WHAT'S NEW IN NATURE? 2006 Archive

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December 2006:

We have had no snow and lots of warmth so far this month.
Nan found some good information on the NOAA website about this strange winter weather.
This year through November, the temperatures in New Hampshire were the 2nd warmest on record, with the month of November ranking as the warmest month on record. New Hampshire experienced the 2nd wettest period on record with New England as a whole experiencing the wettest June - November.
Globally the annual temperature for combined land and ocean surfaces is expected to be sixth warmest on record for 2006. Some of the largest and most widespread warm anomalies occurred in southern Asia and North America. Canada experienced its warmest winter and warmest spring since its national records began in 1948.
Including 2006, six of the seven warmest years on record have occurred since 2001 and the ten warmest years have occurred since 1995. The global average surface temperature has risen between 0.6°C and 0.7°C since the start of the 20th Century, and the rate of increase since 1976 has been approximately three times faster than the century-scale trend.
The extent of Arctic sea ice was second lowest on record in September, when annual sea ice extent is at its lowest point of the year. This was only slightly higher than the record low extent measured in 2005. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, this is part of a continuing trend in end-of-summer Arctic sea ice extent reductions of approximately eight percent per decade since 1979, when recordkeeping began.
El Nino conditions developed in September, and by the end of November, sea surface temperatures in most of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were more than 1.8°F (1°C) above average. This El Nino event is likely to persist through May 2007, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
All information was found at: NOAA National Climate Research
and:NOAA 2006 Climate Research
Here is also a great article to read about the warm winter weather and it's confusing effect on wildlife: Seacoast Online News

November:

Mark commented on seeing large numbers of Stink Bugs lately and wondered why there are so many. Is it a Stink Bug Invasion?
This is one bug that knows how to get your attention. It is noisy in flight, relatively large, conspicuously colored, and releases a pungent odor when handled. If you have a home in an area with coniferous trees, at one time or another you have probably had a run-in with this creature.
People commonly refer to this insect as a “stink bug.” Although it does have an odor, “stink bug” is not its true name. Its technical name is Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis). The Western Conifer Seed Bug (WCSB) is an intimidating-looking insect that moves into homes in late fall to take shelter.
Although it does not bite or sting, as a member of the stink bug family, it often releases an offensive odor when handled — part of the insect’s defensive strategy. In flight, the adults make a buzzing sound like a bumblebee.
In spring the bugs move back outdoors to nearby coniferous trees to feed on the developing seeds and early flowers, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to pierce the scales of conifer seeds and suck out the seed pulp. The list of host plants includes white pine, red pine, Scotch pine, Austrian pine, Mugho pine, white spruce, Douglas fir and hemlock. Because these species commonly appear in home landscapes, the bugs may take shelter for the winter in nearby homes and other buildings.
In the spring females lay rows of eggs on needles of the host trees. The eggs hatch in about ten days and the young nymphs then begin to feed on tender cone scales and sometimes the needles. Nymphs pass through five stages and reach adulthood by late August. Adults then feed on ripening seeds until cold weather arrives and the insects begin seeking overwintering quarters.
If these seed bugs are a problem in your area, be sure to screen attic or wall vents, chimneys and fireplaces so you block their points of entry. Eliminate or caulk gaps around door and window frames and soffits, and tighten up loose-fitting screens, windows or doors to prevent these insects from getting into your home. New Hampshire currently has no pesticides specifically registered for control of WCSB. If large numbers of these insects do invade your home, vacuum or sweep them up and put them back outside. Information found at the UNH Extension website

October:

This month there have been lots of mushrooms and moose to observe. Since we have talked in the past about the mushrooms found in Washington, here is some information about moose.
Moose are big. An adult moose, averaging 1000 pounds and standing 6 feet at the shoulder, is the largest wild animal in North America. Moose have keen senses of smell and hearing, but they're also near-sighted. Their front legs are longer than their hind legs, allowing them to jump over fallen trees, slash, and other debris. Moose, like deer, lack a set of upper incisors; they strip off browse and bark rather than snipping it neatly. Bulls and cows have different coloration patterns. Bulls have a dark brown or black muzzle, while the cows face is light brown. Cows also have a white patch of fur just beneath their tail.
Only bulls grow antlers. Antler growth begins in March or April and is completed by August or September when the velvet is shed. Antlers are dropped starting in December; young bulls may retain their antlers into early spring. Yearlings develop a spike or fork; adults develop antlers that may weigh up to 60 pounds with wide sweeping palms with many long tines. The bell (the flap of skin and long hair that hangs from the throat) is more pronounced in adult bulls than in cows or immature bulls.
Today there are some 6,500 moose in New Hampshire, occurring in all ten counties with highest densities in the Great North Woods. During a year moose home ranges vary from 5 square miles to more than 50 depending on the season.
Each year nearly 200 moose are killed on our highways. Their dark coloration blends well with dark pavement. To avoid collisions, drive slow enough at night and dusk so you can stop within the limits of your headlights illumination.This information was found at the NH state web site, to learn more about moose click here: NH State Moose information

One way to support conservation and cultural heritage in New Hampshire is by purchasing a conservation license plate, also known as a Moose Plate. Revenues generated are distributed to help fund projects that focus on the protection of our state's critical resources. The voluntary public purchase of the plates helps to ensure that the scenic beauty, wildlife, and historic sites of New Hampshire will be here for our children and grandchildren. To find out more about Moose Plates click here:NH Moose Plates

