Ken Lassman has been keeping this almanac for over a decade, He invites you to share your observations and photos in the comments section. You can find his book Wild Douglas County at The Raven Bookstore and The Community Mercantile in Lawrence.
Frost on inside of Lodge Moon: January
January is a Roman reference to the god Janus, the god of gates. This god has two faces, one looking forward and the other looking back, as we do at the beginning of a new year. While this sets the tone for this season, the vivid image of frost on the inside of the lodge is equally appropriate, particularly if you notice frost on the inside of your car or house windows on a cold morning. The Osage also called this month Moon that Stands Alone, which speaks for itself if you decide to take a brisk walk in the countryside this time of year.
This is the month when you can see bald eagles flying in the Kaw Valley as well as deer and other wildlife more easily due to the lack of leaves. Listen to the rustle of wind through the tallgrass prairie grasses, and look for rodent trails in the thatch, which become tunnels when it snows. A dry year means that water becomes a wildlife concentrator, with more species taking visibility risks to grab a drink in drought-lowered ponds, creeks and rivers that are made even more inaccessible by the presence of ice. Putting out water next to the bird feeders is more important this winter than most for this reason.
Enjoy the deep blues of the sky this time of year, whether it is duplicated in the subtle blues found in freshly fallen snow or not. While admiring the sky and looking for eagles and migratory waterfowl, keep an eye out for sun dogs and other daytime optical treats caused by the presence of ice crystals in the sky that refract and reflect the sun (and moon) light into circles, spots and other geometric forms. After dark, bundle up and enjoy the striking winter star constellations that can take your breath away especially if you know where to look with a pair of binoculars or a telescope.
In the last two weeks in my back yard in North Lawrence: In the daytime…. 4 ft black snake with dinner bulge came in my kitchen and refused to leave. swallow trapped in chimney base had to be freed. 3 ft lined garter snake swallows huge toad. At night in early morning hours….. Racoon raids birdfeeders at 2:00AM, possum plays vacuum cleaner under bird feeders late at night, A 3 ft. fox appears at 1:00AM and runs off with the woodpecker suet I bought for mama downy who brings her baby to eat finch food every day.
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Thanks for sharing such vivid imagery, Nancy. Around our place, we’ve seen box turtles laying eggs, a black snake crossing the drive, cowbirds probably laying eggs in the resident painted bunting nests (grrrr…), nesting cardinals, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, with the elusive yellow billed cuckoo calling in the woods, herons flying by around sunset and sunrise, the call of the nighthawk and chuck will’s widow frequenting the night, opossums and foxes raiding the compost but staying out of the chicken fenced garden, way too many ticks and chiggers. June is so alive!
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