a family tradition growing up, especially on snowy evenings. We would bundle up with hats, scarves and gloves to shield us from the cold, and Papa would bring down the old red lantern from above the fireplace. Down the road, we would go with the quiet hush of the snow surrounding us and merely the crunch of our boots to break the silence. Our quiet dirt road provided the perfect surface for all manner of tracks to form for discovery and study. On our walks, we would listen for the sounds of animals moving in the night. On occasion, we would see a rabbit or fox dash across the road or a deer out for a late evening browse.
By Sharon Gurtz
• • • •
Look for Bald Eagles over Lake Audubon and Lake Thoreau. White-throated Sparrows can be seen in the winter woods. Look for Brown Creepers spiraling up tree trunks. Spotted Wintergreen and Partridgeberry are evergreen on the forest floor.
JANUARY • • • •
White-tailed Deer shed antlers. Raccoons breed. Robin flocks dine on holly berries. Bald Eagles begin to nest.
FEBRUARY • • • •
First squirrel babies of the year are born. Red Fox are mating. Barred Owls are nesting. Spring Peepers begin to call.
By Idalina Walker
I would run ahead, looking for the autographs of animals who had just passed by. I loved examining the tracks and committing them to memory for future observations. I would note their size and distance apart as well as the gait of the animal.
Then I would proceed to have a great time, making tracks of my own, hopping like a bunny or leaping like a deer. Today I still enjoy a nice walk in the snow. If you would like to start a great snow day tradition, this winter should be a great time to do so. With a reported snowfall of 29.9” inches last year and the Farmer’s Almanac calling for above average snowfall in 2017, I hope you will be able to make use of the following information about common local tracks. Finding animal tracks in Reston is usually as simple as stepping out your door and onto some of the 55 miles of pathways and trails. First, use clues from the surrounding area. Are there any portions of meals, broken branches or scat nearby? Pay attention to broad details such as the space between tracks and the pattern of foot placement. Then, get up close and look at the subtle details. Continued on page 2
Winter 16-17 Volume Nineteen