New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

A Record December Snow is Falling

Monday 12/31/2007

Whoa, enough snow already. As I type this on the last day of 2007 a record amount of snow for the month of December is still falling from the sky. We'll have over 30 inches for the month of December by days and years end. Snowmobilers are happily sliding past my house on the trail up from Bear Brook State Park. Ice has thickened on our lakes and ponds much earlier than the last several years.

While winter weather certainly is welcomed after an absence, especially the last couple years, this amount of snow this early has me worried about our deer herd. Though I have seen a few tracks on the sunny south facing slopes the last week, for much of the woods around here the deer have already had a tough time moving. Thankfully last Saturdays warm rainy spell did reduce the snow amounts in my area from over two feet to closer to a foot. But the storm of today and a much bigger one slated for tomorrow , New Years Day has me concerned for the deer across much of the state, and especially the southern areas where the deer herd has really built up the last few years. Certainly leading to the near record deer kill of over 13,000 this fall.

I have come to appreciate and learn more about the ebb and flow of the birds at my feeders. Certainly a day like today has the veraciously feeding at all my feeders. I had an unusually bird at my feeder the other day, a Carolina wren. Not only do the birds come and go with the change in the weather, but each day the birds flock and recede from the feeders during the day. Mornings are full with an early afternoon lull in action. You can nearly set your watch by the absence of birds at particular times. The squirrels remain timeless though with ten grays and a couple reds rotating through my feeders.

For now I'll just hunker down and enjoy the visitors streaming in to visit me. I have no need to go any where. My view of the snow manteled Suncook River is gorgeous today. Retirement is especially appreciated these days.