New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

How the days dip and swing up with temperatures in March. In fact, it is Just what is needed for maple sap to run. Cold nights, below freezing, and days above freezing. But then, there are also the swings by day with an artic blast dipping down to near zero here only to have a seeming heat wave a day or two later into the 50's. And today it's the steady rain forecast for the next day or more. I sat for a bit a couple days ago in what seemed like a relatively warm day. I do like to catch a few rays when the sun now shows some strength. Trouble is as I sat there for maybe a half hour it reminded me of standing by a campfire on a chilly fall night. One side, the side facing the fire is warm. Really warm. But it turns out the side away from the fire seems rather cold. And so, it was with the sun I found. Sure, the sun was warm, but the March sky is still littered with passing clouds. Each delivering that back side of the fire feeling of way too cold. Such is March.

 

I call March the Champagne Month. Oh ya, the cork is about to pop this month delivering wildlife in numbers across the state. First it will be the hooting owls nesting up for the year. By mid-month it is the flood of ducks and geese that flood our state with pairs seemingly in every spot of ice-free water. Tree buds are swelling and south facing slopes will start to show some green as well. Maybe pick some pussy willows this month too. Things change very rapidly through the month. Other early birds arrive too like red-winged blackbirds. Birds will be back in numbers by month's end. Yes, life is bubbling up across New Hampshire in March.

 

It's hard to think that way as right now most of the Granite state is still buried under a winter's blanket, but the sun will now rule and will soon vanquish winters hand. 

 

Get outside. Be Wild. Live Life on the Wild Side of NH.