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December, 2016
Vol. 16, No. 21
Cold? Warm Up With Our Winter Wildlife Quiz!
Winter is here and snow finally seems to be on the ground in many parts of the U.S.
Do you know how animals cope with winter’s severe conditions?
Test your winter wildlife knowledge by taking the quiz.
Follow eNature on Twitter
Join the flock who’s following eNature on Twitter and get the latest fun facts and interesting stories about wildlife.
You’ll learn something every day from our “creature of the day” tweet. And we’ll send you other fun and interesting stories to enjoy.
It’s easy. Click here to get started!
Explore Our National Parks With eNature’s ParkGuides
Our ParkGuides have detailed visitor information and wildlife data for over 300 National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and National Monuments throughout the U.S.
And even if you can’t get there yourself—you can always visit the Park of the Day while you’re visiting eNature.com.
Chesapeake Bay Field Guide App Avaliable
Our free field guide app covers the animals and plants of the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Created for the Chesapeake Bay Trust, this free app is an amazing resource for anyone who lives in the Bay’s 6 state watershed.
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Are Poinsettias Truly Flowers?
In a word, no. And it turns out poinsettias come in a number of colors other than red too..
Most of us think of poinsettias as large flowers— but what many of us see as the flower of the plant are actually its leaves.
Read on to get the whole story about this colorful holiday plant…
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The Poinsettia is native to several regions of Mexico and has been introduced to temperate areas around the world.
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Tuesday's supermoon will be bright and may make the Geminid meteors a bit hard to observe.
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Don’t Miss Tonight’s Supermoon And Meteor Shower
Tuesday’s skies are busy whether you’re looking for meteors or want to enjoy the bright light of the supermoon.
The moon will look larger than a “regular” full moon because its orbit is closer to Earth than normal. The bright moon will make catching tonight’s Geminid meteors a bit more difficult than normal—but it’s still worth taking a look!
Read on to find the best time to see the spectacle….
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Populations of almost all native birds, such as this female Snowy Owl, have been tallied annually for decades during the annual Christmas Bird Count. This data is useful to researchers and has been used in numerous long-term studies. Click here to learn more about other wildlife census projects
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Get Out During The Holidays And Count The Birds
The annual Christmas Bird Count is here. It dates back to 1900, when ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed an alternative to the recreational hunting of birds that usually occurred on Christmas Day. He enlisted the help of twenty-seven conservationists in twenty-five different areas. Rather than kill birds, the group simply counted them.
Now sponsored by the National Audubon Society, the Christmas Bird Count is still going strong and welcomes everyone—from novice to expert.
Click here to learn more and get involved.
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How Do Birds Survive Winter’s Cold?
Where do the birds go for protection during severe weather such as blizzards, cold snaps and the snowy days many of us are experiencing?
Birds have an amazing ability to find refuge from storms, but they do it in a variety of ways, depending on the species and the bird’s natural habitat. Some birds huddle together, others find dry spots out of the weather and some use even more creative methods to survive.
Click here to get whole story!
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In the past 25 years Eastern Bluebirds have become uncommon for reasons not altogether clear. Competition for nest sites with European Starlings and House Sparrows is likely a critical factor. The erection of many artificial nest boxes in recent years seems to be helping to increase the population.
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Share the Holidays With All the Wildlife in Your Yard
Many of us will celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas tree in our home. But don’t discard your tree when you’re cleaning up in a few weeks. By finding a place in your yard for your old tree, you can provide cover and nesting places for birds and other creatures who call your yard home.
Click here to get more ideas…
And don’t forget that you can share your holiday cheer with the wildlife in your yard by decorating a tree or shrub outside with food and treats. It’s a fun family project and easy to do.
Click here to learn what treats will attract the most wildlife to your yard.
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A Downy Woodpecker enjoys a holiday feast on a outdoor tree decorated with bird food by eNature's birding expert, George Harrison.
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