Nature Happenings

Winter owls arrive and become active in places like Sax-Zim Bog and Crex Meadows, where you can see Great Grey, boreal, snowy, and northern hawk owls. Birders from around the world come to Sax-Zim Bog to see the owls in winter. A great place to see snowy owls if they arrive in the Twin Cities is at the MSP International Airport, where they can often be seen from the Observation Area at the end of Cargo Rd. 

Winter finches like pine siskins, redpolls, and occasionally pine and evening grosbeaks and non-finches like red-breasted nuthatches, may show up beginning in December, depending on the quality of the cone crop in Canada.

When temperatures consistently fall below 10 degrees F., overwintering birds must eat constantly during daylight hours to conserve enough calories to make it through long, cold nights. Help them by providing foods high in fat and energy.

Chipmunks, Black bears and Raccoons hole up for the winter, but may reappear with milder winter weather.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) takes place December 14-January 5. The CBC is the oldest and largest running citizen-science program in the U.S. and involves counting within designated 15-mile diameter circles over a 24-hour period. This year marks the 125th year of the Christmas Bird Count.

Watch for late waterfowl migrants such as Northern Shovelers, Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, Goldeneyes, and Tundra Swans. Tundra Swans begin the final leg of their migration to the Chesapeake Bay when backwaters in the Mississippi River freeze over in December.

Sumac, Bittersweet, Poison Ivy and other berries remain throughout the rest of winter, providing food for overwintering birds like Robins and Bluebirds. As temperatures drop, listen for the popping of ash trees in the woods.

The local bald eagle population swells as eagles arrive from farther north to overwinter here.