For humans, the term snowbirds designates individuals who try to escape winter and snow by moving to warmer, more temperate climes for a period of time. In the avian world, John James Audubon applied the name Snow Bird (Fringilla nivalis) to what has since been renamed Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). Etymologically, both species names are … Continue reading Snow Birds
Nature speaks more eloquently than words and here are some wintry impressions (or expressions) from two different January visits to one of my favorite local destinations, Fountain Creek Regional Park, where Fountain Creek reigns supreme and showed itself from its fabulously frosty side. To enlarge a photo, click on it.
Growing up in Germany, I never thought about the dark, damp, and dismal weather that characterizes—oh, roughly 6-plus months out of each year. But that’s no longer true and if I had no family obligations, I would not spend late autumn or winter in central Europe. When we visited in November 2023, we hardly saw … Continue reading Remedy for the Winter Blues in Germany
When I open the shades in the morning and gaze out over our deck and back yard, I know that the meteorologists’ predictions were vastly exceeded. Our bench holds more than the forecast 4 inches of snow and our trusted measuring stick confirms that 10 inches fell overnight. This on top of the 8 inches … Continue reading Winter’s Last Hurrah?
The recent sighting of green leaves pushing through the soil is a reminder that winter will soon come to an end and prompted me to share a few more wintry impressions. Colorado’s Front Range and plains have seen several rounds of snow since December and the entire eastern half of the state is currently out … Continue reading Winter Walks
tanja britton 