Sap on Tap, Frolicking Squirrels & Nesting Great Horned Owls!

Hidden in the gray outside, there's a fluster of activity happening in the natural world! Here's this week's phenology:

• Right now, the heartbeat of a hibernating bear is only about eight beats per minute.
• The February frolics that you watch from the window are actually gray squirrel mating rituals. 
• Maple sap is slowly beginning to flow! Remember to join us on Sunday, March 25 for Maple Syrup Fest to find out more!
• Great Horned Owls have begun nesting, just in time for Valentine’s Day. 
• White-tailed deer metabolism slows—they will primarily live of stored fat for the next month or two. 
• Watch for pussy willow twigs to show one of the earliest signs of spring! 

Owl You Need is Love & Oak Leaves Falling Phenology Monday

Hooray! We finally have enough snow to start enjoying snowshoeing, sledding, skiing, ice skating, ice fishing and all the other fun activities that make winter in Wisconsin so special.

Just like us, the natural world is now is full winter mode and buzzing with new phenology to keep an eye out for. Here's what's happening outside this week:

 

• The last of the oak leaves finally begin to fall off.  
• We have gained back about 30 minutes of daylight since the Winter Solstice.  
• Listen for the songs of the cardinal this week, a “cheer, cheer, cheer” or “birdie, birdie, birdie”.  
• Forget about the frigid temperatures!  Red fox, wolves, beaver, owls, lynx and squirrels all begin mating this week.  
• Frogs remain in hibernation at the bottom of lakes and ponds.  Their blood contains natural antifreeze to help them survive the below freezing temps.

New Year's Phenology

Happy 2012!

As I write this, a lazy winter sun is slowly creeping its way above the dense gray covering of clouds beckoning the in-between hibernators --skunks, bears, oppossums and the like-- to wake up and forage for food before the snow hits.

With the new year upon us, now is a great time to tune into the natural world and keep track of your own phenological observations as you observe and discover patterns of seasonal change. As you do, you may be amazed at the webs of connections you are able to find!

Click here for a great introduction to phenlology with tips on how to get started.

Wondering what to look for right now? Here are some ideas. This week:

• Step outside at night and listen for the ghoulish great horned owl mating calls. 
• Look for “Upsik” -- the Eskimo term for the blowing snow common in January.
• Search for antlers on the forest floor between now and the end of January. 
• While you're at it, look for signs of rodents who “snack” on fallen antlers to provide them with nutrients in the cold months.
  
  Wishing you a very happy new year!

Why Fall Fest is the Place to Be!

Still unsure about your Halloween plans?
Here are the top 10 reasons why Fall Fest is the place to be this Friday to celebrate with your family!

1. From the costume parade to the owl mask making, Fall Fest is a fun, hands-on and safe way to celebrate with your youngster! 

2. Fall Fest is not only fun, but educational too! You'll learn about owls, bats and the secretive world of nocturnal animals!

3. It's a one time chance to explore the moon as the astronauts see it—suspended in orbit 22,000 miles above its surface as you join the Hoot and Howl under our high definition six-foot in diameter global projected moon displaying NOAA & NASA planetary data!


4. You'll get an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek of our new hands-on exhibits and offerings like Storms 360 and the Madison Gas and Electric Renewable Energy Center!


5. Fall Fest is a FREE event for ALNC members! For non-members, the price is just $35 for the entire family--and the price includes a FREE family membership for ALNC!

6. When you join or renew your membership at ALNC, you'll be entered to win one of three frightfully fantastic prizes including a Romantic Spa Getaway, a Day of Family Fun in the Dells and a Staycation in Madison's Historic Dudgeon Monroe neighborhood!


7. Your little goblin can play the part of a weather man to make a freaky forecast with WKOW's "There's a Chill in the Air" weather station!

8. Fall Fest is a fun and exciting way to get your family hooked on nature!

9. From "shaking their bones" in the spooky storm to exploring our "a-maze-ing animal trail," we'll give your youngster plenty of fun!

10. Attending Fall Fest supports environmental education for children in our community at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center! Together, we can help create a sustainable future!

There's still time to register! Walk-ins will be accepted, but pre-registered guests won't have to wait in the registration line!

Remember, Fall Fest is tomorrow, Friday, October 28 from 5:30-7:30 pm at our Monona Campus (330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI). Click here or call 608-221-0404 x1 to register today!

Go to Fall Fest for FREE + Win Prizes!!!

Bring the whole family for a night of spook-tacular fun and learning at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's Fall Fest, on Friday, October 28, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm!

Discover the creatures of the night and see what tricks we have up our sleeves in our new expansion at this FREE members' event!
•    Get a sneak-peek and explore our NEW hands-on, interactive exhibits!
•    Participate in a Costume Parade for the kids!
•    Make an owl mask and join the Hoot & Howl Around the 360 Degree Moon!
•    Visit creepy critters in The Haunted Shack!
•    Immerse yourself in the "eye of a storm" to hear and see weather phenomena up close!
•    Search for hidden nocturnal critters in the woods!
•    Learn about creatures of the night like owls and bats!
•    Enjoy festive refreshments!
•    Find out what's in store for those big green silos and more!

To top it all off -- Fall Fest is a FREE Members' event! Click here or call 608-221-0404 x1 to register!

Not an ALNC member? Register for Fall Fest for just $35 and we’ll give you a COMPLIMENTARY family membership and enter you in the drawing below! Plus, as an ALNC member you'll get great benefits all year long like discounts and advance registration on family events, programs, summer camps, free rental of our Family Trailside Backpack Program and much more! Click here to join today!

Plus, Join or Renew Your Membership & Get Entered to Win a Prize!

In addition to attending Fall Fest for free and receiving the great benefits of an ALNC membership, from October 3-28th, when you join or renew your ALNC Membership, you’ll be entered to win a prize drawing for one of three terrific prizes including a Romantic Spa Getaway, a Day of Family Fun in the Dells and a Staycation in Madison's Historic Dudgeon Monroe Neighborhood!
Click here or call 608-221-0404 to sign up as a member today! Prize drawing will be held on Halloween, October 31st.