January NATURE NOTES
By Katie Andersen

Here are a few things happening in the natural world this month.

Rare gulls and terns can be found along Lake Erie - check along Presque Isle Bay.
Ducks, loons, and swans will continue to stay around Presque Isle as long as water remains unfrozen.

Listen for Great Horned Owls duetting as they pair up for the mating season- they’ll be on eggs by end of the month.

Northern birds continue to visit local feeders. Watch in particular for Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls this year.
Red Crossbills have been on the move as well this winter; keep an eye on cone-laden pine trees for flocks of these unusual finches.

Flocks of American Robins travel the area feeding on the fruits of various trees, shrubs, and vines. Yellow-rumped Warblers, European Starlings, and Cedar Waxwings may join up with these foraging flocks.
Winter provides the best conditions to create foraging flocks of Northern Cardinals. These territorial birds will gather briefly in foul weather, creating a beautiful spectacle at the feeders. As daylight grows and hormones surge, however, the flocks will break apart and their territorial behavior will resume.

Saw-whet, Short-eared, and Long-eared Owls may show up. Using your binoculars to scan from a distance, carefully and quietly check stands of dense pines for these and other owls.
While we are not expecting a big irruption of Snowy Owls this winter, especially with Lake Erie remaining open, it’s still worth scanning fields and beaches for any strays we may get this month.

White-tailed Deer bucks are shedding antlers as breeding season’s ending.
Black Bear cubs are born starting in late January.
As the days lengthen, Tufted Titmice and Northern Cardinals start singing, first with short versions of their songs and then in full song by late January or early February.

January 2024 Dates Of Note:

Jan. 11th: New Moon
Jan. 26th: Full Moon

January 1 – 31: Project FeederWatch continues