Outdoor Almanac

From spotting unexpected winter birds like Eastern Bluebirds and Hermit Thrushes to witnessing the Quadrantid meteor shower at its dazzling peak, nature offers plenty to explore this month. Look for signs of wildlife like coyote tracks, otter slides, and birds scratching for grit along snowy roadsides. Marvel at the resilience of creatures like Gray Treefrogs, which freeze and thaw through the winter, or catch a glimpse of Bald Eagles gathering at coastal river mouths. Let this month's outdoor almanac be your guide to outdoor adventures that deepen your connection to the natural world.

What will you discover this January? 

Visit a nearby wildlife sanctuary or join us for a program to make the most of your January. 

JANUARY

1  

As you look and listen for our usual winter birds on your New Year's walk—cardinals, chickadees, juncos, goldfinches, White-throated Sparrows—don’t be surprised if you find an American Robin, an Eastern Bluebird, a Gray Catbird, or even a Hermit Thrush as well. Even though the majority of these birds still migrate south, warming winters and access to food keep some of them here all winter. 

2-3 

From a dark location, after midnight, look north toward the Little Dipper to observe the Quadrantid meteor shower — now at its peak with up to 40 shooting stars per hour.  

7   

Observe your shrubs and fruit trees after a snowfall. Chewed twigs and evergreen leaves with ragged edges are a sign of deer. Cleanly nipped, angled twig ends close to the ground or at the top of the snow are a sign of rabbits.   

10 

Gray Treefrogs spend the winter hibernating under leaf litter, rocks, and rotting logs. There they survive the bitter cold (as low as –20 degrees F) and can freeze up to 40% of their body, thaw, and repeat the cycle a handful of times. 

13 

Full moon   

14 

In winter, American Crows roost together every night. Roost locations change over time but most recently there are large roosts with thousands of birds in Lawrence and Springfield. If you are near either city in the late afternoon and notice large numbers of crows flying about, they are staging before settling into their chosen roost trees for the night. 

18  

Signs of coyote breeding season can be found in parallel coyote tracks, scent markings, and duet howling.  

20  

River otters do not hibernate and remain active during winter. If you are in an area where river otters live, look for the long slide marks they make in the snow when gliding along on their bellies. 

23  

Look for Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Sparrows, Snow Buntings, American Goldfinches, and other songbirds scratching in the dirt or piles of snow along on the edge of the road. They are swallowing grit to help their gizzards grind up the hard seeds and fruit pits that make up their winter diet. 

28 

Black bears are giving birth to litters of 1-5 cubs. At birth, cubs only weigh about 450 grams — that’s less than 1 pound! Black bears are sleepers, not hibernators, and might be seen out of their dens during milder weather. 

30  

When ice forms on interior lakes, Bald Eagles move to river mouths along the coast where they can fish in the open water. The mouth of the Merrimack often has several wintering eagles.