Vol. 21 Issue 4, Winter 2016 by Tami Carlow, Entomologist I am sure you have wondered every winter: Where do all of the wonderful insects go when winter comes calling in Virginia? Do they hibernate, migrate or die? Well, they do all of these things! Insects are ectothermic meaning they are cold-blooded animals and must […]

Vol. 18 Issue 4, Winter 2013 By Liz Dennison, Raptor Conservancy of Virginia During the spring and summer months in northern Virginia, we enjoy the calls of our resident owls: the resonant hoot of the Great Horned Owl, the familiar “who cooks for you” of the Barred Owl, the melodic whinnies and trills of the […]

Vol. 18 Issue 4, Winter 2013 By Emily Bzdyk In the late fall, plants die back and leaves litter the ground. As the weather turns cold and your backyard looks increasingly lifeless, you may be tempted to tidy up those garden beds. But there are many reasons why you should wait till “spring cleaning” time […]

Vol. 15 Issue 4, Winter 2010 By Jim McWalters Well, old man winter is upon us, but this doesn’t mean you can’t experience the great outdoors in Loudoun County.  Though it may be cold out there, winter is an ideal time to take a hike with trails to yourself, breath-taking views, and no bugs to […]

Vol. 12 Issue 4, Winter 2007 By Emily Bzdyk As winter takes its icy grasp of a stream, organisms have some choices. They can leave behind dormant eggs or seeds to carry on their legacies before they succumb to the cold, or they may become dormant themselves in hibernation. Frogs such as the wood frog […]

Vol. 11 Issue 4, Winter 2006 By Joe Midolo This winter, don’t forget about our furry and feathered little friends. Holiday decorations have been known to be harmful to some of our local critters, making their season anything but fun. After the holidays are over, you still want to have a festive time during winter, […]

Vol. 11 Issue 4, Winter 2006 By Bonnie Eaton Down through the ages, in cultures around the world, to see a flock of birds was an omen, good or bad, depending upon the species, their color, and in which direction they were flying. Probably knowing this instinctively (as women do), after a highly successful year in […]

Vol. 10 Issue 3, Fall 2005 By Ginger Walker Loudoun County provides a unique wintering environment for migrating birds. While our area certainly isn’t a tropical haven, it doesn’t experience the harsh winter weather of New England or the Midwest, either. As a result, Loudoun residents can anticipate migrant visitors each winter as well as enjoy some […]

Vol. 10 Issue 4, Winter 2005 By Stan Shetler For plants and animals, preparing for winter is all about escape or making yourself scarce by retreating to shelter and putting on an overcoat. Birds can fly away to shelter or warmer climes, mammals can grow a thick coat of fur and retreat to nests and burrows, […]

Vol. 8 Issue 4, Fall 2003 By Cliff Fairweather Winters in Loudoun County are pretty mild compared to more northerly regions, last winter notwithstanding.  Nonetheless, winter here still poses a challenge to the survival of wildlife.  For most animals, energy is harder to obtain and easier to lose in winter than in any other season.  […]