Nature & Science
Walking the Outdoor Walk
Oh, the snow. Oh, the cold. Oh, what shall we do? How will we survive?
First step is to turn off the weather channel and head outdoors. No matter what Jim Cantore says, the king of weather catastrophe hyperbole, a bit of winter weather is something to enjoy rather than fear.
But if you’re still shaking in your unused Yaktrax, maybe heading out into the snowy outdoors with some seasoned professionals is the ticket.
By LIZ DURKEE
WALKINGS TRAIL OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD: The Comprehensive Pocket Guide to Island Trails, William Flender, Fourth Edition, Vineyard Conservation Society, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, 2010, $14.95, 117 PAGES.
A weatherproof, pocket-sized, fully-loaded guide to the Island’s walking trails. What a concept! It is such a good idea that the Vineyard Conservation Society has just published its fourth edition of Walking Trails of Martha’s Vineyard by William Flender.
With a deer, you would never grab the bull by the horns.
For a few good reasons: Male deer are not called bulls, they are bucks, and they do not have horns, only antlers. Antlers and horns are two distinctly different accessories.
There are all manner of firsts, first steps, first love, first kiss and, for birders, a first sighting of a particular bird species. Known as a “lifer,” or life bird, the view of a species which had escaped you previously or is in a new habitat is exciting. A fair percentage of bird-watchers keep life lists which contain all the birds they have seen, where they saw them and when. Other birders just sense when they are seeing a bird for the first time.
Hooting for Love
The animal kingdom does not have an official Valentine’s Day to celebrate the joining of hearts. After all, wings or claws make it a bit difficult to pen odes of endearment or hold a pair of scissors to make those doily hearts. But that doesn’t mean the ardor of animal love is a quieter affair.
A thin crescent moon appears low in the southeastern sky tomorrow morning, right next to the bright planet Venus. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.