e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - November 2014

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-Deciduous Trees Going Dormant For Winter by Dunning Lake

Hi Everyone,

As I write, there are still a few lingering locations with brightly colored foliage while most other trees having totally lost all their leaves. Trees are said to become dormant in New England as fall progresses. Dormant is an interesting word… synonyms for it include asleep, resting, and inactive. We often relate these words to animals that hibernate for the winter. But that is not correct when discussing trees, since they do not really sleep or rest.

My curiosity peaked, I decided to delve a bit deeper into tree dormancy. I found out that trees actually have two different periods of dormancy during the winter. One kind of dormancy is endodormancy, which is Greek for “an inside sleep or resting”. The other kind is ecodormancy, which is Latin for “an environment sleep or resting”.

So, what exactly occurs with each? Well, endodormancy will begin in the fall as the day light shortens and temperatures drop below freezing. During this dormancy, the tree starts to shut down all food production and growth in preparation for winter. The tree will also monitor “chilling units”. These chilling units are the number of hours above freezing as the winter progresses. Yes, you read this correctly; the tree tracks the number of hours above freezing each day. Every tree species has a different number of chilling hours during endodormancy. This tracking of chilling units helps prevents a tree from budding during the January thaw. Once the species quotient is met, ecodormancy begins, which allows the tree to gear up again for food production and growth. Once into ecodormancy, any newly emerging buds that are caught in a late spring freeze are not protected and will die.

This certainly gives us a new perspective on trees in winter.

Wishing you a great Thanksgiving!

Miss Judy

e-Nature Newsletter from Winding Trails - November 2014

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SCROLL DOWN THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER TO FIND THESE SECTIONS: · WINDING TRAILS NATURE EVENTS . COMING THIS MONTH . READ OF THE MONTH · NIGHT SKY WATCHING · OTHER NATURE EVENTS IN CONNECTICUT

WINDING TRAILS NATURE EVENTS

Registration is required 3 days prior to event. If not enough signup, the program is cancelled.

Date/Time Event Saturday, November 8th Adult and Child Explorations

9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Non Members: Fee-based program for 4- to 8-year-olds with an adult Members: Free

Open to the public and Winding Trails’ members Click on this link to register: http://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=402

Saturday, November 8th Saturday Family Nature Walk… 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Non Members: Fee-based family program

Members: Free Open to the public and Winding Trails’ members

Click on this link to register: http://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=403

Saturday, November 8th Explore the Night Walk… 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Fee-based family program

Open to the public and Winding Trails’ members Click on this link to register: http://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=404

Friday, November 14th Black Bears in Connecticut 7:00 p.m. Free

Open to the public and Winding Trails’ members Click on this link to register: https://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=408

Saturday, November 22nd Tom Turkey Hunt 1:00 p.m. sharp! Fee-based family program

Open to Winding Trails’ members only Click on this link to register: https://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=409

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COMING THIS MONTH

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14th BLACK BEAR IN CONNECTICUT At Winding Trails in Farmington This free program is provided through money donated to the Trails Fund. Mike Evans, a PhD researcher at UConn, has been actively researching black bear populations in the rural setting of northwest Connecticut and our suburban setting here in the Farmington Valley for two years. Learn more about black bears and their natural behavior. Based on his research, he will explain how the data was collected and how the bears interact with the growth in human developments. Registration is required by 3 days prior to the event. Click on this link to register: https://www.windingtrails.org/register/?id=408

WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN PRESENTATIONS & COMMENT SESSIONS IN CT The Wildlife Action Plan was developed 10 years ago to serve as a blueprint for conservation actions for Connecticut’s wildlife. Connecticut, along with other states across the country, is currently revising their Wildlife Action Plan so as to establish both a state and national framework for proactively conserving our fish and wildlife, including their habitats, for the next decade of 2015-2025. The large document is available to view on the CT DEEP Web site (www.ct.gov/deep/wildlifeactionplan). The plan identifies species of greatest conservation need and their affiliated habitats. It also identifies priority research needs and conservation actions needed to address problems facing these species and habitats.

