|
STUFF WE LOVE
Standing the Test of Time
 The holiday season is all about traditions. One tradition that we hold very dear at Mass Audubon is the Ring-Standard Calendar, which was first created in 1897 by artist Louise P. Graves.
Since we began selling it decades ago, people from all over the country eagerly await the day the calendar goes on sale and then
proceed to order dozens to distribute to family, friends, and co-workers. And we're happy to report that the 2014 calendar is here!
Learn more about the history of the calendar, how it came to Mass Audubon, and how to purchase one.
NATURE NOTES
What's Hiding In Your Leaf Pile?
 If you’re a child, leaf piles invite jumping and hiding and all sorts of fun. To many adults, autumn leaves must be raked, blown, piled, chopped, dragged, or somehow transported to another place, anywhere that isn't your lawn.
But if you're a nature lover, a pile of dead leaves is teeming with life! For many creatures, leaf piles are places to hibernate, hide, hunt, scavenge, and survive.
Discover three creatures that may be hiding in your leaf pile, and how to protect and encourage more.
WILDLIFE
Meet Our Tiniest Owl
 The
northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) is the smallest owl in
Massachusetts. As a nearly silent, nocturnal bird of deep woods, it’s
also one of the hardest to spot.
If you’re lucky enough to see
this bird, the first thing you may notice is the size. It measures just 8
inches from head to tail; that’s less than a third as long as a snowy
owl—and just a bit longer than a standard pencil.
Learn more about saw-whets and how to see one up-close.
SNAPSHOT
Where in Mass Audubon Are We Now?
Congratulations to everyone who guessed that the last photo featured in Explorations was
taken at the Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary in Gloucester. Of those
with correct guesses, Jean Marie of Franklin was chosen at random to be
the lucky winner of a pocket field guide.
Ready to guess another Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary?
A
relatively recent addition to Mass Audubon's wildlife sanctuary system,
the location shown above is designated priority habitat for state-listed rare species. From its trails, which criss-cross
private land thanks to the generosity of the sanctuary's neighbors, you
can often smell
the sea breeze and even get a glimpse of the Cape Cod Canal.
Email your guess by November 15 and you could win a pocket field guide.
|