August :

Michael Pon from Washington wrote a commentary last week in the local paper "The Villager". He was lamenting about the recent disappearance of Red Spotted Newts from Millen Pond and what factors may haves caused their decline in numbers. To read his commentary click here:The Villager article
We wrote about these wonderful creatures in August 2005, here is the link to learn more about them: 2005 New in Nature Archives We hope they haven't disappeared for good! They are a favorite creature to "catch and release" for a lot of kids in town.
Don mentioned noticing lots of local Ash trees with die back lately. He wondered if the damage could be caused by a recently imported foreign pest called the Emerald Ash Borer. First found in Detroit in the summer of 2002, this insect has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan and has since been discovered in parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.The Emerald Ash Borer's primary movement seems to be through firewood, so you should only use local sources and don't bring in firewood from out of state. If the spread of Emerald Ash Borer is not controlled, it could eliminate ash trees as a species from North America. The foresters at the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands are keeping an eye out for these pests and others that threaten the trees in NH.
Ticks are plentiful this summer, as anyone with a dog will attest. The New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service has lots of information for you on the varieties of ticks found in this area and what to do if you find a tick on you or your pet: NH Cooperative Extension - Ticks

May :

Lots of wildflowers are blooming: fringed polygala, star flower, goldthread, foam flower, and rhodora is just starting to bloom. (Bradford Bog will be spectacular soon)

April:

Two Bald Eagles were seen on Half Moon Pond the week of April 10th, one mature and one immature. A mature eagle was also spotted on the 14th. Everyone should keep an eye out for these magnificent birds.
The Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, is a magnificent bird of prey that is native to North America. This majestic eagle is not really bald; white feathers cover its head. The derivation of the name "bald" is from an olde English word meaning white. Bald eagles have a long, downward-curving yellow bill, and large, keen eyes. These strong fliers have white feathers on their head, tail, and wing tips; the body has brown feathers. They can fly 20 to 40 mph in normal flight and can dive at speeds over 100 mph. Adult eagles have a 7 ft wingspan and the females are 30% larger than the males.
They live and nest near coastlines, rivers, lakes, wet prairies, and coastal pine lands in North America from Alaska and Canada south into Florida and Baja, California. Bald eagles build an enormous nest from twigs and leaves and may use the same nest year after year, adding more twigs and branches each time. The nest can be up to eight feet across and may weigh a ton! Nests are located high from the ground, either in large trees or on cliffs. A clutch of 1 to 3 eggs eggs is laid by the female in the nest and both males and females incubate the eggs. They both feed the hatchlings until they learn to fly (fledge).
Eagles are carnivores (meat-eaters) and hunt during the day. Their feet have knife-like talons which they use to catch their prey. They eat mostly fish swimming close to the water's surface, small mammals, waterfowl, wading birds, snakes, and dead animal matter (carrion). By eating carrion they help with nature's clean-up process and by hunting they help keep animal populations strong. Bald eagles can actually swim! They use an overhand movement of the wings that is very much like the butterfly stroke. Their life span is up to 30 years in the wild.
The bald eagle has been the national symbol of the USA since 1782, so when it became threatened with extinction in the 1960s due to pesticide use, habitat loss, and other problems created by humans, people took notice. For years the bald eagle was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Now the number of bald eagles has increased so much that in June, 1994 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed that they be downgraded from endangered status to the less urgent status of threatened in all but three of the lower 48 states. The success of the bald eagle is a tribute to the Endangered Species Act and is an incentive for increased awareness and conservation everywhere.

The beaver (Castor canadensis) is the largest rodent in North America and can tip the scales at more than 60 pounds, although an average adult weighs 35­40 pounds. An adult beaver can be nearly three-feet tall when standing on his hind legs.
Beavers typically live in lodges constructed from branches, mud, and other debris, or in dens dug into the banks of streams or lakes. Lodges may be created along the edges of canals or ponds, or formed as mounded islands of interwoven branches that stand further out in deeper water. The structures are packed solid with mud to make them weatherproof—except for the peak, which is left open for ventilation—and have at least two or more water-accessible openings. In the fall, beavers stockpile winter food supplies by sinking large amounts of branches into the mud close by their lodges or dens. With a sizable underwater cache, beavers can remain comfortably well-fed even during the harshest winter freeze. They simply swim beneath the water's icy surface to retrieve choice branches, then devour them inside the lodge. For beavers, dam-building is an instinctive survival skill. The main purpose is to surround themselves with a stable body of water—understandably important to animals who are far more adept in water than on land. The resulting pond provides beavers with a safe refuge from predators; flooding an even larger area also ensures watery access to prime food sources in the vicinity.

Beaver lodge, food cache, and dam in water
All winter the beavers bring sticks from their underwater cache into the feeding chamber of the lodge to gnaw the succulent bark. They prefer trembling aspen, poplar, willow, and birch. They also swim out under the ice and retrieve the thick roots and stems of aquatic plants, such as pond lilies and cattails. During mild winters and warm days in March and early April, adult beavers emerge from their dull aquatic world to feed on fresh woody stems along the shore. Beavers shift from a woody diet to a herbaceous diet as new growth appears in the spring. During summer, beavers will eat grasses, herbs, leaves of woody plants, fruits, and aquatic plants.

To view yearly archives of our "New In Nature" series click on year you wish to see.