Goals of Connecticut's Wildlife Action Plan (CT-WAP) The intent of the CT-WAP is to provide guidance and vision for wildlife conservation in Connecticut. Accordingly, the plan:

1. Addresses the broad array of all fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrate species. 2. Uses available funding to address the species in greatest need of conservation and their habitats. 3. Identifies actions needed to conserve species diversity and keep common species common. 4. Builds upon past efforts to conserve all species of wildlife. 5. Encourages the creation of partnerships with conservation organizations at local, state, and regional levels

to enhance opportunities for implementation of actions to conserve wildlife.

Facilitated workshops that invite public participation are scheduled for: - November 5 (Wednesday), at 1:00-3:00 PM and 6:30-8:30 PM

At Greenwich Audubon Center, Audubon Connecticut, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich - November 6 (Thursday), at 1:00-3:00 PM and 6:30-8:30 PM

At Connecticut Forest and Park Association, 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall (near Middlefield) - November 7 (Friday), 1:30-3:30 PM

At Windsor Public Library, 323 Broad Street, Windsor - November 7 (Friday), 6:30-8:30 PM

At Sharon Audubon Center, Audubon Connecticut, 325 Cornwall Bridge Road, Sharon - November 8 (Saturday), 10:00 AM-12:00 noon

At Stonington Free Library, 20 High Street, Stonington - November 8 (Saturday), 2:00-4:00PM

At Pomfret Audubon Center, Connecticut Audubon Society, 218 Day Road, Pomfret Center - November 9 (Sunday), 10:00 AM-12:00 noon

At DEEP Marine Headquarters, 333 Ferry Road, Old Lyme - November 9 (Sunday), 2:00-4:00 PM

At the Wildlife Division’s Sessions Woods Conservation Education Center, 341 Milford Street (RT 69), Burlington

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FIVE FUN TURKEY FACTS FOR THE THANKSGIVING FEAST! When conversation wanes this Thanksgiving holiday, amaze your dinner companions with these facts:

1. The scientific name Meleagris gallopavo silvestris reflects the “forest” nature of the eastern wild turkey. 2. Despite their weight, wild turkeys are agile fliers and have been recorded flying at speeds of 55 MPH. 3. 3,000 to 6,000 feathers cover a wild turkey’s body 4. Wild turkeys have excellent eyesight during the day but do not see as well at night. 5. Between 30,000 and 35,000 wild turkeys live in Connecticut.

READ OF THE MONTH

READ OF THE MONTH FOR ADULTS American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation

by Eric Rutkow

I had the pleasure of meeting Eric Rutkow, the author of this wonderful book, at the 26th Annual Conference on Urban and Community Forestry and 10th Annual Forest Forum on October 29th. Here is a review of the book that provides a great synopsis of the book.

Eric Rutkow’s “deeply fascinating” (The Boston Globe) work shows how trees were essential to the early years of the republic and indivisible from the country’s rise as both an empire and a civilization. Among American Canopy’s many captivating stories: the Liberty Trees, where colonists gathered to plot rebellion against the British; Henry David Thoreau’s famous retreat into the woods; the creation of New York City’s Central Park; the great fire of 1871 that killed a thousand people in the lumber town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin; the fevered attempts to save the American chestnut and the American elm from extinction; and the controversy over spotted owls and the old-growth forests they inhabited. Rutkow also explains how trees were of deep interest to such figures as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Teddy Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt, who oversaw the planting of some three billion trees nationally in his time as president.

Never before has anyone treated our country’s trees and forests as the subject of a broad historical study, and the result is an accessible, informative, and thoroughly entertaining read. Audacious in its four-hundred-year scope, authoritative in its detail, and elegant in its execution, American Canopy is perfect for history buffs and nature lovers alike and announces Eric Rutkow as a major new author of popular history.

Available to read at many local libraries and can be purchased online.

READ OF THE MONTH FOR CHILDREN One Small Place in a Tree

by Barbara Brenner

Deep in the forest . . . A bear sharpens her claws on a tree trunk. The scratched bark chips; a tiny hole forms. Timber beetles tunnel inside. The hole grows bigger and bigger.

