December Nature Happenings

• Project FeederWatch continues, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• Christmas Bird Count is this month, birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count
• Look for Pine Siskin and Purple Finches at your feeders.
• Provide a blend with enough white millet to satisfy the increase in ground feeding birds like towhees and juncos.
• Great Horned Owls are pairing up this month – listen for their "who" calls.
• Smith's Longspurs arrive for their brief visit to the north-central part of our region.
• Every variety of Red-tailed Hawk has arrived to winter here, along with a few Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks.
• This is a great time to teach chickadees and titmice to feed from your hand.
• Watch for late waterfowl migrants such as Northern Shovelers, mergansers, Ruddy Ducks and Common Goldeneyes.
• Fox and Gray Squirrels' mating seasons.
• Wintering Woodcocks start to display late in the month.
• Geminid Meteor Shower is mid-month.