In lyrical prose, Barbara Brenner reveals the fascinating happenings in one small place. She explains how, over many years, the rough hole transforms into a cozy hollow -- home to salamanders, tree frogs, a family of white-footed mice. Tom Leonard’s absorbing illustrations take you beneath the bark to a hidden world. His warm, lifelike depictions of squirrels and bluebirds, snakes and spiders show the splendor that dwells in the most unexpected places.

So stop. Observe. Explore your natural world. If you look closely enough, you will surely find . . . one small place that is home for something.

It is available through your local library and is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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NIGHT SKY WATCHING

FULL MOON INFORMATION The full moon for November is known as the Full Beaver Moon. The moon has this name because for both the colonists and the Algonquin tribes, this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. This full moon is also called the Full Frost Moon. This month’s full moon will occur on Sunday, November 2nd, at 9:38 p.m. (EST) in the Hartford area. Remember that the clocks change on November 2nd so we are switching from EDT (eastern daylight time) to EST (Eastern Standard Time).

OTHER OBSERVATIONS THIS MONTH INCLUDE:

November 6th Moon phase – full moon at 5:23 p.m. EST

November 14th Moon phase – last quarter at 10:17 p.m. EST

November 22nd Moon phase – new moon at 7:32 a.m. EST

November 29th Moon phase – first quarter at 5:07 a.m. EST

Sources: Old Farmer’s Almanac - Astronomy http://www.almanac.com/astronomy

· Visit this website to obtain a star map. http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

· Visit this website to see information on sky events for this month. http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/

· Visit this website to see a YouTube video of night sky events for this month. http://hubblesite.org/explore_astronomy/tonights_sky/

AT WINDING TRAILS Join Miss Judy on the evening of Saturday, November 8th at Winding Trails for the Explore the Night Walk. At 6:16 p.m. ET, the moon will rise. The moon will be in the waning gibbous phase providing 97.9% visibility for the walk. If the sky is clear, we’ll be going out to look at the moon and some autumn constellations.

AT WHITE MEMORIAL IN LITCHFIELD On November 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the A.B. Ceder Room, the members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society will be doing an indoor program. Weather permitting that night, there will be star gazing after the program. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You are invited to bring your own telescope or binoculars.

Full details can be found on their website at http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar.html#November to check out their calendar for more information or call The Conservation Center for more details at 860-567-0857. AT THE COPERNICAN OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM IN NEW BRITAIN The Copernican Observatory and Planetarium at the Central CT State University in New Britain has regularly scheduled programs listed in their calendar that is posted on their website. The planetarium and observatory offers free monthly programs that are open to the public.

Planetarium Shows and Events: On Saturdays, November 1st and 18th, at 8 PM, they will have their regularly scheduled free show in their planetarium.

For planetarium shows, seating is first come, first served. The planetarium is located in Copernicus Hall (Building 23 on thehttp://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=4191 map). Convenient parking is in the Copernicus (South) garage (building 17).

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Observatory Events: On Saturdays, November 1st and 18th, join them for a free observing session directly after the planetarium show (observing is weather permitting: they need a clear sky).

The observatory is located on the roof of Copernicus Hall. Take the elevators to the 5th or 6th floor and follow the signs.

For additional information, visit this link: http://web.ccsu.edu/astronomy/ AT THE WESLEYAN VAN VLECK OBSERVATORY IN MIDDLETOWN The Wesleyan Van Vleck Observatory in Middletown offers Saturday night public observations. Check the site for updates based on weather conditions.

Monthly Saturday night observing (runs all year long) November 15th 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Organized and hosted by the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford (ASGH), this is a great opportunity to view the sky through our beautiful 20" refractor. Re-furbished in recent years in honor of Walter Scott "Scotty" Houston who used this instrument many nights, we can now share this telescope with the public on regular occasions. For details, please visit the ASGH website.

OTHER NATURE EVENTS IN CONNECTICUT

CT DEEP Events in CT – Upcoming Events – Preregistration is Required!

· November 1st Textile Merit Badge Day for Boy Scouts At Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5460

· November 1st Guided Hike: Lake Loop

At James L. Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5533

· November 5th Seasonal Transitions: The Ecology of Autumn/Winter At James L. Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5534

· November 8th Naturalist Badge Day for Webelos

At Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5449

· November 8th Nature Crafts: Leaf Stamping At James L. Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5535

· November 13th Let’s Letterbox! CFPA Ramble

At James L. Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5536

· November 17th Senior Walk At James L. Goodwin Conservation Center in Hampton

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5537

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· November 28th to December 20th

Osborne Homestead Museum Holiday Tours

At Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5511

CT River Watershed Council – Upcoming Events

· November 8th The Art of Clean Water At Holyoke Public Library, 250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke, MA

Link for details to this event: http://www.ctriver.org/news-events/

CT State Museum of Natural History & Archaeology Center at UConn – Upcoming Events

· November 1st “Walktober” Vampire Folk Belief in Historic New England Link for details: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#vampires · November 8th New Series: Exploring Connecticut’s Towns – Portland! Link for details: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#CT_towns_portland · November 15th The American Museum of Natural History, New York City Bus Trip Link for details: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#AMNH · November 20th Climate Change in the American Mind Link for details: http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html#climate_in_mind

Visit their website to check out for calendar updates at this link during the month of November!

http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html

If you would like to be added to their mailing list to receive a printed copy of their programs, please email david.colberg@uconn.edu or call 860-486-4460.

Farmington River Watershed Association – Upcoming Events

· November 18th FRWA Annual Meeting – Keynote Talk Given by Eileen Fielding, FRWA Executive Director “It All Happened on the Farmington River: A Story of Historic Sites, Fish, Factories, Floods, & Flows”

Link for details: http://frwa.org/our-wild-scenic-river/join-us-frwa-annual-meeting-november-18-2014/

Visit their website to check out their calendar at this link http://frwa.org/programs-and-events/.

Roaring Brook Nature Center – Upcoming Events · November 4th All About Owls

· November 6th Fall Bird Seed Order Deadline Seed pickup at Petals & Paws on November 14th, 15th, & 16th · November 9th Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands

· November 17th Adventure Story Time for Children Ages 2-5 · November 23rd Holiday Craft Fair

Visit their website to check out their calendar at this link for more information! http://www.roaringbrook.org/events/events.html

Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington, CT – Upcoming Events

· November 1st Yoga & Hike Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=5506

Link for details: http://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=

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Visit their website to obtain their trail map: http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/wildlife/pdf_files/maps/maps_other/swtrail.pdf

Sharon Audubon Center in Sharon, CT – Upcoming Events

· November 8th Waterfowl Wander to White Memorial – Field Trip for Adults & Interested Learners

Visit their website for more details at this link during the month of November! http://sharon.audubon.org/upcoming-eventscalendar-events

Or call the Audubon Center for information at (860) 364-0520 For a copy of their trail maps, visit: http://sharon.audubon.org/trail-maps

White Memorial Conservation Center – Upcoming Events

· November 1 Fall Family Fun with Andy Debos and Deneen Bernier of Three Red Trees School · November 5 Hiking and Healthy Eating with Gerri Griswold · November 8 Lazy Birding at Point Folly with WMCC Education Director Carrie Szwed · November 9-15 Museum Children Free Week · November 15 Autumn Leaves in Watercolor with Betsy Rogers-Knox · November 21 Star Party! · November 22 Give a HOOT! Felting Workshop with Robin McCahill · November 22 Circumnavigating Five Ponds with Gerri Griswold · November 23 The Green Man: A Musical Afternoon with Michael McDermott and Friends Benefit Concert · November 27 & 28 Thanksgiving – Museum Closed · November 29 Walking the Cranberry Pond Trail with Gerri Griswold

Visit their website to check out their calendar at this link for more information! http://www.whitememorialcc.org/calendar.html#November Or call The Conservation Center for more details at 860-567-0857. For a copy of their trail maps, visit: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/maps.html

Look forward to seeing you out and about!

Miss Judy Judy Witzke, Park Naturalist Winding Trails, Inc. 50 Winding Trails Drive, Farmington, CT 06032 Office: (860) 677-8458 ext. 33 Fax: (860) 676-9407 E-mail: judy@windingtrails.org

Fostering a Love for the Outdoors/Creating a Sense of Community/Developing Leadership and Life Skills